Step by Step2000 第二册UNIT 12 News (III)

（单词翻译）

Unit 12 News (III)

A. tapescript:

1. An avalanche¹ is a large amout of ice, snow, earth, rock or other materials sliding down the side of a mountain or falling down a cliff.

2. A mudslide is a slow-mving mudflow that moves down a gradual slope.

3. An earthquake is the sudden release of strain energy in the earth’s crust resulting in waves of shaking that radiate outwards² from the earthquake source.

4. A cyclone³ is a storm or ystem of winds that rotates around a center of low atmospheric⁴ pressure, advances at a speed of about 30 to 50 kilometers an hour, and often brings heavy rain.

5. Hurricanes are tropical cyclones⁵ with winds that exceed 64 knots or 74 miles per hour and circulate about their centers in the western atlantic ocean.

6. A tornado⁶ is a violent destructive whirling wind usually accompanied with severe thunder, lightening, and torrents⁷ of rain, and commonly of short duration and small breadth.

7. A typhoon is a type of violent tropical storm with strong circular winds that exceed 74 mph. It happens especially in the pacific ocean.

8. A drought is a period of dryness especially when prolonged that causes extensive damage to crops or prevents their successful growth.

9. A flood is a rising and overflowing⁸ of a body of water especially onto normally dry land.

10. A forest fire is a wild fire or an uncontrolled fire that is burning in frest, grass or other areas of vegetation.