美联社新闻一分钟 2006-07-17

1. President Bush joins G-8 leaders in calling for an immediate¹ end to the bloodshed in the Middle East. The statement from world leaders requires an end to terrorist attacks on Israel.

2. No let-up in the strikes between Israel and Lebanon. An Israeli air strike in Tyre has killed at least 9 civilians² and wounded more than 50 others. A Hezbollah rocket attack killed 8 people in Haifa.

3. Loom³ing thunderstorms are threatening the work of firefighters in Southern California. Nearly 4,000 firefighters are battling wildfires in the desert of San Bernardino County.

4. It's a green light for Discovery. The space shuttle has been cleared to return to Earth. It's expected to land in Florida tomorrow.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. bloodshed : n-uncount
Bloodshed is violence in which people are killed or wounded.

2. let-up : n-uncount
If there is no let-up in something, usually something unpleasant, there is no reduction in the intensity⁵ of it.

3. loom : verb
If a worrying or threatening situation or event is looming⁴, it seems likely to happen soon. (JOURNALISM)

4. thunderstorm : n-count
A thunderstorm is a storm in which there is thunder and lightning and a lot of heavy rain.

5. a green light : phrase
If someone in authority gives you a green light, they give you permission to do something.

6. clear : verb
If a course of action is cleared, people in authority give permission for it to happen.

1 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

2 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。

3 loom   

n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近

参考例句：

• The old woman was weaving on her loom.那位老太太正在织布机上织布。
• The shuttle flies back and forth on the loom.织布机上梭子来回飞动。

4 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

5 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。