VOA标准英语2008年-McCain, Delegates Help Pack 80,000 Comfort Pack

Republican presidential candidate John McCain lent a hand Wednesday, as delegates to the Republican convention took time out to pack supplies for hurricane victims in the Gulf¹ Coast. The looming² storm led convention organizers to curtail³ opening day events Monday and appeal to delegates to focus on gathering⁴ aid for the thousands of people in the southern Gulf states who evacuated⁵ their homes as the storm approached. Lisa Ferdinando visited delegates who were preparing relief packages at the convention center in the northern city of Minneapolis.
　
Senator John McCain (left) and wife Cindy help pack boxes of donated items for victims of Hurricane Gustav in Minneapolis, 3 Sep 2008

Delegates volunteered their time Wednesday to pack toothbrushes, hand sanitizer, non-perishable food and other essential items for the thousands of affected⁶ residents of the Gulf Coast.

Although Hurricane Gustav was not as destructive as originally feared, delegates still volunteered their time Wednesday to help assemble care packages. The Republican Party is working with the American Red Cross and corporations donating goods and services to assemble 80,000 packages.

Judy Zakibe, a delegate from St. Louis, Missouri, was among the volunteers.

"I believe everybody should give back, and I've always done that for 50 years. I would do it anyway, but it's always inspiring when someone says 'Let's everybody come together' and many hands make light work," she said.

The American Red Cross says it is on "high alert" as other storms are heading toward the United States. Jan McDaniel, chief executive of the area American Red Cross chapter, says the 80,000 bags are to be shipped to Louisiana and Mississippi for distribution. "It's hot, they don't have power, so our job is really to make sure they are comforted, they're sheltered and they have food," McDaniel said.

Thousands of people were evacuated from New Orleans as Hurricane Gustav made its way to Louisiana, bringing back painful memories of the Bush administration's slow response to Hurricane Katrina, which devastated⁷ New Orleans three years ago.

 

1 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

2 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

3 curtail   

vt.截短，缩短；削减

参考例句：

• The government hopes to curtail public spending.政府希望缩减公共事业开支。
• The minister had to curtail his visit.部长不得不缩短访问日期。

4 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

5 evacuated   

撤退者的

参考例句：

• 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。

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• 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。

7 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• 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。