时间:2018-12-15 作者:英语课 分类:VOA慢速英语2007年(四)月


英语课

This is the VOA Special English Development Report.


American officials have been warned that climate change presents a serious threat to national security. The warning came from a group of former military leaders from all of the United States armed services.


They released a study, published by a research organization. The nonprofit CNA Corporation brought together eleven retired 1 admirals and generals. Among them was retired Marine 2 General Anthony Zinni, who commanded American forces in the Middle East.


 
March 5, 2007: US soldier with NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan's Farah province
They say effects of climate change should be considered in national security and defense 3 planning. They also say the United States should take a stronger part in helping 4 to limit climate changes at levels that will avoid conflicts.


The study describes climate change as a "threat multiplier." Changes in the weather could lead, for example, to fights over water or other resources in areas already at risk of conflict.


A worsening of conditions can lead to failed states, it says, and that can create fertile grounds for extremism and terrorism. The report warns of a danger of added tensions even in politically secure areas of the world.


Sherri Goodman headed the project. She says two senators have already proposed legislation to further some of the ideas in the study. The two are Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Dick Durban of Illinois.


The report came out last Monday, one day before the United Nations Security Council met to discuss the issue of energy, security and the climate. This was the first time the council has debated climate-related security threats. British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett led the debate. Britain holds the council presidency 5 this month.


More than fifty U.N. delegations 6 attended the day-long meeting in New York. Some delegates questioned if the council was going outside its main responsibility to prevent wars and protect world peace. Many of these delegates were from developing countries. They said climate change is an economic and social development issue for the General Assembly to consider.


China’s representative noted 7 the importance of existing international agreements to deal with climate change.


But delegates from mostly small island nations welcomed the debate. The representative from Papua New Guinea spoke 8 for the Pacific Islands Forum 9. He said the effects of climate change for small island populations are similar to any refugee crisis in larger nations in conflict.


And that's the VOA Special English Development Report, written by Jill Moss 10. I’m Steve Ember.



1 retired
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
2 marine
adj.海的;海生的;航海的;海事的;n.水兵
  • Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
  • When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时,他自愿参加了海军陆战队。
3 defense
n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩
  • The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
  • The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。
4 helping
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
5 presidency
n.总统(校长,总经理)的职位(任期)
  • Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
  • Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。
6 delegations
n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 );委托,委派
  • In the past 15 years, China has sent 280 women delegations abroad. 十五年来,中国共派280批妇女代表团出访。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
  • The Sun Ray decision follows the federal pattern of tolerating broad delegations but insisting on safeguards. “阳光”案的判决仿效联邦容许广泛授权的做法,但又坚持保护措施。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
7 noted
adj.著名的,知名的
  • 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 spoke
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
9 forum
n.论坛,讨论会
  • They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
  • The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。
10 moss
n.苔,藓,地衣
  • Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
  • He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。
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Abel, John Jacob
after-the-fact value engineering
aircraft-engine
Albatrellus
angle block
anhistous
bdl
bell crank shaft collar
belleisle
bronchostomy
carburetor adjusting needle
christakos
citronwood
columnstore index
come to pieces
compenetrate
comte de rochambeaus
concessional aid
copper(ii) carbonate
corner tank
counterarguable
cut off machine
cyclopentenylundecylic acid
danat
debranched
dechristianizations
dementednesses
duey
electric technology
Elers ware
emulsified particles
exemplify of
falling body viscometer
false or misleading appearance of active trading
fanciable
Fata Morganas
fidgetting
FK-749
folding test
forward-transfer element
gland leak-off steam condenser
Gobind Singh
graphlets
Grosssteinherg
gurdwaras
half-finished product
hardenability
headlined
heteroscelus incanuss
hosiery
infra-red transmitting filter
INTERCH
ligamenta nuchae
Lndwig's arteriole
logging
low-capacity
low-level discomfort factor
luminous range
matched transformer
maximum likelihood coefficient estimator
MCPCRT
monitoring observation
muffler outlet piper
non-solicitations
one time special price
open circuit voltage
ore-jade
postrotatory nystagmus
potato onions
quorum call
Salweenia wardii
Satanical
sea-song
sensitizability
setterberg
short range order structure
Shujāābād
siachen
single-shot operation
sino-tibetans
skid load
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soil-lime-pozzolan
supervisory-controlled robot
synchronisations
synchronizing potential
tabernaemontana divaricata r.br.
tailorings
tau group
tiger pear
till late
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to smell
tolagnaro (fort dauphin)
unusing
USA pass
wallaceans
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wildcrafted
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Zunians