美联社新闻一分钟 2006-01-24

（单词翻译）

1. Major cost-cutting moves were announced Monday at Ford¹ Motor Company. As many as 30,000 jobs will be cut and 14 facilities closed in North America over the next few years in an effort to save billions of dollars.

2. President Bush says domestic spying is both legal and necessary. During a visit to Kansas State University, the president defended the eavesdropping² and gave it a new name - "the terrorist surveillance program".

3. A five-storey building collapsed³ in Nairobi, killing⁴ at least 11 people and injuring dozens of others. Rescuers are digging through piles of concrete and metals searching for survivors⁵. Workers say 280 people were inside when the building fell.

4. Unbeatable winter reality check in the Northeast Monday morning. Last week's unseasonably warm temperatures gave way to a blanket of snow and icy rain in several states.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. cost-cutting : noun [U]
actions which are taken to reduce the amount that is spent on a service or within an organization:
e.g. The recovery was achieved in the old-fashioned way with cost-cutting and price increases.

2. reality check : noun [C usually singular]
an occasion that causes you to consider the facts about a situation and not your opinions, ideas or beliefs:
e.g. The recent failure of so many Internet businesses has provided a reality check for those who predicted huge profits.

3. unseasonably : adverb
describes weather that is not usual or suitable for the time of year:

4. give way to : (ALSO make way for sth) UK
to be replaced by something, especially because it is better, cheaper, easier, etc:
e.g. In some areas, modern intensive farming is giving way to the re-introduction of traditional methods