CNN 2009-10-12

Pakistani commando stormed the building at the army’s national headquarters, freeing 39 hostages. Two of the militants¹ who have taken those hostages were killed along with three hostages, two other militants blew themselves up and one was captured. The incident began yesterday when militants attacked that headquarters, four attackers, six guards killed in the initial attack.

 Other story at Arizona where a new age spiritual ceremony turned deadly. Police say two people died after a nearly two hours inside a sweatbox. Several others were packed into the setup, which was like sauna. Best selling author, and self-help guru James Arthur Ray, he led this event, but police say he is not cooperating with their investigation².

 At least eight Iraqi police officers have been killed in an attack today in the western part of the country. Iraqi interior officials say two car bombs were set off outside police headquarters in the city of Ramadi, which is west of Baghdad. Authorities say the bombings injured 50 others, including civilians³ and police.

 In Idaho, a deadly crash involving a bus-load of high school band members, the bus veered⁴ off and crashed, injured 15 in Idoho. State police say an adult on board died, Affiliate⁵ KIFI reporting that victim was a chaperon. More than a dozen students on the bus were hurt, investigators⁶ say the driver had some medical conditions that caused that crash.

 President Obama is reaffirming his commitment to make good on campaign promises to the gay community. He spoke⁷ at the human rights campaign dinner in Washington last night, the president praised the gay community for making strides in legal rights and reassured⁸ the group that he’ll still be there with them in their fight for equality.

 You will see a nation that’s valuing and cherishing these families as we build a more perfect union, a union in which gay Americans are an important part. I’m committed to these goals and my administration will continue fighting to achieve them. There is no more poignant⁹ or painful reminder¹⁰ of how important it is, that we do so. Then the loss experienced by Dennis and Judy Shepard, whose son Matthew was stolen in a terrible act of violence 11 years ago. In May, I met with Judy, who is here tonight with her husband. I met her in the oval office, I promised her that we’re gonna pass an exclusive hate crime's bill, a bill named for her son, this struggle has been long, time and again we faced opposition¹¹, time and again the measure was defeated or delayed, but the Shepards never gave up, they turned tragedy into a unshakable commitment. Countless¹² activists¹³ and organizers never gave up, you helped vigils, you spoke out, year after year, congress after congress, the house passed the bill again this week, and I can announce that after more than a decade, this bill is set to pass, and I will sign it into law.

 

1 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

4 veered   

v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转

参考例句：

• The bus veered onto the wrong side of the road. 公共汽车突然驶入了逆行道。
• The truck veered off the road and crashed into a tree. 卡车突然驶离公路撞上了一棵树。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 affiliate   

vt.使隶(附)属于；n.附属机构，分公司

参考例句：

• Our New York company has an affiliate in Los Angeles.我们的纽约公司在洛杉矶有一个下属企业。
• What is the difference between affiliate and regular membership?固定会员和附属会员之间的区别是什么？

6 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

8 reassured   

adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 poignant   

adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的

参考例句：

• His lyrics are as acerbic and poignant as they ever have been.他的歌词一如既往的犀利辛辣。
• It is especially poignant that he died on the day before his wedding.他在婚礼前一天去世了，这尤其令人悲恸。

10 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

11 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

12 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

13 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》