Dogs are known for(1) a strong sense(2) of smell(3). Their noses(4) can be trained(5) to identify(6) different odors.
Dogs are often used(7) in search(8) and rescue(9) operations and to sniff(10) for things like(11) drugs and explosives. Some dogs have even been trained(12) to sniff for cancer in people.
Researchers(13) have been trying(14) to reproduce the extraordinary sense of smell that dogs are born with(15). Now, officials at the Glasgow airport in Scotland(16) are testing a new security device(17) called(18) an “electronic sniffer dog(19).” The electronic sniffer dog represents one of the latest developments(20) in the area of smell technology.
A Scottish company(21), Cascade Technologies, joined with(22) the French(23) security company Morpho to develop(24) it. The device uses lasers to identify explosive material in gases in the air. The purpose(25) is to identify explosives that may be hidden(26) on a person’s body.
The machine looks similar to(27) the metal detectors(28) now used at airports. Passengers(29) walk through(30) the machine as the lasers test the surrounding(31) air. People are not required(32) to take off their coats(33), belts(34) or shoes(35) as part of (36) the security process.
And, unlike(37) full-body(38) scanners, the new device does not show(39) images of the passenger. Officials(40) at Cascade Technologies say the machine can process one person per second(41) and produce almost immediate results(42).
They say future developments could cut(43) security processing times at airports by screening(44) all passengers at walking speed(45). Professor Yushan Yan is the head(46) of Chemical(47) and Environmental(48) Engineering(49) at the University of California, Riverside.
His research team(50) has been working on(51) a similar sniffer device since(52) two thousand eight. He points out(53) that unlike real dogs, electronic devices do not get tired(54) or need to be walked or require(55) food and water.
Professor Yan says real sniffer dogs also have other needs(56). He said: “They also(57) need very extensive training that could be expensive(58). And when they work they have to have a very skilled(59) handler(60) around them.”
But Professor Yan says in his experience, there is an important area where man’s best friend(61) still wins(62) compared to technology. He said dogs are able to(63) identify extremely small amounts(64) of explosives.
But Professor Yan says electronic sniffer technology is developing quickly(65)
and could have a lot of uses in the future. For VOA Special English I’m
Alex Villarreal. For more of our reports go to voaspecialenglish.com.
Vocabulary
1. known for = conhecidos por 2. strong sense = forte sentido 3. smell = olfato, cheiro 4. smell = narizes 5. can be trained = podem ser treinados 6. identify = identificar 7. often used = frequentemente 8. search = busca 9. rescue = resgate 10. sniff = farejar 11. things like = coisas como 12. have even been trained = tem até mesmo sido treinados 13. Researchers = pesquisadores 14. have been trying = vêm tentando 15. that dogs are born with = com o qua los cachorros nascem 16. Scotland = Escócia 17. security device = dispositivo de seguranã 18. called = chamado 19. sniffer dog = cão farejador 20. one of the latest developments = um dos mais recentes desenvolvimentos 21. Scottish company = empresa escocesa 22. joined with = juntou-se a 23. French = Frances(a) 24. Develop = desenvolver 25. Purpose = proposito 26. may be hidden = pode estar Escondido 27. looks similar to = parece semelhante a 28. metal detectors = detectors de metal 29. Passengers = passageiros 30. Walk through = caminham através 31. Surrounding = circundante, ao redor 32. People are not required = As pessoas não são obrigadas 33. take off their coats = tirarem seus casacos 34. belts = cintos, Cintas 35. shoes = sapatos 36. as part of = como parte de 37. unlike = ao contrário de 38. full-body = de corpo inteiro 39. does not show = não mostra 40. Officials = funcionarios 41. one person per second = uma pessoa por Segundo 42. almost immediate results = resultados quase imediatos 43. could cut = poderia cortar 44. screening = examinando 45. walking speed = velocidade de caminhada 46. head = chefe, lider 47. Chemical = Químico(a) 48. Environmental = ambiental 49. Engineering = engenharia 50. research team = equipe de pesquisa 51. has been working on = vem tra balhando em 52. since = desde 53. points out = salient, ressalta 54. get tired = ficar cansado 55. require = requer, exige 56. needs = necessidades 57. also = também 58. could be expensive = poderia ser caro 59. skilled = habilidoso 60. handler = operador, que manuseia 61. man's best friend = o melhor amigo do homem 62. still wins = ainda vence 63. are able to = são capazes de 64. extremely small amounts = quantidades extremamente pequenas 65. developing quickly = desenvolvendo-se rapidamente