美国参议院民主党人投票支持伊朗核协议

US Senate Democrats¹ Vote to Protect Iran Nuclear Deal 美国参议院民主党人投票支持伊朗核协议

In the News

The United States Senate has blocked a resolution to reject the agreement between world powers and Iran. The Senate action is a major foreign policy victory for President Barack Obama.

The Republican-led Senate was considering a resolution to “disapprove” of the Iran agreement. Senators voted 58 to 42 to bring the measure up for debate. That was two votes less than the 60 votes required to support the bill.

The Reuters news service says all 42 of the votes against the measure were from Democrats or independents who normally vote with them.

US to Accept 10,000 Syrian Refugees in Coming Year

The United States said Thursday it will accept at least 10,000 Syrian refugees in the coming year. The U.S. government also announced plans to increase its humanitarian³ assistance for those fleeing the violence in Syria.

A spokesman for President Obama said the president has directed officials to make preparations to let the refugees enter the country, starting next month. The United States accepts 70,000 refugees from around the world each year.

The spokesman added that security investigations⁵ on the new arrivals will be “robust⁶” so that U.S. national security is not endangered. Intelligence chief James Clapper said earlier that he feared Islamic State militants⁷ might hide among refugees from the Middle East as they travel to other countries.

Rebel Attack on Syrian Air Base Kills 56 Soldiers

Al-Qaida-led rebels killed 56 Syrian government soldiers during an attack on an air base in Idlib province.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory⁸ for Human Rights said the soldiers were killed either during the capture of Abu al-Duhur air base or a short time later. The group said that 40 soldiers were taken prisoner. Many others were reported missing.

Rebels put videos on the Internet to show Nusra Front fighters exploring the air base in Idlib after seizing it. Syrian state television had confirmed government troops had left the base.

Chinese Leader Notes ‘Difficulties’ Facing Economy, But No ‘Hard Landing’

Chinese Premier⁹ Li Keqiang says his country's economy is facing "a number of difficulties and downward pressure." But he expressed hope the economy would not experience what he called a "hard landing."

Mr. Li spoke⁴ at the World Economic Forum¹⁰ in Dalian, China. He noted¹¹ that a slowing worldwide economy might affect China's economic growth. Still, he said, the Chinese economy is "within a reasonable range." He also expressed hope that China will meet its main economic targets this year.

Heavy Flooding, Rescues as Rain Hits Japan

Heavy rains in central and northern Japan caused major flooding Thursday. The rains forced tens of thousands of people to leave areas that have already received heavy rainfall.

The worst hit area was the city of Joso, about 50 kilometers northeast of Tokyo. There, the Kinugawa River could not contain rising waters that overflowed¹² into the surrounding community.

Japan has received heavy rains this week from what was Typhoon Etau. Some areas have received more than 50 centimeters of rainfall.

New Report says Sanders Leading Clinton Among Iowa Democrats

A new political survey shows U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders is the most popular presidential candidate among likely Democratic Party voters in Iowa. Quinnipiac University released the results of the survey Thursday. It found that 41 percent of Iowa’s Democratic voters expressed support for the Vermont senator.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton finished in second place, with 40 percent. Twelve percent of those questioned expressed support for Vice² President Joe Biden. He has yet to say if he plans to compete for the Democratic presidential nomination¹³.

Next February, Iowa voters will start the process to choose the party’s candidate for president in 2016.

Words in This Story

robust – adj. our sun and the planets that move around it

range – n. something of relatively¹⁴ small size

survey – n. an instrument that is used for examining something

1 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

6 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

7 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

8 observatory   

n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台

参考例句：

• Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
• Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。

9 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

10 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

11 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

12 overflowed   

溢出的

参考例句：

• Plates overflowed with party food. 聚会上的食物碟满盘盈。
• A great throng packed out the theater and overflowed into the corridors. 一大群人坐满剧院并且还有人涌到了走廊上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

14 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。