美联社新闻一分钟 2006-09-13

（单词翻译）

1. At the U.S. Embassy in Syria today, Islamic militants¹ tried but failed to storm the compound using automatic rifles, hand grenades and a van with explosives. Four people including three assailants were killed.

2. "Our nation is being tested in a way that we have not been since the start of the Cold War."
Democrats² say in his 9/11 speech to the nation last night President Bush was using a national day of mourning for partisan³ gain. The White House says a few sentences could be considered controversial, but Bush took pains to avoid partisanship⁴.

3. Hurricane Florence is leaving thousands in Bermuda without power, but no serious damage. But there is a new storm brewing⁶ in the Atlantic. Tropical Storm Gordon could become a hurricane by tomorrow. It is expected to remain over open water.

4. Two members of the Atlantis crew walking to connect an addition to the International Space Station today say a bolt, spring and washer sprang loose and floated free. They are concerned because space debris⁷ can puncture⁸ the space station walls and jam mechanisms⁹.

WORDS IN THE NEWS


1. compound : n-count
A compound is an enclosed area of land that is used for a particular purpose.

2. assailant : n-count
Someone's assailant is a person who has physically¹⁰ attacked them.

3. take pains to : phrase
If you take pains to do something or go to great pains to do something, you try hard to do it, because you think it is important to do it.

4. partisanship : n-uncount
Partisanship is support for a person or group without fair consideration of the facts and circumstances.

5. brew⁵ : verb
If a storm is brewing, large clouds are beginning to form and the sky is becoming dark because there is going to be a storm.

6. puncture : verb
If a sharp object punctures¹¹ something, it makes a hole in it.