BBC原文：

A month-long heatwave and record low rainfall have resulted in an unprecedented drought along the Yangtze, China's longest river. Lakes and tributaries have receded as a result of the drought, exposing riverbeds and even a 600-year-old Buddhist stone carving and rocks below the famous Guanyin Pavilion, in Wuhan, Hubei province.

长达一个月的热浪和创纪录的低降雨导致了中国最长河流长江沿岸前所未有的干旱。由于干旱，湖泊和支流水位大幅下降，河床甚至露出了水面，湖北武汉著名的观音阁下有着600年历史的佛教石刻和岩石也暴露了出来。

1.unprecedented drought 前所未有的干旱

2.expose riverbeds 使河床暴露在外

3.Guanyin Pavilion 观音阁

Low river levels have reduced the ability of hydro-electric power stations in the area to generate energy. Emergency measures imposed to save electricity include factories closing, shops reducing opening hours and office buildings switching off air conditioning - all in response to the double-whammy of high demand for electricity and low production. In big cities sited along the river, Shanghai is switching off its famous waterfront lights and the city of Luzhou is turning off street lights at night, in an attempt to ease pressure on the power grid.

河流水位降低也削弱了该地区水力发电站的发电能力。为节约电力采取了一系列紧急措施，比如关闭工厂、缩段商店营业时间、关闭办公楼空调等——所有这些措施都是为了应对电力需求高和产量低的双重打击。在沿江的大城市中，上海正在关闭著名的水边灯，泸州市在晚上关闭路灯，试图缓解电网的压力。

4.hydro-electric power stations 水力发电站

5.high demand for electricity and low production 电力需求高、产量低

6.ease pressure on the power grid 缓解电网压力

【拓展】

6.Yangtze river basin 长江流域

例句：Summer rainfall in the Yangtze river basin is the lowest since records began in 1961, according to China's Ministry of Water Resources.

根据中国水利部的数据，长江流域的夏季降雨量是自1961年有记录以来的最低水平。

7.dry up 干涸

例句：Rivers and lakes dried up because of the sustained heatwave and low rainfall.

由于持续的热浪和少雨，河流和湖泊干涸。