The possible break in one of the biggest heist in Britain's history. Three people who allegedly have ties to Wednesday's eighty-seven-million-dollar robbery are in custody. Investigators say they've recovered some of the stolen money and the vehicles used in the raid.

heist: n. 强夺,拦劫,抢劫
v. 强夺,拦劫,抢劫

2006 Feb.26(1)

Two students of the University of Texas have been treated for ricin exposure after one found a potentially deadly poison in a roll of quarters she was using to do laundry. The substance can cause fever, nausea, dehydration, although neither student has exhibited any symptoms.

quarter这里是指25美分，a roll of quarter是指用纸等等把一摞硬币裹起来，这里的意思也许是引申为使用的洗剂是一摞硬币形状的吧。

2006 Feb.26(4)

And celebrations on the streets of New Orleans as travelers enjoy the last big weekend of the carnival season before Fat Tuesday. Tourism officials are hoping the annual event will gin up the local economy still struggling in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Fat Tuesday = Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras 是一个天主教的节日，它永远是在复活节 (Easter Sunday) 前的四十七天，是美国最大的嘉年华会。详情在Feb.26AP的学习小组讨论。感谢yolenda:)

A new report calls for sweeping changes to the late government response to disasters. The White House's study outlines failures by the federal agencies following Hurricane Katrina. That also urges better coordination among agencies and put military to have an increased presence.

如果没有听写错的话，这句可以理解为：(报告)同时促使各国家部门之间更好的协作以及军方在救灾中发挥更大的作用。

Concerns of civil war in Iraq after a Shiite holy shrine is bombed. Dozens of Sunni mosques have been attacked and burned in retaliation and at least seven people have been killed.

in retaliation (for): 作为报复

2006 Feb.23(3)

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle calling for increased scrutiny of a deal that will allow an Arab company to take over operations of six major US ports. The White House says there is nothing wrong with the deal and President Bush will veto any legislation against it.

scrutiny: 调查

California Death Row inmate Michael Morales has been given and indefinitely reprieved. He was supposed to be executed early Tuesday morning, but the State has postponed the lethal injection while tries to comply with a court order that a mandate hour Morales can be killed.

lethal injection: 注射毒剂式死刑

Neil Entwistle, the British man accused of murdering his wife and infant daughter was arraigned in court Thursday. Entwistle pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail.

arraign: 传讯
bail: 保释

Federal regulators have cited the West Virginia coal mines where fourteen miners died last month with a total of seven safety violations in recent weeks. The lone survivor Randal McCloy Jr. is still recovering in a hospital.

a total of seven safety violations in recent weeks: 最近数周违反安全规定的事件共有七起

Congress is getting nearly everyone involved in the Hurricane Katrina response an earful. Wednesday the Senate grilled Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff over how he delayed aid and fumbled coordination. Meanwhile the House says lives could have been saved if the White House and various federal, state and local officials acted with much more urgency.

earful: 令人吃惊的回答,听腻了的消息,怨言

Jury selection continues in the case of Zacarias Moussaoui. A judge decided that Moussaoui will no longer be allowed in the courtroom because of his outbursts. He'll watch the proceedings from a close-circuit monitor in jail. His trial is set to begin March 6.

a close-circuit monitor: 闭路电视的显示屏

2006 Feb.15(4)

Dozens of couples pledge their love on Valentine's Day by getting married on the 80th floor of Empire State Building. To get married in the building, couples have to write essays explaining why they want to get married there. Once married the couples become members of the prestigious Empire State Building wedding club.

Valentine's Day: 情人节
Empire State Building: 纽约帝国大厦

2006 Feb.14(1)

Intense questions at the White House Monday as journalists peppered the White House spokesman about why it took nearly twenty four hours before the administration acknowledged that Vice-President Cheney shot seventy-eight-year-old Harry Whittington of Austin while quail hunting Saturday. Whittington's condition continues to improve.

pepper: 开连珠炮一样提出很多问题

2006 Feb.14(2)

A record-breaking winter storm buried the east coast over the weekend with nearly two feet of snow, causing thousands to lose power and limiting airline service at major airports in the East. During the height of the snowfall, three to five inches of snow was falling an hour.

height: n.高峰，极点

2006 Feb.13(1)

Vice-President Cheney accidentally shot and wounded a seventy-eight-year-old companion during a weekend quail hunting trip in south Texas. Harry Whittington is in stable condition in the intensive care unit of a Corpus Christi hospital Sunday night after being sprayed in the face and chest with shotgun pellets.

quail:n. 鹌鹑
intensive care unit(ICU): 加护病房，重症监护室
pellet: n. 小球,小子弹

2006 Feb.13(2)

A record-breaking storm buries sections of the Northeast under more than two feet of snow. Although a blast of winter weather created major problems for travelers, the young and those young at heart headed to the hills to go sledding.

at heart: ad. 在内心里(在本质上)这里实际上指孩子们心里实际都喜欢。
those young at heart: 指年纪大了,但比较有童心的人

A powerful nor'easter is heading up the east coast bringing with it a threat of heavy snow. Forecasters are calling for six to twelve inches of snow in the Washington area. Blizzard warnings are posted from the New York City area into eastern New England, where up to fifteen inches of snow was possible.

