21.If Iraq sticks to the road map laid out for it by the United Nations,
sanctions could be lifted without more ado.
如果伊拉克恪守聯(lián)合國有關決議,那么無需更多的麻煩就能取消對它的制裁。
注:Road map,交通圖、道路圖;此處直譯是"如果伊拉克按照聯(lián)合國交通圖向前走不
偏離方向"。ado 是"紛擾"、"麻煩"的意思,如:much ado about nothing,無事
生非。
22. To ask that companies in such capital-intensive industries as oil
exploration be swayed by the political whims of their home government would
rock business confidence.
要求本國政府用經常是隨心所欲的政策決策左右石油勘探等資本密集型行業(yè)的公司,那
就會動搖商界信心。
注:capital intensive,資本密集型(technology intensive,技術密集型; labor
intensive,勞動密集型);oil exploration,石油勘探。注意:to ask后面帶賓語從
句,從句中是虛擬語氣。
23. The plan gives the government a useful tool with which to allocate
resources optimally.
這項計劃為政府優(yōu)化資源配置提供了有效手段。
注此處翻譯時把英文副詞optimally當作動詞(optimize,優(yōu)化); allocate原意是"分
配"、"分派"、"劃歸",轉義"配置";tool此處作"手段"。
24. The bribery scandal sparked a squabble between radicals and moderates in
the parliament.
這個賄賂丑聞在國會激進派和溫和派之間引發(fā)了一場爭吵。
注:radicals,激進派;moderates,溫和派。
25. Recalcitrant backbenchers hamstrung the prime minister's attempt to
railroad the bill through the Commons.
不屈不撓的后座議員們挫敗了首相操縱下議院匆忙通過這個法案的企圖。
注:backbencher指英國下議院坐在后排的議員,即普通議員(包括首相在內的現任內
閣成員和*的影子內閣成員坐在前排);railroad,此處作動詞,意思是匆忙通
過。
26. To end the war in Bosnia, the West abandoned impartiality and junked the
idea of proportionate response.
為了結束波斯尼亞戰(zhàn)爭,西方放棄了不偏不倚的立場,擯棄了均衡反應的主張。
注:proportionate response均衡反應,指對戰(zhàn)爭(或爭議)雙方做出在力度、方式上
均衡的反應。
27. The West may accommodate zigs and zags in Russian foreign policy as the
price for helping Yeltsin keep his job.
西方國家也許能容忍俄羅斯外交政策曲折多變——這是為幫助葉利欽保住總統(tǒng)職位付出
的代價。
注:zigs,(行進路線、政策等的)改變方向,急變; zags(曲折行程中方向的)急
轉,方向突變;helping Yeltsin keep his job,此處job指葉利欽的總統(tǒng)職位。
28. Japanese prime ministers tend to have a short shelf life and a weak
brand image.
日本歷屆首相往往是上臺不久就下臺,而且品牌形象也欠佳。
注:句子中用了兩個商業(yè)詞匯作比喻,shelf life和brand image,商品貨架期,即商
品擺在貨架上出售的期限,例如在歐洲,面包的貨架期最多3天,過期賣不出去的
予以銷毀。Brand image品牌形象。對"品牌形象",中國人比較熟悉,但"商品貨架
期"并不是人人都知道??紤]到中國商品經濟仍然不發(fā)達這個現實,為了讓讀者明白,
我們采取了解釋的翻譯方法。此處"首相"用的是復數,指"歷屆首相"。
29. Without thorough-going reform, no amount of tinkering with the rules will get Mexico out of its murky political swamp.沒有徹底的改革,無論怎樣修補(政治游戲)規(guī)則也無法使墨西哥從爾虞我詐的政治泥沼中擺脫出來。
注:thorough-going,徹底;tinker,作名詞時的意思是"補鍋匠"、"小爐匠",用作動詞時轉義為"修補"。
30. The opposition offered to draw a line under the abuses of the past, in return for seats in the transitional cabinet.*建議給過去執(zhí)政黨濫用權力劃一條底線,以此換取過渡內閣的席位。
注:the opposition=the opposition party,*(the party in power,執(zhí)政黨)。這句話的意思是*為了政治交易,規(guī)定追究的程度。
31. He is the standard bearer of those who still keep faith in the status quo.在仍然信守現狀的人們中,他是旗手。
注:standard bearer, 旗手,如:Lu Xun was the standard bearer of the literary revolution.(魯迅是文學革命的旗手。) Status quo to,現狀,如:maintain the status quo,維持現狀;keep faith in,信守、堅持。
32. If they think that that clinches the argument against deregulation of the economy, they miss a crucial point.如果他們認為那樣做就能證明反對撤消經濟調節(jié)之說言之有理,那么他們就沒有抓住問題的要害。
注:這個句子有兩個that,第一個是主句與賓語從句的連接次,第二個是賓語從句的主語,意思是"那樣做"。clinch在此處的意思是"有充分證據的證明";regulation of the economy的意思是"經濟調節(jié)",deregulation是regulation的反義詞,即"撤消調節(jié)"。另外,調控用control,如macro-economic control,宏觀經濟調控。
33. Confidence is the ingredient needed to revive Nigeria's chastened political fortunes.如欲復蘇尼日利亞歷經磨難的政治機運,信心乃是一個不可缺少的因素。
注:chastened,歷經磨難、飽經滄桑的;ingredient此處轉義"因素"。
34. A country's legal responsibility toward genuine refugees should not be manipulated for political ends.一個國家對真正的難民所承擔的法律責任不應被政治目的所左右。
注:manipulate, 操縱。
