澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-01-07

 Finally, some good news from Rockhampton's flood emergency. There are far fewer houses flooded than first thought. Emergency services have revised the number down from 400 to 150. Authorities are hoping the worst may now be over, but the city will be living with the water for several more days yet. And better news, too, for St George's beleaguered¹ residents, the flood there is now expected to peak below 14 metres.

 

The Prime Minister will visit Western Australia's flooded Gascoyne region today. The area was battling its second flood in three weeks. About 180 people have left their homes, and entire banana plantations² are now ruined.

 

And severe floods in Brazil have killed at least 35 people and force more than 30,000 to flee their homes. In one city, a family of four died when a mudslide triggered by the downpour engulfed³ their house.

 

A Gold Coast company has been charged over the death of one of its insulation⁴ installers. Mitchell (Michael口误) Sweeney was electrocuted almost a year ago while installing foil insulation in a home near Cairns. Titan Insulations is charged with failing to conduct its business safely.

 

And China is thinking about a new law that will force people to visit their aged⁵ parents. Nearly 170 million Chinese are over the age of 60. And with the economy booming, the growing pressures of work are loosening traditional family ties. A government official says the new law would allow elderly people to go to court and claim the right to be looked after.

1 beleaguered   

adj.受到围困[围攻]的；包围的v.围攻( beleaguer的过去式和过去分词)；困扰；骚扰

参考例句：

• The beleaguered party leader was forced to resign. 那位饱受指责的政党领导人被迫辞职。
• We are beleaguered by problems. 我们被许多困难所困扰。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 plantations   

n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Soon great plantations, supported by slave labor, made some families very wealthy. 不久之后出现了依靠奴隶劳动的大庄园，使一些家庭成了富豪。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• Winterborne's contract was completed, and the plantations were deserted. 维恩特波恩的合同完成后，那片林地变得荒废了。 来自辞典例句

3 engulfed   

v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was engulfed by a crowd of reporters. 他被一群记者团团围住。
• The little boat was engulfed by the waves. 小船被波浪吞没了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 insulation   

n.隔离；绝缘；隔热

参考例句：

• Please examine the insulation of the electric wires in my house.请检查一下我屋子里电线的绝缘情况。
• It is always difficult to assure good insulation between the electric leads.要保证两个电触头之间有良好的绝缘总是很困难的。

5 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。