美国有线新闻 CNN 2012-12-13

 We start with a search for hundreds of missing people. They haven’t been seen since the typhoon hit their home country last week. Typhoons are the same kinds of storms as hurricanes, and Typhoon Bopha was the strongest one that hit the Philippines this year. You can see some of the damage that it left behind in this i-Report video. The storm’s heavy rains led the flash floods and landslides¹, more than 600 people were killed in this, and almost 1500 others were injured. More than 700 people are missing including more than 300 Filipino fishermen. Search efforts are underway, relief groups are trying to get supplies to some of the areas that were hit the worst, but it’s difficult because of damage to roads and communication lines. 

 

Next, we’re looking at the civil war in Syria. It’s been going on for almost two years now with Syrian government forces fighting against rebel groups. And an official who’s represented the United Nations in the Arab League says the solution is possible, but he also described the situation in Syria as bad and getting worse. Some of 

 

the violence is happening in the city of Aleppo. And this Youtube video shows the fire in the city’s old market earlier this year. The old section of Aleppo is a world heritage site, it’s full of historical and culture significance. Arwa Damon explores how it’s been effected by the civil war. 

 

Aleppo’s old city has not seen such devastation² since occupied by the Mongol invaders³ eight centuries ago. This mosque⁴, for example, dates back to 1315. This is Syria’s rich cultural heritage, and now everywhere we look, it’s been scarred by war. Once bustling⁵ winding⁶ streets, now a maze⁷ of ever shifting front lines. 

 

Overhead, the thundering of fighter jets, a small khan, lodging⁸ for caravans⁹ down the ages, lies in ruins. For more than three millennia¹⁰, Aleppo has been a crossroads for traders. We hurry through the courtyard of a traditional home. Sheets are strung across streets to block snipers line of sight. Those who dare venture quickly across. A unit of fighters records people’s names and license¹¹ plates, only those who have shops here are allowed through. Abu Bashir says they’re trying to clamp down on robberies. She shows us the list, the highlighted names have cleared out all their possessions. In one market, a shop recently hit by army fire, still smolders¹². The heart of old Aleppo, now the historic battleground for the very uncertain future of Syria.

 

1 landslides   

山崩( landslide的名词复数 )； （山坡、悬崖等的）崩塌； 滑坡； （竞选中）一方选票占压倒性多数

参考例句：

• Landslides have cut off many villages in remote areas. 滑坡使边远地区的许多村庄与外界隔绝。
• The storm caused landslides and flooding in Savona. 风暴致使萨沃纳发生塌方和洪灾。

2 devastation   

n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤

参考例句：

• The bomb caused widespread devastation. 炸弹造成大面积破坏。
• There was devastation on every side. 到处都是破坏的创伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 invaders   

入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They prepared to repel the invaders. 他们准备赶走侵略军。
• The family has traced its ancestry to the Norman invaders. 这个家族将自己的世系追溯到诺曼征服者。

4 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

5 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。

6 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

7 maze   

n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑

参考例句：

• He found his way through the complex maze of corridors.他穿过了迷宮一样的走廊。
• She was lost in the maze for several hours.一连几小时，她的头脑处于一片糊涂状态。

8 lodging   

n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍

参考例句：

• The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
• Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?

9 caravans   

（可供居住的）拖车（通常由机动车拖行）( caravan的名词复数 )； 篷车； （穿过沙漠地带的）旅行队（如商队）

参考例句：

• Old-fashioned gypsy caravans are painted wooden vehicles that are pulled by horses. 旧式的吉卜赛大篷车是由马拉的涂了颜色的木质车辆。
• Old-fashioned gypsy caravans are painted wooden vehicles. 旧时的吉普赛大篷车是涂了颜色的木质车辆。

10 millennia   

n.一千年，千禧年

参考例句：

• For two millennia, exogamy was a major transgression for Jews. 两千年来，异族通婚一直是犹太人的一大禁忌。
• In the course of millennia, the dinosaurs died out. 在几千年的时间里，恐龙逐渐死绝了。

11 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

12 smolders   

n.焖烧，文火，冒烟( smolder的名词复数 )v.用文火焖烧，熏烧，慢燃( smolder的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Watch as fire smolders at the bullet-ridden Red Mosque complex. 现在，大火正在红色清真寺内燃烧。 来自互联网