VOA常速英语:Britons 'E-Petition' for Death Penalty Return

短语讲解：

1. Hundreds of Britons have petitioned their government to reintroduce the death penalty in a new government Internet scheme that was launched Thursday.

death penalty死刑
例句：The judge inflicted the death penalty on the criminal.
法官判处该犯死刑。

2. The leader of the House of Commons said Thursday that if enough people call for Britain to restore the death penalty it should be discussed by lawmakers.

call for要求
例句：The letter calls for an investigation of the facts.
来信要求对这些事实进行调查。

3. That could be good news for those who signed an online petition Thursday hoping to bring capital punishment back and for a handful of MPs who voiced their support.

bring back (使)恢复
例句：The country has brought back hanging as a punishment.
该国已恢复了绞刑。
capital punishment死刑
a handful of一把；少数、几个、不多
例句：I drew a handful of coins from my pocket.
我从口袋里摸出一把硬币。

4. Ahead of the online petition, Conservative MP Andrew Turner said it's the "proper punishment" for some serious crimes.

ahead of在…之前
例句：She left one day ahead of him.
她是在他离开的前一天离开的。

5. Capital punishment is one of a number of issues that have been petitioned in an online government scheme.

a number of一些
例句：A great number of problems have arisen.
出现了许多问题。

6. The last execution took place in Britain almost five decades ago.

take place发生; 举行
例句：The evening party will take place on New Year's Eve.
晚会将在除夕那天举行。

7. Some people have criticized the scheme, saying it allows special interest group to push their causes up the parliamentary agenda and wastes MPs time debating subjects that won't pass into law.

push up推上去; 增高, 提高
例句：A shortage of building land will push property values up.
建筑用地缺乏将造成房地产价格逐渐上升。

8. Williamson describes petitioning as "democracy-light" but says it's still important.

describe as描述为
例句：I should describe the attempt as a failure.
我认为这次尝试失败了。

9. The thing we are most familiar with and most of us do is vote.

be familiar with熟悉
例句：I am not very familiar with European history.
我对欧洲历史不太熟悉。