VOA慢速英语 2007 0123a
时间：2019-01-11 作者：英语课 分类：VOA慢速英语2007年（一）月
英语课
This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
A lot of American farmers have had a rough early winter.
In California, frozen oranges
In California, citrus growers are facing hundreds of millions of dollars in losses from a freeze earlier this month. Oranges and lemons in California's main growing areas were not the only victims. The arctic cold front known as the Siberian Express also damaged other fruit and vegetable crops.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger estimated losses at one billion dollars. He declared an emergency in ten counties to provide state assistance to those affected 1.
The freeze could mean months without work for thousands of farm laborers 2, packing house workers and truck drivers. It will also mean higher food prices across the country.
Much of the damage happened in the San Joaquin Valley, but it was spread around the state. Citrus growers in California store their fruit on the tree. Less than a third of this year's crop had been harvested when the freeze hit.
Avocados, strawberries and blueberries were also hit hard. The strawberries were nearly ready for harvest, and only about five percent of the avocados had been picked. Some avocado growers said this was their worst winter in sixteen years. Spinach 3, lettuce 4 and other greens were also affected.
California is the nation's top agricultural state, and top grower of fresh citrus. Florida's big orange crop is used mostly for juice.
In Colorado, farms and ranches 5 under snow
Right now, other states are struggling with the effects of snow and ice storms in recent weeks. In some places, there was six meters of snow on the ground.
Animal losses are still being counted in the Great Plains. The affected states include Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. Some states have been approved for emergency federal aid.
Some ranchers still do not know where all their cattle have gone, or how many are dead. The Colorado Cattlemen's Association estimates that the final count in that state alone could be eight thousand to fifteen thousand. That would mean a loss of more than ten million dollars just in cattle.
In some states, National Guard helicopters not only rescued people but also dropped hay to cattle trapped without food in the snow. Shortages of hay have pushed up prices, adding to economic losses.
And even cattle that have been saved may not be out of danger. Many cows were pregnant, and many could lose their calves 6. Other cattle weakened by the conditions may not survive the winter.
And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. I'm Faith Lapidus.
A lot of American farmers have had a rough early winter.
In California, frozen oranges
In California, citrus growers are facing hundreds of millions of dollars in losses from a freeze earlier this month. Oranges and lemons in California's main growing areas were not the only victims. The arctic cold front known as the Siberian Express also damaged other fruit and vegetable crops.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger estimated losses at one billion dollars. He declared an emergency in ten counties to provide state assistance to those affected 1.
The freeze could mean months without work for thousands of farm laborers 2, packing house workers and truck drivers. It will also mean higher food prices across the country.
Much of the damage happened in the San Joaquin Valley, but it was spread around the state. Citrus growers in California store their fruit on the tree. Less than a third of this year's crop had been harvested when the freeze hit.
Avocados, strawberries and blueberries were also hit hard. The strawberries were nearly ready for harvest, and only about five percent of the avocados had been picked. Some avocado growers said this was their worst winter in sixteen years. Spinach 3, lettuce 4 and other greens were also affected.
California is the nation's top agricultural state, and top grower of fresh citrus. Florida's big orange crop is used mostly for juice.
In Colorado, farms and ranches 5 under snow
Right now, other states are struggling with the effects of snow and ice storms in recent weeks. In some places, there was six meters of snow on the ground.
Animal losses are still being counted in the Great Plains. The affected states include Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. Some states have been approved for emergency federal aid.
Some ranchers still do not know where all their cattle have gone, or how many are dead. The Colorado Cattlemen's Association estimates that the final count in that state alone could be eight thousand to fifteen thousand. That would mean a loss of more than ten million dollars just in cattle.
In some states, National Guard helicopters not only rescued people but also dropped hay to cattle trapped without food in the snow. Shortages of hay have pushed up prices, adding to economic losses.
And even cattle that have been saved may not be out of danger. Many cows were pregnant, and many could lose their calves 6. Other cattle weakened by the conditions may not survive the winter.
And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. I'm Faith Lapidus.
adj.不自然的，假装的
- 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。
n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工
- Laborers were trained to handle 50-ton compactors and giant cranes. 工人们接受操作五十吨压土机和巨型起重机的训练。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- Wage-labour rests exclusively on competition between the laborers. 雇佣劳动完全是建立在工人的自相竞争之上的。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言
n.菠菜
- Eating spinach is supposed to make you strong.据说吃菠菜能使人强壮。
- You should eat such vegetables as carrot,celery and spinach.你应该吃胡萝卜、芹菜和菠菜这类的蔬菜。
n.莴苣；生菜
- Get some lettuce and tomatoes so I can make a salad.买些莴苣和西红柿，我好做色拉。
- The lettuce is crisp and cold.莴苣松脆爽口。
大农场， （兼种果树，养鸡等的）大牧场( ranch的名词复数 )
- 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。