新西兰英语 448 Chilean Volcano stops flights in New Zealand and Australia

 　　On June 4th, a volcano¹ in southern Chile erupted, sending volcanic² ash into the air. The large particles³ of ash soon dropped to the ground but the small particles were carried, high in the air, by the westerly wind to Australia and New Zealand. This is amazing. The distance at 40 degrees south from Chile west to New Zealand is about 20,000km. This volcanic ash has crossed Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and the South Atlantic Ocean. It took about a week to arrive here.

　　On Sunday, QANTAS airlines and JetStar stopped flights across the Tasman to Australia. They also stopped flights in New Zealand and in parts of Australia. However, AirNZ continued to fly. AirNZ said the ash is high in the air between 6,000 and 10,000m. Their planes can fly below the ash, at 5,800m. This uses 10% more fuel but it is safe. QANTAS and JetStar believe it is safer to stop flights. Many passengers have been waiting in airports, hoping the volcanic ash will disappear. Today is the 4th day and it has not disappeared yet. In fact, the volcano is still erupting.

　　Fine particles of volcanic ash look like flour but they feel more like particles of sand. If they get into the engines of the plane, they can cause damage.

　　New Zealand has a Volcanic Ash Advisory⁴ System which can show the path of the volcanic ash.

　　Scientific vocabulary

　　Useful words: volcano, erupt, particles, 40 degrees south, advisory system (gives advice)

　　Grammar: Verb Tenses

　　Present perfect tense is used to show an action which started in the past and is continuing now e.g. ash has crossed Argentina … has not disappeared yet; the progressive⁵ form – have been waiting – emphasizes⁶ that their wait has been a long time.

　　Present simple is used to show something that is true: uses 10% more fuel, look like ash…feel like, if they get… they can cause

　　Questions

　　A volcano is a natural hazard⁷. Do you think an airline should pay for accommodation if passengers cannot get home because of volcanic ash?

　　A lot of numbers are mentioned here. Write them down as you listen.

1 volcano   

n.火山

参考例句：

• The volcano unexpectedly blew up early in the morning.火山一早突然爆发了。
• It is most risky to go and examine an active volcano.去探察活火山是非常危险的。

2 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

3 particles   

微粒( particle的名词复数 )； 颗粒； 极少量； 小品词

参考例句：

• These small particles agglomerate together to form larger clusters. 这些颗粒聚结形成较大的团。
• The nucleus of an atom consists of neutrons, protons and other particles. 原子核由中子、质子和其他粒子构成。

4 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

5 progressive   

adj.先进的；前进的，渐进的；进行式的

参考例句：

• There is often a progressive loss of sight in old age.上了年纪的人视力逐步减退。
• It's a progressive idea.这是一种进步的思想。

6 emphasizes   

强调( emphasize的第三人称单数 )； 加强语气； 重读； 使突出

参考例句：

• Marx concentrates on the alienation of labour and emphasizes the invidious aspects. 马克思集中论述了劳动的异化，强调它令人厌恶的方面。
• What he emphasizes most is that we must walk the mass line. 他最强调的是我们必须走群众路线。

7 hazard   

n.危险，危害；vt.冒...的危险，使遭危险

参考例句：

• He climbed into the car at the hazard of his life.他冒着生命危险进了汽车。
• I think we have provided for every possible hazard.我认为我们已经准备好了应付每一种可能的危险。