美国有线新闻 CNN 2013-03-16

 North America, South America, Europe, we're taking you all over in today's show, and we're starting with a trip from one Washington landmark¹ to another.

Start at the White House, you know who lives there, this week, he is heading over to the U.S. capital building, except for, when they are invited to make a speech to Congress, it's a trip that presidents don't make too often. President Obama is making it three times this week, he went to Capital Hill yesterday and he's scheduled to go back today, and tomorrow, he is waiting with members of Congress, House and Senate, Democrats² and Republicans. And he is planning to talk about some of the big political issues facing the country. Guns, immigration, the federal budget.

Congress is getting ready to debate the budget. If they want to pass one, members of the House and Senate and president Obama will all have to work together. Representative Paul Ryan, the Republican chairman of the House Budget Committee announced his budget proposal yesterday. Senate and Democrats are planning to announce theirs today, and president Obama could release his budget proposal in early April.

Next up, we're heading across the Atlantic Ocean to Vatican City, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. The head of that church is the Pope, and the conclave³ to select the new Pope started yesterday. 115 cardinals⁴, other Catholic leaders from around the world have gathered to the Vatican. Yesterday they made their way into the Sistine Chapel⁵ and then the doors were shut behind them. The cardinals stay in isolation⁶ during the voting process.

"As the cardinals come in, they will take a vow⁷ of secrecy⁸, there'll be no cell phones, no pagers, no newspapers, no messages to the outside of any sort, because it's very important that they keep their considerations here private. Then when it comes the time for a vote, each of the cardinals will get a piece of paper, which he will write upon, and say in effect, this is my vote for the Pope, he will fold his piece of paper twice, he will hold it overhead and then walk right down the center aisle⁹ alone to the front where he'll kneel at the altar for a moment, then he will drop his paper into a receptacle, upon the altar."

All right, this is how the results are announced, black smoke from yesterday's vote means the cardinals didn't select a new Pope, when one is elected, you'll see white smoke.

1 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

2 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 conclave   

n.秘密会议，红衣主教团

参考例句：

• Signore,I ask and I prey,that you break this conclave.各位阁下，我请求，并祈祷，你们能停止这次秘密会议。
• I met my partner at that conclave and my life moved into a huge shift.我就是在那次大会上遇到了我的伴侣的，而我的生活就转向了一个巨大的改变。

4 cardinals   

红衣主教( cardinal的名词复数 )； 红衣凤头鸟（见于北美，雄鸟为鲜红色）； 基数

参考例句：

• cardinals in scarlet robes 身披红袍的枢机主教
• A conclave of cardinals was held to elect the new Pope. 红衣主教团举行了秘密会议来选举新教皇。

5 chapel   

n.小教堂，殡仪馆

参考例句：

• The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。
• She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel.那个星期天的下午，她在小教堂的演出，可以说是登峰造极。

6 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

7 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

8 secrecy   

n.秘密，保密，隐蔽

参考例句：

• All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。
• Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。

9 aisle   

n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道

参考例句：

• The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
• The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。