2006 年 03 月 03 日 (No. 46)

 
Politics
國會反對美國六大港口管理權交易案　布希不予理會堅持批准（2006/02/22）
Bush shrugs off objections to port deal
賽爾維亞獵捕米拉迪克進入關鍵期（2006/02/23）
Crunch time for Serbia in hunt for Mladic
Society
死刑注射是否有痛苦引爭議　加州一死囚行刑時間再度延後（2006/02/23）
Doubts on pain spare murderer lethal injection for second time
致命病毒跨越物種感染人類現象逐年增加　突變速度前所未見（2006/02/21）
Deadly viruses mutating to infect humans at rate never before seen
Business
歐盟擬向中國、越南課收皮鞋傾銷稅（2006/02/20）
EU wants dumping duty on China,Vietnam shoes
面對國會撻伐聲　布希全力搶救港口管理權交易案（2006/02/23）
Bush tries to salvage port deal
Science & Technology
科學家對星塵號採得之彗星塵開始進行交叉分析（2006/02/21）
Scientists slice and dice comet dust
美太空科學家標出十顆最有可能孕育外星生物的行星（2006/02/20）
Scientist earmarks planets most likely to hold alien life
Entertainment
滾石合唱團巴西沙灘勁爆演出　百萬歌迷享受搖滾震撼（2006/02/20）
Stones deliver bigger bang to one million
新龐德出師不利拍片受傷　前輩布洛斯南看好他將苦盡甘來（2006/02/23）
Craig will have the last laugh, says Brosnan
Sports
世棒經典賽：紅襪隊名將拉米瑞茲是否代表多明尼加出賽　依舊懸而未決（2006/02/23）
Manny iffy for World Baseball Classic
新移民勇奪冬季奧運銀牌　為美國花式滑冰三十年獎牌荒劃下句點（2006/02/21）
New American ends 30-year medal drought
 
 
No Safe Port in Bush's Latest Storm
 
 六大港口設施管理權交易案　令布希再陷政治風暴
George W. Bush is looking for shelter from the latest political storm swirling around the U.S. presidency.
He won't find it in the ports recently sold to Dubai Ports World.
The sale of several U.S. seaport facilities to the United Arab Emirate-owned company has raised national security concerns among the president's opponents as well as some of his staunchest allies.
  陷於政治風暴當中的布希總統目前正設法尋求避風港。不過，最近賣給杜拜港口世界公司的幾個港口，可不是讓他棲身避禍的好地方。美國把若干海港設施賣給這家阿拉伯聯合大公國的公司，已然在國安問題上引起關切。不但布希總統的敵對陣營如此認為，連他身邊一些最忠實的盟友也抱持同樣的看法。
The president defended the sale last week, arguing that it is good for the country and that the U.A.E. is an ally in the war on terror.
His case wasn't helped when news broke February 22 that the president had been out of the loop when the transaction was approved by aides in his administration.
In spite of criticism, Bush has stuck by his guns, threatening to veto any legislation aimed at blocking the sale.
  布希總統於上星期為這項交易辯護，聲稱此舉對美國有益，而且阿拉伯聯合大公國也是美國反恐戰爭的盟友。不過，二月二十二日所爆發的消息對他的說法可是毫無幫助，據說他的助理核准這項交易的時候，布希根本不知情也並未參與決策。儘管抨擊聲浪不斷，布希仍然堅持立場，揚言若有任何法案企圖阻擋這項交易，他將不惜祭出否決權。
The administration argues that opposition to selling the ports to an Arab country smacks of racism and sends the wrong message at a time when the U.S. is trying to win new allies in the Muslim world.
Critics, however, point to the fact that two of the 9/11 hijackers were from the U.A.E. and that funds for al-Qaeda were funneled through Dubai banks.
Some of deal's most vocal detractors are from the president's own party.
  布希政府辯稱，反對把港口賣給阿拉伯國家的說法帶有種族歧視意味，而且在美國努力爭取回教世界盟國之際，這樣的說法更會傳達錯誤的訊息。不過，批評人士則提出證據，指出九一一事件當中有兩名劫機者就來自阿拉伯聯合大公國，而且基地組織的經費就是透過杜拜的銀行取得。在對於港口交易譴責最烈的人士中，有些還是布希的黨內同志。
South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham, appearing on Fox News last Sunday, said, "It's unbelievably tone deaf politically at this point in our history."
Support for the sale has come from equally unexpected quarters.
Former President Jimmy Carter, no great fan of the current administration, weighed in backing the Dubai sale.
  上星期日，南卡羅萊納州的共和黨參議員林賽•格雷安姆在福斯新聞節目上指出：「在國家目前這個時刻，這項決定在政治敏感度方面的欠缺程度，實在令人難以置信。」然而，也有讓人意想不到的人士贊同這項交易。前總統卡特雖然和當今的政府不對盤，卻加入了杜拜交易案的支持陣營。
staunchest　adj. 最堅定的；最可靠的；最堅固的
The team's staunchest supporters sing chants at the games.
該隊最死忠的支持者在比賽場上高歌來為他們加油打氣。
out of the loop　phr. 不知情；並未被告知
Megan was out of the loop on the company restructuring.
有關公司內部改組的消息，梅根完全沒被告知。
aide　n. 助手
veto　v. 否決；行使否決權
Max vetoed the plan to split the department.
麥克斯否決了將此部門拆開重組的計畫。
smack of...　v. phr. 帶有……意味
Paul's appointment of his cousin smacks of nepotism.
保羅任用自己表親的舉動頗有提拔自家人的意味。
funnel　v. 注入；挹注
The government funneled money to militias.
該政府向民兵提供資金。
vocal　adj. 直言不諱的
Brenda was vocal in her opposition to the plan.
布藍達直言不諱地表達對於這項計畫的反對立場。
detractor　n. 貶低者；批評者；誹謗者
tone deaf　adj. 音痴；不懂分辨的
Jeffery was somewhat tone deaf in his use of several tasteless jokes in his speech.
傑佛瑞在演講中所說的幾個笑話其實索然無味，但他似乎對此渾然不覺。
weigh in　v. 加入；針對某事發揮影響力
Several advisors weighed in on the president's proposal.
幾位顧問對於總統的提案明確表態。
Stick to / by one's guns　堅持立場／說法／看法
也可說成 stand to one's guns，此語由槍砲射手堅守武器不離開崗位引申而來，表示對一項說法、意見或行動採取絕對堅持的態度。
Silvia stuck to her guns and refused to eat meat.
施維雅堅持拒吃任何肉類。
 
 
True or False:
T
F
1 . To stick to your guns is to persevere at something.
2 . To veto something is to approve it.
3 . Dumping is to unload cheap products in a country.
4 . To shrug off something is to be obsessed with it.
5 . If something is iffy it is certain.
 

Choose the best word or phrase to complete each sentence.
a. salvage b. iffy c. funnelled money d. shrugged off e. staunchest
6.
 The company to politicians
7.
 William the bad reviews his first novel received.
8.
 Cindy was able to the the deal when it appeared to be falling apart.
9.
 Britain is one of the U.S.'s allies.
10.
 Plans for a camping trip seemed after the weather turned bad.

Answer

 1：T 2：F 3：T 4：F 5：F
6：【c】 7：【d】 8：【a 】 9：【e】 10：【b】
 
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