BBC news 2010-09-14 加文本

1.The administration is unlikely to encounter much opposition to the sale of weaponry to a traditional ally and will probably argue that it's all part of a strategy to bolster friendly Arab governments in the face of growing strategic threats from Iran.

参考翻译：向传统的盟国出售如此大量的武器，美国政府估计不可能遭遇反对，而且可能会辩称，这是帮助友好的阿拉伯政府提高应对来自伊朗不断增长的战略威胁的策略的一部分。

结构分析：这句话的主语是The administration，谓语是两个并列的成分，有and连接，分别是is unlikely to encounter much opposition和will probably argue，后面的that引导的是宾语从句，辩解的内容。in the face of，面临……，做状语。

2.The software giant Microsoft is changing the way it operates in Russia in response to reports that the Kremlin is using anti-piracy laws as a pretext for police raids on human rights groups and non-governmental organizations.

参考翻译：有报道称，克里姆林宫以反盗版法为借口，使警方得以袭击人权组织和非政府组织，软件巨头微软公司改变了在俄罗斯的运营方式。

结构分析：这句话的主干是前面部分：The software giant Microsoft is changing the way it operates.in response to表示目的，that the Kremlin is using是reports的同位语。

3.The man, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, also asked the judge what the legal procedures would be were he to want to plead guilty to some of the charges.

参考翻译：阿卜杜勒穆塔拉布还向法官咨询，如果他希望对某些指控请求无罪需要怎样的司法程序。

语法学习：虚拟语气，倒装

虚拟条件句的从句部分含有were， should， 或had时， 可省略if，再把were， should或had 移到从句的句首，实行倒装。例如：

　　Were they here now， they could help us. =If they were here now， they could help us.他们现在在的话，就会帮助我们了。

　　Had you come earlier， you would have met him. =If you had come earlier， you would have met him.你来得早一点，就碰到他了。

　　Should it rain， the crops would be saved. =Were it to rain， the crops would be saved.假如下雨，庄稼就有救了。

　　注意：在虚拟语气的从句中，动词'be'的过去时态一律用"were"，不用was，即在从句中be用were代替。例如：

　　If I were you， I would go to look for him. 如果我是你，就会去找他。

　　If he were here， everything would be all right. 如果他在这儿，一切都会好的。