BBC在线收听下载:北约要求俄罗斯在乌克兰冲突中作出让步

短语讲解：

1. The men here said that they had to retreat a couple of hours ago because of the presence of what they said were Russian tanks attacking them.

because of 因为，由于
例句：It arises because of the horizontal divergence. 
它是由于水平辐散而出现的。 

2. Nato leaders have also been discussing how the alliance should respond to the threat posed by the militant group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

respond to 对…作出反应[回答]
例句：The capacity to respond to stimuli. 
反应力对刺激的反应能力 

3. So far no Nato member state has joined the United States in conducting air strikes against the group.

so far 到目前为止
例句：It is merely a hypothesis; so far. 
到目前为止，这仅仅是一种假设。 

4. Shares of the company fell sharply after a federal judge in New Orleans ruled that BP's reckless conduct had led to the biggest offshore oil disaster in US history.

lead to 导致
例句：Economic models often lead to the study of systems of equations. 
经济模型经常导致对方程组的研究。 

5. However, much will depend on how large the court deems the spill to have been, a point of which it has not yet ruled.

depend on 依赖; 相信
例句：Can I depend on you? 
我可以信任你吗？ 

6. But a federal jury concluded that he and his wife, who say they are now estranged, used his office to endorse the healthcare products of a businessman in return for lavish gifts.

in return for 作为…的回报
例句：I bought him a drink in return for his help. 
我请他喝酒以酬谢他的帮助. 

7. They are due to be sentenced in January.

due to 欠下债[账]，应给予; 由于
例句：My popularity was due to my performance. 
我的声誉是我的工作实绩造成的。 

8. Joan Rivers was known for her lacerating and outrageous humour that took aim not only at Hollywood celebrities but also herself.

not only ... but also 不但…而且
例句：I can not only swim but also skate.
我不但会游泳，而且会滑冰。