1.   This is a joyous occasion for our family as we celebrate the happy life ahead of her and her husband Henry.

这对我们家庭来说是一个快乐时刻，我们在她和她老公前庆祝美好生活。

joyous

Feeling or causing joy; joyful.感到高兴或使人高兴的；高兴的，快乐的

2.   The president and Mrs. Bush joined more than 100 people at a rehearsal dinner Friday evening in the Texas town of Salado, where they also celebrated the groom's 30th birthday. 

布什总统和总统夫人参加了在德克萨斯州的S镇周五晚间举行的100多人的彩排晚宴，在那里他们还一同庆祝了新郎30岁的生日。

rehearsal　n.（名词）

The act of practicing in preparation for a public performance.

排练：为准备公开演出而练习的动作

3.   Her embroidered gown is by Oscar de la Renta, and her bridesmaid is her twin sister Barbara.

她的刺绣礼服是由OR设计，她的伴娘是她双胞胎妹妹B。

gown

 woman's dress, esp a long one for special occasions 女服（尤指於特殊场合穿的长服）:

* a `ball-gown 舞会长服

bridesmaid

 young woman or girl (usu unmarried and often one of several) attending a bride at her wedding 女傧相; 伴娘.

4.   He is a former presidential campaign aide, whose father was lieutenant governor of Virginia and now head's that state's Republican party.

 他是前总统竞选阵营助手，他的父亲以前是维吉尼亚的副州长，现在是该州共和党党首。

lieutenant governor

An elected official ranking just below the governor of a state in the United States.

副州长：在美国选举产生的仅低于州长的官员

5.   About 360 were reported killed or missing during the hazardous voyage.

据报道大约有360人在危险的航行中被害或失踪

hazardous

Marked by danger; perilous.

带有危险性的；危险的

6.   Many of the asylum seekers also said they were forced to leave because of crop losses due to drought.

许多寻求庇护的人称他们因为干旱造成农作物减产不得不离开。

asylum

(a) safety; refuge 安全; 庇护:

* ask for/be granted political asylum, ie protection given to a political refugee by a foreign country 请求[准予]政治避难（外国给予政治难民的保护）.

(b) place of safety or refuge 庇护所; 避难所. 

7.   Pagonis says survivors tell horrific tales of brutality, about passengers being beaten, stabbed, and raped.

Ｐ称幸存者讲述了可怕的残忍故事，乘客遭受毒打，刺伤，强暴。

brutality

The state or quality of being ruthless, cruel, harsh, or unrelenting.

野蛮，残忍，严酷或无情

8.   Pagonis says the UNHCR has been calling for increased action to save lives in the Gulf of Aden and other waters.

Ｐ称联合国难民事务高级专员一直在呼吁在亚丁海湾和其他水域增加行动拯救生命，

gulf

 part of the sea almost surrounded by land 海湾:

* the Gulf of Mexico 墨西哥湾.