研究生英译汉练习精选段

1. The most common characteristic of outstanding success is “an extensive knowledge of the exact meaning of English words.” The extent of your vocabulary indicates the degree of your intelligence. Your brain power will increase as you learn to know more words. The study of words is not merely something that has to do with literature. Words are your tools of thought. You can’t even think at all without words. Without words you could make no decisions and form no judgments whatsoever. And the more words you have at your command the deeper, clearer and more accurate will be your thinking. A command of vocabulary will give you assurance; build your self-confidence; lend color to your personality; increase your popularity. Your words are your personality. Your vocabulary is you. Wilfred Funk

2. Words are explosive. Phrases are packed with TNT. A simple word can destroy a friendship, land a large order. The proper phrases in the mouths of clerks have quadrupled the sales of a department store. The wrong words used by a campaign orator have lost an election. Words have changed the direction of history. Words can also change the direction of your life. They have often raised a man from mediocrity to success. If you consciously increase your vocabulary you will unconsciously raise yourself to a more important station in life, and the new and higher position you have won will, in turn, give you a better opportunity for further enriching your vocabulary. It is a beautiful and successful cycle. Wilfred Funk

3. Mastering a large number of words is essential to achieving fluency in a foreign language. There are no short-cuts to a large vocabulary in English: you just have to rely on diligence and dedication. Of course you can figure out from the context the meanings of some new words you come across in your reading, but more often than not you have to look them up in a dictionary in order to be clear about their accurate meanings. A practicable way to pick up new words is, perhaps, to read a lot, preferably stories that you find interesting or exciting. It often pays to read the same book over and over again: each time you read it you will learn different new words, and the familiar context helps to fix them in your mind.

4. A successful argument gives evidence of some sort for every important point. Evidence may include statistics, observations or testimony of experts, personal narratives, or other supporting proof. A

5. Examples and illustrations are crucial to writing, no matter what the primary purpose. Without examples, writing stays at the general or abstract level and leaves readers only vaguely understanding what a writer means. Examples make meaning clear and help make writing more interesting, livelier, and more engaging than in an essay without details. Examples may be brief and numerous or extended and limited in number, and they may take the form of narratives. It would be difficult to find an effective piece of writing that does not use examples of some sort. Ibid.

6. Most composition instructors would probably agree that students use too few examples in their writing. Perhaps because of a lack of background in a subject, a student may rely on broad, general statements that are neither interesting nor convincing. If a student were always able to draw from his personal experience in writing, the tendency to generalize might be more easily overcome. But this is not always possible. When working with an unfamiliar subject, though, a resourceful student will explore the library to find background material and supporting examples for his paper. Using examples in a composition can be compared to presenting evidence in a courtroom. Evidence serves to make a legal case more specific; it helps to convince the jurors. Examples make a composition more specific; they add substance to the writer’s controlling idea. For example, if you are writing an expository paper about progress in the railroad industry, your examples might include the luxurious Italian train, the Settebello, connecting Milan and Rome; the 125-mile-per-hour Japanese train running on the Hokkaido Line from Tokyo to Osaka; and the extensive Trans-European Express trains which span the Continent. Examples such as these would lend force to your writing. from American English Rhetoric by Robert G. Bander, 1978

7. English is generally acknowledged to be the world’s most important language. First, the number of native speaker of English is more than 300 million. Second, the spread of English over most of the world as an international language is a unique

writer needs to convince readers by taking them from some initial position on an issue to the writer’s position, which readers will share if the argument succeeds. The only way to do this is to provide evidence that convinces readers that the position is a right or true one. from Perspectives on Contemporary Issues, 2003

8. The statistics of English are astonishing. Of all the world’s languages which now number some 2700, it is arguably the richest in vocabulary. The Oxford English Dictionary lists about 500,000 words; and a further half million technical and scientific terms remain uncatalogued.…Three-quarters of the world’s mail, and its telexes and cables, are in English. So are more than half the world’s technical and scientific periodicals. English is the medium for 80 percent of the information stored in the world’s computers. Nearly half of all business deals in Europe are conducted in English. It is the language of sport and glamour: the official language of the Olympics and the Miss Universe competition. English is the official voice of the air, of the sea, and of Christianity. Five of the largest broadcasting companies in the world CBS, NBC, ABC, BBC, CBC transmit in English to audiences that regularly exceed one hundred million. from The Story of English by Robert McCrum et al, 1986

9. For the post-intermediate and advanced English learners, it is advisable to use more of a monolingual dictionary. There are a number of advantages. Apart from the increase of exposure of English and avoidance of misunderstanding by translation, users have to think in English, understand meanings in terms of other English words, thus enlarging vocabulary and learn the precise meanings of words and usages through definitions and examples. Moreover, the effective use of a monolingual dictionary will give learners a sense of satisfaction and self-sufficiency and greater confidence in their ability to solve language problems. 10. The human being may be called the animal with language. Upon a little reflection, we can see that only by means of language can mankind create and transmit the body of concepts, attitudes, values, and skills that constitute civilization. Only by language can we carry the past with us, understand the present, and project the future. Only by language can we have a clear notion of ourselves as

phenomenon in the world’s history: about 1500 million people—over a third of the world’s population—live in countries where English has some official status or is one of the native languages, if not the dominant native language. Third, English leads as the primary medium for 20th century science and technology. Finally, English is the language of the United States, whose gross domestic product in 1980 was more than double that of its nearest competitor, Japan.

