美联社新闻一分钟 2007-03-22

1. Congressional Democrats¹ aren't backing down in their showdown with the White House over the firing of eight federal prosecutors². Today a House panel authorizes³ subpoenas⁵ for Karl Rove, Harriet Miers and others. However, the White House has said it could take the matter to court.

2. The Sago Mine has been shut down at least for the time being. Last year, twelve men died after an explosion in the West Virginia coal mine. The company that runs it says high production costs and weak prices forced the decision.

3. A consumer group is warning people they may want to limit what they eat at Chinese restaurants, especially if they are watching their weight. The group says most dishes are loaded with sodium⁶ and contain more than half the calories an average adult needs in an entire day.

4. NASA is offering new glimpses of the sun. It says these pictures prove that the sun's magnetic field is much more turbulent and dynamic than previously⁷ known.

 

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. showdown: n-count
A showdown is a big argument or conflict which is intended to settle a dispute that has lasted for a long time.

2. subpoena⁴: n-count 传票
A subpoena is a legal document telling someone that they must attend a court of law and give evidence as a witness.

3. sodium: n-uncount 钠
Sodium is a silvery-white chemical which combines with other chemicals. Salt is a sodium compound.

4. magnetic field: n-count 磁场
A magnetic field is an area around a magnet, or something functioning as a magnet.

1 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

3 authorizes   

授权，批准，委托( authorize的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The dictionary authorizes the two spellings 'traveler' and 'traveller'. 字典裁定traveler和traveller两种拼法都对。
• The dictionary authorizes the two spellings "honor" and "honour.". 字典裁定 honor 及 honour 两种拼法均可。

4 subpoena   

n.（法律）传票；v.传讯

参考例句：

• He was brought up to court with a subpoena.他接到传讯，来到法庭上。
• Select committees have the power to subpoena witnesses.特别委员会有权传唤证人。

5 subpoenas   

n.（传唤出庭的）传票( subpoena的名词复数 )v.（用传票）传唤（某人）( subpoena的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• My company has complied with committee subpoenas by supplying documents confirming all that I have said. 本公司按照委员会的要求，提供了能够证实我刚才发言的文件。 来自辞典例句
• Congressional Investigations: Subpoenas and Contempt Power. Report for Congress April 2, 2003. 金灿荣：《美国国会的监督功能》，载《教学与研究》2003年第2期。 来自互联网

6 sodium   

n.（化）钠

参考例句：

• Out over the town the sodium lights were lit.在外面，全城的钠光灯都亮了。
• Common salt is a compound of sodium and chlorine.食盐是钠和氯的复合物。

7 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。