英语专八翻译真题

2005一个人的生命究竟有多大意义，这有什么标准可以衡量吗？提出一个绝对的标准当然很困难但是，大体上看一个人对待生命的态度是否严肃认真，看他对待劳动、工作等等的态度如何，也就不难对这个人的存在意义做出适当的估计了。古来一切有成就的人，都很严肃地对待自己的生命，当他活着一天，总要尽量多劳动、多工作、多学习，不肯虚度年华，不让时间白白地浪费掉。我国历代的劳动人民及大政治家、大思想家等等都莫不如此。Howsignificantisapersonslife?Isthereanystandardtomeasureit?Itwillbeverydifficulttoputforwardanabsolutestandard,butingeneral,thesignificanceofonesexistencecanbeestimatedbyhowhetreatshislife,bywhatattitudehetakestoworkandwhatwayshechoosestolive.Fromancienttimesuptonow,alltheaccomplishedpeopletreattheirlivesveryseriously.Theyworkand,learnasmuchaspossible.Theyhatetospendthebestoftheirlivesinvain,theydonotwanttolettheirtimeslipby.Allthelaboringpeople,greatstatesmenandthinkersofourcountryatallagestreasuretheirtimeinthisway.原文Itissimpleenoughtosaythatsincebookshaveclassesfiction,biography,poetry—weshouldseparatethemandtakefromeachwhatitisrightthateachshouldgiveus.Yetfewpeopleaskfrombookswhatbookscangiveus.Mostcommonlywecometobookswithblurredanddividedminds,askingoffictionthatitshallbetrue,ofpoetrythatitshallbefalse,ofbiographythatitshallbeflattering,ofhistorythatitshallenforceourownprejudices.Ifwecouldbanishallsuchpreconceptionwhenweread,thatwouldbeanadmirablebeginning.Donotdictatetoyourauthor;trytobecomehim.Behisfellowworkerandaccomplice.Ifyouhangback,andreserveandcriticizeatfirst,youarepreventingyourselffromgettingthefullestpossiblevaluefromwhatyouread.Butifyouopenyourmindaswidelyaspossible,thensignsandhintsofalmostimperceptiblefines,fromthetwistandturnofthefirstsentences,willbringyouintothepresenceofahumanbeingunlikeanyother.Steepyourselfinthis,acquaintyourselfwiththis,andsoonyouwillfindthatyourauthorisgivingyou,orattemptingtogiveyou,somethingfarmoredefinite.英译汉：然而几乎没有什么人会从书中提问：书能给我们什么。最为普遍的是，我们接触书时怀有一种不甚清晰及与其相抵触的想法：要求小说必须是真实的，要求诗歌必须是虚构的，要求传记必须是唱赞歌的，要求历史必须能够增强读者原有的认识。我们读书时若能驱逐所有这些先入之见，读书就会有一个良好的开端。不要规定作家做什么，要设法使自己变成他，变成他的合作者，他的同伙。如果你读书伊始就犹豫不决，持保留态度，或者要进行批评，你就不能从阅读中得到最大益处。如果你能尽量打开思路，那么极细微的美质符号和暗示都会从曲折婉转的语句中显现出来，把你引到一个与众不同的人面前。2003得病以前，我受父母宠爱，在家中横行霸道，一旦隔离，拘禁在花园山坡上一幢小房子里，我顿感打入冷宫，十分郁郁不得志起来。一个春天的傍晚，园中百花怒放，父母在园中设宴，一时宾客云集，笑语四溢。我在山坡的小屋里，悄悄掀起窗帘，窥见园中大千世界，一片繁华，自己的哥姐，堂表弟兄，也穿插其间，个个喜气洋洋。一霎时，一阵被人摒弃，为世所遗的悲愤兜上心头，禁不住痛哭起来。BeforeIfellill,myparentsdotedonmealot.Icouldhavemywayathome.OnceIwasisolatedandconfinedinachamberonthehillsideofthegarden,IsuddenlyfeltIwasneglectedandbecameverydepressed.Onespringevening,myparentsheldaBanquetinthegarden,whereallsortsofflowerswereinfullbloom.Innotime,acrowdoftheirguestscollectedandlaughterwasheardalloverthere.I,withoutbeingnoticed,liftedthecurtaininmysmallroom,onlytospythebustleofakaleidoscopicworlddowninthegarden,andmyeldersisters,brothersandmycousins,eachfullofthejoysofspring,wereshuttlingamongtheguests.Quicklyenough,Iwasthrownintoafistofsorrowfulangeratbeingforgottenanddiscardedbytherestandcouldnothelpcryingmyheartout.E-C原文：Inhisclassicnovel,“ThePioneers”,James,FeminoreCooperhashishero,alanddeveloper,takehiscousinonatourofthecityheisbuilding.Hedescribesthebroadstreets,rowsofhouses,ateemingmetropolis.Buthiscousinlooksaroundbewildered.Allsheseesisaforest,“Wherearethebeautiesandimprovementswhichyouweretoshowme?”sheasks.He'sastonishedshecan'tseethem.