美联社新闻一分钟 2006-05-29

1. German-born Pope Benedict XVI made a solemn visit to Auschwitz --- a Nazi¹ concentration camp where more than a million people, mostly Jews, died in World War II. He called it "a place of horror".

2. Doctors and medicine are arriving in Indonesia to help the thousands of people injured in a massive earthquake. More than 4,300 people are dead, tens of thousands are homeless. The U. S. promises millions of dollars in emergency aid.

3. Congressman² John Murtha says the follow-up from Marines allegedly killing³ Iraqi civilians⁴ could be worse than the Abu Ghraib scandal. Investigators⁵ looking into the matter have said they have evidence that points to the Marines. Murtha says the killings⁶ were covered up.

4. Roaring engines marked a somber⁷ remembrance this Memorial Day weekend. Rolling Thunder passed through the nation's capital in honor of prisoners of war and military men and women missing in action.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. solemn : adj
Someone or something that is solemn is very serious rather than cheerful or humorous.
e.g. His solemn little face broke into smiles.
= serious

2. concentration camp : n-count
A concentration camp is a prison in which large numbers of ordinary people are kept in very bad conditions, usually during a war.

3. aid : n-uncount
Aid is money, equipment, or services that are provided for people, countries, or organizations who need them but cannot provide them for themselves.
e.g. They have already pledged billions of dollars in aid.

4. follow-up : n-var
A follow-up is something that is done to continue or add to something done previously⁸.
e.g. One man was arrested during the raid and another during a follow-up operation.

5. look into : phrasal verb
If a person or organization is looking into a possible course of action, a problem, or a situation, they are finding out about it and examining the facts relating to it.
e.g. He had once looked into buying his own island off Nova Scotia...
= investigate

6. point to
suggest (the likelihood of) something; indicate something
e.g. all the evidence points to his guilty.

7. somber : adj
If someone is somber, they are serious or sad.
e.g. His expression became increasingly somber.

8. thunder : n-uncount
The thunder of something that is moving or making a sound is the loud deep noise it makes.
e.g. The thunder of the sea on the rocks seemed to blank out other thoughts.
= roar
Rolling Thunder
Rolling Thunder Inc., established in 1987, is a Vietnam Veterans organization that continues to work for the return of MIA and POW United States Service Members from Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.The President of the Organization is Artie Muller and his organization works to lobby the United States Government Officials to further investigate the issue of MIAs and POWs that are possibly held in captivity⁹ since the Vietnam War. Rolling Thunder is noted¹⁰ for its annual rally of Vietnam Veterans at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia every May since 1988. It always occurs on a weekend and takes place in the Pentagon parking lot.

9. in honor of : phrase
If something is arranged or happens in someone's honor or in honor of somebody, it is done specially¹¹ to show appreciation¹² of them.
e.g. a ceremony in honor of those killed in battle

10. action : n-uncount
The fighting which takes place in a war can be referred to as action.
e.g. 13 soldiers were killed and 10 wounded in action.

1 Nazi   

n.纳粹分子，adj.纳粹党的，纳粹的

参考例句：

• They declare the Nazi regime overthrown and sue for peace.他们宣布纳粹政权已被推翻，并出面求和。
• Nazi closes those war criminals inside their concentration camp.纳粹把那些战犯关在他们的集中营里。

2 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

3 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

4 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

5 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

7 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。

8 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

9 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

10 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

11 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

12 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。