英语小达人 69 Blizzard of '95

 　　Blizzard¹ of '95

　　一九九五年的暴风雪

　　In 1995 our small town was hit by a heavy snowfall. For many days our roads were closed.The snow meant no school for children and no work for adults. It also meant a difficult time for people with disabilities and the elderly.

　　一九九五年，一场大雪侵袭了我们的小镇。有好几天，道路封闭。因为下雪的关系，小孩不用上课，大人也不用上班；而对残障与年老的人来说，也代表了艰辛的日子。

　　My mom who has dedicated² her life to helping³ and giving to others she knew needed help. Without hesitation⁴, she strapped⁵ on a pair of snowshoes and headed out into the snow. She visited those she knew needed help, strangers, and friends alike.

　　我的母亲奉献一生，协助那些她觉得需要帮助的人。她没有半点迟疑，就绑紧雪鞋走进雪里。她拜访那些她知道需要协助的人家，不管是认识的人或者认识的人。

　　People were grateful that she came. She collected grocery lists and words of gratitude⁶. My mom delivered food and other needed supplies. She even shoveled⁷ a few driveways!

　　大家都很感激她的到访，她收集购物清单，也收下众人的感激之意。她帮忙运送食物和其他必要的补给品，甚至还铲开几户人家车道的雪！

　　A week passed before it was easy for people to leave their homes. If it weren't for the help from my mom, many people would have been without medicine and proper food.

　　一个礼拜过后，人们终于比较容易出门。如果没有我的母亲的协助，很多人可能没有医疗用品和食物。

1 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。

2 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

5 strapped   

adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带

参考例句：

• Make sure that the child is strapped tightly into the buggy. 一定要把孩子牢牢地拴在婴儿车上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soldiers' great coats were strapped on their packs. 战士们的厚大衣扎捆在背包上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

7 shoveled   

vt.铲，铲出（shovel的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The hungry man greedily shoveled the food into his mouth. 那个饥饿的人贪婪地、大口大口地吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• They shoveled a path through the snow. 他们在雪中铲出一条小路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》