翻译真题

In his autobiography, Darwin himself speaks of his intellectual powers with extraordinary modesty. He points out that he always experienced much difficulty in expressing himself clearly and concisely, but (46) he believes that this very difficulty may have had the compensating advantage of forcing him to think long and intently about every sentence, and thus enabling him to detect errors in reasoning and in his own observations. He disclaimed his possession of any great quickness of apprehension or wit, such as distinguished Huxley. (47) He asserted, also, that his power to follow a long and purely abstract train of thought was very limited, for which reason felt certain that he never could have succeeded with mathematics. His memory, too, he described as extensive, but hazy. So poor in one sense was it that he never could remember for more than a few days a single date or a line of poetry. (48) On the other hand, he did not accept as well founded the charge made by some of his critics that, while he was a good observer, he had no power of reasoning. This, he thought, could not be true, because the “Origin of Species” is one long argument from the beginning to the end, and has convinced many able men. No one, he submits, could have written it without possessing some power of reasoning. He was willing to assert that “I have a fair share of invention, and of common sense or judgment, such as every fairly successful lawyer or doctor must have, but not, I believe, in any higher degree.” (49) He adds humbly that perhaps he was "superior to the common run of men in noticing things which easily escape attention, and in observing them carefully."

Writing in the last year of his life, he expressed the opinion that in two or three respects his mind had changed during the preceding twenty or thirty years. Up to the age of thirty or beyond it poetry of many kids gave him great pleasure. Formerly, too, pictures had given him considerable, and music very great, delight. In 1881, however, he said:“Now for many years I cannot endure to read a line of poetry. I have also almost lost my taste for pictures or music.” (50) Darwin was convinced that the loss of these tastes was not only a loss of happiness, but might possibly be injurious to the intellect, and more probably to the moral character.

真题解析
解析：
(46) he believes that this very difficulty may have had the compensating advantage of forcing him to think long and intently about every sentence, and thus enabling him to detect errors in reasoning and in his own observations.
结构分析：
主句// he believes宾语从句//that this very difficulty may have had the compensating advantage of 并列结构//forcing him to think long and intently about every sentence,并列结构 //and thus enabling him to detect errors in reasoning and in his own observations.
词义推敲：
this very difficulty very表示强调，我们可以翻译为“正是这个困难”
compensating advantage 补充的/补偿的优势，
forcing him to 强迫他去
intently 刻意地，专心地，集中地
enabling him to 使他能够
reasoning 推理
参考译文：
达尔文认为正是因为这个困难，促使他对每一个句子进行长时间和针对性的思考，同时也使得他在观察和推理中发现错误。这也就使他具有了别人所不具备的优势。
得分重点：
宾语从句，并列结构，固定短语

(47) He asserted, also, that his power to follow a long and purely abstract train of thought was very limited, for which reason felt certain that he never could have succeeded with mathematics.
结构分析：
主句// He asserted, also, 宾语从句//that his power后置定语/ to follow a long and purely abstract train of thought was very limited, 非限定定语从句//for which reason felt certain 表语从句//that he never could have succeeded with mathematics.
词义推敲：
Asserted 宣称，声称
Follow 理解
Abstract 抽象的，深奥的
train of thought 一连串的思想，思路，思想（固定搭配）
参考译文：
达尔文同时声称，对于冗长而且纯抽象的思想，自己的理解能力并不强。因为这个原因，他相信自己在数学方面根本不会成功。
得分重点：
宾语从句， 定语从句，表语从句

(48) On the other hand, he did not accept as well founded the charge made by some of his critics that, while he was a good observer, he had no power of reasoning.
结构分析：
状语结构//On the other hand, 主句//he did not accept 宾语补足语//as well founded宾语// the charge made by some of his critics 同位语从句//that, 让步状语从句//while he was a good observer, 同位语从句//he had no power of reasoning.
词义推敲：
On the other hand 另一方面
as well founded 这个结构的完整形态应该是“as well founded one(指代charge)，我们翻译“就像那些有根有据的指控一样”。
charge 指控，控诉
critics 批评家，评论家
observer 观测者，观察员
no power of reasoning 缺乏推理的能力
参考译文：
另一方面，虽然有些批评他的人一致认为他善于观察，但不具备推理能力，但是他不同意这种说法。
得分重点：
同位语从句，让步状语从句，宾语补足语

