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1. Barack Obama is backing away from John McCain's call for a series of joint¹ town hall appearances and is instead agreeing to three traditional debates. Obama's camp says there doesn't appear to be enough time to do anything other than three face-offs in September and October.

2. The Justice Department is expected to decide soon whether to close its investigation² into the 2001 anthrax attacks. Officials say they were preparing to seek an indictment³ of Army scientist Bruce Ivins before he committed suicide on Tuesday.Closing the probe would indicate officials believe he was acting⁴ alone.

3. At least four people have been killed as rival Palestinian factions⁵ battled today in Gaza. Tensions between Hamas and Fatah have been escalating⁶ all week as the two sides fight for control of the territory.

4. China is putting the last piece in plays for the upcoming Olympic opening ceremonies. Performers went through a full dress rehearsal⁷ Saturday complete with fireworks.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1.back away phrasal verb

to stop supporting a plan or idea, or stop being involved in something
back away from
The government has backed away from its nuclear weapons strategy.

2.face-off [countable]n.
informal especially American English a fight or argument

 3.full dress rehearsal

full dress rehearsal就是“大规模带妆彩排”，dress rehearsal指a full uninterrupted rehearsal in costumes shortly before the first performance，即“带妆彩排”。Rehearsal，“排练、演练”

4.complete with

complete with something
having particular equipment or features
e.g.The house comes complete with swimming pool and sauna.