VOA慢速英语:The Mississippi River Floods America’s Heartland

短语讲解：

1. In Louisiana, engineers are working to keep floodwaters away from two big cities -- New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

keep away from远离，避开
例句：As long as you can keep away from them, you're safe.
只要你离他们远一点, 你就会安全。

2. But fifty-two thousand hectares of farmland were flooded as a result.

as a result结果, 因此
例句：There was a substantial growth of industry and foreign trade increased as a result.
由于工业的大发展, 对外贸易也发展了。

3. The American insurance industry says natural disasters have already caused five billion dollars in damage this year.

natural disasters自然灾害
例句：We would never bow to natural disasters.
我们决不向自然灾害低头。

4. At the same time, states like Texas and Oklahoma are experiencing extremely dry weather and high winds that have caused wildfires.

at the same time同时; 一起
例句：At the same time he still believed himself financially honest. 
同时，他还认为自己在经济上是正直无欺的。

5. The river has been setting records in places like Vicksburg in the state of Mississippi.

set records创纪录
例句：This year spending has set records.
本年度的花费创了历史新高。

6. Some of the things have got to go, some of the thing I don't know where we are going to store it.

be going to要,会,将要
例句：It seems to be going to rain.
看起来好像要下雨了。

7. The waters at Vicksburg are expected to reach their highest levels -- seventeen and a half meters – sometime next week.

be expected to 被期望，被期待，被预计
例句：Traffic is expected to be resumed shortly.
预期很快能恢复交通。