Floods and Mudslides Devastate Sri Lanka
洪水和土石流重创斯里兰卡
本则影音新闻出处：新唐人电视台英语新闻http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_asia/2011-01-13/294725721296.html
【新闻关键字】
1. devastate: v. [ˋdɛvəs͵tet] 重创
2. inundate: v. [ˋɪnʌn͵det] 淹没
3. submerge: v. [səbˋmɝdʒ] 浸泡
4. bring on: ph. [brɪŋ ɑn]引起
5. monsoon: n. [mɑnˋsun] 季风
6. downpour: n. [ˋdaʊn͵por]豪雨
7. trigger: v. [ˋtrɪgɚ]引起
8. evacuate: v. [ɪˋvækjʊ͵et] 撤离
9. isolate: v. [ˋaɪs!͵et]孤立
10. beset: v. [bɪˋsɛt]困扰、使苦恼
11. contend: v. [kənˋtɛnd]搏斗、奋斗
12. meteorology: n. [͵mitɪəˋrɑlədʒɪ] 气象学
Homes are inundated and agricultural land is submerged as flooding in Sri Lanka continues on Wednesday.
周三，在斯里兰卡因持续的洪水，住宅被淹没，农田泡在水里。
At least 18 people have been killed and almost 200,000 forced from their homes due to the floods, brought onby heavy rain.
因豪大雨引起的洪水，至少造成18人死亡，约20万人被迫离开家园。
The Monsoon downpours also triggered mudslides – authorities believe the death toll could rise as many are thought to have been buried.
季风夹带的倾盆大雨量也引发土石流 – 当局相信，死亡人数可能会再增加，因为许多人被认为已被活埋。
Floodwaters are also threatening the country’s vital agricultural industry.
洪水也威胁该国重要的农产业。
Officials say 15,000 hectares of rice paddy fields have been damaged and tens of thousands more are under water.
官员说，1.5万公顷的稻田已被破坏，还有数万公倾泡在水里。
The government has dispatched military helicopters to deliver supplies to villagers in remote areas.
政府派出军用直升机，运送物资给偏远地区的村民。
The aircraft were also used to evacuate those who have been isolated by the floods.
飞机也被用来撤离因洪水而孤立无援的人们。
Sri Lanka is commonly beset by flooding as it contends with two monsoons per year.
斯里兰卡经常受洪水苦恼，因每年要应付两个季风。
The country’s meteorology department said they expect heavy rains to continue over the next two days.
该国气象局表示，他们预计未来两天仍会有豪大雨。
@*
* * *
本专栏由前卫英语David Lee主编 www.davidlee.url.tw
