BBC在线收听下载:教皇本笃十六世主动辞职震惊教廷

1. Pope Benedict will step down as head of the Roman Catholic Church at the end of this month.

step down 退休，辞职
例句：The governor has rejected all calls to step down.
这位州长拒绝了所有要求他下台的呼声。
 
2. Benedict, who’s 85, said he no longer had the strength of mind or body to fulfil his duties.

no longer 不再，已不
例句：She is no longer a child.
她不再是小孩子了。

3. Though Vatican watchers could see Pope Benedict was becoming increasingly tired and frail, the resignation took even the pope’s closest aides by surprise.

by surprise 出其不意；冷不防；猛不防
例句：I was confused by what he meant by surprise.
我被他出其不意的意思混淆。

4. President Obama has extended prayers and appreciation to Pope Benedict on behalf of the American people.

on behalf of 为了…的利益；代表…
例句：I am speaking on behalf of my class.
我代表我们班级发言。

5. But the bailout hasn’t yet been agreed because of concerns about allegations that Russian oligarchs used Cyprian banks to launder money. Officials in Nicosia reject the claims.

because of 因为，由于；基于
例句：You laugh because of this?
你因为这个笑了？

6. A cruise ship with more than 4,000 people on board is spending a second day adrift in the Gulf of Mexico after a fire destroyed its propulsion system.

more than 不止
例句：She was no more than 16.
她是不超过16个。