2006年VOA标准英语-Britain Lowers Terrorist Threat Level

By Gary Thomas
London
14 August 2006
  
watch British Terrorists report

Britain has lowered its security threat level, but warned that there is still a strong likelihood of a terrorist attack. The ban on carry-on luggage for airline passengers was also relaxed somewhat.

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Home Secretary John Reid said the threat level had been lowered one grade from "critical", the highest level in Britain, to "severe", which is where it was last week before the exposure of a terrorist plot. But he stressed that does not mean that the terrorist threat has evaporated.

"The public needs to know that there may be other people out there who may be planning to attack against the United Kingdom. That is why there are a number of security service operations under way," he said. "There is still a very serious threat of an attack. The threat level is at 'severe' indicating the high likelihood of an attempted terrorist attack at some stage."

The threat level was raised last Thursday after authorities arrested 24 people in connection with an alleged¹ plot to blow up aircraft flying from Britain to the United States. Police said the plotters planned to smuggle² liquid explosives aboard the aircraft and detonate them during flight. 

Passengers waiting to check in for their flights at Terminal 4 of London's Heathrow Airport, shelter under umbrellas as rain falls, Monday August 14, 2006

In the wake of the plot's exposure, British authorities banned virtually all hand baggage and ordered intensified³ hand searches of all air passengers. The stringent⁴ new measures wreaked⁵ havoc⁶ with travelers, creating long lines in airports and the cancellation⁷ or delay of many flights.

Some of those rules have been relaxed. Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander said passengers will now be allowed to bring the equivalent of a medium-sized briefcase⁸ on board and, to the relief of many a business traveler, electronic items such as laptop computers.

"It should be sufficient for you to carry books, magazines, or other such items for your journey. Electronic devices such as personal stereos and laptops will be permitted, but these will be subjected to screening before you board," Alexander said. "The smaller baggage size will make it easier for security staff to search your bag, and make it more difficult for terrorists to hide something dangerous."

Passengers still cannot bring beverages⁹ or other liquids, except for baby formula or liquid prescription¹⁰ medicine. But items purchased after passing through security, such as those for sale in duty-free shops, are again allowed on board except for U.S.-bound flights, where a total ban remains¹¹ in place.

Transport Secretary Alexander said inconvenience will be inevitable¹² as the new security regimen settles into place.

"I accept that it will involve additional effort on the part of the airlines and airports, and some degree of inconvenience for passengers," he said. "But, in conclusion, I realize that the present difficulties at our airports may continue for some time as the new procedures are implemented¹³."

There was still considerable disruption of British air traffic, especially at Heathrow, the country's largest and busiest airport as passengers and airlines scrambled¹⁴ to reschedule travel.

1 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

2 smuggle   

vt.私运；vi.走私

参考例句：

• Friends managed to smuggle him secretly out of the country.朋友们想方设法将他秘密送出国了。
• She has managed to smuggle out the antiques without getting caught.她成功将古董走私出境，没有被逮捕。

3 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 stringent   

adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的

参考例句：

• Financiers are calling for a relaxation of these stringent measures.金融家呼吁对这些严厉的措施予以放宽。
• Some of the conditions in the contract are too stringent.合同中有几项条件太苛刻。

5 wreaked   

诉诸（武力），施行（暴力），发（脾气）( wreak的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The earthquake wreaked havoc on the city. 地震对这个城市造成了大破坏。
• They have wreaked dreadful havoc among the wildlife by shooting and trapping. 他们射杀和诱捕野生动物，造成了严重的破坏。

6 havoc   

n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱

参考例句：

• The earthquake wreaked havoc on the city.地震对这个城市造成了大破坏。
• This concentration of airborne firepower wrought havoc with the enemy forces.这次机载火力的集中攻击给敌军造成很大破坏。

7 cancellation   

n.删除，取消

参考例句：

• Heavy seas can cause cancellation of ferry services.海上风浪太大，可能须要取消渡轮服务。
• Her cancellation of her trip to Paris upset our plan.她取消了巴黎之行打乱了我们的计划。

8 briefcase   

n.手提箱，公事皮包

参考例句：

• He packed a briefcase with what might be required.他把所有可能需要的东西都装进公文包。
• He requested the old man to look after the briefcase.他请求那位老人照看这个公事包。

9 beverages   

n.饮料( beverage的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• laws governing the sale of alcoholic beverages 控制酒类销售的法规
• regulations governing the sale of alcoholic beverages 含酒精饮料的销售管理条例

10 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

11 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

12 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

13 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

14 scrambled   

v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞

参考例句：

• Each scrambled for the football at the football ground. 足球场上你争我夺。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He scrambled awkwardly to his feet. 他笨拙地爬起身来。 来自《简明英汉词典》