(49) He adds humbly that perhaps he was "superior to the common run of men in noticing things which easily escape attention, and in observing them carefully."
结构分析：
主句// He adds humbly 宾语从句//that perhaps he was “superior to the common run of men 并列结构//in noticing things 定语从句//which easily escape attention, 并列结构//and in observing them carefully.”
词义推敲：
add 增加，补充
humbly 谦虚地，谦恭地
superior to 优越于
the common run of men 普通人，比如：She's different from the common run of students.
她跟一般学生不同。
参考译文：
达尔文很谦虚的补充到，有些事情需要高度的注意力和细心的观察，也许他自己在观察此类事情时比一般人有优势。
得分重点：
宾语从句，定语从句，并列结构

(50) Darwin was convinced that the loss of these tastes was not only a loss of happiness, but might possibly be injurious to the intellect, and more probably to the moral character.
结构分析：
主句//Darwin was convinced宾语从句// that the loss of these tastes was 并列结构//not only a loss of happiness, 并列结构//but（also） might并列结构/ possibly be injurious to the intellect, and more probably并列结构/to the moral character.
词义推敲：
convince 使确信，使信服
the loss of these tastes 失去这些兴趣
a loss of happiness 失去幸福
be injurious to 有害于…
参考译文：
达尔文认为，对(音乐和绘画方面)兴趣的丧失，失去的不仅仅是一种乐趣，而且可能会伤害到智力，更有甚者还可能伤害到道德。
得分重点：
宾语从句, 并列结构

全文译文

在其（指达尔文）自传中，他指出，想要简洁明了地表达自己观点的时候，他总会遇到很大的困难。(46)他相信，正是这种困难或许能够扬长避短，以使他长时间专注地思考每一个句子；因此，使他能在推理和自己的观察中发现自己的缺点。他说他自己反应迟钝，理解力差，就象著名的赫胥黎一样。(47)他还断言，在深入理解冗长且完全抽象的一系列观点上，他的能力受到了局限。有鉴于此，他曾深信自己在数学方面本来就不该获得成功。他还认为自己的记忆杂乱而模糊，从某一个方面来说，甚至是很糟糕，以至于他记住一次约会或者是一行诗歌的话，几天就能忘记。(48)另一方面，批评家指责他尽管善于观察，但却不能推理，对此，他并不接受且认为毫无依据。他认为，这种批评是错误的，因为《物种起源》这本书从头到尾都是长篇大论，却说服了很多有才华的人。他承认，如果不具备推理能力，没有人能够写出这样的书。他愿意说自己是“有我应该具有的发现能力和常识判断能力，正如每一个成功的律师和医生一样；但是，我认为，我的水平不高。”(49)他谦虚地补充道，或许他“和普通人比起来，更能够注意到那些别人容易忽略的细节，更能够对此加以详细地观察”。

在其晚年著作中，他表示，在过去的二三十年中，他的思想在两三个方面发生了变化。到三十岁左右，诗歌带给他极大的快乐。以前，绘画也能给他带来兴致，而音乐能给他无穷的乐趣。然而，他在1881年说：“这几年来，读一行诗，我就受不了。我最近还想要试图读读莎士比亚，可发现，相当乏味，难以忍受到了令人呕吐的程度。我也几乎快要丧失了自己对音乐和绘画的品味了。一般来说，音乐让我更加积极深入地思考目前的工作，而不能给我乐趣。我现在依然能够欣赏美景，但是它却不能象从前一般带给我极大的愉悦。”(50)达尔文认为，失去对音乐和绘画方面的兴趣，不仅失去了幸福，而且还可能损伤智力，甚至可能会伤害道德。