问答题The Alchemist is a story of a man, Santiago, following his dream. This belief of dream is a marvelous one, a support for anyone embarking on a major project. Nevertheless, is it a hope based on nothing? If you think about the energy you put into something once you are committed to it, probably not. (46)The "universe contriving" to give you what you want is, more precisely, a reflection of your determination to make something happen. Dream followers have a greater responsibility, that of handling their own freedom. The old man that Santiago meets in the town square tells him not to believe "the biggest lie," that you can't control your destiny. You can, he says, but you must "read the omens," which becomes possible when you start to see the world as one. (47)The world can be read like a book, but we will never be able to understand it if we have a closed type of existence, contented with our lot and unwilling to risk anything. The Alchemist is also remarkable for being a love story that renounces the idea that romantic love must be the central thing in your life. The treasure that Santiago seeks is of course the symbol of the personal dream or destiny, but he is happy to give up on it when he finds the woman of his dreams in a desert oasis. Yet the alchemist he meets in the desert tells him that the love of his oasis girlfriend will only be proved real if she is willing to support his search for treasure. Santiago's dilemma is about the conflict between love and personal dreams. (48)Too often we see a love relationship as the meaning of our life, but the obsession with romantic coupling can cut us off from a life more connected with the rest of the world. But surely the heart has needs? Romantic love is important, but it is not your duty—that is to pursue your dream. (49)Only through devotion to the dream is the "soul of the world" revealed to us, the knowledge that destroys loneliness and gives power. (50)So much of the self-help literature is about pursuing our destiny, but dreams do not always pull us along by their own force; they speak persistently but quietly, and it does not take too much effort to mask the inner voices. Who is willing to risk comfort, routine, security, and existing relationships to follow something that to others looks like a mirage? It takes courage, and dog-eared, stained copy of The Alchemist have become the constant companion of people who need to make fearless decisions daily in order to keep true to a larger vision.
【答案解析】[原文再现] The "universe contriving" to give you what you want is, more precisely, a reflection of your determination to make something happen. [结构分析] 本句为主系表结构，其中主语部分是The "universe contriving" to give you what you want，表语则为a reflection of your determination。此句的主语部分为动名词复合结构，more precisely是插入语，句末不定式结构to make something happen作determination的后置定语。 [译点分析] (1)The "universe contriving" ...want: 此结构是动名词的复合结构，对于动名词复合结构的翻译，应先弄清楚复合结构中的主语、谓语、宾语、状语等，然后按照相应顺序翻译即可。本结构中，逻辑主语是The universe，可译为“整个宇宙”；复合谓语contriving to give意为“致力给予；设法给予”，根据上下文语境可译为“设法帮助……得到”；give后的直接宾语是从句what you want，结构简单，直译为“你想得到的东西”；故整个主语部分可译为“‘整个宇宙也会设法帮助’你得到自已想得到的东西”。 (2)more precisely：翻译插入语时根据汉语习惯置于句首，precisely：卷为“准确地；不含糊地”。 (3)a reflection of your determination...: 这里重点是reflection的翻译，如果翻译为“……是你将某事情变成现实的决心的反映”会带有很重的翻译腔，且也不容易理解。相对英语，汉语的动词用得更多，结构也更灵活，因此在英译汉的过程中，可以适当地采用词类转译法，将英语名词转译为动词。故该部分可译为“反映了你要将某件事情变成现实的决心”。
