澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2012-08-30

 Indonesian authorities have abandoned a search for a boatload of asylum¹ seekers. After rescue helicopters failed to find any sign of them. Australian authorities received a distress² call early this morning, saying the boat was sinking in Indonesia's Sunda Strait, 150 people are believed to have been on board.

 

The federal government has unveiled plans for a subsidized dental scheme for low income families. But hasn't said how it'll be funded. The means-tested scheme will start in 18 months and has be welcomed by health groups. But the Opposition³ says it's an unfunded promise.

 

In the United States, New Orleans is being hit by the full force of hurricane Isaac. Exactly 7 years after they city was devastated⁴ by hurricane Katrina. While not as severe, Isaac has produced torrential rain, storm force winds and dangerous storm surges. So far, the city's new flood defences are holding.

 

And the AC/DC classic "Long Way To The Top" is among this year's additions to the national sound registry. The rock anthem⁵ is about a band's life on the road. This year's entries span nearly a century of recorded music, documentaries and recordings⁶ of indigenous⁷ languages. The registry aims to preserve famous sounds with historical or social significance.

 

And those are the latest headlines from ABC News.

1 asylum   

n.避难所，庇护所，避难

参考例句：

• The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
• Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。

2 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。

3 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。

4 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

5 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

6 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

7 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。