BBC news 2011-08-05 加文本

短语讲解：

1. The falls came despite interventions by policymakers aimed at restoring calm.

aim at以…为目标
例句：The visit was aimed at expanding the relations between the two countries.
访问的目的是扩展两国的关系。

2. In the United States, the Dow has closed down 4%.

close down (使)停业, (使)停产
例句：Because of the continued loss, the factory closed down.
由于连续亏损, 工厂关闭了。

3. In 2008, just months into the job as the first female finance minister of France, Christine Lagarde used her powers to bring to an end a court battle that had run for years.

bring to an end使结束
例句：When a dispute leads to fighting, the Council's first concern is to bring this to an end as soon as possible. 
在争端导致战争时，安理会首要关切的事是尽快使战争停止。

4. Bernard Tapie, a wealthy businessman and controversial figure here in France, had accused the former state-owned bank Credit Lyonnais of mishandling the sale of his share in the sportswear manufacturer Adidas.

accuse of指责, 控告
例句：We accused him of taking bribes.
我们控告他受贿。

5. Prosecutors allege she went beyond her powers, complicit, they said, in the embezzlement of public funds.

go beyond超出, 超载
例句：You have gone beyond your power.
你的行为已经超出了你的权力范围。

6. Despite the army assault, Hama remains defiant with protests like this breaking out after nighttime prayers for the fasting month of Ramadan.

break out突然发生, 爆发
例句：The Second World War broke out in September 1939.
第二次世界大战爆发于1939年9月。

7. In addition to water and electricity being cut off, the blackout on virtually all communication with Hama has meant that very little is known about the storming of the city by troops and tanks, and the number of casualties involved.

in addition to除…之外，还……
例句：In addition to French, he has to study Japanese.
除了法语外，他还得学日语。
cut off切断;中断
例句：I was cut off on my line to London.
我打伦敦长途时,电话线被切断了。

8. In the meantime, residents speak of regime militia shooting at anything that moves in the streets, and they say they are having to bury their dead in gardens and public parks for fear of venturing to cemeteries.

in the meantime在…期间,同时
例句：In the meantime, crime continues unabated.
同时，犯罪率并没减少。
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。
for fear of为了避免,害怕
例句：For fear of accidents, the driver drove very slowly.
因害怕发生事故，这位司机开得很慢。

9. The United Nations says it'll take at least 25 years to clear up pollution from oil operations in the Ogoniland region of Nigeria.

clear up把…收拾整齐, 打扫干净
例句：That's twice today that room has been cleared up.
那个房间今天已经打扫两次了。

10. Riot police in the Chilean capital Santiago have used tear gas and water cannon to break up protests by students.

break up (使)散开, (使)解散
例句：The crowd broke up.
人群散开了。