CNN news 2011-04-29 加文本

短语讲解：

1. That's because of concerns about a levee on the Black River.

concern about 关心，担心
例句：You need feel no concern about the matter.
你不必担心那件事。

2. But according to an alert that went out yesterday from the National Weather Service, this levee "is weakening by the minute and may fail at any time

go out被发出; 被发布, 被发行
例句：All the invitations for the party have now gone out.
宴会的请帖现在已全部发出去了。
by the minute 每分钟，每时每刻
例句：The number of the killed and the injured increased by the minute. 
伤亡者数目每分钟都在增长。 

3. It's another way that the state is suffering from the effects of severe weather.

suffer from 遭受，受苦
例句：Sometimes I still suffer from these weaknesses.
有时我还是在吃这些弱点的苦头
。
4. Dan Simon is about to show you why.

be about to 将要，正打算
例句：He is about to move to England.
他将要搬到英国去。

5. In any event, the guy who lives here has had a really rough time.

rough time 艰难时期
例句：They had a rough time during the war.
他们在战时吃了不少苦。

6. He and his colleagues hunkered down there.

hunker down 蹲下来
例句：They are not allowed to hunker down to rest after running 5,000 meters. 
他们跑完5000米后不准蹲下休息。 

7. And there's something I want to point out here, because this is worth showing here on camera.

be worth doing 值得做…
例句：What is worth doing is worth doing well.
只要你觉得某事值得去做，就一定要把它做好。

8. You have a little bit of the roof coming down here from the rain, but for the most part, this basement is intact.

come down 倒塌，坍塌
例句：The ceiling came down suddenly.
天花板突然塌落。

9. The dogs actually took refuge in the basement and are OK.

take refuge避难，(以掩饰等手段)逃脱困境
例句：It is a classic sanctuary in which the rationalist fancy may take refuge. 
这是一所古雅的圣殿，理性主义者可以躲在其中。 

10. The U.S. government's updating its terrorism alert system to let Americans know about possible threats, and the new version goes into effect today.

go into effect 生效，实施
例句：The standard is slated to go into effect next year. 
此标准内定明年实施。 

11. And you might be familiar with the old, color-coded system.

be familiar with 熟悉
例句：Most people are familiar with seasonal influenza.
绝大多数人都熟悉季节性流感。
color-coded system 颜色编码系统

12. When she announced the new system last week, Secretary Napolitano said there is currently no threat that would qualify for either of the two new alert levels.

qualify for （使）有资格
例句：Mr. Becker is qualified for the position now.
现在贝克尔先生有资格胜任这个职位。