新西兰英语 766 Deadline for red zone homeowners

 　　5pm today was the deadline for Christchurch owners of homes in the residential¹ red zone. They had to accept CERA’s offer for their property by 5pm today. Home owners had two choices: accept CERA’s offer for their home and land at 2007 value, or take the money from the insurance company for the house and from CERA for the land.

　　Already 6,000 people have accepted one of those offers but earlier today 270 had not accepted. Some are waiting for more information from their insurance company. Some are waiting for a decision from the high court. Some are fighting the offer from CERA. Some people had bought land and were waiting to build a house on the land. CERA has offered them 50% of the 2007 value of the land but they want 100%. It will be impossible for them to buy land in another area if they get only 50%. It is not possible to insure² land so they have no other options.

　　A few people are refusing to move. They like their house or they like their area or they are too old and tired to move. However, if they stay there, they could lose water and sewerage connection.

　　It is a distressing³ time for many people in the red zone.

　　Listen to June 23rd 2011 and March 9th 2011 to hear more about the government’s offer.

　　Vocabulary

　　?deadline – date when they must decide

　　?residential – area where people live, where there are houses

　　?CERA – Christchurch Earthquake Recovery⁴ Authority⁵ (for the government)

　　?accept – say yes

　　?options – choices

　　?sewerage – waste water from shower, toilet etc.

　　?distressing – people feel very upset, worried, angry etc.

1 residential   

adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的

参考例句：

• The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。
• The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。

2 insure   

v.保险，给…保险；保证使...得到

参考例句：

• Check your work to insure its accuracy.检查一下你的工作，以保证它的准确性。
• An insurance company will insure your life.保险公司可以给你保寿险。

3 distressing   

a.使人痛苦的

参考例句：

• All who saw the distressing scene revolted against it. 所有看到这种悲惨景象的人都对此感到难过。
• It is distressing to see food being wasted like this. 这样浪费粮食令人痛心。

4 recovery   

n.恢复，痊愈；追回，寻回，收复

参考例句：

• The doctors said that his recovery was a miracle. 医生们说他的复原是件奇事。
• The quick recovery was truly in response to medication.这次迅速康复确实是对药物治疗的反应。

5 authority   

n.当局，官方；权力，权威，威信；当权者

参考例句：

• He is recognized internationally as an authority in this field.国际上承认他是这方面的一个权威。
• Professor White is looked upon as an authority on mathematics.怀特教授被看成数学权威。