Terror Strikes Mumbai

        Terrorists attacked many different places in the heart of Mumbai, India in a series of coordinated strikes that began on November 26, 2008. Hundreds of people were killed or held hostage at several locations throughout the city. The siege ended 3 days later when commandos stormed the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel and eliminated the last group of terrorists in a fierce battle.

Most of the violence occurred in the Taj hotel, a popular tourist destination. A total of ten terrorists also attacked several others places in Mumbai, including a Jewish center and the largest train station in the city. The Indian government reported that 173 people were killed in shootings and bombings, and 308 people were wounded.

Officials stated that the attackers arrived by boat and quickly spread throughout Mumbai. The violence appeared to be random and the attackers did not target foreigners, as earlier reported. Police killed nine of the ten suspects during the fighting. The lone survivor, a 21-year-old Pakistani man named Ajmal Amir Kasab, remains in police custody.

Questions instantly arose about the Indian government’s ability to handle the terror attacks. Officials received warnings in 2007 that terrorists planned to hit Mumbai from the water, but the security forces did not have enough equipment and weapons to prevent such a large attack.

Evidence indicated that some Pakistan-based Islamic groups may be responsible for the Mumbai attacks. After several weeks of the incident, the Pakistan government have arrested several members linked to the attacks. At the same time, Pakistan officials planned to work with India to take action to fight the terrorist activities.

Funerals and memorials have been held throughout India since the attacks, and Mumbai is struggling to regain its normal state.

Reading Comprehension

(   ) 1. When did the Mumbai terrorist attacks end?

(A) November 26, 2008.

(B) November 29, 2008

(C) November 23, 2008.

(D) It's not mentioned in the article.

(    ) 2. Based on the article, which of the following places was not attacked by the terrorists?

(A) A Jewish center.

(B) The Taj hotel.

(C) The largest train station in Mumbai.

(D) The Taj Mahal.

(   ) 3. Who was supposed to be the target of the Mumbai terrorist attacks?

(A) Foreigners traveling in Mumbai.

(B) No specific targets.

(C) The Indian government.

(D) A Pakistani man named Ajmal Amir Kasab.

(   ) 4. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

 (A) 308 people were killed in the Mumbai terrorist attacks.

 (B) The attackers entered Mumbai by sea and killed people at random.

 (C) It is believed that some Islamic groups in Pakistan were behind the Mumbai attacks.

 (D) The Mumbai terrorist attacks ended when the last group of terrorists was killed by the     Indian soldiers in a hotel.

(    ) 5. How did the Indian and the Pakistan government respond to the terrorist attacks?

 (A) The Indian government had received warnings earlier and was well-prepared for the 
                   terrorist attacks.

 (B) The Pakistan government had arrested a 21-year-old Pakistani man related to the attacks.

 (C) The Indian government had enough weapons to prevent any attacks.

 (D) The Pakistan government planned to work with India to fight against terrorists.

Vocabulary and Phrases
1. terrorist [`tEr1rIst] n. 恐怖份子

2.  Mumbai [&m5m`baI ; &m^m`baI] n.  孟買

3. India [`IndI1] n.  印度

    Indian [`IndI1n] adj.  印度（人）的

4. coordinated [ko`OrdN&etId] adj. 相互協調的

5. hostage [`hAstIdZ] n. 人質

6. siege  [sidZ] n. 圍困，包圍

7. commando [k1`m8ndo] n. 突擊隊員

8. Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel n. 泰姬瑪哈宮殿與塔樓飯店

9. eliminate  [I&lIm1net] v. 根除

10. fierce [fI1s] adj. 激烈的

11. destination [&dEst1`neS1n] n. 目的地

12. Jewish [`dZuIS] adj. 猶太人的

13. random [`r8nd1m] adj. 隨機的

14. suspect  [`s^spEkt] n. 嫌疑犯

15. survivor [s1`vaIv2] n.  生還者

16. Pakistan [&p8kI`st8n] n. 巴基斯坦

Pakistani [&p8kI`st8nI] adj. 巴基斯坦（人）的

17. custody [`k^st1dI] n.  拘留

18. warning  [`wOrnI9] n. 警告

19. evidence [`Ev1d1ns] n. [U] 證據

20. Islamic [Is`l8mIk] adj.  伊斯蘭教的，回教的

21. funeral [`fjun1r1l] n. 喪禮

22. memorial [m1`morI1l] n. 紀念活動；紀念碑

23. regain  [rI`Gen] v. 恢復

Translation

恐怖襲擊孟買

2008年11月26日，恐怖份子開始以一連串經過精密協調策劃的行動，攻擊位於印度孟買市中心的多處不同地點，數百人在市內各地喪生或遭挾持。而在突擊隊員猛攻泰姬瑪哈宮殿與塔樓飯店，並在一場激烈的戰役中，殲滅最後一群恐怖份子後，這場長達三天的攻擊行動才終於宣告落幕。

大多數的暴力事件均發生於泰姬飯店，一個極受歡迎的觀光標的，而總計10名的恐怖份子同時也攻擊了孟買市內的多處其他地點，其中包含一處猶太中心，以及該市內最大的火車站。根據印度政府的報告，總計有173人於槍擊及爆炸中喪生，308人受傷。

政府官員表示，攻擊者搭船抵達，並迅速散佈至孟買市內各地；暴力事件似乎是隨機發生，而且攻擊者並非如先前報導所說，特意以外國人為攻擊目標。警方在戰鬥中格殺了10名可疑份子中的9人，而唯一的生還者，名為埃吉蒙‧埃米爾‧卡薩布的21歲巴基斯坦男子，目前則仍遭警方拘留。

印度政府處理恐怖攻擊的能力立即遭受質疑，官員在2007年就曾收到過警告，表示恐怖份子計畫要從水路襲擊孟買，但維安部隊並沒有足夠的設備及武器來防止這類的大型攻擊。

證據指出，部分以巴基斯坦為基地的伊斯蘭團體，可能要為這次的孟買攻擊事件負責。在恐怖攻擊後數週，巴基斯坦政府逮捕了數名與該攻擊事件相關的成員。同時，巴基斯坦官員也計畫要與印度政府合作，採取行動以對抗恐怖活動。

自恐怖攻擊後，印度各地便不斷在舉辦葬禮及各項紀念活動，而孟買也正奮力要回歸正常生活。