《學英文 懂新聞》藉由閱讀第一手的新聞資訊,不僅能學到正統道地的新聞英文,更能培養慎思明辨的能力。
Former Top US Defense Officials Arrive in Taiwan Amid Russia-Ukraine War
As the Ukraine crisis escalates, Taipei welcomed a high-level visit by former top U.S. defense officials, which indicates “rock-solid relations” between Taiwan and the United States, a Taiwanese official said.
The unannounced delegation arrived in Taipei at 4:13 p.m. local time on March 1, according to Taiwan’s state-run Central News Agency (CNA). The group, led by retired Admiral Mike Mullen, former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will meet President Tsai Ing-wen in the following morning, and attend a banquet later that day.
The two-day visit underscores bipartisan support from Washington and “will even more clearly highlight the rock-solid relations between Taiwan and the United States, especially at a time of the Ukraine crisis,” Taiwan’s presidential office spokesperson Chang Tun-han said a day earlier, CNA reported.
【譯文】俄烏戰爭之際,美國前高級國防官員來訪臺灣
一名臺灣官員表示,隨著烏克蘭危機加劇,臺北迎接美國前高級國防官員的高層來訪,這意味臺灣與美國之間的關係「堅若磐石」。
當地時間3月1日下午4時13分,代表團(未公布名單)抵達臺北,據臺灣官方的中央通訊社 (CNA) 報導。代表團小組由前參謀長聯席會主席、退役海軍上將穆倫(Mike Mullen)率領,於次日上午會見蔡英文總統,並於當天晚上出席宴會。
中央社報導,為期兩天的訪問,強調出華盛頓兩黨的支持,臺灣總統府發言人張惇涵前一天稍早表示,「將更加清楚的突顯臺灣與美國之間堅若磐石的關係,尤其在烏克蘭危機之際。」
【單字/詞解析】
escalate,動詞 /ˈes.kə.leɪt/ 加劇
自然發音:ES-ca-late
英解:to become greater or more serious
例句:The escalating rate of inflation will almost certainly bring escalating prices.(通貨膨脹率的不斷上升,幾乎肯定會導致物價攀升。)
indicate,動詞 /ˈɪn.dɪ.keɪt/ 顯示
自然發音:IN-di-cate
英解:to show, make clear in another way
例句:Our survey indicates that one in four children is bullied at school.(根據我們的調查顯示,四分之一的兒童,在學校遭到霸凌。)
delegation ,名詞 /ˌdeləˈɡeɪʃən/ 代表團
自然發音:de-le-GA-tion
英解:a group of people who represent a country, government, or organization
例句:She was nominated as the delegation's official interpreter.
(她被提名為代表團的官方翻譯。)
underscore,動詞 /ˌʌn.dɚˈskɔːr/ 強調
自然發音:un-der-SCORE
英解:to emphasize
例句:Both candidates underscored their commitment to national security.
(兩位候選人都強調了他們對國家安全的承諾。)
【慎思明辨】
你可以針對以下議題進行論述,甚至寫一篇英文短文,練習英文寫作或口語表達。
*臺美關係正呈現史無前例的友好與緊密,您是否會擔心美國只是嘴上說說、玩兩面手法,而在必要時刻,會對臺灣袖手旁觀?
*現任拜登政府在烏俄戰爭緊張之際,特別專機派遣使節團來臺,您認為用意何在?◇