BBC news 2010-07-04 加文本

1.President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil has told a summit of West African leaders that his country is determined to increase its unity with Africa.

be determined to决心,决定

例句：He was determined to stay in the saddle at all costs.
      他打定主意要不惜一切代价继续掌权。

      He was determined to amend.
      他决心改过自新。

2. President Lula is on his last visit to the continent before he steps down later this year.

step down退休, 辞职

例句：The manager had to step down on account of poor health.
      那位经理由于身体不好, 只能辞职不干。

step up(使)增加, (使)加快速度

例句：The girl stepped up to school.
      女孩子加快步伐去上学。

      He has stepped up into the management of the firm.
      他已升入公司的管理部门。

3.At the summit in Cape Verde, Lula said Brazil could never repay its historic debt to Africa - the ancestral home of millions of Brazilians who are descended from slaves.

descend from由…传留下来

例句：The house has descended from our ancestors.
      这栋房子是我们祖上传下来的。

      This festival descends from a religious rite.
      这个节日起源于宗教仪式。

4.It could cut carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to the amount generated by 90,000 cars a year.

be equivalent to等于,与…相等,与…相当

例句：His reply is equivalent to a refusal.
      他的回答等于是拒绝。