英伦广角 Issue 118 四川迎来火炬传递

After months of sadness and loss, China's quake-survivors give the Olympic flame an emotional welcome to Sichuan Province. Crowds roared with delight as 189 torchbearers began a three-day tour of the province devastated¹ by a powerful earthquake in May.

The run here in Guang'an, hometown of communist patriarch Deng Xiaoping, began with a minute's silence in honour of the 70,000 killed in the disaster. The quake delayed the flame's arrival in Sichuan and has made a change of route, bypassing hardest-hit areas like Dujiangyan.  Thousands died here and more were left homeless. They watched the relay on TV from tents and temporary shelters, excitement over the Olympics overwhelmed by anxiety over their plight². 

"The problem we have now is we're not able to go back to our home and staying here is dangerous. The damage to our home is classified as medium, so we weren't allocated³ a makeshift house.  But we don't feel good staying here, the social order is bad."

This woman's 16-year-old niece was one of hundreds of children killed when their school collapsed⁴ in the quake. Nationalist pride over the Olympics is tinged⁵ with grief and unresolved questions about who's to blame.

"The children knew about the Games and they were very happy. They'd said they'd watch them on TV. We've lost them now and there's nothing we can do. When I think of them, I still feel very sad."

Mixed emotions as the torch makes its way through Sichuan over the next three days, its last stop before Beijing where the cauldron will be lit and the Games begin on Friday.  

 

Susan Flory, Reuters.

 

1 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

2 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

3 allocated   

adj. 分配的 动词allocate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The Ford Foundation allocated millions of dollars for cancer research. 福特基金会拨款数百万美元用于癌症研究。
• More funds will now be allocated to charitable organizations. 现在会拨更多的资金给慈善组织。

4 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

5 tinged   

v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• memories tinged with sadness 略带悲伤的往事
• white petals tinged with blue 略带蓝色的白花瓣