CNN 2008-07-21_在线英语听力室_免费在线英语听力学习网站

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I'm Asieh Namdar at the CNN.com newsroom in Atlanta. Here's a look at what's happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has wrapped up his fact-finding trip to Afghanistan. He's touring the Middle East and Europe and some observers say the tour gives Obama a chance to build his foreign policy credentials¹.

Obama's rival, Republican John McCain, is offering up his own plan to restore order in Afghanistan. He wants to double the number of Afghan forces and add several thousand foreign troops. McCain also says it's time to get all those troops under one command. He has proposed an Afghan war czar to take charge.

Treasury² Secretary Henry Paulson expects the number of troubled banks to increase in the next few months. However, he says the American banking³ system is safe and sound. The US government took over IndyMac Bank last week, because of its financial troubles. Paulson is urging Congress to okay his plan to shore up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two government-sponsored mortgage companies that saw their shares plummet⁴ last week, because of fear they might also go under.

Investors⁵ are anxious to see whether stocks will continue the modest rally. The Dow closed Friday up 3.57%. Monday's performance will depend on whether oil prices continue to their decline. And many major firms including Yahoo, Bank of America, United Parcel Service and Boeing will release quarterly earning reports this week.

A Boston, Massachusetts activist⁶ group has held ordination⁷ ceremonies for three women to become Catholic priests. The group hopes today's event will pressure the Roman Catholic Church into letting women serve in roles reserved only for men. The group says the three women are responding to a call to serve the church. The Vatican has warned that women taking part in ordination ceremonies could be excommunicated.

Those are the headlines this hour. For more on these stories and other news of the day, CNN is your source online, on TV or when you are on the go.

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收听单词发音

1 credentials
n.证明，资格，证明书，证件
参考例句：
He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。 Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

2 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。

3 banking
n.银行业，银行学，金融业
参考例句：
John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。 He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

4 plummet
vi.(价格、水平等)骤然下跌；n.铅坠；重压物
参考例句：
Mengniu and Yili have seen their shares plummet since the incident broke.自事件发生以来，蒙牛和伊利的股票大幅下跌。 Even if rice prices were to plummet,other brakes on poverty alleviation remain.就算大米价格下跌，其它阻止导致贫困的因素仍然存在。

5 investors
n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )
参考例句：
a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子 a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

6 activist
n.活动分子，积极分子
参考例句：
He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。 He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

7 ordination
n.授任圣职
参考例句：
His ordination gives him the right to conduct a marriage or a funeral.他的晋升圣职使他有权主持婚礼或葬礼。 The vatican said the ordination places the city's catholics in a "very delicate and difficult decision."教廷说，这个任命使得这个城市的天主教徒不得不做出“非常棘手和困难的决定”。