2007年VOA标准英语-New Orleans Marks 2nd Anniversary of Hurricane

By Robert Raffaele
Washington
30 August 2007
 

The city of New Orleans in the southeastern U.S. state of Louisiana on Wednesday marked the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina -- one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the United States. The extremely powerful hurricane hit the U.S. Gulf¹ Coast on August 29th, 2005, breaking through levees in New Orleans, eventually flooding 80 percent of the city.  Much of the city is still rebuilding, amid concerns it is still not safe from another major hurricane. VOA's Robert Raffaele has more.

Mayor Ray Nagan

Many New Orleans residents rang bells at 9:38 Wednesday morning, marking the exact moment two years ago when the city's levees began to break under the storm surge. The disaster killed roughly 1,600 people, and left tens of thousands homeless.

At a groundbreaking ceremony for a new memorial to Katrina victims, Mayor Ray Nagin called for survivors² to put aside their anxiety and frustration³. "I pray that God be with us as we continue to rebuild. That he gives us the strength to continue to fight and he gives us the wisdom not to fight each other, while we're fighting to rebuild this entire city."

President George Bush spent much of the day in New Orleans, where he marked the anniversary by visiting the first school to reopen in one of the city's poorest neighborhoods.

spoke4 at a school about New Orleans' new beginnings" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070901/1455181.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

President Bush spoke at a school about New Orleans' new beginnings

Mr. Bush said the school's new beginning is symbolic⁵ of the whole city. "Hurricane Katrina broke through the levees, it broke a lot of hearts, it destroyed buildings, but it didn't affect the spirit of a lot of citizens in this community" 

Mr. Bush also spoke of billions of dollars in federal aid to repair homes,  infrastructure⁶ and the levees that burst during the storm. The Bush administration was criticized for its initial slow response to the disaster.

But Mr. Bush pledged the government has not forgotten those in need. "A lot of people down here probably wondered whether or not those of us in the federal government not from Louisiana would pay attention to Louisiana or Mississippi. I hope, hope, people understand we do -- we're still paying attention."

However, the repairs to the city's besieged⁷ levees are still several years away. The U.S. Army Corps⁸ of Engineers says the work will not be completed until 2011.

And some engineering experts say the $1.7 billion repair job will not stop a storm half as powerful as Katrina.

Aloyd Edinburgh, longtime resident, has returned and is rebuilding his home lost in the hurricane

But those concerns are not discouraging Aloyd Edinburgh, who lost his house two years ago.

Edinburgh already has spent all the insurance money he received on his claim, and about $70,000 of his own savings⁹. He says -- at 76 -- he is too old to start over anywhere else. "How safe is it? Do you believe the canals are level enough? I mean, raised high enough? I don't know, (laughs) should I worry about it?  No. What's in the plans for me is going to happen."

1 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

2 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

3 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

6 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。

7 besieged   

包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Paris was besieged for four months and forced to surrender. 巴黎被围困了四个月后被迫投降。
• The community besieged the newspaper with letters about its recent editorial. 公众纷纷来信对报社新近发表的社论提出诘问，弄得报社应接不暇。

8 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

9 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。