VOA常速英语2007年-Explosion at Philippine House of Representative

By Douglas Bakshian
Manila
13 November 2007

A powerful explosion at an entrance to the Philippine House of Representatives has killed at least two people, including a Philippine lawmaker, and injured several others. Douglas Bakshian has more from Manila.

The blast went off shortly after 8 PM local time, just after Congress adjourned¹. Local television reported the explosion occurred in a car, and pictures showed blown out sections of the ceiling in a parking area at an entrance to Congress.
    
Police said the blast destroyed four vehicles.  Authorities cordoned² off the area and searched the building for any other possible explosive devices.
    
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blast. However, House speaker Jose DeVenecia told ABS-CBN television he suspected terrorism.

"I think this is the work of an anarchist³, a terrorist, or an extremist who wants to destabilize the House, and terrorize the House of Representatives, being one of the pillars of the national government.  And we will not be frightened," he said.

Explosives and weapons are widely available in the Philippines, which is combating Communist and Muslim insurgencies. There have also been several coup⁴ attempts over the last two years that the government blamed in part on rogue⁵ military elements.
    
Tuesday's blast occurred against a backdrop of political tension.  President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo⁶ is facing a third impeachment⁷ move in as many years, as well as recent corruption⁸ scandals and an unforgiving opposition⁹.
    
Last month an explosion at a shopping mall in Manila killed 11 people, but investigators¹⁰ said they found no evidence of a bomb and said a build up of gases was likely the cause.

1 adjourned   

（使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The court adjourned for lunch. 午餐时间法庭休庭。
• The trial was adjourned following the presentation of new evidence to the court. 新证据呈到庭上后，审讯就宣告暂停。

2 cordoned   

v.封锁，用警戒线围住( cordon的过去式 )

参考例句：

• Police cordoned off the area until the bomb was defused. 警方封锁了这个地区直到炸弹被拆除为止。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Police cordoned off the road and diverted commuter traffic. 警察封锁了道路并分流交通。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 anarchist   

n.无政府主义者

参考例句：

• You must be an anarchist at heart.你在心底肯定是个无政府主义者。
• I did my best to comfort them and assure them I was not an anarchist.我尽量安抚他们并让它们明白我并不是一个无政府主义者。

4 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

5 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。

6 arroyo   

n.干涸的河床，小河

参考例句：

• She continued along the path until she came to the arroyo.她沿着小路一直走到小河边。
• They had a picnic by the arroyo.他们在干枯的河床边野餐过。

7 impeachment   

n.弹劾；控告；怀疑

参考例句：

• Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States.在美国，弹劾被视为一种非常激烈的措施。
• The verdict resulting from his impeachment destroyed his political career.他遭弹劾后得到的判决毁了他的政治生涯。

8 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

9 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

10 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》