VOA标准英语10月-Strong Earthquake Hits Southwest Pakistan
时间：2019-01-13 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2008年（十月）
Family members stand near man who was injured in earthquake, at local hospital in Quetta, 29 Oct 2008
The earthquake struck before dawn, as residents were preparing to offer the first prayers of the day.
Munir Ahmed told a VOA reporter who visited his devastated 4 village in Ziarat district that his family evacuated 5 their home when the first, smaller tremor shook the building.
He says we went outside and waited, but because it was cold we went back inside. He says 20 minutes later the large earthquake hit, flattening 6 his extended family's compound and killing 7 20 of his relatives.
Seismologists said the earthquake was located about 60 kilometers northeast of the provincial 8 capital Quetta, near the scenic 9 Ziarat district where Ahmed's village and several others are home to about 50,000 people.
Locals build their homes out of timber and mud that have heavy walls and roofs to support the weight of winter snows. Rescue workers are now struggling to dig through the collapsed 10 homes to find survivors 11.
Maulana Abdul Wasey, a provincial minister representing the region, spoke 12 to VOA standing 13 before the rubble 14 of dozens of flattened homes. He says people cannot imagine that this place was a village filled with houses. He asked the government to ensure that those left homeless are given food and shelter to survive the cold weather.
The minister says many families have already begun burying their dead, making it difficult to determine how many people have died.
Pakistan's central government has pledged thousands of dollars to the families of those killed in the quake and hundreds of dollars to those who are seriously injured. The military has flown in tents, food, supplies and doctors to the affected 15 region.
But the head of the country's national disaster response, retired 16 Lieutenant 17 General Farooq Khan expressed concern about the regional government's ability to respond to the situation.
"As far as Baluchistan is concerned - unless the Baluch disaster management authorities really become effective, a simple problem becomes a more serious one," Farooq said.
By evening, locals in the quake affected areas reported shortages of food and water in some places. They appealed for the government to provide heavy digging equipment to help them bury their dead, as well as shelter and blankets to endure the night-time temperatures that fall below freezing.
- the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
- They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- There was a slight tremor in his voice.他的声音有点颤抖。
- A slight earth tremor was felt in California.加利福尼亚发生了轻微的地震。
- She flattened her nose and lips against the window. 她把鼻子和嘴唇紧贴着窗户。
- I flattened myself against the wall to let them pass. 我身体紧靠着墙让他们通过。
- The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
- His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。
- Police evacuated nearby buildings. 警方已将附近大楼的居民疏散。
- The fireman evacuated the guests from the burning hotel. 消防队员把客人们从燃烧着的旅馆中撤出来。
- Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
- Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。
- City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
- Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。
- The scenic beauty of the place entranced the visitors.这里的美丽风光把游客们迷住了。
- The scenic spot is on northwestern outskirts of Beijing.这个风景区位于北京的西北远郊。
- Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
- The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。
- The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
- survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者
- They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
- The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
- After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
- They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
- After the earthquake,it took months to clean up the rubble.地震后，花了数月才清理完瓦砾。
- After the war many cities were full of rubble.战后许多城市到处可见颓垣残壁。
- She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
- His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
- The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
- Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
- He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
- He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。