2006年VOA标准英语-India Tests Long-Range Nuclear-Capable Missile

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
09 July 2006
 

Indian army soldiers watch the display of an Agni-2 missile during the Army Day parade in New Delhi (File photo)   
  
India has tested a sophisticated, long-range nuclear-capable missile that dramatically boosts the range of targets it could hit. 

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Defense¹ officials say the new Agni-3 missile was test-fired Sunday from an island in the eastern state of Orissa. The word Agni means "fire" in Hindi.

The missile, which can carry a nuclear warhead, has a range of 3,000 kilometers. Officials, who did not want to be named, said the test was successful.

Uday Bhaskar, deputy head of the government-funded Institute of Defense Studies, says the Agni-3 will boost India's strategic capability².

"The Agni test of today would serve to establish India's credibility, in terms of its missile systems," he said. "So, to the extent that India is working toward a credible³, minimum deterrent… I would interpret today's test as enhancing the credibility of India's delivery systems."

India conducted nuclear tests in 1998, and has since carried out a series of missile tests to fine-tune its delivery systems for nuclear weapons.

Its existing arsenal⁴ includes several short-range and medium-range missiles, capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads. Many of the existing missiles can target Pakistani cities, while the Agni-3 will be able to hit targets deep inside China.

Since becoming independent in 1947, India has fought wars with Pakistan and China. But India's relations have warmed with Beijing in recent years, and tensions with Pakistan have abated⁵, since they began a peace process two years ago.

Defense analysts⁶ say the Angi-3 tests should not be seen as "country-specific," but as part of India's overall defense capability.

The Agni-3 missile test comes just days after North Korea sparked an international outcry by test-firing seven missiles.

Bhaskar says he does not expect India's tests will provoke similar concern.

"It is important to see the characteristics we associate with countries, both in terms of the regional context and the global grid⁷, so I would like to think that India's missile test would not be seen through the same filter as any other country," he noted⁸.

Analysts say New Delhi has established itself as what they call a "responsible" nuclear power that has no track record of proliferating⁹ nuclear technology.

North Korea is considered a so-called "rogue¹⁰ nation" by the United States, and its nuclear and missile proliferation postures¹¹ have been a source of concern for the wider international community.

1 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。

2 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

3 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

4 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。

5 abated   

减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼）

参考例句：

• The worker's concern about cuts in the welfare funding has not abated. 工人们对削减福利基金的关心并没有减少。
• The heat has abated. 温度降低了。

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 grid   

n.高压输电线路网；地图坐标方格；格栅

参考例句：

• In this application,the carrier is used to encapsulate the grid.在这种情况下，要用载体把格栅密封起来。
• Modern gauges consist of metal foil in the form of a grid.现代应变仪则由网格形式的金属片组成。

8 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。

9 proliferating   

激增( proliferate的现在分词 )； （迅速）繁殖； 增生； 扩散

参考例句：

• Computerized data bases are proliferating fast. 计算机化的数据库正在激增。
• Crown galls are cancerous growths composed of disorganized and proliferating plant cells. 冠瘿是无组织的正在不断增殖的植物细胞所组成的癌状物。

10 rogue   

n.流氓；v.游手好闲

参考例句：

• The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
• They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。

11 postures   

姿势( posture的名词复数 )； 看法； 态度； 立场

参考例句：

• Modern consciousness has this great need to explode its own postures. 现代意识很有这种摧毁本身姿态的需要。
• They instinctively gathered themselves into more tidy postures. 她们本能地恢复了端庄的姿态。