Let's Stop Keeping Pets

Pets are lovable, frequently delightful. The dog and the cat, the most favored of pets, are beautiful, intelligent animals. To assume the care for them can help bring out the humanity in our children and even in us. A dog or a cat can teach us a lot about human nature; they are a lot more like us than some might think. More than one owner of a dog has said that the animal understands everything he says to it. So a mother and father who have ever cared for pets are likely to be more patient and understanding with their children as well, and especially to avoid making negative or rude remarks in the presence of a child, no matter how young.

It is touching to see how a cat or dog - especially a dog - attaches itself to a family and wants to share in all its goings and comings. If certain animal psychologists are right, a dog adopts his family in a most literal way - taking it for granted that the family is the band of dogs he belongs to.

It is sometimes said that the cat "takes all and gives nothing." But is that really true? A cat can teach us a valuable lesson about how to be contented, how to be serene and at ease, how to sit and contemplate. Whereas a dog's constant pleas for attention become, sometimes, a bit too much. Nevertheless it is the dog who can teach us lessons of loyalty and devotion that no cat ever knew.

So there's plenty to be said in favor of keeping pets. But with all that in mind, I still say let's stop keeping pets. Not that a family should kill its pets. Very few could bring themselves to do that. To be practical, I am suggesting that if we do not now have a pet we should not acquire one; second, that if we now have a pet, we let it be our last one. I could never say that pets are bad. I am saying, let's give up this good thing - the ownership of a pet - in favor of a more imperative good.

The purchase, the health care, the feeding and housing and training of a pet - and I chiefly mean the larger, longer-lived pets - cost time and money. Depending on the animal's size and activity, it's special tastes and needs, and the standard of living we establish for it, the care of a pet can cost form a dollar a week to a dollar or more a day. I would not for a moment deny it is worth that.

But facts outside the walls of our home keep breaking in on our awareness. Though we do not see the poverty-stricken people of India and Africa and South America, we can never quite forget that they are there. Now and then their faces are shown in the news, or is the begging ads of relief organizations. Probably we send a donation whenever we can.

But we do not, as a rule, feel a heavy personal responsibility for the afflicted and deprived for we are pretty thoroughly formed by the individualistic, competitive society we live in. The first dime we ever made was ours to spend in any way we chose. No one thought of questioning that. That attitude, formed before we had learned to think, usually prevails through our life: "I made my money. I can spend it any way I like."

But more and more we are reading that the people of the "Third World" feel bitter at us in the developed countries (with the United States far more developed than any of the others) for our seizing hold of two-thirds of the world's wealth and living like kings while they work away all day to earn a bare living.

The money and the time we spend on pets is simply not our own to spend as we like in a time of widespread want add starvation. A relief organization advertises that for $33 a month they can give hospital care to a child suffering from kwashiorkor - the severe dificiency disease which is simply a starving for protein. Doing without such a pet, and then sending the money saved to a relief organization would mean saving a life - over the years, several human lives.

Children not suffering from such a grave disease could be fed with half that amount - not on a diet like ours, but on plain, basic, life-sustaining food. It is not unreasonable to believe that the amount of money we spend on the average pet dog could keep a child alive in a region of great poverty. To give what we would spend on a cat might not feed a child, but it would probably pay for his medical care or basic education. The point needs no laboring. That is all that need be said.

译文：

让我们停止养宠物

宠物是可爱的，又常讨人喜欢。狗和猫――人们最喜爱的宠物，是漂亮和聪明的动物。担当起照料它们的责任有助于我们在孩子身上甚至在我们自己身上培养人情味。一只狗或一只猫能教给我们许多关于人类的本性的东西。它们比某些人想象的更像人类。不止一个养狗的人曾经说过狗理解他对它说的一切话。所以曾经照顾过宠物的父母可能也会对他们的孩子更有耐心和理解，特别是能避免在孩子面前做否定和不礼貌的评论，不管他年龄多小。

看到猫和狗――特别是狗――对一个家庭是如何地依恋，如何地想要分享家里发生的一切事情，是十分感人的。如果某些动物心理学家是对的，狗以最忠实的方式接受它的家庭――理所当然地认为家即是它所属的那一群狗。

有时人们说猫"索取一切，什么都不给予"。但那是真的吗？关于如何满足，如何安详自在，如何静坐深思，猫可以给我们上有价值的一课。而狗不断寻求人们和注意，有时太过分了。尽管如此，狗能教给我们忠诚和献身，这是猫从不知道的。

