BBC news 2011-12-05 加文本

短语讲解：

1. The Iranian armed forces say they've shot down an unmanned American spy plane over eastern Iran and will retaliate if there are any further violations of their airspace.

shoot down击落
例句：The airplanes were shot down in flames.
那些飞机被击中起火坠落。

2. There's been no word from the Pentagon and Washington, but Iran has warned that its response will not be limited to the country's borders.

limit to (把…)限制在…, 局限于…
例句：Each customer is limited to four tickets.
每人限购四张票。

3. Earlier this year, Iran said its forces had brought down two US drones that had entered Iran but had produced no evidence.

bring down打落，击落；撂倒；使落下，使跌下，使倒下(尤指射落)
例句：The pilot brought the plane down gently.
驾驶员使飞机徐徐降落。

4. The United Russia party is said to have won 48.5% of the vote, compared with 64% in 2007.

compare with (把…)与…相比
例句：How does your new house compare with your old one?
你的新房子和你的旧房子比起来怎样?

5. Opposition parties claim that at this election, there was widespread election fraud in favour of United Russia, including the stuffing of ballot boxes and voters being offered money.

in favour of为…而征战,参加支持…的活动
例句：I am in favour of the suggestion.
我赞同这个建议。

6. There will also be moves to cut back on the cost of government and bureaucracy.

cut back on减少, 削减
例句：We must cut back on expenditure in order to remain solvent.
我们应减少开支, 以备急用。

7. The operation sparked off one of the largest evacuations in Germany since 1945.

spark off导致, 为…的直接原因
例句：His speech seems to have sparked off a real argument.
他的发言看来引起了一场严重的争论。

8. Half the population of Koblenz has been affected with streets closed off and seven nursing homes, two hospitals and a prison also evacuated.

close off堵塞(路口等)
例句：The street was closed off for too many cars.
道路由于车辆过多而受阻。

9. They are being loaned by the Chinese authorities to Edinburgh Zoo, where they'll be kept in an old gorilla enclosure which has been transformed into a forest habitat.

transform into把…转变成…
例句：They have transformed themselves into permanent city dwellers.
他们已成为永久的城市居民。

10. It's hoped the bears, both eight years old, will find their new surroundings conducive to breeding.

conducive to有助于; 有益于
例句：Exercise is conducive to good health.
运动有助于健康。