BBC news 2011-12-19 加文本

短语讲解：

1. The rivalries threatening Iraqi stability have intensified with the country's most senior Sunni politicians coming under pressure from the Shia-dominated government.

under pressure在压力下
例句：He works well under pressure.
他在有压力的情况下工作很出色。

2. The Iraqi parliamentary bloc led by Ayad Allawi, which represents most of the country's Sunnis, had earlier pulled out of parliament, accusing Prime Minister Maliki of monopolising power.

pull out退出; (使)离开
例句：We must pull our company out of the financial crisis as soon as possible.
我们必须使公司尽早摆脱财政危机的困境。
accuse of指责, 控告
例句：We accused him of taking bribes.
我们控告他受贿。

3. If it's not contained swiftly, there are fears it could plunge the country into an even deeper crisis.

plunge into (使)突然陷入或呈现出
例句：A power failure plunged the house into darkness.
断电使房子陷入一片黑暗之中。

4. There are street parties taking place in Ramallah and the West Bank and Gaza City to celebrate this release.

take place发生; 举行
例句：The evening party will take place on New Year's Eve.
晚会将在除夕那天举行。

5. Vaclav Havel led the peaceful uprising known as the Velvet Revolution, which brought an end to Soviet-style communism in Czechoslovakia in 1989.

bring an end to使结束，使停止
例句：Neutral state in the area have tried to bring an end to the war
该地区的中立国为结束战争作出了努力。

6. He was a man who really fought for liberty.

fight for为…而战斗〔竞争〕
例句：They fought for their country.
他们为祖国而战斗。

7. The United Nations has warned that an impending humanitarian crisis in Yemen could turn it into another Somalia.

turn into (使)变成
例句：Her bitter experience has turned her into a stronger person.
痛苦的经历使她变得更坚强了。

8. The warning came as UN officials appealed for nearly $450m to help millions of Yemenis affected by food shortages.

appeal for呼吁
例句：He appealed for his parents' forgiveness.
他恳求他的双亲宽恕他。

9. The country has been racked by months of protests against the government of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who's agreed to step down in February next year.

step down辞职，下台
例句：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。

10. The defeated opposition leader in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Etienne Tshisekedi, says he will be sworn in as the country's president this week despite the Supreme Court upholding the election victory of the incumbent, Joseph Kabila.

swear in使宣誓就职
例句：The new Governor is being sworn in next week.
下星期新总督要宣誓就职。

11. An oil drilling platform that sank off Sakhalin island in the Russian far east was hit by such strong waves that its life rafts were ripped away.

rip away扯掉；除去
例句：All the leaves have been ripped away from the trees by the high wind.
大风把树上的叶子都刮掉了。