“Where!Whyeverywhere,”hereplies.Forthoughtheyarenotyetbuiltonearth,hehasbuilttheminhismind,andtheyareasconcretetohimasiftheywerealreadyconstructedandfinished.CooperwasillustratingadistinctlyAmericantrait,future-mindedness:theabilitytoseethepresentfromthevantagepointofthefuture;thefreedomtofeelunencumberedbythepastandmoreemotionallyattachedtothingstocome.AsAlbertEinsteinoncesaid,“LifefortheAmericanisalwaysbecoming,neverbeing.”译文在其经典小说《开拓者》中，詹姆士•菲尼摩尔•库珀让主人公，一个土地开发商，带他的表妹参观正在由他承建的一座城市。他描述了宽阔的街道，林立的房屋，热闹的都市。他的表妹环顾四周，大惑不解。她所看见的只是一片树林。“你想让我看的那些美景和改造了的地方在哪儿啊?”她问道。他见表妹看不到那些东西，感到很惊讶。“哪儿?到处都是啊!”他答道。虽然那些东西还未建成在大地上，但他已在心中将它们建好了。对他来说，它们都是实实在在的，宛如已建成竣工一样。库珀这里阐明的是一种典型的美国人特性：着眼于未来，即能够从未来的角度看待现在；可以自由地不为过去所羁绊，而在情感上更多地依附于未来的事物。正如阿尔伯特•爱因斯坦曾经说过的那样：“对美国人来说，生活总是在发展变化中，从来不会静止不变。”2004在人际关系问题上我们不要太浪漫主义。人是很有趣的，往往在接触一个人时首先看到的都是他或她的优点。这一点颇像是在餐馆里用餐的经验。开始吃头盘或冷碟的时候，印象很好。吃头两个主菜时，也是赞不绝口。愈吃愈趋于冷静，吃完了这顿筵席，缺点就都找出来了。于是转喜为怒，转赞美为责备挑剔，转首肯为摇头。这是因为，第一，开始吃的时候你正处于饥饿状态，而饿了吃糠甜加蜜，饱了吃蜜也不甜。第二，你初到一个餐馆，开始举筷时有新鲜感，新盖的茅房三天香，这也可以叫做“陌生化效应”。Weshouldn'tbetooromanticabouthumanrelationships.Humanbeingsarefunny.Usually,whentheymeetapersontheywillfirstnoticehisorhermerits.It'sjustliketheexperienceofdinninginarestaurant.Thestarterorcolddishwillleaveyouaverygoodimpression.Youwillbefullofpraisewhileeatingthefirsttwomaincourses.Themoreyoueat,thecalmeryouwillbecome.Attheendofthedinneralltheshortcomingscomeout.Thenhappinessturnstoanger,praisetoscoldingandnitpicking,andheadingnoddingtoheadshaking.Thisisbecause:first,youarehungrywhenyoubegineating.Whenyouarehungry,thebrantastesassweetashoney;whenyouarefull,eventhehoneytastesinsipid.E-C原文：Formethemostinterestingthingaboutasolitarylife,andminehasbeenthatforthelasttwentyyears,isthatitbecomesincreasinglyrewarding.WhenIcanwakeupandwatchthesunriseovertheocean,asIdomostdays,andknowthatIhaveanentiredayahead,uninterrupted,inwhichtowriteafewpages,takeawalkwithmydog,readandlistentomusic,Iamfloodedwithhappiness.IamlonelyonlywhenIamovertired,whenIhaveworkedtoolongwithoutabreak,whenforthetimebeingIfeelemptyandneedfillingup.AndIamlonelysometimeswhenIcomebackhomeafteralecturetrip,whenIhaveseenalotofpeopleandtalkedalot,andamfulltothebrimwithexperiencethatneedstobesortedout.Thenforalittlewhilethehousefeelshugeandempty,andIwonderwheremyselfishiding.Ithastoberecapturedslowlybywateringtheplantsand,perhaps,bylookingagainateachoneasthoughitwereaperson.Ittakesawhile,asIwatchthesurfblowingupinfountains,butthemomentcomeswhentheworldfallsaway,andtheselfemergesagainfromthedeepunconscious,bringbackallIhaverecentlyexperiencedtobeexploredandslowlyunderstood.只有在我过于劳累，在我长时间无间断地工作，在我感到内心空虚，需要填补的时候，我才寂寞。而有时在我巡回演讲后回家时，在我见了许多人，讲了许多话，且经历多得需要清理时，我才寂寞。于是有那么一小会儿感觉房子又大又空，我都不知道我的自我藏在哪儿了。于是我会给植物浇浇水，或者将它们再挨个儿瞅瞅，好像它们是人一样。这样我才慢慢地重新找回自我。好大一会儿，我看着水浪从喷泉中喷涌而出，但只有当世界在我身边逐渐消逝时，那一时刻才会到来，自我又从内心深处的无意识中冒出来，带来我最近的种种经历，让我探究，慢慢领会。1995简.奥斯丁的小说都是三五户人家居家度日，婚恋嫁娶的小事。因此不少中国读者不理解她何以在西方享有那么高的声誉。但一部小说开掘得深不深，艺术和思想是否有过人之处，的确不在题材大小。有人把奥斯丁的作品比作越咀嚼越有味道的橄榄。这不仅因为她的语言精彩，并曾对小说艺术的发展有创造性的贡献，也因为她的轻快活泼的叙述实际上并不那么浅白，那么透明。史密斯夫人说过，女作家常常试图修正现存的价值秩序，改变人们对“重要”和“不重要”的看法。也许奥斯丁的小说能教我们学会转换眼光和角度，明察到“小事”的叙述所涉及的那些不小的问题。