英语新闻视频：南方集中供暖引发的争议

Anyone who has spent time in the south of China in winter knows what it feels like to stay indoors shivering, even with a downjacket. But despite increasing calls in the south for a public heating system, there are plenty of obstacles in the way.

　　It’s cold here in Wuhan. And now there’s a shortage of natural gas. The city has a shortfallof 600 thousand cubic meters of gas per day, and the government has had to start rationing¹ supplies.

　　"Now we have this gas supply crisis. You can only buy 10 cubic meters per day. If that’s not enough, you have to apply again because this in an extreme time."

　　People might need more, but most say they understand the problem.

　　"I can’t use the heater very often"

　　"I can understand, it’s just the government has no choice, we’ll have to overcome our individual difficulties."

　　The shortage also affected² the 80,000 people who have central heating. The heating was delayed for this family. And the 10 month old baby has recently caught a cold.

　　“We paid extra money for this apartment because it had central heating. But now I have to install a wall-mounted boiler³ for warmth. I can’t wait any longer. ”

　　Wuhan lies in the vast part of China’s south where people feel the harshness of winter just as much as their northern neighbors. And in this year’s freezing winter, people have had to resort to electric heaters. But they don’t provide much heat, and they're expensive to run. In Shanghai, residential⁴ electricity use has reached a new record high.

　　The public is demanding central heating. But experts say that could cost more.

　　Wang Jinbai, associate dean of Env. School, Huazhong University of Science &Tech., said,“Technically, there is no problem in building the system. But if we consider energy saving, efficiency and environmental protection, I think the best way to solve the problem is to allow multiple heating methods. For instance: air conditioners, household- and unit-based, in addition to a central heating system. ”

　　As incomes rise, people expect more, and that includes a warm home in winter. But standing⁵ in the way is the energy shortage. And with private heating still struggling, a central heating system seems unlikely to come soon.

 

1 rationing   

n.定量供应

参考例句：

• Wartime austerities included food rationing and shortage of fuel. 战时的艰苦包括食物配给和燃料短缺。
• Food rationing was abolished in that country long ago. 那个国家早就取消了粮食配给制。

2 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。

3 boiler   

n.锅炉；煮器(壶，锅等)

参考例句：

• That boiler will not hold up under pressure.那种锅炉受不住压力。
• This new boiler generates more heat than the old one.这个新锅炉产生的热量比旧锅炉多。

4 residential   

adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的

参考例句：

• The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。
• The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。