BBC news 2011-11-15 加文本

短语讲解：

1. King Abdullah of Jordan has told the BBC that if the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had the interests of his country at heart, he would prepare the way for wide-ranging political change and step down.

prepare for (使)为…作准备
例句：Right now they are preparing themselves for the Olympic Games.
眼下他们正在为参加奥运会作准备。
step down辞职，下台
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。

2. King Abdullah's remarks coupled with the Arab League's decision marks a turning point in the Arab world's approach to Syria.

couple with与…连接在一起
例句：Gambling is always coupled with degradation.
赌博总是与堕落相联系。

3. He warned that outside intervention in a country with so many ethnic and religious groups would be like opening a Pandora's box. Jordan has already taken in thousands of Syrian refugees and, like all of Syria's neighbours, will be affected by whatever unfolds across its borders.

take in让...进入;接受
例句：The club took in a new member last week.
俱乐部上星期又吸收了一名新会员。

4. They have frozen loans to it from the European Investment Bank and imposed travel and visa bans on a further 18 Syrians, mostly members of the military, accused of involvement in the violent suppression of protesters.

impose on把…加于
例句：Heavy duties are imposed on imports.
对进口物品课以重税。
accuse of指责, 控告
We accused him of taking bribes.
我们控告他受贿。

5. Outlining his government's programme to parliament, he said the sacrifices of the Greek people must not be in vain.

in vain白费地, 徒劳无益地
例句：We tried in vain to make him change his mind.
我们试图使他改变主意, 结果是白费心机。

6. The court will focus on the power given to the government to fine people who refuse to buy healthcare insurance.

focus on致力于; 对(某事或做某事)予以注意
例句：Many firms are focusing on increasing their markets overseas.
许多商行都专注于扩大国外市场。

7. At the heart of what are bound to be complex legal arguments is the question of whether or not the government can require individuals to buy health insurance and fine them if they don't.

be bound to必定，一定
例句：This medicine is bound to tell.
这药一定会发挥功效。

8. Their conclusions will be seized upon by politicians looking to bolster their arguments for and against President Obama just a few months before voters go to the polls.

seize upon抓住,利用
例句：He seized upon my mistake and said I didn't understand.
他抓住了我的错误就硬说我不懂。
look to依靠〔指望〕(某人或某事)
I look to my parents when I need help.
当我需要帮助时我依赖我的父母。

9. While this would be the first time London has put ground-to-air missiles on standby, it's not unusual for hosts to use such tactics.

on standby随时准备行动；处于待命状态
例句：The emergency services were put on standby after a bomb warning.
接到炸弹警报后，各紧急救助部门进入待命状态。

10. he judge said the case related to alleged events too long ago for the case against Fernando Karadima to go ahead.

relate to涉及, 关系到…
例句：He showed me all the correspondence relating to the matter.
他把与这件事有关的全部信件都给我看了。