美联社新闻一分钟 AP NEWS 2007-12-03

1. The fourth man charged for the murder of Sean Taylor faced a judge today. Jason Mitchell told the judge he understood the charges he faces. Mitchell and three others are accused¹ of breaking into Taylor's Florida home, surprising the football star and shooting² him last week. Taylor died the next day.

2. A winter storm socked in the Midwest and is on the East Coast. At least eight people have died on treacherous³ roads. Forecasters say 20 inches of snow fell in parts of Minnesota. And a foot of snow is possible in New England.

3. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez voted today in a referendum that would give him broad powers and a shot⁴ at being president for life. The contentious⁵ vote has raised tensions⁶ in the South American country. Chavez has said that he would only stay in office as long as the people voted him in.

4. And it is beginning to feel like winter in Mexico City. The capital city's new ice skating rink opened this weekend. Thousands turned out for a try at the ice. This rink is one of three that will stay open through the holidays.

1 accused   

n.被告v.指责(accuse的过去式和过去分词)；控告adj.被控告的

参考例句：

• The accused was found innocent. 被告被判定无罪。
• He was accused of committing adultery . 他被控通奸。

2 shooting   

n.射击，发射；猎场，狩猎场

参考例句：

• The soldiers began shooting away at the enemy positions.战士们开始朝敌人的阵地不断地射击。
• I was in the act of shooting him when I suddenly recognized him.我正要向他开枪时，突然认出了他。

3 treacherous   

adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的

参考例句：

• The surface water made the road treacherous for drivers.路面的积水对驾车者构成危险。
• The frozen snow was treacherous to walk on.在冻雪上行走有潜在危险。

4 shot   

n.炮弹，射击，射手；v.射击，发出，发芽；vbl.射击，发出，发芽

参考例句：

• He shot a wild duck.他射中一只野鸭。
• All the children shot out their hands for the money.所有的孩子突然伸出手来要钱。

5 contentious   

adj.好辩的，善争吵的

参考例句：

• She was really not of the contentious fighting sort.她委实不是好吵好闹的人。
• Since then they have tended to steer clear of contentious issues.从那时起，他们总想方设法避开有争议的问题。

6 tensions   

（情绪上的）紧张( tension的名词复数 )； 张力； 紧张的状态； （作家或电影导演制造的）紧张气氛

参考例句：

• Social tensions were manifested in the recent political crisis. 最近的政治危机显示了社会关系的紧张。
• These disagreements are symptomatic of the tensions within the party. 出现意见分歧表明该党内部的关系紧张。