英語八級翻譯

1、(5) 8級測試英譯漢部分； 19962005年英語專業(yè)8級統(tǒng)考題中英譯漢試題評析【1996年8級測試英譯漢】Four months before Election Day1, five men gathered in a small conference room at the Reagan-Bush headquarters2 and reviewed an oversize calendar that marked the remaining days of the 1984 presidential campaign. It was the last Saturday in June

2、and at ten oclock in the morning the rest of the office was practically deserted3. Even so, the men kept the door shut and the drapes carefully drawn. The three principals and their two deputies had come from around the country for a critical meeting4. Their aim was to devise a strategy5 that would

3、guarantee Ronald Reagans resounding reelection to a second term in the White House.It should have been easy. They were battle-tested veterans6 with long ties to Reagan and even longer ties to the Republican Party, men who understood presidential politics7 as well as any in the country. The backdrop8

4、 of the campaign was hospitable, with lots of good news to work with: America was at peace, and the nations economy, a key factor in any election, was rebounding vigorously after recession. Furthermore, the campaign itself was lavishly financed9, with plenty of money for a top-flight staff10, travel

5、, and television commercials. And, most important, their candidate was Ronald Reagan, a president of tremendous personal popularity and dazzling communication skills11. Reagan has succeeded more than any president since John F. Kennedy in projecting a broad vision of Americaa nation of renewed milit

6、ary strength, individual initiative, and smaller federal government12.【概述】 本文是一篇典型的關(guān)于美國政治的時事雜文，用詞色彩強(qiáng)烈，修飾語具有極端性和渲染性的特點。翻譯這類文章時，伸縮性較大，適宜文采的容忍度較大。翻譯中涉及被動語態(tài)譯法、轉(zhuǎn)譯法等?！痉g要點評析】Election Day ：美國的總統(tǒng)“選舉日”。Reagan-Bush headquarters：里根布什競選總部。the rest of the office was practically deserted：“desert”意為離棄、放棄，此句為被動表達(dá)方式

7、，翻譯時如不特別強(qiáng)調(diào)施動者，一般譯為主動句，即“其他辦公室?guī)缀鯖]有人”。critical meeting：“critical”有“批評的、危機(jī)的、決定性的”意思，此處為“決定性的”，譯為“重要會議”。devise a strategy：“devise”意為“想出、設(shè)計、發(fā)明”，此處根據(jù)“strategy”一詞譯為“制定策略”。battle-tested veterans：久經(jīng)沙場的老將；在戰(zhàn)場上受過考驗的老將。presidential politics：總統(tǒng)競選的套路。backdrop：意為背景、大環(huán)境，此處譯為“條件”。the campaign itself was lavishly fin

8、anced：該句為被動句，翻譯時應(yīng)該轉(zhuǎn)為主動語態(tài)，即“這次競選籌到了充裕的資金”。a top-flight staff：top-flight=best, first rate, staff 此處指“競選班子”。a president of tremendous personal popularity and dazzling communication skills：此句為名詞性短語，作Ronald Reagan的同位語，若直譯即“一位極具個人魅力和溝通技巧的總統(tǒng)。”但考慮到中文不易用修飾成份過長的表達(dá)方式，可將此同位語轉(zhuǎn)譯為一個單獨的句子，即“他極具個人魅力，精通溝通技巧?！盿 nation

9、 of renewed military strength, individual initiative, and smaller federal government：譯法同上，可轉(zhuǎn)譯“國家軍事力量復(fù)興，國人積極進(jìn)取，政府機(jī)構(gòu)精簡。”【參考譯文】離選舉日還有四個月，五個人聚集在里根布什競選總部的一個小型會議室里，看著一張碩大的日歷，1984年總統(tǒng)競選剩下的日子清晰地標(biāo)了出來。這是六月份的最后一個星期六，早晨10點，其他辦公室?guī)缀鯚o人。即使這樣，他們?nèi)跃o閉大門，嚴(yán)拉窗簾。三個主要人物和兩個副手從全國各地趕來，聚在這里召開一個重要會議，旨在制定出一套策略，以確保里根再次當(dāng)選總統(tǒng)，入主白宮。再次當(dāng)

