A：There is a tornado warning on. My mother just told me she heard it on the radio.

有一個(gè)龍卷風(fēng)的警報(bào)，我媽剛剛告訴我她從收音機(jī)聽到的。

B：What is a tornado warning?

什么是龍卷風(fēng)警報(bào)?

A：It means that a tornado has been seen somewhere in the area.

就是有一個(gè)龍卷風(fēng)已經(jīng)在這個(gè)區(qū)域出沒(méi)。

B：Really? In New Berlin?

真的?在新柏林?

A：No. Not necessarily in town. But in southern Wisconsin somewhere.A tornado has been spotted. They have two stages here.This is what is called a tornado watch. That means that the weather conditions are perfect for a tornado.

不，并不一定在城里，但在南威斯康辛州某處。有一個(gè)龍卷風(fēng)已經(jīng)被監(jiān)控。他們分為兩個(gè)等級(jí)，現(xiàn)階段稱做龍卷風(fēng)警戒，表示天氣狀況是形成龍卷風(fēng)的最佳狀態(tài)。

B：I understand. They think a tornado might come.

我懂了，他們認(rèn)為龍卷風(fēng)可能會(huì)來(lái)襲。

A：Yes. People should look out, because maybe there will be tornadoes coming.So it's called a watch.

是的，大家要當(dāng)心，因?yàn)橐苍S龍卷風(fēng)就要來(lái)襲，所以稱做警戒。

B：And the second stage is called a tornado warning.

而第二等級(jí)稱做龍卷風(fēng)警報(bào)。

A：Yes. If a tornado has been spotted, they announce a tornado warning.So if there's a tornado warning on, it means a tornado is out there somewhere.

是的，如果龍卷風(fēng)已經(jīng)被監(jiān)測(cè)到，他們就會(huì)宣布龍卷風(fēng)警報(bào)。因此，若已提出龍卷風(fēng)警報(bào)，那表示一個(gè)龍卷風(fēng)已在某處。

B：It's scary.

真可怕。

A：Well. Tornadoes can be dangerous, it's true.If we hear something like a loud train coming, then we have to go in the basement.

嗯，龍卷風(fēng)可以很危險(xiǎn)的，是真的。如果我們聽到什么像轟隆的火車接近聲的，我們必須進(jìn)入地下室。

B：What do you mean a loud train?

什么是轟隆的火車?

A：That is what tornadoes sound like. They sound like trains. They're very loud.

那就是龍卷風(fēng)聽起來(lái)的聲音，他們聽起來(lái)像火車聲，非常大聲。

B：But if you hear them coming, isn't it already too late?

但是如果你聽到它們來(lái)臨了，不是已經(jīng)太晚了嗎?

A：Maybe. It depends on the tornado.Some can move across the ground at 200 miles an hour.That is very fast. Others aren't so fast.

很可能，要視龍卷風(fēng)而定。有些一小時(shí)可以在地面橫越兩百里。那是非常快的，其他的沒(méi)這么快。

B：Have you seen a lot of them?

你看過(guò)很多龍卷風(fēng)嗎?

A：I've only seen one in my life. I was looking out the window. It was around two miles away. It was very interesting to watch.But it was heading toward my friend's house. So I quickly called them on the phone.

我這生只看過(guò)一次，從窗戶望出去的，大概在二里外的地方，觀看是很有趣的。但是它直掃向我朋友的房屋，所以我趕緊打電話給他們。

B：Did it hit their house?

有打中他們的房屋嗎?

A：No, it didn't. But they are glad I called them.

沒(méi)有，但是我朋友很高興我打電話給他們。

B：What were they doing when you called?

你電話時(shí)，他們?cè)谧鍪裁?

A：They were all sitting in the living room watching TV.They had no idea a tornado was coming toward their house.If it had hit them, they could have all been killed.

他們?nèi)甲诳蛷d看電視，一點(diǎn)也不知道龍卷風(fēng)正向他們的房子接近。如果當(dāng)時(shí)真打中他們，他們可能全都一命嗚呼。

B：That's terrible. Do many people die in tornadoes?

真是太可怕了。有很多人喪生于龍卷風(fēng)嗎?

A：Not so many really. But a lot of houses are destroyed sometimes.

是不太多啦，但是有時(shí)候很多房屋被摧毀.