CNN news 2011-04-07 加文本

短语讲解：

1. Workers there have figured out how radioactive materials are leaking out into the Pacific Ocean. Last week, there were tests that showed high levels of radiation about 360 yards offshore.

figure out 弄明白，理解
例句：To this day, I can't figure out how the board members can defend their decision. 
 直到今天，我还不了解这些董事们怎能为其决定辩解。
leak out 漏出，渗漏，泄露
Nobody knew how the secret had leaked out.
没有人知道秘密是怎样泄露出去的。

2. A Japanese official said one theory is that the water they were pumping into the reactor to cool off the nuclear fuel rods inside, somehow leaked out.

pump into 注入，灌输
例句：A tire expands when you pump air into it. 
 轮胎打了气就会胀大。
cool off 变凉，冷却
例句：Let's go and have ice-cream to cool off. 
 咱们去吃点冰淇淋凉快凉快吧。

3. At first, they tried to use concrete to seal it up.

seal up 把…封起来
例句：They sealed up the cracks in the window to stop the icy wind from blowing in.
他们把窗户的缝隙封起来, 不让寒风吹进室内。

4. It's been going on since a disputed election back in November.

go on 继续进行
例句：Your guidance aided the work to go on smoothly. 
 你的指导促使这项工作顺利进行。

5. But the man who has been president, Laurent Gbabgo, refuses to step down.

step down 退休，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。

6. People took to the streets, speaking out against the Quran burning.

speak out 大胆地说，畅所欲言
例句：If you have any objections, just speak out.
如果你有什么反对意见, 就爽快地说出来。