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上海紧缺人才培训工程教学系列丛书英语中级口译资格证书考试中级翻译教程第二版 An Intermediate Course of Translation Second Edition 孙万彪 编著 上海外语教育出版社

Part Two

English-Chinese Translation

The United States is a varied land----of forests,deserts,mountains,high flad lands and fertile plains.Almost every kind of climate may be found,but the country lies mostly in the temperate zone.Including the states of Alaska and Hawaii,the United States covers and area of 9 million square kilometers.The continental United States stretches 4,500 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to the Pacific Ocean on the west.It borders Canada on the north,and reaches south to Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico.A fast railroad train,travelling 96 kilometres an hour,takes more than 48 hours to cross the country.

A jet plane crosses the continental United States from east to west in about five hours.Taking off from an Atlantic coast airport,the plane is soon flying over the getle slopes of the Appalachian Mountains.Then,for hundreds of kilometers it crosses the fertile fields of the farm belt of the great Middle West.To the north,on clear days passengers may see the five Great Lakes located between the United States and Canada.Continuing into the West,the plane flies over vast prairies and rough cattle-grazing country.Soon the snow-topped Rocky Mountains appear in the distance.After crossing these high ranges,the plane can almost glide down into the rich valleys of California and,finally,to a landing not far from the beaches of the Pacific Ocean.

The United States has long been known as a “melting pot”,because many of its people are descende from settlers who came from all over the world to make their homes in the new land.The first immigrants in American history came from England and the Netherlands.Attracted by reports of great economic opportunities and religious and political freedom,immigrants from many other countries flocked to the United States in increasing numbers,reaching a peak in the years 1880-1914.Between 1820 and 1980 the United States admitted almost 50 million immigrants.

Some 1,360,000 American Indians,descendants of North America’s first inhabitants,now reside in the United States.Most live in the West,but many are in the south and north central areas.Of the more than 300 separate tribes,the largest is the Navaho in the Southwest.

Black people were first brought to America from Africa as slaves.Their descendants now make up nearly 12 per cent of the population.They once lived mainly in the agricultural South but now are scattered throughout the nation.

In Hawaii,more than a third of the residents are of Japanese descent,a third are Caucasians,about 15 per cent are of Polynesian background,and the others are mainly Pilipino,Korean and Chinese descent.

The American people are always on the move----from one part of the country to another,from on city to another,from farm to city,from the city to the suburbs.One in five Americans moves to a new home every year seeking new job opportunities,a better climate,or for other reasons.

Varied    adj.                      多种多样的

Temperate zone                     温带

Alaska                             阿拉斯加（州名）

Hawaii                             夏威夷（州名）

Appalachian Mountains               阿巴拉契亚山脉

Prairie    n.                       大草原

Rough    adj.                      坎坷起伏

Cattle-grazing                       放牧的

Snow-topped                       峰峦积雪的

Rocky Mountains                    落基山脉

Ranges    n.                       山脉

California                          加利福尼亚（州名）

Descend   v.                       是……的后裔

Settler    n.                       移民

Descendant    n.                   后裔；子孙

Navaho     n.                     纳瓦霍部落（北美印第安人）

Descent    n.                      血统；世系

Caucasian    n.                    白种人

Polynesian    n.                   波利尼西亚族

(1)     The continental United States:大陆美国（指除Alaska和Hawaii两个州以外的美国大陆）。

又，continental Europe系指不包括the Britain Isles（英伦三岛）的欧洲大陆。

除非上下文另有所指，continental通常为“欧洲大陆的”，如continental breakfast（欧洲大陆式早餐），与English breakfast相对应。

(2)     Farm belt:在这里，belt is an area distinguished from others in some way,as the corn belt(where corn grows),a forest belt,a belt of volcanoes,etc.，相当于汉语的“地带”。

(3)     The Middle West:[美国]中西部。在本文以及涉及美国地理位置的文章里，表示方位的大写词，如the West,the South,the Southwest,the Northeast分别指美国的西部、南部、西南部、东北部。

(7)     American Indians:the aboriginal people of America（美国/美洲印第安人）。Indian通常指people of India or of the East Indies（印度人或东印度群岛人）。在一篇文章中，Indian的具体所指应根据语境来断定是“印度人”还是“印第安人”，方可避免误译。

(8)     The south and north central areas:中部的南北地区，而不是南北中部地区。这里必须注意方位词之间的修饰关系。

(9)     The agricultural South:南方农业地区。历史上，美国南方以农业为主，故有此说。

(10) Caucasians:系“白种人”(the white race of humankind)，不应误认为是“高加索人”[so named from the erroneous notion that the original home of the hypothetical Indo-Europeans was the Caucasus（高加索）].

