精讀外刊:無人機的迴響:高科技武器回到了棲息之所
Drone blowback: High-tech weapons come home to roost
SHORTLY after 9/11, the US deployed a new form of high-tech warfare: sending drones into foreign airspace to kill terror suspects. At first the strikes were restricted to Afghanistan, but soon they were extended into Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. The strategy has been escalated by presidents Obama and Trump.
Word & Expression
1. Deploy
- V. To deploy troops or military resources means to organize or position them so that they are ready to be used. 部署
- The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.
總統說他無意調遣地面部隊。
- 片語:Deploy Tool 部署工具
Deploy Project 部署項目
2. Escalate
- V.?If a bad situation escalates or if someone or something escalates it, it becomes greater in size, seriousness, or intensity. 使…加劇; 加劇
- Both unions and management fear the dispute could escalate.
(dispute n.爭端)
各工會與資方都害怕爭端會加劇。
- 片語:diminish escalate 減少
Slowly Escalate 逐步晉級
escalate into 逐步升級為
參考翻譯
無人機的迴響:高科技武器回到了棲息之所
9/ 11事件發生後不久,美國部署了一種新型高科技戰爭:派遣無人機進入外國領空,以擊斃恐怖分子嫌犯。起初,這些襲擊僅限於阿富汗,但很快就擴展到了巴基斯坦、葉門和索馬利亞。總統奧巴馬和特朗普的策略已經升級。
句子精講
SHORTLY after 9/11, the US deployed a new form of high-tech warfare
After用法
1. 用作連詞是詞,它引導的時間狀語從句如果具有將來意義,往往要用一般現在時來表示(有時也用現在完成時),而不能直接用一般將來時。如:
誤:I』ll tell him after you wil leave.
正:I』ll tell him after you leave (或have left). 你走了之後我再告訴他。
註:(1) 具有以上性質的時間連詞還有when, as soon as, until 等以及條件連詞if。
(2) 選擇一般現進或現在完成進(表示將來意義)的基本原則是:如果強調從句 動作在主句動作之前完成,則用現在完成時;如果強調主從句動作 同時發 生,或幾乎同時發生(尤其是當從句的謂語動詞是get, arrive, see, hear, leave, return等表示迅速完成的動作的動詞時),多用一般現在時(有時 兩種時態都可以)。如;
I will give my opinion when I have read the book through.
我把書看完了再提意見。
We』ll leave as soon as it stops (或has stopped) raining.
雨停我們就動身。
2. 一般說來,如果在過去某一時間內先後發生了兩個動作,那麼先發生的動作用過去完成時,後發生的動作用一般過去時。但是若用連詞after 來連接這兩個動作,由於after本身已說明了兩個動作的先後關係,所以兩者均可用一般過去時。如:
After he (had) closed the door, he left the house.
關了門之後,他就離開了家。
註:類似這種性質的時間連詞還有before, as soon as等。
3. 有時以連詞after引導的時間狀語從句可以換成一個以介詞after引導介詞短語或以連詞after引導的分詞短語,而意義不變。如:
He went to school after he had breakfast (=after breakfast).
了早飯之後,他就去上學了。
After l had finished (=After having finished / After finishing / Having
我幹完活後就去睡覺了。
4. after還可用作副詞,意為「後來」或「(一段時間)以後」,通常要放在另一時間副詞之後。如:
We arrived soon (或just / shortly) after.
我們不久就到了。
He returned twenty years after.
20年後他回來了。
註:(1) 在非正式文體中,after也可放在其它詞之後。如:
We had dinner and went home after.
我們吃了飯,後來就回家了。
Initially the US had a virtual monopoly on drone technology, but commentators pointed out that this would only be temporary. Legal scholars also warned that the strikes were of dubious international legality. The implication was clear: if the US could strike with impunity, what was there to stop others from doing the same?
Word & Expression
1. Point out
- PHRASAL VERB?If you point out an object or place, you make people look at it or show them where it is. 指出; 指明
- They kept standing up to take pictures and point things out to each other.
