Heavy snow sweeps across France

    PARIS, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Heavy snow and cold snap（寒流） swept across France over the week, putting many regions on high alert about extreme weather and causing traffic delays and cancellations.
    On Saturday, heavy snow, as expected, fell across the Ile-de-France region that includes Paris and the surrounding area, while many northern regions, notably¹ Nord and Pas-de-Calais, also witnessed extraordinary snowfall.
    The French national weather agency Meteo France has put nine provinces in the country on "orange" temperature alert, warning people of traffic difficulties.
    Weather forecasters also warned of black ice in northern France that would make driving particularly dangerous.
    Many drivers were stranded² on highways（高速公路） due to the snow, which resulted in traffic jams and partial road blockade. No serious traffic accidents have been reported yet.
    France's civil aviation authority estimated that some 20 percent of flights to and out of the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport have been canceled due to the snow during the daytime on Saturday.
    The roof of a building at the Flamanville nuclear power station in northern France partially³ collapsed⁴ under the weight of the snow overnight Friday, triggering concerns about nuclear security.
    Thomas Houdre, a senior official with the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), excluded the possibility of nuclear leak after the accident when inquired by Xinhua.
    The building does not house any nuclear fuels, so the environment wouldn't be affected⁵, Houdre told Xinhua.
    Houdre said that so far no abnormity has been reported and investigators⁶ were performing necessary checks.
    French meteorologist Frederic Nathan said the sweeping⁷ snows and freezing temperature were rare but not abnormal. When cold snap struck northern Europe, the southern part of Europe was experiencing a warmer winter, which was the so-called climate balance, he told Xinhua.
    Officials in the French Alps meanwhile warned of the risk of avalanches⁸ on Sunday in ski stations already open because of the early snow. The danger would increase Monday with fresh snowfalls and a subsequent thaw⁹.
    The French weather agency predicted that the temperature will rise slightly in the country on Sunday, but snows and rains will continue to dominate most of the regions in France.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 notably   

adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地

参考例句：

• Many students were absent,notably the monitor.许多学生缺席，特别是连班长也没来。
• A notably short,silver-haired man,he plays basketball with his staff several times a week.他个子明显较为矮小，一头银发，每周都会和他的员工一起打几次篮球。

2 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。

3 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

4 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

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。

6 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

8 avalanches   

n.雪崩( avalanche的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The greatest dangers of pyroclastic avalanches are probably heat and suffocation. 火成碎屑崩落的最大危害可能是炽热和窒息作用。 来自辞典例句
• Avalanches poured down on the tracks and rails were spread. 雪崩压满了轨道，铁轨被弄得四分五裂。 来自辞典例句

9 thaw   

v.（使）融化，（使）变得友善；n.融化，缓和

参考例句：

• The snow is beginning to thaw.雪已开始融化。
• The spring thaw caused heavy flooding.春天解冻引起了洪水泛滥。