干旱是当地农民长期面临的灾难。

Drought has been a ___scourge for local farmers for many years.

在古代，鞭刑是一种常见的惩罚方式。

In ancient times, the ___scourge was a common tool for punishment.

这场疾病肆虐整个地区，造成了巨大的痛苦。

The disease ___scourged the entire region, causing immense suffering.