澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-01-14

 Fire fighters in New South Wales are battling a large out-of-control blaze in the Warrumbungle National Park in the state's north. Several buildings at the Siding Spring Observatory¹ and at least six properties west of Coonabarabran have been destroyed. More than 100 people have spent the night in evacuation centres. The fire has been downgraded to a “watch-and-act”.

 

 

A new study has found that Australians now own as many guns as they did at the time of the Port Arthur Massacre² in 1996. Research by the University of Sydney shows Australians have restocked over the last 10 years, importing more than one million firearms.

 

 

A man has been shot in the chest and stomach in Sydney's west. Police found him lay on a road at home bush around 11 o'clock last night. The man has been taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for treatment, but his condition is unknown.

 

 

Police in India have arrested six men after another brutal³ gang rape⁴ on a bus. It comes just weeks after the gang rape and murder of a woman on a bus in New Delhi sparked widespread outrage⁵ and protests.

 

 

Queensland actor, playwright⁶ and film star Bille Brown who (error in speaking) has died at the age of 61. He began his career alongside Geoffrey Rush at the Queensland Theatre Company in the 1970s. He went on to perform on London's West End and on Broadway and in several films.

1 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。

2 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

3 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

4 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。

5 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

6 playwright   

n.剧作家，编写剧本的人

参考例句：

• Gwyn Thomas was a famous playwright.格温·托马斯是著名的剧作家。
• The playwright was slaughtered by the press.这位剧作家受到新闻界的无情批判。