翻译题 14.There is a general support for the argument Democrats are beginning to make that priority should be given to improving the ability of the government to prevent the smuggling of weapons of mass destruction into the entry and to respond effectively should such an attack occur.

【正确答案】人们普遍支持民主党人开始提出的主张，即政府应当优先考虑提高其预防有人把大规模杀伤性武器走私到国内的能力。同时，假如出现类似的袭击，还应当提高政府做出有效应对的能力。

【答案解析】本句的结构为there be句型加上三个从句。其中Democrats…为定语从句修饰argument；that…引导同位语从句说明argument的具体内容；should such an attack occur为虚拟语气，省略了引导词if，并引起句子倒装。另外，to improving为介词短语修饰priority；to prevent为不定式短语修饰ability。