2007年VOA标准英语-Americans Want More Surveillance

By Paul Sisco
Washington
01 August 2007
 

At the bank, the airport, paying a toll¹ -- Americans know they are probably being watched and have come to expect it. Increasingly, surveillance cameras are becoming even more commonplace. Paul Sisco reports.

Surveillance cameras

Roving electronic eyes are going up in American cities at a rate of fifteen per week. Some listen as well as look.

John Lewin is with the Chicago police.  "We see a reduction in crime in the areas around the cameras. It may not be feasible to put a police officer on every corner but some day it might be possible to put a camera on every corner."

London's four million cameras and sensors² helped identify suspects in June’s failed bombings and those behind the deadly terrorist attacks two summers ago.

Jerry Hauer

Major U.S. cities are catching³ up. New York is adding 3,000 cameras. In Washington, San Francisco, and elsewhere, governments and businesses are installing more cameras. A recent poll says nearly three of four Americans are all for it.

Security expert Jerry Hauer is not.  "If someone is willing to give their life in the execution of a terrorist event, then the security camera is going to have virtually no impact."

Melissa Ngo

Some, like civil liberties advocate Melissa Ngo, fears misuse⁴ and loss of privacy.  “Will we become a society where every single move you make is being watched?"

Night cameras were used by police to monitor protesters at the last Republican convention in New York. Airport cameras in San Francisco were used to ogle⁵ women. Conversely, police and security officials say even when cameras do not always prevent crimes, they can be deterrents⁶ and aid in catching those who commit them.

1 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

2 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

3 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

4 misuse   

n.误用，滥用；vt.误用，滥用

参考例句：

• It disturbs me profoundly that you so misuse your talents.你如此滥用自己的才能，使我深感不安。
• He was sacked for computer misuse.他因滥用计算机而被解雇了。

5 ogle   

v.看；送秋波；n.秋波，媚眼

参考例句：

• He likes to ogle at the pretty girls.他爱盯着漂亮的女孩子。
• All she did was hang around ogling the men in the factory.她所做的就只是在工厂里荡来荡去，朝男人抛媚眼。

6 deterrents   

制止物( deterrent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Whereas attractants, repellents, and many incitants are olfactory substances, stimulants, and deterrents are usually gustatory. 引诱剂，排斥剂还是其他的兴奋剂都是嗅觉物质，但刺激剂和阻抑剂常常是味觉物质。
• A lack of empathy for and knowledge of foreign business practices are deterrents to one's success. 投入不够以及对对外商业惯例知识的不足会对一个人成功造成很大的威胁。