VOA常速英语:Mississippi Flooding Harms Agriculture in Several US States

短语讲解：

1. The U.S. Coast Guard has shut some small stretches of the Mississippi River to barge traffic in recent days and has allowed only one barge at a time to pass through the stretch of river near Vidalia, Louisiana, where levees are close to being topped.

at a time依次, 逐一, 每次
例句：Take the pills two at a time.
每次服两粒。
pass through经过, 通过
例句：She said she was passing through Paris and would like to have a chat with me.
她说她要路过巴黎, 想跟我聊一聊。
be close to接近,靠近
例句：The shops are close to our home.
商店离我们家很近。

2. The passage of the barges produces a wake that can cause water to splash over the levees, making local residents anxious about their property.

anxious about为…担心；对…着急
例句：I am anxious about his safety.
我担心他的安全。

3. The temporary measures, however, have not had a significant effect on barge traffic or on ship operations farther downriver.

have an effect on对…有影响;对…起作用,产生效果
例句：This drug has an effect on your whole system.
这种药对你的全身机体都有作用。

4. At the Port of Louisiana, north of New Orleans, ships loaded with grain have come downstream from farm areas in the Midwest and nearby southern states for international delivery.

load with使装满; 使受重压
例句：They loaded the ship with coal.
他们将煤装上船。

5. “We are continuing to handle international commerce on the lower Mississippi River," said Bonura.

international commerce 国际贸易, 国际商务
例句：He majored in international commerce in college.
他大学时的专业是国际贸易。

6. “The issue we are having at the moment is wheat delivery, and also fertilizer and fuel deliveries," said Ouzts.

at the moment 此刻, 现在, 目前, 当时
例句：The police arrived right at the moment of the explosion.
警察就在爆炸的那个时候赶到了。

7. But this is uNPRecedented because of the amount of water that is backed up and out over areas that normally do not flood.

back up堵塞
例句：The accident backed up traffic.
事故使交通堵塞。

8. Ouzts said farmers are seeking government assistance to help them get through this year's disaster and come back even stronger next year.

get through度过，熬过(困难时期等)：
例句：I don't know how they get through these cold winters.
我不知道他们是如何熬过这些寒冷的冬天的。

9. In a telephone interview, though, Frey said he is concerned about the rising water inundating his home.

be concerned about关心,挂念
例句：She is concerned about your safety.
她不放心你的安全。

10. But Frey says people who farm here knew the risks when they bought land and that they are thankful for the flood-control system that includes the Morganza spillway.

be thankful for对…感激,
例句：You should be thankful for your good fortune.
你应该庆幸你的好运。