2007年VOA标准英语-High Temperatures Grip US for Another Day

By Carol Pearson
Washington, D.C.
11 July 2007
 

A heat wave that gripped most of the United States has let up in some parts of the country but continues in others. New York City opened up nearly 300 cooling centers.  The state of Virginia issued a hazardous¹ weather alert.  Officials are being cautious because last year a number of people died due to heat-related illnesses.  VOA's Carol Pearson has more on the heat in the U.S. and staying healthy.  Melinda Smith narrates².

U.S. health officials are urging Americans to drink plenty of water as a heat wave grips most of the country.  Portland, Oregon, braced³ for another day of temperatures hovering⁴ around 30 degrees Celsius⁵.  Health officials also issued warnings for people to take precautions in the heat.  Even birds took that advice.  Blistering⁶ heat affected⁷ the west coast, the east coast and just about everything in between.  In Chicago, people cooled off in Lake Michigan.

"It's too hot,” said a citizen.  “I don't have any air conditioner, so it's really hot for me and my son, so we just came out to enjoy the weather and the water today."

This local swimming pool helps residents keep cool

In many cities, officials issued air quality warning.  In the heat, ground-level ozone⁸ mixes in with automobile⁹ exhaust from cars and other pollutants¹⁰ producing air that is dangerous to breathe.  Several cities opened cooling centers to help residents bear the high temperatures. Heat is deadliest in large cities.  Cities have large areas of brick and concrete that can trap hot air.  The U.S. government has focused more attention on heat waves and has worked more closely with city officials such as Chicago's Joyce Gallagher.

"We just ask each and every person to please check on someone in their neighborhood that they think is in need," says Gallagher.

Health officials have been trying to get the word out that the body's temperature regulation system can get overwhelmed.  Signs of heat-related illnesses include fatigue¹¹, thirst, heavy perspiration¹², even muscle cramps¹³.  When dehydration¹⁴ becomes even greater, people can suffer headache, nausea¹⁵ and dizziness.  If the situation worsens, it can lead to heat stroke.

The symptoms include confusion and dizziness, breathing can be rapid and shallow, and the person's skin can be hot, dry and red.  Cooling the skin and providing water is essential.

But the best remedy is prevention: staying cool, drinking plenty of fluid, and avoiding outdoor exercise in heat, humidity and strong sunshine.  People with the most trouble regulating body temperature are the very young and the very old. But others are susceptible¹⁶, too.

"It's really really hot,” said one woman. “And I'm a fool for coming out here on my bicycle."

1 hazardous   

adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的

参考例句：

• These conditions are very hazardous for shipping.这些情况对航海非常不利。
• Everybody said that it was a hazardous investment.大家都说那是一次危险的投资。

2 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

3 braced   

adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来

参考例句：

• They braced up the old house with balks of timber. 他们用梁木加固旧房子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The house has a wooden frame which is braced with brick. 这幢房子是木结构的砖瓦房。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 hovering   

鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• The helicopter was hovering about 100 metres above the pad. 直升机在离发射台一百米的上空盘旋。
• I'm hovering between the concert and the play tonight. 我犹豫不决今晚是听音乐会还是看戏。

5 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

6 blistering   

adj.酷热的；猛烈的；使起疱的；可恶的v.起水疱；起气泡；使受暴晒n.[涂料] 起泡

参考例句：

• The runners set off at a blistering pace. 赛跑运动员如脱缰野马般起跑了。
• This failure is known as preferential wetting and is responsible for blistering. 这种故障称为优先吸湿，是产生气泡的原因。 来自辞典例句

7 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

8 ozone   

n.臭氧，新鲜空气

参考例句：

• The ozone layer is a protective layer around the planet Earth.臭氧层是地球的保护层。
• The capacity of ozone can adjust according of requirement.臭氧的产量可根据需要或调节。

9 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

10 pollutants   

污染物质（尤指工业废物）( pollutant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Pollutants are constantly being released into the atmosphere. 污染物质正在不断地被排放到大气中去。
• The 1987 Amendments limit 301(g) discharges to a few well-studied nonconventional pollutants. 1987年的修正案把第301条（g）的普通排放限制施加在一些认真研究过的几种非常规污染物上。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

11 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

12 perspiration   

n.汗水；出汗

参考例句：

• It is so hot that my clothes are wet with perspiration.天太热了，我的衣服被汗水湿透了。
• The perspiration was running down my back.汗从我背上淌下来。

13 cramps   

n. 抽筋, 腹部绞痛, 铁箍 adj. 狭窄的, 难解的 v. 使...抽筋, 以铁箍扣紧, 束缚

参考例句：

• If he cramps again let the line cut him off. 要是它再抽筋，就让这钓索把它勒断吧。
• "I have no cramps." he said. “我没抽筋，"他说。

14 dehydration   

n.脱水，干燥

参考例句：

• He died from severe dehydration.他死于严重脱水。
• The eyes are often retracted from dehydration.眼睛常因脱水而凹陷。

15 nausea   

n.作呕，恶心；极端的憎恶(或厌恶)

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕期常有恶心的现象。
• He experienced nausea after eating octopus.吃了章鱼后他感到恶心。

16 susceptible   

adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的

参考例句：

• Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
• We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。