2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Visits Hurricane-Wrecked Areas of Gul

By Scott Stearns
Washington
08 March 2006

President Bush says the federal government is making progress in rebuilding levees around the city of New Orleans that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Some independent engineers question whether that work is being done properly.

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George Bush walks out of abandoned house as he views debris¹ removal in Lower Ninth Ward² in New Orleans, March 8, 2006  
  

Following a tour of areas flooded during last year's killer³ hurricane, President Bush said there is still a lot of work to be done.

"I appreciate the determination by the folks down here to rebuild. I fully⁴ understand, and I hope our country understands, the pain and agony that the people of New Orleans and Louisiana and the parishes surrounding New Orleans went through," said Mr. Bush.

Hurricane Katrina killed more than 1,300 people along the Gulf⁵ Coast and flooded much of New Orleans. President Bush says the government's first priority is rebuilding levees that gave way in that storm.

"We fully understand that if people don't have confidence in the levee system, they are not going to want to come back. People are not going to want to spend money or invest," he said.

The president says the Army Corps⁶ of Engineers is on schedule to repair damaged levees by June 1.
 

President Bush, left, and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin view flood wall construction at Industrial Canal levee   
  
By identifying and correcting design and construction deficiencies, President Bush says Army engineers will have the levee system equal to or better than what it was before Katrina. By September of 2007, Mr. Bush says the levees will be stronger than before.

Briefing reporters ahead of the trip, the head of the Army Corps of Engineers, Lieutenant⁷ General Carl Strock, said 160 of the city's 270 kilometers of damaged levees have already been restored.

Two independent analyses of some of that reconstruction⁸ have questioned the speed with which the work has been done, suggesting that layers of earth have not been allowed to properly settle before more layers are applied⁹.

General Strock dismissed the allegations, saying those engineers were looking at the wrong dirt.  However, he did admit that rebuilding the levees to pre-Katrina strength will not prevent flooding in low-lying areas if a similar storm hits during the next hurricane season which starts in less than 100 days.

President Bush called on Congress to fully fund a $4.2 billion request for community development and housing programs in Louisiana. Congress says that money should be distributed to all states affected¹⁰ by Katrina, which includes Mississippi and Alabama as well.

First Lady Laura Bush accompanied the president on the trip and urged officials from schools damaged by the storm to contact a private foundation she leads to apply for funds to restore their libraries.

"We all know that schools are at the center of every child's life," she said.  "And the routine of going to school gives children a sense of comfort that is more important than ever for boys and girls who have endured trauma¹¹. The sooner children are back in their own schools, the happier and healthier they will be."

It was the president's 10th visit to areas flattened¹² by Hurricane Katrina and his first since separate White House and Congressional reports criticized the response by federal, state, and local officials.

1 debris   

n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片

参考例句：

• After the bombing there was a lot of debris everywhere.轰炸之后到处瓦砾成堆。
• Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth,causing decay.细菌附着在牙缝中的食物残渣上，导致蛀牙。

2 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

3 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

4 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

5 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。

6 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

7 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

8 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

9 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

10 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。

11 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

12 flattened   

[医]（水）平扁的，弄平的

参考例句：

• She flattened her nose and lips against the window. 她把鼻子和嘴唇紧贴着窗户。
• I flattened myself against the wall to let them pass. 我身体紧靠着墙让他们通过。