進入英語學習論壇下載音頻 去聽寫專區一展身手

Police in riot gear clashed with protesters in Oakland in the early morning hours on Thursday, firing tear gas to disperse demonstrators lingering in the streets after a day of mostly peaceful rallies against economic inequality and police brutality.

The confrontation, which erupted after midnight, appeared aimed at preventing the protesters from expanding their foothold in the streets around a public plaza that has become a hub for demonstrations in the northern California city.

More than 200 officers, some of them ferried in aboard buses, lined up shoulder to shoulder and donned gas masks, then declared the crowd to be an unlawful assembly and fired volleys of tear gas as protesters turned and ran.

A few activists paused to pick up canisters and hurl them back at officers as they fled, while others threw rocks.

"This was peaceful until you came!" protesters shouted at police. Police later charged the plaza with batons and more tear gas to push protesters farther into center of the square.

The clashes in Oakland, which shot to the forefront of nationwide anti-Wall Street protests after a former Marine was badly injured in a rally last week, followed a day of rallies that drew some 5,000 activists at their peak and shuttered the busy Port of Oakland but failed to shut down the city.

At least one protester was carried away with an injury to his leg, and another who had been placed under arrest, his hands cuffed behind his back, lay on the ground with blood streaming down his face.

About three dozen activists were arrested, lined up seated along a street curb in plastic wrist restraints as they waited to be taken away by police.

Questions:

1. In which Californian city was the protest?

2. How many officers were involved?

3. How many activists were arrested?

Answers:

1. Oakland.

2. 200.

3. 3.

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.