090408T's News Digest 上半集（解析版）

090408 T’s News Digest

 

 

★Fight over F-22's Future to Test Defense Overhaul(军事和科技)

猛禽展翅，空中霸王

The highest-profile test of Defense Secretary Robert Gates's plan to overhaul how the Pentagon buys weapons will be whether he succeeds in winding down production of the most advanced fighter the Air Force has ever flown. The F-22 Raptor is capable of almost hovering in place and can detect and kill an enemy more than 200 miles away. The Air Force boasts that the fighter is so far ahead of its competitors that it gives the U.S. a clear advantage in the sky.

 

解析：

High-profile 备受瞩目的，高姿态的

Test 试验，考验

The Pentagon 五角大楼

Wind down  逐步停止，渐渐结束

Most advanced fighter 最先进的战斗机

The Air Force 空军

F-22 Raptor 猛禽（战斗机）

Hover 盘旋，停留在空中

Boast 应以为傲，吹嘘…

Ahead of its competitors 超过它的竞争对手

Give the U.S. a clear advantage 使美国在空中具有明显优势

 

 

★Aftershocks in Italy as Rescues Go On(自然和灾难)

余震不断，援救行动困难重重

Powerful aftershocks jolted this crumbling city on Tuesday, hampering rescue efforts and toppling already fragile buildings, including the cupola of L’Aquila’s cathedral. The death toll from Monday’s earthquake rose to 235, including a young couple, students whose bodies were pulled from the rubble of their apartment as friends and family members sobbed.

 

解析：

Powerful aftershocks jolted this crumbling city 强烈的余震突袭这座已经摇摇欲坠/伤痕累累的城市. Jolt一词原指“颠簸；粗暴干涉” 在这里还可以处理成“雪上加霜”(个人理解，欢迎挑战)

Hamper rescue efforts  破环/阻碍营救行动

Topple fragile buildings 使脆弱的楼房倾斜(字面)

The cupola of L’Aquila’s cathedral 拉奎拉大教堂的穹顶

Death toll 死亡人数

Rubble 瓦砾堆 类似于ruins, 通常在灾难类，比如空难，自然灾害 常见：wreckage, remains, debris 残骸

Sob 啜泣，大声哭泣

 

★With Victories, Gay Rights Groups Expand Marriage Push(人权和法律)

趁胜追击，冲啊！同性恋婚姻合法化

Gay-rights groups say that momentum from back-to-back victories on same-sex marriage in Vermont and Iowa could spill into other states, particularly since at least nine other legislatures are considering measures this year to allow marriage between gay couples. The Vermont Legislature on Tuesday overrode Gov. Jim Douglas’s veto of a bill allowing gay couples to marry, mustering one more vote than needed to preserve the measure.

 

解析：

Gay-rights group 为同性恋争取权利的团体

Momentum 势头

Back-to-back victories 连续的胜利

Back-to-back 紧接着，背靠背；想到NBA中经常听到球队有“背靠背”的比赛

Same-sex marriage  同性婚姻

Spill into other states 影响，波及到其他州

Legislature 州议会

Override 撤销，推翻

Gov. Jim Douglas 佛蒙特州州长 吉姆.道格拉斯

Veto 否决，反对

Bill 议案

Muster one more vote 又收集到一票

Preserve the measure 维护(同性恋婚姻)这一做法