nor'easter: A Nor'easter is named for the winds that blow in from the northeast and drive the storm up the east coast along the Gulf Stream, a band of warm water that lies off the Atlantic coast.
head up: 加盖于,向...前进

2006 Feb.12(4)

Michelle Kwan may be in for yet another Olympic letdown. The American figure skater left open the possibility of withdrawing from the Turin Olympics after a sore groin forced her to cut short her first practice Saturday. Kwan has won five world championships and nine US championships, but she has never won that elusive gold medal.

letdown: n. 减低,减退,松弛，沮丧
be in for yet another Olympic letdown: 再次在奥运会扫兴而归。
leave open the possibility of something/doing something: 不排除...的可能
elusive: a. 难懂的,易忘的,难捉摸的

American journalist Jill Carroll's captors are threatening to kill her on February 26th if the US military doesn't release all Iraqi women from prison. Carroll, a freelance reporter for The Christian Science Monitor, was kidnapped in Baghdad January 7th.

freelance: 自由职业的

2006 Feb.11(4)

In a surprised move, Lewis Libby admits he leaked the name of a CIA operative but he says he was following orders by his superiors. The former top aide to Vice-President Dick Cheney also told a federal grand jury the classified material was used by the Bush Administration to justify invading Iraq.

justify: 证明……是正当的
grand jury: n. 大陪审团
operative: a. 动作的,运转的,生产有关的
n. 职员,刑警,侦探此处指CIA成员。

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon RESUMES breathing on his own and moves his hand and leg in response to stimulation as doctors begin bringing him out of an induced coma.

in response to: 对...作出反应

2006 Jan.12(3)

Ariel Sharon's condition improves slightly. Doctors say they hope to wean the Israeli Prime Minister off the sedatives to draw him out of an induced coma.

wean off: 使断除依赖

2006 Jan.12(5)

And the People magazine's website says Angelina Jolie is pregnant with Brad Pitt's child. The baby is reportedly due this summer.

due:  预期的，应到的

2006 Jan.13(5)

Oprah Winfrey breaks her silence about James Frey's disputed memoir addiction, dismissing allegations of falsehoods as "much ado about nothing".

詹姆斯·弗雷2003年出版的回忆录《岁月如沙》（A Million Little Pieces）讲述自己戒酒戒毒经历，由著名脱口秀节目主持人欧普拉·温弗莉推荐，在2005年仅次于哈里波特成为第二大畅销书，但美国一家名为“烟枪”（www. thesmokinggun.com）的新闻网站称弗雷书中大量造假。

2006 Jan.16(4)

A space capsule ferrying the first comet dust samples to Earth parachutes onto the remote stretch of desert during cheers from related scientists.

parachute: [v.]用降落伞降落

In Iraq, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld announces the first what's likely to be a series of productions in US troop levels there in the coming year.

productions: 应为reductions，削减。感谢lnnp斑竹

Dec.24(2)

Protesters gather across Iraq to denounce the recent parliament elections, calling them rigged in favor of the country's main religious Shiite Coalition.

in favor of: 赞同, 有利于

Jan.03(3)

Doctors say an Iraqi infant brought to the United States for treatment of severe birth defects is doing well and is playful but will likely need to use a wheelchair.

do well: [v.]进展好

Jan.06(4)

As millions of Muslims converge on Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj, at least fifteen pilgrims are killed after their hotel collapses in Mecca.

converge on: 集中在...上

Jan.08(2)

One of Ariel Sharon's surgeons says the Israeli leader has a good chance of surviving his stroke but his ability to think and reason have been damaged.

a chance of sth.: 做某事的机会

With violence at a relative low, large numbers of Iraqis turn out to vote. Turnout is strong in Sunni areas too and ballot shortages are reported in some ?

turn out to: 响应召唤出门做...

Dec.18(3)

In Hong Kong, security forces use tear gas to scatter hundreds of protestors after they compose to storming into the WTO's meeting venue.

compose: 聚集

Dec.20(1)

President Bush brushing aside congressional criticism, defends secret domestic surveillance as a necessary part of his job to protect the Americans from attack.

brush aside: 不予考虑

Dec.22(3)

The NTSB says the wing of that seaplane that crashed off Miami had cracks in the main support beam that probably went unseen for a long time.

off: [prep.]飞离...

And President Bush may be top dog at the White House but his Scottish Terriers, Barney and Miss Beazley are the stars of the new White House holiday video.

top dog: 老大

Dec.10(3)

Former President Clinton says the Bush administration is "flat wrong" to claim that cutting emissions to fight global warming will hurt the US economy.

flat : absolutely

Dec.12(5)

Comedians pay tribute to Richard Pryor the ground breaking actor Comedian who influence the generation of standup artists. He died at Saturday at age 65.

ground breaking: 突破性创新的
standup: 单口相声式的

Dec.14(5)

The film "Brokeback Mountain" ropes in seven Golden Globes nominations including Best Drama, and honors for actor Heath Ledger and director Ang Lee.

