美联社新闻一分钟 2007-08-26

1. Michigan has become the latest target for storms that have been pounding the Midwest. No one was injured when a twister hit here on Friday. But it left plenty of damage behind and residents and officials are just now getting to it.

2. More than two dozen people have been killed by a pair of deadly bombings in southern India. The blasts¹ went off minutes apart in two crowded areas in the city of Hyderabad. The government is calling this a terrorist² act.

3. Arson³ is suspected in some of the 170 fires that are burning uncontrolled across southern Greece. Officials say at least 46 people have been killed.

4. Police in Canada say two people were killed when this hot-air balloon caught fire and plummeted to the ground. Another 11 were seriously injured. Witnesses say the balloon caught fire shortly after takeoff and passengers jumped out almost immediately.

1 blasts   

n.爆炸( blast的名词复数 )；一阵（疾风等）；（吹奏乐器、哨子、汽车喇叭等突然发出的）响声；突如其来的强劲气流v.（用炸药）炸毁( blast的第三人称单数 )；狠打；发出刺耳的高音；向…猛吹，（用水）向…喷射

参考例句：

• The blasts were caused by pockets of methane gas that ignited. 爆炸是由甲烷气囊被引燃造成的。
• The massive blasts shook windows throughout the city, jolting sleeping residents awake. 大量的冲击波震动了整个城市的窗户，惊醒了睡梦中的居民。

2 terrorist   

n.恐怖主义者，恐怖分子

参考例句：

• Without the gun,I'm a sitting duck for any terrorist.没有这支枪，我就成了恐怖分子下手的目标了。
• The district was put on red alert during a terrorist's bomb scare.这个地区在得到恐怖分子炸弹恐吓后作了应急准备。

3 arson   

n.纵火，放火

参考例句：

• He was serving a ten spot for arson.他因纵火罪在服十年徒刑。
• He was arraigned on a charge of arson.他因被指控犯纵火罪而被传讯。

4 plummeted   

v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Share prices plummeted to an all-time low. 股票价格暴跌到历史最低点。
• A plane plummeted to earth. 一架飞机一头栽向地面。 来自《简明英汉词典》