雅思练习总结六十八本文章是雅思练习总结六十八总结了文章《The megafires of California》内容包括原文精翻文章脉络总结单词扩展学习3个部分文章目录雅思练习总结六十八[toc]1 文章原文及翻译1.1 第1段准备更充分野火却更难控制1.2 第2段巨型野火的规模与频率1.3 第3段降水不足与灭火政策的非预期后果1.4 第4段气候、火季与住宅建设三项因素1.5 第5段在易发火灾的生态系统中建房1.6 第6段人口与住宅扩张加重灭火难度1.7 第7段That said转向防灾准备的进展1.8 第8段设备更新、经费与基础设施支持1.9 第9段指挥通信改造与跨区域协调1.10 第10段预防措施改善与受访者的乐观预测2 文章结构分析2.1 段意复盘每段承担什么任务2.2 段落功能与整体推进2.3 文章结构图把段内与段间关系连起来3 重难点词汇总结3.1 精选词条按原文首次出现顺序1 文章原文及翻译The megafires of California翻译加利福尼亚的巨型野火Drought, housing expansion, and oversupply of tinder make forbigger, hotter Gies in the western United States翻译干旱、住宅扩张与易燃物过量积累使美国西部的火灾规模更大、温度更高1.1 第1段准备更充分野火却更难控制Wildfires are becoming an increasing menace in the western United States, with Southern California being the hardest hit area. There’s a reason fire squads battling more frequent blazes in Southern California are having such difficulty containing the flames, despite better preparedness than ever and decades of experience fighting fires fanned by the ‘Santa Ana Winds’. The wildfires themselves, experts say, are generally hotter, faster, and spread more erratically than in the past.翻译野火正在成为美国西部日益严重的威胁其中南加利福尼亚受灾最为严重。尽管南加州的消防队比以往任何时候都准备得更充分而且拥有数十年扑救由“圣安娜风”助长的火灾的经验他们在应对越来越频繁的火灾时仍难以控制火势这背后是有原因的。专家说野火本身通常比过去温度更高、蔓延更快而且蔓延得更不规则。1.2 第2段巨型野火的规模与频率Megafires, also called ‘siege fires’, are the increasingly frequent blazes that burn 500,000 acres or more - 10 times the size of the average forest fire of 20 years ago. Some recent wildfires are among the biggest ever in California in terms of acreage burned, according to state figures and news reports.翻译巨型野火也被称为“围城式火灾”这类日益频繁的火灾燃烧面积达到五十万英亩或更多是二十年前一般森林火灾平均规模的十倍。据州政府数据和新闻报道若以燃烧面积衡量近来的一些野火属于加州有史以来规模最大的火灾之列。1.3 第3段降水不足与灭火政策的非预期后果One explanation for the trend to more superhot fires is that the region, which usually has dry summers, has had significantly below normal precipitation in many recent years. Another reason, experts say, is related to the century? long policy of the US Forest Service to stop wildfires as quickly as possible.The unintentional consequence has been to halt the natural eradication of underbrush, now the primary fuel for megafires.翻译对于超高温火灾越来越多的趋势一种解释是这个通常夏季干燥的地区在近年来的许多年份中降水量都显著低于正常水平。专家说另一个原因与美国林务局持续了约一个世纪、力求尽快扑灭野火的政策有关。这项政策无意中阻止了林下灌木被自然清除而这些灌木如今成了巨型野火的主要燃料。1.4 第4段气候、火季与住宅建设三项因素Three other factors contribute to the trend, they add. First is climate change, marked by a 1-degree Fahrenheit rise in average yearly temperature across the western states. Second is fire seasons that on average are 78 days longer than they were 20 years ago. Third is increased construction of homes in wooded areas.翻译他们补充说还有三个因素促成了这一趋势。首先是气候变化美国西部各州的年平均气温上升了华氏一度便是其表现之一。其次与二十年前相比火灾季平均延长了七十八天。第三林木覆盖地区的住宅建设有所增加。1.5 第5段在易发火灾的生态系统中建房‘We are increasingly building our homes in fire-prone ecosystems,’ 1 says Dominik Kulakowski, adjunct professor of biology at Clark University Graduate School of Geography in Worcester, Massachusetts. 1 Doing that in many of the forests of the western US is like building homes on the side of an active volcano.’翻译位于马萨诸塞州伍斯特市的克拉克大学地理研究生院生物学兼职教授多米尼克·库拉科夫斯基说“我们正越来越多地把住宅建在容易发生火灾的生态系统中。