BBC news 2011-10-17 加文本

词汇讲解：

1. eyewitness n. 目击者
例句：The police questioned several eyewitness to the murder.
警察询问了谋杀案的几位目击者。

2. ransom n. 付赎金救人; 赎金
例句：They have to pay a large ransom.
他们不得不付一大笔赎金。

3. acknowledge vt.承认, 供认；告知已收到；鸣谢, 感谢
例句：I acknowledge that her criticism is just.
我承认她的批评是公正的。

4. concede v. 承认
例句：I conceded that I had made a mistake.
我承认我犯了一个错误。

5. punishment n. 处罚, 受罚
例句：My punishment for littering was several hours of picking up trash.
我因乱扔杂物而受到的处罚是捡几小时垃圾。

6. astonish vt. 使惊讶, 使大为吃惊
例句：Her father's sudden death astonished her.
父亲突然逝世使她大为震惊。

7. mayhem n. 大混乱, 大破坏
例句：There was absolute mayhem when the cow got into the village hall.
那牛闯进村会议厅, 造成一片混乱。

8. relevant adj. 有关的, 切题的
例句：These materials are relevant to the case.
这些材料与这案件有关。

9. horizon n. 地平线；范围, 界限, 眼界
例句：Good novels broaden your horizons.
好小说开阔人的眼界。

10. strive vi.努力奋斗; 力求
例句：Today women are striving to occupy positions previously closed to them.
现今妇女正在努力争取以往不对她们开放的职位。

11. prompt vt. 促使, 推动, 引起
例句：The sight of the ships prompted thoughts of his distant home.
看到船使他想起遥远的家乡。

12. impartial adj. 不偏不倚的, 公正的, 中立的
例句：He gave an impartial view of the state of affairs in Ireland.
他对爱尔兰的事态发表了公正的看法。