Today the wind and rain drove fiercely against my apartment window. It was the tail end of a typhoon(臺(tái)風(fēng)). Every year, as the calendar indicates the approach of autumn, these destructive tropical(熱帶的) storms account for both death and destruction along Asia’s coasts. On an average there may be fifteen such storms every year. Although many civilians adopt a casual attitude towards these events, awareness is advisable.
今天暴風(fēng)雨不在擊打著我的寓所窗戶，不過臺(tái)風(fēng)就要結(jié)束了。每年當(dāng)日歷提示秋天來(lái)臨時(shí)，這些破壞性極強(qiáng)的熱帶風(fēng)暴就會(huì)給亞洲沿海地區(qū)，帶來(lái)人員傷亡和財(cái)產(chǎn)損失。平均每年可能有15次這樣的暴風(fēng)雨。面對(duì)這些災(zāi)難，很多居民抱著漫不經(jīng)心的態(tài)度，但提高防范意識(shí)才是明智的。
As the water dripped from my balcony and accumulated into free-flowing rivers on the road beneath, I was reminded of the extreme weather that affected the residents of North America. Hurricanes(颶風(fēng)), tornadoes(龍卷風(fēng)), snowstorms, ice storms and electrical storms are all examples of extreme weather that may challenge an entire community. Each storm is unique in character, contributing its own particular fascination(魔力) and fear.
雨水從陽(yáng)臺(tái)上滴落下來(lái)，在下面的道路上匯聚成肆意流淌的水流。這使我聯(lián)想到侵?jǐn)_北美居民的那些極端惡劣的氣候。颶風(fēng)、龍卷風(fēng)、雪暴、冰暴和雷暴，都是可能威脅到整個(gè)社會(huì)的極端的氣候現(xiàn)象。每次風(fēng)暴都有其獨(dú)特的特點(diǎn)，展現(xiàn)出特有的魔力和恐怖景象。
Every fall hurricanes slam the United States coast. They upset boats, fell mature trees, wash away sections of public beaches and often cause death. Fortunately with the advantage of modern prior warning systems authorities are able to keep the chaos to a minimum. Regardless, some sectors of the population still ignore the warnings. The burden of rescuing these irresponsible(不負(fù)責(zé)的) adults falls on the authorities. Mean while government budgets are strained. To assemble enough aid to assure assistance for all regions in a country stretches finances.
每年秋天，颶風(fēng)都要猛烈攻擊美國(guó)海岸。它們打翻船只，刮倒大樹，沖毀成片的公共海灘，還常常造成人員傷亡。所幸的是，由于有了先進(jìn)的預(yù)警系統(tǒng)，當(dāng)局能夠?qū)⑦@種混亂不堪的狀況降到最低限度。但不管怎樣，還是有一部分人忽視這些警告。營(yíng)救這些不負(fù)責(zé)任的成年人的重任就落在了當(dāng)局身上。這時(shí)，政府預(yù)算就顯得很勉強(qiáng)。要調(diào)集足夠的物資，保證為一個(gè)國(guó)家的所有地區(qū)提供幫助，使得財(cái)政吃緊。
Hurricanes seldom reach Ontario, Canada, but in 1954 Hurricane Hazel exposed the residents of Toronto to an awful night of flooding and terror. Responding to the disaster required the supreme effort of all the rescue departments.
颶風(fēng)很少影響到加拿大的安大略省。但在1954年，黑茲爾颶風(fēng)卻使多倫多的居民遭遇了一個(gè)充滿灌水和恐懼的可怕夜晚。為了應(yīng)付那次災(zāi)難，所有救援機(jī)構(gòu)都盡了最大的努力。
In Ontario where a brush(嚴(yán)酷的) winter extends from November until April, snowstorms are regular occurrence. People adjust their travel plans, sports activities and especially their mode of dress when the weather forecasters predict a severe snowstorm. Automobile drivers must be more cautious under these circumstances. Snow removal becomes a major expense for northern cities. Families adjust their weekend plans and stay together at home, sitting safely in front of a blazing(熾燒的) fire, and viewing a video, the beauty of fluffy(蓬松的) white snow can be appreciated when it blankets(覆蓋) stately evergreens(常青樹) standing against a deep blue sky.
在安大略，嚴(yán)酷的冬天從十一月一直延續(xù)到四月，常常有暴風(fēng)雪。當(dāng)氣象預(yù)報(bào)員預(yù)報(bào)說有惡劣的暴風(fēng)雪時(shí)，人們就得調(diào)整他們的旅游和體育運(yùn)動(dòng)計(jì)劃，特別是調(diào)整他們的衣著。汽車駕駛員在這樣的環(huán)境里必須更加小心。除雪成了北方城市的主要開支之一。家庭調(diào)整了他們的周末休假計(jì)劃，一起呆在家里，安全地坐在熾熱的爐火前觀看錄像。當(dāng)挺拔的常青樹上掛滿蓬松的白雪時(shí)，人們就可以欣賞在深藍(lán)色天空襯托下的美麗雪景了。
In 1998, Ontario residents were crippled by a severe ice storm. People’s lives came to a grinding halt when power lines crumpled(癱瘓) under the weight of the ice. People lived without electricity for weeks. Remote parts of the province resumed normal living conditions after several months. Rocks, trees and lakes abound(大量的) in the Canadian Shield(地盾) area of Ontario. Electrical storms provide spectacular entertainment for summer evenings. Zigzag(鋸齒形的) bolts of lightening flash across the sky the clap of thunder echoes across the water. Each storm provides a remarkable drama, one without parallel in nature.
1998年，安大略的居民又遭受了一場(chǎng)殘酷的冰暴的蹂躪。電力線路在冰凍的重壓下癱瘓了，人們的生命受到嚴(yán)重威脅。好幾個(gè)星期，人們的生活中沒有電。該省的偏遠(yuǎn)地區(qū)幾個(gè)月后生活才恢復(fù)正常。安大略的加拿大地盾區(qū)有大量的巖石、樹木和湖泊。夏天夜晚，雷暴會(huì)上演蔚為壯觀的好戲。鋸齒形的道道閃電相繼劃破長(zhǎng)空，聲聲雷鳴在水面上回響。每次暴風(fēng)雨都是一次大自然的絕無(wú)僅有的精彩演出。
When individuals encounter the impressive forces of nature we are reminded that we are indeed weak and insignificant(無(wú)意義的,無(wú)關(guān)緊要的)!
當(dāng)遭遇到令人難忘的大自然的暴力時(shí)，人們就會(huì)想到人類的確是柔弱無(wú)力而又微不足道的。