于是人们便有许多理由赞成养宠物。但尽管心里明白所有这些理由，我依然要说让我们停止养宠物吧。并不是说一个家庭应该杀死他们的宠物，很少有人能使自己做这样的事。实际上，我是在建议如果我们现在没有养宠物，我们就不要弄一个；第二，如果我们现在有一只宠物，就让它成为我们的最后一只吧。我怎么也不会说宠物很坏；我是说，让我们放弃这个好东西，去支持一个更紧迫的有益的事业吧。

购买一只宠物，照顾它的健康、喂养它、给它提供住处、训练它――我主要指的是较大的、较长寿的宠物――花费时间和钱财。根据动物的体形大小、活动，其特殊口味和需要，我们为之建立起生活标准，照顾一只宠物的花费可能从一周一美元到一天一美元或更多。我从不否认喂养它的价值。

但是我们房子外的事实却不断闯入我们的意识。虽然我们没有看到印度、非洲和南美洲穷困潦倒的人们，我们决不能完全忘记他们的存在。他们的面容不时出现在新闻里或救济组织的求援广告里。也许我们有能力时也送去了一份捐助。

但我们通常并不感到对贫穷的人们负有重大的个人责任，因为我们几乎完全是由我们生活于其中的这个个人主义的、竞争的社会所塑造成的。我们曾经挣得的第一个十分硬币是自己的，我们可以选择花掉它的任何一种方式。没人想到对此提出质疑，那种态度形成于我们学会思考之前，通常会贯穿我们的一生："我挣自己的钱，我可以以我喜欢的任何方式花掉它。"但我们越来越多地在阅读中了解到"第三世界"的人们怀恨发达国家的我们，因为我们占有了世界2/3的财富，生活得像国王一样，而他们整天工作以求糊口。

我们花在宠物身上的金钱和时间在广泛渴望帮助和饥饿遍布的时代绝对不是我们可以随心所欲花费的私有物。一个救援组织做广告说，每个月捐献33美元就可使一个患营养不良症的孩子住院治疗――这是一种仅仅由于缺乏蛋白质而产生的严重营养不良疾病。不养宠物，然后把节省下来的钱捐给救援组织将意味着挽救一条生命――几年后，就能挽救几条生命。

没有遭到那种严重疾病的孩子可以用那个数目的半数糊口――不是们那样的食物，只是一般的、基本的、维持生命的食物。相信我们平均花在宠物狗身上的钱能够养活一个特别贫穷地区的孩子是不过分的。拿出我们花在猫身上的钱可能养活不了一个孩子，但它们可能付清他的医疗费或基本教育费。这一点无须详述，这就是所有要说的。

课文讲解：

一、单词补充讲解：

1.assume

1)假定、设想： Lets assume this statement is correct.

2)承担、担任、接受： He assumes a leading position.

3)采取、呈（某种形式、面貌）： The motion of matter always assumes certain forms. 物质的运动总是表现为一定的形式。

2。Attach

1)贴、缚、系： You should attach labels to the luggage. 你应该把标签贴在行李上。

2） 把(重点等）放在： We should attach primary importance to a firm and correct political orientation. 我们要把坚定正确的政治方向放在第一位。

3） 附加、隶属： There is a bedroom with a bathroom attached. 有间带浴室的卧室。

4）喜爱： Im greatly attached to my work .

3. worth

1)adj. （用作表语，后接宾语）值。。。的，相当于。。。的价值的： This precision instrument is worth 10,000 yuan这台精密仪器值一万元。

2）adj.有。。。价值的 It is worth to discuss this question again.

3)a. 拥有。。。价值的财产的 ： He is worth a considerable amount of money.

4)n.价值： We don't need wastes of little worth.

4. question.

1)n.发问，询问，问题，议题： The man put some questions to the chairman about the project.这个人向主席提了一些有关该工程的问题。

2）n.疑问，不确定 There is no question about his honesty. 他的诚实是不可质疑的。

3） v.询问、审问 I questioned my boss on his views. 我询问老板的看法。

4)v.怀疑 It cannot be questioned that the new method is superior to the old one. 毫无疑义，新方法比旧方法好。

5） vi.询问、探问： His questioning mind helped him a lot in his study.他好问的精神在学习种对他帮助很大。

二、课文解释

1. So a mother and father who have ever cared for pets are likely to be more patient and understanding with their children as well, and especially to avoid making negative or rude remarks in the presence of a child, no matter how young. 所以曾经照顾过宠物的父母，可能也会对他们的孩子更有耐心和理解，特别是能避免在孩子面前作消极的和不礼貌的评论，不管他们年龄有多小。

1）句中to be more patient and understanding…和to avoid making…是两个动词不定式短语与likely一起构成复合结构。

2）no matter how young是状语从句，从句中省略了主语和谓语。全句应为no amtter how young their child is.

