澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2012-12-14
时间：2018-12-11 作者：英语课 分类：澳洲ABC新闻快递2012年
英语课
The US ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice has pulled out of the race to become the country's next secretary of state. She says the confirmation 1 process would be lengthy 2, disruptive and costly 3. US President Barack Obama has confirmed Ms Rice will continue in her role as ambassador to the United Nations.
The head of NATO believes the Syrian government is approaching collapse 4. Anders Fogh Rasmussen says it's only a question of time before the country's President Bashar al-Assad losses grip on power. And for the first time, Russia has conceded opposition 5 forces could overthrow 6 the government. Sixteen people were killed overnight when a car bomb exploded in the capital Damascus.
A state of disaster has been declared in Samoa, where cyclone 7 Evan has killed at least two people and caused widespread havoc 8. There is now concern Evan could strike the island again in the next 24 hours. Strong winds of up to 160 kilometres an hour and heavy rain damaged homes and caused flooding. Power has also been cut to Samoa's capital.
Tasmania's forest peace agreement is on the brink 9 of collapse because the Federal Government has withdrawn 10 its multi-million-dollar funding promise. The CommonWealth 11 pledged 200 million dollars to support the deal on the condition the state's parliament passed the legislation by the end of the year. Instead, Tasmania's Upper House decided 12 to refer the bill to a parliamentary committee.
1 confirmation
n.证实，确认，批准
- We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
- We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。
2 lengthy
adj.漫长的，冗长的
- We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
- The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。
3 costly
adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的
- It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
- This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。
4 collapse
vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷
- The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
- The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。
5 opposition
n.反对，敌对
- The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
- The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
6 overthrow
v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆
- After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
- The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。
7 cyclone
n.旋风，龙卷风
- An exceptionally violent cyclone hit the town last night.昨晚异常猛烈的旋风吹袭了那个小镇。
- The cyclone brought misery to thousands of people.旋风给成千上万的人带来苦难。
8 havoc
n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱
- The earthquake wreaked havoc on the city.地震对这个城市造成了大破坏。
- This concentration of airborne firepower wrought havoc with the enemy forces.这次机载火力的集中攻击给敌军造成很大破坏。
9 brink
n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿
- The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
- The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。
10 withdrawn
vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出
- Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
- All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。
11 commonwealth
n.共和国，联邦，共同体
- He is the chairman of the commonwealth of artists.他是艺术家协会的主席。
- Most of the members of the Commonwealth are nonwhite.英联邦的许多成员国不是白人国家。