VOA慢速英语:American History: The Rise of U.S. Influence After World War Two

短语讲解：

1. This week in our series, we look at how British power gave way to American influence after World War Two.

give way to让路,让步
例句：They had to give way to superior forces.
他们在强敌面前不得不退却。

2. British forces had helped keep Greece from becoming communist at the end of World War Two.

keep from阻止; 免于
例句：Urgent business kept me from attending the meeting.
因有急事我不能去参加会议。

3. Britain, in effect, was asking the United States to take over leadership of the Western world.

in effect实际上, 事实上
例句：His reply is in effect an apology.
他的答复事实上是一种道歉。
take over接管; 接替
例句：She took over his work after his departure.
他离开以后, 她接替了他的工作。

4. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia, all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and, in some cases, increasing measure of control from Moscow.

lie in位于
例句：The house lies in a little valley behind the trees.
那所房子坐落在树林后的一个山谷里。

5. This iron curtain divided Europe into a communist east and a democratic west.

divide into分成; 分为
例句：The river divides into two streams at this point.
这条河在此分成两条支流。

6. Early in nineteen forty-nine, communist forces took control of Peking -- now Beijing -- and Tientsin.

take control of控制
例句：A military junta took control of the country.
一个军政权控制了国家。

7. Nothing that this country did or could have done within the reasonable limits of its capabilities could have changed that result; nothing that was left undone by this country has contributed to it.

contribute to促成
例句：Smoking is a major factor contribute to cancer.
吸烟是致癌的一个重要因素。

8. A decision was arrived at within China, if only a decision by default.

if only但愿; 只要
例句：If only he arrives in time.
但愿他能及时赶到。
by default缺席; 弃权
He lost the world title by default.
他由于弃权而失去了世界冠军的称号。

9. Truman called on Congress to give him four hundred million dollars in aid for Greece and Turkey.

call on要求, 请求, 号召
例句：He called on his friends to help him.
他向朋友求助。

10. Tuberculosis was breaking out.

break out突然发生, 爆发
例句：The Second World War broke out in September 1939.
第二次世界大战爆发于1939年9月。

11. But there’s no doubt whatever in my mind that, if we decide to do this thing, we can do it successfully.

no doubt无疑地;确信
例句：No doubt I will succeed in the end.
我确信我最终会成功。

12. There were political results, as well. Stronger economies helped prevent communists from gaining control of the governments in France and Italy.

prevent from阻止, 防止
例句：His prompt action prevented the fire from spreading.
他的果断行动制止了火势的蔓延。