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Good morning from the CNN Center in Atlanta. Here is what’s happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

Fighting rages on between Israel and Hamas. New air strikes into Gaza have reportedly struck at least three buildings at Hamas headquarters. Palestinian officials now say more than 375 are dead in Gaza. Israel’s Deputy Defense¹ Minister says his country is ready for long weeks of action. Israeli tanks remain on the outskirts² of Gaza and 2000 Israeli army reservists have been activated³ and that of course is fueling speculation⁴ of a ground invasion.

Volunteers trying to deliver a medical aid to swamped hospitals in Gaza were forced to turn back after their boat, “The Dignity”, collided with an Israeli warship⁵. Israel says the boat was attempting to defy the Gaza blockade. The boat is now in Lebanon. Israel says the collision was an accident, but that the boat was trying to outmaneuver the Israeli vessel⁶ when it was struck.

Other news now, rescuers in British Columbia, Canada are carefully assessing the risk of another avalanche⁷ this morning. That’s before they decide whether to search for one man still missing after a pair of avalanches⁸ struck on Sunday. That man is now presumed dead. The bodies of 7 others who were snowmobiling with him have been recovered. Three others managed to escape.

The U.S. federal government is now taking steps to prop⁹ up the country’s crumbling¹⁰ auto¹¹ industry. These are new steps. The Treasury¹² Department will give 5 billion dollars to GMAC which provides financing for most GM dealers¹³ and customers. The government will get preferred stock and equity¹⁴ shares in return for that investment.

Retailers¹⁶ are opening their Christmas stockings a little late and discovering they got a fat lump of coal after a horrendous¹⁷ holiday sales. Experts are expecting a slew¹⁸ of bankruptcy¹⁹ claims and store closings. Some economists²⁰ say we could see the biggest shrinking of the retail¹⁵ industry in 35 years.

Those are the headlines right now. I’m Reggie Aqui. Please stay with CNN for more on these stories and the other news of the day.

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1 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。

2 outskirts
n.郊外，郊区
参考例句：
Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。 They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

3 activated
adj. 激活的动词activate的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
The canister is filled with activated charcoal.蒸气回收罐中充满了活性炭。

4 speculation
n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机
参考例句：
Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。 There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

5 warship
n.军舰，战舰
参考例句：
He is serving on a warship in the Pacific.他在太平洋海域的一艘军舰上服役。 The warship was making towards the pier.军舰正驶向码头。

6 vessel
n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管
参考例句：
The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。 You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

7 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。

8 avalanches
n.雪崩( avalanche的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The greatest dangers of pyroclastic avalanches are probably heat and suffocation. 火成碎屑崩落的最大危害可能是炽热和窒息作用。来自辞典例句 Avalanches poured down on the tracks and rails were spread. 雪崩压满了轨道，铁轨被弄得四分五裂。来自辞典例句

9 prop
vt.支撑；n.支柱，支撑物；支持者，靠山
参考例句：
A worker put a prop against the wall of the tunnel to keep it from falling.一名工人用东西支撑住隧道壁好使它不会倒塌。 The government does not intend to prop up declining industries.政府无意扶持不景气的企业。

10 crumbling
adj.摇摇欲坠的
参考例句：
an old house with crumbling plaster and a leaking roof 一所灰泥剥落、屋顶漏水的老房子 The boat was tied up alongside a crumbling limestone jetty. 这条船停泊在一个摇摇欲坠的石灰岩码头边。

11 auto
n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车
参考例句：
Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。 The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

12 treasury
n.宝库；国库，金库；文库
参考例句：
The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。 This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

13 dealers
n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者
参考例句：
There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。 The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

14 equity
n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票
参考例句：
They shared the work of the house with equity.他们公平地分担家务。 To capture his equity,Murphy must either sell or refinance.要获得资产净值，墨菲必须出售或者重新融资。

15 retail
v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格
参考例句：
In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。 These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

16 retailers
零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )
参考例句：
High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。 Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

17 horrendous
adj.可怕的，令人惊惧的
参考例句：
He described it as the most horrendous experience of his life.他形容这是自己一生中最可怕的经历。 The mining industry in China has a horrendous safety record.中国的煤矿工业具有令人不安的安全记录。

18 slew
v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多
参考例句：
He slewed the car against the side of the building.他的车滑到了大楼的一侧，抵住了。 They dealt with a slew of other issues.他们处理了大量的其他问题。

19 bankruptcy
n.破产；无偿付能力
参考例句：
You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。 His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

20 economists
n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。 Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。来自《简明英汉词典》