BBC news 2010-03-12 加文本

1. The present government has been working hard to burnish the country's international image and project its power in the region which is one reason for its recent efforts to restore relations with Armenia,an initiative that's now running out of steam.

run out of steam耗尽力气,精疲力竭;减慢速度,慢下来

例句：Unless we can supply our forward units, the advance is in danger of running out of steam.
      如果我们不能为前方部队提供给养, 就会面临停滞不前的危险。

      He ran out of steam shortly before the end of the race.
      快跑到终点时他累得筋疲力尽。

2.A British judge ruled that EMI could not longer sell individual Pink Floyd tracks rather than whole albums over the Internet without the Band's permission.

rather than(要)…而不…, 与其…倒不如…

例句：We'll have the meeting in the classroom rather than in the auditorium.
      我们与其在教室里开会, 不如在礼堂开会。

      They thus increased their annual grain production rather than diminished it.
      他们这样增加了而不是减少了粮食年产量。

3. This latest case comes as the Russian authorities appear to be making a concerted effort to combat hate crime.

make a concerted effort齐心协力

例句：All government shall make a concerted effort to stop the drug trade.
      各国政府应协调一致努力阻止毒品交易。

      We made a concerted effort to solve the problem.
      我们一起努力解决了这个问题。