美联社新闻一分钟 2008-06-16（在线收听）

1. The floodwaters are receding in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, revealing just how much damage the high water has done. Meanwhile, those downstream are doing what they can to protect themselves from the coming deluge.

2. President Bush is in London for two days of talks about Iraq. He's set to meet with Prime Minister Gordon Brown to determine what needs to be done to bring more US and British troops home.

3. Authorities in Oklahoma are chasing down leads as they try to find whoever killed two young girls last weekend. They say they are also still trying to determine a motive in the killings of 13-year-old Taylor Paschal-Placker and 11-year-old Skyla Whitaker.

4. The flag is at half-staff and the main chair was empty this morning on NBC's “Meet the Press” . The network honored host Tim Russert who died on Friday by dedicating the hour-long program to his life and work.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. deluge: n.

formal a large flood, or period when there is a lot of rain.

2. set to: adj.

someone who is set to do something is ready for it.

3. chase down: phr v

to find something or someone that you have been looking for.

4. lead: n.

a piece of information that may help you to solve a crime or mystery.

=clue

5. half-staff:

if a flag is flying at half-staff, it has been raised to the middle of the pole in order to show respect and sadness for someone who has died. Also called half-mast.

6. Meet the Press

"Meet the Press" is a weekly American television news/interview program produced by NBC. And Tim Russert is the moderator of “Meet the Press.”