VOA标准英语2011--Centuries Old Trees Burn in Texas

 

Centuries Old Trees Burn in Texas

Firefighters in Texas now have the worst fires in the state's history under control, but they are keeping a wary¹ eye on frequent flare-ups that threaten wooded areas where many people have homes and ranches³. The fires have destroyed hundreds of homes and burned more than 1.4-million hectares of land. Most of the fires in recent days have been in wooded areas in east and central Texas, threatening centuries-old trees. It might take decades to restore some areas devastated⁴ by the fires.
A dark cloud is in the sky over drought-stricken Texas, but it will not produce rain.
This cloud is smoke from a fire that broke out northwest of Houston, threatening ranch² land and homes. Firefighters use helicopters and planes to drop water and fire retardant on the flames, trying to suppress them as police order an evacuation of the area and residents scramble⁵ to get out.
Most will be able to return safely in a day or two. The less fortunate will return to find the charred⁶ remnants of what was once their homes.
Eric Fourniquet returned from an out-of-state trip to find his home a smoldering⁷ ruin. But his wife and children were safe. “I am just happy and thankful that they made it out without being hurt," he said.
Forest service workers are helping⁸ him clear dead trees from his lot, but Fourniquee says he is sad about their loss as well. “I am used to the trees. If I had to walk outside every day and not see a tree, I'd be lost," he said.
Trees have been one of the main victims in this part of Texas, not only of the fires, but also of the record drought that set the stage for the fires. Across east Texas, water-deprived trees are dying.
John Warner works for the Texas Forest Service. “Usually in a nice year, where we have rainfall in the spring, dry summer, rainfall in the fall, these trees can recuperate⁹. But with a drought like we are in now, these trees are really showing stress and they are not able to adapt," he said.
Warner says signs of stress include yellow and brown leaves and pine needles as well as bark falling off tree trunks. "If the bark is already sloughing¹⁰ off, this tree is dead. If it has gone this far, it is beyond recovery," he said.
Warner says many such dead trees will have to be removed in the coming year for fire prevention, especially in urban areas where ecological¹¹ changes have undermined the drought resistance of the trees.
"Just changing the environment the way they have by putting these homes next to the forest area, changing the way the water flows, putting ditches in, there is a lot of change going on and we are going to see that because the trees are going to start stressing out along the roadways, neighborhoods. People want to live in a forested area, but they do not take in the whole picture. They need to leave an area large enough to sustain itself. Sustainability is crucial," he said.
As hard as it might be for tree lovers, Warner says many people in vulnerable parts of Texas will need to remove some trees around their property and hope that steady rains return next year to save what is left of the state's forests.

1 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

2 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

3 ranches   

大农场， （兼种果树，养鸡等的）大牧场( ranch的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They hauled feedlot manure from the ranches to fertilize their fields. 他们从牧场的饲养场拖走肥料去肥田。
• Many abandoned ranches are purchased or leased by other poultrymen. 许多被放弃的牧场会由其他家禽监主收买或租用。

4 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

5 scramble   

v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料

参考例句：

• He broke his leg in his scramble down the wall.他爬墙摔断了腿。
• It was a long scramble to the top of the hill.到山顶须要爬登一段长路。

6 charred   

v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦

参考例句：

• the charred remains of a burnt-out car 被烧焦的轿车残骸
• The intensity of the explosion is recorded on the charred tree trunks. 那些烧焦的树干表明爆炸的强烈。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 smoldering   

v.用文火焖烧，熏烧，慢燃( smolder的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The mat was smoldering where the burning log had fallen. 燃烧的木棒落下的地方垫子慢慢燃烧起来。 来自辞典例句
• The wood was smoldering in the fireplace. 木柴在壁炉中闷烧。 来自辞典例句

8 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

9 recuperate   

v.恢复

参考例句：

• Stay in the hospital for a few more days to recuperate.再住院几天，好好地恢复。
• He went to the country to recuperate.他去乡下养病去了。

10 sloughing   

v.使蜕下或脱落( slough的现在分词 )；舍弃；除掉；摒弃

参考例句：

• a snake sloughing its skin 正在蜕皮的蛇
• Only minor sloughing occurred during the earthquake. 在地震时只有小的脱落现象。 来自辞典例句

11 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.