VOA常速英语:US Sets Extreme Weather Records in 2011

词汇讲解：

1. destruction n. 摧毁，破坏, 毁灭, 消灭
例句：The enemy bombs caused widespread destruction.
敌人的炸弹造成大面积的破坏。

2. survey vt. 调查,向...作调查
例句：In five of the villages that were surveyed, non-farm work provided one quarter of their income.
在五个被调查的村子中,非农工作为它们提供了四分之一的收入。

3. category n. 种类;部属;类目
例句：The strings are a category of musical instruments.
弦乐器是乐器的一种。

4. total v. 计算
例句：Please total all the expenditures.
请计算一下全部支出是多少。

5. grip v. 紧握, 抓紧；吸引, 引起
例句：The pictures gripped my imagination.
这些绘画吸引着我, 使我浮想联翩。

6. persist v, 坚持, 固执
例句：On the tops of very high mountains snow persists throughout the year.
高山顶上, 积雪终年不化。

7. alter v, 改变, 更改
例句：She is trying to alter the coat.
她正设法改那件衣服。

8. spawn vt.大量生产
例句：The computer industry has spawned a lot of new companies.
由于电脑工业的发展，许多新公司纷纷成立。

9. trigger vt. 触发,引起
例句：His action has triggered off a crisis.
他的行动已经引起一场危机。

10. 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。

11. aftermath n. 后果，创伤
例句：In the aftermath of the hurricane, many people's homes were destroyed.
飓风的后果是许多人的房屋被毁。