10、選應(yīng)該不是件難事。他們久經(jīng)沙場，跟隨里根多年，為共和黨干的時間更長，沒有誰比他們更熟悉總統(tǒng)競選那一套兒。另外，競選條件也十分有利，很多好消息可供炒作。例如，美國上下一片和平，經(jīng)濟(jì)這一永恒的競選要素也在經(jīng)過一段時間的衰退之后開始強(qiáng)勁反彈。此外，這次競選本身得到了慷慨資助，足以支付一流競選班子、巡回演講以及電視廣告的費用。最重要的是，他們的候選人是羅納德 · 里根，他極具個人魅力，精通溝通技巧。自約翰 · F · 肯尼迪總統(tǒng)以來，里根最成功地勾勒出美國藍(lán)圖：國家軍事力量復(fù)興，國人積極進(jìn)取，政府機(jī)構(gòu)精簡。【1997年8級測試英譯漢】Opera is expensive:

11、 that much is inevitable.1 But expensive things are not inevitably the province of the rich unless we abdicate societys power of choice. 2 We can choose to make opera, and other expensive forms of culture, accessible to those who cannot individually pay for it. 3 The question is: why should we? Nobo

12、dy denies the imperatives of food, shelter, defense, health and education. 4 But even in a prehistoric cave, mankind stretched out a hand not just to eat, drink or fight, but also to draw. 5 The impulse towards culture, the desire to express and explore the world through imagination and representati

13、on is fundamental. 6 In Europe, this desire has found fulfillment in the masterpieces of our music, art, literature and theatre. These masterpieces are the touchstones7 for all our efforts; they are the touchstones for the possibilities to which human thought and imagination may aspire; they carry t

14、he most profound messages that can be sent from one human to another.8【概述】 這是一篇典型的關(guān)于美國政治的時事雜文，用詞色彩強(qiáng)烈，修飾語具有極端性和渲染性的特點。翻譯這類文章時，伸縮性較大，適宜文采的容忍度較大。這篇文章理解起來不難，但翻譯時卻發(fā)現(xiàn)不好用貼切的漢語表達(dá)，因此在處理這樣表面看起來比較容易但難翻譯的文章時，注意一定不要拘泥于英文的表達(dá)形式。本文翻譯中涉及長句譯法、定語從句譯法，以及增詞法、轉(zhuǎn)譯法等。【翻譯要點評析】Opera is expensive: that much is inevitable：若直譯即“

15、歌劇很貴，那種貴不可避免?！钡x者要問“是聽歌劇很貴還是演歌劇很貴？”因此，在“歌劇”前要加具體動詞，根據(jù)上下文，可以看出“聽歌劇”比較恰當(dāng)。But expensive things are not inevitably the province of the rich unless we abdicate societys power of choice：province意為“領(lǐng)域、范圍”；abdicate意為“放棄”。societys power of choice如果直譯，即“社會的選擇權(quán)”，但這樣翻譯有些抽象，可采用意譯法，即“社會左右選擇的力量”。We can choose to m

16、ake opera, and other expensive forms of culture, accessible to those who cannot individually pay for it： to make something accessible to someone使某人也能得到某事（物），因此全句可譯為“使歌劇和其他形式的高消費文化也能讓那些作為個體消費不起的人們所享受?！?Nobody denies the imperatives of food, shelter, defense, health and education：the imperatives of fo

17、od, shelter, defense, health and education意思為“食物、居所、防護(hù)、健康與教育這些必需的事物”，翻譯時可將imperatives名詞詞性轉(zhuǎn)為動詞，即“食物、居所、防護(hù)、健康與教育缺一不可”。全句直譯即“沒有人否認(rèn)食物、居所、防護(hù)、健康與教育的不可或缺性”。但這是英文表達(dá)，英譯漢時必須將其用通順的漢語表達(dá)方式，因此翻譯時可采用正話反說，反話正說法，即“食物、居所、防護(hù)、健康與教育缺一不可，這一點人人認(rèn)可?！盉ut even in a prehistoric cave, mankind stretched out a hand not just to ea

