美联社新闻一分钟 2006-09-04

（单词翻译）

1. Iraqi forces have arrested the second most senior operative in al-Qaida in Iraq. Hamed al-Saeedi was arrested a few days ago. Iraqi National Security Advisor¹ said the suspect's arrest also led to the capture or death of 11 other top al-Qaida in Iraq figures and 9 lower-level members.

2. A Chicago apartment fire killed 6 children and left their mother and 3 other children hurt. A Fire Department spokesman says the family had been without electricity for at least a month and were using candles for light.

3. Power is still out for many people in the Northeast after Ernesto blew through the region. More than 150,000 people are without service in the New York City area. Con-Ed and the Long Island Power Authority say crews are working around the clock to get the electricity back on.

4. Three tiger cubs² made their debut³ at the National Zoo in Washington D.C. The cubs weigh about 30 pounds each and are descended⁴ from a long line of tigers living at the zoo.

WORDS IN THE NEWS


1. operative : n-count
An operative is someone who works for a government agency such as the intelligence service. (mainly AM)

2. figure : n-count
Someone who is referred to as a figure of a particular kind is a person who is well-known and important in some way.

3. around the clock : phrase
If something is done round the clock or around the clock, it is done all day and all night without stopping.

4. debut : n-count
The debut of a performer or sports player is their first public performance, appearance, or recording⁵.

5. descended : adj
An animal that is descended from another sort of animal has developed from the original sort.

6. line : n-count
a series of people, things or events that follow one another in time