英语新闻与报道—News & Reports 103

 Wk 13 (28 March 1979)

Nuclear Reactor¹ Melts Down In The USAThis Week in HistoryDeadly radiation escapes from a US nuclear power plant, endangering nearly 2,000,000 people.

 

In 1979, a reactor at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, USA, suffered a partial meltdown. Gamma radiation was emitted and spread throughout the area, potentially affecting up to 2,000,000 people. Many who were exposed later suffered various forms of cancer, and many tried to claim personal injury against the owner of the plant, Metropolitan² Edison Company. The company was found not liable in all cases.

1 reactor   

n.反应器；反应堆

参考例句：

• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

2 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。