NPR 2010-08-30

The Gulf¹ Coast is still not recovered from Hurricane Katrina, which struck five years ago today. President Obama spoke² at Xavier University in New Orleans a short while ago and made this promise.

"On this fifth anniversary, I wanted to come here and tell the people of this city directly: My administration is going to stand with you — and fight alongside you — until the job is done, until New Orleans is all the way back, all the way."

The president said there are still too many vacant and overgrown lots, still too many students attending schools in trailers, and too many people unable to find work. But he said New Orleans is blossoming once more.

The president's speech was one of several events in the region to mark the anniversary. NPR's Mandalit del Barco attended a memorial service in one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods.

In the Lower Ninth Ward³, mourners gathered at the very spot the levees broke in flood in New Orleans. Beside rebuked⁴ floodwaters, they prayed and read the names of those who died.

Five years after the floods, tall weeds and swamps have replaced demolished⁵ homes. Near abandoned lots, there are blocks of new eco-friendly homes built up high to withstand future storms. Melba Leggett Barnes lives in one of the architectural gems⁶ built by actor Brad Pitt and his foundation.

"It was devastating⁷. I had made up my mind not to come back, but then Brad opened these doors for me, and we came back. Thank God."

Other New Orleanians will mark this day with second line parades, jazz music and Mardi Gras Indian ceremonies. Mandalit del Barco, NPR News, New Orleans.

Hurricane Danielle is now bringing dangerous rip currents to the East Coast. Another hurricane is threatening the eastern Caribbean. Earl achieved hurricane status this morning and could make landfall over the northern Leeward⁸ Islands as soon as tonight.

Some Pakistanis are upset with their government's response to month-long floods, where hundreds of people died and millions were left homeless. NPR's Julie McCarthy watched people in the southern part of the country block roads to show their displeasure.

There's a standoff here on this bridge as water rises around us. People are angry and they’re upset and they want government action and they're not getting it. They have the police telling them don't wait for the government; engage in self-help. Self-help is the watchword here throughout the Sindh province and has been since the flooding began. The government in many places is absent and people feel it’s definitely absent here this morning as the water rises around them.

NPR’s Julie McCarthy in Pakistan.

NATO officials say seven US troops have died in attacks in Afghanistan this weekend. Also today, officials say the bodies of five kidnapped campaign workers have been found. The workers had been campaigning on behalf of a female candidate.

You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

The Obama administration has not yet decided⁹ whether it'll revive a popular tax credit program for first-time homebuyers. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan was interviewed this morning on CNN's "State of the Union". He said it's too early to say whether the tax credit will be revived, but the administration will do whatever it can to stabilize¹⁰ the housing market. The 8,000-dollar tax credit expired several months ago. It helped boost home sales, but analysts¹¹ fear there could be another sharp drop in housing.

The Primetime Emmy Awards are being presented tonight. NPR's Tamara Keith reports several of the shows competing for top honors are new comers.

NBC's 30 Rock has taken the best comedy series award three years in a row, but it has tough new competition this year from Fox's Glee, which has 19 nominations¹², and from Modern Family on ABC. Its ensemble¹³ cast brings humor to everyday events, like taking a family portrait.

"This took me forever to put together, so I don't really care who kissed who and who is got a pimple¹⁴ on her head, and who is wearing outrageously¹⁵ inappropriate dress. We are going to get together and act like a normal family for one tenth of a freaking second. We're going to do it right now."

The Office, Nurse Jackie and Curb¹⁶ Your Enthusiasm round out the comedy category. Tamara Keith, NPR News.

At the movies, the studios estimate there are two films in a photo finish to win the top spot at the weekend box office. The Last Exorcism has a narrow lead over Takers, but that could change after the final numbers are released.

In baseball, it's Hawaii versus¹⁷ Japan in the Little League Championship today in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Americans have won the last five titles.

I'm Nora Raum, NPR News in Washington.

1 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

4 rebuked   

责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The company was publicly rebuked for having neglected safety procedures. 公司因忽略了安全规程而受到公开批评。
• The teacher rebuked the boy for throwing paper on the floor. 老师指责这个男孩将纸丢在地板上。

5 demolished   

v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光

参考例句：

• The factory is due to be demolished next year. 这个工厂定于明年拆除。
• They have been fighting a rearguard action for two years to stop their house being demolished. 两年来，为了不让拆除他们的房子，他们一直在进行最后的努力。

6 gems   

growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长

参考例句：

• a crown studded with gems 镶有宝石的皇冠
• The apt citations and poetic gems have adorned his speeches. 贴切的引语和珠玑般的诗句为他的演说词增添文采。

7 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

8 leeward   

adj.背风的；下风的

参考例句：

• The trees all listed to leeward.树木统统向下风方向倾。
• We steered a course to leeward.我们向下风航驶。

9 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

10 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

11 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。

12 nominations   

n.提名，任命( nomination的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Nominations are invited for the post of party chairman. 为党主席职位征集候选人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Much coverage surrounded his abortive bids for the 1960,1964, and 1968 Republican Presidential nominations. 许多消息报道都围绕着1960年、1964年和1968年他为争取提名为共和党总统候选人所做努力的失败。 来自辞典例句

13 ensemble   

n.合奏(唱)组；全套服装；整体，总效果

参考例句：

• We should consider the buildings as an ensemble.我们应把那些建筑物视作一个整体。
• It is ensemble music for up to about ten players,with one player to a part.它是最多十人演奏的合奏音乐，每人担任一部分。

14 pimple   

n.丘疹，面泡，青春豆

参考例句：

• His face was covered with pimples.他满脸粉刺。
• This is also a way to prevent the pimple.这也是防止疙瘩的一个途径。

15 outrageously   

凶残地； 肆无忌惮地； 令人不能容忍地； 不寻常地

参考例句：

• Leila kept smiling her outrageously cute smile. 莱拉脸上始终挂着非常可爱的笑容。
• He flirts outrageously. 他肆无忌惮地调情。

16 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

17 versus   

prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下

参考例句：

• The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
• The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。