美联社新闻一分钟 2006-11-22

（单词翻译）

1. Lebanon's industry minister was shot and killed in a Beirut suburb this morning. Thirty-four-year-old Pierre Gemayel was in a car when another vehicle slammed to a stop in front of him causing his car to ram¹ it. Then several gunmen stepped out and shot him at point blank range with automatic weapons.

2. For the first time in 24 years diplomatic relations exist between Syria and Iraq. The move came today during a visit to Baghdad by Syria's foreign minister, the first such visit since the US invasion in 2003. The 2 sides severed relations in 1982.

3. Police say a Toyota Celica driven by an Alabama high school student came close to or struck a school bus yesterday, causing the bus to swerve⁴ on an overpass⁵ and crash through plunging⁶ into the street below. Three students died in the crash.

4. Comedian⁷ and actor Michael Richards is apologizing for a racially toned verbal barrage⁸ at a Los Angeles comedy club Friday night. During the rag he called 2 black hecklers the "n" word but says his comments were fueled by anger not by bigotry⁹.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. ram : VERB
If a vehicle rams¹⁰ something such as another vehicle, it crashed into it with a lot of force, usually deliberately¹¹.

2. point-blank : ADJ
So close to a target that a weapon may be aimed directly at it and missing the target is unlikely or impossible.

3. sever² : VERB
If you sever a relationship or connection that you have with someone, you end it suddenly and completely.

4. swerve : VERB
If a vehicle or other moving thing swerves¹², it suddenly changes direction, often in order to avoid hitting something.

5. barrage : N-COUNT
A barrage of something such as criticism or complaints is a large number of them directed at someone, often in an aggressive way.

6. rag : VERB （在这里作名词）
To rag someone means to make fun of them in an unkind way.

7. heckler : N-COUNT
A heckler is a person who shouts an uninvited comment, usually disparaging¹³, at a performance or event, or interrupting set-piece speeches

8. bigotry : N-UNCOUNT
Bigotry is the possession or expression of strong, unreasonable¹⁴ prejudices or opinions.