VOA常速英语:Dozens Killed as Wave of Violence Strikes Iraq

短语讲解：

1. A series of explosions and attacks hit cities and towns across Iraq Monday, killing at least 63 people.

a series of一系列
例句：The post office will issue a series of new stamps.
邮局将要发行一套新邮票。

2. He said that our intelligence led us to believe, after security briefings, that there would be widespread violence, especially since we're expecting [a pilgrimage] at the Imam Ali shrine which was no doubt a pretext for the explosions.

lead to导致, 引起
例句：This led us to make a summing up of the experience and lessons.
这促使我们对经验和教训进行了总结。
no doubt很可能
例句：There is no doubt that he was in a highly excitable condition just now.
很可能他刚才处于极度兴奋状态之中。

3. He added that the developments can probably be attributed to al-Qaida elements present in the area.

attribute to把某事归因于某人〔某事〕
例句：The car accident was attributed to faulty brakes.
这次车祸被认为是刹车失灵造成的。

4. A crowd of onlookers, along with rescue workers who arrived at the scene of the first explosion, were hit by the second, according to a local police commander

arrive at到达, 来到
例句：One day a letter from my father arrived at the school.
有一天, 学校收到了我父亲的一封信。

5. He says that there was a double explosion, the first resulting from explosives placed in a vehicle near the scene, attracting a large crowd to see what happened, and those onlookers became victims of the second explosion.

result from产生于…, 由…引起
例句：His failure resulted from not working hard enough.
他的失败是工作不够努力造成的。

6. Khattar Abou Diab, who teaches political science at the University of Paris, argues that the violence is a sign of tensions in the lead-up to the planned, U.S. withdrawal from Iraq at the end of this year

at the end of 在…结尾,在…末端
例句：At the end of his speech, the crowd caught alight and began cheering wildly.
讲在他演讲快结束的时候, 人群情绪激昂, 狂热欢呼。

7. He argues that if al-Qaida is involved in these attacks, the next question would be which regional country is manipulating the group.

involve in使参与〔陷入, 牵扯到〕
例句：The vast masses there have become involved in the health campaign.
那里的广大群众都参加了卫生运动。