【答案解析】[原文再现] The world can be read like a book, but we will never be able to understand it if we have a closed type of existence, contented with our lot and unwilling to risk anything. [结构分析] 本句由but连接的两个分句构成，第一个分句的主干是the world can be read，其中like a book作状语。第二个分句的主干是we will never be able to understand it，句末if引导的从句作第二个分句的条件状语。 [译点分析] (1)the world can be read like a book: 该分句为被动语态，根据语意和中文表达习惯，可直接译为主动句。此句若直接翻译为“像一本书一样读这个世界”，明显会让读者感到莫名其妙。由于like a book这个状语修饰的是read，故意思应该是“像阅谈一本书一样阅读世界”，但为了语义表达更恰当，可将第二个“阅读”替换为“看待”、“认识”、“了解”等词。 (2)a closed type of existence: 字面意思为“一种封闭式的存在”，但根据主句内容可知，作者想表达的意思是“生活状态是封闭的”，故可意译为“生活过得封闭”，“活得封闭”等。 (3)contented with our lot: contented意为“满意的；心满意足的”；lot一词多义，这里是名词，意为“命运，运气”，根据上下文，该短语可进一步翻译为“满足于现状”。
【正确答案】很多时候，我们将爱情视为生命的意义所在，但沉湎于浪漫的二人世界会将我们与外界割裂开来。
【答案解析】[原文再现] Too often we see a love relationship as the meaning of our life, but the obsession with romantic coupling can cut us off from a life more connected with the rest of the world. [结构分析] 该句由转折连词but连接的两个分句构成，前一个分句的主干是we see a love relationship，句中too often与as the meaning of our life都作状语。第二个分句的主干是the obsession...can cut us off，句中from a life作状语，more connected with the rest of the world作a life的后置定语。 [译点分析] (1)see sb/sth as sth: 意为“把……看做；将……视为”。 (2)but the obsession with...the world: obsession with sth意为“对……的着迷；对……的极度迷恋”；coupling在此处为couple的动名词形式，couple作动词意为“结合；交配”，romantic coupling可译为“谈恋爱；二人世界”；cut sb off from sth意为“使(某人)隔绝于……”；a life more connected with the rest of the world直译为“与世界其他人联系更紧密的生活”，不符合汉语习惯，可意译为“外界生活”。
【正确答案】只有执着于追寻梦想，我们才能了解“世界的灵魂”——知识，它能消灭孤独，赋予我们力量。
【答案解析】[原文再现] Only through devotion to the dream is the "soul of the world" revealed to us, the knowledge that destroys loneliness and gives power. [结构分析] 该句的主干部分是一个倒装句，only修饰介词短语位于句首，主句部分倒装。该句的正常语序是：the "soul of the world" is revealed to us only through devotion to the dream。逗号后the knowledge that destroys loneliness and gives power是the "soul of the world"的同位语，其中that引导的定语从句修饰先行词knowledge。 [译点分析] (1)Only through...is the "soul of the world" revealed to us: 此处既有倒装，又有被动语态，devotion to the dream中devotion意为“(对人、活动或事业的)热爱；忠诚；热情”，此短语可翻译成“追求梦想”；正常语序后是the "soul of the world" is revealed to us，其中主语是“地界的灵魂”，be revealed to意为“被展示给……；被披露给……”。根据中文习惯，应转译为主动语态，可增译主语“我们”，即“我们才能了解‘世界的灵魂’”。 (2)the knowledge...power: 同位语翻译可用破折号体现；knowledge后的定语从句可根据全句需要，译为独立的句子。
【答案解析】[原文再现] So much of the self-help literature is about pursuing our destiny, but dreams do not always pull us along by their own force; they speak persistently but quietly, and it does not take too much effort to mask the inner voices. [结构分析] 本句由分号连接前后两部分。前一部分由转折连词but连接的两个分句构成；后一部分由并列连词and连接的两个分句构成。 [译点分析] (1)So much of...pursuing our destiny: sell-help的字面意思为“自助”，在此可引申为“自励；励志”，literature意为“文学；文学作品”；pursuing our destiny按字面意义为“追逐我们的命运”，但由本句内容及上下文语意，可翻译为“追求我们的梦想”。 (2)pull us along by their own force: pull sb along意为“使某人缓慢或费力地行进”，此处可翻译为“以其自身的力量促使我们前进”。 (3)they speak persistently but quietly: 此处为拟人化的修辞手法，they指代前一分句的dreams, persistently意为“持续地；持久地”，此句直译为“梦想持续且无声地说话”，这种表达前后矛盾，也不符合汉语表达习惯，梦想在“说话”，即可引申为梦想在“发挥作用”，故此分句可翻译为“梦想持续且让人不知不觉地发挥着作用”。 (4)mask the inner voices: mask作动词：卷为“盖住(气味、味道、声音等)”，这里指掩盖内心深处的声音。