1. Braving blizzard-like conditions, searching will continue today for 3 missing climbers in Oregon. Sunday was the last day the men had been heard from when one of the climbers called on a cell phone to report trouble.

2. At least 2 dozen more people are dead in Iraq as a result of insurgent attacks. A parked car exploded near a bus stop in a Shiite neighborhood near Baghdad during rush hour. In addition to the dead at least 27 were wounded, many of them women and children.

3. A flurry of reported talks among airlines could signal merger mania. A big announcement may come from United Airlines and Continental Airlines who are planning a possible combination.

4. "You are a trophy wife?"
Peter Boyle who gained fame playing the role of a curmudgeonly father on the TV sitcom 'Everybody Loves Raymond' has died. The Emmy award-winning actor was 71 years old.

WORDS IN THE NEWS


1. flurry : N-COUNT
A flurry of something such as activity or excitement is a short intense period of it.

2. merger : N-COUNT
A merger is the joining together of two separate companies or organizations so that they become one.

3. mania : N-COUNT
Violent abnormal behavior.

4. trophy wife : N-COUNT
An attractive, young wife married to a usually older, affluent man.

5. curmudgeonly : ADJ
If you describe someone as curmudgeonly, you do not like them because they are mean or bad-tempered.

6. sitcom : N-COUNT
A sitcom is an amusing television drama series about a set of characters. Sitcom is an abbreviation for 'situation comedy'.