纽约时报 加州陷入熊熊烈火 特朗普却在火上浇油(3)

The trauma¹ of these fires has kept Californians in a heightened state of vigilance,

火灾留下的创伤让加州人民陷入了高度紧张的状态，

sniffing² the air for smoke, scanning hilltops for any signs of ignition.

大家无时无刻不在警惕着空气中的烟味，留意着任何预示山顶着火的迹象。

Amid widespread anxiety there are some reasons to be hopeful so far this year.

空气中到处都弥漫着不安的气息，但就目前来看，大家仍有理由保持乐观。

Although the state’s fire agency has recorded about 5,000 fires this year in the area it oversees³ —

因为，尽管该州消防部门的纪录显示，今年以来，该州辖区内就已经发生了近5000起火灾——

about the same as during the same period last year — far fewer acres have burned:

与去年同期的数据大致相当——烧毁的土地面积却已经大幅减少：

less than 100,000 compared with about 600,000 at this point last year.

去年同期有近60万英亩的土地被烧毁，今年仅不到10万英亩。

But the number of people affected⁴ this year swelled⁵ into the millions

不过，今年受火灾影响的人数增加到了数百万，

because of the large-scale power outages that Pacific Gas and Electric, the state’s largest utility,

因该州最大的公用事业巨头太平洋煤气电力公司实行了大规模的停电政策，

carried out to prevent downed lines and other equipment from sparking fires.

以防止倒塌的线路或其他设备引发火灾。

“In the back of your mind there’s that constant fear that the power could go out again,”

“你的脑海深处会一直崩着一根弦，担心还会停电，”

said Amanda Baston, who lives in a camping trailer because her home was damaged in the Camp fire and is still being rebuilt.

家被坎普山火被毁，目前尚在重建之中，因而正暂住在一辆露营拖车上的阿曼达·巴斯顿评论说。

Her power has been shut off four times so far this year.

今年以来，她家已经四次被断电。

“It’s devastating⁶ the emotions that are wrapped up around this whole situation,” she said.

她说：“断电问题给大家围绕火灾频发这一切的一切的情绪造成了毁灭性的打击。”

Particularly frustrating⁷ is a realization⁸ for many California residents that both fires and the blackouts will return.

尤其令人沮丧的是，许多加州居民都已经意识到，火灾和停电都会卷土重来。

The chief executive of Pacific Gas & Electric, William D. Johnson,

太平洋燃气电力公司总裁威廉·D.约翰逊最近表示，

said recently that the deliberate blackouts would be necessary for the next decade.

未来10年之内，人为停电都是必要举措。

But some experts believe they could become a fixture⁹ of life in California for much longer.

然而，一些专家认为，人为停电或将成为加州生活的一个常量，其持续时间也会比约翰逊说的长得多。

Michael Wara, director of the climate and energy policy program at Stanford University,

斯坦福大学气候与能源政策项目主任迈克尔·瓦拉表示，

says the extreme winds that are knocking down power lines and starting fires are only one factor.

正在摧毁输电线路，引发火灾的狂风还只是因素之一。

“The conditions that we are observing right now are a function of climate change and climate change will get worse,” he said.

“目前我们看到的这些状况跟气候变化也有一定关系，气候变化问题还会越变越糟，”他说。

California has contended for over a century with an annual wildfire season.

一个多世纪以来，加州一直在与一年一度的山火季节做斗争。

But scientists have found that climate change —

但科学家们已经发现，气候变化——

including longer, hotter and drier fire seasons, diminishing snowpack and lengthening¹⁰ droughts —

包括山火季节变长，变热，变干燥，积雪变少，干旱时间变长等——

have already measurably worsened the size and scale of fires in the western United States.

已经显著恶化了美国西部的火灾规模。

Hotter temperatures means drier vegetation, making it more likely to burn.

气温升高意味着植被含水量减少，变得更易着火。

1 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

2 sniffing   

n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说

参考例句：

• We all had colds and couldn't stop sniffing and sneezing. 我们都感冒了，一个劲地抽鼻子，打喷嚏。
• They all had colds and were sniffing and sneezing. 他们都伤风了，呼呼喘气而且打喷嚏。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

4 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。

5 swelled   

增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情）

参考例句：

• The infection swelled his hand. 由于感染，他的手肿了起来。
• After the heavy rain the river swelled. 大雨过后，河水猛涨。

6 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

7 frustrating   

adj.产生挫折的，使人沮丧的，令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's frustrating to have to wait so long. 要等这么长时间，真令人懊恼。
• It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience. 那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 realization   

n.实现；认识到，深刻了解

参考例句：

• We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
• He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。

9 fixture   

n.固定设备；预定日期；比赛时间；定期存款

参考例句：

• Lighting fixture must be installed at once.必须立即安装照明设备。
• The cordless kettle may now be a fixture in most kitchens.无绳电热水壶现在可能是多数厨房的固定设备。

10 lengthening   

（时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的现在分词 )； 加长

参考例句：

• The evening shadows were lengthening. 残阳下的影子越拉越长。
• The shadows are lengthening for me. 我的影子越来越长了。 来自演讲部分