美联社新闻一分钟 2006-09-11(在线收听

1. President Bush is marking the 5th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. He laid a wreath at Ground Zero where the World Trade Center once stood. Memorials will also be held tonight for victims of the attack on the Pentagon.

2. Astronauts on board Atlantis inspected the shuttle's exterior for foam damage. A small piece of foam fell off during Saturday's launch, but NASA says no apparent damage was done. Atlantis will hook up with the International Space Station tomorrow.

3. Hurricane Florence is gaining strength as it barrels toward Bermuda. The storm is now a category one, but forecasters expect it will go up to a category two once it passes the island Monday. The storm is still expected to veer away from the US.

4. A watery memorial to "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin. Hundreds of surfers formed a huge circle off Australia's east coast and tossed sprigs of wildflowers into the water. Some of the boardriders wore Irwin's trademark khaki shirt and shorts

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. wreath : n-count
A wreath is an arrangement of flowers and leaves, usually in the shape of a circle, which you put on a grave or by a statue to show that you remember a person who has died or people who have died.

2. hook up : phrasal verb
When someone hooks up a computer or other electronic machine, they connect it to other similar machines or to a central power supply.

3. barrel : verb
If a vehicle or person is barreling in a particular direction, they are moving very quickly in that direction.

4. veer : verb
If something veers in a certain direction, it suddenly moves in that direction.

5. sprig : n-count
A sprig is a small stem with leaves on it which has been picked from a bush or plant, especially so that it can be used in cooking or as a decoration.

6. khaki : adj
Something that is khaki is greenish brown in colour.

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