翻译题

Research is common divided into “applied” and “pure”. This classification is arbitrary and loose, but what is actually meant is that applied research is a deliberate investigation of a problem of practical importance in contradistinction to pure research done to gain knowledge for its own sake. The pure scientist may be said to accept as an act of faith that any scientific knowledge is worth pursuing for its own sake, and, if pressed, he usually claims that in most instances it is eventually found be useful. Most of the greatest discoveries originated from pure research, which allows the worker to follow unexpected, interesting clues without the intention of achieving results of practical value. In applied research it is project which is giving support, whereas in pure research it is the man. However, often the distinction between pure and applied research is a superficial one as it may merely depend on whether or not the subject investigated is one of practical importance.

【正确答案】

研究通常分为应用型和纯粹型。这种分类看似是随意而松散的,但实际上的意思是,应用研究是对一 个具有实际重要性的问题的深思熟虑的研究,而纯粹的研究为了获得知识而进行的研究。纯粹型科学家可 能会持有一种信仰,即任何科学知识都因其本身而值得追求,如果被追问,他通常会说,在大多数情况 下,这句话最终被发现是有用的。大多数最伟大的发现都来自于纯粹型研究,它使得研究者能追着意想不 到的、有趣的线索去研究,而不是以取得具有实际价值的结果为导向。在应用研究中,是项目给予人支 持,而在纯粹型研究中,是人支持研究的进行。然而,纯粹型和应用型研究之间的区别往往是肤浅的,因 为它可能仅仅取决于被调查的对象是否具有实际重要性。

【答案解析】

1. 原文第一句中“pure”可根据句意译成“纯粹型”。
2. 原文第二句的后半句太长,可根据句意从“in contradistinction to”处断开,将前后两句进行对比。
3. 原文第三句中的“if pressed”应该根据句意译为“如果被追问”,而不是“如果被强调”。
4. 原文第四句中的“originated from”可译为“来自于”,“of practical value”译为“具有实际价值的”。
5. 原文第五句将应用研究和纯粹型研究中人和研究或者项目的关系进行了对比,翻译的时候应该补全英文中根据语法省略的内容。
6. 原文第六句在翻译时可以根据句意从“as”处断开,“of practical importance”译为“具有实际重要性的”。