BBC news 2009-09-23 加文本

1.It wasn’t clear if the speeches by the leaders of the world’s two biggest polluters would provide the hopeful momentum to break a deadlock in negotiations on a global climate treaty.

参考翻译：世界两个最大污染国道领导人能否为全球气候条约谈判打破僵局尚不明晰。

语法学习：形式主语

动词不定式、动名词短语起、从句在句子中起主语作用，而这一部分用词较多时，可以用it作为形式主语，放在句首代表其后所说的事实上的、真正的主语，而把真正的主语放在后面。
　　(1)It +谓语+动词不定式。It 作形式主语，动词不定式作真正的主语。
　　例如：
　　It is difficult to climb a mountain. 爬山是很艰难的。
　　It’s a good habit to do morning exercises. 作早操是个好习惯。
　　It’s important to do proper memory work in the study of a foreign language. 在学习外语时适当地做一些有助于记忆的练习是很重要的。
　　It is right to do so. 这样做是对的。
　　(2)It+谓语+动名词短语。It 作形式主语，动名词短语作真正的主语。
　　例如：
　　It is dangerous playing with fire. 玩火是危险的。
　　It is no use learning without thinking. 学而不思则罔。
　　It’s useless arguing with a silly boy. 和笨孩子争论是没有用的。
　　(3)It +谓语+名词性从句。It 作形式主语，以that 引导的名词性从句是真正的主语。
　　例如：
　　It is a pity that you didn’t see such a good film.
　　你没看这么好的电影，真可惜。
　　It is certain that we shall succeed. 我们一定会成功。
　　It is strange that nobody knows where he lives.
　　真奇怪，谁也不知道他住在哪里。
　　(It is strange that…后面可用虚拟语气。
　　如：It is strange that he should have made such a mistake.
　　他居然犯了这样一个错误，真奇怪。
　　It is strange that nobody should know where he lives.
　　居然没有人知道他住在哪里，真奇怪。)
　　It is said that the plane will take off at ten tomorrow morning.
　　据说飞机明天上午十点起飞。

2.He spent a calm night in the embassy, as calm as it could have been, the only thing he is telling me is that he is asking the people that if they hold demonstrations they should do so peacefully.

参考翻译：塞拉亚在巴西使馆内度过了平静的一晚，他告诉我的唯一一件事是，他要求人们如果进行示威游行的话，必须以和平方式进行。

结构分析：这句话的结构不难理解。需要注意的是后面半句，我自己第一眼看见差点以为是主语从句，其实是很简单的结构，the only thing is that……he is telling me是定语从句，修饰the only thing。that he is asking the people这里的that引导的是表语从句。

3.Mr. Bokova’s main rival, Egypt’s Culture Minister Farouk Hosni was controversial because of a comment that he'd burn any Israeli books he found in Egyptian libraries.

参考翻译：Bokova的主要竞争对手，埃及文化部长Farouk Hosni备受争议，因为他曾发表言论，将烧毁在埃及图书馆内找到的任何以色列书籍。

结构分析：这句话的主干是前面半句。because of是原因状语。that he'd burn……是同位语从句，指代的是comment。

4.The question as to whether the Eudy Simelane was attacked because she was a lesbian remains a matter of debate.

参考翻译：Eudy Simelane是否因为是同性恋才受到攻击仍然备受争议。

结构分析：这句话的主干是：The question remains a matter of debate。as to后面详细说明是什么问题。