20100623 Mount Vesuvius (3)

Mount Vesuvius

Vesuvius today

The mountain erupted almost once every century from A.D. 79 until around A.D. 1037. Then it went into a quiet stage for the next 600 years until 1631, when the volcano once again roared to life and killed 4,000 residents. It has remained quiet since 1944, the year of its last eruption. Today 5 million people live in close proximity to Mount Vesuvius, mainland Europe's only active volcano. This makes it the world's deadliest volcano because of the great potential for loss of life in the event of another eruption.

That possibility doesn't deter tourists, though, who flock to see the famous volcano and the beautiful views of the Gulf of Naples. Adventurous visitors hike to the mouth of the active volcano and peer down into its 230-m-deep crater. These days, Mount Vesuvius is a sleeping giant, and scientists are determined that should an eruption occur, residents won't be caught off guard. With careful monitoring and an evacuation plan in place, scientists hope the story of the terrifying end of Pompeii and Herculaneum will never be repeated.

proxim- 靠近

proximity Un. 靠近/鄰近

proximity to some place 靠近...

=> stay near a place

eg: Proximity to medical facilities is quite important for elderly people.

=> 靠近醫療設施對年長者是相當重要。

eg: The best thing about the location of our apartment is its proximity to the supermarket.

=> 我們公寓最棒的一點是靠近超市。

deadly adj. 致命的

=> it is likely to people dead

eg: The deadly snakes were kept in a cage.

=> 這些會致人於命命的蛇被關在籠子裡。

eg: The scientists found a way to keep the deadly disease from spreading.

=> 科學家找到了防止致命的疾病的傳染的方式。

eg: A deadly chemical was found in the drink.

=> 飲料中找到了一種致命的化學物質。

guard n. 警戒/看守

catch somebody off guard 使人措手不及/趁其不備

=> surprise someone by doing something that they weren't ready for

eg: The quarterback caught his opponents off guard and made a touch-down.

=> 四分衛趁對手不備時達陣。

eg: Our boss caught us off guard and showed up at the office suddenly.

=> 我們的老闆趁我們不備時突然出現在辦公室。

deter v. 威懾住/嚇住/使斷念

=> stop, prevent someone from doing something

crater n. 火山口

=> the hold of the mount of the vacano

evacuate v. 撤空/撤離/撤退/疏散

=> leave a dangerous place and go to a safe place

evacuation n. 撤空/撤離/撤退/疏散

//== Chat room ==//

A.D.

=> Anno Domini 西元/紀元(略作A.D.)

=> A.D 通常放在年分前面

eg: A.D.2010

=> 西元2010年，

B.C.

=> before Christ 西元前/紀元前

=> B.C.通常放在年份後面

eg: 3000 B.C.

=> 西元前3000年

//== Grammar on the Go ==//

...should an eruption occur, residents won't be caught off guard.

=> If an eruption should occur, residents won't be caught off guard.

should 倒裝句

eg: If you should have any questions, please call the front desk.

=> Should you have any questions, please call the front desk.

eg: If you should encounter any problems with the computer, please notify the lab technician.

=> Should you encounter any problems with the computer, please notify the lab technician.