首度成功擋水患
A flood barrier system that consists of 78 movable floodgates successfully blocked water from flooding the city of Venice for the first time after numerous delays and scandals. The good news was received with great relief in a year that seems to have been trapped in a downward spiral.
由78個可移動閘門組成的防洪系統在歷經無數次延誤和貪污醜聞後，首次成功阻擋洪水淹沒威尼斯市，為這災禍不斷的一年捎來令人如釋重負的好消息。
consist of…(恆為主動)由…組成=be composed of=be made up ofblock…from…封鎖;避免…numerous(adj.)無數次的scandal(n.)醜聞、丟臉、恥辱bribery scandal收賄醜聞be received with…得到…的反應be trapped in…被困在…downward spiral(價格等的)不斷下降;(局面的)迅速惡化;螺旋式惡性下滑the downward spiral of housing prices房價持續下跌
Venice, a city in northeastern Italy, is located in a shallow lagoon that connects to the sea by three entrance points.
位於義大利東北部的威尼斯，位於一個淺潟湖中，該潟湖通過3個出海口與大海相連。
be located in位於=be seated in=be situated in位於lagoon(n.)潟湖
During the season of Acqua Alta (Italian for “high water”), exceptionally high tides pushed in by the seasonal winds have caused repeated floods in the past.
在Acqua Alta（義大利語為「高水位」）季節，由季風捲入的超高潮汐過去曾造成多次洪水。
exceptionally(adv.)異常地、不尋常地、極端地=especially=extraordinarilyseasonal winds季風
More than 80% of the city, including Piazza San Marco, one of the city’s most well-known cultural sites, was flooded last year.
去年，威尼斯被洪水淹沒的面積超過80％，其中包括最著名的文化遺址聖馬可廣場。
The MOSE project, short for MOdulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico (Experimental Electromechanical Module), was first brought up in the 1980s, as a response to a severe flood that occurred years earlier.
這項防洪計畫正式名稱為「實驗性機電模組」計畫，按義大利文名稱「MOdulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico」縮寫為「摩西」（MOSE），最早於1980年代為因應之前發生的嚴重水患提出。
be short for~是…的縮寫as a response to…作為對…的回應;因應…severe(adj.)嚴重的=serious
The barrier system is composed of 78 floodgates.
防洪系統共有78道閘門，
be composed of由…所組成=be made up of=consist of
When high tides flow in, air is forced into the gates. As a result, the gates rise up and hold back the water.
每當漲潮，空氣會灌入閘門，於是閘門就會從海底升起，擋住洪水。
high tides 漲潮low tides退潮
The construction that started in 2003 has been marked by multiple delays, cost overruns, and corruption scandals that resulted in the arrest of dozens of officials.
防洪系統工程從2003年開始進行，但多次延宕，甚至發生成本超支和貪污醜聞，導致數十位官員被捕。
construction(n.)興建be marked by~以…為特點;特點是multiple(adj.)多次的overrun(v.)(n.)超越、超過(完成期限或費用)、超支overrun the budget超出預算corruption scandals貪污醜聞result in=導致=lead to=cause
On the morning of Oct. 3, an alarm was heard around the city, signaling that high tides were expected.
10月3日上午，警報聲響徹威尼斯，預示著漲潮的到來。
signaling…=which signaled…代表
Experienced residents moved everything above the water level, but this time, to many people’s surprise, most of the city remained dry even hours after.
經驗豐富的居民將所有東西都移到了水位之上，但這次讓許多人訝異的是，即使在漲潮數小時後，威尼斯大多數地方仍是乾燥的，
above(prep.)在…之上below(prep.)在…之下
The barrier system which has just proved that it is up to the task is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.
顯示新的防洪系統可成功阻擋水患。整個系統預計將於2021年底完成。
up to the task能勝任某事complete(v.)完成=finish