However,subjectmatterisindeednotthedecisivefactorbywhichwejudgeanovelofitsdepthaswellas(of)itsartisticappealandideologicalcontent(or:astowhetheranoveldigsdeepornotorwhetheritexcelsinartisticappealandideologicalcontent).SomepeoplecompareAusten'sworkstoolives:themoreyouchewthem,themoretasty(thetastier)theybecome.Thiscomparisonisbasednotonlyon(Thisisnotonlybecauseof)herexpressivelanguageandhercreativecontributiontothedevelopmentofnovelwritingasanart,butalsoon(becauseof)thefactthatwhathidesbehindherlightandlivelynarrativeissomethingimplicitandopaque(notsoexplicitandtransparent).Mrs.Smithonceobserved,womenwritersoftensought(madeattempts)torectifytheexistingvalueconcepts(orders)bychangingpeople'sopinionsonwhatis“important”andwhatisnot.E-C原文I,bycomparison,livinginmyoverpricedcityapartment,walkingtoworkpastputridsacksofstreetgarbage,payingusurioustaxestolocalandstategovernmentsIgenerallyabhor,Iamratedmiddleclass.Thiscausesmetowonder,dothemeasurementmakesense?Arewemeasuringonlythatwhichiseasilymeasuredthenumbersonthemoneychartandignoringvaluesmorecentraltothegoodlife?Formysonsthereisofcoursetheruralbountyoffresh-grownvegetables,line-caughtfishandthesharedrichesofneighbours'orchardsandgardens.Thereistheunpaidb-asbityterforwhosechildrenmydaughter-in-lawbaby-sitsinreturn,andneighbourswhobartertheirskillsandlabour.Butmorethanthat,howdoyoumeasureserenity?Senseifself?Idon'wtanttoidealizelifeinsmallplaces.Therearetimeswhentheoutsideworldintrudesbrutally,aswhenthecostofgasolinegoesupordeveloperscasttheireyesonuntouchedfarmland.Therearecruelties,thereisintolerance,thereareallthemanyvicesandmeannessesinsmallplacesthatexistinlargecities.Furthermore,itishardertoignorethemwhentheycannotbebanishedpsychologicallytoanotherpartoftownorexcusedasthewhimsofaliengroupswhentheyhavetobeacknowledgedas“partofus.”NordoIwanttobelittletheopportunitiesforsmalldecenciesincitiestheeruptionsofone-stranger-to-anothercaringthatalwayssurpriseanddelight.Buttheseare,sadly,moreexceptionsthanrulesandareoftenoverwhelmedbytheawfulcorruptionsanddangersthatsurroundus.答案对我的几个儿子来说，乡村当然有充足的新鲜蔬菜，垂钓来的鱼，邻里菜园和果园里可供分享的丰盛瓜果。乡下有不用付报酬便可请来照看孩子的邻居，作为回报，我儿媳也帮着照看其孩子。乡邻之间互相交换技能和劳动。但比之更重要的是，你如何来衡量那静谧与安详？如何来衡量自我价值呢？我无意将小地方的生活理想化。因为有时外面的世界会无情地侵入：比如汽油价格上涨，开发商把眼睛盯住尚未开发的农田；那里充斥着凶残和偏狭，大城市的种种卑劣行径，小地方也一应俱全。不仅如此，当人们无法自欺欺人地硬把那些丑恶现象想象成只是小地方的一小部分或将它们解释为异乡人的为所欲为，而又不得不承认这一切是我们的一部分时，就更难以忽视它们。1996近读报纸，对国内名片和请柬的议论颇多，于是想起客居巴黎时经常见到的法国人手中的名片和请柬，随笔记下来，似乎不无借鉴之处。在巴黎，名目繁多的酒会，冷餐会是广交朋友的好机会。在这种场合陌生人相识，如果是亚洲人，他们往往开口之前先毕恭毕敬地用双手把自己的名片呈递给对方，这好像是不可缺少的礼节。然而，法国人一般却都不大主动递送名片，双方见面寒暄几句，甚至海阔天空地聊一番也就各自走开，只有当双方谈话投机，希望继续交往时，才会主动掏出名片。二话不说先递名片反倒显得有些勉强。参考译文：InParis,cocktailpartiesandbuffetreceptionsofdifferentkindsoffergreatopportunitiesformakingfriends.Onsuchoccasions,strangersmaygettoknoweachother.IftheyareAsians,theywill,veryrespectfullyandwithbothhands,presenttheircallingcardstotheirinterlocutorsbeforeanyconversationstarts.Thisseemstobetherequiredcourtesyontheirpart.TheFrench,however,usuallyarenotsoreadywithsuchaformality.Bothsideswillgreeteachother,andevenchatcasuallyaboutanytopicandthenexcusethemselves.Onlywhentheyfindtheylikeeachotherandhopetofurthertherelationshipwilltheyexchangecards.Itwillseemveryunnaturaltodosobeforeanyrealconversationgetsunderway.E-C原文：Itshouldhavebeeneasy.Theywerebattle-testedveteranswithlongtiestoReaganandevenlongertiestotheRepublicanparty,menwhounderstoodpresidentialpoliticsaswellasanyinthecountry.Thebackdropofthecampaignwashospitable,withlotsofgoodnewstoworkwith:Americawasatpeace,andthenation'seconomy,akeyfactorinanyelection,wasreboundingvigorouslyafterrecession.Furthermore,thecampaignitselfwaslavishlyfinanced,withplentyofmoneyforatop-flightstaff,travel,andtelevisioncommercials.And,mostimportant,theircandidatewasRonaldReagan,apresidentoftremendouspersonalpopularityanddazzlingcommunicationskills.ReaganhassucceedmorethananypresidentsinceJohnF.KennedyinprojectingabroadvisionofAmericaanationofrenewedmilitarystrength,individualinitiative,andsmallerfederalgovernment.参考译文：这应该不是件难事。这都是些跟着里根多年、久经沙场的老将，他们跟共和党则有更深厚的渊源，是这个国家里最熟悉总统政治的人。竞选的背景也很有利，也很多好消息可供炒作。例如，美国上下一片和平，美国经济这一竞选要素也在经过一段时间的衰退之后开始强劲反弹。此外，这次竞选本身得到了慷慨资助，因此有充裕的资用于组织一流的竞选班子、支付巡回演讲和电视广告的费用。而最重要的一点是，他们的候选人是罗纳德•里根，他可是位极具个人魅力和沟通技巧的总统。自约翰・F•肯尼迪总统以来，里根是最成功地勾勒出美国蓝图的总统：一个军事力量复兴、富有个人进取心、联邦政府得以精简的国家。1997C-E原文：来美国求学的中国学生与其他亚裔学生一样，大多非常刻苦勤奋，周末也往往会抽出一天甚至两天的时间去实验室加班，因而比起美国学生来，成果出得较多。我的导师是亚裔人，嗜烟好酒，脾气暴躁。但他十分欣赏亚裔学生勤奋与扎实的基础知识，也特别了解亚裔学生的心理。因此，在他实验室所招的学生中，除有一名来自德国外，其余5位均是亚裔学生。他干脆在实验室的门上贴一醒目招牌：“本室助研必须每周工作7天，早10时至晚12时，工作时间必须全力以赴。”这位导师的严格及苛刻是全校有名的，在我所呆的3年半中，共有14位学生被招进他的实验室，最后博士毕业的只剩下5人。1990年夏天，我不顾别人劝阻，硬着头皮接受了导师的资助，从此开始了艰难的求学旅程。参考译文：LikestudentsfromotherAsiancountriesandregions,mostChinesestudentswhocometopursuetheirfurthereducationintheUnitedStatesworkontheirstudiesmostdiligentlyandassiduously.Evenonweekends,theywouldfrequentlyspendoneday,oreventwodays,toworkovertimeintheirlaboratories.Therefore,comparedwiththeirAmericancounterparts,theyaremoreacademicallyfruitful.MysupervisorisofAsianorigin.Heisaddictedtoalcoholsandcigarettes,withasharp/irritabletemper.Nevertheless,hehighlyappreciatestheindustryandthesolidfoundationalknowledgeofAsianstudentsandhasaparticularlykeeninsightintowhatAsianstudentshaveontheirmind.Hence,ofallthestudentsrecruitedintohislaboratory,exceptforoneGerman,theotherfivewereallfromAsia.Heevenputaneye-catchingnoticeonthedoorofhislab,whichread,“Alltheresearchassistantsofthislaboratoryarerequiredtowork7daysaweek,from10:00a.m.to12:00p.m..Nothingbutworkduringtheworkinghours.”Thissupervisorisreputedontheentirecampusforhisseverityandharshness.Duringthe3andahalfyearsthatIstayedthere,atotalof14studentswererecruitedintohislaboratoryandonly5ofthemstayeduntiltheygraduatedwiththeirPh.D.degrees.Inthesummerof1990,ignoringthedissuasionsfromothers,Iacceptedmysupervisor'sponsorshipandembarkedonmydifficultjourneyofacademicpursuit.E-C原文：Operaisexpensive:thatmuchisinevitable.Butexpensivethingsarenotinevitablytheprovinceoftherichunlessweabdicatesociety'spowerofchoice.Wecanchoosetomakeopera,andotherexpensiveformsofculture,accessibletothosewhocannotindividuallypayforit.Thequestionis:whyshouldwe?Nobodydeniestheimperativesoffood,shelter,defence,healthandeducation.Buteveninaprehistoriccave,mankindstretchedoutahandnotjusttoeat,drinkorfight,butalsotodraw.Theimpulsetowardsculture,thedesiretoexpressandexploretheworldthroughimaginationandrepresentationisfundamental.InEurope,thisdesirehasfoundfulfillmentinthemasterpiecesofourmusic,art,literatureandtheatre.Thesemasterpiecesarethetouchstonesforallourefforts;theyarethetouchstonesforthepossibilitiestowhichhumanthoughtandimaginationmayaspire;theycarrythemostprofoundmessagesthatcanbesentfromonehumantoanother.参考译文：聆听歌剧，无疑昂贵至极。