原文期刊：华盛顿邮报

原文标题：Don’t fear the TSA cutting airport security. Be glad that they’re talking about it.

本文选自2018年8月7日《华盛顿邮报》的一篇文章。911恐怖袭击事件曾给美国造成极大的创伤，致使美国人对恐怖袭击谈虎色变，更对安全问题异常敏感。因此，TSA（美国交通安全管理局）“取消小型机场安检”的提议遭到强烈反对便也不难理解。但本文作者从事实情况与统计数据出发，提出在小型机场安检上过度投入是对时间及金钱的浪费，而TSA试图改革的做法值得嘉奖。

行文脉络：描述背景：TSA削减小型机场安检的提议遭到政客们的强烈反对（第一、二段）——从成本角度分析问题：在小型机场安检上过度投入不符合成本效益（第三至六段）——从政治角度分析问题，并提出建议：将安全政治化会造成严重后果，在机场安检问题上应赋予TSA更多自主权（第七至九段）。【原文】

I ①Last week, CNN reported that the Transportation Security Administration is considering eliminating security at U.S. airports that fly only smaller planes — 60 seats or fewer. ②Passengers connecting to larger planes would clear security at their destinations.

II ①It’s not new: The TSA considered this back in 2011, and the agency reviews its security policies every year. ②But commentary around the news has been strongly negative. ③Regardless of the idea’s merit, it will almost certainly not happen. ④That’s the result of politics, not security: Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), one of numerous outraged lawmakers, has already penned a letter to the agency saying that “TSA documents proposing to scrap critical passenger security screenings, without so much as a metal detector in place in some airports, would effectively clear the runway for potential terrorist attacks.”

III ①We don’t know enough to conclude whether this is a good idea, but it shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand. ②We need to evaluate airport security based on concrete costs and benefits, and not continue to implement security theater based on fear. ③And we should applaud the agency’s willingness to explore changes in the screening process.

IV ①There is already a tiered system for airport security, varying for both airports and passengers. ②Many people are enrolled in TSA PreCheck, allowing them to go through checkpoints faster and with less screening. ③Smaller airports don’t have modern screening equipment like full-body scanners or CT baggage screeners, making it impossible for them to detect some plastic explosives. ④Any would-be terrorist is already able to pick and choose his flight conditions to suit his plot.

V ①There are two basic kinds of terrorists. ②The amateurs will be deterred or detected by even basic security measures. ③The professionals will figure out how to evade even the most stringent measures. ④The two things that have made flying safer since 9/11 are reinforcing the cockpit doors and persuading passengers that they need to fight back. ⑤Everything beyond that isn’t worth it.

VI ①Realistically, we need to analyze whether the increased security of any measure is worth the cost, in money, time and convenience. ②We spend $8 billion a year on the TSA, and we’d like to get the most security possible for that money. ③This is exactly what that TSA working group was doing. ④CNN reported that the group specifically evaluated the costs and benefits of eliminating security at minor airports, saving $115 million a year with a “small (nonzero) undesirable increase in risk.”

VII ①We need more of this kind of thinking. ②In 2017, political scientists Mark Stewart and John Mueller published a detailed evaluation of airport security measures based on the cost to implement and the benefit in terms of lives saved. ③They concluded that most of what our government does either isn’t effective at preventing terrorism or is simply too expensive to justify the security it does provide.

VIII ①The more we politicize security, the worse we are. ②People are generally terrible judges of risk. ③We fear threats in the news out of proportion with the actual dangers. ④We overestimate rare and spectacular risks, and underestimate commonplace ones. ⑤We fear specific “movie-plot threats” that we can bring to mind. ⑥That’s why we fear flying over driving, even though the latter kills about 35,000 people each year — about a 9/11’s worth of deaths each month. ⑦And it’s why the idea of the TSA eliminating security at minor airports fills us with fear. ⑧We can imagine the plot unfolding, only without Bruce Willis saving the day.

IX ①Very little today is immune to politics, including the TSA. ②It drove most of the agency’s decisions in the early years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. ③That the TSA is willing to consider politically unpopular ideas is a credit to the organization. ④Let’s let them perform their analyses in peace.

