新西兰英语 410 Daily life after an earthquake

　　Daily life in Christchurch at the moment is difficult for thousands of people. To start with, about 50,000 people cannot go to work because the central business district¹ – the CBD – is closed. Schools are closed so children are at home.
Many people have no water and no sewerage system. Many people cannot use their toilet and instead have to dig² a hole in the garden. About 20% of the city still has no power. A small amount of water is available³ in various⁴ parts of the city but it still has to be boiled. However, a small amount of water does not help if you want a shower or need to wash your clothes.
Damage⁵ to houses is the worst problem and also fear of more after-shocks. Some people are living in tents on their lawn⁶, others have moved in with friends and many people have left town. The airport is busy as people fly to other cities. Many families decided⁷ to drive to another city in the South Island. Will they come back? Perhaps.
Questions
Do you know how much water you need to wash vegetables, to cook a meal (especially if you cook rice or noodles), to wash dishes, to wash the floor, to wash your clothes, to wash yourself or just your hands? How much boiled water do you need for drinking and brushing teeth?

1 district   

n.区，地区，行政区；v.区，区域，地区

参考例句：

• This district has three factories.这个地区有三个工厂。
• Take me to the shopping district.载我到购物区。

2 dig   

v.挖（洞，沟等）；掘

参考例句：

• It is difficult to dig the ground when it is frozen.地面冻住了就不易挖掘。
• In those days we often went to dig for wild vegetables.那时候我们常常出去挖野菜。

3 available   

adj.可用到的，可利用的，有用的，有空的，接受探访的

参考例句：

• My bicycle is not available,and it is being repaired.我的自行车现在不能用，因为正在修理。
• This book is not easily available.这本书可不好买。

4 various   

adj.各种各样的，不同的；多方面的，多种的

参考例句：

• The audience come from various parts of the country.观众来自这个国家的各个地方。
• There are various ways to express your gratitude.表达谢意的方式多种多样。

5 damage   

n.(pl.)赔偿金，损坏，毁坏；vt.损害，毁坏

参考例句：

• Don't bend the book back,and you'll damage it.别向后卷书，会弄坏的。
• He paid for the damage done.他赔偿了造成的损失。

6 lawn   

n.草地，草坪，上等细麻布

参考例句：

• The lawn was crawling with ants.草坪上爬满了蚂蚁。
• They are lying on a grassy lawn.他们躺在绿草如茵的草坪上。

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。