VOA标准英语2009年-Iran Missile Test Draws Reaction in US Con

Iran's statement that it successfully test-fired a medium-range missile has provoked reaction in the U.S. Congress. Lawmakers in the House of Representatives say the test underscores the importance of U.S. support for Israel's anti-missile defenses.
　
This image made from television broadcast Wednesday, 20 May 2009 by the Iranian television station, IRIB, is said by them to show the launch of a Sejil-2 surface-to-surface missile

Lawmakers finalizing² the U.S. foreign relations budget for the next two years cited the test as yet another example of defiance³ by Tehran that they said further highlights the need to support Israel's missile defense¹ system.

The House legislation contains a provision requiring a presidential report to Congress on U.S. government assurances to Israel regarding its security and maintenance of its qualitative⁴ military edge.

Republicans on the committee wanted stronger language, which they inserted in a Republican alternative to the main legislation, regarding U.S. support for Israel and its missile self-defense projects.

Republican Representative Dan Burton said Congress should send a signal in every piece of legislation it approves that Tehran's ballistic missile and nuclear aspirations⁵ are unacceptable.

"Now we know they have a missile that has pinpoint⁶ accuracy that can reach Europe and Israel, and [Iranian President] Ahmadinejad has said he wants to see Israel wiped off the face of the Earth, and I think it is extremely important that we send a very strong message by adopting this amendment⁷ to this bill that we strongly support a cooperative effort to make sure we have anti-ballistic missile technology that Israel can use to knock down those missiles if they are fired at Israel," said Dan Burton.

Committee chairman Democrat⁸ Howard Berman supported an amendment on the subject Burton proposed, with some changes, which was approved by voice vote.

Other Republicans echoed concern about Iran's ballistic missile activities, including Congressman⁹ Joe Wilson.

"The challenge of Iran truly today, has been revealed more than ever with their most recent missile test which has a capability¹⁰ of striking to the West as far as southeastern Europe, Turkey, but to the East could strike our allies in Pakistan," said Joe Wilson.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in a Senate hearing that the missile tested by Iran was likely in the lower end of a 2,000 to 2,500 kilometer capability, but added U.S. officials could not yet say if it hit its target as claimed by Tehran.

Concerns about the Iranian missile test were also heard on the Senate floor, Republican Jon Kyl said the United States, and Congress acting¹¹ through legislation, must take further steps to place economic pressure on Iran.

"If we are serious about confronting the Islamic Republic of Iran, we have got to use all of the economic and diplomatic tools at our disposal to focus pressure on that country and its leadership to cause them to stop pursuing their plans to become a nuclear power," said Jon Kyl.

Kyl was speaking in support of an amendment to the $91.3-billion Senate version of the 2009 Iraq-Afghanistan war supplemental bill, aimed at preventing U.S. government funds from going to companies involved in selling refined petroleum¹² products to Iran.

A Senate vote on the supplemental bill is expected by the end of this week, and differences with a House of Representatives version will be resolved in conference between the two chambers¹³.

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 finalizing   

vt.完成（finalize的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• You may edit registered information any time during the finalizing period. 您可以在规定期限内随时编辑修改注册资料。 来自互联网
• Natsun Trimming & Ironing, Finalizing the Perfection. 40南山整烫，完美在此定格。 来自互联网

3 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

4 qualitative   

adj.性质上的，质的，定性的

参考例句：

• There are qualitative differences in the way children and adults think.孩子和成年人的思维方式有质的不同。
• Arms races have a quantitative and a qualitative aspects.军备竞赛具有数量和质量两个方面。

5 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

6 pinpoint   

vt.准确地确定；用针标出…的精确位置

参考例句：

• It is difficult to pinpoint when water problems of the modern age began.很难准确地指出，现代用水的问题是什么时候出现的。
• I could pinpoint his precise location on a map.我能在地图上指明他的准确位置。

7 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

8 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

9 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

10 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。

11 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

12 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

13 chambers   

n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅

参考例句：

• The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网