BBC news 2010-02-22 加文本

1.The former Palestinian cabinet minister, Mustafa Barghouti, said the decision amounted to a declaration from Israel that there was no hope for peace negotiations.

amount to意味着

例句：His words amounted to a threat.
      他的话实际上是威胁。

发展成

例句：If he goes on like this, he'll never amount to anything.
      如果他一味这样下去, 他将一事无成。

2.This act in addition to the annexation of Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem is nothing but a declaration from the side of Israel that it will impose facts on the ground, annex the land, and prevent any possibility for real peace.

nothing but只有, 只不过

例句：I had nothing in the world but a million-pound note.
      除了一张百万英镑的钞票, 这世上我是一无所有。

      Don't scold her, she's nothing but a child.
      不要责骂她, 她只不过是个孩子。

3.Reports from Afghanistan say American Marines and Afghan troops are closing in on a Taliban stronghold in the southern town of Marjah.

close in逼近, 迫近(尤指为了包围或进攻), 围拢

例句：There were only five people left when the enemy closed in.
      敌人包围过来时, 他们只剩下五个人了。

The police are closing in on the criminals.
警察正逼近那些罪犯。

4.Torrential rain triggered landslides and sent walls of floodwater surging through city streets, tearing up trees, smashing cars and destroying houses.

tear up撕碎,撕毁,破坏,拔起

例句：He tears up the manuscript in a fit of petulance.
      他一怒之下把手稿撕碎了。

5.Reports last week suggested that EMI was planning to sell the studios, famous as the place the Beatles recorded their album Abbey Road, as part of a plan to pay off debts.

pay off使得益; 有报偿

例句：The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.
      这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

付清, 还清

例句：You must pay off your old loan before you can obtain a new one.
      你必须还清旧账, 然后才能再借款。