VOA常速英语2008年-Bangladesh Rice Harvest Could Ease Famine Conce
时间：2019-01-31 作者：英语课 分类：VOA常速英语2008年（四月）
New Delhi
18 April 2008
Some good news from one of the world's most impoverished 1 countries, which struggles to feed its people in the best of times. Bangladesh reports the rice harvest, just under way, appears to be a bumper 2 crop. But due to soaring rice and wheat prices the country says its 500,000 army troops are being ordered to eat potatoes. VOA correspondent Steve Herman reports from our South Asia bureau in New Delhi.
Bangladesh's hardiest 3 rice, sown back in January and known as the "boro" crop, is now being harvested. Initial reports are that it is plentiful 4.
This is encouraging news for a nation where the majority of people are employed in agriculture and rice is the dominant 5 crop, contributing more than one-fourth of the country's gross domestic product.
The positive assessment 6 from the government in Dhaka comes amid soaring rice prices and concerns about whether India, China and Vietnam will be able to provide sufficient rice imports for Bangladesh.
World Food Program spokesman Emamul Haque in Dhaka says a bumper harvest would ease some of the burden on Bangladeshis.
"The whole nation is expecting that we will have a bumper 'boro' product. But we do not have any specific scientific assessment so far. If we really get this the way we are expecting, it will have some impact on the food security situation as well," said Haque.
A shortage of rice amid a doubling of prices in the past year has led to hoarding 7 and rioting in Bangladesh.
Trying to ensure the civilian 8 population has enough to eat, the government is ordering the half-million members of its army to substitute potatoes for rice and wheat.
The World Food Program spokesman in Bangladesh says the general population this year also will need to rely more on potatoes, something traditionally not on the menu.
"Many of them will definitely depend on the potato. And this is not a bad idea. But it cannot be the substitute of the rice. If they don't get rice, if the potato is cheap, definitely they do not have any other option," said Haque.
Many Asian nations have been severely 9 affected 10 by surging prices for rice, wheat, food oils and pulses. Compounding the misery 11 for Bangladesh - two devastating 12 floods and a cyclone 13 in the past year, which ruined several million tons of food grains, raising worries about famine.
- the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
- They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The painting represents the scene of a bumper harvest.这幅画描绘了丰收的景象。
- This year we have a bumper harvest in grain.今年我们谷物丰收。
- This trip will season even the hardiest traveller. 这个旅行会让最坚硬的旅行者适应。
- Their family has a plentiful harvest this year.他们家今年又丰收了。
- Rainfall is plentiful in the area.这个地区雨量充足。
- The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
- She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。
- This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
- What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？
- After the war, they were shot for hoarding. 战后他们因囤积而被枪决。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Actually he had two unused ones which he was hoarding up. 其实他还藏了两片没有用呢。 来自英汉文学
- There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
- He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。
- He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
- He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。
- 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。
- Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
- He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
- It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
- Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。