rope in: 收入囊中

Congressman John Murtha says US troops will leave Iraq within a year because the army is "quote"," broken," and "worn out" and living hand to mouth.

live (from) hand to mouth: 勉强糊口，艰难度日

Dec.03(4)

In Russia, a man armed with a sold rifle surrendered to police early on Friday bring five hostages he had held for about two hours.

surrender to: 向...投降

Dec.04(4)

Activists demand urgent action to curb global warming protests worldwide coinciding with UN climate change conference in Montreal.

coincide with: 与此同时

Dec.06(5)

And hundreds of Santa's hit the slopes in Maine to raise money for a charity drive to purchase holiday gifts for needy children.

hit slopes: 滑雪

Britain's Prince Charles and wife Camilla begin a weeklong tour of the United States in New York, paying tribute to victims of the 9/11 attacks.

tour of: 到...的旅行
paying tribute to: 向...致敬

Nov.16(2)

Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito distances himself from 1985 comments that there was no constitutional right to abortion.

distances sb. from sth.: 把某人与某事划清界限

Nov.18(3)

Another sign of Congressional unease about Iraq, as a Hawkish Democrat voted for the war calls for the immediate withdrawal of US troops.

作为国会对伊拉克状况不安的又一迹象，一名曾投票支持对伊战争的民主党鹰派议员现在呼吁立即撤军。

Nov.21(5)

And a Japanese man defends his hamburger-eating title, wolfing down 76 mini burgers when in a contest in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

wolf down: 狼吞虎咽地吃

And in Tbilisi Georgia residents celebrate city-day by drinking freshly press wine, listening to music and watching folk dancing.

press wine: 压榨葡萄酒

Oct.26(1)

Floridians lined up for water, gas, ice and generators outside the few store was open after Hurricane Wilma cuts a costly deadly swath across the peninsula.

line up for: 排队等候

Oct.28(5)

And a new animal rights law pass by the city of Rome requires owners to walk their dogs and bans goldfish bowls which animal activists say they're cruel.

goldfish bowl: 金鱼缸

Oct.31(3)

Hundreds attend a memorial service for Rosa Parks who inspired the civil rights movement by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man.

give up: [vt]把...送交

Tropical storm Wilma on a path that could lead to Florida becomes the 12th hurricane of the season, tying the record for the most hurricanes to form in an Atlantic season.

tie the record: 与...不相上下

2005 Oct.20(2)

And defiant Saddam Hussein pleads innocent to charges of murder and torture as his long-awaited trial begins with him rejecting the courts legitimacy and scuffling with guards.

plead innocent to charges of: 自称对...指控无辜

2005 Oct.20(4)

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice refuses to rule out US troops still in Iraq in ten years or the US use of military force against Iran and Syria.

rule out: 排除，清除

2005 Oct.22(5)

And Danish researchers have come up with an unusual solution for insomnia, music cure, a soft pillow that chirps like a bird and is designed to sing soldiers to sleep in Kosovo, Iraq and other hot spots.

come up with: 找出问题的解决方案

An African soccer legend is among the presidential contenders and Liberia's first post-war elections on track to take place next week.

on track to: be going to

2005 Oct.13(3)

A 64-year-old retired teacher seen on videotape being beaten by New Orleans police pleads not guilty to charges of being drunk and resisting arrest.

pleads not guilty to: 不予认罪
charges of: 关于...的起诉

2005 Oct.13(5)

British tabloids report actor Daniel Craig has been tapped to be the next 007, replacing Pierce Brosnan, which will make Craig the first blond Bond.

be tapped to be: 被认为

2005 Oct.14(1)

Rescue and relief efforts continue in Pakistan. The UN's emergency relief chief fears they are running out of time to get help to remote villages cut off by blocked roads.

be running out of time to: 时间所剩不多
get help to: 帮助...

2005 Oct.15(1)

Hundreds of Iraqi police and army troops fanned out across Baghdad，setting up checkpoints and fortifying polling stations ahead of a historic constitutional referendum.

fanned out: 展开

New Chief Justice John Roberts stepped forward as an aggressive defender of federal authority to block doctor-assisted suicide as the Supreme Court clashed over a Oregon Law that lets doctors help terminally ill patients end their lives.

step forward:站出来

2005 Oct.07(4)

Firefighters battling a wildfire in southern California east of L.A., scramble to burn off heavy brush near homes before winds pick up again.

burn off:烧掉

And Donald Trump is going to be a father again. The fifty-nine-year-old real estate mogul-TV reality star's new wife is going to have a baby.

real estate mogul-TV reality star:房地产巨头兼真人秀电视节目明星

Reality TV:真人秀是指未经专业训练的普通人上镜。超女应该算是这类节目。

President Bush says he is preparing to tap the strategic petroleum reserve again to offset more big gasoline price hikes due to hurricane Rita.

hike:急剧上涨

2005 Sep.27(5)

And Hollywood sweethearts Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore reportedly tie the knot during a ceremony in front of a hundred guests.

tie the knot:喜结连理

At least eighteen people are killed in bombings and clashes in Iraq, and an American soldier is killed when his vehicle rolls over on patrol in western Iraq.

roll over:翻滚(翻车)

on patrol:在巡逻中