美联社新闻一分钟 2006-04-26

1. The head of Iraq's Al Qaeda terrorists group has a new videotape message to the world posted on the Internet. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi mocks the US military and says any government formed in Iraq will be just a stooge.

2. Under pressure to combat near record-high gas prices. President Bush has made 2 temporary moves. He suspended stricter new environmental rules and halted deposits to the government's strategic petroleum¹ reserve.

3. More trouble for a Duke University lacrosse player charged with raping² a stripper in North Carolina. 19-year-old Collin Finnerty has been ordered to stand trial on an unrelated assault charge, stemming from an incident in Washington last fall.

4. As if being the top golfer in the world isn't enough, Tiger Woods is spending his off time in New Zealand, bungee jumping. He made a 440-foot dive on Sunday, then joined a celebrity³ stock car race on Monday

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. mock : verb
to laugh at sb/sth in an unkind way, especially by copying what they say or do:
e.g. He’s always mocking my French accent.

2. stooge : noun
a person who is used by sb to do things that are unpleasant or dishonest:

3. off time : noun[U]
time when you are officially allowed not to be at work or studying
e.g. Have you ever had to take time off for health reasons?

4. bungee jumping : noun [U]
a sport in which a person jumps from a high place, such as a bridge or a cliff, with a bungee tied to their feet

5. stock car : noun[C]
a car that has been made stronger so that it can compete in a race where cars often crash into each other

1 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

2 raping   

v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的现在分词 )；强奸

参考例句：

• In response, Charles VI sent a punitive expedition to Brittany, raping and killing the populace. 作为报复，查理六世派军讨伐布列塔尼，奸淫杀戮平民。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The conquerors marched on, burning, killing, raping and plundering as they went. 征服者所到之处烧杀奸掠，无所不做。 来自互联网

3 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。