新西兰英语 724 Beach Rescues

 　　This week has been a very busy time for Surf Lifeguards. The sea around many parts of New Zealand has been quite dangerous recently with high waves and rips¹. In the week since New Year, Surf Lifeguards at Papamoa beach in the Bay of Plenty rescued 37 swimmers. At Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel, Surf Lifeguards rescued 25 people in the same period, whereas² the total number of rescues there during the whole summer last year was 107. Many thousands of tourists visit Hot Water beach because it is famous for the hot thermal³ springs under the sand at low tide.

　　At Taylor’s Mistake beach in Christchurch, 28 people were rescued on Saturday. Often people start swimming between the flags then the sea carries them outside the flags.

　　Surf Life Saving clubs do a great job in New Zealand. There are 73 clubs in New Zealand with 15,000 volunteer members. The clubs train young people to become lifeguards at beaches. These people learn to be strong swimmers and they compete against other clubs. It’s a healthy sport. They also learn first aid and how to rescue swimmers who get into trouble in the water.

　　During the summer school holidays, most popular beaches are patrolled⁵ by Surf Lifeguards. A few of these people are paid for some of this time but they are supported by many volunteers. This is a community service. Money to pay lifeguards comes from sponsors, lottery⁶ money, donations and sometimes from local councils.

　　Vocabulary

　　?surf – big waves

　　?rips – dangerous currents in the sea which can carry swimmers out to sea

　　?lifeguard – at a pool or on the beach; the job of a lifeguard is to make sure swimmers are safe

　　?same period – same length of time

　　?thermal springs – hot water or steam from the ground

　　?low tide – at high tide, the sea comes up the beach, at low tide it goes back

　　?flags – Surf Lifeguards put two red and yellow flags on the beach to show the safest place to swim

　　?first aid – if someone is hurt, lifeguards know what to do

　　?patrol⁴ the beach – watch swimmers

　　?lottery – buy a ticket and hope to win a prize e.g. Lotto

1 rips   

v.扯破，撕坏( rip的第三人称单数 )；撕成；锯；猛地扯开

参考例句：

• She rips out at him,\"You're no gentleman.\" 她破口大骂：“你这个人真不象话。” 来自辞典例句
• That hotel rips off the tourists. 那家旅馆敲观光客的竹杠。 来自辞典例句

2 whereas   

conj.而，却，反之

参考例句：

• They want a house,whereas we would rather live in a flat.他们想要一座房子，而我们宁愿住在一套房间里。
• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。

3 thermal   

adj.热的，由热造成的；保暖的

参考例句：

• They will build another thermal power station.他们要另外建一座热能发电站。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

4 patrol   

v.巡逻，巡查；n.巡逻，巡查，巡逻队

参考例句：

• They attacked two soldiers on patrol.他们袭击了两名正在巡逻的士兵。
• Policemen patrol the streets.警察在街上巡逻。

5 patrolled   

vt.& vi.巡逻，巡查（patrol的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Troops patrolled the border day and night. 军队日夜在边境地区巡逻。
• Soldiers patrolled the castle ramparts. 士兵们在城堡城墙上巡逻。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 lottery   

n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事

参考例句：

• He won no less than ￡5000 in the lottery.他居然中了5000英镑的奖券。
• They thought themselves lucky in the lottery of life.他们认为自己是变幻莫测的人生中的幸运者。