2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Marks Katrina Anniversary

By Paula Wolfson
White House
28 August 2006

President Bush is promising¹ continued government help for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. One year after the storm hit the US Gulf² Coast, the president is touring the region and meeting with the survivors³.

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President Bush speaking in Biloxi, Mississippi

The president acknowledges it will take years to repair all the storm damage. But he says the people who live and work on the Gulf Coast have the determination to rebuild their homes and their lives.

"The spirit is here," said President Bush. "The people want to succeed. And our job at the federal level is to help you to succeed. That is what I have come to tell you."

He spoke⁴ in the town of Biloxi, Mississippi, after walking the streets of a neighborhood hard hit by Hurricane Katrina. The president first visited the area shortly after the storm, and he said he was struck by the progress.

"It's a sense of renewal⁵ here," noted⁶ the president. "It may be hard for those of you who have endured the last year to really have that sense of change, but for a fellow who was here and now a year later comes back, things are changing and I congratulate you for your courage."

He saw a town relatively⁷ clear of storm debris⁸, but full of reminders⁹ of the damage wrought¹⁰ by Hurricane Katrina. There are plenty of deserted¹¹, damaged houses, and empty lots now fill the spaces where storm-ravaged homes once stood. Schools and businesses have reopened, although many are still operating out of temporary trailers.

The president said the region is seeing one of the largest rebuilding projects in the nation's history, and he acknowledged that some of the toughest work lies ahead. He said the federal government is sending hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the Gulf Coast, and he urged those frustrated¹² with bureaucratic¹³ delays to be patient.

"I know there is some frustration," he noted. "But I want to appreciate the state working hard to make sure that money that is spent is spent well, and it goes to people who deserve it. That is what you expect."

The president also stressed that with another hurricane season now under way and a new storm named Ernesto headed for the United States, the government is better prepared to handle such natural disasters.

Local, state and federal officials have all shared the blame for the flawed initial response to Katrina, especially in New Orleans, Louisiana, where thousands of the city's poorest residents found themselves trapped in rapidly deteriorating¹⁴ conditions at shelters set up at a sports arena¹⁵ and a convention center.

President Bush came under criticism because he remained on vacation when the extent of the disaster first became known, and because he initially¹⁶ praised those responsible for the early federal response.

The president's public approval ratings slid following the hurricane, and have not fully¹⁷ recovered. Polls conducted this month by several major news organizations show an overwhelming majority of Americas still disapprove¹⁸ of his handling of Katrina.

But one survey - conducted by CBS News and the New York Times - also found many Americans still think state and local authorities could have done a far better job helping¹⁹ hurricane victims in New Orleans. Mr. Bush was heading there immediately after his events in Mississippi. On Tuesday, he will attend a prayer service, meet with local officials and speak about his hopes for rebuilding the city.

1 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

2 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

3 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

8 debris   

n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片

参考例句：

• After the bombing there was a lot of debris everywhere.轰炸之后到处瓦砾成堆。
• Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth,causing decay.细菌附着在牙缝中的食物残渣上，导致蛀牙。

9 reminders   

n.令人回忆起…的东西( reminder的名词复数 )；提醒…的东西；（告知该做某事的）通知单；提示信

参考例句：

• The film evokes chilling reminders of the war. 这部电影使人们回忆起战争的可怕场景。
• The strike has delayed the mailing of tax reminders. 罢工耽搁了催税单的投寄。

10 wrought   

v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的

参考例句：

• Events in Paris wrought a change in British opinion towards France and Germany.巴黎发生的事件改变了英国对法国和德国的看法。
• It's a walking stick with a gold head wrought in the form of a flower.那是一个金质花形包头的拐杖。

11 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

12 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 bureaucratic   

adj.官僚的，繁文缛节的

参考例句：

• The sweat of labour washed away his bureaucratic airs.劳动的汗水冲掉了他身上的官气。
• In this company you have to go through complex bureaucratic procedures just to get a new pencil.在这个公司里即使是领一支新铅笔，也必须通过繁琐的手续。

14 deteriorating   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
• I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚，大家情绪低落，各个工厂越搞越坏。

15 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

16 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

17 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

18 disapprove   

v.不赞成，不同意，不批准

参考例句：

• I quite disapprove of his behaviour.我很不赞同他的行为。
• She wants to train for the theatre but her parents disapprove.她想训练自己做戏剧演员，但她的父母不赞成。

19 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。