在美国西部的许多森林里这样做就像把住宅建在活火山的山坡上一样。”1.6 第6段人口与住宅扩张加重灭火难度In California, where population growth has averaged more than 600,000 a year for at least a decade, more residential housing is being built.‘What once was open space is now residential homes providing fuel to make fires burn with greater intensity,’ says Terry McHale of the California Department of Forestry firefighters’union. ‘With so much dryness, so many communities to catch fire, so many fronts to fight, it becomes an almost incredible job.’翻译加州至少十年来平均每年增加六十多万人口因而正在建设更多住宅。加州林业部门消防员工会的特里·麦克黑尔说“过去的开放空间如今变成了住宅这些住宅又提供燃料使火灾燃烧得更加猛烈。在环境如此干燥、有这么多社区可能着火、又有这么多火线要应对的情况下这项工作几乎艰巨得难以想象。”1.7 第7段That said转向防灾准备的进展That said, many experts give California high marks for making progress on preparedness in recent years, after some of the largest fires in state history scorched thousands of acres, burned thousands of homes, and killed numerous people. Stung in the past by criticism of bungling that allowed fires to spread when they might have been contained, personnel are meeting the peculiar challenges of neighborhood - and canyon- hopping fires better than previously, observers say.翻译话虽如此在加州历史上一些规模最大的火灾烧焦数千英亩土地、烧毁数千栋住宅并造成众多人死亡之后许多专家仍高度评价该州近年来在防灾准备方面取得的进展。过去由于处置失误让本来可能得到控制的火灾继续蔓延相关人员曾受到批评这些批评也令他们深受触动。观察者说如今面对在社区之间、峡谷之间跳跃蔓延的火灾所带来的特殊挑战消防人员比过去应对得更好。1.8 第8段设备更新、经费与基础设施支持State promises to provide more up-to-date engines, planes, and helicopters to fight fires have been fulfilled. Firefighters’ unions that in the past complained of dilapidated equipment, old fire engines, and insufficient blueprints for fire safety are now praising the state’s commitment, noting that funding for firefighting has increased, despite huge cuts in many other programs. ’ We are pleased that the current state administration has been very proactive in its support of us, and [has]come through with budgetary support of the infrastructure needs we have long sought,’ says Mr. McHale of the firefighters’ union.翻译州政府关于提供更新的消防车、飞机和直升机来扑灭火灾的承诺已经兑现。过去曾抱怨设备破旧失修、消防车老旧以及防火安全规划不足的消防员工会如今正在赞扬州政府的投入并指出尽管许多其他项目的经费大幅削减消防经费却有所增加。消防员工会的麦克黑尔先生说“我们很高兴现任州政府一直非常积极主动地支持我们也切实提供了预算支持满足我们长期以来提出的基础设施需求。”1.9 第9段指挥通信改造与跨区域协调Besides providing money to upgrade the fire engines that must traverse the mammoth state and wind along serpentine canyon roads, the state has invested in better command-and-control facilities as well as in the strategies to run them.’ In the fire sieges of earlier years, we found that other jurisdictions and states were willing to offer mutual-aid help, but we were not able to communicate adequately with them/ says Kim Zagaris, chief of the state’s Office of Emergency Services Fire and Rescue Branch.After a commission examined and revamped communications procedures, the statewide response’ has become far more professional and responsive/ he says. There is a sense among both government officials and residents that the speed, dedication, and coordination of firefighters from several states and jurisdictions are resulting in greater efficiency than in past ‘siege fire’ situations.翻译州政府除了拨款升级必须穿越这个幅员辽阔的州、沿蜿蜒曲折的峡谷道路行驶的消防车以外还投资改善了指挥控制设施及其运行策略。