问答题 The book shows us the progress of a remarkable American, who, through his own enormous energies and efforts, made the unlikely journey from Hope, Arkansas, to the White House—a journey fueled by an impassioned interest in the political process which manifested itself at every stage of his life: in college, working as an intern for Senator William Fulbright; at Oxford, becoming part of the Vietnam War protest movement; at Yale Law School, campaigning on the grassroots level for Democratic candidates; back in Arkansas, running for Congress, attorney general, and governor.
We see his career shaped by his resolute determination to improve the life of his fellow citizens, an unfaltering commitment to civil fights, and an exceptional understanding of the practicalities of political life.
We come to understand the emotional pressures of his youth—born after his father"s death; caught in the dysfunctional relationship between his feisty, nurturing mother and his abusive stepfather; drawn to the brilliant, compelling lady whom he was determined to marry; passionately devoted, from her infancy, to their daughter, and to the entire experience of fatherhood; slowly and painfully beginning to comprehend how his early denial of pain led him at times into damaging patterns of behavior.
问答题 The book shows us the progress of a remarkable American, who, through his own enormous energies and efforts, made the unlikely journey from Hope, Arkansas, to the White House—a journey fueled by an impassioned interest in the political process which manifested itself at every stage of his life.
【正确答案】
【答案解析】这本书揭示的是一个出类拔萃的美国人的成长历程,他精力充沛,奋发图强,走完了从阿肯色州荷普市通往白宫的这一看起来不大可能完成的历程。在此历程中,他对政治仕途充满了激情,这在他人生的每一个阶段都显露无遗。 [解析] 上文包括两个定语从句,一个同位语从句和一个过去分词作定语的从句,可分别译成汉语短句。介词短语through his own enormous energies and efforts译成含两个四字格词组的偏正结构“他精力充沛,奋发图强”。再如:
Most Americans have great vigor and enthusiasm.美国人大都精力充沛,热情洋溢。
问答题 ...in college, working as an intern for Senator William Fulbright; at Oxford, becoming part of the Vietnam War protest movement; at Yale Law School, campaigning on the grassroots level for Democratic candidates; back in Arkansas, running for Congress, attorney general, and governor.
【正确答案】
【答案解析】上大学时,他作为实习生为威廉·富布赖特参议员工作;在牛津大学,他参加了反对越战的抗议运动;在耶鲁大学法学院,他在基层为民主党候选人助选;(毕业后)回到阿肯色州,(他先后)竞选国会议员、州检察长和州长。 [解析] 句中grassroots(草根,常用复数)本意为“乡村地区的”,引申为“普通人的”、“平民的”、“民间的”等义,与“决策者的”、“领导人的”相对。该词已被引入汉语,多采用直译,其中较常见的有:“草根阶层”、“草根文学”、“草根民众”。上句的on the grassroots level译为“在基层”。又如grassroots opinion(一般民众的意见)。由此可见,英汉民族对“草根”产生相同或相似的联想,赋予了该词相近的文化内涵。其他具相同文化内涵的英语植物词还有laurel(桂树),中国封建社会举人若考中状元,多形容为“蟾宫折桂”,喻指夺得第一名。英美人也喜欢用桂枝编成花环(laurel wreath)戴在勇士和诗人头上,后桂树渐成荣誉和成功的象征。gain/win one"s laurels(赢得荣誉),look one"s laurels(小心翼翼地保持荣誉),rest on one"s laurels(躺在过去的荣誉上睡大觉)。又如桃(peach),peach常用来形容漂亮,有吸引力。如:She is really a peach.(她真漂亮)/a peach of room(漂亮的房间)/peachy cheeks(桃腮)等。此外,grassroots作前置定语时多用复数形式,这样的词还有savings bank/account(储蓄账号),sales representative/clerk/department/tax(销售代表/店员/营业部/营业税),clothes basket(衣筐),telecommunications network(电信网)等。有些名词的单数和复数用作定语时,意义有所不同:
glass frame 玻璃框架 glasses frame 眼睛架
career woman 职业妇女 careers woman 职业多变的妇女
work facilities 工作上的便利条件 works facilities 工程设施
问答题 We see his career shaped by his resolute determination to improve the life of his fellow citizens, an unfaltering commitment to civil rights, and an exceptional understanding of the practicalities of political life.
【正确答案】
【答案解析】影响他政治生涯的是为改善同胞生活的坚定不移的决心,致力于民权的毫不动摇的意志,以及对政治生活实际状况不同凡响的解读,这些我们有目共睹。 [解析] 鉴于汉语“头重”的句式特点,把原句语序进行较大的调整,句子主干we see放到最后翻译。其次,上句翻译还涉及词性的转化,即把英语抽象名词转译为汉语动词,commitment和understanding分别译成汉语动词“致力”和“解读”。
问答题 We come to understand the emotional pressures of his youth-born after his father"s death; caught in the dysfunctional relationship between his feisty, nurturing mother and his abusive stepfather; drawn to the brilliant, compelling lady whom he was determined to marry; passionately devoted, from her infancy, to their daughter, and to the entire experience of fatherhood; slowly and painfully beginning to comprehend how his early denial of pain led him at times into damaging patterns of behavior.
【正确答案】
【答案解析】我们了解到他青少年在感情上所承受的压力:他是一个遗腹子;童年时代饱受家庭失和之苦;母亲脾气暴躁,但对他关爱备至,继父动辄恶语相加;他被一位聪明绝顶、令人心仪的女士所吸引,决心要娶她为妻;他对女儿从小到大始终充满了父爱;他开始慢慢地、痛苦地意识到:他早年拒不承认所受痛苦是如何导致他做出有损人格的错事。[解析] 主干部分是第一句,破折号部分结构较复杂,包括并列结构、定语从句、宾语从句。翻译时应采取抓住句子的主、谓、宾结构,理清句子附加的修饰成分,以明确其与主体结构的关系,然后遵循汉语的表达习惯,把英语短语、从句等转换成汉语小句。上句翻译还涉及转译,如词性转译(如名词denial转译为动词短语“拒不承认”),前置定语转译为表语(如feisty,nurturing mother)等。