18、t, drink or fight, but also to draw：此句用了“not just, but also”固定表達(dá)，一般譯為“不僅，而且”。The impulse towards culture, the desire to express and explore the world through imagination and representation is fundamental：此句為典型的英語主語部分過長的句子，為了避免頭重腳輕，翻譯時可將主語部分獨立出來，即變成外位語的形式，同時運用轉(zhuǎn)譯法，將fundamental形容詞詞性轉(zhuǎn)為名詞詞性即“人性的根本”。touch

19、stones：試金石。they are the touchstones for the possibilities to which human thought and imagination may aspire; they carry the most profound messages that can be sent from one human to another：這兩句都包含一個定語從句，第一句的定語從句可以按照原結(jié)構(gòu)直譯，即“人類思想和想象力可及程度的試金石”，但第二句的定語從句需要用分譯法分譯出來，即“它們承載著最深刻的信息，使之在人類成員之間傳播?！薄緟⒖甲g文】聆聽歌劇，無

20、疑昂貴至極。但是，昂貴的東西并不是非富人莫屬，除非我們放棄社會的選擇權(quán)。我們可以做出選擇，使歌劇和其他形式的高消費文化也能讓那些作為個體消費不起的人們所享受。但問題是，有必要這么做嗎？食物、居所、防護(hù)、健康與教育缺一不可，這一點人人認(rèn)可。即便史前，住在洞穴中的人類伸出手來，不僅為了吃飯、喝水或搏殺，也為了作畫。對于文化的沖動，對于通過形象思維和再現(xiàn)手段來表達(dá)并探索世界的欲望，這是人的本性。在歐洲，這一欲望反映在音樂、繪畫、文學(xué)和戲劇之類的藝術(shù)杰作之中。這些杰作是我們?nèi)砍晒脑嚱鹗?，是人類思想和想象力可及程度的試金石。它們承載著最深刻的信息，使之在人類成員之間傳播。 【1998年8級測試英譯漢

21、】I agree to some extent with my imaginary English reader. American literary historians are perhaps prone to view their own national scene too narrowly, mistaking prominence for uniqueness. They do over-phrase1 their own literature, or certainly its minor figures. And Americans do swing from aggressi

22、ve over-phrase of their literature to an equally unfortunate, imitative deference. 2 But then, the English themselves are somewhat insular in their literary appraisals. 3 Moreover, in fields where they are not pre-eminente. g. in painting and musicthey too alternate between boasting of native produc

23、ts and copying those of the Continent. How many English paintings try to look as though they were done in Paris; how many times have we read in articles that they really represent an “English tradition” after all.To speak of American literature, then, is not to assert that it is completely unlike th

24、at of Europe. Broadly speaking, America and Europe have kept step4. At any given moment5 the traveler could find examples in both of the same architecture, the same styles in dress, the same books on the shelves. Ideas have crossed the Atlantic as freely as men and merchandise, though sometimes more

25、 slowly. When I refer to American habit, thoughts, etc., I intend some sort of qualification to precede the word, for frequently the difference between America and Europe (especially England) will be one of degree, sometimes only of a small degree. The amount of divergence is a subtle affair, liable

26、 to perplex6 the Englishman when he looks at America. He is looking at a country which in important senses grew out of his own, which in several ways still resembles his own and which is yet a foreign country.7 There are odd overlappings and abrupt unfamiliarities; kinship yields to a sudden alienat

27、ion, as when we hail a person across the street, only to discover from his blank response that we have mistaken a stranger for a friend. 8【概述】 本文是一篇典型的學(xué)術(shù)型語篇，屬于半口語型的學(xué)術(shù)語言。用詞正式，句法簡單，同時又口語感很強(qiáng)，讀起來朗朗上口。對于這類語篇的理解，一般需要一定的專業(yè)知識?！痉g要點評析】over-phrase：過分渲染，言過其實；over作為前綴意為“過分地”，如overestimate過高估計，表示過低用under，如undere

