1. Several cases have been reported in Russia recently of people who can detect colours with their fingers，and even see through solid and walls.
俄罗斯最近报导了几个事例，有人能用手指看书识字和辨认颜色，甚至能透过厚实的门和墙看到东西。
be reported of报道什么内容，in Russia表示地点的状语，弄清楚结构之后就比较容易理解了。who can detect colours with their fingers是定语从句，修饰people。
2. One day she came into his office and happened to put her hands on the door of a locked safe.
一天，维拉走进父亲的办公室，偶然把手放在一个锁着的保险柜的门上。
happen to 凑巧
例句：He happened to oversee the Burglar leaving the premises.
他碰巧看到那盗贼离开房子。
I happened to overhear what he said.
我碰巧听到了他所说的话。
还有另外一个词组也表示遇见，偶然看见的意思：
come across 遇见,偶然看见
例句：We came across an old man lying in the road.
我们碰见一位老人躺在路上。
At the library I came across the old reference Book.
在图书馆里我找到旧参考书。
3. Suddenly she asked her father why he kept so many old newspapers locked away there，and even described the way they were done up in bundles.
她突然问父亲为什么把这么多的旧报纸锁在柜子里，还说了报纸捆扎的情况。
in bundles 打捆，表示状态
例句：An attachment on a reaping machine that ties grain in bundles.
捆缚装置收割扎束机上把作物扎成束的附件部分。
4. Vera's curious talent was brought to the notice of a scientific research institute in the town of Ulyanovsk，near where she lives，and in April she was given a series of tests by a special commission of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federal Republic.
维拉的特异功能引起了她家附近乌里扬诺夫斯克城一个科研单位的注意。
bring to the notice of 引起某人注意
例句：bring to public notice by writing，with praise or condemnation.
为了褒扬或谴责写下来引起大众的注意。
另外一个类似的短语：call sb's attention to sth，引起某人对某个问题的注意
a series of 一系列，一连串
例句：A series of misfortunes visited the family.
这一家遭到一连串的厄运。
where she lives是where引导的宾语从句。
