美联社新闻一分钟 2006-12-03

（单词翻译）

1. Havana was the scene of a major military parade in honor of Cuban leader Fidel Castro's 80th birthday. However, the ailing¹ Castro wasn't in attendance. US officials believe Castro is suffering from some form of inoperable cancer.

2. At least 33 are dead in India after a 150-year-old footbridge collapsed² onto railroad tracks, burying the train beneath tons of rock. The rescue effort turned into recovery by nightfall. In addition to the dead, there are many people seriously wounded.

3. National Guard members are in the St. Louis area in an effort to clear up the mess left by Thursday's massive winter storm. Ice and snow damaged property in the area and caused widespread power outages.

4. Call it a quick way to find a match, in the business world, that is. A concept called "speed interviewing" was tried at a Houston hotel where job candidates rotated through 15-minute shifts to meet with potential employers.

WORDS IN THE NEWS


1. in attendance : PHR
If someone is in attendance at a place or an event, they are there.

2. inoperable : ADJ
An inoperable medical condition is one that cannot be cured by a surgical³ operation.

3. footbridge : N-COUNT
A footbridge is a narrow bridge for people travelling on foot.

4. that is : PHR 更确切地说...,也就是说...
You use that is or that is to say to indicate that you are about to express the same idea more clearly or precisely⁴.