28、stimate低估。And Americans do swing from aggressive over-phrase of their literature to an equally unfortunate, imitative deference：此句翻譯的關(guān)鍵在于正確理解原句意思，因此需要對原文結(jié)構(gòu)進(jìn)行改寫，即“Americans do swing from aggressive over-phrase of their literature to imitative deference, which is an equally unfortunate.”其中swing from t

29、o意為搖擺不定，忽左忽右，可譯為“要么要么”；根據(jù)改寫后的原句結(jié)構(gòu)，我們可以將原句譯為 “美國人確實也走極端，要么咄咄逼人，對本國文學(xué)大肆渲染，要么亦步亦趨，對別國文學(xué)頂禮膜拜。這兩種做法同樣的不幸?！?But then, the English themselves are somewhat insular in their literary appraisals：But then表示語氣的轉(zhuǎn)折，這類詞語很難處理，翻譯時要格外小心，如果沒有非常大的把握，寧可不譯。此處根據(jù)上下文譯為“不過”或“話又說回來”。insular意為超然物外的，孤立的，此處譯為“孤陋寡聞”。keet step：指“步

30、伐一致，協(xié)調(diào)一致” 。At any given moment：given一詞可以不翻，將此短語直接譯為“任何時候”。liable to perplex：容易使困惑不解。He is looking at a country which in important senses grew out of his own, which in several ways still resembles his own and which is yet a foreign country：此句帶有3個定語從句，根據(jù)漢語表達(dá)習(xí)慣，應(yīng)將country作為句子的主語部分，句子的主語變?yōu)橹^語部分，因此用句子成分轉(zhuǎn)譯法

31、，即“他所看的那個國家，從某些重要的意義上來說，脫胎于他自己的國家，并在某些方面與他自己的國家相差無幾然而，它卻實實在在是一個異邦?！薄here are odd overlappings and abrupt unfamiliarities; kinship yields to a sudden alienation, as when we hail a person across the street, only to discover from his blank response that we have mistaken a stranger for a friend：此句若直譯，即

32、“兩者間存在著某些古怪的交替重迭，以及令人甚感突兀的陌生感；親緣關(guān)系已讓位于一種突如其來的異化與疏遠(yuǎn)，這種情景仿佛就像我們隔著馬路向另一個人打招呼，結(jié)果卻從這個人漠無表情的反應(yīng)中發(fā)現(xiàn)，我們原來竟將一個陌生人誤認(rèn)為我們的熟人?！弊x起來有些生硬、拗口，所以用意譯能較好地表達(dá)作者的意圖，即“兩個國家，既有重疊，也有陌生，重疊使人頗感奇怪，陌生令人覺著突如其來：親戚一下子變做陌生路人。猶如我們向馬路對面的某個行人打招呼，結(jié)果出乎意料，那人表情默然，原來，我們誤把陌路當(dāng)友人。”【參考譯文】在一定程度上，我贊同這位虛構(gòu)的英國讀者的觀點。美國的文學(xué)史工作者也許慣于過分狹隘地看待本國文壇，誤將顯著當(dāng)獨特。他們

33、的確過分渲染本國文學(xué)，至少對二流的作家肯定會吹捧。美國人確實也走極端，要么咄咄逼人，對本國文學(xué)大肆渲染，要么亦步亦趨，對別國文學(xué)頂禮膜拜。這兩種做法同樣的不幸。話又說回來，英國人自己在文學(xué)鑒賞方面也顯得有些孤陋寡聞。而且，在諸如繪畫音樂這些本國沒有杰出成就的領(lǐng)域里，他們也走極端，要么吹噓本國的作品，要么模仿大陸上的作品。試想，有多少幅英國畫試圖做得讓人看上去像是在巴黎繪的；我們又有多少次讀到他們的作品真正代表著一種“英國式的傳統(tǒng)”呢？說到美國文學(xué)，并非意欲斷言，它與歐洲文學(xué)全然不同。廣而言之，美國與歐洲一直步伐一致。任何時刻，旅行者在兩地均能看到同樣的建筑，款式相同的服飾，相同的書籍。思想如同