3)likely是形容词，并非副词，其意思是“有可能的”往往用于likely+to do,或it is likely+that从句结构中。例如: He is likely to come. It si likely that we will lose the game.

2. Nevertheless it is the dog who can teach us lessons of loyalty and devotion that no cat ever knew. 然而狗可以教给我们忠诚和献身，这是猫所不知道的。

1)这是一个强调句式，被强调的部分是dog,句子中的it没有意思，只用来改变句子的结构，使句子中的某一部分受到强调。强调句的结构是it+be+被强调部分+that/who/which从句，被强调的部分指人时，用who(whom),有时用that,其他状况多用that,间或用which.

例如： It was she whom you shoiuld ask for help.

It was a picture that (which) I found in his room.

2)that no cat ever knew是定语从句，修饰loyalty and devotion.

3)名词lesson的意思是“教训、训诫”

3。But we do ot ,as a rule, feel a heavy personal reponsibility for the afflicted and deprived for we are pretty thoroughly formed by the individualistic, competitive society we live in. 但是我们通常并不感到对贫穷的人们负有重大的责任，因为我们几乎完全是由我们生活于其中的这个个人主义的、竞争的社会塑造成型的。

1）这是一个复合句。For在此为链接词，引导表示原因的状语从句，例如： I came late for I was held up by the traffic. 我来晚了，因为交通堵塞使我耽搁了。

2） 在状语从句中，还有一个定语从句we live in，修饰society.

3)responsibility后面的介词for为固定搭配，不能用其他介词

4）the afflicted and deprived 是名词化的形容词，一部分形容词可以和定冠词连用，表示一类人或东西，这时它相当一个名词，在用途上其谓语动词用复数。

4.But more and more we are reading that the people of the Third World feel bitter at us in the developed countries (with the United States far more developed than any of the others) for our seizing hold of two-thirds of th e worlds wealth and living like kings while they work away all day to earn a bare living.但我们越来越多地在阅读中了解到”第三世界“的人们怀恨发达国家里的我们（美国比其他任何国家发达得多），因为我们占有了世界2/3的财富，生活得像国王一样，而他们整天工作以求糊口。

1）在英语中，我们称这种句子为” one-sentence paragraph “ 一句话即是一个段落。

2）这是一个带有宾语从句的复合句。A)more and more 在句中充当状语 B)主谓语是we are reading C)that the people of the Third World feel bitter at us in the developed countries (with the United States far more developed than any of the others) for our seizing hold of two-thirds of th e worlds wealth and living like kings while they work away all day to earn a bare living.是宾语从句。充当reading 的宾语成分。 D）宾语从句中的for our seizing…and living…是表示原因的状语，说明第三世界的人民对我们怀恨在心的原因。 E）while they work away all day to earn a bare living.是表转折意义的状语从句，与for our seizing hould of tow-thirds of the worlds wealth and living like kings 形成对照。

3）with the United States far more developed than any of the others 是with+名词＋分词/介词/形容词结构，在句子中作伴随性状语，表示背景情况。这种结构可以表示背景情况、行为方式、原因、条件等。例如： With the project finished, the workers went on a holiday. 这项工程完工之后，工人们去度假了。

　

　

下面是一些关于虚拟语气的材料,大家可以参考阅读.

