美联社新闻一分钟 2007-06-22

1. Multiple attacks kill 15 US troops in Iraq. Five died in a single roadside bombing in Baghdad. Elsewhere, a suicide truck bomber¹ hit City Hall in a predominantly Sunni area of northern Iraq, killing² at least 16 people and wounding 67 others.

2. In Austin, Texas, police are backing off their initial descriptions that a mob beat a man to death after a child was hurt by a car. Police say they are now looking for only a handful of suspects.

3. Bad weather near the Kennedy Space Center is keeping space shuttle Atlantis off the ground. Skipping two landing opportunities, it has more landing chances in the coming days.

4. And high above Time Square in New York City, this ultra marathoner is hoping to break a world record for the longest treadmill³ run in 24 hours. That current record almost 154 miles.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. predominantly:
mostly or mainly

2. back off:
to stop supporting something, or decide not to do something you were planning to do

3. treadmill:
a piece of exercise equipment that has a large belt around a set of wheels, that you can walk or run on while staying in the same place

1 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

2 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

3 treadmill   

n.踏车；单调的工作

参考例句：

• The treadmill has a heart rate monitor.跑步机上有个脉搏监视器。
• Drugs remove man from the treadmill of routine.药物可以使人摆脱日常单调的工作带来的疲劳。