又中又英 | Smell Test | 褚简宁

　　Did America's B-2 bombers obliterate Iran's Fordow nuclear facility two weeks ago? The nuclear facility is buried deep under a mountain, making it hard to destroy. But US President Donald Trump said the bunker-busting bombs of the B-2 warplanes went through the mountain like it was butter, obliterating the nuclear plant. To obliterate something means to destroy it. The word “bunker” used this way means an underground shelter with strong walls to protect people from bombs. To bust something means to break it with force. A bunker-busting bomb is a powerful bomb that can destroy bunkers.

　　Within days of Trump’s claim that bunker-busting bombs had obliterated Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility, US media reports said an initial assessment by American intelligence showed the facility was only partially destroyed. Trump’s critics used these reports to attack him by saying his claims of obliteration did not pass the smell test. The expression "smell test" can be used in several ways. If I cook dinner and put what I cannot finish in the fridge for a few days, I always give it the smell test before I re-heat and eat it.

　　This means I will smell the food first. If it smells bad, I will throw it away. That is the smell test. But a smell test can also mean an informal method or feeling to decide if something is believable or credible. Trump's critics said the initial intelligence assessment showed his claim of obliteration did not pass the smell test. My own smell test is an initial assessment is just initial. It takes time to know if the bunker-busting bombs went through the Fordow mountain like it was butter. I will give it another smell test when there is new information.

　　两星期前美国的B-2轰炸机是否已摧毁（obliterate）伊朗福尔多核设施？那些核设施埋藏于一座山底下的深处，令它难于被破坏。但美国总统特朗普说，B-2战机的「碉堡克星」炸弹（bunker-busting bombs）犹如穿透牛油一样穿越下去，摧毁（obliterating）了核设施。To obliterate something是指去摧毁、清除某事物。Bunker在这里是指有坚固墙壁的地下掩体，用来保护人们免受炸弹袭击。To bust something是指用武力去粉碎、摧毁某物。A bunker-busting bomb就是一个能破坏地堡（bunkers）的强大炸弹。

　　在特朗普声称碉堡克星炸弹（bunker-busting bombs）已摧毁（obliterated）伊朗福尔多核设施的数天内，美国传媒报道指，美国智库一个初步评估显示，设施只是有部分被毁坏。批评特朗普的人用这些报告攻击他，说他断言已清除（obliteration）设施，并不能通过气味测试（smell test）。习语smell test可以有几种用法。如果我煮晚餐，将吃不完的剩菜放进雪柜数天，我拿来加热和进食前，就总会来个气味测试（smell test）。

　　这里的意思是我会先嗅一嗅食物，如果它闻起来像变坏了，我就会丢掉它。那就是smell test。但a smell test也可以解作用非正规的方法或感觉去决定某事情是否可信。批评特朗普的人说，他所声称的摧毁（obliteration）并不能通过气味测试（smell test）。我自己的气味测试（smell test）则认为，初步评估只是初步的。到底碉堡克星炸弹（bunker-busting bombs）是否像穿过牛油般穿越了福尔多的山，我们还需要时间去了解。当有最新资讯的时候，我会再来一次气味测试（smell test）。

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Michael Chugani褚简宁
中译：七刻