2007年VOA标准英语-Train Derailment Sparks Calls for New Safeguard

By Paul Sisco
Washington, DC
19 January 2007
 
watch Railway Safety report

A train transporting hazardous¹ materials derailed on Tuesday in the southern U.S. state of Kentucky.  The accident raises new concerns about railway safety in the United States. 

 
Thick black smoke billowed from a derailed train near Louisville in the southern state of Kentucky. And the mildly toxic² fumes³ from the burning hazardous materials spread across the immediate⁴ area.  Some 20 people were treated at local hospitals.

Jeremy Urekew, an Emergency Management spokesman, said, "They are going to cause some irritation⁵ to anyone that breaths them in but as far as severe environmental hazards, we're not looking at anything really big."

 
The accident in Kentucky could have been far more serious.  Last year, the Federal Railroad Administration says there were more than 600 rail accidents in the United States involving hazardous materials.  Dangerous chemicals caused problems in only 20 of those accidents, but concerned government and industry officials say a railway accident -- or worse, a terrorist event -- in a major city could prove catastrophic.

In Washington, lawmakers are working with federal, state and local officials, and with the rail and chemical industries, to improve rail security.

Their concerns are twofold:  rail accidents and potential acts of terrorism. 

Robert Jamison of the Transportation Security Administration explains, "I think it's a worldwide problem.  As evident by the events in Madrid, London, and most recently in Mumbai.  This is a worldwide issue that people are dealing⁶ with. Terrorism against mass transit⁷. Terrorism against rail infrastructure⁸ is a worldwide problem."

Those terrorists’ attacks resulted in the deaths of hundreds.  It was only last July that a series of blasts killed some 200 commuters in Mumbai, the Indian city formerly⁹ known as Bombay.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government is working with the rail and chemical industry to develop stronger rail cars and new guidelines for transporting and tracking hazardous materials.
 
 

1 hazardous   

adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的

参考例句：

• These conditions are very hazardous for shipping.这些情况对航海非常不利。
• Everybody said that it was a hazardous investment.大家都说那是一次危险的投资。

2 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

3 fumes   

n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体

参考例句：

• The health of our children is being endangered by exhaust fumes. 我们孩子们的健康正受到排放出的废气的损害。
• Exhaust fumes are bad for your health. 废气对健康有害。

4 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

5 irritation   

n.激怒，恼怒，生气

参考例句：

• He could not hide his irritation that he had not been invited.他无法掩饰因未被邀请而生的气恼。
• Barbicane said nothing,but his silence covered serious irritation.巴比康什么也不说，但是他的沉默里潜伏着阴郁的怒火。

6 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

7 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

8 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

9 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。