34、人員與貨物往來一樣，自由地橫跨大西洋，不過有時會稍微慢一些。當(dāng)我說美國習(xí)慣、美國思想等時，我只想在這一詞匯前加上某種修飾語，因為，歐美（尤其是英美）之間的差異往往只是程度上的差異，而且有時候微乎其微。差異的多少至精至細(xì)，很容易使英國人對美國迷惑不解。他所看的那個國家，從某些重要的意義上來說，脫胎于他自己的國家，并在某些方面與他自己的國家相差無幾然而，它卻實實在在是一個異邦。兩個國家，既有重疊，也有陌生，重疊使人頗感奇怪，陌生令人覺著突如其來：親戚一下子變做陌生路人。猶如我們向馬路對面的某個行人打招呼，結(jié)果出乎意料，那人表情漠然，原來，我們誤把陌路當(dāng)友人。【1999年8級測試英譯漢】In som

35、e societies people want children for what might be called familial reasons1: to extend the family line or the family name2, to propitiate the ancestors; to enable the proper functioning of religious rituals involving the family3. Such reasons may seem thin in the modern, secularized society but they

36、 have been and are powerful indeed in other places.In addition, one class of family reasons shares a border with the following category4, namely, having children in order to maintain or improve a marriage: to hold the husband or occupy the wife5, to repair or rejuvenate the marriage; to increase the

37、 number of children on the assumption that family happiness lies that way6. The point is underlined by its converse7: in some societies the failure to bear children (or males) is a threat to the marriage and a ready cause for divorce. 8Beyond all that is the profound significance of children to the

38、very institution of the family itself.9 To many people, husband and wife alone do not seem a proper familythey need children to enrich the circle, to validate its family character, to gather the redemptive influence10 of offspring. Children need the family, but the family seems also to need children

39、, as the social institution uniquely available, at least in principle, for security, comfort, assurance, and direction in a changing, often hostile, world. To most people, such a home base, in the literal sense, needs more than one person for sustenance and in generational extension.【概述】 本文是一篇典型的議論型

40、語篇，用詞正式，句法復(fù)雜，邏輯嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)，讀起來很不順口。這類文章很難理解，一般需要較高的推理能力。翻譯時，要特別注意整篇文章的邏輯關(guān)系，特別注意語篇的連貫和銜接?！痉g要點評析】familial reasons：家族原因。to extend the family line or the family name：就是漢語的傳宗接代，延續(xù)香火。 to enable the proper functioning of religious rituals involving the family：字面意思為“使那些涉及到家庭的宗教儀式得以正常進(jìn)行”，但這樣的譯文讀起來很生硬，可以意譯為“維系禮儀”。to

41、share a border with sth： 與有聯(lián)系。occupy the wife：occupy此處意為使忙碌，即“使妻子忙碌，讓妻子有事可做”，不可直譯為“占有妻子”。to increase the number of children on the assumption that family happiness lies that way：英語善用名詞或名詞短語，但漢語喜用動詞，因此翻譯時用轉(zhuǎn)譯法將 the assumption譯為“多生孩子，因為他們認(rèn)為，多子才能多?！?。The point is underlined by its converse：underline 顯示（其

42、重要性），整句譯為“這一點從相反的方面更易顯現(xiàn)?！?in some societies the failure to bear children (or males) is a threat to the marriage and a ready cause for divorce：and在此處表示遞進(jìn)的關(guān)系，譯為“也，而且”，全句譯為“不生孩子（或不生男孩）不僅是婚姻的一種威脅，還成為離婚的便當(dāng)理由?！?Beyond all that is the profound significance of children to the very institution of the family

43、itself.：beyond all that意為除此以外；institution 和 family是同位關(guān)系，其意義并不是“風(fēng)俗習(xí)慣”或“制度”，而是人類社會長期以來就有的社會機(jī)構(gòu)或部門。因此institution of the family itself.這個短語譯為“家庭自身這個機(jī)構(gòu)或部門”。redemptive influence：贖救作用。該用法與基督教的教義有關(guān)，認(rèn)為生孩子可以贖罪，可以了卻罪孽，因為人類的共同祖先亞當(dāng)和夏娃因吃禁果而有了罪孽?！緟⒖甲g文】在有些社會，要孩子只是為了所謂的家族原因：傳宗接代，延續(xù)香火，安慰祖輩，維系禮儀。在現(xiàn)代世俗社會中，這類原因似顯蒼白，但在其他地