他們不停地站起來照相,還相互指些東西給對方看。
- PHRASAL VERB?If you point out a fact or mistake, you tell someone about it or draw their attention to it. 指出 (事實、錯誤)
- I should point out that these estimates cover just the hospital expenditures.
(expenditures n.開支)
我應該指出,這些估價只包括醫院的開支。
2. Dubious
- ADJ?If you describe something as dubious, you mean that you do not consider it to be completely honest, safe, or reliable. 可疑的; 不太可靠的
- This claim seems to us to be rather dubious.
這項聲明在我們看來相當不可信。
- ADJ?If you are dubious about something, you are not completely sure about it and have not yet made up your mind about it. 有疑慮的
- My parents were a bit dubious about it all at first but we soon convinced them.
起初我父母親對此尚心存疑慮,但很快我們便說服了他們。
3. Impunity
- PHRASE?If you say that someone does something with impunity, you disapprove of the fact that they are not punished for doing something bad. 不受懲罰
- These gangs operate with apparent impunity. (gang n. 犯罪團伙)
這些犯罪團伙明火執仗,卻沒有受到懲罰。
參考翻譯
起初,美國對無人機技術有實質上的壟斷,但評論人士指出,這只是暫時的。法律學者也警告說,這些罷工國際合法性中是不確定的。其含意是明確的:如果美國可以不受懲罰地罷工,那還有什麼能阻止其他人這麼做呢?
句子精講
if the US could strike with impunity, what was there to stop others from doing the same?
一、if作為連詞,引導條件狀語從句,它表示的意思是「假如」「如果」等.在複合句中如果主句用將 來時,則if引導的狀語從句用一般現在時.
If itdoesn』train,we will go to the park next Sunday.如果天不下雨,下周星期天我們將去公園.
二、if還可以引導讓步狀語從句.這時if當作「即使是」,「雖說」.例如:If she』s poor,at least she』s honest.
雖說她很窮,但至少她還是誠實的.
If I am wrong,you are wrong,too.即使說我錯了,那麼你也不對.
I』ll do it,even if it takes me all the afternoon.雖然會花費我一下午的時間,我還是要做這事.
三、if作為連詞還可以引導賓語從句.引導賓語從句時和whether意思相同Lily asked if / whether she liked it.
莉莉問她是否喜歡它.
She asked if / whether they had a cotton one.她問是否他們有一件棉織的.
四、if引導時間狀語從句,當if做「當」或「無論何時」解而不含有條件之義時,if從句中的時態與主句中的時態相同.例如:
If youmix yellow and blue,you get green.你將黃色與藍色混合,便會得到綠色.
If she wants the servant,she rings the bell.每當她需要僕人時,她便按鈴.
五、if後接否定動詞,用於感嘆句中,表示沮喪、驚奇等.例如:
Well,if I haven』t left my false teeth at home!真倒霉,我把假牙丟在家裡了!
And if he didn』t try to knock me down!(What do you think he did!He tried knock me down!)你猜他想做什麼?他想把我撞倒!
六、用於虛擬語氣中,if從句中用過去式,表示不可能實現,大概不會實現或提出作為考慮的假定條件.例如:
If you were a bird,you could fly.假使你是只鳥,你便會飛了.
If I asked him(if I were to ask him) for a loan,would he agree?如果我向他借貸,他會答應嗎?
另外,if從句中用過去完成式,表示過去未實現的條件(例如由於不可能實現或某人之未能實行).例如:If they had startedearlier,they would have arrivedin time.
要是他們早些動身,他們便可及時到達了.
If they had not started when they did,they would not be here now.如果他們那時不動身,現在他們就不會在此地了.
七、if與其它一些介詞的連用.
首先,as與if連用,它的意思是:「彷彿、好像」同樣引導從句.例如:It isn』t as if we are rich.(We are not rich.)我們不像富有的樣子.(即我們不富有)
It isn』t as if he doesn』t know the ruler.(i.e.He does know the rulers.)他不像不懂規則的樣子.(即他懂得規則)
That threat has yet to come to pass. But China and Russia are both reportedly in possession of combat drones and there are fears that the development of cheaper models will lead to global proliferation. That latter danger now appears imminent, with a company in Ukraine developing combat drones at a fraction of the cost of a US Predator drone . Meanwhile, ISIS fighters in Iraq are customising commercial drones to drop grenades. It isn』t inconceivable that this tactic could be used on the streets of Paris, London or Brussels.