美国是一个地形多样的国家——有森林、沙漠、山脉、平坦的高低和肥沃的平原。境内有各种气候，但美国的大部分处在温带。把阿拉斯加和夏威夷两个州加在一起，美国的总面积达9百万平方公里。美国大陆东起大西洋，西至太平洋，横跨4，500公里。北面与加拿大接壤，南面与墨西哥和墨西哥湾毗邻。一列时速为96公里的快速火车，横跨美国需要48小时以上。

喷气飞机从东向西飞越美国大陆大约要5个小时。飞机从大西洋沿岸的机场起飞，不久便飞越阿巴拉契亚山脉平缓的山坡，接着在大中西部农业地带绵延数百公里的肥沃田野的上空飞行。在晴朗的日子，乘客朝北远眺，可以看到位于美国和加拿大之间的五大湖。飞机继续往西飞，越过辽阔的大草原和坎坷起伏的牧场。很快，远处便出现峰峦积雪的落基山脉。飞机越过这些崇山峻岭之后，几乎可以从高空向加利福尼亚富饶的谷地滑翔而下，最后在离太平洋海滩不远的机场降落。

美国历来以“民族熔锅”著称，因为许多美国人是移民的后裔，当年这些移民从世界各地来到这块新土地上安家落户。美国历史上首批移民来自英国和荷兰。许多其他国家的人听说在美国经济上有很大的发展机会，还有宗教自由和政治自由，于是便纷纷涌入美国，移民人数越来越多，1880年至1914年达到了顶峰。在1820年到1980年间，美国接纳了近5，000万移民。

现在约有136万印第安人居住在美国，他们是北美土著的后裔。大多数印第安人住在西部，也有许多住在中部的南北地区。美国印第安人分属300多个不同的部落，其中最大的是西南部的纳瓦霍部落。

黑人当初是被当作努力从非洲贩晕倒美国的，他们的后裔现在几乎占美国人口的百分之十二。从前，黑人主要聚居在南方农业地带，如今则分散到美国各地。

在夏威夷，三分之一以上的居民是日本人后裔，三分之一是白种人，百分之十五左右是波利尼西亚族，其余的则主要是菲律宾人、韩国人和中国人。

美国人总是在迁居，他们从美国的一个地区迁往另一个地区，从一座城市迁往另一座城市，从农村迁往城市，从市区迁往郊区。每年每5个美国人中，就有一个迁往新的地方，为的是寻找新工作，缓缓气候，或者为了别的原因。

American schools,both public and private,consist of 12 years of grades----basically 8 years of elementary school and 4 years of secondary or high school,although grades 7 and 8,or 7,8 and 9 may be housed together in a middle school or junior high school.In addition,the elementary school offers five-year-olds a year of kindergarten,usually half-day sessions,before they have formal instruction in reading and writing in the first grade.In a few states two years of junior college(the first two years of higher education) or a vocational school are part of the public school system.Schooling is compulsory in most states to the age of 16.

The public schools are administered by local school boards----groups of people elected by the voters.The board appoints the superintendent and sometimes participates in choosing the teachers,decides how school funds are to be allocated,and has some voice in establishing the curriculum.Local funds for the schools come largely from property taxes paid by residents of the local school districts.Thus the people of the entire community,not just the parents of the children who attend,pay for public schools,which are free and open to everyone.

In elementary school,all children in a given grade study the same thing.In junior high school the student may have a limited choice of subjects.In high school the choice is wider.While some subjects are required of everyone,some high school students,in addition,take vocational classes,and others study subjects that will prepare them for college.Students from both groups study under the same roof,each selecting courses according to his or her needs and interests.High school students commonly study four to five basic subjects per semester,each for approximately an hour a day.Additional courses,such as physical education,art,or music,may meet twice a week.

After high school a person may prepare for a particular vocation or occupation by attending vocational courses either in a junior college or in a privately supported training school such as secretarial or industrial school.Or a person may attend a college or university.The term “college” refers to an undergraduate institution that confers a study.A university generally is a group of colleges,each serving a special purpose:a college of libebral arts,a college of business,a college of education,and the like.In addition,universities offer graduate programs.The Master of Arts degree occasionally may be obtained after one year of additional specialized study,although some institutions require longer study.The Doctor of Philosophy is the highest degree in the area of the sciences and humanities.Professional degrees in such fields as medicine and law are part of the program of graduate education.

