VOA常速英语:Tunis Conference Aims to Pressure Syria's Assad on Aid, Political Change

aim at (以…)瞄准; 针对, 以…为目标
例句：The visit was aimed at expanding the relations between the two countries.
访问的目的是扩展两国的关系。

2. Getting aid to civilians caught up in Syria's violence will be high on the agenda.

catch up追上, 赶上
例句：You just go ahead and I'll catch up later.
你先走一步, 我随后赶来。

3. En route to the Tunis meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday the conference will reflect the international consensus for change in Syria, and that she hopes it will put enough pressure on the Syrian leader to convince him to change.

put pressure on给……施压，强迫，促使
例句：They put pressure on the council to change its housing policy.
他们向市议会施加压力，要求改变住房政策。

4. But if I were a betting person for the medium-term and certainly the long-term, I would be betting against Assad

bet against打赌，打赌断定(某事)不可能发生
例句：I'll bet against your winning.
我包你不会赢。

5. A senior State Department official traveling to the conference with the secretary told reporters that participants will issue a challenge to President Assad to allow international aid into areas his troops have cut off from the outside world while residents suffer daily artillery barrages.

cut off切〔隔〕断, 阻碍; 使分离；使隔绝
例句：The village was cut off by the snow for more than a month.
这个村庄被大雪封闭了一个多月。

6. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the conference will also express support for the Arab League transition plan for Syria that would replace Mr. Assad with a council and lead to elections.

lead to导致
例句：Smoking can lead to lung cancer.
抽烟可能导致肺癌。

7. The pressure will build on countries like Russia and China because the world opinion is not going to stand idly by.

stand by站在旁边; 袖手旁观
例句：You cannot stand by and allow such a thing.
你不能袖手旁观, 听任发生这样的事。

8. But some opposition members say Western and Arab countries must moderate their approach, and bring China and Russia into the process, if they are to have any chance of ending the violence and achieving political change in Syria.

bring into把…拿入, 带入(某处)
例句：Who brought that unpleasant woman into my home?
是谁把那个讨厌的女人带到我家里来的?