VOA慢速英语2015 印尼称失踪亚航飞机可能落入海底

 

Indonesia: Missing AirAsia Is Likely at the 'Bottom of the Sea' 印尼称失踪亚航飞机可能落入海底

Indonesian officials say Australian searchers have seen objects floating in waters near the island of Borneo. The area is about 1,100 kilometers from the last known position of AirAsia flight 8501. But there is no confirmation¹ that the material is related to the missing airplane.  The search area is expected to expand to land areas  at sunrise Tuesday. 

The plane was carrying 162 people when it left Surabaya for Singapore on Sunday. But it disappeared about halfway² through what is normally a two-hour flight.

The head of Indonesia’s search and rescue agency says the missing Airbus A320 is likely at the “bottom of the sea.”

The passengers include 149 Indonesians, three South Koreans and single passengers from Britain, Malaysia and Singapore. The seven-member crew included six Indonesians and a French co-pilot.

The pilot had asked air traffic controllers for permission to fly about 1,800 meters higher than normal to avoid stormy weather. An Indonesian Transport Ministry³ official says permission was denied because another plane was flying in the area. After that communication was silent. Controllers did not receive any calls for help from the pilot.                                                

More than 400 rescued from burning ferry

At least five people are confirmed dead after a fire on a car ferry in waters near the coast of Greece. Officials announced that four bodies were discovered Monday on the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic. The announcement came a day after one man was reported to have died.

Officials say more than 400 of the 478 passengers and crew have now been rescued. The ferry was carrying automobiles⁵ and passengers across the Adriatic Sea when the fire started. The boat had left the Greek port of Patras and was sailing to the Italian port of Ancona. Officials say the ferry had been inspected on December 19 and minor⁶ problems had been fixed⁷.

Greece to call for early election

The Greek parliament has failed for the third time to elect a new president. Stavros Dimas, the government’s presidential candidate, failed to win the required 180 votes.

Under Greek law, general elections must now be called. The vote in parliament Monday was seen as a final effort to avoid the vote, which could bring the Syriza party to power.

The European Union and International Monetary⁸ Fund fear Syriza would undo⁹ many of the country’s economic reforms.

South Korea proposes talks with North

A South Korean official has offered to hold ministerial-level talks with North Korea to discuss what he called “mutual concerns.” South Korea’s unification minister, Ryo Kihl-jae, told reporters on Monday that a request had been sent to the North Korean government.

If agreed to, the talks would take place next month in Pyongyang.

The two countries had agreed on high-level talks two months ago. But North Korea refused to attend when activists¹⁰ in South Korea sent anti-North Korean materials across the border on balloons.

Words in This Story

waters - n. liquid that falls from the sky as rain or is found in lakes, rivers and oceans

missing - adj. lost; not found

car - n. a vehicle with wheels used to carry people; an automobile⁴

parliament - n. a government lawmaking group

1 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

2 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

5 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

7 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

8 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

9 undo   

vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销

参考例句：

• His pride will undo him some day.他的傲慢总有一天会毁了他。
• I managed secretly to undo a corner of the parcel.我悄悄地设法解开了包裹的一角。

10 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》