VOA慢速英语2016--美国加强政治会议安全性

AS IT IS 2016-07-18 Security Tightened¹ for US Political Conventions 美国加强政治会议安全性

American officials are increasing security for the upcoming Republican and Democratic political conventions. This comes after five police officers were shot and killed in Dallas.

FBI Director James Comey recently spoke² at a congressional hearing about the possibility of domestic terrorism.

He said “anytime there’s a national spotlight³ on a political event in the United States, there’s a risk that groups that aspire⁴ ... to engage in acts of domestic terrorism will be attracted.”

Jeh Johnson is head of the Department of Homeland Security. He told lawmakers he is concerned about the possibility of violence. And he is concerned about demonstrations⁵ at the conventions “getting out of hand.”

Johnson said he will travel to Cleveland and Philadelphia to personally inspect the security at both conventions.

About 50,000 people are expected at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio from July 18 to July 21. Donald Trump⁶ is likely to be named the party’s presidential candidate.

A week later, from July 25 to July 28, about the same number of Democrats⁷ will meet in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They will gather to formally name Hillary Clinton as the Democratic presidential candidate.

Cleveland Security

In Cleveland, security concerns are complicated by the fact Ohio is a so-called “open carry” state. That means that anyone with a legal permit to carry a gun can do so openly.

“We’re going to make sure we stay vigilant⁸,” said Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams. “But we also want to make sure that we ask the community to remain vigilant.”

Williams said he will “uphold the law in the state,” but he would prefer that people not openly carry guns during the convention. He said the city is prepared for the event.

The U.S. Secret Service banned guns inside the main convention site, and in the security area around it. But people with firearms will be able to carry them in areas that surround the convention site, as long as they are holstered.

Cleveland officials have been concerned about the possibility of violent clashes between people who support Trump, and his opponents. In the protest areas, guns will be permitted, but common items like glass bottles, large backpacks, mace⁹ and canned goods will be banned from the event area.

Philadelphia Security

Philadelphia Police Commissioner¹⁰ Richard Ross said that the Dallas shooting had “required that we do things different tactically.” But he did not say what those plans would be.

Philadelphia is handling protesters differently than Cleveland. The city will permit supporters of Clinton’s opponent, Bernie Sanders, to gather in a park across from the convention building. There is also a new border, 1.5 meters high, to protect the convention at the Wells Fargo Center.

A spokeswoman for the Philadelphia mayor told VOA that city officials expect demonstrations outside the center to be peaceful.

“(We) … feel confident that we’re prepared for demonstrations and any public safety threats,” she said.

However, there is another issue that could create problems for people in Philadelphia. The city’s airport workers have voted to go on strike during the convention.

Dan Bulla is president of the Treadstone Group, a private security firm in Charlotte, North Carolina.

He told VOA that law enforcement officials are preparing for physical acts of civil disobedience, like blocking streets. But they are also preparing for “extraordinary crimes” such as terror and cyber-attacks. Bulla has been involved in helping¹¹ with security planning for the conventions.

Words in This Story

aspire – v. to want to have or achieve something

vigilant – adj. carefully noticing problems or any signs of danger

holster – n. a leather case you wear on your body to hold a small gun

1 tightened   

收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
• His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

4 aspire   

vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于

参考例句：

• Living together with you is what I aspire toward in my life.和你一起生活是我一生最大的愿望。
• I aspire to be an innovator not a follower.我迫切希望能变成个开创者而不是跟随者。

5 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

6 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

7 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 vigilant   

adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的

参考例句：

• He has to learn how to remain vigilant through these long nights.他得学会如何在这漫长的黑夜里保持警觉。
• The dog kept a vigilant guard over the house.这只狗警醒地守护着这所房屋。

9 mace   

n.狼牙棒，豆蔻干皮

参考例句：

• The sword and mace were favourite weapons for hand-to-hand fighting.剑和狼牙棒是肉搏战的最佳武器。
• She put some mace into the meat.她往肉里加了一些肉豆蔻干皮。

10 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

11 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。