虚拟语气

(一)并不是if引导的条件从句都是虚拟语气。如果if从句所指的事很有可能发生，那么这是真实条件句；反之，则是虚拟条件句

A. If you study hard, youll surely pass the examination. (真实条件句)

B. If I were a bird, I could fly freely in the sky. (虚拟条件句)

(二)虚拟语气中，有时条件从句和主句的时态可以不一致，这种句子叫做混合条件句，也叫错综时间条件句。这种句子的形式要根据表示的时间来调整

A. If it had not been for me, you would not be free.

B. If you had spoken to him yesterday, you would know what to do now.

C. “If I had missed, ”said William Tell, “and had shot too low, I was going to use this arrow on you. ”

(三)有时虚拟条件不用条件从句，而用介词短语来表示

A. They would not be able to live without him.

B. He would have failed but for his teachers timely advice.

C. I had my hair cut off and sold it because I couldn't have lived through Christmas without giving you a present.

D. If only you had worked with greater care!

(四)假设的情况有时可以通过上下文或其他方式表现出来

A. He would have given you more help, but he was so busy.

B. I was ill that day. Otherwise I would have taken part in the parade.

C. He raised himself completely, obliging me to rise too, or I could not have supported him.

D. Einstein cared little for money, though he could have been very rich.

(五)如果条件从句的谓语动词含有连系动词were或助动词had或should, 可将if省略，而把were, had或should移到主语之前，构成倒装句形式

If they were here now, they could help us. (自然语序)

A.

Were they here now, they could help us. (倒装句)

If you had come earlier, you would have met him. (自然语序)

B.

Had you come earlier, you would have met him. (倒装句)

If he should join them in their discussion, they would be happy. (自然语序)

C.

Should he join them in their discussion, they would be happy. (倒装句)

The ship would have sunk with all on board if it had not been for the captain. (自然语序)

D.

The ship would have sunk with all on board had it not been for the captain. (倒装句)

(六)虚拟语气的一些其他用法

(1)在动词wish后的宾语从句中谓语动词用过去式，表示现在或将来的愿望；用过去完成式，表示过去的愿望。

A. I wish I knew the answer.

B. I wish that the time had not passed so fast!

(2)would rather后的从句中也用以上的结构。

A. I would rather they came tomorrow.

B. I would rather you had gone there too.

(3)由as if或as though引导的状语从句，也用以上的结构。

A. She loves the child as if he were her own.

B. “How wild his white hair looked—as if it had been electrified. ”

(4)在suggest, order, demand, propose, command, request, insist等后面的宾语从句，谓语动词用should+ 动词原形(should可省略)。

A. They requested that he (should) go at once.

B. He ordered that all (should) take part in the work.

(5)与下列词有关的表语从句、同位语从句也用以上的结构。

Suggestion(proposal), order(decision), request(demand), plan, idea, a shame, a pity, no wonder

A. My idea is that we (should) win him over.

(6)在It is important(necessary, strange, natural, wonderful)that后以及It is suggested(requested, proposed, arranged, desired, ordered, insisted)that后从句中亦用以上的结构。

A. It is necessary that everyone should be there in time.

B. It is suggested that she should sing a song.

(7)在It is (high/about) time that从句中，谓语动词用一般过去式表示将来。

A. It is time we went to bed.

B. Its about time you began your work.

(8)由in order that, so that引导的状语从句用may或might加动词原形，而so that引导的状语从句也可用can或could加动词原形

A. The emperor ordered that the weavers should be given some gold in order that they might begin their work at once.

B. The teacher spoke slowly so that the students could(might)hear clearly.

(七)suggest表示“建议，提议”时，用虚拟语气；作“认为，提出，暗示，使人想起”时，用陈述语气

A. I suggest he (should) bring his friends in. (虚拟语气)

B. on the boys pale face there was a half smile that seemed to suggest that he was happy to have given his life for his country. (陈述语气)

C. I suggest that you had an ulterior motive in doing this(陈述语气)

(八)insist表示“坚持要”或“一定要(某人做某事)”时，用虚拟语气；作“坚持认为，坚决主张、坚持说(某人的观点)”时，用陈述语气

A. They insisted that he (should) obey the rules. (虚拟语气)

B. She insisted that she needed no help. (陈述语气)

C. He insists that Shanghai is the largest city in China. (陈述语气)

(九)should have done表示应该做的事没做；shouldn't have done表示不该做的事做了；need have done表示必须做的事没做；neednt have done表示不必做的事做了。这些也都是虚拟语气

