美联社新闻一分钟 2007-08-16

1. Emergency crews are on their way to South Texas as Erin approaches. The tropical storm is taking shape in the Gulf¹ of Mexico, and forecasters predict it could reach land by tomorrow. Erin could bring heavy rains to a state that already has one of the rainiest summers on record.

2. A series of four suicide bombings in northern Iraq marks the deadliest attack in one area since the war began. At least 250 people were killed, another 350 wounded. The US military believes al-Qaeda is behind the attacks.

3. Rescue efforts to find six trapped miners in Utah are in their ninth day. Rescuers bored a third hole into a chamber², but weren't able to lower a microphone into the space. Experts say the chances of survival are getting smaller, but the mine's co-owner is still optimistic.

4. The man robbing this liquor store decided³ to conceal⁴ his face with duct tape. Workers say they were able to chase the man down and police arrested him. Despite the surveillance tape of the robbery, the suspect says he is innocent, claiming another man was wearing tape on his head.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. take shape:
to assume a definite or distinctive⁵ form

2. bore: verb
to make a deep round hole in a hard surface

3. duct:
a pipe or tube that liquids, air, cables etc pass through

4. duct tape:
a wide cloth adhesive⁶ tape orig. designed for sealing joints⁷ in heating or air-conditioning ducts

5. chase down:
to find something or someone that you have been looking for

1 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

2 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 conceal   

v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽

参考例句：

• He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方，他只好隐瞒身份。
• He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。

5 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

6 adhesive   

n.粘合剂；adj.可粘着的，粘性的

参考例句：

• You'll need a strong adhesive to mend that chair. 你需要一种粘性很强的东西来修理那把椅子。
• Would you give me an adhesive stamp?请给我一枚带胶邮票好吗？

7 joints   

接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）

参考例句：

• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。