VOA标准英语2010年-African Countries Step Up Airport Secu

Several countries in Africa say they are increasing security at their airports following the Christmas Day bombing attempt on a US airliner¹ by a Nigerian man. Other countries say they have no plans for upgrades, but are monitoring the situation.

Scott Bobb | Johannesburg 06 January 2010

File - In this Dec, 28, 2009 file photo, an employee of Schiphol stands inside a body scanner during a demonstration² at a press briefing at Schiphol airport, Netherlands

Reaction to the attempted bombing of a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day has been mixed among the six African nations with direct air links to the United States.

Ghana has announced it will install full-body scanners at Accra's international airport by next month.  Nigeria has also announced it will install the scanners at Lagos international airport.

Nigerian student Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab departed from Accra and transited³ through Lagos and Amsterdam.  He subsequently attempted to set off a bomb on a Northwest Airlines flight traveling to Detroit.

Abdulmutallab successfully passed through metal detectors⁴ and hand luggage searches at both airports, allegedly by concealing⁵ powdered explosives under his clothes.

The full-body scanners are more powerful than metal detectors that are standard at most airports.  They can detect non-metallic materials hidden on the human body.

But some rights groups consider the scanners an invasion of privacy, because they show private physical characteristics in detail.

South Africa, whose airports handle the largest number of travelers flying directly between Africa and the United States, says it does not intend to install the scanners at this time.

A spokesperson for the South African company that manages its major airports, Nicky Knapp, said it has responded appropriately, but would not give details.

"At this point in time we do believe the measures and plan we have in place are adequate to address the threat as we see it for our country," she said.

She added that stricter measures would be implemented⁶ if ordered by the country's civil aviation authority.

Passengers traveling to the United States from Johannesburg several days after the incident said they had not noticed any new measures inside the airport.  But they noted⁷ new restrictions⁸ were in force inside the aircraft as it approached its destination.

Senegal, another major destination for travelers from the United States, said it did not plan to install the scanners.

Egypt and Morocco, the two North African nations with direct air links to America, have not announced any changes to their airport security procedures either.

1 airliner   

n.客机，班机

参考例句：

• The pilot landed the airliner safely.驾驶员使客机安全着陆。
• The passengers were shepherded across the tarmac to the airliner.旅客们被引导走过跑道去上飞机。

2 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

3 transited   

通过（transit的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• We will be transited through the border without any checks. 我们将穿越边境，不用接受任何检查。
• Flow profile and flow type also transited along pipeline inter thermal stations. 在加热站间管道沿线，流态和流型随着温度的变化也会发生转变。

4 detectors   

探测器( detector的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The report advocated that all buildings be fitted with smoke detectors. 报告主张所有的建筑物都应安装烟火探测器。
• This is heady wine for experimenters using these neutrino detectors. 对于使用中微子探测器的实验工作者，这是令人兴奋的美酒。 来自英汉非文学 - 科技

5 concealing   

v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Despite his outward display of friendliness, I sensed he was concealing something. 尽管他表现得友善，我还是感觉到他有所隐瞒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• SHE WAS BREAKING THE COMPACT, AND CONCEALING IT FROM HIM. 她违反了他们之间的约定，还把他蒙在鼓里。 来自英汉文学 - 三万元遗产

6 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制