新奇事件簿 美国遭遇极度严寒

Much of mid-and northeastern America is in the middle of a deadly cold snap¹. Many states from Michigan in the north to Georgia in the south are experiencing freezing temperatures not experienced² for decades. It is currently³ colder in many parts of the USA than it is in Antarctica. The cold spell is because of what is called a polar vortex. This is a swirling⁵ mass of air and wind that has come down from the Arctic⁴, which is where the North Pole is. The government has declared states of emergency in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. Many schools and businesses have been closed due to the extreme cold. People have been warned not to travel, and even not to go outside and breathe in the icy air.

很多中部和北部的美国人正经历着致命的寒流。从北部密歇根到南方乔治亚的很多州正经历着几十年未体验过的冻结温度。现在美国很多地区比南极洲还冷。此次寒潮是由极地涡旋所致。这是从北极区，即北极所在地下来的旋涡气团和风。政府已经宣布威斯康星州、伊利诺斯州以及密歇根州进入紧急状态。由于严寒，很多学校以及商店都已经关门了。大家收到警告称不要旅游、甚至不要出门呼吸这冰冷的空气。

The weather website AccuWeather said that the temperature in Thief River Falls, in the state of Minnesota, dropped to a real-feel minus sixty degrees Celsius⁶. Many parts of the Chicago River turned to ice, Niagara Falls turned into a winter wonderland and parts of Lake Michigan froze over. The bitter freeze is believed to be responsible for the deaths of at least eight people so far. Health officials are urging people to go outside only if it is absolutely necessary. They warned that exposing the skin to the freezing air was dangerous. It could lead to frostbite or breathing problems. People were also urged to be careful when shoveling snow outside and be careful of blocks of snow and ice falling from the roof.

气象预报网站 AccuWeather称明尼苏达州锡夫里弗福尔斯的气温已经低至零下60摄氏度。芝加哥河多段已经结冰，尼亚加拉大瀑布变成了冬日仙境，密歇根湖很多部分已经结冰。据称截止目前为止，此次严寒刺骨的冰冻已经致至少8人死亡。卫生部官员要求人们只在能在迫不得已的情况下出门。他们警告称让皮肤暴露在冷空气中是很危险的。可能会导致冻伤或呼吸问题。同样也要求人们在外铲雪的时候要注意安全，小心从屋顶上落下的雪块和冰块。

1 snap   

n.啪地移动，突然断掉；v.猛咬，咬断，谩骂，砰然关上

参考例句：

• He broke off the twig with a snap.他啪地一声把那根树枝折断了。
• These earrings snap on with special fasteners.这副耳环是用特制的按扣扣上去的。

2 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

3 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

4 Arctic   

adj.北极的；n.北极

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• The sort of animal lived in the Arctic Circle.这种动物生活在北极圈里。

5 swirling   

v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Snowflakes were swirling in the air. 天空飘洒着雪花。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• She smiled, swirling the wine in her glass. 她微笑着，旋动着杯子里的葡萄酒。 来自辞典例句

6 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。