1991年考研英语英译汉翻译真题附答案和解析
日期:2014-05-26 17:05

(单词翻译:单击)

翻译真题

The fact is that the energy crisis,which has suddenly been officially announced,has been with us for a long time now,and will be with us for an even longer time.Whether Arab oil flows freely or not,it is clear to everyone that world industry cannot be allowed to depend on so fragile a base.(71)The supply of oil can be shut off unexpectedly at any time,and in any case,the oil wells will all run dry in thirty years or so at the present rate of use.

(72)New sources of energy must be found,and this will take time,but it is not likely to result in any situation that will ever restore that sense of cheap and plentiful energy we have had in the times past.For an indefinite period from here on,mankind is going to advance cautiously,and consider itself lucky that it can advance at all.

To make the situation worse,there is as yet no sign that any slowing of the world’s population is in sight.Although the birthrate has dropped in some nations,including the United States,the population of the world seems sure to pass six billion and perhaps even seven billion as the twentyfirst century opens.

(73)The food supply will not increase nearly enough to match this,which means that we are heading into a crisis in the matter of producing and marketing food.

Taking all this into account,what might we reasonably estimate supermarkets to be like in the year2001?

To begin with,the world food supply is going to become steadily tighter over the next thirty years—even here in the United States.By2001,the population of the United States will be at least two hundred fifty million and possibly two hundred seventy million,and the nation will find it difficult to expand food production to fill the additional mouths.(74)This will be particularly true since energy pinch will make it difficult to continue agriculture in the highenergy American fashion that makes it possible to combine few farmers with high yields.

It seems almost certain that by2001the United States will no longer be a great foodexporting nation and that,if necessity forces exports,it will be at the price of belttightening at home.

In fact,as food items will end to decline in quality and decrease in variety,there is very likely to be incresing use of flavouring additives.(75)Until such time as mankind has the sense to lower its population to the point where the planet can provide a comfortable support for all,people will have to accept more"unnatural food".


真题解析
解析:
(71)The supply of oil can be shut off unexpectedly at any time,and in any case,the oil wells will all run dry in thirty years or so at the present rate of use.
句子分析:句子的框架是The supply of oil can be shut off…and the oil wells will all run dry…本句由and连接两个单句,表示意思递进;rate这里应译为“速度”。
参考译文 石油供应可能会随时中断;不管怎样,以目前这种消费速度,只需30年左右,所有的油井都会枯竭。

(72)New sources of energy must be found,and this will take time,but it is not likely to result in any situation that will ever restore that sense of cheap and plentiful energy we have had in the times past.
句子分析:句子的框架是New sources of energy must be found,and this will take time,but it is…any situation that will ever restore that sense…we have had…。本句由and引出单句,紧跟前句,意思递进;but引出长句,意思转折,长句中that引出定语从句修饰ituation,定语从句中又有we have had in the times past定语从句修饰先行词sense;本句中结构it is not likely to…译为“没有可能”。
词的处理:“New sources of energy must be found”可以译成“新的能源必须(被)找到”,但给读者的感觉表达得似乎有些“欧化”,而且“必须找到新的能源”就显得自然贴切了许多。
参考译文 我们必须找到新的能源,这需要时间;而过去我们感觉到的那种能源价廉而充足的情况将不可能再出现了。

(73)The food supply will not increase nearly enough to match this,which means that we are heading into a crisis in the matter of producing and marketing food.
句子分析:句子的框架是The food supply will not increase…to match this,which means that we are heading into a crisis…。关系代词which引导非限制性定语从句。其先行词是前面一整句。翻译时译成另一个分句。在这个从句中又包含一个由that引导的名词从句作means的宾语。指示代词this在这儿指代上文的人口增长。
参考译文 食品供应的增加将赶不上人口的增长,这就意味着我们在粮食的生产和购销方面正陷入危机。

(74)This will be particularly true since energy pinch will make it difficult to continue agriculture in the highenergy American fashion that makes it possible to combine few farmers with high yields.
句子分析:句子的框架是This will be particularly true since…。since引导原因状语从句。此从句中又套嵌一个由关系代词that引导的定语从句,修饰the high_energy American fashion。this指代前句中提到的这种困境。energy pinch译为“能源的匮乏”;in…fashion译为“用…方法、方式”。
参考译文 这种困境将是确定无疑的,因为能源的匮乏将使农业很难以高能量消耗这种美国耕种方式继续下去,而这种耕种方式使投入少数农民就可获得高产成为可能。

