NPR美国国家公共电台 2013-04-07

　　From NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Raum.

 

　　Talks on Iran's nuclear program ended in Kazakhstan today with no breakthrough and no date for further talks. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports despite the lack of concrete progress. Officials say there's still reason to continue the diplomatic effort.

 

　　The assessment¹ of a senior U.S. official was that there might not have been a breakthrough, but there was also no breakdown². EU Foreign Policy Chief  Catherine Ashton said the two sides remain far apart on the key nuclear issues, although she adds that the nature of the discussion was qualitatively³ different this time.

 

　　For the first time that I've seen,  a real back and forward between us. However, what matters in the end is substance, and that we are still a considerable way apart.

 

　　Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili says the talks were extensive and now the international side needs to respond to a plan Iran put on the table here. Jalili and Ashton will speak soon to decide if and when another meeting may be held. Peter Kenyon, NPR News, Almaty, Kazakhstan.

 

　　U.S. officials say six Americans were killed in two attacks in Afghanistan today. A suicide bomber⁴ struck the southern part of the country as a convoy⁵ drove by. Three U.S. service members, two U.S. civilians⁶ and an Afghan doctor were killed. The sixth American died in an insurgent⁷ attack in eastern Afghanistan. The violence came the same day that General Martin Dempsey arrived in Afghanistan. The chairman of the joint⁸ chiefs of staff is assessing how much training U.S. soldiers should provide Afghan troops after foreign forces withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of next year.

 

　　Security officials in Egypt say five people were killed when fighting erupted between Christians⁹ and Muslims in a town outside Cairo. They say the violence began last night when children drew on the wall of an Islamic religious institute. Adults from both sides began to argue which escalated¹⁰ into gunfire.

 

　　Boeing has completed a test flight of its 787 Dreamliner jet. The plane regulators grounded  in January after batteries overheated on two planes. NPR's Cheryl Corley reports yesterday's flight is part of original tests, aimed at certifying¹¹ a reworked battery system.

 

　　The test flight lasted nearly two hours. Boeing officials say it was uneventful and designed to demonstrate that the new battery system the company's devised performs as it should. Regulators grounded all 50 of the Dreamliners in service, because of problems with batteries on two planes, including a fire on the ground in Boston. It's still unknown what caused the overheating and the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating. Boeing says it's come up with a fix which includes more heat insulation¹² for its lithium-ion batteries along with other measures. Data from the flight test will go to the Federal Aviation Administration which will determine whether to approve the plane for flight. Cheryl Corley, NPR News, Chicago.

 

　　You are listening to NPR News from Washington.

 

　　President Obama is to release its proposed budget next week. He provided a preview this morning in his weekly address, saying it's not ideal but will reduce deficits¹³ while spending more on public works projects, early education and job training. Kansas Governor Sam Brownback delivered the Republican address. He suggested people look to the states for ideas on how to fix the economy.

 

　　Republican governors have been told you can't cut taxes, balance your budgets and invest in the future all at the same time and we've said, watch us.

 

　　Brownback says the Republican message is a believe in the power of people rather than the control of government.

 

　　College basketball takes center stage this weekend in Atlanta. NPR's Kathy Lohr reports the Final Four is drawing tens of thousands of people downtown for what promises to be a couple of spectacular games.

 

　　The Louisville Cardinals¹⁴ face the Wichita State Shockers. The Shockers last trip to the Final Four was in 1965. They are the cinderella team, but the Cardinals are the No. 1 seed in the tournament. Louisville also has the emotional advantage with Kevin Ware¹⁵ cheering from the sidelines after an excruciating leg injury that's replayed all week. In the second game, the Michigan Wolverines face the Syracuse Orange. It's been two decades since Michigan has been to a Final Four matchup. Both teams are hot right now. The two winners will play in the championship game on Monday at the Georgia Dome¹⁶. Kathy Lohr, NPR News, Atlanta.

 

　　The Women's Final Four gets underway next weekend in New Orleans.Notre Dame¹⁷ plays Connecticut and California takes on Louisville. The championship will be held April 9th.

 

　　I'm Nora Raum, NPR News, in Washington.

1 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

2 breakdown   

n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌

参考例句：

• She suffered a nervous breakdown.她患神经衰弱。
• The plane had a breakdown in the air,but it was fortunately removed by the ace pilot.飞机在空中发生了故障，但幸运的是被王牌驾驶员排除了。

3 qualitatively   

质量上

参考例句：

• In other words, you are to analyze them quantitatively and qualitatively. 换句话说，你们要对它们进行量和质的分析。
• Electric charge may be detected qualitatively by sprinkling or blowing indicating powders. 静电荷可以用撒布指示粉剂的方法，予以探测。

4 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

5 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

6 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

7 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

8 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

9 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。

10 escalated   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The fighting escalated into a full-scale war. 这场交战逐步扩大为全面战争。
• The demonstration escalated into a pitched battle with the police. 示威逐步升级，演变成了一场同警察的混战。

11 certifying   

（尤指书面）证明( certify的现在分词 )； 发证书给…； 证明（某人）患有精神病； 颁发（或授予）专业合格证书

参考例句：

• Signed Commercial in quintuplicate, certifying merchandise to be of Chinese origin. 签署商业发票一式五份，证明产品的原产地为中国。
• Other documents certifying the truthfulness of the contents of the advertisements. （三）确认广告内容真实性的其他证明文件。

12 insulation   

n.隔离；绝缘；隔热

参考例句：

• Please examine the insulation of the electric wires in my house.请检查一下我屋子里电线的绝缘情况。
• It is always difficult to assure good insulation between the electric leads.要保证两个电触头之间有良好的绝缘总是很困难的。

13 deficits   

n.不足额( deficit的名词复数 )；赤字；亏空；亏损

参考例句：

• The Ministry of Finance consistently overestimated its budget deficits. 财政部一贯高估预算赤字。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Many of the world's farmers are also incurring economic deficits. 世界上许多农民还在遭受经济上的亏损。 来自辞典例句

14 cardinals   

红衣主教( cardinal的名词复数 )； 红衣凤头鸟（见于北美，雄鸟为鲜红色）； 基数

参考例句：

• cardinals in scarlet robes 身披红袍的枢机主教
• A conclave of cardinals was held to elect the new Pope. 红衣主教团举行了秘密会议来选举新教皇。

15 ware   

n.(常用复数)商品，货物

参考例句：

• The shop sells a great variety of porcelain ware.这家店铺出售品种繁多的瓷器。
• Good ware will never want a chapman.好货不须叫卖。

16 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。

17 dame   

n.女士

参考例句：

• The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
• If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。