2007年全国研究生入学考试已经落下帷幕,综观本次考试,至少有两点非常出乎人们的预料:
首先是考研翻译,竟然原封不动地采用了在2005年考研英语试题中开始发给北京地区考生旋即又被替换掉的一套试题,该试题因为仿真性很高,被一些考研辅导资料收录并在很多网站上广为流传。笔者曾经在一个考研冲刺班上作为练习让学生做过并且详细的讲解过:
Directions:
Read the following text carefully and then translate the underlined segments into Chinese. Your translation should be written clearly on ANSWER SHEET 2. (10 points)
The study of law has been recognized for centuries as a basic intellectual discipline in European universities. However, only in recent years has it become a feature of undergraduate programs in Canadian universities. (46) Traditionally, legal learning has been viewed in such institutions as the special preserve of lawyers, rather than a necessary part of the intellectual equipment of an educated person. Happily, the older and more continental view of legal education is establishing itself in a number of Canadian universities and some have even begun to offer undergraduate degrees in law.
If the study of law is beginning to establish itself as part and parcel of a general education, its aims and methods should appeal directly to journalism educators. Law is a discipline which encourages responsible judgment. On the one hand, it provides opportunities to analyze such ideas as justice, democracy and freedom. (47) On the other, it links these concepts to everyday realities in a manner which is parallel to the links journalists forge on a daily basis as they cover and comment on the news. For example, notions of evidence and fact, of basic rights and public interest are at work in the process of journalistic judgment and production just as in courts of law. Sharpening judgment by absorbing and reflecting on law is a desirable component of a journalist’s intellectual preparation for his or her career.
(48) But the idea that the journalist must understand the law more profoundly than an ordinary citizen rests on an understanding of the established conventions and special responsibilities of the news media. Politics or, more broadly, the functioning of the state, is a major subject for journalists. The better informed they are about the way the state works, the better their reporting will be. (49) In fact, it is difficult to see how journalists who do not have a clear grasp of the basic features of the Canadian Constitution can do a competent job on political stories.
Furthermore, the legal system and the events which occur within it are primary subjects for journalists. While the quality of legal journalism varies greatly, there is an undue reliance amongst many journalists on interpretations supplied to them by lawyers. (50) While comment and reaction from lawyers may enhance stories, it is preferable for journalists to rely on their own notions of significance and make their own judgments. These can only come from a well-grounded understanding of the legal system.
具体分析如下:
[翻译题解]
46. Traditionally, legal learning has been viewed in such institutions as the special preserve of lawyers, rather than a necessary part of the intellectual equipment of an educated person.
[分析]1. 句子分段: Traditionally, legal learning has been viewed in such institutions ‖ as the special preserve of lawyers, ‖ rather than a necessary part of the intellectual equipment of an educated person.
2. 句子结构: 1) 主干结构:简单句legal learning has been viewed as...rather than...;2) view...as中间插入介词词组in such institutions作状语,该词组的含义要到前一句话中去找,指的是“Canadian universities”。
3. 词的处理: institution机构;special preserve专门的工作;intellectual equipment知识素养;educated受过良好教育的
[译文]传统上,在加拿大的高等学府里,学习法律一直被看作是律师的专门工作,而不是一个受过良好教育的人所必须具备的知识素养。
47. On the other, it links these concepts to everyday realities in a manner which is parallel to the links journalists forge on a daily basis as they cover and comment on the news.
[分析]1. 句子分段: On the other, it links these concepts to everyday realities in a manner ‖ which is parallel to the links ‖ journalists forge on a daily basis ‖ as they cover and comment on the news.
2. 句子结构: 1) 主语+谓语+which引导的定语从句+省略引导词的定语从句+as引导的状语从句;2) these concepts的含义也要到前边的句子中去找,指的是前面提到的justice, democracy and freedom;3) which引导的定语从句which is...the news修饰manner,其中包含了定语从句journalists...daily basis,修饰links以及as引导的状语从句。
3. 词的处理: concept观念;everyday reality日常生活中的实际情况;in a...manner以……方式;parallel类似的,相似的;forge使形成;on a basis以……为基础;cover报道
[译文]另一方面,法律又将正义、民主和自由这些观念与日常生活中的实际联系在一起,其方式就如同新闻工作者在报道和评论新闻事件时,以日常生活为基础,使这些观念与实际情况相结合一样。
48. But the idea that the journalist must understand the law more profoundly than an ordinary citizen rests on an understanding of the established conventions and special responsibilities of the news media.
[分析]1. 句子分段: But the idea ‖ that the journalist must understand the law more profoundly than an ordinary citizen ‖ rests on an understanding of the established conventions and special responsibilities of the news media.
2. 句子结构: 1) 主语+that引导的同位语从句+谓语(rest on)+宾语(an understanding of...);2) the established conventions和special responsibilities均修饰news media。
3. 词的处理: profoundly深刻地;rest on建立在……之上,以……为基础或根据;understanding理解,共识;established既定的,确认的;convention规范;news media新闻媒体
[译文]但是,新闻工作者对于法律的理解应该比普通公民更加深刻,这个观点是在对于新闻媒体的既定规范和特殊的社会责任有深刻认识的基础之上建立的。
49. In fact, it is difficult to see how journalists who do not have a clear grasp of the basic features of the Canadian Constitution can do a competent job on political stories.
[分析]1. 句子分段: In fact, it is difficult to see ‖ how journalists ‖ who do not have a clear grasp of the basic features of the Canadian Constitution ‖ can do a competent job on political stories.