Word & Expression
1. Proliferation
- 擴散
- Proliferation and use of open source assets.
開放源碼資產的使用和擴散。
2. Imminent
- ADJ?If you say that something is imminent, especially something unpleasant, you mean it is almost certain to happen very soon. (尤指不好的事情) 即將發生的
- There appeared no imminent danger.
眼前似乎沒有危險。
- 片語:imminent danger迫在眉睫的危險
imminent threat緊迫的威脅
3. A fraction of
- 一小部分
- The economy is still a fraction of ours.
他們的經濟仍然是我們的一部分。
4. Grenade
- N.?A grenade or a hand grenade is a small bomb that can be thrown by hand. 手榴彈
- A hand grenade was thrown at an army patrol.
一顆手榴彈被扔向陸軍巡邏隊。
5. Tactic
- N.?Tactics are the methods that you choose to use in order to achieve what you want in a particular situation. 戰術
- The rebels would still be able to use guerrilla tactics to make the country ungovernable.
反叛者仍然可以用游擊戰術使國家難以統治。
參考翻譯
這種威脅還沒有到來。但據報道,中國和俄羅斯都擁有戰鬥無人機,有人擔心開發更便宜的無人機將導致全球擴散。現在看來,後者的危險迫在眉睫,烏克蘭的一家公司研發的戰鬥無人機,只佔美國「捕食者」無人機成本的一小部分。與此同時,伊拉克的ISIS武裝分子正在定製商用無人機,以投擲手榴彈。這一策略可以在巴黎、倫敦或布魯塞爾的街道上使用,這並非是不可思議的。
句子精講
That threat has yet to come to pass.
Yet的用法
1. 用作副詞,表示「已經」、「至今」、「仍然」等,通常用於否定句、疑問句(包括一些表示懷疑的動詞),且通常位於句末。如:
Is your mother back yet? 你母親回來了嗎?
I don』t want to go away yet. 我還不想離開。
I doubt if he has read it yet. 我懷疑他是否讀過它。
註:在否定句中,有時也位於句中(緊跟在否定詞之後),這種用法比句末位置的用法更正式。如:
我們還不知道答案。
正:We don』t know the answer yet. (口語或非正式)
正:We do not yet know the answer. (正式)
誤:We don』t know yet the answer.
但有時可緊跟在動詞後的從句前。如:
I don』t know yet whether he』ll come or not. 我還不知道他來不來。
比較以下兩句的時態,與英國英語和美國英語有關:
我還沒收到他的來信。
正:I haven』t received a letter from him yet. (英)
正:I didn』t receive a letter from him yet. (美)
2. 有時與情態動詞連用,表示「遲早」、「早晚」。如:
We may win yet. 我們遲早會獲勝的。
The plan may even yet succeed. 該計劃將來說不定會成功。
3. 用作連詞,表示轉折,意為「但是」、「然而」,往往含有「儘管如此但……」之意。如:
He said he would be late, yet he arrived on time. 他說他會遲到,但他卻準時到了。
註:有時可與另一個連詞 and, but 連用(位於其後)。如:
The boy is fat and yet he runs very fast. 這男孩很胖,但卻跑得很快。
I agree with you, but yet I can』t consent. 我同意你的意見,但是我不能答應。
4. 用於 not (just) yet, 意為「尚未」「還不(沒有)」。如:
A:Are you ready to start?
你準備出發了嗎?
B:Not just yet. 還沒有
A:Has he ever been to a foreign country? 他出過國嗎?
B:Not yet. 沒有。
Some may say that reporting on such possibilities is irresponsible, because it risks seeding ideas into the minds of would-be terrorists. But the drone genie is out of the bottle; ISIS videos already show weaponised drones being used on the battlefield. It is better to be open about the threat so as to stimulate discussion about how to combat it – including action on the dissemination of extremist material by social media outlets.