Many colleges and universities are privately supported.Many have church affiliations.In each state,however,there is at least one university and often several colleges that receive support from state funds.Students in these schools,however,as well as those in private colleges,must pay tuition,but the state schools are much less expensive than private ones,particularly for students who are residents of the state.

Elementary school                            小学

Secondary school                             中等学校

High school                                  中学；高中

Junior high school                             初中

Junior college                                两年制大专

Vocational school                             职业学校

Schooling   n.                               学校教育；上学

Compulsory   adj.                            义务的；必须的

Administer   v.                               管理

School board                                  地方教育董事会

Superintendent   n.                           督学

Curriculum   n.                               课程

School district                                 学区

Semester   n.                                学期

Vocation   n.                                 职业

Undergraduate   n.&adj.                       本科生；本科的

Bachelor of Arts(B.A.)                           文学士

Bachelor of Science(B.S.)                         理学士

Liberal arts                                    大学文科

Master of Arts(M.A.)                            硕士

Doctor of Philosophy(Ph.D.)                      博士

Academic degree                              学位

Humanities   n.                              人文学科

(1)     American schools,both public and private,consist of 12 years of grades----basically 8 years of elementary school and 4 years of secondary or high school,although grades 7 and 8,or 7,8 and 9 may be housed together in a middle school or junior high school.在美国，secondary [school] or high school都是“中学”，而middle school or junior high school则都是“初级中学”。两个短语的连接词or，相当于汉语里的“即”、“亦称作”这样的意思，因此secondary or high school只需（也只能）译成一个词“中学”，middle school or junior high school也照此译为一个词。需要指出的是，high school在美国也可以专门指“高级中学”，即senior high school,有别于junior high school or middle school。

(2)     In addition,the elementary school offers five-year-olds a year of kindergarten,…:five-year-olds是一个复合词，相当于five-year-old children（五岁的儿童）。类似的用法有：a three-year-old（三岁的孩子），a class of eight-year-olds（一个八岁学生的班级）。

(3)     The public schools are administered by local school boards----groups of people elected by the voters.Local funds for the schools come largely from property taxes paid by residents of the local school districts.上面两句里过去分词短语的理解和翻译，参见第三单元3.3.0讲解。

(4)     The board appoints the superintendent…,and has some voice in establishing the curriculum:在这句话里，voice是个比喻，意为（the right to express one’s）opinion（发言权，意见）。To have some(little,no,a) voice in the matter的意思是对某件事情有一些（没有多少，没有，有）发言权。留意voice在下面句子里的意思及其翻译：

The trade union representative wants a voice in management decisions.

(5)     While some subjects are required of everyone,some high school students,in addition,take vocational classes,and others study subjects that will prepare them for college：作连接让步状语从句用的while，在这个句子里的意思是“虽然，尽管”，因此这个从句应译成“尽管有些课程人人必修”。在下面句子里，while起同样的作用：

While I admit that there are problems,I don’t agree that they cannot be solved.

(6)     Students from both groups study under the same roof,each selecting courses according to his or her needs and interests.

“under the same roof”是个比喻，不宜直译为“在同一屋顶下”，而应根据其在上下文的意思“in the same school”译作“在同一所中学里”。观察roof在下列句子里的意思及其翻译：

The two families share the same roof(=live in the same house).

The school library and auditorium are both under one roof(=in the same building).

“his or her”是典型的美国英语用法，用此来避免语言中的所谓“性别歧视”。好在汉语可以用“各自”一词予以概括，而不必劳神把“他的”和“她的”都写出来。

(7)     Additional courses,such as physical education,art,or music,may meet twice a week.

“meet”的意思是assemble for a particular purpose,具体用什么词来翻译，视上下文酌定。在这句话里，meet可译作“上课”。注意下面两个句子里meet的不同译法：

The committee meets on Mondays.

The whole class met to discuss the issue.

(8)     …and others study subjects that will prepare them for college.After high school a person may prepare for a particular vocation or occupation by attending vocational courses… .

上面两句话里的prepare，前一个用作及物动词，是get or make somebody ready（是某人做好准备）的意思；后一个用作不及物动词，是get ready for something（为某事做好准备）的意思。Prepare和prepare for的不同译法，可以用下面两个句子作比较：

The teacher prepared his students for the college entrance examination.