44、方，這些原因確實強(qiáng)勁有力。此外，有一類家族原因與下面一組原因共通，即生兒育女是為了維系或改善婚姻：能拴住丈夫或者讓妻子有事可做；修復(fù)或重振婚姻；之所以多生孩子是因為他們認(rèn)為多子多福。反過來說：在某些社會中，不生孩子（或不生男孩）不僅是婚姻的一種威脅，還成為離婚的便當(dāng)理由。此外，更為重要的是，孩子對于家庭這一機(jī)構(gòu)自身尤為重要。對許多人來說，夫妻兩人還不算一個真正意義上的家庭他們需要孩子來豐富兩人小天地，使它具有家庭特征，并使他們自己從中獲得贖救。孩子需要家庭，家庭似乎也需要孩子。在一個變幻莫測、常常是充滿敵意的世界中，家庭作為一種社會機(jī)構(gòu)，以其特有的方式，至少在原則上，需要在孩子身上獲得某種安全

45、感、慰藉、保障和指望。對于多數(shù)人來說，這種原本意義上的家的基地，需要不止一個人來維持，使其代代相傳，生生不息?！?000年8級測試英譯漢】If people mean anything at all by the expression “untimely death”1, they must believe that some deaths run on a better schedule than others2. Death in old age is rarely called untimelya long life is thought to be a full one3. But w

46、ith the passing of a young person, one assumes that the best years lay ahead4 and the measure of that life was still to be taken. 5 History denies this, of course. Among prominent summer deaths6, one recalls those of MariLyn Monroe and James Deans, whose lives seemed equally brief and complete. 7 Wr

47、iters cannot bear the fact that poet John Keats died at 26, and only half playfully judge their own lives as failures when they pass that year.8 The idea that the life cut short is unfulfilled is illogical because lives are measured by the impressions they leave on the world and by their intensity a

48、nd virtue. 9【概述】 本文是一篇典型的議論型語篇，用詞正式，邏輯嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)，哲理性強(qiáng)。要很好理解這類文章，需要有一定的推理能力。翻譯時，要特別注意整篇文章的邏輯關(guān)系，特別注意語篇上下文的銜接?！痉g要點評析】untimely death：早逝；早死；過早的死去。run on a better schedule than others：更符合（死亡）時間表的安排。該時間表存在于人間習(xí)俗之中，與宿命論中的“天意”、“上天的安排”沒有關(guān)系。 a full one：圓滿的一生。the best years lay ahead：根據(jù)上下文可以譯為“才華尚未施展”。the measure of th

49、at life was still to be taken：意為生命價值有待估量，可翻譯為“前途無可限量”。summer deaths：英年謝世者；在風(fēng)華正茂時死去的人；在事業(yè)鼎盛時期而死的人。whose lives seemed equally brief and complete：此句為MariLyn Monroe and James Deans的定語從句，翻譯時可采用分譯法，即“此二人生命雖短，卻依然完美無缺?！盬riters cannot bear the fact that poet John Keats died at 26, and only half playfully jud

50、ge their own lives as failures when they pass that year：這又是一個關(guān)于同位語翻譯的句子，可以在the fact 前面加上“這個”、“這座”等詞語，即“約翰·濟(jì)慈年方26便溘然長逝這一事實”；另外，這個句子蘊(yùn)涵的內(nèi)容比較豐富，不可以用簡單的一句話表達(dá)清楚，因此要用增詞法，即調(diào)整句子結(jié)構(gòu)，補(bǔ)充隱含的內(nèi)容，可翻譯為“詩人約翰·濟(jì)慈26歲與世長辭，眾多作家難以接受，半開玩笑地說，他們自己的生命即便超過26歲，也不過失敗二字?！盩he idea that the life cut short is unfulfilled is

