VOA常速英语:US Pledges Aid for Drought-Stricken Somali Refugees

词汇讲解：

1. famine n. 饥荒
例句：Many people die of starvation during famines every year.
每年发生饥荒时都有许多人饿死。

2. pledge v. 保证, 许诺; 发誓
例句：They have pledged that they will always remain faithful to each other.
他们发誓他们将永远忠诚于对方。

3. surround vt. 包围
例句：The firemen surrounded the burning building.
消防队员包围了熊熊燃烧的建筑物。

4. influx n. 大量涌入
例句：The country sealed its borders to prevent the influx of illegal immigrants.
为了防止非法移民大量涌入，该国封闭了边境。

5. plague vt. 使受灾祸
例句：Famine has plagued these countries for years.
这些国家遭受饥荒多年。

6. haggard adj. （由于生病、焦虑或睡眠不足）憔悴的，疲惫的
例句：He looked haggard after a serious disease.
一场大病后，他看起来很憔悴。

7. mitigate vt. 减轻, 缓和
例句：Governments should endeavour to mitigate distress.
政府应努力缓解贫困问题。

8. devolve v. 移交, 转移
例句：Upon his retirement, the business devolved on his son.
他退休时, 生意由儿子接管。

9. block vt. 堵塞, 阻塞; 阻碍, 妨碍
例句：A snowdrift blocked his path.
雪堆阻碍他的去路。

10. specify vt. 详述
例句：Please specify what you will do.
请你详述一下你将做什么。

11. registration n. 登记,注册,挂号
例句：The registration of students for the course will begin on Thursday morning.
学生登记上的这门课将于星期四上午开始。