对第一次世界大战中使用的有毒武器的检验

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48 对第一次世界大战中使用的有毒武器的检验

DATE=7-20-01
TITLE=ENVIRONMENT REPORT - Test for World War One Poisons 
BYLINE=Jerilyn Watson 

（Start at 59" ）This is Bill White with the VOA Special English Environment Report.
The United² States Army Corps³ of Engineers recently began (1)intensive testing for harmful chemical (2)substances buried in Washington⁴, D.C.   The engineers are examining soil taken from one-thousand-six-hundred (3)properties. The area is in the northwest part of the city around American University. 
Dangerous levels of the poison¹ (4)arsenic⁵ were found there earlier.  They were discovered at an American University child care center and sports field.  (5)Abnormal⁶ levels of arsenic also were discovered near homes around the university.  Scientists say this poison can cause cancer.  Health officials are studying reports of sickness in the area. 
The (6)presence⁷ of arsenic may result from old chemical weapons experiments (7)performed at the university.  The government says chemical weapons were tested there more than eighty years ago.  The tests took place between Nineteen-Fourteen and Nineteen-Eighteen, during World War One. The weapons tested included (8)mustard gas.  At the time, there was little developed land near the university.
The Army Corps of Engineers first worked to clear buried weapons from the area in Nineteen-Ninety-Three.  At that time, digging⁸ near the university uncovered⁹  (9)explosives.  In Nineteen-Ninety-Five, the engineers said they had completed the work.  But more buried weapons were found several years later. They were uncovered under property¹⁰ belonging to the South Korean (10)ambassador.
Washington, D-C health officials have examined children at the day care center for the presence of arsenic.  They also tested some American University students and (11)employees.  The results showed no abnormal levels of the poison.  Health officials also studied reports of cancer in the area.  Their report said the rate of cancer was not higher than in a nearby area.  
But a (12)committee of scientists (13)currently is advising that more people living in the area be examined.  The tests would measure their hair for the presence of arsenic.
A United States House of (14)Representatives sub-committee is planning hearings about the buried chemicals later this month.  The group is (15)investigating reports that the Army Corps of Engineers and another (16)agency knew about the weapons seven years before they were discovered.  
This VOA Special English Environment Report was written by Jerilyn Watson. This is Bill White.

(1)intensive [ in5tensiv ]adj.强烈的
(2)substance [ 5sQbstEns ]n.物质
(3)property [ 5prCpEti ]n.性质, 特性
(4)arsenic [ 5B:sEnik ]n.[化]砷, 砒霜
(5)abnormal [ Ab5nC:mEl ]adj.反常的, 变态的
(6)presence [ 5prezns ]n.存在
(7)perform [ pE5fC:m ]vt.执行
(8)mustard [ 5mQstEd ]n.芥子气
(9)explosive [ iks5plEusiv ] n.爆炸物
(10)ambassador [ Am5bAsEdE ]n.大使
(11)employee [ 7emplCi5i:, im5plCii ]n.雇员
(12)committee [ kE5miti ]n.委员会
(13)currently [5kQrEntlI]adv.现在
(14)representative [ 7repri5zentEtiv ]n.代表
(15)investigate [ in5vesti^eit ]v.调查, 研究
(16)agency [ 5eidVEnsi ]n.代理处

1 poison   

n.毒药；毒害；vt./vi.毒害；投毒

参考例句：

• The bottle is labelled "Poison".瓶上标明“有毒”。
• Don't allow evil thoughts to poison young people's minds.不允许邪念毒害青年。

2 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

3 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

4 Washington   

n.华盛顿特区(是美国首都)

参考例句：

• His birthplace is Washington,but he lives in San Francisco.他出生于华盛顿，但住在旧金山。
• They, together with my father,have gone to Washington.他们和我父亲一起去华盛顿了。

5 arsenic   

n.砒霜，砷；adj.砷的

参考例句：

• His wife poisoned him with arsenic.他的妻子用砒霜把他毒死了。
• Arsenic is a poison.砒霜是毒药。

6 abnormal   

adj.反常的，不正常的，不规则的

参考例句：

• This warm weather is abnormal for February.二月里这种温暖的天气不太正常。
• That is simply abnormal.那简直是反常的。

7 presence   

n.出席；到场；存在

参考例句：

• Her presence lent an air of respectability to the occasion.她的到场使那种场合增添了崇高的气氛。
• His presence is indicative of his willingness to help.他的出席表示他愿意帮忙。

8 digging   

n.挖掘v.挖，掘( dig的现在分词 )；（如用铲、锨或推土机等）挖掘；挖得；寻找

参考例句：

• They were digging up worms to use for bait. 他们正在挖蚯蚓作鱼饵。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade. 在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 uncovered   

adj.无盖的，未保险的v.揭开…的盖子( uncover的过去式和过去分词 )；揭露，发现

参考例句：

• His head was uncovered. 他光着头。
• A plot to assassinate the banker has been uncovered by the police. 暗杀银行家的密谋被警方侦破了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 property   

n.财产，所有物，所有权，性质，特性，（小）道具

参考例句：

• He has made over his property to a hospital.他已将财产转交给了一家医院。
• Oil has the property of floating on water.油有浮在水上的特性。