VOA标准英语2009年-Weather Affecting Holiday Plans Worldw

Photo: VOA
Ice. Snow. Flights canceled. Weather stalls¹ travel in US and Europe

Many people worldwide travel to family celebrations for Christmas and the New Year.  But this December, getting to those celebrations requires a mixture of patience and cooperating weather.  So far, the weather has been unyielding, affecting travel for those holiday revelers. 

It may look like a perfect winter holiday scene. But inside several American airports, the picture is nothing to celebrate.

A weekend blizzard² dropped hip-deep snow on much of the eastern United States.  In New York alone, more than a thousand flights were canceled.

But that's the problem. Holiday flights are always booked and overbooked.  So with the winter weather playing havoc³, the airlines are having trouble re-scheduling travelers.

"There were virtually a day and a half worth of flights that were canceled as a result of this storm," says Jim May with Air Transport Association. "...so that's a lot of people who have to be re-accomodated."

But here's how it looks in London.  Ice. Snow.  Flights canceled.  And in Germany -- the autobahn blocked for hours.

Eurostar, the high speed train linking Britain, France and Belgium, is finally running again,  after a three day stoppage.  On Friday, the weather caused five trains to fail inside the Channel Tunnel.  The delay stranded⁴ 2,500 passengers and affected⁵ thousands more,  many on holiday trips.

For others, their wish is simply to arrive on time for the holiday.
 

1 stalls   

n.戏院正厅前排座位，前座观众；摊( stall的名词复数 )；熄火；厩；（房间内的）小隔间

参考例句：

• market stalls selling cheap bric-a-brac 集市上出售廉价小摆设的货摊
• the front row of the stalls 正厅第一排

2 blizzard   

n.暴风雪

参考例句：

• The blizzard struck while we were still on the mountain.我们还在山上的时候暴风雪就袭来了。
• You'll have to stay here until the blizzard blows itself off.你得等暴风雪停了再走。

3 havoc   

n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱

参考例句：

• The earthquake wreaked havoc on the city.地震对这个城市造成了大破坏。
• This concentration of airborne firepower wrought havoc with the enemy forces.这次机载火力的集中攻击给敌军造成很大破坏。

4 stranded   

a.搁浅的，进退两难的

参考例句：

• He was stranded in a strange city without money. 他流落在一个陌生的城市里， 身无分文，一筹莫展。
• I was stranded in the strange town without money or friends. 我困在那陌生的城市，既没有钱，又没有朋友。

5 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。