11. All universities contribute to the prosperity and success of their country. The also conserve the culture and legacy specific to their country’s civilization. But they do far more than that. Knowledge is secure only when it is hard won by the independent tests of accurate, rational explorations. So when we teach our students skills, we also give them values. These are values for personal and civic conduct. On the other hand, these values underwrite the personal need for independent understanding which is the source of human creativity. 12. A good education should, among other things, train you to think for yourself. The examination system does anything but that. What has to be learnt is rigidly laid down by a syllabus, so the student is encouraged to memorise. Examinations do not motivate a student to read widely, but to restrict his reading; they do not enable him to seek more and more knowledge, but induce cramming. They lower the standards of teaching, for they deprive the teacher of all freedom. Teachers themselves are often judged by examination results and instead of teaching their subjects, they are reduced to training their students in exam techniques which they despise. The most successful candidates are not always the best educated; they are the best trained in the technique of working under duress. L. G. Alexander 13. All the wisdom of the ages, all the stories that have delighted mankind for centuries, are easily and cheaply available to all of us within the covers of books—but we must know how to avail ourselves of this treasure and how to get the most from it. The most unfortunate people in the world are those who have never discovered how satisfying it is to read good books…Reading is a pleasure of the mind, which means that it is a little like a sport: your eagerness and knowledge and quickness make you a good reader. Reading is fun, not because the writer is telling you something, but because it makes your mind work. Your own imagination works along with the author’s or even goes beyond his. Your experience, compared with his, brings you to the same or different conclusions, and your ideas develop as you understand his. Bennett Cerf

individuals. “I think, therefore I am,” as the philosopher Descartes put it. And only by language can we forge the bonds of a society—a society as distinguished from some sort of instinctual hero or swarm.

14. Most wedding customs are very old and come from many different lands. Throwing old shoes or tying them to the bridal car goes back to ancient Egypt. There the father handed the bride’s sandal to the groom, symbolizing a transfer of authority. Throwing rice carries the wish that the couple will be blessed with children. Another widespread custom is for the bride to wear “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.” In ancient Israel the bride’s robe had a blue border signifying purity, fidelity, and love. Centuries ago in France the bride threw her garter, and the girl who caught it was believed to be the next bride. Today the bride throws her bouquet. 15. The wedding ring represents a promise for eternal and everlasting love. It is a representation of the promises joining both the bride and groom together. The wedding ring is placed on the ring finger of the right hand because it was traditionally believed that this finger was a direct connection to the heart—the perfect place for a symbol, representing eternal love and commitment. The circular shape of the wedding ring has symbolized undying, unending love since the days of the early Egyptians. A primitive bride wore a ring of hemp or rushes, which had to be replaced often. Durable iron was used by the Romans to symbolize the permanence of marriage. Today’s favorite is, of course, gold, because of its lasting qualities of beauty and purity. 16. Coffee is a universal beverage that is served in different ways around the world. In London, for example, some Englishmen dip mustard into their coffee, while in Denver, a person might add a dash of ketchup. Strips of orange and lemon peel, cloves and cinnamon sticks are not unusual additions to the brew in Europe. An Asian delight consists of coffee brewed in boiling sugar. Perhaps the richest cup of coffee can be enjoyed in Ireland where whiskey and whipped cream are important ingredients. In Australia a waitress will ask, “Do you want black or white” Black is plain black coffee, but white is half coffee and half warm milk. If an Australian orders iced coffee, he will be served a cup of steaming coffee with a scoop of ice cream. It sounds like the Australian version of “a snowball in hell”. 17. Although Einstein 1879-1955 felt no need for religious ritual and belonged to no formal religious group, he was the most religious man I have known. He once said to me, “Ideas come from God,” and one could hear the reverence with which he pronounced the word. On the marble fireplace in the mathematics building at Princeton University is