但是，昂贵的事物并非必定属于富人的范畴，除非我们放弃社会的选择权。我们可以选择去使歌剧以及其他某些昂贵的文化形式也能为那些不具备个人支付能力的人所享受。但问题是，我们有必要这么做吗？没人会否认食物、居所、防护、健康与教育的不可或缺性。但即便是在史前时代的洞穴中，人类伸出手来，早就不单纯是为了吃、喝或搏杀，而且亦进行绘画创作。人类对于文化的冲动，通过形象思维和再现手段来表现并探索世界的欲望，乃亘古有之。在欧洲，这一欲望在我们的音乐、艺术、文学和戏剧杰作中寻找到了其实现形式。这些杰作构成了我们全部努力的试金石。作为试金石，它们能衡量出人类的思想和想象力所可能企及的程度。它们携带着最寓意深刻的主题，可在人类彼此间相互传递。1998C-E原文：这次到台湾访问交流，虽然行程匆匆，但是，看了不少地方，访了旧友，交了新知，大家走到一起，谈论的一个重要话题就是中华民族在21世纪的强盛。虽然祖国大陆、台湾的青年生活在不同的社会环境中，有着各自不同的生活经历，但大家的内心都深深铭刻着中华文化优秀传统的印记，都拥有着振兴中华民族的共同理想。在世纪之交的伟大时代，我们的祖国正在走向繁荣富强，海峡两岸人民也将加强交流，共同推进祖国统一大业的早日完成。世纪之交的宝贵机遇和巨大挑战将青年推到了历史前台。跨世纪青年一代应该用什么样的姿态迎接充满希望的新世纪，这是我们必须回答的问题。日月潭水波不兴，仿佛与我一同在思索„„参考译文：ThecurrentvisittoTaiwanforexchange,briefandcursoryasitis,hasenabledustoseemanyplaces,tovisitoldfriendswhilemakingnewacquaintances.Wheneverpeoplegathertogether,animportanttopicofdiscussionhasbeenhowtheChinesenationcanbecomeprosperousandpowerfulinthe21stcentury.AlthoughtheyoungpeopleontheMainlandandinTaiwanliveindifferentsocialcontexts(environments/milieus),withtheirindividuallydifferentexperiencesoflife,intheinnermostrecessesoftheirheartsarewroughtanindeliblemarkbythefinetraditionsoftheChineseculture.TheyallcherishthesameidealtorejuvenatetheChinesenation(TheysharethesameidealtorejuvenatetheChinesenation).Inthisgreatepochattheturnofthecentury,ourmotherlandisdevelopingtowardgreaterprosperityandpowerfulness.PeopleacrosstheTaiwanStraitsareboundtostrengthentheirexchangesandwillmutuallypromotetheearliestpossibleachievementofthegreatcauseofreunificationofthemotherland.Thepreciousopportunitiesandthetremendouschallengesattheturnofthecenturyhavepushedtheyoungpeopletotheforeground(forefront)ofthehistoricalarena(stage).Atthistransitionalphasebetweenthetwomillennia,inwhatwaytheyounggenerationshouldembracetheforthcomingnewcenturyrepletewithhopesisaquestiontowhichwehavetoseekananswer.E-C原文：TospeakofAmericanliterature,then,isnottoassertthatitiscompletelyunlikethatofEurope.Broadlyspeaking,AmericaandEuropehavekeptstep.Atanygivenmomentthetravelercouldfindexamplesinbothofthesamearchitecture,thesamestylesindress,thesamebooksontheshelves.IdeashavecrossedtheAtlanticasfreelyasmenandmerchandise,thoughsometimesmoreslowly.WhenIrefertoAmericanhabit,thoughts,etc.,Iintendsomesortofqualificationtoprecedetheword,forfrequentlythedifferencebetweenAmericaandEurope(especiallyEngland)willbeoneofdegree,sometimesonlyofasmalldegree.Theamountofdivergenceisasubtleaffair,liabletoperplextheEnglishmanwhenhelooksatAmerica.Heislookingatacountrywhichinimportantsensesgrewoutofhisown,whichinseveralwaysstillresembleshisown—andwhichisyetaforeigncountry.Thereareoddoverlappingsandabruptunfamiliarities;kinshipyieldstoasuddenalienation,aswhenwehailapersonacrossthestreet,onlytodiscoverfromhisblankresponsethatwehavemistakenastrangerforafriend.参考译文：那么，要谈论美国文学，倒并非意欲断言，它与欧洲文学全然大相径庭。广而言之，美国与欧洲一直同步发展，协调一致。在任何一个特定的时刻，旅行者在两地均能目睹同一样式的建筑实例，相同款式的服饰，书架上相同的书籍。在大西洋两岸，思想如同人员与货物往来一样自由交流，尽管有时会略显迟缓。当我提及美国式的习惯、思想等概念时，我意欲在“美国式的”这一词汇之前加上某种限定，因为欧美(尤其是英美)之间的差异往往只是程度上的差异而已，并且有时候仅仅只是微乎其微的一点程度差异而已。差异的多寡是件极为微妙的事务，这极容易使一个英国人在审视美国时大惑不解。他所审视的那个国家，从某些重要的意义上来说，诞生于他自己的国家，并在某些方面仍与他自己的国家相差无几——然而，它却实实在在是一个异邦。两者间存在着某些古怪的交替重迭，以及令人甚感突兀的陌生感；亲缘关系已让位于一种突如其来的异化与疏远，这种情景仿佛就像我们隔着马路向另一个人打招呼，结果却从这个人漠无表情的反应中发现，我们原来竟将一个陌生人误认为我们的熟人。1999C-E原文：加拿大的温哥华1986年刚刚度过百岁生日，但城市的发展令世界瞩目。