英闻天下——246 Senate Delays Vote On Hagel Nomination

 　　The US Senate has in a surprise move postponed¹ the vote on Chuck Hagel's nomination² to be the nation's defense³ secretary.

 

　　Carl Levin, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee issued a statement saying there wouldn't be a vote this week.

 

　　Initially⁵, the vote had been scheduled for this Thursday.

 

　　The Republicans say they want more information on issues including Kerry's business dealings and past speeches.

 

　　Hagel, who is a former Republican senator from Nebraska, had faced some criticism regarding his past statements on Israel, Iran and nuclear weapons.

 

　　Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was sworn in publicly by Vice⁴ President Joe Biden, at a ceremony at the State Department.

 

　　Kerry said he is committed to defending America if its values were to come under threat.

 

　　"This is not a time for America to retreat; this is a time for America to continue to lead. while my preference is for a peaceful resolution to conflict my journey has also taught me that when remedies are exhausted⁶ we must be prepared to defend our cause and do what is necessary to stand up to extremism, terrorism, chaos⁷ and evil and we will continue to do so."

 

　　Kerry, who succeeds Hillary Rodham Clinton, has indicated a keen interest in a new diplomatic push in the Middle East.

 

　　It is reported Israel and other Middle Eastern nations will be Kerry's early travel destinations.

 

　　Wednesday's ceremony was entirely⁸ symbolic⁹ as Kerry began his job this week, having taken the oath in private last Friday.

1 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

2 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

3 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。

4 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

5 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

6 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

7 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

8 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

9 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。