A. “Its our own fault, ”I thought bitterly. “We should have cut away the jungle brush. ”

B. How I regretted the hours wasted in the woods and fields, the days when I had played and should have studied!

C. You neednt have spent so much time on the problem; it is not worth doing at all.

以下是关于翻译的一篇文章,大家可以参考阅读

短文汉译英是对考生英语综合应用能力的一项测验。根据国家教委最新颁布的考试大纲规定，考生要把含80～100 字的短文译成英语，要求译文“忠实原文”，表达“基本正确”，短文内容主要涉及政治、经济、社会、文化和科普等领域的一般性知识或科学常识。从1995、1996和1997这三年的汉译英考题看，所选题材均为议论文，考题看似不难，译好却不容易。经过分析，我们发现考生除了不同程度存在语言把握本身的问题以外，更应引起注意的是，相当一部分考生没有掌握较正确的翻译方法和必要的应试技巧。与考生以往所熟悉的把单句译成英语相比，把一篇短文译成英语，无疑要求更高，难度更大。因为就翻译而言，忠实原文绝非两种文字之间的简单代替，短文翻译还要考虑上下文和逻辑关系等，因而逐字逐句的对译显然已无法把原文所包含的全部信息完整准确地表达出来。忠实原文，除了要求保留原有的信息外，还应体现原文的文体风格(如议论文表述的紧凑性和较强的逻辑性)，行文要合乎英语的表达习惯，译文应当通顺、自然、流畅。只有这样才能确保译文有较强的可读性。要达到上述要求，光靠掌握英语语法规则和词汇知识显然不够，考生还应当熟悉和了解中英两种语言的风格、特点和规律，尤其要认清两种语言在句式、词汇以及表达习惯上的差异，并在掌握一定的翻译方法和技巧的情况下，加强实践，才能取得好效果。

一、短文汉译英要点分析

1.翻译中常见的一些问题

考生对翻译实质理解不清，缺乏对短文的整体把握，因而译文思路不清，连贯性较差。

短文翻译不同于孤立的、没有上下文的单句翻译。考生在动手做题之前首先应当通读并理解全文，并对文章的内容和风格有一个完整的和全面的认识，这也是保证译文行文连贯、内容忠实所不可缺少的准备工作。然而，许多考生却不这样做，他们往往拿起文章就往下翻译，看一句译一句，这样做，表面上是为了确保译文忠实，但实际情况是，考生只顾每个句子字面的和孤立的意思，而忽略了上下文之间的内在逻辑，忽视了句子之间的衔接，因而译文连贯性较差，无法把原文表达清楚。试看下面的例子：

原文：9月10日是教师节。教师在人们的心目中究竟是什么样子呢？清华附中的小记者走出校门，采访了76位路人。采访发现，83%的人认为老师肩负着培养下一代的重任，是提高全民族文化素质的决定因素，值得尊敬。

译文1：Sept.10 is TeachersDay.What is the image of teachers in peoples heart？Little reporters from the middle school attached to Qinghua University walked out of their school gate and interviewed 76 passersby.The interview shows that 83%people think that teachers shoulder the important task of educating the next generation,they are the decisive factor of improving the whole peoples cultural level,and they are worth of being respected.

译文2：Whats the teachers image？On Teachers Day,Sept.10,a group of teenage reporters from the secondary school of Qinghua University took a poll on the street on seventysix passersby.Eightysix of those surveyed said that teachers should be held in high esteem because they are committed to the shaping of the younger generation,an undertaking crucial to achieving a higher level of education in China.

比较上面的译文，可以看出，译文1显得呆板、生硬，而译文2比较通顺、流畅。译文1显然忽略了文章的逻辑关系，只是一味地按照原文的行文顺序和字面意思，逐字逐句地翻译，而译文2没有拘泥于原文的词汇和句式，不是孤立地看一句译一句，而是在通观全局、仔细推敲上下文和文章内容的基础上，抓住了文章重心和主旨(即教师在人们心目中的形象)，能根据上下文的需要和英文的表达习惯对原文结构和词汇进行调整。如把“What is the teachers image”一句放到句首，既符合英文表达习惯，又突出了主题，使主要内容一目了然。另外，从上下文看，译文1照字面意思把“小记者”译为“little reporters”，似乎不如译文2的“teenage reporters”确切。译文2把“采访”分别灵活地译成“poll”和“survey”也显得很恰当。译文1把“走出校门”译成“walked out of their school gate”，而译文2只译为“took a poll on the street”，既然是采访街头的人当然要在校外进行，这是不言而喻的，因此这样译比较简练。但译文2把“清华附中”译为“the secondary school of Qinghua University”不妥，还是译文1的译法准确。

2.译文结构松散，中心层次不清，可读性差，不符合英语的表达习惯

好的译文不仅要在内容上忠实于原文，而且还应该考虑英语读者的需要，符合英语的表达习惯，具有与原文相应的或较好的条理性和连贯性。这一点恰恰是一般考生不太注意的。很多考生以为只要字面上意思接近就行了，但真正忠实的译文是在不改变原文意思的基础上使行文流畅，具有可读性。如果译文可读性太差，便谈不上忠实于原文。试看一下这两段译文：