【词汇短语】

1. eliminate /ɪ'lɪmɪneɪt/ v. 消除；不加以考虑；拒绝

2. clear security 通过安检

3. destination /,destɪ'neɪʃən/ n. 目的地，终点

4. commentary /'kɒməntərɪ/ n. 评论

5. merit /'merɪt/ n. 优点，价值；功绩

6. numerous /'njuːmərəs/ a. 许多的，很多的

7. outraged /'autreidʒid/ a. 义愤填膺的；愤慨的

8. pen a letter 写信

9. scrap /skræp/ v. 废弃；使解体

10. security screening 安全检查

11. detector /dɪ'tektə/ n. 探测器

12. runway /'rʌnweɪ/ n. 跑道

13. dismiss /dɪs'mɪs/ v. 不予理会，不予考虑

14. security theater 安检表演

15. applaud /ə'plɔːd/ v. 赞同；称赞

16. tier /tɪə/ v. 使层层排列

17. enroll in参加

18. checkpoint /'tʃekpɒɪnt/ n. 检查站

19. scanner /'skænə/ n. 扫描仪

20. *plastic explosive塑性炸药

21. plot /plɒt/ n. 情节；阴谋

22. amateur /ˈæmətər/ n. 外行

23. deter /dɪ'tɜː/ v. 制止，阻止

24. evade /ɪ'veɪd/ vt. 逃避；逃脱

25. *stringent /'strɪndʒənt/ a. 严格的；严厉的

26. reinforce /riːɪn'fɔːs/ v. 加强，加固

27. cockpit /'kɒkpɪt/ n. 驾驶员座舱

28. persuade /pə'sweɪd/ v. 说服；使某人相信

29. nonzero /nɒn'zɪərəʊ/ a. 非零的

30. undesirable /ʌndɪ'zaɪərəbəl/ adj. 不良的；不受欢迎的

31. politicize /pə'lɪtɪsaɪz/ v. 使具有政治性

32. overestimate /əʊvərˈɛstɪmeɪt/ v. 对……估计过高

33. spectacular /spek'tækjʊlə/ a. 壮观的，惊人的

34. underestimate /ʌndər'estɪmeɪt/ v. 低估；看轻

35. commonplace /'kɒmənpleɪs/ a. 普通的，平凡的

36. unfold /ʌn'fəʊld/ v. 打开；呈现

37. save the day反败为胜；挽救局面

38. be immune to对……有免疫力；不受……的影响

39. credit to将……归于；归功于

（注:标*的为超纲词）

【翻译点评】

I ①Last week, CNN reported that the Transportation Security Administration is considering eliminating security at U.S. airports that fly only smaller planes — 60 seats or fewer. ②Passengers connecting to larger planes would clear security at their destinations.

翻译：上周，CNN报道称，交通安全管理局正在考虑取消只搭载小型飞机（60个座位以下）机场的安检措施。在大型机场转机的乘客将在他们的目的地进行安检。

点评：I段描述事件：TSA考虑取消小型机场安检措施。①句开门见山，指出TSA针对机场安检的新措施。smaller planes将改革范围限定在小型机场，说明大型机场的安检程序不受影响。②句进一步指出转机到大型机场的乘客仍需在其目的地（即大型机场）接受安检，呼应①句所述改革范围。

II ①It’s not new: The TSA considered this back in 2011, and the agency reviews its security policies every year. ②But commentary around the news has been strongly negative. ③Regardless of the idea’s merit, it will almost certainly not happen. ④That’s the result of politics, not security: Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), one of numerous outraged lawmakers, has already penned a letter to the agency saying that “TSA documents proposing to scrap critical passenger security screenings, without so much as a metal detector in place in some airports, would effectively clear the runway for potential terrorist attacks.”

翻译：这不是什么新鲜事：早在2011年TSA就对此进行过考虑，该机构每年都会对其安全政策进行审查。但围绕该消息的评论一直都十分消极。无论这个想法有何优点，它几乎肯定不会成为现实。这是政治所导致的结果，而非安全：参议员查尔斯·E·舒默（纽约州）是众多愤怒的议员之一，他已经给该机构写了一封信，称“在许多安全措施还未就位（如在一些机场安装金属探测器）的情况下，TSA文件就提议取消重要的乘客安全检查，这实际上是为潜在的恐怖袭击提供了可乘之机。”

点评：II段描述议员们对TSA新举措的态度。①②句描述人们对机场安检改革的一贯态度。back in 2011、every year说明TSA早已有意进行改革。has been strongly negative借现在完成时态说明人们对改革的态度始终十分消极。③句指出，无论改革有何优点都几乎无法实现，进一步凸显消极观点的顽固。④句说明改革无法实现是“政治所导致的结果，而非安全自身存在问题”，并以一名议员的态度进行佐证。clear the runway字面意思为“清理机场跑道”，此处一语双关，指为恐怖分子清除障碍，即为其提供可乘之机。

III ①We don’t know enough to conclude whether this is a good idea, but it shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand. ②We need to evaluate airport security based on concrete costs and benefits, and not continue to implement security theater based on fear. ③And we should applaud the agency’s willingness to explore changes in the screening process.

