BBC news 2010-04-18 加文本

past adj.以前的, 过去的，昔日的

例句：These things happened in the past years.
      这些事情都发生在过去的年代里。

late leader表示的是已故的

2.In a speech to mark the arrival of Pope Benedict in Malta, the island's President George Abela has referred to a current court case there against three Roman Catholic priests accused of child sex abuse.

refer to提及；涉及，谈到，提到；关系到
 
例句：Don't refer to the matter again.
      不要再提这件事了。

3.The visit to Malta is the Pope's first foreign trip since the child sex abuse scandal affecting the Church came to a head in Europe and the United States.

come to a head时机成熟, 濒临危急关头

例句：The long-standing dispute about working conditions finally came to a head when the workforce voted for strike action.
       关于工作条件的长期争论终于达到了白热化的程度, 工人们投票赞成罢工。

4.The government of Ecuador threatened legislation to take over foreign oil concessions if the companies resist growing state control of the  industry.

take over接管; 接替

例句：The strikers took over the factories.
      罢工工人接管了工厂。

      She took over his work after his departure.
      他离开以后, 她接替了他的工作。