以港立市，以港兴市，是许多港口城市生存发展的道路。经过百年开发建设，有着天然不冻良港的温哥华，成为举世闻名的港口城市，同亚洲、大洋洲、欧洲、拉丁美洲均有定期班轮，年货物吞吐量达到8，000万吨，全市就业人口中有三分之一从事贸易与运输行业。温哥华(Vancouver)的辉煌是温哥华人智慧和勤奋的结晶，其中包括多民族的贡献。加拿大地广人稀，国土面积比中国还大，人口却不足3000万。吸收外来移民，是加拿大长期奉行的国策。可以说，加拿大除了印第安人外，无一不是外来移民，不同的只是时间长短而已。温哥华则更是世界上屈指可数的多民族城市。现今180万温哥华居民中，有一半不是在本地出生的，每4个居民中就有一个是亚洲人。而25万华人对温哥华的经济转型起着决定性的作用。他们其中有一半是近5年才来到温哥华地区的，使温哥华成为亚洲以外最大的中国人聚居地。参考译文：ThegloryofVancouverhasbeenachievedthroughthewisdomandtheindustryoftheVancouverpeople,includingthecontributionsofmanyethnicgroups.Canada,sparselypopulated,hasaterritorylargerthanthatofChina,butitspopulationisonlylessthan30million.Consequently,toattractingimmigrantsfromothercountrieshasbecomeanationalpolicylongpracticed/followed/cherishedbyCanada.AllCanadiansexcepttheAmericanIndians,sotospeak,areforeignimmigrants,differingonlyinthelengthoftimetheyhavesettledinCanada.Vancouver,inparticular,isoneofthefewmostcelebratedmulti-ethniccitiesintheworld.Amongthe1.8millionVancouverresidents,halfofthemarenon-nativesandoneoutofeveryfourresidentsisfromAsia.The250,000ChinesetherehaveplayedadecisiveroleinthetransformationofVancouver'seconomy.HalfofthemhavecometosettleinVancouveroverthepastfiveyearsonly,renderingVancouverthelargestareaoutsideAsiawheretheChineseinhabit.E-C原文：Insomesocietiespeoplewantchildrenforwhatmightbecalledfamilialreasons:toextendthefamilylineorthefamilyname,topropitiatetheancestors;toenabletheproperfunctioningofreligiousritualsinvolvingthefamily.Suchreasonsmayseemthininthemodern,secularizedsocietybuttheyhavebeenandarepowerfulindeedinotherplaces.Inaddition,oneclassoffamilyreasonssharesaborderwiththefollowingcategory,namely,havingchildreninordertomaintainorimproveamarriage:toholdthehusbandoroccupythewife;torepairorrejuvenatethemarriage;toincreasethenumberofchildrenontheassumptionthatfamilyhappinessliesthatway.Thepointisunderlinedbyitsconverse:insomesocietiesthefailuretobearchildren(ormales)isathreattothemarriageandareadycausefordivorce.Beyondallthatistheprofoundsignificanceofchildrentotheveryinstitutionofthefamilyitself.Tomanypeople,husbandandwifealonedonotseemaproperfamily—theyneedchildrentoenrichthecircle,tovalidateitsfamilycharacter,togathertheredemptiveinfluenceofoffspring.Childrenneedthefamily,butthefamilyseemsalsotoneedchildren,asthesocialinstitutionuniquelyavailable,atleastinprinciple,forsecurity,comfort,assurance,anddirectioninachanging,oftenhostile,world.Tomostpeople,suchahomebase,intheliteralsense,needsmorethanonepersonforsustenanceandingenerationalextension.参考译文：在某些社会中，人们希望拥有孩子是出于所谓的家庭原因：传宗接代，光宗耀祖，讨好祖辈，使那些涉及到家庭的宗教仪式得以正常进行。此类原因在现代世俗化的社会中似显苍白，但它们在其他地方曾一度构成并确实仍在构成强有力的理由。此外，有一类家庭原因与下列类别不无共通之处，这便是：生儿育女是为了维系或改善婚姻：能拴住丈夫或者使妻子不致于无所事事；修复或重振婚姻；多子多孙，以为家庭幸福惟有此法。这一点更可以由其反面得到昭示：在某些社会中，无法生儿育女(或无法生育男孩)对婚姻而言是一种威胁，还可作为离婚的现成借口。后代对于家庭这一体制本身所具有的深远意义远非如此。对许多人来说，夫妻两人尚不足以构成一个真正意义上的家庭——夫妻需要孩子来丰富其两人小天地，赋予该小天地以真正意义上的家庭性质，并从子孙后代身上获取某种回报。孩子需要家庭，但家庭似乎也需要孩子。家庭作为一种社会机构，以其特有的方式，至少从原则上说，可在一个变幻莫测、常常是充满敌意的世界中让人从中获取某种安全、慰藉、保障，以及价值取向。2000年英语专业八级考试--翻译部分参考译文C-E原文：中国科技馆的诞生来之不易。与国际著名科技馆和其他博物馆相比，它先天有些不足，后天也常缺乏营养，但是它成长的步伐却是坚实而有力的。它在国际上已被公认为后起之秀。世界上第一代博物馆属于自然博物馆，它是通过化石、标本等向人们介绍地球和各种生物的演化历史。第二代属于工业技术博物馆，它所展示的是工业文明带来的各种阶段性结果。这两代博物馆虽然起到了传播科学知识的作用，但是，它们把参观者当成了被动的旁观者。世界上第三代博物馆是充满全新理念的博物馆。在这里，观众可以自己去动手操作，自己细心体察。