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VOA慢速英语2013 美国核谈判代表建议放松对伊朗的制裁

时间:2013-11-18 11:31:30

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AS IT IS 2013-10-30 US Nuclear Negotiator Suggests Easing Sanctions on Iran 美国核谈判代表建议放松对伊朗的制裁

Welcome to As It Is, from VOA Learning English! I’m Mario Ritter.  Today, we hear from a top-level American State Department official. And we get her thoughts about measures meant to punish Iran for its nuclear activities.

“We think this is a time for a pause, to see if these negotiations1 can gain traction2.”

Wendy Sherman suggests ending some restrictions3 on Iran in return for progress in talks on its nuclear program. Then, we hear about the world of the very small -- the world of nanotechnology. Researchers are trying to create super plastics by making changes to molecules4.

Recently, VOA’s Persian Service spoke5 to the top nuclear negotiator for the United States. Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman talked about her part in discussions between world powers and Iran on its nuclear program. June Simms has more.

The most recent nuclear talks took place earlier this month in Geneva, Switzerland. The negotiations involved Iran and six other nations, or what officials are calling the P5 + 1 nations. They are the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany.

The October talks were called a good first step. So much so, that Ms. Sherman says it might be time to reconsider sanctions -- measures designed to punish Iran for its nuclear activities.

“We think this is a time for a pause, to see if these negotiations can gain traction.”

The idea is that a meaningful nuclear agreement can be reached. The undersecretary of state says President Obama and the State Department will have to work with members of Congress to lift some sanctions. She says serious discussions are taking place.

“Some sanctions relief of some sort is important for a first step.”

Her statement comes as distrust between the two sides continues.

Iran has worked for years to enrich large amounts of uranium. It says the effort is aimed at producing only electricity. Western nations, however, say they have evidence that Iran’s nuclear program is working to produce highly enriched fuel for nuclear weapons.

Over the years, Iran has tested missiles that are able to carry a nuclear weapon great distances. The United Nations Security Council has passed resolutions ordering sanctions against Iran. Several other nations and the United States have put their own measures in place.

Undersecretary Sherman spoke about the level of distrust weeks ago during a meeting with members of Congress.

“We know that deception6 is part of the DNA7, we want to make sure that we can put some time on the clock for those comprehensive negotiations.”

Iranian newspapers denounced her words recently. Some in Iran have called the comments an “insult that adds another brick to the wall” of mistrust between the two sides.

This year, Hassan Rouhani, took office after winning Iran’s presidential election. He is widely considered a moderate in Iranian politics.

Wendy Sherman told VOA that the United States believes President Rouhani when he says Iran does not want nuclear weapons. But she says that Iran now needs to take real steps to show that those words are meaningful.

The next talks on Iran’s nuclear program are to take place early next month.

I’m June Simms.

Nanotechnology Could Make Plastic More Air-Tight

From the world of international diplomacy8, we turn our attention to the world of common materials. One of the most common materials is plastic.

Plastic is everywhere. The material can be used to manufacture excellent containers. But scientists are now able to make plastic even better. They are doing this with nanotechnology -- engineering that takes place on the level of atoms and molecules. Christopher Cruise has this report from VOA’s Greg Flakus.

Graphene is a one-atom thick layer of the mineral graphite. This extremely thin material could have many uses, making some everyday things better.

Researchers in Texas are testing the material. Graphene can be part of a plastic composite, or combination, that makes containers airtight. This means it could improve containers for substances as dissimilar as natural gas and soft drinks.

It all starts with a very thin film of plastic. Changsheng Xiang is a nanotechnology researcher at Rice University in Houston, Texas. He says the composite plastic with graphene can be stretched many times its normal size without breaking.

“The film is very strong and is also very flexible. So you see we can stretch it to this extent and, actually, it can go to 700 percent of its original.”

Researchers have made the plastic composite strong by adding thin pieces, or ribbons, of graphene. The ribbons block passageways between molecules that normally exist in plastic. The researchers found that adding these nano-ribbons makes it 1,000 times harder for gases to escape.

Rice University Chemistry Professor James Tour says making graphene in large amounts is not yet practical. But he says one day it may be cost less than other methods for making gas-leak resistant9 containers.

When added to something like a plastic soda10 bottle, the graphene would hold the carbon dioxide gas inside the bottle for much longer. It can also keep oxygen out. This may keep foods fresher for longer periods.

Other uses could include making containers that hold natural gas for shipment, limiting loss. Fuel tanks using the technology could be made in large unusual shapes to fit existing spaces in vehicles instead of taking up space as big tanks.

“Instead of having the tank in a sausage shape that takes up a lot of area of the trunk, is to make the tank conform, in other words, make it like tubes, make it like intestines11 that could snake through different areas.”

James Tour has been working with researchers in Hungary, Slovenia and India. He says his team will continue testing graphene. The team also is working with private companies to develop it for use in industry. That makes researcher Changsheng Xiang happy. He says such materials engineered on such a small level are easy to ignore, but they are very important.

“Nanotechnology really affects peoples’ lives, even though you cannot see it with your eyes.”

I’m Christopher Cruise.


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1 negotiations af4b5f3e98e178dd3c4bac64b625ecd0     
协商( negotiation的名词复数 ); 谈判; 完成(难事); 通过
参考例句:
  • negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
  • Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。
2 traction kJXz3     
n.牵引;附着摩擦力
参考例句:
  • I'll show you how the traction is applied.我会让你看如何做这种牵引。
  • She's injured her back and is in traction for a month.她背部受伤,正在作一个月的牵引治疗。
3 restrictions 81e12dac658cfd4c590486dd6f7523cf     
约束( restriction的名词复数 ); 管制; 制约因素; 带限制性的条件(或规则)
参考例句:
  • I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
  • a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制
4 molecules 187c25e49d45ad10b2f266c1fa7a8d49     
分子( molecule的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
  • Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里,大分子裂变为小分子。
5 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
6 deception vnWzO     
n.欺骗,欺诈;骗局,诡计
参考例句:
  • He admitted conspiring to obtain property by deception.他承认曾与人合谋骗取财产。
  • He was jailed for two years for fraud and deception.他因为诈骗和欺诈入狱服刑两年。
7 DNA 4u3z1l     
(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸
参考例句:
  • DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
  • Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。
8 diplomacy gu9xk     
n.外交;外交手腕,交际手腕
参考例句:
  • The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
  • This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。
9 resistant 7Wvxh     
adj.(to)抵抗的,有抵抗力的
参考例句:
  • Many pests are resistant to the insecticide.许多害虫对这种杀虫剂有抵抗力。
  • They imposed their government by force on the resistant population.他们以武力把自己的统治强加在持反抗态度的人民头上。
10 soda cr3ye     
n.苏打水;汽水
参考例句:
  • She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。
  • I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。
11 intestines e809cc608db249eaf1b13d564503dbca     
n.肠( intestine的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Perhaps the most serious problems occur in the stomach and intestines. 最严重的问题或许出现在胃和肠里。 来自辞典例句
  • The traps of carnivorous plants function a little like the stomachs and small intestines of animals. 食肉植物的捕蝇器起着动物的胃和小肠的作用。 来自辞典例句

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