VOA标准英语2010年-Bill Clinton Visits Haiti as Relief Ef

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, the United Nations special envoy¹ to Haiti, is visiting that earthquake-ravaged country, where relief efforts are gaining momentum² as tens of thousands of survivors³ await food, water and other basic necessities. 

In short order, Haitians have received a U.S. secretary of state, a U.N. secretary- general, a South American president and Monday, former U.S. President Bill Clinton. But they still have yet to receive the food and water that they need.

Mr. Clinton toured the decimated Port-au-Prince Municipal Hospital with his daughter Chelsea and offered words of encouragement.

"The second thing we need to do is what the people on the ground are working to do, they need to increase the distribution - the pace and scope of the distribution - there are just more people who need the aid than have been able to get it. But I think we are getting there, I see it," Mr. Clinton said. "It is much better now than it was two days ago and day after tomorrow it will be better again."

The words may be hopeful, but they bely the reality on the ground.  At one of the many tent cities that have sprung up in open spaces around the city, hope is mixed with encroaching desperation.

Help is on the way according to Mr. Clinton, and with the succession of dignitaries, even those lining⁴ up at the airport to evacuate⁵, are optimistic.

But a better economy is a long way down the road and after seven days, it's just the basics of life that are so desperately⁶ needed.

 

1 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

2 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

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 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

5 evacuate   

v.遣送；搬空；抽出；排泄；大(小)便

参考例句：

• We must evacuate those soldiers at once!我们必须立即撤出这些士兵！
• They were planning to evacuate the seventy American officials still in the country.他们正计划转移仍滞留在该国的70名美国官员。

6 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。