澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-01-18

 Victoria's record floods look likely to spread to more towns across the north and west of the state. Horsham remains¹ on alert, waiting for those floodwaters to peak later today. So far, six homes have been flooded and another 150 are under threat. 

 

The search is resuming this morning for an eight-year-old boy missing in Victoria. Lachlyn Collins was swept away while swimming in a billabong with his brother and sister near Shepparton in the state's northeast. Helicopters, police divers² and volunteers scoured³ the area for more than six hours yesterday before the search was called off. 

 

Queensland police are stepping up their efforts to protect flooded homes and businesses from looters. Police have now charged 15 people for looting. One hundred interstate police have been called in to help. They'll begin patrolling flood-affected streets in Brisbane and Ipswich from today.

 

Tunisia has a new national unity⁴ government which will include three opposition⁵ leaders. It's hoped it will be enough to quell⁶ the unrest which has again erupted on the streets. Protesters have been demanding the ruling party of the ousted⁷ president give up power. 

 

And Sir Michael Somare is back in Papua New Guinea's new top job. He stepped down as prime minister a month ago amid allegations of official misconduct. A short statement, announcing Sir Michael's return, makes no mention of the allegations. And he's given no (口误) reason for his change of heart.

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 divers   

adj.不同的；种种的

参考例句：

• He chose divers of them,who were asked to accompany him.他选择他们当中的几个人，要他们和他作伴。
• Two divers work together while a standby diver remains on the surface.两名潜水员协同工作，同时有一名候补潜水员留在水面上。

3 scoured   

走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮

参考例句：

• We scoured the area for somewhere to pitch our tent. 我们四处查看，想找一个搭帐篷的地方。
• The torrents scoured out a channel down the hill side. 急流沿着山腰冲刷出一条水沟。

4 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

5 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。

6 quell   

v.压制，平息，减轻

参考例句：

• Soldiers were sent in to quell the riots.士兵们被派去平息骚乱。
• The armed force had to be called out to quell violence.不得不出动军队来镇压暴力行动。

7 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。