美联社新闻一分钟 2007-01-06（在线收听）

1. Democrats are blasting proposals to boost US troop strength in Iraq. In a letter to President Bush, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged him to begin pulling troops out of Iraq in four to six months. Bush plans to unveil a new Iraqi strategy next week.

2. Folks are picking up the pieces after powerful storms ripped through the South. At least two people were killed. The most extensive damage was in Louisiana's Iberia Parish where a tornado reportedly touched down.

3. More than 20,000 kids in Rhode Island got a second day off from school. That's because health officials are trying to determine if a suspected case of meningitis and the death of a second-grader from encephalitis are linked.

4. Lindsay Lohan is said to be resting comfortably after surgery to remove her appendix. The actress reportedly went under the knife yesterday after tests confirmed she was suffering from appendicitis.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. blast: verb
To blast someone means to criticize them strongly. (JOURNALISM)

2. unveil: verb
If you unveil a plan, new product, or something that has been kept secret, you introduce to the public.

3. meningitis: n-uncount 【医】脑膜炎
Meningitis is a serious infectious illness which affects your brain and spinal cord.

4. -grader: n-count
-grader combines with words such as 'first' and 'second' to form nouns which refer to a child or young person who is in a particular grade in the American education system.

5. encephalitis: n-uncount 【医】脑炎
Encephalitis is the inflammation of the brain.

6. appendix: n-count 【解剖学】 阑尾，盲肠
Your appendix is a small closed tube inside your body which is attached to your digestive system.

7. appendicitis: n-count 【医】阑尾炎
Appendicitis is an illness in which a person's appendix is infected and painful.