美联社新闻一分钟 2007-01-31

1. A violent day in Iraq during the holiest day in the Shiite calendar. At least 44 people were killed in a wave of violence striking several cities. Gunmen ambushed¹ this bus carrying pilgrims, killing² at least 7.

2. Barbaro could be laid to rest at Churchill Downs, scene of his greatest triumph. Officials there say they'd be honored if the horse was buried in the garden joining four other Kentucky Derby winners. Barbaro was euthanized Monday after an array of complications.

3. In Miami, preparations are being made for a safe Super Bowl. Fans can expect airport type security with mandatory³ pat-downs. Authorities say they have planed, prepared and practised for almost every situation.

4. How's this for a hybrid⁴? It clucks like a hen, has the head of a rooster and walks on duck legs. Parkle is likely the result of a mutation⁵ during gestation⁶. A veterinarian says it's impossible for a chicken and a duck to mate.

 

 

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. euthanize : PHR
To kill someone who is very ill and will never get better in order to end their suffering, usually done at their request or with their consent.

2. pat : VERB
If you pat something or someone, you tap them lightly, usually with your hand held flat.

3. hybrid : N-COUNT
A hybrid is an animal or plant that has been bred from two different species of animal or plant.

4. cluck : VERB
When a hen clucks, it makes short, low noises.

5. gestation : N-UNCOUNT
Gestation is the process in which babies grow inside their mother's body before they are born.

6. veterinarian : N-COUNT
A veterinarian is a person who is qualified⁷ to treat sick or injured animals.

1 ambushed   

v.埋伏( ambush的过去式和过去分词 )；埋伏着

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The military vehicles were ambushed. 军车遭到伏击。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 mandatory   

adj.命令的；强制的；义务的；n.受托者

参考例句：

• It's mandatory to pay taxes.缴税是义务性的。
• There is no mandatory paid annual leave in the U.S.美国没有强制带薪年假。

4 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。

5 mutation   

n.变化，变异，转变

参考例句：

• People who have this mutation need less sleep than others.有这种突变的人需要的睡眠比其他人少。
• So far the discussion has centered entirely around mutation in the strict sense.到目前为止，严格来讲，讨论完全集中于围绕突变问题上。

6 gestation   

n.怀孕；酝酿

参考例句：

• The gestation period can be anything between 95 and 150 days.妊娠期从95天至150天不等。
• This film was two years in gestation.这部电影酝酿了两年。

7 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。