美联社新闻一分钟 2005-12-12

1. Iraq says it will close borders, extend curfew hours and ban travel as part of stringent¹ security measures to protect voters during this week's parliamentary elections.

2. A candlelight vigil's held in Toronto as concern grows over the fate of peace activists² kidnapped in Iraq including two Canadians after a deadline to kill them passes.

3. Teheran offers the United States a share in building a new nuclear power plant in an apparent effort to curb³ US opposition⁴ to Iran's atomic program.

4. British police say spectacular explosions at one of the country's largest oil depots⁵, north of London, which injured 43 people were apparently⁶ accidental.

5. Comedians⁸ pay tribute to Richard Pryor , the groundbreaking actor comedian⁷, who influenced a generation of stand-up artists. He died Saturday at age 65.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. stringent
adj.严厉的, 迫切的
1 a stringent law, rule, standard etc is very strict and must be obeyed: --stringent anti-noise regulations
2 stringent economic conditions exist when there is a severe lack of money and strict controls on the supply of money: -- stringently⁹ adv -- stringency¹⁰ n [U]

2. candlelight
n.烛火, 黄昏
n [U] the gentle light produced when a candle burns --The jewels sparkled in the candlelight. by candlelight --We ate by candlelight

3. vigil
n.守夜
1 a period of time, especially during the night, when you stay awake in order to pray, remain with someone who is ill, or watch for danger: --Eva and Paul kept a constant vigil by their daughter's hospital bedside
2 a silent political protest in which people wait outside a building, especially during the night: silent/candlelit vigil --2000 demonstrators held a candlelit vigil outside the embassy

4. curb
1 an influence which helps to control or limit something: curb on --We are trying to keep a curb on their activities
2 AmE the raised edge of a road, between where people can walk and cars can drive: British Equivalent: kerb pavement, sidewalk

5. groundbreaking
adj groundbreaking work involves making new discoveries, using new methods etc --groundbreaking research

6. stand-up
在这里为: Of or designating a performer who stands alone on a stage, as in a nightclub, and delivers a comic monologue¹¹.
如: stand-up comic/comedy/artist/bar 文中的stand-up artist/comic 用我们的话说就是"独角滑稽秀"的意思.

另外关于"stand-up"的一些补充:
1.Standing¹² erect¹³; upright: a standup collar.
2.Taken, done, or used while standing: a standup supper; a standup bar.
3.Slang. Courageous¹⁴ and steadfast¹⁵: a standup guy.

1 stringent   

adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的

参考例句：

• Financiers are calling for a relaxation of these stringent measures.金融家呼吁对这些严厉的措施予以放宽。
• Some of the conditions in the contract are too stringent.合同中有几项条件太苛刻。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

4 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。

5 depots   

仓库( depot的名词复数 )； 火车站； 车库； 军需库

参考例句：

• Public transportation termini and depots are important infrastructures for a city. 公交场站设施是城市重要的基础设施。
• In the coastal cities are equipped with after-sales service and depots. 在各沿海城市均设有服务部及售后维修站。

6 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

7 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。

8 comedians   

n.喜剧演员，丑角( comedian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The voice was rich, lordly, Harvardish, like all the boring radio comedians'imitations. 声音浑厚、威严，俨然是哈佛出身的气派，就跟无线电里所有的滑稽演员叫人已经听腻的模仿完全一样。 来自辞典例句
• He distracted them by joking and imitating movie and radio comedians. 他用开玩笑的方法或者模仿电影及广播中的滑稽演员来对付他们。 来自辞典例句

9 stringently   

adv.严格地，严厉地

参考例句：

• The regulations must be stringently observed. 这些规则必须严格遵守。 来自辞典例句
• Sustainable Development formulations are composed of controlled and stringently selected items. 可持续发展标准的条款是经过严格选定的。 来自互联网

10 stringency   

n.严格，紧迫，说服力；严格性；强度

参考例句：

• Bankers say financial stringency constitutes a serious threat to the country. 银行家们说信用紧缩对国家构成了严重的威胁。 来自辞典例句
• The gaze were filled with care, stringency, trust, and also hope! 有呵护，有严格，有信任，更有希望！ 来自互联网

11 monologue   

n.长篇大论，（戏剧等中的）独白

参考例句：

• The comedian gave a long monologue of jokes.喜剧演员讲了一长段由笑话组成的独白。
• He went into a long monologue.他一个人滔滔不绝地讲话。

12 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

13 erect   

n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的

参考例句：

• She held her head erect and her back straight.她昂着头，把背挺得笔直。
• Soldiers are trained to stand erect.士兵们训练站得笔直。

14 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

15 steadfast   

adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的

参考例句：

• Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
• He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。