英语听力精选进阶版 13806

Somali piracy¹ gets more violent

Summary

25 June 2012

Maritime² officials say there has been a big increase in the number of hostages killed and injured by Somali pirates. In a new report, the International Maritime Bureau and One Earth Future organisation³ say that although the number of successful hijackings has gone down over the past year, Somali piracy has become more violent.

Reporter:

Mary Harper

Report

The report describes as significant the increase in hostage deaths last year. 35 people died - that's 3% of all hostages taken. Most were killed during rescue operations, a sign that the increasingly robust⁴ way of dealing⁵ with pirates makes life more dangerous for the hostages. Others died from malnutrition⁶ or disease. It used to be rare for a captive to die. For the pirates, who are principally interested in ransom⁷ payments, they were worth more alive than dead. 

The report describes the often brutal⁸ treatment of crew members. Last year nearly 4,000 seafarers were fired upon by Somali pirates. Half of all hostages were subjected to what the report describes as moderate abuse including punching and slapping. 10% suffered violent abuse such as being locked in freezers, burned with cigarettes and having their fingernails pulled out with pliers. 

The report also says that last year there was a 50% increase in the length of time people are kept hostage - it's now an average of eight months. Some have been kept for more than two years, such as the crew of the Panama-flagged MV Iceberg⁹ who have been held hostage since March 2010. The report says the ship's owner has gone out of business so there is nobody to negotiate the crew's release. The Director of the International Maritime Bureau, said that although a lot of attention is given to Somali piracy, the human cost on seafarers and their families is often ignored.

1 piracy   

n.海盗行为，剽窃，著作权侵害

参考例句：

• The government has already adopted effective measures against piracy.政府已采取有效措施惩治盗版行为。
• They made the place a notorious centre of piracy.他们把这地方变成了臭名昭著的海盗中心。

2 maritime   

adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的

参考例句：

• Many maritime people are fishermen.许多居于海滨的人是渔夫。
• The temperature change in winter is less in maritime areas.冬季沿海的温差较小。

3 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

4 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

5 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

6 malnutrition   

n.营养不良

参考例句：

• In Africa, there are a lot of children suffering from severe malnutrition.在非洲有大批严重营养不良的孩子。
• It is a classic case of malnutrition. 这是营养不良的典型病例。

7 ransom   

n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救

参考例句：

• We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
• The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。

8 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

9 iceberg   

n.冰山，流冰，冷冰冰的人

参考例句：

• The ship hit an iceberg and went under.船撞上一座冰山而沉没了。
• The glacier calved a large iceberg.冰河崩解而形成一个大冰山。