翻译：我们所了解的还不足以判断这是否是一个好主意，但它不应该被弃之不顾。我们需要基于具体的成本和效益来评估机场安检，而不是继续基于恐惧来实行“安检表演”。我们应该对该机构寻求改变安检过程的意愿表示称赞。

点评：III段转折引出作者的不同观点。①句this回指上文所述TSA的改革，此处已与上文形成了一定转折（II段说明议员们强烈反对改革，而作者则认为TSA的改革正确与否目前尚无法做出定论），but进一步转折指出无论改革正确与否，也不应完全将其抛弃，实则说明改革有其价值和意义。②③句以We need to…we should表明作者对TSA改革的支持态度，同时暗示原先的机场安检不顾成本与效益，只是一种“安检表演”。

注：公共安全专家布鲁斯·施奈尔将那些看上去很有效，但实际意义并不大的安检措施称为“security theater（安检表演）”。

IV ①There is already a tiered system for airport security, varying for both airports and passengers. ②Many people are enrolled in TSA PreCheck, allowing them to go through checkpoints faster and with less screening. ③Smaller airports don’t have modern screening equipment like full-body scanners or CT baggage screeners, making it impossible for them to detect some plastic explosives. ④Any would-be terrorist is already able to pick and choose his flight conditions to suit his plot.

翻译：机场安检早已形成一套依机场和乘客而变化的分层系统。许多人都已经加入TSA的预检计划，这使他们可以减少安检步骤，更快地通过检查站。小型机场没有现代化安检设备，如全身扫描仪或CT行李安检机，这就导致它们无法检测出一些塑性炸药。任何潜在的恐怖分子已经能够挑选并选择适合完成其计划的飞行条件。

点评：IV段说明存在于小型机场的安全隐患。①②句介绍TSA现有的分层安检系统，说明TSA为简化安检程序已做出了一定的改革。③④句说明小型机场的安全缺陷：没有现代化安检设备，为恐怖分子提供了可乘之机。本段虽似说明小型机场的安全隐患，实则说明人们对TSA改革心存疑虑的原因：害怕取消小型机场安检会造成恐怖袭击事件。

V ①There are two basic kinds of terrorists. ②The amateurs will be deterred or detected by even basic security measures. ③The professionals will figure out how to evade even the most stringent measures. ④The two things that have made flying safer since 9/11 are reinforcing the cockpit doors and persuading passengers that they need to fight back. ⑤Everything beyond that isn’t worth it.

翻译：恐怖分子分为两种基本类型。业余的就连基础的安检措施也能将其阻止或发现；专业的则能想办法逃过最严格的检查。自911事件以来，两项措施已使飞行变得更安全：加固驾驶舱门以及劝说乘客要进行反击。除此之外的一切都是无用功。

点评：V、VI段说明在小型机场安检上过度投入不符合成本效益。V段以恐怖分子类型出发，说明现有的安检措施足以满足安全需求。①-③句以恐怖分子的两种类型说明：对于业余的恐怖分子，即使也最基础的安检措施也能够将其检测出来；对于专业的恐怖分子，即使是最严格的安检也无法将其检测出来。也即，小型机场现有的安检措施已足以满足基本要求，增加安检措施没有意义。④⑤句进一步说明，两项基本措施已加强飞机安全性，除此以外的措施实质上都是浪费资源。

VI ①Realistically, we need to analyze whether the increased security of any measure is worth the cost, in money, time and convenience. ②We spend $8 billion a year on the TSA, and we’d like to get the most security possible for that money. ③This is exactly what that TSA working group was doing. ④CNN reported that the group specifically evaluated the costs and benefits of eliminating security at minor airports, saving $115 million a year with a “small (nonzero) undesirable increase in risk.”

