VOA常速英语:Syrian Forces Shell Homs, Block Aid to Rebel Stronghold

appeal to向…呼吁; 向…请求;恳求
例句：He earnestly appealed to his friends for support.
他恳切地向朋友请求支持。

2. Syria's official news agency also reported a suicide bombing in the southern city of Daraa, while opposition activists claimed that the government was responsible for the blast.

be responsible for为…负责,形成…的原因
例句：The bad weather is responsible for the small attendance.
出席率低是由于天气不佳。

3. On Friday, Syrian authorities stopped an ICRC convoy, consisting of seven trucks carrying medical supplies and food, from entering Baba Amr, where activists say the humanitarian situation is dire.

consist of由…组成，由...构成
例句：The atmosphere consist of more than 70% of nitrogen.
大气中含有 70% 以上的氮气。

4. The Red Cross say they received permission on Thursday to bring aid to the people stranded in the district.

bring to把…带给(某人), 带往(某处)
例句：Last night's storm brought several trees to the ground.
昨夜的暴风雨刮倒了几棵树。

5. Abdallah argued that the explosion coincided with a government media campaign to blame violence in the country on foreign terrorists and al-Qaida.

coincide with与…一致
例句：His tastes and habits coincide with those of his wife.
他的爱好跟习惯恰好和他的妻子相同。
blame on把责任推给…
例句：They blamed the failure on John.
他们把失败的责任推给约翰。

6. And I think, by and large, the Syrian people now must have fully understood that message.

by and large总的说来
例句：By and large, your idea is a good one.
总的说来你的看法不错。

7. Unlike Gadhafi, who was insane, and who said things in a brazen way, the man in Damascus kills, but he also has a referendum, so he still is faking out the international community

fake out捉弄, 欺骗
例句：You could try to fake out the teacher by handing in your book as though you'd done the work.
你不妨捉弄一下老师, 就像你已完成作业那样把本子交给他。

8. Ajami argues that U.S. military strategists believe there are still some things the United States could do to help the Syrian people, short of a military intervention.

short of缺少
例句：Their company was short of funds.
他们公司缺少资金。

9. He insists that a Western victory in Syria would represent a "strategic defeat" for Iran, Hezbollah and Russia - something, he says, U.S. public should reflect on.

reflect on仔细想; 回忆
例句：I often reflect on my schooldays.
我经常回忆起我上学的日子。