英语听力：自然百科 圣河之旅 The Nile尼罗河—5

Poverity is rife¹ in Ethiopia. The United Nations ranks it amongst the poorest countries in the world. For many, the Nile is the source of hope and salvation². It was humbling³ to witness the strength of their belief. -Some people might think that worshiping a river or just the source of the river sounds a little bit of exotic. Shall we say? This river is a life-giver. It provides water for and irrigates⁴ the fields of tens of millions of people. So to me, in any way, it makes perfect sense to celebrate any worshiping. 

-We are from the Nile.

The source is mroe than 8,000 feet above the sea level. As it trickles⁵ and tumbles down hill, the water widens into a river, as it's joined by more streams from the highlands. 

-Thank goodness! It's grown a bit already.

Since more than a million people died during drought and famine in Ethiopia in the 1980s, many think of this is a dry country. But during the rainy season, this river will swell⁶ ten fold. Ethiopia provides more than 80 percent of the total flow of the Nile. 

 

1 rife   

adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的

参考例句：

• Disease is rife in the area.疾病在这一区很流行。
• Corruption was rife before the election.选举之前腐败盛行。

2 salvation   

n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困

参考例句：

• Salvation lay in political reform.解救办法在于政治改革。
• Christians hope and pray for salvation.基督教徒希望并祈祷灵魂得救。

3 humbling   

adj.令人羞辱的v.使谦恭( humble的现在分词 )；轻松打败（尤指强大的对手）；低声下气

参考例句：

• A certain humbling from time to time is good. 不时受点儿屈辱是有好处的。 来自辞典例句
• It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-buildingexperience. 据说天文学是一种令人产生自卑、塑造人格的科学。 来自互联网

4 irrigates   

灌溉( irrigate的第三人称单数 )； 冲洗（伤口）

参考例句：

• The Yangtse River irrigates vast stretches of farmland along its course. 长江灌溉着两岸的大片农田。
• Water drafted from the well irrigates the field. 从井中抽出来的水用于灌溉田地。

5 trickles   

n.细流( trickle的名词复数 )；稀稀疏疏缓慢来往的东西v.滴( trickle的第三人称单数 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动

参考例句：

• Trickles of sweat rained down my head and neck. 我颈上头上的汗珠，更同盛雨似的，一颗一颗的钻出来了。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说
• Water trickles through an underground grotto. 水沿着地下岩洞流淌。 来自辞典例句

6 swell   

vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强

参考例句：

• The waves had taken on a deep swell.海浪汹涌。
• His injured wrist began to swell.他那受伤的手腕开始肿了。