BBC news 2011-12-26 加文本

短语讲解：

1. Describing the attacks as "senseless violence", the White House offered condolences to those who had lost loved ones and help for Nigeria to bring those responsible to justice.

describe as描述为
例句：I should describe the attempt as a failure.
我认为这次尝试失败了。
bring to使(某人)面临〔对付〕某种困难; 使达到…; 使用于…; 使加入, 参与…
例句：But what has brought the company to such a pity condition since I last worked for it?
自从我最后一次为该公司工作以来, 什么原因使得公司落到这般可怜的境地?

2. The militant Islamist group Boko Haram, which is locked in a violent struggle with the Nigerian authorities, said it carried out the attacks.

carry out执行; 贯彻
例句：He carried out the plan in very detail.
他一丝不苟地执行那项计划。

3. There are growing fears that with last American soldier gone from Iraq, the country could descend into an all-out sectarian conflict.

descend into向下行
例句：He descended into a cellar.
他走下地窖。

4. A spokesman for the Sudanese army, Lieutenant al-Sawarmi Khaled, said Mr Ibrahim had died from his wounds.

die from死于
例句：In a severe winter, wild animals can die from lack of food.
在寒冷的冬天, 野兽可能因为缺乏食物而饿死。

5. Thousands of people have again taken to the streets of the Yemeni capital Sanaa.

take to开始从事
例句：He gave up medicine and took to literature.
他放弃医学, 开始从事文学。

6. Mr Khan demanded strong measures to tackle corruption and called for a change in Pakistan's political culture.

call for要求
例句：The letter calls for an investigation of the facts.
来信要求对这些事实进行调查。

7. The question keeps coming up as to whether he has the practical solutions to back up all of this rhetoric.

come up发生
例句：I expect something to come up soon.
我预料很快就要出事的。
back up支持，证实；增援，后援
例句：He backed up his arguments with facts.
他以事实支持自己的论点。

8. Queen Elizabeth has focused on the importance of families and friendship in her Christmas message, which was broadcast as her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, recovered in hospital from a heart operation.

focus on对(某事或做某事)予以注意; 集中于
例句：The show focuses on making fun of politicians.
这场演出旨在嘲弄那些政客。
recover from恢复, 痊愈
例句：Has he recovered from his illness?
他的病好了吗?