国外一位闻名的语言学家曾经说过“Awordhasnomeaningunlessitisusedinatext。”。文学名著无疑是最理想的文本。在名著中经常会有涉及到考研英语中的长难句,同学们也可以在繁重的复习之余,从名著中培养一下自己的语感。在欣赏名著的同时,培养英语阅读技巧与运用能力同时也可以在中文的对照中学习翻译的技巧。
请同学们阅读时准确理解概念或结构较复杂的句子。
一、原文:ForJerushaandtheninety-oddotherchildrenintheorphanage,thefirstWednesdayofeverymonthwasquiteatorturousday。Onthisday,eachchildhadtobecleanandwell-groomed,everycornerineveryroomhadtobeneatandtidy,everyfloorhadtosparkle,andeverybedhadtobemadeperfectlyflatsothatthetiniestwrinklewouldnotshow。AllofthispreparationwastogetreadyforthevisitoftheTrusteesoftheorphanagewhichalwaysfellonthisday。EachchildhadbeentoldtimeandagainthatifaTrusteeweretoaskhimorheraquestion,heorshewastoanswerinacleverandrespectfulway。
译文:对洁茹以及孤儿院里其他九十几个院童来说,每个月的第一个礼拜三是一个十分难熬的日子。在这一天,每一个院童都必须梳洗得乾乾净净,房间各个角落都打扫得整整洁齐,连每一块地板都擦得光洁无比,每一张床铺都平整得连一小条绉褶都没有;如此严阵以待,是因为孤儿院的董事大人们在这一天会大驾光临。每一个孩子并且也都被再三交代,假如有董事大人问他们什麽话,必须非常乖巧、恭敬地回答。
二、原文:Jerushawastheoldestchildintheorphanageshewasalready18yearsold。Accordingtotherules,theorphanageonlyhadtokeepchildrenupuntiltheageof16,butJerushawasanexception。Becausehergradeswerequitegood,theorphanagedecidedtolethercontinueherstudiesandallowedhertogotothehighschoolintown。Atthispoint,Jerushahadjustgraduatedfromhighschoolandwasjuststayingtohelpoutaroundtheorphanage。
译文:洁茹是孤儿院里年纪最大的孩子,她今年已经十八岁了。本来按照规定,孤儿院只养育院童到十六岁,洁茹却是一个例外;因为她的成绩相当优异,院方才决定让她继续升学,到村子里去念高中。洁茹最近高中刚毕业,都在院里帮忙。
三、原文:Justasintoday‘‘scase,inordertoprepareamostperfectWednesdayvisitfortheTrustees,Jerushahadworkedtheentireday。Luckily,everythinghadgoneasshehadplanned,andnowtheTrusteeshadheardtheorphanage‘sreports,weresippingtea,andsomewereevenbeginningtoleaveonebyone,offtotheirvariousotherappointments。WatchingtheTrustees‘‘shadowsastheyleft,Jerusha‘‘sheartonceagainbecamefilledwithvisions。DespitethefactthatMrs。Lippetthadrepeatedlywarnedherthatsuchfantasieswouldonlytortureandupsether,andthathavingthesefantasieswouldnotchangerealityMrs。LippettsaidJerushawasdoomedtoneversetfootoutsidetheorphanageshecouldnothelpbuthavethemallthesame。Ifonlyoneday,shecouldbejustliketheTrusteesand,carryingherbags,stepintoabigcarandtellthedrivertotakeherhomewhatkindofafeelingwouldthatbe?
译文:像今天,为了预备一个圆满的礼拜三,洁茹已经忙了一整天。幸好一切都如她所预料的非常顺利,现在董事大人们听完报告,享用完茶点,已经纷纷离去,预备去赴其他的约会了。望着他们离去的背影,洁茹的心里再一次涌起了幻想。尽管李派特太太不断告诫她,这样的幻想只会折磨她自己,使她更苦恼,并且也不可能改变事实她很难离开孤儿院一步的;可是洁茹仍然忍不住会想,假如有一天,她也能拎着行李,像这些董事大人们一样,跨进轿车,吩咐司机回家,那会是一种什麽样的感觉?
四、原文:For18yearsJerushahadbeenlivinginanorphanage。Shewassimplyunabletoimaginewhathomewouldbelike。
译文:十八年来,洁茹一直生活在孤儿院里,“家”到底是什麽样子,她根本无从想像!
五、原文:JustasJerushabecamelostinherthoughts,alittleboyranoverlookingforherandsaidthatMrs。Lippettwantedtoseeherimmediately。Alittleupset,Jerushaheadedtowardstheoffice,allthetimeinherheartthinking,WhatdidIdowrong?Werethesandwichesnotthinenough?Didthecherrycakesnottasteright?OrdidoneoftheTrusteesnoticetheholeinlittleSusie‘sstockings?
译文:当洁茹正在发呆的时候,有一个小男孩跑来找洁茹,说李派特太太叫她赶紧去。洁茹有些不安地朝办公室走去,心里一直在想:“我做错了什麽吗?是三明治切得不够薄?核桃糕的味道不够好?还是有董事大人看到了小苏西袜子上的破洞?”
六、原文:WhenJerushawentdownstairs,thelightinthebigemptyhallwasnotyeton,butshecaughtaglimpseofthelastTrusteegettingintohiscartoleavetheorphanage。Itwastoodark,however,toseetheTrusteeveryclearlyshecouldonlygetagoodimpressionofhimfromtheback。Hewasquitetall,andhadlonglegs。Helookedjustlikeabig,dancingDaddyLonglegsthatwascallingforhisridehome!