Testing the Spy Gadgets1
In Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams, Carmen Cortez may have said it best: “An agent is only as good as her gadgets.” But how would her gadgets—or the gadgets of any Hollywood spy—stack up against the ones used by actual secret agents?
Real Gadget vs Hidden Spaces
Spies hide things such as listening devices and coded film. So the CIA3 often alters a spy’s personal things to create hiding places. “It’s more practical with objects that agents are familiar with, such as rings, watches, or glasses,”says former CIA agent Peter Earnest.
On-Screen Gadget vs Videophone
(Kim Possible)
Kim uses her multifunctional4 phone to conduct video chats, test air quality, and maintain a database of villains5 and spies around the world.
Real Gadget vs Spy Phone
Like Kim’s phone, a real agent’s phone functions like a small computer. It can download critical online data, store records on thousands of people, record and send video clips, and pinpoint6 another spy’s location anywhere on the planet.
Real Gadget vs Rear-View Sunglasses
Spy specs don’t have magnifying7 functions, but special sunglasses almost give agents eyes in the back of their heads. The CIA has designed prototypes8 of these “rear-view”9 sunglasses. A tiny camera attached to the glasses captures images from behind the spy, then projects the images onto the inside lenses of the glasses.
Real Gadget vs Teeny Video Cameras
“Today’s spy cameras are so small they’re practically invisible,” Earnest says. They’re so tiny that they can be hidden in more than just watches—anything from pens to shoes to buttons.
Real Gadget vs Exploding Rope
When agents have to rescue a hostage10, they often pack “detonation11 cord,” a remote-controlled device that causes a small explosion. The agent wraps the cord around a door handle and presses a button on the remote control. That triggers a blast power-ful enough to open the door—without injuring the hostage.
On-Screen Gadget vs Sticky13 Fingers
(Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams)
With the help of sticky climbing gloves, Juni scales an amusement park ride to rescue the President’s daughter.
Real Gadget vs Spiky Climbing Gear
To climb up slippery surfaces, real spies wear special gloves and shoes, each hand and foot pad contains dozens of tiny spikes14 for extra traction15. “With these devices, some spies can scale walls just like a spider,” says Tony Mendez, former chief for the CIA.
On-Screen Gadget vs Rocket Sneakers
(Spy Kids 2)
Carmen and Juni blast off in their rocket-powered hover shoes to make a quick getaway16 from bad guys.
Real Gadget vs Aquatic17 Sleds18
Hovering sneakers haven’t been invented yet, but spies in the water can still make quick getaways with special aquatic “sleds”. Wearing a diving mask and flippers19, the agent grabs the motorized device and lets the sled propel20 him out of danger.
检测间谍用品
在影片《间谍小子Ⅱ：梦境岛》中，卡门·柯蒂斯有一句经典台词："特工也只不过跟她的小玩意功能相当。"但是她的小玩意——或者任何一部好莱坞影片中间谍拥有的小玩意——怎么能跟真间谍使用的东西相媲美呢？
真玩意儿vs 隐藏空间
间谍们隐藏诸如窃听器和加密胶卷之类的东西。因此中央情报局经常更换间谍的个人用品，以增加隐藏空间。“使用特工熟悉的物品更实际些，比如耳环、手表或眼镜，”中央情报局前特工彼得·欧内斯特说。
银幕上的玩意vs可视电话
(《麻辣女孩》)
基姆用她的多功能电话进行视频聊天，测试空气质量，并维护一个数据库，内含全世界的坏蛋和间谍的资料。
真玩意儿 vs间谍电话
与基姆的电话一样，真间谍用的电话就像一台小型电脑，可以下载重要的网上数据，储存好几千人的资料，录放影像片断，确定地球上任何地方另一间谍的位置。
真玩意儿vs 后视太阳镜
间谍的眼镜并不具备放大功能，但是一些特殊的太阳镜几乎等于帮特工们在脑后安上眼睛。中央情报局已经设计出这种“后视”太阳镜的原型。把一架微型照相机与太阳镜相连，它能捕捉到间谍身后的影像，然后将影像投影到太阳镜镜片里。
真玩意儿vs 微型摄像机
“如今间谍使用的摄像机可以小到几乎看不见，”欧内斯特说。它们非常小，不仅可以藏在手表里——从笔到鞋到纽扣，任何地方都可以藏。
真玩意儿 vs爆破引线
特工解救人质时，常配有“爆破引线”，即一个遥控装置，可以引发小规模爆炸。特工可以将绳子绕在门把手上，然后在遥控器上按一下按钮，于是引起爆炸，其威力足以打开门——而人质却毫发无损。
银幕上的玩意vs 粘着手套
（《间谍小子II：梦境岛》）
朱尼借助于一副附着力强的登山手套，攀上了一座游乐园的滑道，解救了总统的女儿。
真玩意儿vs 带钉登山装置
真间谍在光滑表面爬行时会穿戴特殊的鞋和手套，每只手和脚的护垫上都有几十个小钉子，以增加摩擦力。“有了这些装置，间谍可以像蜘蛛一样爬墙，”中央情报局前主管托尼·曼德如是说。
银幕上的玩意vs火箭运动鞋
（《间谍小子Ⅱ》）
卡门和朱尼穿着火箭动力飞行鞋冲向空中，快速摆脱坏蛋的追击。
真玩意儿vs水中雪橇
飞行运动鞋目前尚未发明，不过间谍在水里可以用特殊的水中“雪橇”进行逃遁。戴上潜水面罩，穿上脚蹼，特工紧紧抓住机动装置，在雪橇的推动下迅速逃离危险。
（From NG for Kids）
1. gadget n. 配件，小玩意
2. stack up against 较量，争胜负
3. CIA: Central Intelligence Agency （美）中央情报局
4. multifunctional adj. 多功能的
5. villain n. 坏人，恶棍
6. pinpoint v. 查明，确定
7. magnifying adj. 放大的
8. prototype n. 原型
9. rear-view 后视
10. hostage n. 人质
11. detonation n. 爆炸，爆裂
12. trigger v. 激发起，引起
13. sticky adj. 粘的，粘性的
14. spike [spaik] n. 鞋底钉
15. traction n. 牵引
16. getaway n. 逃亡，逃走
17. aquatic adj. 水的，水上的
18. sled [sled] n. 雪橇，划水板
19. flipper n. （潜水时缚在脚上的）鸭脚板
20. propel v. 推动，推进