VOA标准英语2008年-Bomb Explodes in Busy Indian Market

Top Indian intelligence and security officials were summoned by the Home Minister for an emergency meeting following another fatal bomb blast in the Indian capital. Police say one child died and at least 18 other people were injured in the Saturday afternoon attack. The blast comes two weeks after a series of bomb attacks in the capital left more than 20 people dead. VOA correspondent Steve Herman reports from New Delhi.
　
Forensic¹ experts and Indian policeman examine the site of a blast in New Delhi, 27 Sep 2008

Just days after police claimed they had arrested those responsible for the fatal September 13 bomb blasts in New Delhi and elsewhere earlier, another explosion hit a busy market in the Indian capital.

Delhi police spokesman Rajan Bhagat explains that witnesses saw those who brought the bomb to the Meharauli Main Market.

"Two motorcycle riders came to the busy crowded market in Mehrauli and threw one packet wrapped in black polyurethane. One boy picked up that packet which exploded and he died," he said.

Local media quote intelligence sources as saying the bomb, placed in a lunch box, contained ammonium nitrate and was packed with nails. It destroyed several shops.

The explosion occurred in a low income neighborhood, near a wholesale² flower market and a major heritage site: the 800-year-old Qutub Minar, the world's tallest brick minaret³.

The bombing renewed alarm here that New Delhi remains⁴ vulnerable despite the recent crackdown against purported⁵ members of the little known "Indian Mujahideen" group.

Media report that the major access roads to Delhi were sealed following the market blast and police advised people stay away from the city's markets.

The home minister, who has been criticized for his response to the blasts two weeks ago, called another emergency meeting of top
intelligence and security officials to discuss the latest attack.

The largest opposition⁶ party, the BJP, demanded Minister Shivraj Patel's resignation immediately following the Saturday blast.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee says he has spoken with the Home Minister about the latest attack but it is premature⁷ to name any suspects.

"Shortly government will have to take stark⁸ measure to put an end to this type of activities and acts of terrors," he said.

Television commentators⁹ say the bombers¹⁰ intended to deliver a message that terrorists retain their capability¹¹ to hit the capital despite the
recent police proclamation that those responsible for the earlier blasts have been neutralized¹².

The September 13 attacks in the capital followed recent bomb blasts in Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Jaipur.

Officials say more than 400 people have been killed in explosions around the country during the past three years. The attacks are usually blamed by police on Muslim groups, alleged¹³ to have funding or support from Pakistan or Bangladesh.

1 forensic   

adj.法庭的，雄辩的

参考例句：

• The report included his interpretation of the forensic evidence.该报告包括他对法庭证据的诠释。
• The judge concluded the proceeding on 10:30 Am after one hour of forensic debate.经过近一个小时的法庭辩论后，法官于10时30分宣布休庭。

2 wholesale   

n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售

参考例句：

• The retail dealer buys at wholesale and sells at retail.零售商批发购进货物，以零售价卖出。
• Such shoes usually wholesale for much less.这种鞋批发出售通常要便宜得多。

3 minaret   

n.（回教寺院的）尖塔

参考例句：

• The minaret is 65 meters high,the second highest in the world.光塔高65米，高度位居世界第二。
• It stands on a high marble plinth with a minaret at each corner.整个建筑建立在一个高大的大理石底座上，每个角上都有一个尖塔。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 purported   

adj.传说的，谣传的v.声称是…，（装得）像是…的样子( purport的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• the scene of the purported crime 传闻中的罪案发生地点
• The film purported to represent the lives of ordinary people. 这部影片声称旨在表现普通人的生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

7 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

8 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

9 commentators   

n.评论员( commentator的名词复数 )；时事评论员；注释者；实况广播员

参考例句：

• Sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 体育解说员翻来覆去说着同样的词语，真叫人腻烦。
• Television sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 电视体育解说员说来说去就是那么几句话，令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 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》

11 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

12 neutralized   

v.使失效( neutralize的过去式和过去分词 )；抵消；中和；使（一个国家）中立化

参考例句：

• Acidity in soil can be neutralized by spreading lime on it. 土壤的酸性可以通过在它上面撒石灰来中和。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This strategy effectively neutralized what the Conservatives had hoped would be a vote-winner. 这一策略有效地冲淡了保守党希望在选举中获胜的心态。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为