passions

2016年4月28日VOA常速新闻收听：NATO is preparing to step up its response to threats from theIslamic State group and from Russia. NATO Secretary GeneralJens Stoltenberg says the alliance is neither seekingconfrontation with Russia nor a cold war.  

Dutch voters went to the polls to vote on whether to back aEuropean Union free trade agreement with Ukraine. The referendum is nonbinding, but it will bean important measure of EU support.  It comes just three months before British voters castballots on whether to remain in the European Union.

【key point】
alliance n. 联盟，联合；联姻

ballot n. 投票；投票用纸；投票总数vt. 使投票表决；拉选票vi. 投票；抽签决定

confrontation n. 对抗；面对；对质