美联社新闻一分钟 2006-07-09

1. Amid tensions over North Korean nuclear tests, the U.S. dispatched a top-of-the-line guided missile destroyer to Japan. The USS Mustin is equipped with sensitive missile-tracking radar¹. The warship² and its crew of 300 sailors will be permanently³ assigned to the region.

2. Astronauts Piers⁴ Sellers and Michael Fossum went on their first spacewalk today. They spent several hours outside the International Space Station, conducted simulated repairs while perched at the extended end of a robotic arm. It's the first of three planned orbital excursions for the Discovery crew.

3. Pope Benedict strongly defended traditional family values during a visit to Spain. The Pontiff challenged the socialist⁵ government's reforms, including gay marriage. It's Benedict's 3rd foreign trip of his papacy.

4. "Pirates of the Caribbean" is taking in a very nice treasure and it sure isn't fool's gold. It's estimated the second film in the series earned a record 55.5 million dollars on its opening day.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. top of the line : noun
the best (most expensive) in a given line of merchandise

2. guided missile : n-count 导向导弹
A guided missile is a military rocket that can be directed in flight to change its flight path. In typical usage the term "missile" refers to guided rockets, and "rockets" to unguided ones. The differences between the two may be fairly minor⁶ other than the guidance system. The first missiles to be used operationally were a series of German missiles of WW2. Most famous of these are the V1 and V2, both of which used a simple mechanical autopilot to keep the missile flying along a pre-chosen route. Less well known were a series of anti-shipping and anti-aircraft missiles, typically based on a simple radio control system directed by the operator.

3. destroyer : n-count 驱逐舰
A destroyer is a small, heavily armed warship.

4. missile-tracking radar : 导弹追踪雷达

5. spacewalk : noun
a period of time that an astronaut spends in space outside a spacecraft

6. papacy : n-sing
The papacy is the position, power, and authority of the Pope, including the period of time that a particular person holds this position.

7. take in : phrasal verb
If a store, restaurant, theatre, or other business takes in a certain amount of money, they get that amount from people buying goods or services. (mainly AM BUSINESS; in BRIT, usually use take)

8. fool's gold : n-uncount, disapproval
If you say that a plan for getting money is fool's gold, you mean that it is foolish to carry it out because you are sure that it will fail or cause problems.

1 radar   

n.雷达，无线电探测器

参考例句：

• They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
• Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。

2 warship   

n.军舰，战舰

参考例句：

• He is serving on a warship in the Pacific.他在太平洋海域的一艘军舰上服役。
• The warship was making towards the pier.军舰正驶向码头。

3 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

4 piers   

n.水上平台( pier的名词复数 )；（常设有娱乐场所的）突堤；柱子；墙墩

参考例句：

• Most road bridges have piers rising out of the vally. 很多公路桥的桥墩是从河谷里建造起来的。 来自辞典例句
• At these piers coasters and landing-craft would be able to discharge at all states of tide. 沿岸航行的海船和登陆艇，不论潮汐如何涨落，都能在这种码头上卸载。 来自辞典例句

5 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

6 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。