万花筒 2009-02-03&02-04 伦敦遭遇六年最猛烈降雪

London skyline on Monday, many of its landmarks¹ capped in snow. Forecasters said it was the heaviest snowfall for six years, and strongly advised people to stay home.

 

Motorists faced a uphill struggle. Others using public transport  found the entire London bus system closed and many train services cancelled. Those that did make it into the capital faced a long walk to the office.

 

'Well, it was really a bit of a challenge². I had to walk three miles to the station, but then I was lucky that there was a train waiting in the station, so I got on there, for it was stuck there for about ten minutes, but three quarters of an hour later, I was at Farringdon, and now I've got about a half-hour walk to the office.'

 

Some thought it as a good excuse not to go to work.

 

"I think it's great. I don’t want to be in the office."

 

"It's inconvenient³."

 

That's probably what Chinese Premier⁴ Wen Jiabao thought as he arrived in London for talks with Gordon Brown. The two leaders managed to breeze⁵ smile to camera before disappearing behind the door of No. 10.

 

The UK is experiencing the coldest winter for 13 years, with temperatures said to fall further over the next few weeks.

 

Hayley Platt , Reuters.

 

1 landmarks   

n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址）

参考例句：

• The book stands out as one of the notable landmarks in the progress of modern science. 这部著作是现代科学发展史上著名的里程碑之一。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The baby was one of the big landmarks in our relationship. 孩子的出世是我们俩关系中的一个重要转折点。 来自辞典例句

2 challenge   

n.挑战；v.向...挑战

参考例句：

• The job doesn't really challenge him.这项工作不能真正地考验他。
• She looked at me with challenge.她带着挑战的目光看着我。

3 inconvenient   

adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的

参考例句：

• You have come at a very inconvenient time.你来得最不适时。
• Will it be inconvenient for him to attend that meeting?他参加那次会议会不方便吗？

4 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

5 breeze   

n.微风；轻而易举的事；vi.来去匆匆，急速走

参考例句：

• A little breeze is blowing in from the window.微风从窗户里吹进来。
• The clouds are pale and a light breeze is blowing.云淡风轻。