VOA常速英语:Africa Major Player at World Water Forum

known as被认为是，被称为
例句：Radio, television, newspapers and magazines are known as the mass media.
广播、电视、报纸和杂志被称为大众传媒。

2. He said African nations are committed to clean water and sanitation.

commit to对…作出承诺, 承担义务, 担负责任; 使(自己)致力于…
例句：He has committed himself to the cause of education.
他已决心献身教育事业。

3. We are putting up the economic case – investment in water – how it helps in the development of a nation.

put up提出
例句：You have put up a good case, but I still have to decide against you.
你提出了一个很好的例证, 但是我仍不得不提出异议。

4. Taal said there was a time when African governments were hesitant about investing in water and sanitation.

invest in在…上投资, 在…投入(时间、精力等)
例句：He invested his money in shares.
他把钱投资在股票上。

5. Taal added irrigation can play a major role in ensuring food security and development.

play a role in在……扮演一个角色，在某方面起作用
例句：The headmaster plays an important role in the good running of a school.
办好一所学校, 校长起重要作用。

6. If you depend on raid-fed agriculture in West Africa or Sahelian countries, it rains between two and three months and you don’t even know when the rains are coming.

depend on依赖, 依靠
例句：All living things depend on the sun for their growth.
万物靠太阳生长。

7. “Africa came here and Africa has made its voice heard. And Africa has come out with solutions that we take back to the continent and implement so that water will be available to our people,” he said.

come out with说出,提出
例句：After some hesitation, she came out with the whole truth.
犹豫了一会,她终于道出了全部真相。

8. Currently, Taal says, 340 million Africans do not have access to clean water and 500 million do not have access to decent sanitation.

have access to接近（或进入）的方法（或权利、机会等）
例句：Students must have access to good books.
学生应该读得到好书。