句子分析：
1.The Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez had earlier announced he was breaking off relations over accusations that his government was harboring left-wing Colombian rebels.
break off停止; 断交
例句：He broke off in the middle of his story.
他故事讲到一半就突然不讲了。
When she came in, Bob broke off his talk with Jane.
当她进来时, 鲍伯停止了和珍的谈话。
2.Barely two weeks after arriving in the UK, he has told his brother he desperately wants to go home.
barely，hardly区别
Hardly 和一个否定词在一起的用法在标准英语中 应尽量避免， 一些批评学家一直怀疑象hardly，rarely 和 scarcely 这样的副词在传统的双重否定的句中应被视为否定词， 这样的词使句子象I couldn't hardly see him 和 I didn't get none 一样被弄糟了， 他们争论说，毕竟句子Mary hardly laughed 的意思是玛丽的确笑了， 而不是她没笑，所以不表示否定的建议。但是hardly 和 scarcely 和其他的否定表示一起在许多方面出现， 举例说，他们和象any 和 at all 这样独特的和否定上下文联系的条目组合在一起， 我们说I hardly saw him at all 或 I never saw him at all , 但并不是I occasionally saw him at all； 我们说I hardly had any time 或 I didn't have any time 但不是I had any time 等。 象其它否定副词，hardly 在句子开头时引起主语和助动词的倒装， 于是我们说Hardly had I arrived when she left， 和 Never have I read such a book 或 At no time has he condemned the movement. 等同样的句型。 别的副词并不用这样的倒装：我们不能说Occasionally has he addressed this question 或 To a slight degree have they changed their position 。 事实是象hardly 这样的副词语义上是否定的， 他们限定修饰了与不发生有关的状态或事件。于是hardly 的意思大概是“几乎根本不”； rarely 的意思大概是“实际上没有”；等等。
由于hardly, barely和scarcely等本身是否定词，所以不可与not或never 连用。
hardly，scarcely和barely这三个词在意义上都接近于否定。
hardly 主要与any，ever，at all或动词can连用：
He has hadly any money．
他几乎没有钱。（非常少）
I hardly ever go out．
我很少外出。（我极少外出。）
It hadly rained at all last summer．
去年夏天没怎么下雨。
Her case is so heavy that she can hadly lift it．
她的箱子太重了，她简直提不起来。
也可以和其他动词连用：
I hardly know him．
我不太认识他。（我只是与他认识而已。）
3.The academic says scientists should think twice before they sign a contract with the corporation, which has such powerful economic interests at stake.
at stake视情况而定,胜负未定;在危急关头,危若累卵
4.US officials say it could affect the operation to clean up the oil spill there.
clean up打扫; 清理
例句：This room needs cleaning up.
这间房间需要打扫一下。
Boys and girls, clean up for dinner.
孩子们, 收拾干净准备开饭吧!
5.Mr Gilani said the extension was essential, given the country’s battle against terrorism.
given引导条件句：given与provided意思一样,表示“如果有……,则……”,
但两者的区别是provided后面只能跟that引导从句,而不能跟名词或名词性短语。而given后既可跟从句,又可跟名词性短语。