極端寒流癱瘓電網
Harsh winter storms are sweeping across the southern US, killing at least 21 people and leaving millions without power and water.
嚴寒的冬季風暴席捲了美國南部，造成至少21人喪生，並使數百萬人無水電可用。
harsh(adj.)嚴酷的、嚴厲的harsh criticism嚴厲的批評harsh punishment嚴厲的處罰sweep(v.)橫掃、迅速蔓延(sweep-swept-swept)leave O OC使得…;讓…
In Texas, hundreds of thousands of people are struggling for heat in freezing or near-freezing temperatures due to a failure in the state’s power grid systems.
在德州，由於電網系統故障，數十萬人在零度或接近零度的氣溫中設法取暖，
freezing temperature結冰溫度;零度failure(n.)故障;失靈power grid電力網;輸電網
As of Thursday, roughly 390,000 households in the Lone Star State were without electricity, down from around 4.5 million earlier in the week.
截至週四，德州約有39萬個家庭無電可用，同一週稍早則有450萬戶斷電。
as of…截至…為止roughly(adv.)大約=around=aboutthe Lone Star State孤星州
Texas officials say a deep freeze, starting Sunday, crippled a power grid that covers 90% of the state and is independent from the rest of the country, so the grid cannot import power from other places to make up for the shortage.
德州官員指出，從周日開始的極端寒流癱瘓了主要電網，該電網在德州的覆蓋率為90％，且不與其它州相連，因此無法從他處輸入電力以彌補短缺。
a deep freeze極端寒流cripple(v.)使成殘疾、損壞、使⋯⋯陷於癱瘓=paralyzemake up for…填補;彌補
Days without electricity in piercing cold conditions have sent Texans scrambling for alternative heating, through generators, fireplaces or sleeping in cars.
連續數日寒風刺骨又無電可用的德州人紛紛開始用替代方式取暖，他們或是使用發電機、壁爐或在車上睡覺取暖。
piercing cold寒風刺骨的=freezingsend O OC 使…;讓…scramble for 競爭、搶奪generator(n.)發電機
Some families even tore down their fences to burn in fireplaces after running out of firewood.
有些家庭木柴用完了，甚至把籬笆也拆了丟進壁爐燒。
tear down 拆除=pull down=take down (tear-tore-torn)
At least 21 people have died from weather-related circumstances.
至少有21人因為寒流而喪生。
die from 死於…
In Houston, a woman and an 8-year-old girl died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning while leaving a car running for heat.
在休士頓，一名婦女和8歲大的女孩疑似因在發動的汽車中取暖而一氧化碳中毒過世。
suspected(adj.)疑似的carbon monoxide poisoning一氧化碳中毒
At least four people were killed in a house fire that may have been sparked by candles.
至少有4人因為在家點蠟燭引起火災喪生。
may have V.pp對過去事實的肯定推測spark(n.)火花;火星(v.)點燃
Separately, two men found alongside a Houston highway were believed to have died due to the cold.
另外，有人在休士頓高速公路旁發現兩名疑似被冷死的男子。
In the meantime, more than 13 million Texans have faced disruption of water services because of the cold snap.
同時，寒流也使得超過1千3百萬的德州人面臨停水。
in the meantime=meanwhile同時disruption(n.)中斷disruption to rail and bus services鐵路和客運服務中斷cold snap乍寒;驟冷
Freezing temperatures have caused water pipes to burst.
結冰溫度導致水管破裂，
burst(v.)(使)迸裂;(使)爆炸(burst-burst-burst)
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a “boil water notice” for the city of Houston and nearby areas, advising people to boil all water planned for consumption in case it may be contaminated.
美國疾病控制與預防中心（CDC）已針對休士頓市及周遭地區發布了「煮沸水通知」，建議人們將所有計劃飲用的水煮沸，以防水可能受到污染。
issue(n.)議題;問題(v.)發布issue a typhoon warning發布颱風警報advise sb. to RV建議…in case以防…contaminate(v.)(局部)污染