周四，美国国务卿约翰·克里在首次公开听证会上与美国参议院就伊朗核协议展开辩论。

Mr. Kerry met with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington.During the hearing, Senator Bob Corker said the deal falls short of endingIran's nuclear program.

克里在华盛顿与参议院外交关系委员会会晤。听证会期间，参议员鲍勃·柯尔克称该协议只是暂时阻止伊朗研发核武器。

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, right, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, center, and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew testify before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, in Washington, July 23, 2015.

Mr. Kerry disagreed. In his words, it is "fantasy, plain and simple," to think theUnited States failed to wait for a better deal in negotiations.

克里表示不同意。他说，认为美国未能在协商中等到一个更好的协议的想法是简单幻想的。

Iranand six other countries -- Britain, China, France, Russia, Germany and the United States reached the agreement last week.

伊朗和其它世界六大国——英国、中国、法国、德国和美国上周达成协议。

The U.S. Congress has until September 17 to approve or reject the deal.President Barack Obama has promised to veto a rejection.

美国国会直到9.17号才决定是否通过这项协议。总统奥巴马曾作出承诺要投反对票。

Secretary Carter makes unannounced stop in Iraq

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter made an unannounced visit Thursday toBaghdad, Iraq.

美国国防部长阿仕顿·卡特周四突然访问伊拉克巴格达。

The American defense chief praised Iraqi counterterrorism troops, as he watched them carry out exercises at a firing range.

美国国防部长观看反恐怖主义部队在射击区域进行军事演习时，高度评价了伊拉克反恐怖主义部队。

Mr. Carter also was to meet with top Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and the country's defense minister, as well as U.S.commanders.

卡特还会见了伊拉克最高官员，包括首相阿巴迪和该国的国防部长和美国司令官。

Earth-like planet discovered

U.S.scientists said Thursday that they had discovered a planet similar toEarth around a distant sun-like star.

周四美国科学家称他们了一个近似地球的形体绕着远处像太阳的星体飞行。

The planet is about 60 percent bigger than Earth. It was discovered usingNASA's Kepler space telescope. The planet circles a star that is similar insize and temperature to the sun.

该星体大约比地球大60%，是用美国国家航空航天局的开普勒望远镜观察到的。该星体绕着一个体积和温度都近似太阳的星体飞行。

AstronomerJon Jenkins said of the discovery, “In my mind, this is the closestthing we have to another planet like Earth.”

宇航员肯金斯道出此次发现。他说，在我的印象中，这是我们发现的又一个近似地球的星体。

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Words in the News

hearing– n. a meeting or session at which evidence and arguments about acrime, complaint, etc., are presented to a person or group who will have todecide on what action should be taken

veto–v. to reject (a proposed law) officially : to refuse to allow (a bill) tobecome a law

astronomer– n. the scientific study of stars, planets, and other objects inouter space

Mr. Kerry met with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington.During the hearing, Senator Bob Corker said the deal falls short of endingIran's nuclear program.

Mr. Kerry disagreed. In his words, it is "fantasy, plain and simple," to think theUnited States failed to wait for a better deal in negotiations.

Iran and six other countries -- Britain, China, France, Russia, Germany and the United States reached the agreement last week.

The U.S. Congress has until September 17 to approve or reject the deal.President Barack Obama has promised to veto a rejection.

Secretary Carter makes unannounced stop in Iraq

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter made an unannounced visit Thursday toBaghdad, Iraq.

The American defense chief praised Iraqi counterterrorism troops, as hewatched them carry out exercises at a firing range.

Mr. Carter also was to meet with top Iraqi officials, including Prime MinisterHaider al-Abadi and the country's defense minister, as well as U.S.commanders.

Earth-like planet discovered

U.S. scientists said Thursday that they had discovered a planet similar toEarth around a distant sun-like star.

The planet is about 60 percent bigger than Earth. It was discovered usingNASA's Kepler space telescope. The planet circles a star that is similar insize and temperature to the sun.

Astronomer Jon Jenkins said of the discovery, “In my mind, this is the closestthing we have to another planet like Earth.”

______________________________________________________________

Words in the News

hearing – n. a meeting or session at which evidence and arguments about acrime, complaint, etc., are presented to a person or group who will have todecide on what action should be taken

veto –v. to reject (a proposed law) officially : to refuse to allow (a bill) tobecome a law

astronomer – n. the scientific study of stars, planets, and other objects inouter space