美国推迟弹道导弹试验

 　　WASHINGTON, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon has delayed an intercontinental ballistic missile test planned for next week to avoid misperceptions due to the rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, local media reported on Saturday.

　　The planned Minuteman 3 missile test at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California will be delayed until sometime next month, so to avoid exacerbating¹ the crisis on the Korean Peninsula, a senior U.S. defense² official was quoted as saying.

　　The official described the decision as "the logical, prudent³ and responsible course of action to take," after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) threatened to attack the U.S. with "smaller, lighter⁴ and diversified⁵" nuclear weapons in reaction to the recent U.S.-South Korean military exercises.

　　Following the nuclear test by the DPRK in February, the U.S. responded with economic sanctions and a recent show of force of sending nuclear-cable stealth B-2 bombers⁶ and F-22 fighters to participate in the military exercises with South Korea.

　　The DPRK reacted by cutting off military hotlines with South Korea, declaring a state of war, and threatening to launch a nuclear attack on the U.S. targets.

1 exacerbating   

v.使恶化，使加重( exacerbate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• This pedagogical understretch is exacerbating social inequalities. 这种教学张力不足加重了社会不平等。 来自互联网
• High fertilizer prices are exacerbating the problem. 高涨的肥料价格更加加剧了问题的恶化。 来自互联网

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

4 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

5 diversified   

adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域

参考例句：

• The college biology department has diversified by adding new courses in biotechnology. 该学院生物系通过增加生物技术方面的新课程而变得多样化。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Take grain as the key link, develop a diversified economy and ensure an all-round development. 以粮为纲，多种经营，全面发展。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》