美国有线新闻 CNN 2015-05-25

 The evidence of the havoc¹ the oil spill has caused shown all over the bodies of the five pelicans² and a sea lion rescued so far. The magnitude yet to be assessed for the damage to the ocean's other beautiful creatures. The company responsible for this mess, Plains All American Pipeline³. 

 

Skimming vessels⁴ so far have recovered 7,770 gallons of an oily water mixture. 

 

It turns out the company has a checkered⁵ history when it comes to its infrastructure⁶. In 2010, the company and some of its subsidiaries agreed to spend 41 million dollars to upgrade 10,000 miles of crude oil pipeline. As part of a settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department. This after violations⁷ between 2004 and 2007 for ten crude oil spills in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Kansas. And just last year, a rupture⁸ sent 10,000 gallons of oil flowing onto a Los Angeles street. Its record in the top five worse for infractions compared to other similar companies. The spill affecting Santa Barbara's coastline, one of the worst here. 

 

What does the company say about all that? We asked. 

 

Can you just answer one more question that the public may want to know? Five-hundred barrels. What does that mean? How much oil is that? 

 

Approximately 42 gallons to a barrel, so that would be 105,000 gallons. 

 

Initially⁹ you said 21,000. Why the huge jump in the amount? 

 

Again, that was a worst-case scenario¹⁰. The 500 barrels would be 21,000 gallons, as you pointed¹¹ out. 

 

What do you say to the public that's angry about this spill and your record when it comes to problems? 

 

Again, we deeply regret what has happened, and again, we will continue to work with the federal, state and local agencies to mitigate¹² this incident as quickly as possible. 

 

The governor of California deemed the spill a state of emergency to assist with the oil clean-up. In the lush city of Santa Barbara, the reaction loud and clear. 

 

Get oil out! Get oil out!!! 

 

What are your thoughts? What does that do to you? 

 

It's heartbreaking, and the Gabiota coast is a global ecological¹³ treasure. There's not many places like it throughout the globe, and for it to happen there is extremely significant in the sense of what that could mean long-term in terms of impact.

1 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。

2 pelicans   

n.鹈鹕( pelican的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Kurt watched the Pelicans fire their jets and scorch the grass. 库尔特看着鹈鹕运兵船点火，它们的喷焰把草烧焦。 来自互联网
• The Pelican Feeding Officers present an educational talk while feeding the pelicans. 那个正在喂鹈鹕的工作人员会边喂鹈鹕边给它上一节教育课。 来自互联网

3 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

4 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 checkered   

adj.有方格图案的

参考例句：

• The ground under the trees was checkered with sunlight and shade.林地光影交错。
• He’d had a checkered past in the government.他过去在政界浮沉。

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 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

8 rupture   

n.破裂；(关系的)决裂；v.(使)破裂

参考例句：

• I can rupture a rule for a friend.我可以为朋友破一次例。
• The rupture of a blood vessel usually cause the mark of a bruise.血管的突然破裂往往会造成外伤的痕迹。

9 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

10 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

11 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

12 mitigate   

vt.（使）减轻，（使）缓和

参考例句：

• The government is trying to mitigate the effects of inflation.政府正试图缓和通货膨胀的影响。
• Governments should endeavour to mitigate distress.政府应努力缓解贫困问题。

13 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.