Words and phrases from the reading comprehensions

Piracy and Terrorism

growing menace - growing danger
irresistible prey - a non defendable victim
a “diry bomb” could lay waste to a port - … could destroy a port
ship-to-shore alert system - ship-to-coast alert system
It is likely, however, … - it is likely, nevertheless or althogh, …
fail to comply by the July 1 deadline - fail to fullfil the deadline
most vulnerable shipping lanes - most easily to damager shipping lanes
A major disruption could cripple the global economy. - disruption = incident, cripple = unable to walk properly, handicapped, challenged
canal - build by human
channel - natural, often bottlenecks
copycats - Trittbrettfahrer
waste sb - kill, destroy sb
attic - in a house the space directly under the roof

Companies in the City of London

with the advent of the European single currency - with the coming …
virtually - almost identical
the City controls - rather manage, maintain, but not steer; controlled by law
agglomeration factor - accumulation factor
Frankfurt’s ambition to oust London - oust = push out
decision to defer its entry to European Monetary Union - defer = delay