2006年VOA标准英语-Unprecedented Security in Place as Bush Be

By Benjamin Sand
Islamabad
04 March 2006

Pakistan's capital is virtually sealed off Saturday for President Bush's landmark¹ visit. Mr. Bush arrived Friday night amid unprecedented² security for his meeting with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, while the country braced³ for a wave of fresh anti-American protests.

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Pakistani army soldier stands guard  
  

Regional security concerns were high on the agenda as the two presidents began their one-day summit here Saturday.

But security inside Pakistan during Mr. Bush's visit was also a major concern, especially after Thursday's bombing outside the U.S. Consulate⁴ in Karachi.

Police are stationed throughout Islamabad. Helicopters patrol the skies, and commandos have staked out hilltops surrounding the city.

Hard-line Islamic groups and opposition⁵ parties are using Mr. Bush's visit to galvanize both anti-American and anti-Musharraf sentiment throughout the country.

Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed says the protests will be allowed, but only in tightly restricted locations.

"We have given them an area. If somebody wants to protest in Islamabad, there is a road where they can do this," he said.

Opposition parties have also rejected invitations to attend a state reception for the U.S. president Saturday night.

1 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

2 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

3 braced   

adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来

参考例句：

• They braced up the old house with balks of timber. 他们用梁木加固旧房子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The house has a wooden frame which is braced with brick. 这幢房子是木结构的砖瓦房。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 consulate   

n.领事馆

参考例句：

• The Spanish consulate is the large white building opposite the bank.西班牙领事馆是银行对面的那栋高大的白色建筑物。
• The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。

5 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。