BBC news 2009-08-04 加文本

1.Like Lehman, Merrill Lynch was brought to its sneeze by debt links to the US housing market that became toxic and lost its value.

bring to its sneeze根据前后理解，这个短语的意思应该是由于……而受到影响，到了崩溃的边缘。

2. Shortly afterwards Bank of America was forced to go to the government for billions of dollars in extra taxpayer’s support, and the revelation of the payments caused a public outcry.

be forced to 不得不，被迫

例句：I was forced to enter a by - election on a bad wicket.
      我不得不在不利情况下参加补选。

3.Analysts say some of the increase was due to the popular US government subsidies being offered for those who trade in old cars.

due to由于…,归因于…;预定…

例句：He explained that his lameness was due to an accident.
      他解释他的跛脚是意外造成的。

4.The Judge also granted Katherine Jackson a family allowance from the singer's estate to help meet the cost of bringing up the children.

bring up教育,培养,提出

例句：I was brought up by my paternal aunt.
      我是我姑姑抚养成人的。

5.The commissioner of the area Goi Jooyul Yol told the BBC the gunmen set out to inflict a high number of casualties.

set out to打算，着手

例句：He set out his objections to the scheme.
      他说他反对这项计划。

6.Miss Outen said she was finding it hard to adjust to being back on land.

adjust to 适应, 调节

例句：My eyes haven't adjusted to the dark in the room yet.
      我的眼睛还未适应房间中的黑暗。