http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-10-04T075348Z_01_L03432763_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-HARMONY-MINERS-COL.XML
Summary
3200 miners were trapped in a South African gold mine, and the rescue teams were rescuing them on Thursday. Fortunately, there were no injuries. The National Union of Mineworkers said it suspected that carelessness and the nonstop mining work (so there’s no time to make adequate check) caused the accident, and the union gave pledge that they would push gold firms to build emergency exits in the mine. During the investigation and the repairing period, the production at the mine would be halted.South African gold mines are said to be the deepest in the world, and the companies have often been criticized for not paying much attention to ensure worker’s safety. The gold output in South Africa has decreased over 50 percent over the past decade for less production and the expensive underground operations.
Key words
1.tumble(v.): fall suddenly and sharply
2.scrutiny(n.): the act of examining something closely ( as for mistakes)
3.ore(n.): a metal-bearing mineral valuable enough to be mined
4.adequate(a.): enough to meet a purpose; meeting the requirements especially of a task
5.shaft(n.): a vertical passage into a mine
6.hurtle(v.): throw forcefully
7.offset(v.): make up for; compensate for
8.halt(v.): cause to stop
9.bullion(n.): gold or silver in bars; a mass of precious metal
10.grapple(v.): to grip or seize
Question and Answers
1.Q: Which country in the world has the deepest gold mines in the world?A: South Africa.2. Q: What was said might have caused the incident?A: It was suspected that negligence and the practice of mining 24 hours per day caused the accident.
3.Q: What does NUM stands for?
A: National Union of Mineworker.
4.Q: What measures did the NUM promised to take?
A: They assured to force the company which own the gold mines to build secondary, or emergency, exits in the mine.
5.Q: What's your opinion about the article?
A: As far as I am concerned, though it's attempting for those employers to earn as much money as they can, it is even more important to care about the workers' safety.
