【新唐人2011年1月20日訊】【看新聞學英語】
Floods and Mudslides Devastate Sri Lanka
洪水和土石流重創斯里蘭卡
Jessie Chen, David Lee
【新聞關鍵字】
1. devastate: v. [ˋdɛvəs͵tet] 重創
2. inundate: v. [ˋɪnʌn͵det] 淹沒
3. submerge: v. [səbˋmɝdʒ] 浸泡
4. bring on: ph. [brɪŋ ɑn]引起
5. monsoon: n. [mɑnˋsun] 季風
6. downpour: n. [ˋdaʊn͵por]豪雨
7. trigger: v. [ˋtrɪgɚ]引起
8. evacuate: v. [ɪˋvækjʊ͵et] 撤離
9. isolate: v. [ˋaɪs!͵et]孤立
10. beset: v. [bɪˋsɛt]困擾、使苦惱
11. contend: v. [kənˋtɛnd]搏鬥、奮鬥
12. meteorology: n. [͵mitɪəˋrɑlədʒɪ] 氣象學
Homes are inundated and agricultural land is submerged as flooding in Sri Lanka continues on Wednesday.
周三，在斯里蘭卡因持續的洪水，住宅被淹沒，農田泡在水裡。
At least 18 people have been killed and almost 200,000 forced from their homes due to the floods, brought on by heavy rain.
因豪大雨引起的洪水，至少造成18人死亡，約20萬人被迫離開家園。
The Monsoon downpours also triggered mudslides – authorities believe the death toll could rise as many are thought to have been buried.
季風夾帶的傾盆大雨量也引發土石流 – 當局相信，死亡人數可能會再增加，因為許多人被認為已被活埋。
Floodwaters are also threatening the country’s vital agricultural industry.
洪水也威脅該國重要的農產業。
Officials say 15,000 hectares of rice paddy fields have been damaged and tens of thousands more are under water.
官員說，1.5萬公頃的稻田已被破壞，還有數萬公傾泡在水裡。
The government has dispatched military helicopters to deliver supplies to villagers in remote areas.
政府派出軍用直升機，運送物資給偏遠地區的村民。
The aircraft were also used to evacuate those who have been isolated by the floods.
飛機也被用來撤離因洪水而孤立無援的人們。
Sri Lanka is commonly beset by flooding as it contends with two monsoons per year.
斯里蘭卡經常受洪水苦惱，因每年要應付兩個季風。
The country’s meteorology department said they expect heavy rains to continue over the next two days.
該國氣象局表示，他們預計未來兩天仍會有豪大雨。
本則影音新聞出處：新唐人電視台英語新聞
http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_asia/2011-01-13/294725721296.html
本專欄由前衛英語David Lee主編 www.davidlee.url.tw
【佳句精選】
At least 18 people have been killed.
至少造成18人死亡
【佳句精選】
They expect heavy rains to continue over the next two days.
們預計未來兩天仍會有豪大雨