1. It is not so bad being ignorant if you are totally ignorant; the hard thing is knowing in some detail the reality of ignorance, the worst spots and here and there the not-so-bad spots, but no true light at the end of the tunnel nor even any tunnels that can yet be trusted. (1991. 阅读. 12月. Text 3)
【译文】如果你彻底无知的话,那么无知也就不是那么糟糕。困难的是人们详细了解无知的实际情况——最差的方面以及各处并不太差的方面,但并不了解这种困难根本没有结束的迹象,甚至还没有可以信赖的任何解决问题的途径。
【析句】句子的主干是it is not so bad being ignorant if...;the hard thing is knowing the reality…but no true light……nor even any tunnels……分号连接两个并列分句。前面的分句句首it为形式主语,真正的主语为being ignorant;if引导条件状语从句。后一分句的is knowing…和no true light…nor even any tunnels由but连接做系表谓语;句尾that引导的定语从句修饰tunnels.
2. The theoretical separation of living, working, traffic and recreation which for many years has been used in town-and-country planning, has in my opinion resulted in disproportionate attention for forms of recreation far from home, whereas there was relatively little attention for improvement of recreative possibilities in the direct neighbourhood of the home. (1991. 阅读. 12月. Text 4)
【译文】多年来,生活、工作、交通、娱乐分离的理论,一直被用于城市乡镇规划中,在我看来,这会造成人们过度关注远离居民区的娱乐方式,,然而却很少有人关注家附近消遣方式的改善。
【析句】复合句。主句是The theoretical seperation of... resulted in disproportionate attention,其中,recreation后有which引导的定语从句which has been used in town-and-country planning。逗号后,whereas为从属连词,引导表示对比或与主句意思相反的状语从句,比较正式。
3. The very best standard of living is nothing if it is not possible to take a pleasant walk in the district, if the children cannot be allowed to play in the streets, because the risks of traffic are too great, if during shopping you can nowhere find a spot for enjoying for a moment the nice weather, in short, if you only feel yourself at home after the street-door of your house is closed after you. (1991. 阅读. 12月. Text 4)
【译文】如果你不能在街区里悠闲地散步,如果孩子们因为巨大的交通危险性而不能在街道上玩耍,如果在购物时找不到一处可以欣赏一会美景的地点,如果只是在临街门关上之后才觉得自己身在家中,那么再好的生活条件都毫无价值。
【析句】汉语中的排比句能够增强文中的感情色彩,加强语气,英语中也同样如此。主句The very best standard of living is nothing, 后面是四个并列的if条件状语从句,具体来说,第四个是前三个的总结。其中,第二个条件状语从句中,又包含because引导的原因状语从句。
(责任编辑:田学江)