VOA慢速英语2015 印度遭遇史上最严重热浪

India Suffers Fifth Deadliest Heat Wave in World History 印度遭遇史上最严重热浪

In the news today...

Indian officials are blaming extremely hot weather for more than 2,000 deaths in the country. The extreme heat has been a problem for nearly two weeks across large parts of India. The severe heat wave is the second-deadliest in the country’s history. It also is the fifth-deadliest heat wave ever reported.

Indian officials are being urged to take action to protect people from the extreme temperatures, which have risen 15 to 20 degrees Celsius¹ in a short time. In many places, the temperature is about 45 degrees.

Many people are hoping seasonal² monsoon³ rains will arrive soon to cool the country.

US Senate Votes to Debate Spying Legislation

The United States Senate has agreed to begin debate on a bill to reform how the nation fights terrorism. The bill would give private communications companies the duty to collect phone records. Up until now, the National Security Agency had that responsibility. Some senators and others said they no longer trusted the agency to gather the information. Last month, a federal appeals court said the NSA collection program was illegal.

The bill to give collection powers to private companies won approval in the House of Representatives. But it was not as popular in the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had asked the Senate to temporarily give the NSA permission to continue collecting phone records. But on Sunday he admitted that not enough senators would let the agency do that. He then said letting private companies collect the records is better than nothing at all.

The senator said the nation is dealing⁴ with what he called “growing, aggressive and sophisticated threats.”

Qatar Agrees to Continue Watching Five Taliban Members

A U.S. official says Qatar has agreed to temporarily extend travel and other restrictions⁵ on five top Taliban members. The five men were released last year from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in exchange for a captured American soldier.

The year-long restrictions on the five were to end Monday.

Last year, Qatar agreed to let the five men stay in the country as part of an agreement to free U.S. Army Sergeant⁶ Bowe Bergdahl. The Taliban in Afghanistan had held the soldier for five years after he left from his Army position. He has now been charged with illegally leaving his post.

One U.S. lawmaker said at least one of the five men contacted members of the Haqqani network during the past year while in Qatar. U.S. officials have linked the Haqqani network to al-Qaida.

Kerry to Return to US After Breaking Leg in Bike Accident

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry returns home Monday after breaking his leg in a bicycle accident.

The accident happened in France on Sunday.

Mr. Kerry will be treated in Boston, Massachusetts. The injury is near the area on his body where doctors had earlier performed hip⁷ surgery. A spokesperson says he will be treated by the same doctor who performed that operation.

Mr. Kerry was in Switzerland for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. They were negotiating an agreement on limiting Iranian nuclear activities.

Mr. Kerry was then to travel to Spain and then on to Paris for a conference on fighting the Islamic State group.

1 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

2 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。

3 monsoon   

n.季雨，季风，大雨

参考例句：

• The monsoon rains started early this year.今年季雨降雨开始得早。
• The main climate type in that region is monsoon.那个地区主要以季风气候为主要气候类型。

4 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

5 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

6 sergeant   

n.警官，中士

参考例句：

• His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
• How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？

7 hip   

n.臀部，髋；屋脊

参考例句：

• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line.新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。