Word & Expression
1. Stimulate
- V. To stimulate something means to encourage it to begin or develop further. 鼓勵; 刺激
- Americas priority is rightly to stimulate its economy.
美國的首要任務自然是刺激經濟。
- V.?If you are stimulated by something, it makes you feel full of ideas and enthusiasm. 激勵
- Bill was stimulated by the challenge.
比爾受到該挑戰的激勵。
- V.?If something stimulates a part of a persons body, it causes it to move or start working. 刺激 (身體器官)
- Exercise stimulates the digestive and excretory systems.
運動刺激消化和排泄系統。
2. Dissemination
- 宣傳
- Itcan be for dissemination of information, appreciation and instructional.
可以是宣傳信息,欣賞還有指導的目的。
參考翻譯
一些人可能會說,報道這種可能性是不負責任的,因為它冒著將想法植入潛在恐怖分子頭腦的風險。但是無人駕駛的想法已經像精靈一樣逃出了瓶子;ISIS的視頻已經展示了在戰場上使用的武器無人機。最好是將威脅公開,以便激發討論如何與之戰鬥——包括通過社會媒體渠道傳播極端主義的行動。
句子精講
It is better to be open about the threat so as to stimulate discussion about how to combat it
How和what
1. 兩者均可用來引出感嘆句,how用於修飾形容詞、副詞或動詞,而 what 用於修飾名詞。如:
How difficult it is! 它是多難啊!
How well he plays the violin.
他的小提琴拉得真好!
【注】有時也說 How clever a boy he is! 但不是很常見。
2. 在詢問看法時,以下兩句型同義,注意搭配的動詞不同:
你覺得這部電影怎麼樣?
正:How do you like the film?
正:What do you think of the film?
3. 在詢問天氣時,以下兩類句型同義,但句型結構不同:
今天天氣怎麼樣?
正:How is the weather today?
正:What is the weather like today?
4. 詢問某人或事物的暫時現象通常用 how;詢問某人或事物的持久特徵通常用 what……like。如:
How』s work these days?
近來工作情況如何?
What』s your mother like?
你母親是怎樣一個人?
5. 詢問某人的健康情況時用 how, 詢問某人職業時用 what。如:
How is your mother?
你母親好嗎?
What』s your father?
你父親是幹什麼的?
6. 表示「如何(說)」,用 how 和 what 均可,但搭配不同。如:
它用英語怎麼說?
How do you say it in English?
What do you call it in English?
7. 在詢問「長短」「寬窄」「高低」「多少」等意義時,以下兩類句型同義,用 what 比用 what 更正式。如:
你多大年紀?
How old are you?
What』s your age?
這河有多寬?
How wide is the river?
What』s the width of the river?
The aftermath of 9/11 saw the revival of the CIA term 「blowback「, referring to the unintended consequences of covert military action. The current wave of terrorist attacks in the West is fuelled, in part, by perceived injustices of Western foreign policy, including drone strikes. The blowback is on – or maybe just over – the horizon.
Word & Expression
1. Aftermath
- N.?The aftermath of an important event, especially a harmful one, is the situation that results from it. (災難性大事件的) 後果
- In the aftermath of the coup, the troops opened fire on the demonstrators.
在那次政變的餘波之中,軍隊向示威者開了槍。
2. Perceive
- V.?If you perceive something, you see, notice, or realize it, especially when it is not obvious. 感知到
- Students must perceive for themselves the relationship between success and effort.
學生們必須自己去認識到成功與努力之間的關係。
- V.?If you perceive someone or something as doing or being a particular thing, it is your opinion that they do this thing or that they are that thing. 認為
- Stress is widely perceived as contributing to coronary heart disease.
壓力普遍被認為能造成冠心病
參考翻譯
從9·11事件的餘波中看到了中央情報局術語「迴響」的復興,指的是秘密軍事行動的意外後果。目前西方的恐怖襲擊浪潮,部分原因是西方外交政策的不公正,包括無人機襲擊。迴響正在進行,也可能剛剛結束。
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