NPR 2010-02-09

From NPR News in Washington, I’m Craig Windham.

 

Veteran Democratic Congressman¹ John Murtha of Pennsylvania has died. Murtha, who was 77, has been suffering complications from gallbladder surgery. NPR’s Andrea Seabrook says Murtha represented his Pennsylvania district in Congress for more than 35 years.

 

Murtha was the Chairman of the House Defense² Appropriations³ Subcommittee. That's the panel that controls funding for the Defense Department and the military. Murtha was the first Vietnam War veteran to be elected to the House of Representatives. He was known for his hawkish⁴ stance on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and then later for his calls for withdrawal⁵ from Iraq. Murtha's dealings with defense contractors⁶ were scrutinized⁷. He’s alleged⁸ to have steered⁹ huge government contracts to companies that work with his brother and former staffers. He was also successful in bringing defense contracts to companies in his congressional district in rural Western Pennsylvania. Andrea Seabrook, NPR News, the Capitol.

 

Michael Jackson’s personal physician has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of the entertainer. Prosecutors¹⁰ have announced the charges against Dr. Conrad Murray who is a Houston cardiologist. Murray was with Jackson when he died back in June. Investigators¹¹ say Murray had given Jackson a powerful general anesthetic¹² and two other sedatives¹³ to help him sleep. If convicted, Murray would face up to four years in prison. Murray’s attorney says his client will plead not guilty.

 

Iran says it will start producing higher-grade enriched uranium tomorrow. The announcement is prompting calls by the US, Russia and France for consideration of tougher sanctions. Iran says it needs the higher-grade fuel for a medical reactor¹⁴, but Western nations are skeptical¹⁵. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who's in Paris today, says the United States has no choice now but to press for new sanctions. Eleanor Beardsley in Paris reports Gates noted¹⁶ that Iran has not had a positive response to any of the international efforts to address the nuclear problem.

 

With French Defense Minister Herve Morin at his side, Gates said the international community and the US had given Iran every chance. "No US president has reached out more sincerely and frankly¹⁷ taken more political risk in an effort to try and create an opening for engagement with Iran and negotiate an end to their nuclear program. All of these initiatives have been rejected." Gates said resorting to internationally-backed sanctions was now the only way to proceed. For NPR News, I’m Eleanor Beardsley in Paris.

 

Utility crews in the Mid-Atlantic States are working to restore power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses that lost electricity during the powerful snowstorm that hit the region over the weekend. Federal government offices are closed today as the nation’s capital tries to make progress digging out before another storm that's expected to hit the northeast tomorrow.

 

On Wall Street, the Dow industrials have fallen below the 10,000 mark. The Dow down 32 points at 9,981; the NASDAQ is off two points.

 

This is NPR News from Washington.

 

Ukraine’s opposition¹⁸ leader Viktor Yanukovich, who was a loser in the Orange Revolution there several years ago, appears to be the winner of the country’s presidential election over the weekend. He’s calling for his opponent, the prime minister, to concede, but so far she has refused. Yanukovich’s win will be a major setback¹⁹ for the Orange Revolution of 2004 which was supposed to move Ukraine toward a European-style democracy.

 

At least 17 Indian soldiers have died in an avalanche²⁰ at a high-altitude training center in the part of Kashmir that’s controlled by India. Vir Singh reports the incident occurred near a popular ski resort.

 

According to local news reports, more than 50 soldiers were rescued after the avalanche hit part of an army training facility near Gulmarg, a ski resort in Indian-administered Kashmir near the disputed border with Pakistan. A military spokesman said more than a dozen soldiers were critically injured. The incident occurred as the Himalayan region was hit with heavy snow and rain. Authorities said it was unlikely that any tourists have been affected²¹, because skiing and related activities take place below and away from the area where the avalanche occurred. The government’s weather service has forecast continuing snow and rainfall for the next two days. For NPR News, I’m Vir Singh in New Delhi.

 

The space shuttle Endeavour is in orbit and beginning to close in on the International Space Station after a launch before dawn this morning that lit up the sky over the Kennedy Space Center. Endeavour is carrying the last major component²² for the orbiting outpost, the module²³ with a dome²⁴ that will give crew members sweeping²⁵ views of Earth and outer space.

 

I’m Craig Windham, NPR News in Washington.

 

1 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。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 appropriations   

n.挪用（appropriation的复数形式）

参考例句：

• More commonly, funding controls are imposed in the annual appropriations process. 更普遍的作法是，拨款控制被规定在年度拨款手续中。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• Should the president veto the appropriations bill, it goes back to Congress. 假如总统否决了这项拨款提案，就把它退还给国会。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

4 hawkish   

adj. 鹰派的, 强硬派的

参考例句：

• My staff's advice that first day was amazingly hawkish. 在第一天，我的僚属们的意见是令人吃惊的鹰派意见。
• Antiwar groups fear Barack Obama may create hawkish Cabinet. 反战团体担心巴拉克·奥巴马可以创建强硬派内阁。

5 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

6 contractors   

n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Contractors winning construction jobs had to kick back 2 per cent of the contract price to the mafia. 赢得建筑工作的承包商得抽出合同价格的百分之二的回扣给黑手党。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 scrutinized   

v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The jeweler scrutinized the diamond for flaws. 宝石商人仔细察看钻石有无瑕庇 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Together we scrutinized the twelve lemon cakes from the delicatessen shop. 我们一起把甜食店里买来的十二块柠檬蛋糕细细打量了一番。 来自英汉文学 - 盖茨比

8 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

9 steered   

v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导

参考例句：

• He steered the boat into the harbour. 他把船开进港。
• The freighter steered out of Santiago Bay that evening. 那天晚上货轮驶出了圣地亚哥湾。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

11 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 anesthetic   

n.麻醉剂，麻药；adj.麻醉的，失去知觉的

参考例句：

• He was given a general anesthetic.他被全身麻醉。
• He was still under the influence of the anesthetic.他仍处在麻醉状态。

13 sedatives   

n.镇静药，镇静剂( sedative的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A wide variety of mild sedatives and tranquilizers have become available. 现在有许多种镇静剂和安定剂。 来自辞典例句
• Since July 1967 there has been a restriction on the prescribing of sedatives in Australia. 自从1967年7月起，澳大利亚的镇静药处方受到限制。 来自辞典例句

14 reactor   

n.反应器；反应堆

参考例句：

• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

15 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

16 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

17 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

18 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

19 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

20 avalanche   

n.雪崩，大量涌来

参考例句：

• They were killed by an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.他们在瑞士阿尔卑斯山的一次雪崩中罹难。
• Higher still the snow was ready to avalanche.在更高处积雪随时都会崩塌。

21 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

22 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

23 module   

n.组件，模块，模件；(航天器的)舱

参考例句：

• The centre module displays traffic guidance information.中央模块显示交通引导信息。
• Two large tanks in the service module held liquid oxygen.服务舱的两个大气瓶中装有液态氧。

24 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

25 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？