在线英语听力室_免费在线英语听力学习网站

1. President Barack Obama flew to Canada this morning for his first foreign trip as president. He is expected to discuss trade issues, the war in Afghanistan and clean energy with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

2. California lawmakers have finally approved a long-awaited budget. It includes spending cuts, tax increases in borrowing, intended to close a 42-billion-dollar deficit¹. The budget now goes to Governor Schwarzenegger who is expected to sign the measure.

3. The number of laid-off workers receiving unemployment benefits has jumped to an all-time high. Nearly five million people are jobless, more than 600,000 made new claims. Both figures were worse than expected and new projections² show unemployment rising for the rest of the year.

4. This Mexican bull was in the ring but he didn't wanna fight. He was being chased during the bullfight when he escaped the ring and exited into a parking lot. Matadors⁴ eventually herded⁵ him back into the ring where he was later killed in the bullfight.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. claim: n.

an official request for money that you think you have a right to

2. matador³: n.

a man who fights and kills bulls during a bullfight

= bullfighter