VOA标准英语2013--华盛顿周报：奥巴马政府聚焦恐怖威胁

 

Washington Week: Obama Administration Focused on Terror Threat 华盛顿周报：奥巴马政府聚焦恐怖威胁

WASHINGTON — America’s military, diplomatic, and intelligence apparatus¹ is on high alert amid a terror threat that prompted the closing of many U.S. embassies and a worldwide travel warning. The security focus comes during an otherwise quiet week in Washington with Congress starting a month-long recess².

President Barack Obama is getting regular briefings and updates from his national security team, including the chairman of the Joint³ Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey. “There is a significant threat stream, and we are responding to it. It is an al-Qaida affiliated⁴ threat," he said.

U.S. embassies and consulates⁶ are closed across the Muslim world, including in Egypt, where American citizens are taking precautions.

U.S. officials have provided few details about any imminent⁷ terrorist plots or specific intelligence they have received. But the Obama administration appears determined⁸ to avoid a repeat of last year’s deadly attack on the U.S. consulate⁵ in Benghazi, Libya. Probes of the incident revealed that security warnings prior to the attack went unheeded.

Even America’s best-protected diplomatic posts, like the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, are vulnerable to attack, according to Iraqi-based security analyst⁹ Amir al-Saadi. “The American embassy in Iraq is the biggest embassy in the world in area, staff and fortifications, but it is not entirely¹⁰ safe from rockets and mortars," he said.

At U.S. airports, many departing for the Middle East say the travel alert did not cause them to change their plans.

President Obama will continue to get regular updates on the situation. Meanwhile, Congress is idle until September, allowing lawmakers to hear from constituents¹¹ on issues ranging from immigration reform to recent revelations about the federal government’s domestic surveillance capabilities¹². 

1 apparatus   

n.装置，器械；器具，设备

参考例句：

• The school's audio apparatus includes films and records.学校的视听设备包括放映机和录音机。
• They had a very refined apparatus.他们有一套非常精良的设备。

2 recess   

n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）

参考例句：

• The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
• Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。

3 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

4 affiliated   

adj. 附属的, 有关连的

参考例句：

• The hospital is affiliated with the local university. 这家医院附属于当地大学。
• All affiliated members can vote. 所有隶属成员都有投票权。

5 consulate   

n.领事馆

参考例句：

• The Spanish consulate is the large white building opposite the bank.西班牙领事馆是银行对面的那栋高大的白色建筑物。
• The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。

6 consulates   

n.领事馆( consulate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Consulates General of The People's Republic at Los Angeles. 中华人民共和国驻洛杉矶总领事馆。 来自互联网
• The country's embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions stationed in other countries. （七）家驻外使馆、馆和其他外交代表机构。 来自互联网

7 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

9 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

10 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

11 constituents   

n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素

参考例句：

• She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
• Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