VOA慢速英语:America History: US-Japan Relations Before World War Two

短语讲解：

1. But its first battle would not be in Europe at all. Instead, the United States would enter World War Two following a surprise attack by Japan on the large American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

not at all根本不，完全不，一点也不
例句：China's south does not at all resemble the U.S. south. 
中国的南方一点也不象美国的南部。

2. Until the late eighteen hundreds, Japan had been a nation with ancient political traditions and little contact with the Western world.

contact with与…有交往〔联系〕
例句：We contacted with the ship by radio.
我们通过无线电与那艘船取得了联系。

3. And in the years that followed, Japan took major steps toward becoming a modern industrial nation.

take steps采取措施
例句：We should take steps to prevent war.
我们应当采取措施制止战争。

4. Japan's desire to use East Asia to gain natural resources and sell manufactured products was in direct conflict with American plans for Asia.

in conflict with和...冲突
例句：Science is in conflict with religion.
科学与宗教相冲突。

5. The United States was also very concerned about protecting its imports of oil, tin and rubber from Southeast Asia.

be concerned about关心,挂念
例句：We are concerned about the safety of the public.
我们关心市民大众的生命安全。

6. However, there also was a good deal of trade between the two nations.

a good deal of很多的
例句：He gave me a good deal of trouble.
他给我添了大量麻烦。

7. A moderate government took power in January nineteen-forty.

take power当权，执政
例句：Take power by lawful means
用合法的手段取得权力

8. The Burma Road was a major route by which the United States was supplying China with munitions as part of the Lend-Lease Act.

supply with把…提供〔供应给〕…
例句：They supply us with latest equipment.
他们向我们提供最新的装备。

9. And for a time, the American plan worked. Japan did not make new acts of aggression.

for a time短时间内, 暂且
例句：He was up for a time and then, without warning, despondent again.
他一度兴高采烈, 但忽然又情绪低落下来。

10. But the two nations were on the edge of war.

on the edge of濒于,几乎,在…边缘
例句：I stood on the edge of a precipice. 
我的处境是汲汲可危的。