这样，他们可以更贴近先进的科学技术，去探索科学技术的奥妙。中国科技馆正是这样的博物馆!它汲取了国际上一些著名博物馆的长处，设计制作了力学、光学、电学、热学、声学、生物学等展品，展示了科学的原理和先进的科技成果。参考译文Thefirst-generationmuseumsintheworldaremuseumsofnaturalhistory.Withfossilsandspecimenstheyintroducetopeopletheevolutionoftheearthandvariouslivingorganismsonit.Thesecond-generationmuseumsarethoseofindustrialtechnology.Fruitsofvariousstagesofindustrialcivilizationareondisplayhere.Althoughthesetwogenerationsofmuslinshaveplayedtheroleofspreadingscientificknowledge,theyregardvisitorsaspassivespectators.Theworld'sthird-generationmuseumsarefullofcompletelynewconcepts.Herevisitorscancarryoutoperationsandcarefulobservationsthemselves.Inthiswaytheycomeclosertoadvancedachievementsinscienceandtechnologysoastoprobeintotheirmystery.E-C原文Ifpeoplemeananythingatallbytheexpression“untimelydeath”,theymustbelievethatsomedeathsnmonabetterschedulethanothers.Deathinoldageisrarelycalleduntimely—alonglifeisthoughttobeafullone.Butwiththepassingofayoungperson,oneassumesthatthebestyearslayaheadandthemeasureofthatlifewasstilltobetaken.Historydeniesthis,ofcourse.Amongprominentsummerdeaths,onerecallsthoseofMariLarryMonroeandJamesDeans,whoselivesseemedequallybriefandcomplete.WriterscannotbearthefactthatpoetJohnKeatsdiedat26,andonlyhalfplayfullyjudgetheirownlivesasfailureswhentheypassthatyear.Theideathatthelifecutshortisunfulfilledisillogicalbecauselivesaremeasuredbytheimpressionstheyleaveontheworldandbytheirintensityandvirtue.参考译文提起英年“早逝”，人们或有所指。人们定会相信有些人死亡的时刻更为适宜。寿终正寝极少称为“早逝”。长寿即意味着生命之完整。但英年早逝常令人感到逝者美好时光尚未到来，一生之评说尚未做出。然而，历史却否认这点,提起杰出的早逝者，人们定会亿起玛丽莲•梦露和詹姆士•迪恩。两人生命短暂，却完美无缺。诗人约翰•济慈26岁与世长辞，作家们对此难以接受。而他们自己过了26岁时却只能半开玩笑地认为今生今世无所作为。生命短暂即未成果这—观念荒谬无理。生命的价值取决于它留给世界的印象、它的贡献及它的美德。2001年英语专业八级考试--翻译部分参考译文C-E原文乔羽的歌大家都熟悉。但他另外两大爱好却鲜为人知，那就是钓鱼和喝酒。晚年的乔羽喜爱垂钓，他说，“有水有鱼的地方大都是有好环境的，好环境便会给人好心情。我认为最好的钓鱼场所不是舒适的、给你准备好饿鱼的垂钓园，而是那极其有吸引力的大自然野外天成的场所。”钓鱼是一项能够陶冶性情的运动，有益于身心健康。乔羽说：“钓鱼可分三个阶段：第一阶段是吃鱼；第二阶段是吃鱼和情趣兼而有之；第三阶段主要是钓趣，面对一池碧水，将忧心烦恼全都抛在一边，使自己的身心得到充分休息。”参考译文：Inhislateryears(Lateinhislife),QiaoYuhasbecomeenamoredoffishing(developedapenchant/specialfondnessforfishing).Heasserts:“Mostlyspeaking,aplacewithwaterandfishmustnecessarilybeblessedwithanicesetting,whichinreturnkeepspeopleingoodmood.Ibelievethattheoptimumfishingplacesarenotthosecommercialfishingcenterswhichprovidethefishermenwithalltheconveniencesandwherefisharekepthungryforreadycapture,butthosenaturally-formedplacesinthewildernesswhichexertaspecialappeal.”Accordigntohim,fishingcanconstituteanactivityconducivetothecultivationofone'stemperamentandtoone'shealth,atoncephysicalandpsychological.QiaoYuclaims:“Fishingcanbedividedintothreestages.Thefirststageconsistsofmerefish-eating;thesecondacombinationoffish-eatingandthepleasure(enjoyment)offishing;thethirdprimarilythepleasureoffishingwhen,confrontedwithapondofclearwater,oneputsasideallhistroublingvexationsandannoyancesandenjoysthetotalrelaxationbothmentallyandphysically.”E-C原文：PossessionforitsownsakeorincompetitionwiththerestoftheneighborhoodwouldhavebeenThoreau'sideaofthelowlevels.Theactivedisciplineofheighteningone'sperceptionofwhatisenduringinnaturewouldhavebeenhisideaofthehigh.Whathesavedfromthelowwastimeandefforthecouldspendonthehigh.Thoreaucertainlydisapprovedofstarvation,buthewouldputintofeedinghimselfonlyasmucheffortaswouldkeephimfunctioningformoreimportantefforts.Effortisthegistofit.Thereisnohappinessexceptaswetakeonlife-engagingdifficulties.Shortoftheimpossible,asYeatsputit,thesatisfactionwegetfromalifetimedependsonhowhighwechooseourdifficulties.RobertFrostwasthinkinginsomethinglikethesametermswhenhespokeof“Thepleasureoftakingpains”.Themortalflawintheadvertisedversionofhappinessisinthefactthatitpurportstobeeffortless.Wedemanddifficultyeveninourgames.Wedemanditbecausewithoutdifficultytherecanbenogame.Agameisawayofmakingsomethinghardforthefunofit.Therulesofthegameareanarbitraryimpositionofdifficulty.Whensomeoneruinsthefun,healwaysdoessobyrefusingtoplaybytherules.Itiseasiertowinatchessifyouarefree,atyourpleasure,tochangethewhollyarbitraryrules,butthefunisinwinningwithintherules.Nodifficulty,nofun.参考译文：梭罗所理解的“低层次”，即为了拥有而去拥有，或与所有的邻居明争暗斗而致拥有。他心目中的“高层次”，则是这样一种积极的人生戒律，即要使自己对自然界永恒之物的感悟臻于完美。对于他从低层次上节省下来的时间和精力，他可将其致力于对高层次的追求。勿庸置疑，梭罗不赞成忍饥挨饿，但他在膳食方面所投入的精力仅果腹而已，只要可确保他能去从事更为重要的事务，他便别无所求。殚精竭虑，全力以赴，便是其精髓所在。除非我们愿意直面那些需要我们全身心投入的艰难困苦，否则便不会有幸福可言。正如叶芝所言，除却某些不可能的情形，我们于人生中所获取的满足皆取决于我们在多高的境界中选择我们所愿意面对的艰难困苦。当罗伯特•弗罗斯特言及“以苦为乐”时，他内心所思，大体如此。商业广告中所宣扬的那种幸福观，其致命的缺陷就在于这样一个事实，即它宣称，一切幸福皆唾手可得，不费吹灰之力。即便于游戏之中，我们也需要有艰难困苦。我们之所以需要它，因为设若没有困难，便断无游戏可言。游戏即是这样一种方式，为了享受其中的情趣而人为地使事情变得不那么轻而易举。游戏中的种种规则，便是将困难武断地强加于人。当有人将情趣摧毁殆尽时，他总是因为拒不按游戏规则行事而使然。这犹如下棋；如果你随心所欲、心血来潮地去更改那些全然武断的游戏规则，这样去赢棋当然会更加容易。但下棋的情趣则在于，应在规则的限定范围内赢取胜利。一言以蔽之，没有艰难，断无情趣。2002年英语专业八级考试--翻译部分参考译文Theword“winner”and“loser”havemanymeanings.Whenwerefertoapersonasawinner,wedonotmeanonewhomakessomeoneelselose.Tous,awinnerisonewhorespondsauthenticallybybeingcredible,trustworthy,responsive,andgenuine,bothasanindividualandasamemberofasociety.Winnersdonotdedicatetheirlivestoaconceptofwhattheyimaginetheyshouldbe:rather,theyarethemselvesandassuchdonotusetheirenergyputtingonaperformance,maintainingpretence,andmanipulatingothers.Theyareawarethatthereisadifferencebetweenbeinglovingandactingloving,betweenbeingstupidandactingstupid,betweenbeingknowledgeableandactingknowledgeable.Winnersdonotneedtohidebehindamask.Winnersarenotafraidtodotheirownthinkingandtousetheirownknowledge.Theycanseparatefactsfromopinionsanddon'ptretendtohavealltheanswers.Theylistentoothers,evaluatewhattheysay,butcometotheirownconclusions.Althoughwinnerscanadoreandrespectotherpeople,theyarenottotallydefined,demolished,bound,orawedbythem.Winnersdonotplay“helpless”n,ordotheyplaytheblaminggame.Insteadt,heyassumeresponsibilityfortheirownlives.参考译文：成功者不会毕生致力于这样一种概念：即想象自己应该成为何种人。相反，他们即他们自己。因此，他们不会费神去装腔作势，故作姿态，摆布他人。他们明白：爱与装爱，傻与装傻，知与装知、真正博学与假装博学之间是有区别的。成功者无须躲在面具后面。成功者敢于独立思考，敢于运用自己的知识。他们能够把事实从纷繁的意见中剥离出来，而又不会假装无所不知。他们倾听他人的意见，品评他人的言论，却能得出自己的结论。虽然胜利者也钦佩他人，尊敬他人，但是，他们不会完全被他人所规定、所摧垮、所束缚，所吓倒。成功者不会假装无助，也不会怨天尤人，相反，他们承担起自己生命的责任。c-e大自然对人的恩赐，无论贫富，一律平等。所以人们对于大自然，全都一直并深深地依赖着。尤其在乡间，上千年来人们一直以不变的方式生活着。种植庄稼和葡萄，酿酒和饮酒，喂牛和挤奶，除草和栽花；在周末去教堂祈祷和做礼拜，在节日到广场拉琴、跳舞和唱歌；往日的田园依旧是今日的温馨家园。这样，每个地方都有自己的传说，风俗也就衍传了下来。参考译文：Thebountyofnatureisequaltoeveryone,richorpoor,andthereforeallmenarestronglyattachedtoher.Thisisparticularlytrueintheruralareas,wherepeoplehavekeptthesamelifestyleforamillenniumorso.Theyplantcropsandgrapevines,brewwinetodrink,feedcowstomilk,andweedgardenstogrowflowers.Theygotochurchatweekends,andtheymee