The students are preparing for the examination.

(9)     A university generally is a group of colleges,each serving a special purpose:a college of liberal arts,a college of business,a college of education,and the like.

“and the like”用在列举的事物后面，表示and similar things;and so on（诸如此类；等等），如：

He is interested in jazz,rock and the like.

美国的公立学校和私立学校，都是由12个年级组成的，基本上是8年小学和4年中学，虽然7、8两个年级或7、8、9三个年级可能设在初级中学里。另外，小学还为5岁的儿童开设一年的幼儿园课程，通常上半天课，然后让他们进入一年级接受正式的读、写训练。在一些州，两年制大专（高等教育的头两年）或职业学校十公里教育体系的组成部分。在大多数州，16岁以下儿童必须上学。

公立学校由选民选出的地方教育董事会管理。董事会委派督学，有时候还参与甄选教师，决定学校的经费如何分配，而且在课程设置方面也有一些发言权。拨给学校的地方经费，大部分来自当地学区里居民交纳的财产税。因此，整个社区里的居民，而不仅仅是入学儿童的家长，都得为公立学校出资，而公立学校是免费的，人人都可以上学。

在小学里，同一年级的所有学生都学同样的课程。在初级中学里，学生可以选修一些有限的课程。到了高中，选修的范围大一些。尽管有些课程人人必修，但是有些高中生还另外上职业班，有些则选修为大学而做准备的课程。这两组学生在同一所中学里学习，按各自的需要和兴趣选课。中学生通常每学期学4至5门基础课程，每门课每天大约上一小时。附加课程如体育、艺术或音乐，可能一周上两次。

高中毕业后，毕业生可以入大专或私人资助的培训学校（如秘书学校或工业学校）读职业课程，为从事某项专业或职业做准备。高中毕业生也可以进学院或进大学。“学院”这个名称是指可想修完四年课程的学生授予文学士获理学士学位的本科学校。“大学”一般包括好几个学院，每个学院的专业各有不同，如文学院、商学院、教育学院等。此外，大学还开设研究生课程。偶尔，本科毕业后再学一年专业课程就可以获得文科硕士学位，然而在有些大学，攻读文科硕士学位需要超过一年的时间。在理科和人文学科领域里，哲学博士是最高学位。医学和法学等专业学位时研究生课程的一部分。

许多学院和大学是由私人赞助的，许多还同教会有关系。然而，每个州至少有一所大学，常常还有几所学院，获得州政府的资助。但是这些学校的学生以及私立学院的学生都得付学费，不过州立学校的学费比私立学校便宜得多，对于是本州居民的学生来说，尤为便宜。

在英语里，定语从句分为限制性（restrictive)和非限制性(non-restrictive)两种，都放在先行词(antecedent)后面。限制性定语从句与先行词之间没有逗号隔开，用以修饰先行词；非限制性定语从句以逗号与先行词分开，对先行词作补充性叙述或说明。本单元两篇课文中就有这样两种定语从句：

(1)     The United States has long been known as a “melting pot”,because many of its people are descended from settlers who came from all over the world to make their homes in the new land.

(2)     Thus the people of the entire community,not just the parents of the children who attend,pay for public schools,which are free and open to everyone.

一般而言，限制性定语从句多半译成汉语的定语，用以修饰原文里的先行词；非限制性定语从句往往译成一个并列分句。上面第二个句子的翻译，可是为典型的例子：

以关系代词who，which，that引导的限制性定语从句译成汉语的定语：

(1)     Students in these schools,however,as well as those in private colleges,must pay tuition,but the state schools are much less expensive than private ones,particularly for students who are residents of the state.

(2)     Would you please take away the magazine which is lying on my desk?

请你把我书桌上的杂志拿走。

(3)     The term “college” refers to an undergraduate institution that confers a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree after four years of study.

    以关系副词when，where，why引导的限制性定语从句也译成汉语的定语：

(4)     I still remember those happy days when we were at college.

我仍然记得我们大学时代的那些幸福时光。

(5)     The hotel where we stayed while in London was both cheap and comfortable.

我们在伦敦时住的那家旅馆既便宜又舒适。

(6)     Tell us the reason why you refuse to cooperate.

告诉我们你拒绝合作的理由。

非限制性定语从句，无论是由关系代词还是由关系副词引导的，一般都译成并列分句，用以补充先行词的信息，如：

(1)     Other governmental activities are the r