【正确答案】On the day when the lease expired, I went to check my flat and ask back the key. While checking the indoor facilities, I was surprised that the old commode in the bathroom should have been replaced. Noticing my surprise, the man said with a smile, "No big deal. Just a few bucks for a new one. Water will be saved." Then, he explained that his hometown suffered from water shortage all year round. For this reason, water was considered more precious than oil. Whoever wasted a little water would be condemned as sinful. Therefore, when he and his wife saw water leaking in the bathroom, they felt ill at ease. That's why they finally decided to have a new commode fixed at their own expense.

【答案解析】 全文共六句话，时态为一般过去时，翻译方法以直译为主。第一句可译为主从复合句，第一个小分句是时间状语从句，后面的两个小分句是主句，“收回”可译为“ask back”、第二句中的“竟然换了”可使用should+have done的形式，此处的should即为“竟然”的意思。第三句可译为动名词短语作原因状语，由动名词noticing引导，“几十块钱”可译为“a few bucks”。第四句由多个小分句组成，在翻译时可把其译为三个独立的句子，使句子结构更为清晰。第五句在翻译时应使用see sth. doing这一结构，用来表示一段时间内一直持续的某种状态，“觉得不自在”可译为“feel ill at ease”。第六句中的“自己出钱”可译为“at their own expense”，“买一个新马桶装上”可译为“have a new commode fixed”。