美联社新闻一分钟 2006-01-19

1. The Supreme¹ Court rules a lower court was wrong to strike down New Hampshire abortion² restrictions³, but steers⁵ clear of a major abortion ruling.

2. Consumer prices rose by the largest rate in five years in 2005, reflecting a surge in energy costs although other prices remained steady.

3. NASA scrubs its launch of an unmanned spacecraft on a 9-year voyage to Pluto⁶ for a second straight day this time due to Maryland weather.

4. The United States, European Union and France reject Iran's request for more talks with European powers on Tehran’s nuclear program.

5. Hilary Swank and Chad Lowe recently announce their separation, but the Oscar-winning actress says they hope to rescue their 8-year marriage

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. strike sth down: (LAW) phrasal verb [M] US LEGAL
to rule that a law is illegal and should not be obeyed:
e.g. The courts struck down local segregation⁷ laws because they violated the federal constitution.

2. steer⁴ clear (of somebody/something):
to avoid someone or something unpleasant or difficult:
e.g. Jo tried to steer clear of political issues.

3. scrub: verb (STOP) (-bb-)
to decide not to do something you had planned to do; cancel:
e.g. We had to scrub our plans when I lost my job.
PHR-V

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 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 steer   

vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶

参考例句：

• If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车，我就来驾车。
• It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。

5 steers   

n.阉公牛，肉用公牛( steer的名词复数 )v.驾驶( steer的第三人称单数 )；操纵；控制；引导

参考例句：

• This car steers easily. 这部车子易于驾驶。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Good fodder fleshed the steers up. 优质饲料使菜牛长肉。 来自辞典例句

6 Pluto   

n.冥王星

参考例句：

• Pluto is the furthest planet from the sun.冥王星是离太阳最远的行星。
• Pluto has an elliptic orbit.冥王星的轨道是椭圆形的。

7 segregation   

n.隔离，种族隔离

参考例句：

• Many school boards found segregation a hot potato in the early 1960s.在60年代初，许多学校部门都觉得按水平分班是一个棘手的问题。
• They were tired to death of segregation and of being kicked around.他们十分厌恶种族隔离和总是被人踢来踢去。