翻译题 Who would have thought that, globally, the IT industry produces about the same volumes of greenhouse gases as the world’s airlines do-rough 2 percent of all CO2 emissions? Many everyday tasks take a surprising toll on the environment. A Google search can leak between 0.2 and 7.0 grams of CO2 depending on how many attempts are needed to get the “right” answer. To deliver results to its users quickly, then, Google has to maintain vast data centres round the world, packed with powerful computers. While producing large quantities of CO2, these computers emit a great deal of heat, so the centres need to be well air-conditioned, which uses even more energy. However, Google and other big tech providers monitor their efficiency closely and make improvements. Monitoring is the first step on the road to reduction, but there is much to be done, and not just by big companies.

【正确答案】谁能想到信息技术行业产生的温室气体总量会与航空业不相上下，约占全球二氧化碳排放量的2%? 信息技术产业的许多日常工作对环境造成了意想不到的危害。每用谷歌搜索一次就会释放出0.2克至7.0克的二氧化碳，释放量的多少取决于使用者需要搜索多少次才能得到“正确”答案。为了把搜索结果迅速传输给用户，谷歌不得不在全世界范围内建立大型数据中心，并配备大功率计算机。除了排放大量二氧化碳，这些计算机还释放许多热量，因此数据中心还需要良好的空调环境，而这又会消耗更多的能量。不过，谷歌和其他大型技术供应商已在密切监控其数据中心的工作效率并做出改进。监控只是减排的第一步，需要做的还有很多，而且这不单单是大公司的事情。

【答案解析】[解析] Who would have thought that，globally，the IT industry produces about the same volume of green house gases as the world's airlines do — roughly 2 percent of all CO2 emissions? 此句是伴有虚拟语气的特殊疑问句，翻译时特别要注意这一语法现象，否则会走意。句中采用了the same...as...的类比结构，同时附有一个数字统计，作补充说明。 Many everyday tasks take a surprising toll on the environment．此句结构比较简单，但句中的谓语动词短语take a surprising toll on...对英语词汇量不大的学生来说，是一个翻译难点。它可被译为“对……产生了意想不到的危害”。 A Google search can leak between 0.2 and 7.0 grams of C02，depending on how many attempts are needed to get to“right”answer．句中的分词短语depending on...作伴随状语，尾随主句所产生的行为；attempts意为“作出努力的次数”；“right”answer意为“确切的释放量”。 To deliver results to its users quickly，then，Google has to maintain vast data centres around the world，packed with powerful computers．句首的动词不定式短语作目的状语。句尾的过去分词短语作后置定语，修饰data centres，相当于一个非限制性定语从句，which are packed with powerful computers；packed with等同于equipped with，意为“配备”。 While producing large quantities of C02，these computers emit a great deal of heat，so the centres need to be well air-conditioned，which uses even more energy．本句中特别要强调的是句尾的一个非限制性定语从句，句中which指的不是主句中的任何一个词，而是指主句中的行为动作。 However，Google and other big teck providers monitor their efficiency closely and make improvements．本句引起注意的是对两个动词短语的理解。monitor...closely意为“密切监控”，make improvements意为“采取一些改进措施”。 Monitoring is the first step on the road to reduction, but their is much more to be done，and not just by big companies．句中的介词短语on the road of reduction用作first step的定语，等同于in the course of...句尾的and not just by big companies是被动语态的组成成分，点出了一个附加的行为执行者。