Her students could not compass the simplest problems.是什么意思？

Her students could not compass the simplest problems.

她的学生连最简单的问题都不能理解.

her

pron. (she的宾格)她，(she的所有格)她的，她，指某个国家，（一艘）船；

例句
There was a terrible sadness in her eyes...
她眼神中流露出深深的悲伤。

Students

n. 学生，大学生( student的名词复数 )，研究者，中学生；

例句
Part-time English classes are offered. In addition, students can take classes in word-processing and computing...
开设了非全日制的英语班。另外，学生可以修读文字处理和计算机课程。

could

aux. “can”的过去式，能够，打算，用于假设语气的条件句，用于虚拟语气的结论句；

例句
The regulations were relaxed and the prisoners could get out and about a bit.
规定有所放宽，犯人可以出去短暂放风。

not

adv. 不，[用以表示否定、否认、拒绝、禁止等]不是，几乎不，未必，没有[用于否定后面的词或短语]；

例句
It became very clear that the incident was not just an aberration, it was not just a single incident.
事实已经很清楚，这件事不是偶发的，它并不是一起孤立的事件。

compass

n. 罗盘，指南针，圆规，界限；

例句
We had to rely on a compass and a lot of luck to get here.
我们不得不依靠指南针和不错的运气找到这儿来。

the

art. 指已提到的人（物），指说话人与听者已知的人（物），用于独一无二的事物前，与形容词最高级和序数词连用；

例句
He did have a real knowledge of the country...
他对该国的确知之甚多。

simplest

adj. 最简单的，简单的( simple的最高级 )，朴素的，易受骗的，自然的；

例句
The simplest way to deal with these hardy annuals is to sow them where they are to flower.
处理这些一年生耐寒植物最简单的办法是将他们种在能开花的地方。

problems

n. 问题( problem的名词复数 )，疑难问题，习题，思考题；

例句
There are two main problems which afflict people with hearing impairments...
听力有障碍的人们主要受到两大问题的困扰。