美联社新闻一分钟 2007-04-17

1. It's been called the deadliest shooting rampage in the country's history. At least 30 people were killed when a man opened fire in a Virginia Tech dorm and then in an academic building before he was killed. So far investigators¹ have not offered any motive² for the attack.

2. President Bush says he is saddenedand horrified³ by the attack. Speaking this afternoon from the White House, the president offered his thoughts and prayers to the victims.

3. Residents in the Northeast are doing their best to drive out after a massive nor'easter moved through this weekend. Some areas got hit with more than 8 inches of rain, causing widespread flooding. The situation was made worse by winds that gusted⁵ up to 80 miles per hour.

4. Robert Cheruiyot has done it again. The Kenyan ran away with a Boston Marathon title for the second year in a row. He defied rather tough weather conditions to win the race in a time of 2 hours 14 minutes and 13 seconds.

 

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. sadden: verb
If something saddens you, it makes you feel sad.

2. gust⁴: verb
When the wind gusts⁶, it blows with short, strong, sudden rushes.

3. in a row
If something happens several times in a row, it happens that number of times without a break.

1 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》

2 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

3 horrified   

a.(表现出)恐惧的

参考例句：

• The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。
• We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。

4 gust   

n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发

参考例句：

• A gust of wind blew the front door shut.一阵大风吹来，把前门关上了。
• A gust of happiness swept through her.一股幸福的暖流流遍她的全身。

5 gusted   

n. 突然一阵 n. 风味 vi. 猛吹

参考例句：

• The wind gusted up to 45 miles an hour. 风力达每小时45英里。
• As the strong winds gusted against the kites, a string kept them in check. 一阵强风刮向风筝，一根弦控制住了风筝。

6 gusts   

一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作

参考例句：

• Her profuse skirt bosomed out with the gusts. 她的宽大的裙子被风吹得鼓鼓的。
• Turbulence is defined as a series of irregular gusts. 紊流定义为一组无规则的突风。