18. Nearly 40 years after her death, Marilyn Monroe 1926-1962 remains the world’s most famous blonde. Though she made just 30 movies in 15 years, she is the subject of more than 50 books, far more than any other screen star. And there has been no one like her—beautiful, sexual, and at the same time, vulnerable. This made her famous, and this brought her trouble. Even reaching amazing heights, Marilyn Monroe would find no lasting comfort or joy from either her career or her relationships. This was the tragedy of her brief life. We know the many sad details—the suicide attempts, drug addiction, the affairs and failed marriages, the damaging relationships. This is a story of a poor kid who made it in Hollywood and delightedly captured the world, who seemed to have it all but couldn’t find happiness. 19. We often hear that computers are cold and inhuman, but in fact many people are more comfortable with a computer than with another person. Computers are patient and do not judge the people who use them. Many students who would be embarrassed to show a teacher that they do not understand something are happy to ask a computer questions. Some patients would rather explain their health problems to a computer than to a doctor. There is even a computer program which deals with psychological problems. The program has become popular because many people feel uncomfortable discussing such problems with another person. 20. Today it can be said that wheels run America. The four rubber tires of the automobile move America through work and play. Wheels spin, and people drive off to their jobs. Tires turn, and people shop for the week’s food at the big supermarket down the highway. Hubcaps whirl, and the whole family spend a day at the lake. Each year more wheels crowd the highways as ten million new cars roll out of the factories. One out of every six American works at assembling cars, driving trucks, building roads, or pumping gas. America without cars It is unthinkable. 21. People think of the United States as a rich and plentiful nation. It is, but it is not self-sufficient. Its reliance on foreign sources is made clear every day in the year. Topping the list is oil. Most oil is

carved, in the original German, what one might call his scientific credo: “God is subtle, but he is not malicious.” By this Einstein meant that scientists could expect to find their task difficult, but not hopeless.

22. Individual freedom is probably the most basic of all the American values. Scholars and outside observers often call this value “individualism”, but many Americans use the word freedom. Perhaps the word is one of the most respected popular words in the United States today. By freedom, Americans mean the desire and the ability of all individuals to control their own destiny without outside interference from the government, a ruling noble class, the church, or any other organized authority. The desire to be free of controls was a basic value of the new nation in 1776, and it has continued to attract immigrants to this country. from The American Way by E. N. Kearny, 1984 23. It is important to understand what most Americans mean when they say they believe in equality of opportunity. They do not mean that every one is—or should be—equal. However, they do mean that each individual should have an equal chance for success. Americans see much of life as a race for success. For them, equality means that everyone should have an equal chance to enter the race and win. In other words, equality of opportunity may be thought of as an ethical rule. It helps ensure that the race for success is a fair one and that a person does not win just because he or she was born into a wealthy family, or lose because of race or religion. This American concept of “fair play” is an important aspect of the belief in equality of opportunity. Ibid. 24. If you are invited into a person’s home, there are other questions to consider. For instance, what time should you arrive If it is a social occasion, not a business one, it is not polite to arrive early. Your hostess will be preparing for you, and will be most embarrassed if you arrive before she is quite ready. Ten minutes late is excellent. Half an hour late is excessive, and requires apologies. Then too, the British are rather particular about table manners. The main thing is to sit up straight, copy everyone else, gaily asking what to do if you are not sure, and

imported from the Middle Eastern countries of Saudi Arabia and Iran. Or take sugar: cane sugar ranks high in value among imported foodstuffs. Or consider coffee. Coffee drinking could not be an American habit if imports from Venezuela and Brazil were cut off. Morning readers would not have their newspapers without printing ink. Much of that comes from Canada. The chief source of raw silk is Japan. A wristwatch may or may not be a Swiss watch, but the inner movements are probably imported. Ninety percent of them are.

25. Gifts are not the same as ‘tips’. The tipping system is an evil in most European countries, and consists of a small extra payment made to certain employees. In Britain it is confined chiefly to waiters and taxi-drivers, to whom you give an extra tenth or eighth of the price of the meal or fare. Hotel servants and railway porters, too, expects a small tip if they are of service to you. Apart from these special cases, gifts of money are given only cautiously. This is because the offer of money makes an act of kindness seem like a mean desire for gain. If a kindly act has actually involved expense, it is only right to offer reimbursement, but most British people feel that kindness itself can only be repaid with gratitude, not with money. Thus, you do not offer money to a driver who gives you a lift, or to someone who stops to help you to mend a puncture or to give you first aid, though if you felt sufficiently grateful you might buy the person some cigarettes or a drink or some other small gift. As for a more important act like finding somebody a job or saving him from drowning—to expect money for doing something like that is almost unthinkable.

keep the conversation going. What time should you leave There are no rules, but it is most impolite to stay too late, as it implies a lack of consideration for your hosts. If it is simply an invitation to an evening meal and conversation, you will probably take your leave between ten and eleven o’clock. If you have been asked to stay for several days, you will conform as far as possible to the routine of the house, and your hostess will be very pleased if you give her a bunch of flowers, specially purchased, before you leave. If the invitation has been made purely to give you pleasure, a gift of money would be refused with some embarrassment.