州应急服务办公室消防与救援部门负责人金·扎加里斯说“在早些年的围城式大火中我们发现其他管辖区和州愿意提供互助支援但我们无法与他们充分沟通。”他说在一个委员会检查并重新调整通信流程后全州的应急响应“变得更加专业也更加迅速灵敏”。政府官员和居民中存在这样一种看法来自多个州和管辖区的消防人员所展现的速度、投入精神与协调配合正使应对效率高于以往的“围城式火灾”情形。1.10 第10段预防措施改善与受访者的乐观预测In recent years, the Southern California region has improved building codes, evacuation procedures, and procurement of new technology. ’ I am extraordinarily impressed by the improvements we have witnessed,’ says Randy Jacobs, a Southern Californiabased lawyer who has had to evacuate both his home and business to escape wildfires.’ Notwithstanding all the damage that will continue to be caused by wildfires, we will no longer suffer the loss of life endured in the past because of the fire prevention and firefighting measures that have been put in place,’ he says.翻译近年来南加州地区改善了建筑规范、疏散程序以及新技术的采购。兰迪·雅各布斯是一名在南加州执业的律师曾因躲避野火而不得不撤离自己的住所和办公场所。他说“我们亲眼见证的这些改进令我极为赞叹。尽管野火今后仍将继续造成各种损失但由于已经落实了防火与灭火措施我们将不再遭受过去那样的人员死亡损失。”2 文章结构分析2.1 段意复盘每段承担什么任务这篇文章的内容总结如下第1段提出全文的反差消防队拥有数十年经验、准备更充分但野火仍更难控制。专家将困难与火灾本身温度更高、蔓延更快且更不规则联系起来。第2段界定巨型野火的面积规模及其频率上升趋势用五十万英亩以上、相当于二十年前平均森林火灾十倍等数据说明问题的严重程度。第3段给出两个解释多年降水不足使环境更加干燥长期快速扑灭野火的政策又无意中阻断林下灌木的自然清除使燃料积累。这是初衷与后果不一致的因果链。第4段并列补充气候变化、火灾季延长和林区住宅增加三个因素分别以华氏一度、七十八天及土地开发趋势说明风险上升。第5段通过学者的评价和活火山类比突出把住宅建在易发生火灾的生态系统中所带来的风险。第6段进一步解释住宅开发的作用人口增长推动建设原先的开放空间变成可燃住宅更多社区与火线令扑救工作更加艰巨。第7段用That said转换论证方向虽然火灾加剧且过去有处置失误专家与观察者仍肯定加州近年来的准备进步和现场应对能力。第8段以更新消防车辆与航空装备、增加消防经费、支持基础设施需求等措施具体支撑准备工作改善的评价。第9段从硬件转向指挥与协作说明通信流程重整和跨州、跨管辖区互助协调的进步扎加里斯称响应更加专业、灵敏官员与居民则认为效率有所提升。第10段补充建筑规范、疏散和技术采购的改善并以受访律师的乐观评价收束。其关于今后不再遭受过去那样人员死亡损失的说法是个人预测不是全文已经证实的安全保证。2.2 段落功能与整体推进段落核心任务主要支撑与下一段的衔接第1段提出问题与核心反差更好准备及多年经验野火更热、更快、更不规则由灭火困难转向具体规模第2段界定巨型野火并说明严重性五十万英亩以上为二十年前平均规模的十倍追问规模及强度变化的原因第3段分析干旱及燃料积累降水不足快速灭火阻断灌木自然清除补充其他促成因素第4段并列列出三项因素气温上升华氏一度火季延长七十八天林区建房重点展开住宅进入危险环境第5段强调林区住宅的风险专家引语在活火山坡建房的类比解释住宅开发如何增加燃料与应对负担第6段说明住宅扩张的作用机制年均增长六十多万人住宅可燃多社区、多火线以让步转向准备工作改善第7段肯定准备与应对的进展过去灾害与批评专家和观察者的评价由总评价转向资源投入证据第8段提供设备与资金证据更新车辆和航空装备经费与基础设施支持从装备扩展到指挥通信系统第9段解释组织响应效率的改善改造通信流程跨州跨辖区协调官民感受补充其他预防措施与居民评价第10段呈现预防进展与乐观预测建筑规范、疏散程序、技术采购律师引语以个人未来判断结束原文保留其证据边界文章整体结构如下文章围绕两个同时存在的事实组织材料野火威胁正在加剧防灾准备也在改善。第1—2段先提出消防队准备更充分却仍难以控制火势的反差再用面积与历史平均规模的比较解释巨型野火的严重性。第3—6段转入多因素归因既包括降水不足、升温和火季延长等自然条件也包括快速灭火政策带来的非预期燃料积累以及住宅向林区扩张造成的可燃物增加和多火线应对负担。原文将这些作为共同促成因素而不是用某一个原因解释全部变化。第7段的That said是整体推进的关键它承认前文的风险与困难却不因此否定加州在准备方面取得的进步。后文第8—10段分层提供支撑第8段强调设备、资金与基础设施第9段强调指挥通信和跨区域协调第10段补充建筑规范、疏散程序及新技术采购。因而文章后半段不是撤回前面的火灾风险论点而是说明风险加剧与应对能力提高可以同时发生。末段引用受访律师的判断将已经观察到的改善与对未来人员死亡损失的乐观预期连接起来。阅读时需要区分措施与资源投入、专家或公众评价以及个人预测原文承认野火造成的损害仍将继续受访者对未来伤亡的判断也不等于伤亡风险已经被证实消除。文中的面积、气温变化、人口增量和时间比较均属于文章所述背景不应直接当作今天的监测数据。2.3 文章结构图把段内与段间关系连起来文章结构图3 重难点词汇总结3.1 精选词条按原文首次出现顺序tinder根据剑桥词典 tinder 这个单词出现在副标题意为火种、引火物容易燃烧的干燥小块材料文中义oversupply of tinder指易燃物过量积累为更大、更热的野火提供燃料。这里强调容易着火的干燥材料而不是某个品牌名称。tinder 含义menace根据剑桥词典 menace 这个单词出现在第1段意为危险的事物造成威胁的事物文中义an increasing menace指野火正在构成日益严重的威胁概括首段公共安全风险不是形容某个人有威吓的神态。menace 含义contain根据剑桥词典 contain 这个单词出现在第1段意为控制、遏制或制止有害事物蔓延文中义containing the flames指控制火势、不让火焰继续扩散不能按常见的“包含、容纳”义理解。原文形式为containing。contain 含义erratically根据剑桥词典 erratically 这个单词出现在第1段意为不规则地、不确定地难以预料地文中义spread more erratically说明野火的蔓延比过去更不规则、更难预测是即使准备更充分仍难以控制火势的原因之一。erratically 含义