新西兰英语 489 Pike River Mine Inquiry

 　　For background to this, listen to September 6 2011.

　　The second stage of the inquiry¹ ended on Friday. This stage was looking at the Search and Rescue to find out why 29 miners died in the Pike River Mine last November. For the last three weeks we have heard many people giving their evidence and heard many sad stories. It seems there were many mistakes made after that explosion.

　　One mistake was poor communication with the families. The families needed to know immediately who was inside the mine and if it was possible for anyone to be alive after the first explosion. For five days they believed there was a chance the miners were still alive but in fact there was really no chance. A fire was burning inside the mine and toxic² gas levels were so high that nobody could have survived. Nobody told the families about the fire.

　　The Manager of the Mines Rescue Service told the police to seal the mine and cut off oxygen to the fire. Then it would be possible to get the bodies. However, this did not happen and the bodies are still in the mine.

　　Other mistakes were about the safety training and the lack of a suitable second exit.

　　The third stage of the Inquiry starts in November. It will focus on what caused the explosion. After Stage 4, there will be recommendations³ for future safety of mines.

　　Vocabulary

　　evidence – (noun) witnesses tell what they know

　　toxic – (adjective) poisonous

　　survive – (verb) stay alive

　　seal – (noun, verb) close it tightly⁴

　　lack – (noun, verb) not have something that you need; (e.g. a lack of food, to lack food)

　　recommendations – suggestions for changes that need to happen

　　Question

　　A Royal Commission⁵ of Inquiry (like this one) cannot change laws. It can only make recommendations. Do you think the government will listen to the recommendations?

1 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

2 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

3 recommendations   

n.推荐( recommendation的名词复数 )；推荐信；正式建议；提议

参考例句：

• The board completely disregarded my recommendations. 董事会完全无视我的建议。
• Recommendations from two previous clients helped to establish her credibility. 两位以前的客户的推荐有助于确立她的诚信度。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 tightly   

adv.紧紧地，坚固地，牢固地

参考例句：

• My child holds onto my hand tightly while we cross the street.横穿马路时，孩子紧拉着我的手不放。
• The crowd pressed together so tightly that we could hardly breathe.人群挤在一起，我们几乎喘不过气来。

5 commission   

n.委托，授权，委员会，拥金，回扣，委任状

参考例句：

• The salesman can get commission on everything he sells.这个售货员能得到所售每件货物的佣金。
• The commission is made up of five people,including two women.委员会由五人组成，其中包括两名妇女。