美联社新闻一分钟 2006-06-20

1. An al-Qaeda-linked group claims it kidnapped two American soldiers. The GIs were reported missing after a deadly attack at a U.S. checkpoint Friday night south of Baghdad. Thousands of Iraqi and U.S. troops are now searching for the soldiers.

2. The governor of Texas sent National Guard troops into Houston today as torrential rainfall flooded homes and highways. Forecasters say ten inches of rain fell in just a few hours.

3. The National Guard is also being sent to New Orleans. At the mayor's request, the governor is sending extra security to patrol the hurricane-devastated city. This comes after five teenagers were gunned down at this intersection¹ over the weekend.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was cited for driving without a valid² motorcycle license³ and for not wearing a helmet. Roethlisberger is recovering after being seriously injured when he crashed into a woman's car last week. The 24-year-old was also fined nearly 400 dollars.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. GI : n-count
A GI is a soldier in the United States army.

2. torrential : adj
Torrential rain pours down very rapidly and in great quantities.

3. at someone's request : phrase
If you do something at someone's request, you do it because they have asked you to.
e.g. The evacuation is being organized at the request of the United Nations Secretary General.

4. gun down : phrasal verb
If someone is gunned down, they are shot and severely⁴ injured or killed. (JOURNALISM)
e.g. He had been gunned down and killed at point-blank range.

5. intersection : n-count
An intersection is a place where roads or other lines meet or cross.
e.g. at the intersection of two main canals.
= junction

1 intersection   

n.交集，十字路口，交叉点；[计算机] 交集

参考例句：

• There is a stop sign at an intersection.在交叉路口处有停车标志。
• Bridges are used to avoid the intersection of a railway and a highway.桥用来避免铁路和公路直接交叉。

2 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？

3 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

4 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。