2. 句子结构: 1) 形式主语it+表语+真实主语how...political stories;2) 真实主语是how引导的从句,该从句的主语是journalists,谓语部分是can do...;who引导的定语从句修饰journalists。
3. 词的处理: see设想,想象;grasp领会,理解;basic feature基本特点;competent令人满意的;story新闻报道
[译文]实际上,很难想象那些对于加拿大宪法的基本特点缺乏清晰了解的新闻工作者能够胜任政治新闻报道的工作。
50. While comment and reaction from lawyers may enhance stories, it is preferable for journalists to rely on their own notions of significance and make their own judgments.
[分析]1. 句子分段:While comment and reaction from lawyers ‖ may enhance stories, ‖ it is preferable for journalists ‖ to rely on their own notions of significance and ‖ make their own judgments.
2. 句子结构:while引导的状语从句+形式主语it+真实主语to rely on...and make...。
3. 词的处理: reaction反应;enhance提高,提升;preferable更可取的,更好的;rely on依靠,依赖;notion见解,看法;significance重要性,意义;make one’s own judgment作出自己的判断
[译文]律师的评论和反应当然能够提升新闻报道的价值,但是,记者们最好还是依靠自己对于事件重要性的认识来做出判断。
从班上学员目前的反应来看,大多数学生因为在平时学习的过程中很扎实,严格按照我们“彻底消化上课时所讲的内容”的标准去做,因而在考试时做得很好(包括那些平时做翻译题速度太慢,因而把翻译放在最后再做的同学,很多同学说用了不到10分钟就做晚了)。但也有少数同学,因为平时学习不扎实,在看到考题时,只是知道自己做过,但具体的考点反而不熟悉了,带着后悔万分的心情去做题,因而还不如以前从来没有做过。其实,退一步讲,即使翻译题是全新的谁都没有见过的,认真把考研大纲词汇背过,把我们在强化班上讲的基本做题技巧掌握住并且把从1990到2006年的真题作熟,在考试时拿下6-7分并非难事。
另一个出人意料之处在于考研英语新题型竟然采用了最为简单段落选择标题题型,这类题目,通过最简单的衔接线索——词汇线索就可以全部掌握(详见拙作《三类线索巧解考研英语新题型》。较为复杂的逻辑关系线索和最复杂的文章结构线索根本用不上。很多同学都能在10分钟内轻松搞定大多数题目。现分析如下:
备选的段落小标题分别为:
A. Set a Good Example for Your Kids
B. Build Your Kid’s Work Skills
C. Place Time Limits on Leisure Activities
D. Talk about the Future on a Regular Basis
E. Help Kids Develop Coping Strategies
F. Help Your Kids Figure Out Who They Are
G. Build Your Kid’s Sense of Responsibility
各个段落已知信息的段落为(根本不需要读没有出题的段落,出题的段落也不用读完):
41
You can start this process when they are 11 or 12. Periodically review their emerging strengths and weaknesses with them and work together on any shortcomings, like difficulty in communicating well or collaborating. Also, identify the kinds of interests they keep coming back to, as these offer clues to the careers that will fit them best.
这段话,几条关键信息是:要搞清楚孩子的优缺点、兴趣及他们最适合的职业 (strengths and weaknesses,interest,careers) ,概括一下,就是Figure Out Who They Are
42.
Kids need a range of authentic role models – as opposed to members of their clique, pop stars and vaunted athletes. Have regular dinner-table discussions about people the family knows and how they got where they are. Discuss the joys and downsides of your own career and encourage your kids to form some ideas about their own future. When asked what they want to do, they should be discouraged from saying “I have no ideas.” They can change their minds 200 times, but having only a foggy view of the future is of little good.
第一句话是综述句,后面全市具体的例子,以一句话重点讲到model即榜样,和A选项中的example 是同义词。
43
Teachers are responsible for teaching kids how to learn; parents should be responsible for teaching them how to work. Assign responsibilities around the house and make sure homework deadlines are met. Encourage teenagers to take a part-time job. Kids need plenty of practice delaying gratification and deploying effective organizational skills, such as managing time and setting priorities.
这段话,几条关键信息是:work, job,skills,与选项B中work skills等词原词复现。
44.
Playing video games encourages immediate content. And hours of watching TV shows with canned laughter only teaches kids to process information in a passive way. At the same time, listening through earphones to the same monotonous beats for long stretches encourages kids to stay inside their bubble instead of pursuing other endeavors. All these activities can prevent the growth of important communication and thinking skills and make it difficult for kids to develop the kind of sustained concentration they need for most jobs.
这段话,几条关键信息是:Playing video games,watching TV shows, listening through earphones,all these activities 概括一下就是选项C中的“leisure activities”(娱乐活动)。
45
They should know how to deal with setbacks, stresses and feelings of inadequacy. They should also learn how to solve problems and resolve conflicts, ways to brainstorm and think critically. Discussions at home can help kids practice doing these things and help them apply these skills to everyday life situations.
这段话,几条关键信息是:deal with setbacks, stresses and feelings,solve problems and resolve conflicts,ways to brainstorm and think critically概括一下就是Coping Strategies。
其他两个选项的迷惑性很低,简单的原词复现、同义词替换以及简单的概括能力(以往真题中阅读理解A部分涉及概括能力的题目比这几个体复杂得多),就足以对付很多考生望而生畏的考研英语新题型,由此可见考研英语新题型并不可怕,只要平时认真把上课时讲的内容吃透,考研英语获得高分,并非难事。 |