On April 26, 1986, Unit 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in nothern Ukraine, then a part
切尔诺贝利（乌克兰的一座城市） 核反应堆；原子炉
of the Soviet Union, was shut down for an unauthorized safety test.非法的；未被授权的
When the nuclear fuel rods hit the cooling water, the fission reaction accelerated out of control due to a sudden power surge. 动力高峰 裂变
This caused the reactor to overheat and build up pressure until its structure failed and it blew up, releasing large amounts of radiation.
数量 辐射；放射物
It took officials a whole day to comprehend the scale of the disaster and to order an evacuation of the surrounding area. 疏散
Some 50,000 people had to leave, not knowing that they would never return.
In the following months, massive efforts were made to decontaminate the area while increased radiation levels were detected across much of Europe.净化
Fallout from the disaster continues to this day, decades later, and long-term effects such
放射性尘埃；
as cancers, are still being investigated.研究；调查
Estimates of the number of deaths that would eventually result from the accident vary enormously.巨大地 最后
The forest area near the reactor site is one of the most radioactive places on Earth.
Named the Red Forest because its trees turned a reddish-brown color as they died, the forest is trying to make a recovery. 红褐色
Animals such as elk and eagles have been seen in the area.
麋鹿 鹰
And birch trees grow where the radioactive trees of the forest were bulldozed and
红褐色 放射性的 用推土机清除
burried by the Soviet government.苏维埃；苏联政府
Some people have returned as well, mostly former residents who returned illegally after the evacuation.
The old company town of Pripyat, once home to 50,000 plant workers is still deserted, but is slowly being reclaimed by the forest.回收利用； 工厂，车间
It seems that nature can recover and even thrive where humans cannot.
繁荣，兴旺；茁壮成长
Let's hope that humans can learn from this experience.
Chernobyl, and more recently Fukushima in Japan, have lessons to teach us.
福岛（日本城市）
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