AP美联社一分钟新闻 2008-11-21（在线收听）

1. Asian markets stumbled overnight amid fears of a protracted recession. Benchmarks in Japan and Hong kong each lost about six percent. The Dow Jones Industrials opened below 8000 for the first time today in five years.

2. A vote to bail out the big three American automakers will not take place today after all. Senate majority leader Harry Reid canceled it, saying he did not have the votes for it to pass. The heads of Chrysler, Ford and GM testified in front of House leaders on Wednesday, asking for $25 billion in emergency loans.

3. Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano may be the next director of the Department of Homeland Security. The two-term governor is neither confirming nor denying reports. She will reportedly be offered the position once the vetting process is complete.

4. A tool sack that got away from an astronaut during a spacewalk Tuesday--$100,000 in value. The astronaut was trying to clean up some grease when a bag and everything in it floated away. There will be more spacewalks, the astronauts are just going to have to share grease gun(s).

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. protracted: adj.

Something, usually something unpleasant, that is protracted lasts a long time, especially longer than usual or longer than you hoped. (FORMAL)

2. vet: v.

to check someone's past activities, relationships etc in order to make sure that person is suitable for a particular job, especially an important one.

3. grease: n. 润滑剂

Grease is a thick, oily substance which is put on the moving parts of cars and other machines in order to make them work smoothly.