【英语时差8,16】核电厂更安全了吗？（下）

According to the 2009 update of an MIT study first published in 2003, nuclear power plants in the United States have become more reliable and significantly safer. For one thing, nuclear plant operators now receive better and more rigorous training. And, according to the report, new reactor¹ designs meet strenuous² safety standards. On the other hand, the MIT study also notes that since Three Mile Island and Chernobyl there have been some close calls. For example, in 2002 the Davis Besse reactor in Ohio avoided a serious accident when a hole in the reactor vessel³ was discovered during an inspection⁴. The incident is all the more troubling for the fact that the plant owners apparently⁵ ignored early warning signs. So bottom line, the MIT report concludes that improved training and safety standards have made nuclear power relatively⁶ safer. But it’s not yet clear that all nuclear plants have embraced safety as their main priority.

 

1 reactor   

n.反应器；反应堆

参考例句：

• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

2 strenuous   

adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的

参考例句：

• He made strenuous efforts to improve his reading. 他奋发努力提高阅读能力。
• You may run yourself down in this strenuous week.你可能会在这紧张的一周透支掉自己。

3 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

4 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

5 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

6 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。