IMF Chief to Face Criminal Sexual Assault Charge

     New York City police say they expect to formally charge the head of the International Monetary¹ Fund early Sunday with criminal sexual assault, attempted rape² and the unlawful imprisonment³ of a hotel maid.

    New York police said 62-year-old Dominique Strauss-Kahn was apprehended⁴ while sitting on an Air France plane that was idle on the tarmac at JFK international airport before its takeoff to Paris. Police said he was not handcuffed, but taken off the plane and into custody⁵.

    A 32-year-old maid told authorities she had entered his room earlier in the day at the Sofitel hotel near Manhattan's Time Square and that he had tried to sexually assault her. After she reported what had happened, she was taken to an area hospital.  Hotel staff were cooperating with authorities.

    A spokesman for the IMF in Washington declined to comment on the matter prior to Strauss-Kahn being charged.

    In 2008, Strauss-Kahn, who is married to a famous former French television newscaster, was investigated over whether he had had an improper⁶ relationship with a subordinate employee from the fund's Africa division.

    An investigation⁷ board said his actions had been regrettable, and reflected a serious error in judgment⁸, but also that the relationship had been consensual.

    Heading into the 2012 French presidential race, Strauss-Kahn was considered a leading contender in the crowded opposition⁹ Socialist¹⁰ Party to challenge incumbent¹¹ President Nicolas Sarkozy.

    But in the past few weeks, there had been repeated reports in French media criticizing him for what was considered an excessive and luxurious¹² lifestyle in Washington.  His aides denied the charges, saying these were part of a campaign orchestrated by his political opponents.

    One of his lawyers told French radio, the attacks were unjust and unbearable¹³.

    Candidates for the Socialist Party primary are due before the middle of July.

    Late Saturday, French media commented Strauss-Kahn's arrest could cost him the top job at the IMF which he has held since 2007 as well as any chance at the French presidency¹⁴.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

2 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

3 imprisonment   

n.关押，监禁，坐牢

参考例句：

• His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment.他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。
• He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for committing bigamy.他因为犯重婚罪被判入狱一年。

4 apprehended   

逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解

参考例句：

• She apprehended the complicated law very quickly. 她很快理解了复杂的法律。
• The police apprehended the criminal. 警察逮捕了罪犯。

5 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

6 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
• Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。

7 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

8 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

9 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

10 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

11 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

12 luxurious   

adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的

参考例句：

• This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
• The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。

13 unbearable   

adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的

参考例句：

• It is unbearable to be always on thorns.老是处于焦虑不安的情况中是受不了的。
• The more he thought of it the more unbearable it became.他越想越觉得无法忍受。

14 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。