BBC news 2011-05-19 加文本

短语讲解：

1. The State Department spokesman Mark Toner said it was time to increase the pressure on President Assad.

It is time to do sth. 是做某事的时候了
例句：It is time to rest from work.
该是放下工作休息的时候了。

2. Earlier, President Assad said the Syrian security forces had made mistakes in their handling of the protests, while the BBC received new reports of army attacks on civilians.

make mistakes犯错
例句：We all make mistakes occasionally.
我们都会偶尔犯错误。

3. A senior Chinese army general, Chen Bingde, has said China has no intention of attempting to match US military power.

attempt to试图，企图
例句：They attempt to master the world .
他们企图驾驭世界。

4. The country's policy-making body, the State Council, says it plans to deal with the difficulties.

deal with应付, 处理; 对待
例句：There are many difficulties to be dealt with when starting a new business.
开展一项新业务时, 有许多困难需要解决。

5. A statement issued afterwards said there was an urgent need for ecological protection, the prevention of geological disasters and the smooth relocation of displaced residents.

ecological protection生态环境保护
geological disaster地质灾害
例句：The landslide is one of the worst geological disasters in Chongqing.
摘要滑坡是重庆市重点地质灾害之一。
displaced residents移民

6. India spends more than 2% of its gross domestic product on poverty reduction, but the World Bank says that its food distribution scheme suffers so much from corruption that only about 40% of its grain reaches the poor.

gross domestic product国内生产总值
suffer from因…而受罚（苦, 损）; 因...而更糟; 受...之苦
例句：We suffer from too much officialdom.
我们深受官僚作风之害。

7. She spoke of the painful legacy of history, but added that Britain and Ireland were now firm friends and equal partners.

speak of谈到, 讲到
例句：They spoke of the old days on the campus.
他们谈起昔日的校园生活。

8. At Dublin Castle, where once previous monarchs came as rulers, this monarch, wearing a dress adorned with hand-sewn embroidered shamrocks, came to reflect.

adorn with用…装饰，佩戴
例句：Their house is adorned with beautiful antique ornaments.
他们的房子装饰得古色古香。

9. The Queen said she wanted to extend her "sincere thoughts and deep sympathy" to all those who had suffered as a consequence of the UK and Ireland's shared troubled past.

as a consequence of由于..., 因为...
例句：As a consequence of the side effect of the drug, he has become a deaf. 
由于药物的副作用，他成了聋子。 

10. The four are said to be in good health.

in good health身体健康
例句：My father is in good health.
我父亲很健康。