NPR 2010-10-11

Pakistan today opened its border crossing to NATO supply convoys¹ into Afghanistan. It had been closed since a US helicopter strike killed two Pakistani soldiers on the border 11 days ago. Also in Pakistan today, at least seven people were killed in the northwest when an unmanned US drone dropped missiles on suspected militants². NPR’s Julie McCarthy reports.

News agencies quoted Pakistani intelligence officials saying missiles fired from a drone hit a pair of cars in an Afghan refugee camp in the tribal³ area of North Waziristan. It is impossible to verify the number and identities of those killed in such attacks, which are increasing and stoking greater anti-Americanism here. A NATO helicopter incursion into Pakistan last month that killed two Pakistani border guards ratcheted up tension in the already uneasy US-Pakistan alliance. In protest, Pakistan closed a border crossing to truck supplying NATO troops next door. The US apologized for the cross-border raid and Pakistan reopened the route through the Khyber Pass that had been closed the past ten days. Julie McCarthy, NPR News, Islamabad.

The Israeli Cabinet today approved a bill that would require new citizens to pledge a loyalty⁴ oath. NPR’s Lourdes Garcia-Navarro reports Arab lawmakers say the provision is racist⁵.

If the bill gets voted into law, new non-Jewish citizens will be obliged to pledge to uphold laws of a Jewish and democratic state and that has outraged⁶ the Arab minority in Israel that makes up about 20 percent of the population. Any new law would not force them to profess⁷ their loyalty, but it would require a foreign-born spouse⁸ to if they wanted to become a citizen. The bill is backed by Yisrael Beiteinu, a hard-line nationalist party here. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who’s in coalition⁹ with Yisrael Beiteinu, said that the law will be a vital piece of legislation. Those who oppose it say it’s racist and meant to appease¹⁰ the hard right. Lourdes Garcia-Navarro, NPR News, Jerusalem.

Pope Benedict today opened a meeting at the Vatican for bishops¹¹ from the Middle East. They’re discussing life for Christians¹² where Christianity began. Thousands have fled the region because of war, other violence and harsh economic conditions.

Workers in Chile are reinforcing an escape shaft¹³ to be used to rescue 33 miners who’ve been trapped underground for more than two months. They’re inserting metal tubes to strengthen the shaft and hope to begin bringing the men out on Wednesday. An American has become some of a hero during the rescue effort. Jeff Hart of Denver, Colorado operated the drill that yesterday broke through to where the miners are trapped.

“We’ve been here busting¹⁴ our butts¹⁵. We’ve worked every day. We fought the odds¹⁶. Then we all fought this till the very end. We made it into the gallery. That’s, it’s incredible. That is that the whole place just exploded. It was great.”

Hart had been drilling water wells for military bases in Afghanistan when he’s called to Chile.

You’re listening to NPR News.

President Obama visits Philadelphia today. He’ll speak to an outdoor rally to energize¹⁷ young people in advance of next month’s midterm elections.

The largest Tea Party convention held so far in the US took place in Richmond, Virginia this weekend, attracting nearly 3,000 participants. Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports they called for limits on federal power, cuts in spending and defeating many congressional incumbents¹⁸.

The activists¹⁹ rallied against trillions in federal debt, growing federal power and to Congress that’s exceeded its constitutional limits. Liz Butler is a preschool teacher.

“They extremely concern. I feel like my two sons, who are ten and six, are gonna bear the brunt of all the spending. They’re gonna to grow up and they’re gonna be taxed to that.”

Texas Congressman²⁰ Ron Paul called for an intellectual revolution to teach that freedom shrinks when government grows and the government is too big.

“You know, we’re in this economic crisis because we spent too much money we didn’t have. We borrowed too much money; we regulated too much; and we printed too much.”

A presidential straw poll was won by New Jersey²¹ Governor Chris Christie. For NPR News, I’m Anne Marie Morgan in Richmond, Virginia.

