BBC news 2012-01-03 加文本 讲解翻译

短语讲解：

1. The military calls it a long-range weapon, but it's only able to hit targets within the Gulf. Iran has been keen to demonstrate its strength within the region.

be keen to渴望,极想
例句：She is very keen to visit Canada.
她渴望访问加拿大。

2. Last week, the country felt bold enough to suggest that it might even close the Strait of Hormuz if the West imposed sanctions on Iran's oil industry, but Iran's navy has now tempered that threat.

impose on把…加于
例句：The government imposed a heavy tax on luxury goods.
政府对奢侈品课以重税。

3. Police in the Nigerian capital Abuja have used tear gas to disperse demonstrators protesting against the removal of government subsidies on fuel.

protest against抗议
例句：All local farmers protested against building the new airport on their farm land.
当地农民抗议在他们的农田上建新飞机场。

4. Trade unions say they will carry out mass demonstrations in the coming days.

carry out实行，执行；实现，完成
例句：If you make a promise, it should be carried out.
你许了诺言, 就一定要兑现。

5. The removal of the fuel subsidy has led to a sharp increase in transport costs, and analysts fear that this will make life more expensive and tougher for the average Nigerian.

lead to导致
例句：Smoking can lead to lung cancer.
抽烟可能导致肺癌。

6. The head of the Arab League says the Syrian army has pulled out of residential areas, but has warned that snipers remain a threat a week after Arab League monitors began their peace mission.

pull out退出
例句：The invading troops are pulling out of the occupied area under international supervision.
入侵部队正在国际监督下撤出占领区。

7. Nabil al-Arabi said gunfire continued in some parts of the country and appealed for all shooting to stop.

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

8. In the United States, contenders for the Republican nomination to run against President Barack Obama in November are making their last appeals to voters in Iowa.

run against同…竞选
例句：Who is going to run against Senator Brown?
准备同布朗参议员竞选的是谁?

9. Police in the United States are questioning a man over some 55 arson attacks in Los Angeles since Thursday, in which cars have been set alight apparently at random, mostly in the middle of the night.

at random任意地; 随便地
例句：Soiled dishes were piled at random.
脏碟子胡乱地堆着。
set alight使着火,使燃烧; 放火
例句：They poured kerosene all over the thatched house, preparing to set it alight.
他们把煤油浇在茅草屋上,准备放火。