VOA标准英语2012--Nigerian Churches Ramp Up Security Against Attack Risk

Nigerian Churches Ramp¹ Up Security Against Attack Risk

Near-daily violence in northern Nigeria is increasingly targeting churches. Bombings and other attacks have killed dozens of Christians² in recent months. 

Armed policeman keep watch outside this Assemblies of God parish in the Kakuri area of Kaduna, as church members pray inside.

Trust in God, says head minister, Reverend Emmanuel Daudu, does not mean letting down your guard. "We don't fear but we are security-conscious because we don't have to be relaxing and our enemies to take us unawares. We have to be alert always because we don't know their plans against us or against the church," he said. 

All vehicles are checked for weapons and explosives before they enter the compound. Three policemen and a dozen volunteer security guards, led by Aminu Timothy Babah, patrol the grounds.

"We are feeling that let's try and do what we are able to do, to do the best we can, to make sure that the tension that is rising in the minds of people at least is being cooled down or being reduced," he said. 

A car bomb exploded on a city street in Kaduna on Easter Sunday, killing³ 40 people and wounding several more. Many suspect the intended target was a nearby church compound. 

The militant⁴ Islamist group, Boko Haram, has repeatedly pledged to "purify" northern Nigeria of Christians.

The sect⁵ has launched several deadly attacks against churches, the most recent at a university in Kano that killed 15 people. Witnesses said gunmen threw explosives and then fired at those trying to flee.

Here in Kaduna, Christians like Amako Laraba say nothing can keep them from going to church. 

"When you send your children to school, you are little bit afraid what might happen in the town but in the church we are safe. The Bible teach me that we should have faith in God. This is our town. This is our home. This is where we should worship so we feel very free," he said. 

The two-hour service is a cathartic⁶ experience. Joyous⁷ bursts of singing break up bouts⁸ of fiery⁹ preaching and concentrated prayer. 

There are fears that attacks against Christians in this already volatile¹⁰ region could aggravate¹¹ tensions, and even spark reprisal¹² attacks on Muslims.

Church members, however, say they continue to pray for redemption and peace. 

1 ramp   

n.暴怒，斜坡，坡道；vi.作恐吓姿势，暴怒，加速；vt.加速

参考例句：

• That driver drove the car up the ramp.那司机将车开上了斜坡。
• The factory don't have that capacity to ramp up.这家工厂没有能力加速生产。

2 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

3 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

4 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

5 sect   

n.派别，宗教，学派，派系

参考例句：

• When he was sixteen he joined a religious sect.他16岁的时候加入了一个宗教教派。
• Each religious sect in the town had its own church.该城每一个宗教教派都有自己的教堂。

6 cathartic   

adj.宣泄情绪的；n.泻剂

参考例句：

• His laughter was cathartic,an animal yelp that brought tears to his eyes.他哈哈大笑以宣泄情绪，声音如野兽般尖厉，眼泪都笑出来了。
• The drug had a cathartic effect.这药有导泻的作用。

7 joyous   

adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的

参考例句：

• The lively dance heightened the joyous atmosphere of the scene.轻快的舞蹈给这场戏渲染了欢乐气氛。
• They conveyed the joyous news to us soon.他们把这一佳音很快地传递给我们。

8 bouts   

n.拳击（或摔跤）比赛( bout的名词复数 )；一段（工作）；（尤指坏事的）一通；（疾病的）发作

参考例句：

• For much of his life he suffered from recurrent bouts of depression. 他的大半辈子反复发作抑郁症。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It was one of fistiana's most famous championship bouts. 这是拳击界最有名的冠军赛之一。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

9 fiery   

adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的

参考例句：

• She has fiery red hair.她有一头火红的头发。
• His fiery speech agitated the crowd.他热情洋溢的讲话激动了群众。

10 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

11 aggravate   

vt.加重(剧)，使恶化；激怒，使恼火

参考例句：

• Threats will only aggravate her.恐吓只能激怒她。
• He would only aggravate the injury by rubbing it.他揉擦伤口只会使伤势加重。

12 reprisal   

n.报复，报仇，报复性劫掠

参考例句：

• There is no political alternative but a big reprisal.政治上没有旁的选择只能是大规模报复。
• They bombed civilian targets in reprisal.他们炮轰平民目标作为报复。