原文：1953年，英美两国计划对中国援朝部队使用原子弹，并准备用核武器进攻中国。当这个消息由第三国外交官转告北京时，新中国的领导人深感忧虑，立即作出了建立和发展原子弹和导弹事业的决定。

译文1：In 1953,America and England planned to use atomic bombs against Chinese aiding troops in Korea and to attack China with nuclear weapons.When the news was transferred to Beijing from diplomatic sources of a third country,the leaders of new China felt deeply worried and immediately decided to set up and develop atomic bomb and missile cause.

译文2：In 1953,when they learned from diplomatic sources of a third country that the United States and Britain were prepared to attack mainland China and the Chinese troops in Korea with nuclear weapons,the leaders of new China,deeply concerned,decided that China must have its own atomic bombs and missiles.

译文1基本是直译，保留了原文的结构和叙述顺序；译文2则通过运用从句、分词短语等手段把次要内容融合在一个句子中，因而突出了中心思想。从原文内容看，语句的重要信息应该是“新中国的领导人立即作出了建立和发展原子弹和导弹事业的决定”。而“1953年，英美两国计划对中国援朝部队使用原子弹，并准备用核武器进攻中国”和“这一消息由第三国外交官转告北京”这两句都是当时的背景信息，“深感忧虑”则是细节描写，也是次要信息，因此只要选择恰当的从句、短语等句型就足以将这些从属信息表达清楚。例如“新中国领导人深感忧虑，立即作出了建立和发展原子弹和导弹事业的决定”一句中的“深感忧虑”这层意思就可用分词短语“deeply concerned”翻译出来，这样的处理既能恰当地再现原文内容，又符合英语表达习惯，虽然译文结构复杂，但层次清楚，文字组织得当，主题突出，而且概念清晰、准确。又如，把“英美两国”改译为the United States and Britain 比America and England更准确，把“深感忧虑”改为“deeply concerned”也比“deeply worried”更恰当。因为从上下文看，concerned一词能体现当时中国领导人对原子弹事业的关心，也符合领导人的身份。

从这两段译文中也可看出，选择恰当的句型不仅是一种重要的翻译技巧，而且也是处理好译文的一个关键环节。许多实例表明，很多考生的译文结构松散、呆板，主要原因都是没有处理好译文的层次和重心，没有选择恰当的句式。

3.译文语气平淡，缺少与原文相应的气势，有的虽形似，但实质上形近而神远

译文语气平淡，缺少应有的气势，这是考生做汉译英题时存在的一个普遍问题。考生除翻译水平和语言水平有限外，对翻译实质的理解也是至关重要的。很多考生认为只要能运用掌握的词汇和语法规则把句子翻译出来就行了。其实，忽视了原文语气和风格的译文，其忠实程度和可读性就可能打折扣。试看这样一句：“我们的朋友遍天下”，句子结构简单，用词也不深奥，考生一般都能不假思索地把句子译为：“our friends are all over the world.”这样的译文应该说不坏，句子既没有语法错误，原文的信息也基本上反映出来了。但仔细推敲，我们发现与原文的“我们的朋友遍天下”相比，“our friends are all over the world”显得气势不足，至少原文所隐含的自豪感在译文中丢失了。如果吃透原文，摆脱原有句架的限制，而把句子译成“We have friends all over the world”是否更能准确地反映出原有的气势？这是显而易见的。

1996年汉译英考题中有这样一句：“在过去的几十年里，可能没有任何其他话题比领导艺术更受到管理研究者的关注。”下面是这句话的两种译文：

译文1：In the last few decades,perhaps no topic was concerned more by management researchers than the topic of art of leadership.

译文2：probably no other single topic has gained more attention from management researchers in the last few decades than leadership.

