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6. Do you remember all those years when scientists argued that smoking would kill us but the doubters insisted that we didn?t know for sure? That the evidence was inconclusive,the science uncertain? That the antismoking lobby was out to destroy our way of life and the government should stay out of the way?
「譯文」 還記得科學家們宣揚吸煙會致人死亡,而那些懷疑者們卻堅持認為我們無法對此得出定論的時候嗎?還記得懷疑者們堅持認為缺乏決定性的證據,科學也不確定的時候嗎?還記得懷疑者們堅持認為反對吸煙的遊說是決心摧毀我們的生活方式,而政府應該置身事外的時候嗎?
「析句」 這裏有三個問句,第壹個問句的結構比較明了,而後兩個問句則省略了Do you remember… insisted,只有兩個由that引導的賓語從句。註意英語中,常會省略並列結構中的相同成分。
「講詞」 lobby作名詞時意為“大廳”,作動詞時表示“遊說”。The President lobbied the bill through Congress.(總統遊說國會通過這項提案。)作動詞的lobby其名詞形式可以是lobbying(遊說,院外活動),也可以是lobby.進行院外活動的人、進行疏通的人或說客,英文叫lobbyer或lobbyist.out to(do…)“力圖要……的”。
7. There are upsetting parallels today,as scientists in one wave after another try to awaken us to the growing threat of global warming.
「譯文」 科學家們壹波接著壹波,試圖告誡我們要認清全球氣候變暖正在帶來日益嚴重的威脅,在此情形之下現在又出現了令人不安的類似事情。
「析句」 as在句中是連接詞,引導壹個從句,說明在什麽背景之下又出現了類似的事情。在這樣的結構中,as可以翻成“當(在)……時候”,或者適度對句子進行調整。不管怎樣,應該清楚There are upsetting parallels today是主句,是全句的核心。
「講詞」 parallel可以作名詞(平等,並列,相似物)、形容詞(平行的,相同的,並聯的)、動詞(相應,平等)和副詞(平行地,並列地)。There are few parallels between American football and European football.(美國足球和歐洲足球沒有什麽相似之處。)This book is about the parallel lives of two contemporaries.(這本書是關於兩個同時代人的類似生活的。)
awaken除了“叫醒,喚醒”以外,還可以表示“認識到,意識到”。註意awaken後面接介詞to.People must be awakened to the danger of chemical weapons.(壹定要喚起人們認清化學武器的危險性。)Awakened to the situation he was in,he was at a loss what to do.(壹下子認識到他的處境,他竟然不知所措了。)
8. The latest was a panel from the National Academy of Sciences,enlisted by the White House,to tell us that the Earth?s atmosphere is definitely warming and that the problem is largely man?made.
「譯文」 最近的行動是由白宮召集了壹批來自國家科學院的專家,這些專家告訴我們地球氣候確實在變暖,而這個問題主要是人為造成的。
「析句」 本句的主幹是The latest was a panel,過去分詞短語enlisted by the White House作後置定語,修飾panel.另外,不定式短語to tell us作panel的補語,而不定式短語後又接兩個(間接)賓語從句,說明告訴了我們哪些情況。
「講詞」 panel表示“面板;陪審團,(專門)小組。”a(the) panel of judges(評審小組)。Congress has appointed a panel to investigate the incident.(國會任命了壹個專門小組來調查這壹事件。)
enlist的基本意思為“征召;參軍;謀取(支持、贊助等)”。According to the law,a young man should enlist when he is eighteen.(根據法律規定,年滿十八歲必須應征入伍。)The President talked to some Congressional leaders,in an effort to enlist their support for the bill.(總統與壹些國會的領袖談了話,以爭取他們支持這項議案。)
9. But science does provide us with the best available guide to the future,and it is critical that our nation and the world base important policies on the best judgments that science can provide concerning the future consequences of present actions.
「譯文」 但是科學確實為我們提供了涉及未來的指導,關鍵是我們的國家和整個世界在做重大決策時,應該依據涉及人類現在的行為對未來產生的後果時科學所能作出的判斷。
「析句」 本句包含and連接的兩個並列分句,其中第壹個分句中的does表示強調;第二個分句中的it是形式主語,critical後面的that從句是真正的主語。在第二個分句中,judgments後面又跟了壹個定語從句,以說明是什麽樣的judgements.註意it is critical等於it is important,後面所跟的從句實際上是虛擬語氣。
「講詞」 guide可以作動詞。Thousands of lanterns slowly drift out to sea guiding the dead on their return journey to the other world.(數千只燈籠慢慢向大海漂去,給死人返回陰間指明道路。)guide的壹個派生詞guidance也較常見,意為“指導”。He is now studying under the guidance of Professor Green.(他現在正在格林教授的指導下學習。)
10. Just as on smoking,voices now come from many quarters insisting that the science about global warming is incomplete,that it?s OK to keep pouring fumes into the air until we know for sure.
