美联社新闻一分钟 2005-07-02

1. Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman on the US Supreme¹ Court often casting a swing vote on divisive issues says she is retiring.

2. President Bush vows² to name O'Connor's successor quickly, no matter who it is, a bruising³ Senate confirmation⁴ fight is expected.

3. US forces scour⁵ the Afghan mountains for an American military team missing in the same area where a US helicopter was shot down.

4. Near Baghdad, a suspicious fire paralyzes a water plant amid one hundred degree heat, also gunmen kill an aide to Iraq's top Shiite cleric.

5. And finally, the all-star Live 8 concerts urging a political solution to African poverty could draw a million people at shows in 10 cities.
WORDS IN THE NEWS

1.swing:adj.if emotions or opinions swing, or if something swings them, they change quickly to the opposite of what they were.
eg.Do campaign gifts swing votes ?

2.divisive:adj.causing a lot of disagreement between people
eg.The strike was a divisive issue in the community.

3.bruising:adj.difficult and unpleasant, and leaving you feeling tired or emotionally harmed.
eg.For farmers this was a bruising experience.

4.confirmation:n.a statement, document etc that says that something is definitely.

5.scour:v.to search very carefully and thoroughly⁶ through an area.
eg.Her family began to scour the countryside for a suitable house.

6.paralyze(=paralyse):v.to make something unable to operate normally.
eg.Motor traffic was paralysed in much of the city.

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 vows   

誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿

参考例句：

• Matrimonial vows are to show the faithfulness of the new couple. 婚誓体现了新婚夫妇对婚姻的忠诚。
• The nun took strait vows. 那位修女立下严格的誓愿。

3 bruising   

adj.殊死的；十分激烈的v.擦伤(bruise的现在分词形式)

参考例句：

• He suffered cracked ribs and bruising. 他断了肋骨还有挫伤。
• He slipped and fell, badly bruising an elbow. 他滑倒了，一只胳膊肘严重擦伤。 来自辞典例句

4 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

5 scour   

v.搜索；擦，洗，腹泻，冲刷

参考例句：

• Mother made me scour the family silver.母亲让我擦洗家里的银器。
• We scoured the telephone directory for clues.我们仔细查阅电话簿以寻找线索。

6 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。