翻译：实际上，我们需要去分析任何增加的安检措施是否值得付出的金钱、时间和便利性成本。我们每年在TSA上花费80亿美元，我们希望用这笔钱换来尽可能最大的安全保障。而这恰恰是TSA工作组正在做的事情。CNN报道称，该工作组专门评估了取消小型机场安检的成本和效益，（结果是）每年可以节省1.15亿美元，而风险只有“小幅度（并非为零）的不良上涨”。

点评：VI段进一步以数据印证上段末句观点。本段通过TSA的评估数据从正反两面说明观点：正面-取消安检可节省大笔资金（1.15亿美元）；反面-取消安检只会造成风险的小幅度上涨。因此，综合来看，取消小型机场安检的利大于弊，同时也间接回答了本段首句的问题：增加安检措施不符合金钱、时间和便利性上的成本效益。

VII ①We need more of this kind of thinking. ②In 2017, political scientists Mark Stewart and John Mueller published a detailed evaluation of airport security measures based on the cost to implement and the benefit in terms of lives saved. ③They concluded that most of what our government does either isn’t effective at preventing terrorism or is simply too expensive to justify the security it does provide.

翻译：我们需要有更多这样的想法。2017年，政治学家马克·斯图尔特和约翰·米勒发表了一份机场安全措施的详细评估，评估的依据是实施成本和拯救生命的益处。他们的结论是，政府的绝大多数措施或是未能有效防范恐怖主义，或是太过于昂贵而无法证实安检措施的正当性。

点评：VII段开始将分析由成本角度转入政治角度。①句承上肯定TSA改革的意义。②句引出另一项研究，based on the cost…the benefit…说明该研究同上段所述TSA专家小组的评估一样，都是以成本为依据。③句介绍研究结果：政府制定的措施或是无效，或是因成本过高而削弱了其正当性，从而呼应了III段所述的“安检表演”，并将视角从成本转入政治。

VIII ①The more we politicize security, the worse we are. ②People are generally terrible judges of risk. ③We fear threats in the news out of proportion with the actual dangers. ④We overestimate rare and spectacular risks, and underestimate commonplace ones. ⑤We fear specific “movie-plot threats” that we can bring to mind. ⑥That’s why we fear flying over driving, even though the latter kills about 35,000 people each year — about a 9/11’s worth of deaths each month. ⑦And it’s why the idea of the TSA eliminating security at minor airports fills us with fear. ⑧We can imagine the plot unfolding, only without Bruce Willis saving the day.

翻译：我们越是把安全政治化，我们（的处境）就越糟糕。人们对风险的判断通常都很糟糕。我们所害怕的新闻中的威胁与实际威胁是不成比例的。我们高估了那些罕见而显著的风险，低估了常见的风险。我们害怕那些我们能想到的、特定的“电影情节式威胁”。这就是我们害怕乘飞机多过害怕开车的原因，尽管后者每年导致约3.5万人死亡——大致相当于每月死亡人数达到911事件的水平。这也是为什么TSA取消小型机场安检的想法让我们充满恐惧的原因。我们能够想象到情节正在展开，只不过没有布鲁斯·威利斯来扭转局面。

点评：VIII段说明将安全政治化的危害。①句总述危害。②-④句列举实例说明人们对风险判断的盲目性：高估了显著而罕见的风险（飞机安全事故），低估了普遍而常见的风险（驾车安全事故）。⑤-⑧句说明后果：对TSA的改革充满恐惧。

注：布鲁斯·威利斯是好莱坞颇受欢迎的动作明星，常在电影中扮演拯救世界的英雄角色，此处借其荧幕形象说明电影情节与现实的差距。

IX ①Very little today is immune to politics, including the TSA. ②It drove most of the agency’s decisions in the early years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. ③That the TSA is willing to consider politically unpopular ideas is a credit to the organization. ④Let’s let them perform their analyses in peace.

翻译：今天很少有事物能幸免于政治，包括TSA。在911恐怖袭击事件后的最初几年，它推动了该机构的大多数决定。TSA愿意去考虑在政治上不受欢迎的想法则要归功于该机构自身。就让他们平和地去进行分析吧。

点评：IX段收束全文，提出建议。①②句说明TSA以往所受的政治影响。②句It指代①句politics。③句指出TSA在机场安检上的锐意改革。unpopular ideas即指取消小型机场安检的想法，credit to the organization说明此次改革不同于以往受政治因素所推动，而是出于TSA自身意愿，同时credit也表明作者对TSA做法的褒奖。④句提出建议：让TSA（them）能在平和的环境下进行评估与分析，即暗示II段提及的政客们不要再对TSA施压，呼吁人们在机场安全问题上赋予该机构更多的自主权。