遭遇500年最严重干旱打击 欧洲主要水道全线告急【健谈英语】

【头条播报】
Across Europe, drought is reducing once-mighty rivers to trickles, with potentially dramatic consequences for industry, freight, energy and food production. In places, the Loire can now be crossed on foot; the Rhine is fast becoming impassable to barge traffic. With no significant rainfall recorded for almost two months, meteorologists say the drought could become the continent’s worst in more than 500 years.
 
【分句讲解】
①Across Europe, drought is reducing once-mighty rivers to trickles, with potentially dramatic consequences for industry, freight, energy and food production.
肆虐整个欧洲的干旱使得曾经浩瀚的水道变成了涓涓细流，这将给工业、船运、能源和食品生产带来严重的影响。

1. reduce v. 减少，缩小

reduce class sizes 缩小班级规模
reduce costs 减少成本
reduce pollution 降低污染

2. mighty adj. 巨大的，强大的
almighty adj.又大又全的 n. 万能神明

mighty beast 凶猛的怪兽
mighty power station 大型发电站

3. trickle n. 少量、缓慢的水流 v. 缓慢地流淌

Tears were trickling down her cheeks. 
眼泪顺着她的面颊流了下来。

4. consequence n. 后果，影响（result，effect）

as a consequence of / in consequence of 由于
He was given a traffic ticket as a consequence of running the red light.
由于闯红灯他被开了罚单。
In consequence of his ill health, he lost the opportunity. 
由于身体欠佳，他失去了这次机会。

5. dramatic adj. 巨大的，夸张的
drama n. 戏剧

dramatic increase 暴涨
dramatic change 巨变
dramatic development 突飞猛进的发展

6. freight n. 货物；长距离运输；运费

You pay freight for the freight of your freight. 
你要为你运输的货物付运费。

②In places, the Loire can now be crossed on foot; the Rhine is fast becoming impassable to barge traffic.
法国卢瓦尔河现在可以步行穿越；莱茵河很快就无法驳船通行了。

1. impassable adj. 无法通行的

2. barge n. 驳船 v. 用驳船运载

③With no significant rainfall recorded for almost two months, meteorologists say the drought could become the continent’s worst in more than 500 years. 
欧洲近两个月来都没有明显的降雨记录，气象学者预测这场干旱可能成为欧洲大陆500多年来最严重的一次。

1. significant adj. 明显的，重要的，意义重大的

a significant improvement 显著的改进
a significant contribution 重大的贡献