Delaware Senate hopeful Christine O’Donnell has been running a commercial, which begins “I’m not a witch”. Saturday Night ran its own version last night. Kristen Wiig portrayed²² O’Donnell starting out the same way but going on to say: “Isn’t that what the people of Delaware deserve? A candidate who promises first and foremost that she’s not a witch? That’s the kind of candidate Delaware hasn’t had since 1692.” O’Donnell responded with a Twitter posting “the skit²³ was really funny” and added “I have to admit, her hair looked better than mine”.

I’m Nora Raum, NPR News in Washington.
 

1 convoys   

n.（有护航的）船队( convoy的名词复数 )；车队；护航（队）；护送队

参考例句：

• Truck convoys often stop over for lunch here. 车队经常在这里停下来吃午饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A UN official said aid programs will be suspended until there's adequate protection for relief convoys. 一名联合国官员说将会暂停援助项目，直到援助车队能够得到充分的保护为止。 来自辞典例句

2 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

4 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

5 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

6 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

7 profess   

v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰

参考例句：

• I profess that I was surprised at the news.我承认这消息使我惊讶。
• What religion does he profess?他信仰哪种宗教？

8 spouse   

n.配偶(指夫或妻)

参考例句：

• Her spouse will come to see her on Sunday.她的丈夫星期天要来看她。
• What is the best way to keep your spouse happy in the marriage?在婚姻中保持配偶幸福的最好方法是什么？

9 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

10 appease   

v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足

参考例句：

• He tried to appease the crying child by giving him candy.他试图给那个啼哭的孩子糖果使他不哭。
• The government tried to appease discontented workers.政府试图安抚不满的工人们。

11 bishops   

（基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象

参考例句：

• Each player has two bishops at the start of the game. 棋赛开始时，每名棋手有两只象。
• "Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. “他劫富济贫，抢的都是郡长、主教、国王之类的富人。

12 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

13 shaft   

n.(工具的)柄，杆状物

参考例句：

• He was wounded by a shaft.他被箭击中受伤。
• This is the shaft of a steam engine.这是一个蒸汽机主轴。

14 busting   

打破，打碎( bust的现在分词 )； 突击搜查（或搜捕）； （使）降级，降低军阶

参考例句：

• Jim and his wife were busting up again yesterday. 吉姆和他的妻子昨天又吵架了。
• He figured she was busting his chops, but it was all true. 他以为她在捉弄他，其实完全是真的。

15 butts   

笑柄( butt的名词复数 )； （武器或工具的）粗大的一端； 屁股； 烟蒂

参考例句：

• The Nazis worked them over with gun butts. 纳粹分子用枪托毒打他们。
• The house butts to a cemetery. 这所房子和墓地相连。

16 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

17 energize   

vt.给予(某人或某物)精力、能量

参考例句：

• It is used to energize the city.它的作用是为城市供给能量。
• This is a great way to energize yourself and give yourself more power!这种方法非常棒，可以激活你的能量，让你有更多的活力！

18 incumbents   

教区牧师( incumbent的名词复数 )； 教会中的任职者

参考例句：

• In general, incumbents have a 94 percent chance of being reelected. 通常现任官员有94%的几率会再次当选。
• This arangement yields a wonderful gain to incumbents. 这种安排为在职人员提供了意外的得益。

19 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

21 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

22 portrayed   

v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• Throughout the trial, he portrayed himself as the victim. 在审讯过程中，他始终把自己说成是受害者。
• The author portrayed his father as a vicious drunkard. 作者把他父亲描绘成一个可恶的酒鬼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

23 skit   

n.滑稽短剧；一群

参考例句：

• The comic skIt sent up the foolishness of young men in love.那幅画把沉溺于热恋中的青年男子的痴态勾勒得滑稽可笑。
• They performed a skit to amuse the crowd.他们表演了一个幽默小品来娱乐观众。