新西兰英语 208 Coldest October in 64 Years

　　We have just had the coldest October since 1945, says NIWA, the National Institute¹ of Water and Atmosphere². The average³ temperature was 10.6 degrees C, which is about 2 degrees below the usual average. We had more southerly winds than usual. The southerly comes from Antarctica⁴ and can bring rain, snow, cold winds and low temperatures. The Napier / Taupo area had heavy snow falls in the first week of October and roads were closed. Some drivers had to stay over night with local people because they could not get home. The second week in October brought snow to parts of the South Island. Snow in the Spring is difficult for farmers because this is the time when lambs⁵ are born. Lambs can easily die in the cold.
But New Zealand is a country with many different kinds of weather. Parts of the North Island, especially Waikato, Wellington, Wanganui, and the east coast⁶ had much more rain than usual. Marlborough and Canterbury also had more rain. However, the West Coast of the South Island was sunnier and drier than usual because most of the southerly winds were from the south-east. The West Coast is protected from east winds by the mountains in the middle of the South Island.
NIWA thinks that the summer will be normal for most of the North Island but a bit cooler than usual for the South island.

1 institute   

n.学会，协会；讲习会，讲座；vt.建立，设立；开始

参考例句：

• He thought of trying for a position in a research institute.他想方设法在一个研究机关找个工作。
• He gave a talk to the Women's Institute on his travels in Asia.他就他的亚洲之旅为妇女协会做了非正式演讲。

2 atmosphere   

n.大气，空气，气氛，大气层，大气圈

参考例句：

• We live in an atmosphere of freedom.我们生活在自由的环境中。
• We try and provide a very homely atmosphere.我们试图营造一种非常舒适放松的气氛。

3 average   

n.平均数，平均水平；adj.一般的，通常的，平均的；v.取平均值，达到平均水平

参考例句：

• He spends on the average two hours a day on reading.他平均每天用两小时读书。
• The average flow of the river is 200 cubic metres per second.这条河平均流量为每秒二百立方米。

4 Antarctica   

n.南极洲

参考例句：

• Antarctica is the earth's coldest landmass.南极洲是地球上最冷的大陆。
• This penguin is from Antarctica.这只企鹅来自南极洲。

5 lambs   

n.羔羊肉( lamb的名词复数 )；（慈爱或怜悯地描述或称呼某人）宝贝；像羔羊般柔顺的人

参考例句：

• Lambs frisked in the fields. 羊羔在田野里活蹦乱跳。
• lambs gambolling in the meadow 在草地上蹦蹦跳跳的小羊羔

6 coast   

n.海岸，海滨，滑坡；vt.沿海岸而行；vi.下滑

参考例句：

• They're holidaying on the west coast.他们正在西海岸度假。
• There are thousands of villages on the coast.在沿海有上千座村庄。