VOA常速英语:US Troops Clear Highway for Pullout from Iraq

短语讲解：

1. All U.S. combat troops will be out of Iraq by the end of the month.

by the end of到…为止
例句：He had finished his great works by the end of 1980.
到1980年底, 他已完成了他的巨著。

2. Out here, in the desert, groups like this must work together to survive in the vast emptiness of southern Iraq… because usually, nothing good waits for them.

wait for等待, 等候
例句：He is waiting for something good to turn up.
他正期待着情况好转。

3. "There was a vehicle trailing us with their lights on, when we started slowing down, they turned their lights off and did a U-turn," said Malner.

slow down(使)慢下来
例句：You have to slow down your car at the crossing.
在十字路口, 你得放慢速度。
turn off(把…)关掉
例句：The tap won't turn off and there is water all over the floor.
水龙头关不上, 满地都是水。

4. The vehicle is not a threat…and the team rendezvouses with one of the last convoys passing through Iraq to provide safe passage to Kuwait.

pass through经过, 通过
例句：She said she was passing through Paris and would like to have a chat with me.
她说她要路过巴黎, 想跟我聊一聊。

5. A lot happened between the beginning and no, but coming in and closing the door.

come in进来, 进入; 来到, 到达
例句：The door opened and the teacher came in.
门开了, 老师走了进来。

6. It’s definitely the biggest reality check was: I swore that I’d never come back here.

come back回来
例句：I'm going away and I may never come back.
我要走了, 可能永远不再回来。