VOA标准英语2008年-Serial Explosions Hit Southern Indian City

India's high-tech¹ city of Bangalore was rocked by seven low-intensity² explosions on Friday afternoon. VOA correspondent Steve Herman reports from New Delhi that one woman died and several other people were injured in the first such attack on the southern Indian city.

Authorities in Bangalore are appealing for calm after seven blasts shook India's technology hub within a 15-minute period Friday afternoon.

Some officials are terming it a coordinated³ terrorist attack intending to cause panic. There has been no immediate⁴ claim of responsibility. Investigators⁵ on the scene told reporters the explosive devices were loaded with nuts and bolts.

The city's police commissioner⁶, Shankar Bidri, tells reporters the blasts were triggered by gelatin sticks with timers but were of low intensity.

"Explosives also have been used in a quantity equal to one or two grenades," Bidri said. "It appears to be an act of persons who are having the mali fide (bad) intention of disturbing peace and tranquility of Bangalore city."

The police commissioner appealed to residents to go about their activities as normal. But most schools and shopping malls immediately closed for the remainder of the day as word spread of the multiple explosions.

Authorities say they have raised the state of alert in New Delhi and Mumbai, India's two largest metropolitan⁷ areas. Bangalore is India's third largest city and the country's center for outsourcing and software development. Many of the world's largest information technology companies have offices there.

Friday's explosions come little more than two months after seven bombs strapped⁸ to bicycles were detonated in the tourist destination of Jaipur outside markets and Hindu temples. That attack killed at least 63 people.

Compared to other parts of India, such acts of violence are rare in Bangalore. In late December 2005 in the city gunmen killed a professor attending an international conference on the campus of the prestigious⁹ Indian Institute of Science.

1 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

2 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

3 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

4 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

5 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 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。

7 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

8 strapped   

adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带

参考例句：

• Make sure that the child is strapped tightly into the buggy. 一定要把孩子牢牢地拴在婴儿车上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soldiers' great coats were strapped on their packs. 战士们的厚大衣扎捆在背包上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。