NPR 2010-04-05

From NPR News in Washington, I’m Rebecca Sheir.

 

This year, Easter falls on the same day for the Eastern and Western churches. Thousands of Christian¹ pilgrims celebrated² the holiday in Jerusalem today. NPR’s Lourdes Garcia-Navarro was there.

 

I’m standing³ in front of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher⁴ which is thought by the Christians⁵ to be the site where Jesus was crucified and was ultimately resurrected, so it is the holiest site for Christian in the world. And of course Easter is the most important day, and so people have come from all over, as they do every year, to mark this occasion at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. And inside the church, there are ceremonies marking Easter from many different denominations⁶, with Orthodox which are also marking Easter today, Catholics also marking Easter today. It’s a very festive⁷ occasion and people are wearing their Sunday best and people that I’ve spoken to say they’re very excited to be here in the Holy Land for such an important occasion.

 

NPR’s Lourdes Garcia-Navarro reporting from Jerusalem.

 

Chinese state television says nine workers are safe after being trapped in a flooded coal mine for more than a week. More than 150 miners were trapped when workers broke a wall into an abandoned shaft⁸ and flooded the mine in northern China. Roughly 3,000 people have been working around the clock to pump out water.

 

Three powerful explosions have killed at least 30 people and wounded hundreds in central Baghdad today. As NPR’s Quil Lawrence reports, the apparent targets were embassies and diplomats⁹.

 

Iraqi police said men wearing suicide vests, driving explosive-laden cars infiltrated¹⁰ some of the most heavily secured neighborhoods in Baghdad. They hit the Iranian Embassy, the Egyptian Embassy and a street near the Syrian and German embassies. The bombs detonated within minutes of one another and could be heard for miles. Iraqis are bracing¹¹ for a violent post-election season after last month’s nationwide poll left two front-running political blocs¹³ divided along sectarian lines. Neither bloc¹² has enough seats in parliament to form a government alone, and then negotiations¹⁴ over forming a coalition¹⁵ government are expected to last months. Neighboring Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia have been criticized for interference in Iraqi politics, one possible motive¹⁶ for today’s bombs. Q1il Lawrence, NPR News, Baghdad.

 

Two bombs exploded in the Russia’s southern region of Dagestan today. No one was hurt in the attack which, security officials say, is connected to bombings in Dagestan and Moscow last week that killed more than 50 people.

 

Since a massive earthquake devastated¹⁷ Haiti in January, the US Border Patrol says it has arrested more than 100 people from the Caribbean nation for allegedly entering Vermont from Canada. Officials say they’ve caught 114 Haitians who crossed the border illegally. Lawyers assigned to represent the Haitians say many are coming to the US to be with relatives and loved ones after the quake killed family members in their home country.

 

The Pakistani military...tomorrow night’s NCAA Championship Game against Duke. Center Matt Howard hit his head on the floor last night.

 

This is NPR.

 

Germany’s defense¹⁸ minister is announcing a thorough investigation¹⁹ into the friendly fire clash that left six Afghan soldiers dead in northern Afghanistan. NATO and the Afghan Defense Ministry²⁰ also are launching investigations²¹ into what happened Friday night. The incident occurred the same day three German troops died and eight were wounded in heavy fighting with insurgents²².

 

Hundreds of Egyptian workers and their supporters demonstrated in Cairo yesterday for a raise in minimum wage. As NPR’s Peter Kenyon reports from the Egyptian capital, the wage has remained unchanged for the past 26 years.

 

The demonstration²³ outside political offices in downtown Cairo was peaceful and not especially large. But political analysts²⁴ say it may be a sign that labor²⁵ unions are attempting to emerge as a force in the run-up to parliamentary elections this year and presidential balloting²⁶ next year. An Egyptian court has ruled that the government must take rising consumer prices into account when setting the minimum wage, but the court did not set a fixed²⁷ amount. The wage has been approximately seven dollars a month since 1984. The protesters call for a large raise to over 200 dollars a month. Two years ago, labor activists²⁸ won significant concessions²⁹ for rural textile workers and others. But an attempt to revive the labor movement with a general strike last spring failed in the face of heavy security measures by the government. Peter Kenyon, NPR News, Cairo.

 

Pastors³⁰ around Rhode Island are trying to comfort residents of the rain-drenched state. Three days of rain in the past week caused the worst flooding the state has seen in at least 200 years. The National Weather Service says the flooded Pawtuxet River is expected to be back within its banks by tonight.

 

1 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

2 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 sepulcher   

n.坟墓

参考例句：

• He said softly,as if his voice were coming from a sepulcher.他幽幽说道，象是从坟墓里传来的声音。
• Let us bend before the venerated sepulcher.让我们在他神圣的墓前鞠躬致敬。

5 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。

6 denominations   

n.宗派( denomination的名词复数 )；教派；面额；名称

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。
• The service was attended by Christians of all denominations. 这次礼拜仪式各教派的基督徒都参加了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

8 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。

9 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 infiltrated   

adj.[医]浸润的v.（使）渗透，（指思想）渗入人的心中( infiltrate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The headquarters had been infiltrated by enemy spies. 总部混入了敌方特务。
• Many Chinese idioms have infiltrated into the Japanese language. 许多中国成语浸透到日语中。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

11 bracing   

adj.令人振奋的

参考例句：

• The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
• The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。

12 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

13 blocs   

n.集团，联盟( bloc的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The division of Europe into warring blocs produces ever-increasing centrifugal stress. 把欧洲分为作战集团产生了越来越大的离心效果。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The policy of the two blocs was played out. 把世界分为两个集团的政策已经过时了。 来自辞典例句

14 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

15 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。

16 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

17 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

18 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。

19 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

20 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

21 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

22 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

23 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

24 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

25 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

26 balloting   

v.（使）投票表决( ballot的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Clark took a commanding leading in the early balloting. 在最初投票时，克拉克遥遥领先。 来自辞典例句
• The balloting had stagnated, he couldn't win. 投票工作陷于停顿，他不能得胜。 来自辞典例句

27 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

28 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》

29 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

30 pastors   

n.（基督教的）牧师( pastor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Do we show respect to our pastors, missionaries, Sunday school teachers? 我们有没有尊敬牧师、宣教士，以及主日学的老师？ 来自互联网
• Should pastors or elders be paid, or serve as a volunteer? 牧师或长老需要付给酬劳，还是志愿的事奉呢？ 来自互联网