新西兰英语 190 New Power Lines

　　Transpower yesterday got permission to build 185km of power lines from the Waikato River at Whakamaru near Lake Taupo, to Auckland. The lines will cross about 300 properties, mostly farms.
Farmers have been protesting¹ to stop these power lines for many years and are very disappointed. Some farmers are angry. They do not want overhead² power lines on their property.
Transpower says that underground cables³ are too expensive. About 10km will be underground but the rest will be above ground. There will be 400 towers and some of the towers will be 70m high. Transpower will pay farmers $125 million in compensation⁴ for their land.
Auckland needs a better electricity supply. Earlier this year, some areas of Auckland lost power for a few hours. Three years ago, about half of Aucklanders lost power for 5 hours but the worst situation was in 1998 when downtown Auckland had no power for 5 weeks.
The new electricity supply will cost $824 million. Work will start this summer and will take three years.

1 protesting   

v.声明( protest的现在分词 )；坚决地表示；申辩

参考例句：

• They were formally protesting. 他们正式提出抗议。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They were protesting soaring prices. 他们抗议物价暴涨。 来自辞典例句

2 overhead   

adj.在头顶上的，悬空的；n.间接开支

参考例句：

• A number of birds are circling overhead.很多鸟在头顶上空盘旋。
• Many stars overhead are invisible to the naked eye.天上的许多星星是肉眼看不到的。

3 cables   

n.电报( cable的名词复数 )；电缆；（系船用的）缆绳；（船只、桥梁等上的）巨缆

参考例句：

• Use the crocodile clips to attach the cables to the battery. 用鳄鱼嘴夹把电缆接到蓄电池上。
• Please don't touch these metal cables inside a plastic sleeve. 请不要碰那些套着塑料管的金属电缆。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 compensation   

n.补偿（或赔偿）的款物，补偿，赔偿

参考例句：

• Workers who have been unfairly dismissed may claim compensation.被无理开除的工人可以要求补偿。
• Equal compensation should be given to men and women for equal work.男女同工应同酬。