BBC news 2010-11-28 加文本

in an attempt to试图…,企图…，表示目的，相当于in order to

例句：The pickpocket was thrashing around in an attempt to get free.
      那个扒手拼命挣扎,试图脱身。

2.South Korea and the United States are about to begin joint military exercises amid heightened tension in the wake of North Korea's artillery attack last week on a South Korean island.

in the wake of尾随,紧跟,仿效

例句：Traders came in the wake of the explorers.
      商人紧跟着探险者而至。

相当于in the aftermath of在……后的一段时间里

例句：Many people were homeless in the aftermath of the earthquake.
      地震之后，许多人无家可归。

3.The United States says these are defensive exercises designed to deter North Korea from launching further attacks across its border with the South.

deter from阻止

例句：Failure did not deter him from trying again.
      失败并没有阻止他再度尝试。

4.The intensity of the live fire and bombing drills will now be stepped up, though.

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。

      The tempo has been stepped up.
      速度一点点地加快起来了。