美联社新闻一分钟 2006-10-23

（单词翻译）

1. October is the deadliest month this year for US troops in Iraq. A soldier and a marine¹ were killed yesterday, bringing the death toll² to 80 this month. With less than 10 days to go, October could become the deadliest month in 2 years.

2. Another Democrat³ could soon throw his hat into the presidential race. Democrat Senator Barack Obama said today he is considering a run for the White House. He says the mid-term elections could have an influence on his decision.

3. Madonna's facing more trouble trying to adopt a boy from Malawi this time from the boy's father. He tells the Associated Press that he gave up his 13-month-old son to Madonna, but never was told it would be permanent. He says he thought the material girl would just educate and care for David Banda. But he thought the boy would then return home.

4. A crime by thieves paid off for archaeologist in Egypt. Grave robbers found 3 tombs but were arrested before the tombs could be opened. Egyptian archaeologists took up the dig and discovered the graves of 3 dentists to ancient kings.

WORDS IN THE NEWS


1. throw one's hat in the ring : PHR =toss one's hat in the ring.
Announce one's candidacy or enter a contest, as in The governor was slow to throw his hat in the ring in the senatorial race. This term comes from boxing, where throwing a hat in the ring formerly⁴ indicated a challenge; today the idiom nearly always refers to political candidacy.

2. pay off : PHR-V
Produce a profit, as in That gamble did not pay off.

3. archaeologist : N-COUNT
Scientists who study the societies and peoples of the past by examining the remains⁵ of their buildings, tools, and other objects.

4. take up : PHR-V
If you take up an activity or a subject, you become interested in it and spend time doing it.