2006年VOA标准英语-Rip Tides: Safety and Science

By Paul Sisco
Washington, DC
06 July 2006
 
watch Rip¹ Tides report
 
  
  
The beach is a popular place in the summertime. But there are dangers beneath the ocean surface. Here is a look at rip tides, also known as rip currents -- the science, the danger, and how to survive them.

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Summer is a popular time for beach goers. But there are hidden dangers in the ocean. Rip tides, also called rip currents, are powerful, channeled streams of water flowing away from shore, through the surf zone, and past the line of breaking waves.  They can occur on any beach with breaking waves, and they can kill.

The U.S. Lifesaving Association² says rip tides claim more than 100 lives in the United States alone each year. It says more than 80 percent of life-saving rescues are due to rip tides.

The phenomenon works³ like this -- a sand bar traps the water from incoming waves, creating something like a pond.  When that sand bar breaks, the water in that pond rushes out to sea.  That is the sometimes-powerful rip tide.

Lifeguard Bill Soltz   
  
Lifeguard Bill Soltz explains, "All of a sudden, the current just starts pulling them into slightly deeper water and that is when they start panicking."

Experts recommend you swim only in areas monitored by lifeguards.   Florida officials say rip tide related⁴ rescues have increased there, probably due to sandbar changes brought on by last year's hurricanes.

Lifeguards are trained to swim away from rip tides before trying to reach shore. That is not what most swimmers naturally do, says Barbara Payne. "That's the classic⁵ error.  You keep swimming. You tire yourself out."

Barbara Payne   
  
She, her daughter and two cousins, almost died in a rip tide. Recounting her experience, "I just kept thinking if we swim hard enough, we'll get there but of course, that's not how it works."

Lifeguards say don't panic, don't fight, go with the current, even as it pulls you out. Then swim to the side to get out of it. You should be free from the swift⁶ current in 20-to-30 seconds. Then you'll be able to swim to shore in calmer water.

1 rip   

n.拉裂，破绽，激流，浪荡子；vt.撕裂，激昂地说，贬损；vi.裂开，仓促地冲过...

参考例句：

• He had seen the rip in the book.他看到了书里的裂缝。
• I tried not to rip the paper as I unwrapped it.我把纸打开的时候，尽量不把它撕破。

2 association   

n.联盟，协会，社团；交往，联合；联想

参考例句：

• Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
• I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。

3 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

4 related   

adj.有关系的，有关联的，叙述的，讲述的

参考例句：

• I am not related to him in any way.我和他无任何关系。
• We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。

5 classic   

n.经典作品；adj.经典的，一流的；古典的

参考例句：

• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。
• The football match was a classic.那场足球比赛堪称典范。

6 swift   

n.雨燕，大滚筒；adj.迅速的，快的，敏捷的，立刻的；adv.迅速地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He is swift to hear,but slow to speak.他听力敏锐，但不善言辞。
• He made a remarkably swift recovery.他康复得相当快。