美联社新闻一分钟 2006-05-11

（单词翻译）

1. Authorities went door to door to search for victims after twisters ripped through rural Texas overnight, killing¹ at least 3 people. The tornadoes³ reduced dozens of homes to concrete slab⁴s and left a path of damage a half-mile wild and up to 7 miles long.

2. Firefighters are battling dozens of brush fires in central Florida. Crews got a little relief on Tuesday when a quarter of an inch of rain fell in some areas. Parts of I-95 (Interstate 95) remain closed because of heavy smoke.

3. A former rock-band manager whose pyrotechnics caused a nightclub fire that killed a hundred people was sentenced to 4 years in prison today. Daniel Biechele faced as much as 10 years behind bars under a deal he struck with prosecutors⁶ in February.

4. Britney Spears told David Letterman she's pregnant with baby No. 2 last night, but she joked, "Don't worry Dave, it's not yours. " The 24-year-old pop princess and her husband had an 8-month-old son Sean Preston.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. twister : n-count
A twister is the same as a tornado². (AM)

2. rip : verb
If something rips into someone or something or rips through them, it enters that person or thing so quickly and forcefully that it often goes completely through them.
e.g. A volley of bullets ripped into the facing wall...
= tear

3. slab : n-count
A slab of something is a thick, flat piece of it.
e.g. huge concrete paving slabs⁵.

4. Interstate : n-count
In the United States, an interstate is a major road linking states.
e.g. the southbound lane of Interstate 75.

5. pyrotechnics : n-uncount
Pyrotechnics is the making or displaying of fireworks.
e.g. The festival will feature pyrotechnics, live music, and sculptures.

6. behind bars : phrase
If you say that someone is behind bars, you mean that they are in prison.
e.g. Fisher was behind bars last night, charged with attempted murder.

7. strike : verb
If you strike a deal or a bargain with someone, you come to an agreement with them.
e.g. They struck a deal with their paper supplier, getting two years of newsprint on credit.