VOA慢速英语2016--美国面临许多安全挑战

AS IT IS 2016-02-13 America Faces Many Security Challenges 美国面临许多安全挑战

Nuclear weapons, terrorism and computer spying are problems for national security, say American intelligence officials.

The officials say challenges and crises are more diverse than ever. 

James Clapper and Lieutenant¹ General Vincent Stewart oversee² national intelligence operations. They spoke³ to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Clapper and Stewart said North Korea could soon have enough plutonium to make nuclear weapons. And North Korea has started to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile system -- missiles that could reach other countries.

The officials said Iran is another country with a developing nuclear weapons program. Iran plans to keep its nuclear program, Clapper said, although it agreed in July to halt it. Economic sanctions put into place by six major nations were lifted when Iran agreed to halt its program.

But Vincent Stewart said the Islamic State terror group is the leading international threat.

Islamic State, he said, "will probably attempt to conduct additional attacks in Europe and attempt to direct attacks on the U.S. homeland in 2016."

Both officials said Russian and Chinese computer crime is another big threat.

Clapper told the senators, "Whether China's commitment of last September (to curb⁴ its cyber espionage⁵) moderates its economic espionage remains⁶ to be seen.”

Clapper said Russia is suspicious of being limited by NATO.

"They are greatly concerned about being contained and, of course, very concerned about (the U.S.) missile defense⁷, which would serve to neuter what is the essence of their claim to great power status, which is their nuclear arsenal⁸.”

On the same day of the hearing, President Barack Obama announced new measures to enhance cyber security.

Words in This Story

challenge – n. a difficult task or problem: something that is hard to do

diverse – adj. different from each other

commitment – n. a promise to do or give something

espionage – n. the things that are done to find out secrets from enemies or competitors: the activity of spying

essence – n. the basic nature of a thing: the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is

1 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

2 oversee   

vt.监督，管理

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。

3 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

参考例句：

• 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。

4 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

5 espionage   

n.间谍行为，谍报活动

参考例句：

• The authorities have arrested several people suspected of espionage.官方已经逮捕了几个涉嫌从事间谍活动的人。
• Neither was there any hint of espionage in Hanley's early life.汉利的早期生活也毫无进行间谍活动的迹象。

6 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。

7 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• 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。

8 arsenal   

n.兵工厂，军械库

参考例句：

• Even the workers at the arsenal have got a secret organization.兵工厂工人暗中也有组织。
• We must be the great arsenal of democracy.我们必须成为民主的大军火库。