【答案解析】People are generally fond of what is agreeable to the ear, but are prone to displeasure or even anger at advice unpleasant to hear.
[解析] 两个短句间隐含一种转折关系，英语译文可用but衔接，以体现英语“形合”的特点。
【答案解析】If a person, especially one in important position, is a willing listener of truthful yet offensive words to gain wisdom from them, there is a need for tolerance and magnanimity, which, in most cases, derive from a person"s self-cultivation of disposition and the restraint of flaws in their character.
[解析] 此句译成一个包蕴句，包括1个there be引导的主句、1个条件从句及定语从句。选择it作形式主语句和there be句型，体现了英语尾重(end focus)的句式特点。“心悦诚服地倾听逆耳之良言”灵活译成a willing listener，是用表示动词的名词来取代动词。在原文“容忍和大度的雅量”短语中，“雅量”为范畴词(category word)，即用来表达行为、现象、属性等概念范畴，为汉语常用的特指手段。再如灵活态度(flexibility)、摇摆不定的局面(uncertainty)、人际关系问题(interpersonal relation)、新鲜感(freshness)、伟大和杰出的涵义(greatness and excellence)。英语则通过避免形状、数量、性质等词语的同义反复，代之使用派生名词。
问答题
否则，就会给善于运用花言巧语和投其所好的人提供可乘之机，并伤害直言不讳的忠诚之人。
【正确答案】
【答案解析】Otherwise, those who are good at doing a snow job and catching their fancy will gain the advantage and those faithful people who talk straight will be hurt.
[解析] “善于运用花言巧语和投其所好的人”即用作英译文的主语。汉语原文包含四个“四字结构”的成语或短语：花言巧语、投其所好、可乘之机、直言不讳、忠诚之人。以“花言巧语”为例，可发现以下译法：
a snow job have silk in his tongue
fair/sweet/fine/tricky words/talk honeyed or deceiving words
oil one"s words
在以上译文中，既有英语表达地道的习语(a snow job，have silk in one"s tongue)，也有通过意译的综合表达(tricky talk，honeyed or deceiving words)。
【答案解析】In their right senses, people may readily accept ancient maxims like "listen to both sides and you will be enlightened; heed to one side and you will be benighted," and "Honest advice, though harsh to the ear, induces good conduct," or they are willing to believe in Lao Tze"s philosophical wisdom:" Nice words are not truthful while truthful words are not nice to hear."
[解析] 原文含有三句凝练的古汉语“兼听则明，偏信则暗”、“忠言逆耳利于行”、“美言不信，信言不美”，结构对称，读来抑扬顿挫，朗朗上口，读者能充分感受汉语的节奏美。第一句译为：listen to both sides and you will be enlightened; heed to one side and you will be benighted。从英译文句式结构来看，在意义和形式上基本与原文保持对等。同样，“美言不信，信言不美”的译文Nice words are not truthful while truthful words are not nice to hear.也保持了与原文形式上的对应。翻译古文时，首先要把握“准确性”，以上三句译文主要采用了直译。
问答题
但在行为上，人们又容易背离这些古训，不愿意听或听不进“逆耳”之言，最终犯下严重的过失。
【正确答案】
【答案解析】However, people behaviorally tend to depart from these established maxims, reluctant to accept and follow those home truths until they commit blunders eventually.[解析] “在行为上”译成英语-ly副词(behaviorally)，这是汉英翻译中的词性灵活转换的使用；“逆耳直言”译成英语固定短语home truths，凝练地道；后半句译文使用until一词衔接，体现了英语“形合”的特点；“犯下严重的过失”译成commit blunders。