VOA常速英语2007-Widespread Drought Plagues Southeastern United S

By Paul Sisco
Washington
26 October 2007
 

Better weather conditions in Southern California are giving firefighters hope in their battle against large wildfires. But parts of the Southeastern United States, stretching from Tennessee across the Carolinas and into Georgia, are suffering from what the U.S. government calls an exceptional drought -- the highest intensity¹ on its scale. As VOA's Paul Sisco reports, some tempers are flaring².

Members of a South Carolina church gather to pray. "Bring rain to this thirsty land," they say. They are praying for rain, while in suburban³ Atlanta, authorities say some people are reporting their neighbors' water violations⁴. 'I'd like to report a resident who is watering their lawn.'

And in the remote mountain town of Orme, Tennessee, the spring is now dry. Mayor Tony Reames says, "This is a disaster. Without water things die."

At six o'clock each night, Mayor Reames turns the water on for his town, and then three hours later, turns it off.

The five million people of the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan⁵ area could soon face similar hardships. The area's main water source, a reservoir known as Lake Lanier, is running critically low.

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue says, "We need the President to cut through the tangle⁶ of unnecessary bureaucracy to manage our resources prudently⁷. It doesn't make any sense."

The U.S. Army Corps⁸ of Engineers is releasing more than a billion gallons of water from Lake Lanier every day. The water flows into Alabama and Florida, the amount maintained, in part, to protect an endangered species of freshwater mussel.

A White House spokesman said the government is drafting interim⁹ rules to address the situation, but deep concerns remain.

This week, rain fell in many parts of the Southeast U.S., perhaps an answer to the prayers of South Carolinians. But in general the rain deficit¹⁰ remains¹¹ high and the weather forecasters expect a dryer¹² than usual winter.

1 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

2 flaring   

a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的

参考例句：

• A vulgar flaring paper adorned the walls. 墙壁上装饰着廉价的花纸。
• Goebbels was flaring up at me. 戈塔尔当时已对我面呈愠色。

3 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

4 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

5 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。

6 tangle   

n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱

参考例句：

• I shouldn't tangle with Peter.He is bigger than me.我不应该与彼特吵架。他的块头比我大。
• If I were you, I wouldn't tangle with them.我要是你，我就不跟他们争吵。

7 prudently   

adv. 谨慎地，慎重地

参考例句：

• He prudently pursued his plan. 他谨慎地实行他那计划。
• They had prudently withdrawn as soon as the van had got fairly under way. 他们在蓬车安全上路后立即谨慎地离去了。

8 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

9 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

10 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

11 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

12 dryer   

n.干衣机，干燥剂

参考例句：

• He bought a dryer yesterday.他昨天买了一台干燥机。
• There is a washer and a dryer in the basement.地下室里有洗衣机和烘干机。