美联社新闻一分钟 2006-04-01

（单词翻译）

1. A desperate search for survivors¹ after 3 strong earthquakes and 9 aftershocks rattle²d the western Iran early this morning. The quakes ranged in magnitude from 4.7 to 6.1. At least 70 people were killed, 1200 hurt, and thousands were left homeless.

2. Severe storms also rolled through the Midwest. Here, in central Kansas, a tornado⁴ touched down. Lightning or downed power lines spark this prairie fire. There are reports 3 people were injured.

3. Still no definite word on when released hostage Jill Carrol will head home. The editor of the Christian⁵ Science Monitor says she's emotionally fragile right now and her family wants to be sure she's ready for the trip. Carroll, a reporter for the Monitor, was kidnapped in Iraq in January.

4. Watch out below! Residents are trying to dodge⁶ bird droppings as they get around Orlando, Florida. Foul⁷ smelling white film is also caking lamp posts, sidewalks and park benches. It's so bad the city posted signs to warn passers-by.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. rattle :verb [I or T]
if you rattle something, or if it rattles⁸, it shakes and makes a quick series of short sounds
e.g. The window rattled³ in the wind.

2. touch down :phrasal verb
When an aircraft touches down, it lands.

3. prairie:noun [C or U]
a wide area of flat land without trees in Canada and the northern US

4. dodge :verb
to avoid being hit by something by moving quickly to one side:
e.g. He dodged⁹ to avoid the hurtling bicycle.

65 foul :adjective
extremely unpleasant:
e.g. Those toilets smell foul!

6. film : noun [C]
a thin layer of something on a surface:
e.g. a film of dust/oil/grease

7. cake :verb [T usually passive]
to cover something or someone thickly with a substance that then dries out:
e.g. The men were caked in layers of filth¹⁰ and grime.

8. passer-by : noun [C] plural¹¹ passers-by
someone who is going past a particular place, especially when something unusual happens:
e.g. The gunmen opened fire, killing¹² a policeman and a passer-by.