EZCNN 易英网

Fukushima Nuclear Crisis Continues in Japan 福岛核灾辐射污水外泄

课文朗读

The nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan is still ongoing and is worse than was first thought. In August the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) admitted that about 300 tons of radioactive water had leaked into the ground at the power plant. This was the most severe incident at the Fukushima plant since its three reactors melted after the 2011 tsunami.

日本福岛的核灾不仅依然持续着，而且还比一开始所想的更加严重。东京电力公司(TEPCO)在今年8月时坦承大约有300吨的辐射污水外泄至核电厂的地底下。这是福岛核电厂自2011年三座核子反应炉在日本海啸后熔毁以来最严重的事故。

After the meltdown two years ago, TEPCO started using water to cool the reactors. They then began pumping the contaminated water into tanks that were quickly built at the site. However, this has created 400 tons of radioactive water per day. There have been multiple leaks from the tanks, and nuclear experts say the Japanese government has not revealed the extent of the contamination.

在两年前的那次反应炉熔毁事件后，东京电力公司开始用水来冷却反应炉，然后再将受到污染的水抽入快速建造在核电厂旁边的水槽中。然而，这项措施每天制造400吨的辐射污水。污水水槽已有多处开始渗漏，核能专家认为日本政府并未宣布其污染程度。

The radioactive water is seeping into ground water as well, which then flows into the Pacific Ocean. To combat the leaks, TEPCO made an underground barrier and will create a 27-meter deep “ice wall” by freezing the ground. The technique has never been used to stop radioactive pollution, experts say, but the Japanese government is trying anything to end the crisis.

辐射污水也同样渗入流进太平洋的地下水中。为了处理这起事件，东京电力公司设置了一面地底栅栏，将附近的土地冰冻起来形成一面27公尺深的冰墙。专家们表示这项技术从未被用来阻挡辐射污染，但日本政府正竭尽一切所能来解除这次的危机。

－by Bryan Shettig

Vocabulary

radioactive [͵redɪoˋæktɪv] adj. 放射性的

reactor [rɪˋæktɚ] n. 核子反应器

tsunami [tsuˋnɑmi] n. （源自日语）海啸，地震海啸

contaminated [kənˋtæmənetɪd] adj. 受污染的

multiple [ˋmʌltəp!] adj. 多的; 多种的

extent [ɪkˋstɛnt] n. 程度；限度；范围

seep [sip] v. 渗出；漏

combat [ˋkɑmbæt] v. 搏斗; 抵抗

barrier [ˋbærɪr] n. 障碍物

pollution [pəˋluʃən] n. 污染

Reading Comprehension

1.   What is the article introducing?

(A)  A new method for cleaning up garbage.

(B)  The worst nuclear disaster of all time.

(C)  An environmental problem in Japan.

(D)  A nuclear plant that will be closed down.

2.   What is NOT true about the situation?

(A)  The leaking started after a tsunami.

(B)  Pollution at the plant is getting worse.

(C)  TEPCO is handling the cleanup work.

(D)  The Pacific Ocean is not being affected.

3.   What is TEPCO's latest plan to end the plant's pollution.

(A)  To put the polluted water in the Pacific.

(B)  To make a 27-meter deep "ice wall."

(C)  To make large tanks at the plant.

(D)  To build a barrier above the ground.

Answer