BBC news 2009-05-24 加文本

1.Intense street fighting is reported in the main town of Pakistan's Swat Valley, Mingora, as the Pakistani military embarks on the critical phase in its efforts to retake control of the northwest of the country from spreading Taliban insurgency.

embark on从事, 着手

例句：Armed with the right tools and materials, newly-Weds gaily embark on the task of decorating their own homes.
       新婚夫妇备有合适的工具和材料便高高兴兴地动手装饰自己的新房。

retake control of是take control of的变化形式，表示重新控制

例句：Surely she would take control of the situation; after all she was a professional.
      她肯定会控制这局面，她毕竟是个行家。

2.We had to wait for 24 hours and checked out as there was a curfew and we have nothing to eat.

check out付帐后离开, 检查, 符合要求, 通过

例句：We will check out before breakfast.
      我们必须在早餐前结帐离店。

3.Our BBC correspondent accompanying him says that in one area 74,000 people were crammed onto land meant to hold half that number.

be meant to有意要, 打算,本应

例句：This house isn't meant to be there!
      这幢房子不应该在那儿！

4. It was shut down a few days ago because of a water leak.

shut down关闭

例句：The Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant was shut down in 1996 for economic reasons.
      缅因洋基核电厂因为经济原因于1996年关闭。

5.Nearly 500 soldiers have been confined to barracks at a military academy in Spain after several cadets contracted swine flu.

confine to限制在

例句：We must confine the dispute to our department instead of submiting it to the boss.
      我们必须将争论限制在部门内部，而不应交给老板处理。