51、illogical because lives are measured by the impressions they leave on the world and by their intensity and virtue：同上，翻譯為“生命短暫即人生未成，這種想法邏輯欠通，因為，生命的價值尺度是它留在世間的痕跡，是它的質(zhì)量和美德?！薄緟⒖甲g文】如果“早逝”另有所指的話，那一定是人們相信，有些人死得更合“時宜”，而另一些人則“死不逢時”。年邁去世很少被稱作“早逝”，因為長壽就是圓滿。反之，如果是年輕人謝世，人們會認(rèn)為這位年輕人才華尚未施展，前途無可限量。當(dāng)然，歷史否定這一點。在諸多杰出的“

52、英年早逝者”當(dāng)中，我們不會忘記瑪麗蓮·夢露與詹姆斯·迪恩斯。此二人生命雖短，卻依然完美無缺。詩人約翰·濟(jì)慈26歲與世長辭，眾多作家難以接受，半開玩笑地說，他們自己的生命即便超過26歲，也不過失敗二字。視英年早逝為不圓滿，這一觀念有悖于邏輯，因為衡量生命的尺度乃是留給世界的印記，是生命的力度及其美德。生命短暫即人生未成，這種想法邏輯欠通，因為，生命的價值尺度是它留在世間的痕跡，是它的質(zhì)量和德行?！?001年8級測試英譯漢】Possession for its own sake or in competition with the rest of the neighb

53、orhood would have been Thoreaus idea of the low levels1. The active discipline of heightening ones perception of what is enduring in nature would have been his idea of the high2. What he saved from the low was time and effort he could spend on the high. Thoreau certainly disapproved of starvation, b

54、ut he would put into feeding himself only as much effort as would keep him functioning for more important efforts.Effort is the gist of it3. There is no happiness except as we take on life-engaging difficulties. Short of the impossible, as Yeats put it, the satisfaction we get from a lifetime depend

55、s on how high we choose our difficulties4. Robert Frost was thinking in something like the same terms when he spoke of “The pleasure of taking pains”5. The mortal flaw in the advertised version of happiness is in the fact that it purports to be effortless6.We demand difficulty even in our games. We

56、demand it because without difficulty there can be no game. A game is a way of making something hard of the fun of it. The rules of the game are an arbitrary imposition of difficulty7. When someone ruins the fun, he always does so by refusing to play by the rules. It is easier to win at chess if you

57、are free, at your pleasure, to change the wholly arbitrary rules, but the fun is in winning within the rules. No difficulty, no fun.【概述】這是一篇說理性的議論文，文章評論美國19世紀(jì)哲學(xué)家、思想家、作家亨利·大衛(wèi)·梭羅對人生幸福的看法。用詞正式，邏輯嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)，哲理性強(qiáng)。譯好這類文章有一定難度，但在近年的8級考試中出現(xiàn)的概率較高，不可忽視。翻譯時要注意整篇文章的邏輯關(guān)系，特別注意語篇的連貫和銜接。【翻譯要點評析】1. Thoreau: Henry

58、David Thoreau (1817 1862), 美國哲學(xué)家、作家、“一個人的烏托邦”的倡導(dǎo)者和實踐者，年輕時代師從美國“先驗論者”愛默生，其論著在美國有一定影響。idea of the low levels和idea of the high, 是梭羅所理解的“低層次境界”和“高層次境界”。2. active discipline: 主動律己；heightening ones perception: 提高自己的感悟能力；what is enduring in nature: 自然界永恒存在之物；在his idea of the high短語中，后邊省略了levels,與上句idea of

59、the low levels相對應(yīng)。3. gist: 與essence同義，意為“精要；精髓”。此句可譯為“全力以赴，便是其精髓所在”。4. short of: 除之外。short of the impossible 可譯為“除了不可能做的事情之外”。Yeats:William Butter Yeats, 葉芝（1865 1939）愛爾蘭詩人及劇作家，曾獲1923年諾貝爾文學(xué)獎。as Yeats put it: 正像葉芝說得那樣。5. Robert Frost: 羅伯特·弗羅斯特（18741963），美國著名詩人，曾4次獲得美國普利策詩歌獎。taking painbs: 吃苦；努力。例如：It takes pains to learn a foreign language we