译文1中的“perhaps no topic”分量不够，语气平淡，没有充分译出原句“可能没有任何其他话题”所表现的气势；而译文2的“probably no other single topic”则加强了译文的语气和句势，尤其是probably和single两个词能准确反映原文的全貌，恰如其分地反衬了leadership(领导艺术)这一话题的受瞩目程度，从而突出了主题。可见，翻译不应拘泥于原文的一词一句，而是要忠实于原文的思想，在吃透原文思想的情况下撇开原文的结构，翻译出言下之意，这也是提高译文忠实程度、增强可读性，提高译文质量的重要一步。

4.死译或望文生义，导致译文不准确、不忠实、生硬、费解

有些考生认为一字不漏地翻译出原文的字面意思就是忠实于原文的最稳妥、最可靠的办法。但实际上，我们知道，中英两种语言是两种不同的语言文字，在词汇和语法上有较大的差异，而且在概念和思维上也都存在差异，即使一个意思，两种语言的表达方法也很不相同。如果死译、硬译，或生搬硬套，只能使译文含糊不清，让人费解。例如，有人把“the treatment of teachers is bad”当作是“教师待遇不好”的忠实译文，实际上是硬译、错译。因为英语中的treatment 一词并不等于汉语的“待遇”这个概念，两者语义范围也不一样，而且treatmnt作“待遇”讲时多有贬义，但原文根本没有贬低教师的意思，只是阐明“教师收入偏低”这一事实而已。可见，这句话如果改译为“teachers are poorly paid”则更简单，更恰当。同样，如果把“自改革开放以来”译成“since the reform and opening policy”，不仅文法不通，而且也不能达意。因此一味地找对应词，只顾表面的忠实，最终只会损害译文的内容，影响译文的表达效果。再看下面的例子：

原文：最近河南安阳火柴厂向铁道部发出紧急报告：我厂是全国最大的火柴生产厂家，担负着河南全省民用火柴供应的任务。由于木材短缺，现已濒临停产。情况的确严重。该厂近几个月产量大幅度下降，以至造成火柴市场紧张，城市黑市价格高出正常售价四倍多，农村、山区百姓出现吃饭点灯难现象。

译文1：Recently the Anyang Match Factory of Henan province sent an urgent report to the Ministry of Railroadur factory is the biggest matchproducing factory in the country,and is responsible for the task of supplying civil matches for the whole province.Because of shortage of timber,the factory is facing a closedown.The situation is indeed serious.over the last few months,production dropped so sharply that it has caused market tense.In cities,the price of matches is four times its normal one,and in the countryside,there is even the phenomenon of peoples having difficulties in eating and lighting.

译文2：The Anyang Match Factory,a major match producer for domestic use in Henan province and the biggest one in the country,recently sent an SoS to the Ministry of Railways,saying that the factory was running short of timber.The message is not a false alarm.The drastic cutbacks in the output of the factory have caused an acute shortage of matches in the market over the last few months.In the cities,a box of matches is now selling at four times its normal price on the black market;in the countryside,people do not even have matches to light their cooking stoves.

译文1中一些地方翻译得不够清楚，如把“紧急报告”译成urgent report,虽然字面意思接近，但译文机械呆板；从特定的上下文看，这句话的真实信息是“形势严重”、“关系重要”，因此翻译时必须选用相应的词，要把这层意思点明。译文2使用了SoS这一具有特殊感情色彩的词，既符合客观事实，也能给读者一个鲜明的形象，提高了译文质量。同样，“火柴市场紧张”中的“紧张”在文中是“短缺”而非其他，译成the match market is tense 让人费解，且这几个词也搭配不当，如改译为an acute shortage of matches in the market 既清楚又能使读者明白。再如“百姓出现吃饭点灯难现象”，译文1也过分拘泥于原文的一词一字，因而晦涩难懂，文理不通。

以上几例说明，在汉译英时，选译词汇和选择句子一样重要。而且，词有雅俗之分、大小之分和难易之分，因此如何选择，要格外留心。首先要看原文的意思，同时也要看原文结构词汇有什么特点。如在政论性文体中，句子一般长而复杂，抽象词也多。翻译时应该照顾到这些特点，使行文严谨、周密、准确、简练。如果不注意词义在上下文中的一致，而拘泥于字面意思上的一致，望文生义，生搬硬套，结果只会使译文文理不通，不忠实，不达意，甚至引起误解，必然损害原意。正确的做法是先看懂意思，再根据上下文来选择恰当的词句。

二、翻译基本方法、变通手段、翻译程序及应试技巧

1.翻译的基本方法：直译与意译

首先应当指出，直译不是死译，而是指基本保留原有句子结构，照字面意思翻译。意译也不是胡译、乱译，而是在不损害原文内容和精神的前提下，为了表达的需要，对原文作相应的调整。前面提到的译文our friends are all over the world是直译，而We have friends all over the world就是意译。直译以严格意义上的忠实为宗旨，意译则更多考虑英语的特点，更强调译文的效果，不求形式对应，只求语言在深层次中的对应。总之，选择直译还是意译，应该根据文章具体需要而定，两种译法可以并用。

