美国有线新闻 CNN 2013-12-26

 It's our panel to make program of 2013 and it starts withnext year's Winter Olympics. They are happening in February in the Russian cityof Sochi. There's been some controversy¹ involving the games about the Russianlaw regarding homosexuality that under the law, it is not illegal to behomosexual, but it is illegal to promote homosexuality or same sexrelationships to minors². Russian President Vladimir Putin says everyone,athletes and spectators, will be welcomed at the Olympics. Yesterday, the USannounced its delegation³ for the Olympics for people who will represent the USin Sochi. Some analysts⁴ think that who's going and who's not could be sending amessage. The delegation includes several openly homosexual American athletes.It doesn't include President Obama, any members of the first family or anymembers of the Presidential cabinet. The first time more than ten years that'shappened.

 

Next up, diplomacy⁵.How countries and governments interact. US and North Korea don't havediplomatic relation, so you don't usually see officials from one countrymeeting with officials from the other. One high-profile American is visitingNorth Korea's leader, but we're not talking about ambassador or governmentemployee. It's a former pro-basketball star.

 

With his andtattoos and at times outlandish behavior, there's no denying former NBA starDennis Rodman loves attracting attention. And the way he's heading is certainthe world will be watching, as the 52-year-old makes his third visit into acountry ruled by one of the world most repressive regimes.

 

"I want tobridge a gap with North Korea. That's all I want. "

 

It comes at a timeof dramatic political upheaval⁶ in North Korea. Just last week, the country'syoung leader Kim Jong-un had his uncle executed, in what some experts believeis just a beginning of many more purges⁷ to come. A power struggle is believedto be the reason why he had his mentor⁸ and second in command allegedly killedby machine gun fire. And with all the instability, it would appeal that the supremeleader could use a good friend.

 

"I'm callingon my friend. He is my friend. If you hate my cousin, hate my cousin. He is myfriend. "

 

Rodman istravelling with a documentary crew that will film him training the North Koreanbasketball team. They are preparing for exhibition match in January, against agroup of former pro-basketball players to celebrate the birthday of KimJong-un, a die-hard basketball fan. Many are wondering whether Rodman willraise the issue of 45-year-old American missionary⁹ Kenneth Bae, who issentenced to 15 years prison in Pyongyang for what the authority say was anattempt to overthrow¹⁰ the regime.

 

But Rodman saysthis trip isn't political, although in previous visits he has made himselfavailable for basketball diplomacy, offering to be a mediator¹¹ between his closefriend Kim and US president Barack Obama.

 

"And this guyjust wanna do one thing, just to have a conversation with you. That's it. Sowhy Obama, are u afraid to talk to Dennis Rodman? "

1 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

2 minors   

n.未成年人( minor的名词复数 )；副修科目；小公司；[逻辑学]小前提v.[主美国英语]副修，选修，兼修( minor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors. 法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had three minors this semester. 这学期他有三门副修科目。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

4 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

5 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

6 upheaval   

n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱

参考例句：

• It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
• The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。

7 purges   

清除异己( purge的名词复数 )； 整肃（行动）； 清洗； 泻药

参考例句：

• Mandelshtam perished in the purges of the 1930s, Akhmatova remained silent. 曼杰利什坦姆在30年代的清洗中死去，阿赫玛托娃也销声匿迹。
• He purges his subconscious and meditates only on God. 他净化他的潜意识且只思念上帝。

8 mentor   

n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导

参考例句：

• He fed on the great ideas of his mentor.他以他导师的伟大思想为支撑。
• He had mentored scores of younger doctors.他指导过许多更年轻的医生。

9 missionary   

adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士

参考例句：

• She taught in a missionary school for a couple of years.她在一所教会学校教了两年书。
• I hope every member understands the value of missionary work. 我希望教友都了解传教工作的价值。

10 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

11 mediator   

n.调解人，中介人

参考例句：

• He always takes the role of a mediator in any dispute.他总是在争论中充当调停人的角色。
• He will appear in the role of mediator.他将出演调停者。