VOA标准英语2009-Possible Air France Debris Located in Atlant

Brazilian aircraft searching for an Air France jet that disappeared with 228 people onboard in an Atlantic storm have spotted¹ debris² in the ocean.
　
Members of Brazilian Pelican³ military squad⁴ prepare to depart from Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, to take part in search for Air France jetliner, 02 Jun 2009

On the second day of the search, Brazilian military pilots have spotted what is thought to be debris from the Air France plane. Among the objects observed, an airplane seat, a life jacket, pieces of metal and an oil slick.

The floating material was located in two areas roughly 60 kilometers apart, about 650 kilometers off the northeast coast of Brazil. Importantly, it is along the path taken by flight 447.

Brazilian naval⁵ vessels⁶ are expected to arrive on the scene Wednesday. Confirmation⁷ that the debris came from the Airbus 330 cannot be made until some of the material is retrieved⁸ and positive identification is made.

Of particular interest for the searchers will be the so-called black box flight and data recorders, but the ocean is very deep at the remote location. The devices are programmed to emit signals for up to a month.

Meanwhile at Charles de Gaulle airport outside of Paris, the grieving continues.

Everywhere you go, the tragedy has shocked the nation. "It is a disaster," said one person. "Because, for friends all over the world I mean, it is ... What can we say ... I have no words actually. For families and all the staff and stuff, it is very horrible. That is all I can say."

The sad sentiments felt on the streets of Paris are echoed by the man who runs Air France, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon.

"This catastrophe⁹ is also a catastrophe for Air France people and all the Air France community is now at work to share with the families of the victims what they have to suffer and to bring to them everything we can financially, emotively, to help and to be with them in this terrible occurrence," he said.

Those on board came from 32 countries.

1 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

2 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。

3 pelican   

n.鹈鹕，伽蓝鸟

参考例句：

• The pelican has a very useful beak.鹈鹕有一张非常有用的嘴。
• This pelican is expected to fully recover.这只鹈鹕不久就能痊愈。

4 squad   

n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组

参考例句：

• The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
• A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。

5 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

6 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

8 retrieved   

v.取回( retrieve的过去式和过去分词 )；恢复；寻回；检索（储存的信息）

参考例句：

• Yesterday I retrieved the bag I left in the train. 昨天我取回了遗留在火车上的包。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He reached over and retrieved his jacket from the back seat. 他伸手从后座上取回了自己的夹克。 来自辞典例句

9 catastrophe   

n.大灾难，大祸

参考例句：

• I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
• This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。