BBC初級口語: 意大利威尼斯的水災

推薦人：來源: 閱讀: 2.61W 次大中小

Background: 意大利的威尼斯市正在清理大面積海潮帶來的水災。威尼斯遭遇了20年不遇的海平面最高水位。該市飯店行業說，從昨天開始已經有1000多項預定被取消。威尼斯市呼籲政府緊急撥款以幫助清整這場水災。市政府還要求加速防洪門大型工程的建造。巨頭 Google 宣佈從2010年1月起將會將伊拉克國家博物館的寶藏的照片放在互聯網上供全世界人民免費觀賞。Google 首席執行官 Eric Schmidt 先生在參觀伊拉克國家博物館時宣佈了此消息。

【文本】

Flooding in Venice

At one point the water in the central part of Venice was 1.56m above sea level. It hasn't been that high since 1986. Venice gets regular flooding at this time of year but this was the fourth deepest on record.

Dozens of homes and businesses were inundated. Scores of people had to move out, though there are no reports of serious injuries.
With mopping up still underway, the authorities say they don't yet know the final cost of repairs . They've appealed to the government for money from a special fund to help in the clear-up.

The all-time record for high water was in 1966 when it reached nearly two metres. The city then suffered widespread and devastating flooding.

Since then, there have been a number of attempts to make flood protection more permanent.

The latest and most ambitious solution is what is known as the Moses Project: 78 floodgates are being built at the three main inlets to the lagoon that Venice is set around. About 40% are complete, though the city has again asked for the scheme to be speeded up ahead of its planned 2012 completion.

Much more immediately, with 1000 cancellations in the past 24 hours, hotels have started offering discount packages which include a free pair of fishermen-style wading boots.

【口語突破】

sea level 海平面

inundated 淹沒

scores 數十人

mopping up 清整

repairs 修理

fund 專款/資金

widespread 遍及各地的

devastating 災難性的

ambitious 野心勃勃的

floodgates 防洪門

inlets 入口/水灣