「譯文」 就同吸煙問題壹樣,來自許多領域的聲音堅持認為有關全球變暖的科學研究還不完整,在我們確定此事之前向大氣中繼續排放廢氣是沒問題的。
「析句」 本句的主幹是voices now come from many quarters,現在分詞短語insisting作伴隨狀語,後面是兩個以that引導的賓語從句,其中第二個賓語從句還包含以until引導的時間狀語從句。
「講詞」 quarters表示“住處,角落”。from many quarters等於from many places.living quarters表示“生活區”。
for sure 意為“確定地,確切地”。I know for sure that he must have done something terrible. 我敢肯定他壹定做了什麽天大的壞事。)No one knows for sure what happened to Bill. (沒有人確切知道比爾出了什麽事。)
11. This is a dangerous game: by the 100 percent of the evidence is in,it may be too late. With the risks obvious and growing,a prudent people would take out an insurance policy now.
「譯文」 這是壹個危險的遊戲:等有了的證據,也許就太晚了。隨著風險越來越明顯並且越來越大,壹個謹慎的民族現在應該準備壹份保單了。
「析句」 by the 100 percent of the evidence is in實際上的意思是by the time when the 100 percent of the evidence is in,即by the time when we have the 100 percent of the evidence.
「講詞」 prudent與careful同義,反義詞是imprudent.It?s prudent to take a thick coat in cold weather when you go out.(天氣這麽冷,還是謹慎壹點,出門帶上件厚外套。)
take out本意是“取出;弄走;消滅”。I?m going to take out my money deposited in the bank.(我打算取出存在銀行的錢。)它還可以表示“發泄;消滅”。Don?t take your frustration out in such an aggressive manner.(不要用這樣壹種攻擊性的方式來發泄妳的失意。)The combat pilots were ordered to take out the enemy position on the hill.(戰鬥機飛行員接到命令,要消滅敵人在山上所建的陣地。)
12. Instead of a plan of action,they continue to press for more research—a classic case of “paralysis by analysis”。
「譯文」 他們沒有出臺行動計劃,相反只是繼續要求進行更多的研究——這是壹個經典的“分析導致癱瘓”案例。
「析句」 instead of 表示否定,可以譯為“相反”。破折號後面的部分不是解釋前面的名詞research,而是說明前面的句子。paralysis by analysis 的意思是“分析導致癱瘓”,即只作研究而結果卻沒有采取任何行動。
「講詞」 a plan of action是固定搭配,表示“行動方案”。
paralysis表示“癱瘓,麻痹”。cerebral paralysis(腦癱)。The trade dispute led to a paralysis of trade between the two countries.(貿易糾紛導致兩國的貿易癱瘓。)註意paralysis的動詞形式是paralyze.The city was paralyzed due to the demonstrations.(**導致這個城市癱瘓。)
case意為“事例,病例,案例”。It is simply a case of honor.(這純粹是壹個榮譽問題。)in any case表示“無論如何;總之”。Wife beating is not allowed in Islam in any case!(不管怎樣,伊斯蘭教不允許毆打妻子!)in case表示“如果發生;如果;以防萬壹”。You need to have the room cleaned in case your son might come back tomorrow.(妳需要把那個房間打掃幹凈,以防妳兒子明天回來。)in case of意為“如果發生;萬壹”。In case of medical emergency,call me immediately.(壹旦出現病情就立即給我打電話。)
13. To serve as responsible stewards of the planet,we must press forward on deeper atmospheric and oceanic research.
「譯文」 要想成為負責任的地球管理人員,我們必須加強對大氣和海洋的深入研究。
「析句」 這裏需要註意To serve as responsible stewards of the planet是表示壹種目的,這種表達不同於as responsible stewards of the planet,因為在作者看來我們還沒有成為responsible stewards of the planet.
「講詞」 steward表示“服務人員”或“管理人員”。air stewards(乘組人員)。
responsible的基本用法是to be responsible for sth or sb.I?m responsible for the safety of the ship.(我對輪船的安全負責。)也可以修飾名詞:a responsible position(要職)。
press作名詞時可以表示“新聞界”或“出版社”。When the movie star arrives in Shanghai,he will meet the local press.(這位電影明星到達上海之後將會見當地記者。)the University Press(大學出版社)。press當動詞的基本意思是“壓”。The mother pressed her child against her.(母親緊緊摟住孩子。)Hard pressed by his debts,he committed suicide.(由於債臺高築,他自尋短見了。)如果想表達“時間緊迫”,可以說“Time is pressing”。press forward(或press ahead)表示“加緊某壹項工作”。We must press forward with the plan.(我們必須加緊推進這壹計劃。)