(75)Until such time as mankind has the sense to lower its population to the point where the planet can provide a comfortable support for all,people will have to accept more“unnatural food”.
结构分析:句子的框架是一个主从复合句Until such time as mankind has…,people will have to accept…。until引导一个时间状语从句,“something happens until a particular time”表示“在某个时间阶段前某事一直发生”。但这个从句里又套两个小从句———一个是as引导的定语从句;另一个是where引导的定语从句。主句是后半部分people will have to accept more…。
词的处理:原文中有三个抽象的名词:sense,point和support和两个抽象的形容词comfortable和unnatural。根据大纲中词汇表提供的解释,sense可指“感觉”、“判断力”,point的意思是“点”,support的意思是“支撑(物)”、“支持(物)”,comfortable是“舒适的”,unnatural是“非自然的”,都是意思十分抽象的词,如果不进行具体化处理,译文就可能是这样:除非人类有这样的感觉,把人口减少到这样的,使地球能为大家提供舒适的支持,否则人们将不得不接受更多的“非自然的食物”。这种没有经过加工的译文不仅别人难理解,译者本人也不一定明白,把抽象的意思具体化其实就是一种深层的理解和有效的表达。
参考译文 除非人类终于意识到要把人口减少到能使地球为所有人提供足够的饮食的程度,否则人们将不得不接受更多的“人造食品”。


全文译文

事实是,虽然官方是突然宣布能源危机的存在,然而长期以来我们一直面临着能源危机,而且这种情况今后将会持续更长的时间。不管阿拉伯的石油能否源源不断地外流,人人都清楚,再也不能让世界工业依赖于如此脆弱的能源基础。(71)石油供应可能随时会被切断;不管怎样,以目前这种消费速度,只需30年左右,所有的油井都会枯竭。

(72)必须找到新的能源,这需要时间;而过去我们感觉到的那种能源廉价而充足的情况将不大可能再出现了。在今后的漫长的时间内,人类将谨慎前进,而它感到幸运的是它确实能够前进。

使目前状况糟糕的是,至今尚无迹象表明,世界人口的增长在近期内会减慢。虽然包括美国在内的一些国家的出生率已经下降,但是在21世纪初世界人口似乎肯定会超过60亿,或许甚至超过70亿。

(73)食品供应的增加将远远赶不上人口的增长,这就意味着我们在粮食的生产和购销方面已陷入危机。

考虑到所有这些因素,我们可以适当地估计一下2001年的超级市场将会是什么样子呢?首先,今后的30年内,世界的食品供应日益紧张,甚至美国这里也不例外。到2001年美国人口将至少达到2亿5千万,也可能是2亿7千万。那时,美国将很难扩大食品生产来满足人口增长的需要。(74)这种困境将是确定无疑的,因为能源的匮乏使农业无法以高能消费这种美国耕作方式继续下去了,而这种耕作方式可以投入少数农民就获得高产。

几乎可以肯定,到2001年美国将再也不是一个食品输出国;如果必须出口的话,那么其代价就是美国国内人民将勒紧裤带。

实际上,由于各种食品往往会质量下降、品种减少,这就有可能更多地使用调味添加物。(75)除非人类终于意识到要把人口减少到这样的程度,使地球能为所有人提供足够的饮食,否则人们将不得不接受更多的“人造食品”。

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重点单词
  • fragileadj. 易碎的,脆的,精细的
  • basen. 基底,基础,底部,基线,基数,(棒球)垒,[化]碱
  • combinev. 结合,联合,使结合 n. 集团,联合企业,联合收割
  • additionaladj. 附加的,另外的
  • certainadj. 确定的,必然的,特定的 pron. 某几个,某
  • populationn. 人口 ,(全体)居民,人数
  • planetn. 行星
  • necessityn. 需要,必需品,必然
  • varietyn. 多样,种类,杂耍
  • headingn. 标题,题目,航向 动词head的现在分词