2.翻译的变通手段

翻译时不能简单地或机械地逐字照译，硬凑成英文，必须认真分析上下文，掌握词的确切含义，然后用适当的英文表达，必要时需要变换一些词，如“小记者”译成teenage reporter，“紧急报告”译成SoS，“深感忧虑”译成deeply concerned等，都是采用了变通手段。

(1)词类转换。

词类转换是翻译中常见的手段，通过词类的转换可以突破原文的句式，引起句法的转换，如“近来，研究人员发现感冒可以通过人的手传染”可译为Recent research discoveries indicate that flu can be spread by hand contacts.原文中的“发现”是动词，而译文根据上下文的需要，灵活地把动词转换成名词discoveries。

(2)增词、减词。

译文的增词、减词都是为了更确切、更忠实地表达原文的含义和精神。译文中添加一些原文没有的词句，表面上看似不忠实，但仔细分析就会发现这些增加的词句所表达的意思并非无中生有，而是隐含在原文中的。减词是在不影响原意的情况下省略无关紧要的词语，避免拖泥带水。如“感冒可以通过人的手传染”可以译为flu can be spread by hand contacts，其中的contacts就是根据译文需要添加上的。而“百姓出现吃饭点灯难现象”中的“现象”一词可以省略，只译成people do not even have matches to light their stoves就足以表达原文中的信息。

3.短文英译的基本程序

做汉译英时一般应经过以下步骤：

(1)通读并透彻理解全文。

(2)紧紧抓住文章的逻辑关系，透过语言的表层现象，深入到文章的深层结构，找出中心信息和外围信息。

(3)组织译文的结构，根据各层意思选择句子结构，搭起基本框架；根据上下文选择适当的词汇和表达手段，特别要按英语的表达逻辑来调整语句。如“虽然…但是”，在译成英文时不能译成Although…but…，而只能译成Although he is poor,he is well contented.“他虽穷却能知足常乐。”

(4)最后审校。这是不可缺少的一个重要环节，而且在最后审校时一定要对照原文，这样才能检查出译文在理解和表达上有什么问题，是否有错译和漏译，以便及时改正。

4.汉译英复习要点和应试技巧

考生在复习备考时既要注意培养翻译的技能意识，又要提高语言的实际运用能力。从考试大纲看，汉译英基本以议论文为主，涉及社会生活、政治、文化、经济及一般科技等方面。因此我们建议考生在考前复习准备时要多留心阅读这类体裁的文章，要多积累，多比较，尽量熟悉英语语言特点，并积累词汇。另外，还应注意汉译英在词性、句式和表达习惯上的特点，掌握丰富的变通手段，努力提高行文能力。

词汇和句式是语言的核心部分，要做好汉英短文翻译，关键是选择恰当的词汇和句式。词汇是语言的建筑材料，文章译得好不好，能不能达意，都与选词有密切的关系。要选好词，必须注意以下几点：

(1)词义要确切。

应该透彻地掌握词语的确切含义，才能准确无误地表达思想。每个词都有一定的含义，如果混淆词义，很容易造成用词不当。

(2)选词要贴切。

翻译时选词要注意语境和文章的文体，每个词在上下文中用得恰当、自然、和谐。英语中有许多同义词，平时要多注意同义词在不同上下文中的用法，因为即使是同义词或近义词在意义或色彩上甚至用法上也不是完全一样的。

3)用词要通俗易懂。

用词要规范，尽量使用书面语言，少用俚语、生僻词或陈词滥调，以免影响译文效果。

4)用词要简洁有力。

简洁是为了清晰，译文中多余的词不但不能增强语言的表现力，反而使语言显得累赘。因此翻译时要避免用词重复罗嗦。

5)选词要多样化。

用词单一会使语言枯燥无味、苍白无力；而选词多样化可以加强语言的表现力，使译文的表达更丰富。

举例来说，“北京是中国的首都，名胜古迹甚多”这句话该怎么译成英文？按照英语表达习惯，在译成英语时要把句中的“是中国首都”处理成次要信息，把这部分当成“北京”的同位语处理，这样就译成：Beijing,the capital of China,has quite many places of historic interest and scenic beauty.通过这种手段可以使句子在逻辑和思想上连接起来，一方面突出了重要信息，另一方面也使语言更为紧凑。