2006年VOA标准英语- U.S. Government Tests Transportation and

By Amy Katz
Washington, DC
13 February 2006
 
watch Security Tests report

Two recent tests in Washington, DC show the government's efforts to make the United States safe from terrorists. In one, the Washington area public transport system conducted an emergency preparedness exercise with police and firefighters along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation¹. In the other, the Department of Homeland Security conducted its first full-scale cyber exercise -- aimed at protecting the nation's information technology systems. 

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Security tests included staged accidents and volunteer victims  
  

This may look like some kind of train accident or explosion, but it is part of a drill conducted by Metro² -- the Washington, D.C. mass transit³ system -- along with police, firefighters and the F.B.I.  The exercise was designed to simulate an explosion and the collision of a commuter⁴ train and a subway train -- with fire, smoke and injuries.  The firemen and police were operating under difficult conditions. 

That was done intentionally⁵ -- for training purposes, according to Chuck Novick of Metro's Safety Department describes some of the challenges.  

Chuck Novick  
  
"The toughest thing for these firefighters and police out here is that they have to work together and we don't want two, three different bosses up there.  We want one person, part of the Unified⁶ Command System, that knows what the resources are underneath⁷ them and how to utilize⁸ those."

In the exercise, actors portrayed⁹ injured victims -- who were evaluated and treated by participants.  They were ranked as to the severity of their injuries and then placed on different colored mats, which corresponded to their conditions -- to await ambulances to take them to area hospitals for further treatment. 

In another part of the scenario¹⁰, bomb-sniffing dogs check the cars of the train for explosives and find a suspicious briefcase¹¹, which must be detonated.  

Security tests of the Washington, DC subway system included simulated bombs   
  
Metro Transit Police Bomb Technician Eric Croom is sent in to x-ray the case.  Afterwards, he showed reporters what was found. "The single strands¹² you see are possibly dynamite¹³."

The bag was ultimately detonated.  The exercise tested the response and readiness of Washington area fire departments and emergency responders and is part of an ongoing¹⁴ effort to strengthen the region's emergency preparedness.

Meanwhile, the federal government recently completed a weeklong test of the country's cyber security. 

Called "Cyber Storm," the exercise was a coordinated¹⁵ effort among more than 100 public, private and international agencies, corporations and governments.  

George Foresman  
  
George Foresman is the Undersecretary for Preparedness in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  He explained why protecting the nation's information technology systems are important. "Cyber security is an essential part of our preparedness efforts because information technology systems can connect so many aspects of economy and our society - including transportation, finance, telecommunications, health care and most importantly our national security."

The U.S. federal government spent $3 million to plan and conduct Cyber Storm.  Officials say they will make a full review of the exercise over the next several months and will release their report on it this summer. 

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 metro   

n.地铁；adj.大都市的；(METRO)麦德隆(财富500强公司之一总部所在地德国，主要经营零售)

参考例句：

• Can you reach the park by metro?你可以乘地铁到达那个公园吗？
• The metro flood gate system is a disaster prevention equipment.地铁防淹门系统是一种防灾设备。

3 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

4 commuter   

n.(尤指市郊之间)乘公交车辆上下班者

参考例句：

• Police cordoned off the road and diverted commuter traffic. 警察封锁了道路并分流交通。
• She accidentally stepped on his foot on a crowded commuter train. 她在拥挤的通勤列车上不小心踩到了他的脚。

5 intentionally   

ad.故意地，有意地

参考例句：

• I didn't say it intentionally. 我是无心说的。
• The local authority ruled that he had made himself intentionally homeless and was therefore not entitled to be rehoused. 当地政府裁定他是有意居无定所，因此没有资格再获得提供住房。

6 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

7 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

8 utilize   

vt.使用，利用

参考例句：

• The cook will utilize the leftover ham bone to make soup.厨师要用吃剩的猪腿骨做汤。
• You must utilize all available resources.你必须利用一切可以得到的资源。

9 portrayed   

v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• Throughout the trial, he portrayed himself as the victim. 在审讯过程中，他始终把自己说成是受害者。
• The author portrayed his father as a vicious drunkard. 作者把他父亲描绘成一个可恶的酒鬼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

11 briefcase   

n.手提箱，公事皮包

参考例句：

• He packed a briefcase with what might be required.他把所有可能需要的东西都装进公文包。
• He requested the old man to look after the briefcase.他请求那位老人照看这个公事包。

12 strands   

n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Twist a length of rope from strands of hemp. 用几股麻搓成了一段绳子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She laced strands into a braid. 她把几股线编织成一根穗带。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 dynamite   

n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破)

参考例句：

• The workmen detonated the dynamite.工人们把炸药引爆了。
• The philosopher was still political dynamite.那位哲学家仍旧是政治上的爆炸性人物。

14 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

15 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法