CNN 2011-03-20

Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East. We're going to hit them all in this globetrotting edition of CNN Student News. Guiding you through today's headlines, I'm Carl Azuz.

Heroes. That's what a group of about 180 Japanese power plant workers are being called. They're working at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, that's the one we've been reporting on this week; the plant that most people are being told to get away from. But these 180 workers are staying put, potentially putting their health -- maybe even their lives -- on the line. In these pictures, you can see some of the damage that these men are dealing¹ with. Fires, explosions² at the plant have threatened the stability³ of the nuclear reactors⁴. The biggest concern in this is that that extreme levels of radiation could leak out into the atmosphere. At one point on Wednesday, the radiation levels around the plant shot way up, and the workers were forced to get out of the area. But when the levels went back down again, the workers went back in.

Also on Wednesday, Japan's emperor made a rare TV appearance. The emperor is a ceremonial position; he doesn't have official powers. But he is an important figure in Japanese life. And this was the first time that this emperor made a speech like this during this kind of national crisis⁵. He said, "I truly hope the victims of the disaster never give up hope, take care of themselves, and live strong for tomorrow." He also added, "I want all citizens of Japan to remember everyone who has been affected⁶ by the devastation⁷ not only today, but for a long time afterwards."

Many people in Japan have been forced to leave their homes. Japanese media report that 450,000 people -- half a million -- are living in shelters like this evacuation center that was set up inside a junior high school's gym. Many others are trying to get out of Japan entirely⁸. Kyung Lah shows us the packed scene at Tokyo's airports and the deserted⁹ streets of downtown.

1 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

2 explosions   

爆炸( explosion的名词复数 )； 爆发； 激增； （感情，尤指愤怒的）突然爆发

参考例句：

• Soon afterwards five explosions were heard from the area. 此后不久从那个地方传来五次爆炸声。
• They were monitoring the upper air to collect evidence of atomic explosions. 他们正在检测高空空气以收集原子爆炸的证据。

3 stability   

n.稳定，稳固

参考例句：

• The situation is tending towards stability.局势趋于稳定。
• She lacks emotional stability.她的情绪不稳定。

4 reactors   

起反应的人( reactor的名词复数 )； 反应装置； 原子炉； 核反应堆

参考例句：

• The TMI nuclear facility has two reactors. 三哩岛核设施有两个反应堆。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• The earliest production reactors necessarily used normal uranium as fuel. 最早为生产用的反应堆，必须使用普通铀作为燃料。

5 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

6 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。

7 devastation   

n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤

参考例句：

• The bomb caused widespread devastation. 炸弹造成大面积破坏。
• There was devastation on every side. 到处都是破坏的创伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

9 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。