美联社新闻一分钟 2007-07-18

1. Senate Democrats² are planning to pull a rare all-nighter, as they try to convince President Bush and Senate Republicans to change course in Iraq and bring troops home this fall. Michigan Democrat¹ Carl Levin says Iraqi leaders need to start leading.

2. At least 12 people are dead, 40 injured in Pakistan after a suicide bomber³ blew himself up in the middle of a crowded political rally. The crowded gathered in Islamabad to support Pakistan suspended chief justice.

3. Decorated Vietnam War veteran and former Colorado Developer Jim Nicholson says he's resigning as chief of Veterans Affairs. And he plans to return to the private sector⁴. Nicholson was the official who was forced to explain how personal data of millions of veterans and active service members was stolen.

4. Toxicology tests have revealed steroids and other prescription⁵ drugs were found in the body of pro-wrestler Chris Benoit. Doctors say the level of testosterone in Benoit was high and prescription drugs were also found in the bodies of his wife and seven-year-old son.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. all-nighter: countable⁶ noun [informal]
an occasion when you spend the whole night studying or doing written work in university

2. blow up:
to destroy something, or to be destroyed, by an explosion

3. suspend: transitive verb
to make someone leave their school or job for a short time, especially because they have broken the rules

4. decorate: transitive verb
to award a mark of honor to

5. toxicology: uncountable noun
the science and medical study of poisons and their effects

6. testosterone: uncountable noun
the hormone (=chemical produced by the body) in males that gives them their male qualities

1 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

2 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 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。

4 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

5 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

6 countable   

adj.可数的，可以计算的

参考例句：

• The word "person" is a countable noun.person这个词是个可数名词。
• Countable nouns have singular and plural forms.可数名词有单数和复数之分。