美联社新闻一分钟 2008-05-25

（单词翻译）

1. It is a weekend to remember those serving the country. President Bush is asking Americans to pause on Monday for a moment of remembrance. At Arlington National Cemetery¹, each headstone is being marked with an American flag.
 
2. Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama is not backing away from criticizing Republican contender John McCain for opposing legislation providing scholarships to those serving in the military. McCain says the benefit will encourage people to leave the service after one enlistment².
 
3. On the streets of two European cities, rioters clash with police. In Italy, the issue is who gets garbage from Naples. In Belgium, groups sparred after a soccer game.

4. In Beijing, eight pandas settle into a new home after the devastating³ Chinese earthquake destroyed their preserve. The two-year-old pandas will be here for months, part of a special exhibition at Beijing Zoo for the Summer Olympics.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. Arlington National Cemetery: n. 阿灵顿国家公墓

A national burial ground at the Potomac River, in Arlington County, Virginia. It became a military cemetery in 1864 by order of the secretary of war, and on May 13, 1864, a Confederate prisoner was the first soldier buried there. Since then, some soldiers from all subsequent wars in which the United States has participated have been buried in the cemetery, including a few officers of the Revolutionary War. Memorials located at the site include the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

2. headstone: n.

a piece of stone placed at one end of a grave, showing the name, etc. of the person buried there

3. spar: v.

to argue with someone but not in an unpleasant way

4. back away: v.

If you back away from a commitment that you made or something that you were involved with in the past, you try to show that you are no longer committed to it or involved with it.