1. We're elevated 23 feet. (para 3)
We' re 23 feet above sea level./Our house is 23 feet above sea level.
2. The place has been here since 1915, and no hurricane has ever bothered it. (para 3)
The house has been here since 1915, and no hurricane has ever caused any damage to it.
The house was built in 1915, and since then no hurricane has done any damage to it.
3. We can batten down and ride it out. (para 4)
We can make the necessary preparations and survive the hurricane without much damage.
4. The generator was doused, and the lights went out. (para 9)
Water got into the generator and put it out. It stopped producing electricity, so the lights also went out.
5. Everybody out the back door to the cars! (para 10)
Everybody go out through the back door and run to the cars.
6. The electrical systems had been killed by water. (para 11)
The electrical systems in the car had been put out by water/destroyed by water.
7. John watched the water lap at the steps, and felt a crushing guilt. (para 17)
As John watched the water inch its way up the steps, he felt a strong sense of guilt because he blamed himself for endangering the whole family by deciding not to flee inland.
8. Get us through this mess, will You? (para 17)
Oh God, please help us to get through this storm safely.
9. She carried on alone for a few bars; then her voice trailed away. (para 21)
Grandmother Koshak sang a few words alone and then her voice gradually grew dimmer and stopped.
10. Janis had just one delayed reaction. (para 34)
Janis displayed rather late the exhaustion brought about by the nervous tension caused by the hurricane.
Janis didn’t show any fear on the spot during the storm, but she reavealed her feelings caused by the storm a few nights after the hurricane by getting up in the middle of the night and crying softly.
V. Translation.
1.每架飞机起飞之前必须经过严格的检查。
Each and every plane must be checked out thoroughly before taking off.
2.居民坚决反对在附近建立垃圾焚烧厂,因为他们担心工厂排放的气体会污染周围的空气。
The residents were firmly opposed to the construction of a waste incineration plant in their neighborhood because they were deeply concerned about the plant’s emissions polluting the air.
3.在这个地区,生态工程的投资额高达数亿元。
Investment in ecological projects in this area mounted up to billions of yuan.
4.干枯的河道里布满了大大小小的石块。
The dry riverbed was strewn with rocks of all sizes.
5.虽然战争给这个国家造成了巨大的损失,但当地的文化传统并没有消亡。
Although war caused great losses to this country, its cultural traditions did not perish.
6.为了建筑现代化的高楼大厦,许多古老的、具有民族特色的建筑物都被拆毁了。
To make space for modern high rises, many ancient buildings with ethnic cultural features had to be demolished.
7.在地震中多数质量差的房子的主体结构都散架了。
In the earthquake the main structures of most of the poor-quality houses disintegrated.
8.他为实现自己的目标付出了最大的努力,但最后美好的梦想还是化成了泡影。
His wonderful dream vanished into the air despite his hard efforts to achieve his goals.