NPR美国国家公共电台 NPR 2013-08-19

 The violence continues in Egypt. The official news agency says 36 people were killed today when members of the Muslim Brotherhood¹ tried to help detainees escape from a prison truck convey in Cairo. The prisoners had been picked up during demonstrations² in support of ousted³ President Mohammed Morsi. The country's top general says Egypt will never yield to terrorism. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports the interim⁴ cabinet held an emergency meeting today to discuss the bloodshed.

The latest confirmed additions bring the death toll⁵ since Wednesday to well over 800 people, including scores of security personnel. General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi gave a televised speech in which he said there is room for everyone in Egypt, but he vowed⁶ that the country would never bend to violent acts. In an emergency session the cabinet met as interim Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi proposed dissolving the Muslim Brotherhood. Beblawi said there would be no reconciliation⁷ with those with blood on their hands. The Brotherhood staged a number of protest marches but canceled two events claiming that snipers have been placed on rooftops along the route. Peter Kenyon, NPR News, Cairo.

Senator John McCain told CNN This Morning it's time to suspend US aid to Egypt. 

"For us to sit by and watch this happen is a violation⁸ of everything that we stood for, and when we threaten something, as we did, that we would cut off aid, as the administration did, and then not do it, then you lose your credibility and your influence."

But fellow Republican Peter King told FOX News Sunday aid should continue, that a cutoff could reduce US influence over Egypt, which controls access to strategic resources, such as the Suez Canel.

United Nations inspectors⁹ arrived in Damascus today to assess claims by both sides that chemical weapons have been used in the Syrian war. The BBC's Jim Muir reports the investigation¹⁰ has been delayed for months.

The team of 20 UN inspectors, made up of weapons experts and public health specialists, is to visit three sites where it's alleged¹¹ chemical or nerve gases have been used. Only one of them is publicly known. It's Khan al-Assal near Aleppo in the north. The government insists chemical weapons were used by the rebels there in March with deadly effects, and it demanded a UN investigation. But the UN insisted on broadening the inquiry¹². After months of wrangling¹³, it's finally been agreed that two other sides will be included, allowing the team to go ahead.

The BBC's Jim Muir reporting.

Officials in central Idaho have ordered more evacuations as a major wildfire approaches. They told residents of more than 2,300 homes to leave. Thousands of other residents are being warned to prepare to get out. The fire has grown to more than 150 square miles. It抯 now by the size of Philadelphia. But officials report they are making some progress. It's now about 9% contained.

This is NPR News from Washington.

The drug company Merck Animal Health is suspending all sales about feed additive¹⁴. That's used to boost the weight of beef cattle. NPR's Dan Charles reports critics of the drug say it makes animals suffer.

The drug is called Zilmax. It causes cattle to grow more muscle, putting on more rate. It's estimated that three quarters of all beef cattle have been getting Zilmax or another similar drug in their feed for several weeks right before slaughter¹⁵. But critics say these drugs and Zilmax in particular are bad for the animals. They've collected videos showing cattle moving lethargically¹⁶ and having trouble getting up maybe because they are just too heavy. Last week Tyson Foods announced it would no longer buy cattle treated with Zilmax. Merck Animal Health says it remains¹⁷ convinced that Zilmax is safe for animals. But it's suspending sales for now while it carries out what it calls a scientific audit¹⁸ of the drug's effects. Dan Charles, NPR News.

North Korea today accepted an offer from South Korea to resume talks on reuniting families separated by their war that ended 60 years ago. The Family Reunification Program had allowed thousands of relatives to visit each other until it was stopped in 2010 because of increased tensions.

Five Japanese fishing boats sailed to a small group of islands in the East China Sea today. The islands are claimed by both Japan and China. Although uninhabited, they are located near rich fishing grounds and have oil and gas reserves. Today's visit by activists¹⁹ and fishermen was designed to assert Japanese authority over the islands. They did some fishing but did not go ashore²⁰. There were no Chinese vessels²¹ in the area.

1 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

2 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

3 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

4 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

5 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

6 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

7 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

8 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

9 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 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。

11 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

12 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

13 wrangling   

v.争吵，争论，口角( wrangle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The two sides have spent most of their time wrangling over procedural problems. 双方大部分时间都在围绕程序问题争论不休。 来自辞典例句
• The children were wrangling (with each other) over the new toy. 孩子为新玩具（互相）争吵。 来自辞典例句

14 additive   

adj.附加的；n.添加剂

参考例句：

• Colour is often an additive in foods.颜料经常是各种食物中的添加物。
• Strict safety tests are carried out on food additives.对食品添加剂进行了严格的安全检测。

15 slaughter   

n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀

参考例句：

• I couldn't stand to watch them slaughter the cattle.我不忍看他们宰牛。
• Wholesale slaughter was carried out in the name of progress.大规模的屠杀在维护进步的名义下进行。

16 lethargically   

参考例句：

• He hung around the house lethargically. 他昏昏沉沉地在房子四周徘徊。 来自互联网

17 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

18 audit   

v.审计；查帐；核对；旁听

参考例句：

• Each year they audit our accounts and certify them as being true and fair.他们每年对我们进行账务审核，以确保其真实无误。
• As usual,the yearly audit will take place in December.跟往常一样，年度审计将在十二月份进行。

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 ashore   

adv.在(向)岸上，上岸

参考例句：

• The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前，孩子们就上岸了。
• He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。

21 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》