35. The voter turnout was small and the margin tiny, in contrast to the previous election, hen the populist Party swamped the opposition, which was widely tout4ed as a pro-business lobby.選民參選率很低,兩黨得票差額極小,這與上次選舉形成對照:在上次選舉中,平民當以壓倒多數的選票戰(zhàn)勝了*,當時*被大事張揚地說成是商界利益代言人。
注:這個句子的結構比較復雜。為了把這些關系清楚地表示出來,我們重復了某些關鍵詞。例如which was widely touted as a pro-business lobby實際上是在說明上次選舉*何以一敗涂地。Voter turnout, 選民參選率;pro-business lobby中的lobby指資本主義國家的"院外游說集團",此處轉義"代言人";pro-是"親……的意思",如This is a pro-U.S. group. (這是一個親美組織。); widely,廣泛地,轉義為"大事張揚";to be touted as 被吹噓成。
36. He rose to prominence under the tutelage of a former prime minister, and is cosy with the main ministers.他是在一位前總理的親自調教下功成名就的,因此他同內閣主要部門首長謹慎相處。
注:看起來是并列句,但是兩個句子的意思內含因果關系。To be cosy with,謹慎從事;main ministers,直譯是"主要部長"。
37. The State Department countered the accusation with a lizard of statistics purporting to show improvement.國務院用大量自稱能說明工作有所改進的數據駁斥這一指責。
注:the State Department,專指美國國務院(相當于其他國家的外交部),我國國務院的英文譯名是the State Council;blizzard,原意是"暴風雨"、"大風雪"此處轉義; purporting to, 此處有"自稱"的意思,如:This book purports to be an original work but it is actually a compilation. (這本書自稱是原著,實際上編撰而成的集子)
38. Talks between the two sides, brokered by the U.S. ambassador, have reached a stalemate.由美國大使說合的雙方談判陷入僵局。
注:broker, 原意"經紀人",作動詞用時為"說合"、"調停"之義;reach (come to) a stalemate,陷入僵局。
39. Loopholes in the proposed tax law could mean that it is in for a bumpy ride when it goes before the Senate, and may even be quashed by a presidential veto.建議中的稅法漏洞百出,被參議院通過的前景十分艱難,即使通過,也有可能因總統(tǒng)否決而無效。
注: a bumpy ride, 原意是"(乘車)顛簸不堪";quash 是法律名詞,意思是"撤消"、"廢止"、"宣布無效"等等。美國參、眾兩院分別是the Senate、House of Representatives; veto,否決權(n.)、否決(v.)。
40. The judiciary, not local tribunals, should have the last word in electoral disputes.對于選舉爭議,只有政府司法部門而不是地方法庭才有裁決權。
注:the judiciary,一個國家的司法部或司法系統(tǒng);tribunal,一般指審理特定案件的法庭,如:military tribunal, 軍事法庭。
sanctions could be lifted without more ado.
如果伊拉克恪守聯(lián)合國有關決議,那么無需更多的麻煩就能取消對它的制裁。
注:Road map,交通圖、道路圖;此處直譯是"如果伊拉克按照聯(lián)合國交通圖向前走不
偏離方向"。ado 是"紛擾"、"麻煩"的意思,如:much ado about nothing,無事
生非。
22. To ask that companies in such capital-intensive industries as oil
exploration be swayed by the political whims of their home government would
rock business confidence.
要求本國政府用經常是隨心所欲的政策決策左右石油勘探等資本密集型行業(yè)的公司,那
就會動搖商界信心。
注:capital intensive,資本密集型(technology intensive,技術密集型; labor
intensive,勞動密集型);oil exploration,石油勘探。注意:to ask后面帶賓語從
句,從句中是虛擬語氣。
23. The plan gives the government a useful tool with which to allocate
resources optimally.
這項計劃為政府優(yōu)化資源配置提供了有效手段。
注此處翻譯時把英文副詞optimally當作動詞(optimize,優(yōu)化); allocate原意是"分
配"、"分派"、"劃歸",轉義"配置";tool此處作"手段"。
24. The bribery scandal sparked a squabble between radicals and moderates in
the parliament.
這個賄賂丑聞在國會激進派和溫和派之間引發(fā)了一場爭吵。
注:radicals,激進派;moderates,溫和派。
25. Recalcitrant backbenchers hamstrung the prime minister's attempt to
railroad the bill through the Commons.
不屈不撓的后座議員們挫敗了首相操縱下議院匆忙通過這個法案的企圖。
注:backbencher指英國下議院坐在后排的議員,即普通議員(包括首相在內的現任內
閣成員和*的影子內閣成員坐在前排);railroad,此處作動詞,意思是匆忙通
過。
26. To end the war in Bosnia, the West abandoned impartiality and junked the
idea of proportionate response.
為了結束波斯尼亞戰(zhàn)爭,西方放棄了不偏不倚的立場,擯棄了均衡反應的主張。
注:proportionate response均衡反應,指對戰(zhàn)爭(或爭議)雙方做出在力度、方式上
均衡的反應。
27. The West may accommodate zigs and zags in Russian foreign policy as the
price for helping Yeltsin keep his job.
西方國家也許能容忍俄羅斯外交政策曲折多變——這是為幫助葉利欽保住總統(tǒng)職位付出
的代價。
注:zigs,(行進路線、政策等的)改變方向,急變; zags(曲折行程中方向的)急
轉,方向突變;helping Yeltsin keep his job,此處job指葉利欽的總統(tǒng)職位。
28. Japanese prime ministers tend to have a short shelf life and a weak
brand image.
日本歷屆首相往往是上臺不久就下臺,而且品牌形象也欠佳。
注:句子中用了兩個商業(yè)詞匯作比喻,shelf life和brand image,商品貨架期,即商
品擺在貨架上出售的期限,例如在歐洲,面包的貨架期最多3天,過期賣不出去的
予以銷毀。Brand image品牌形象。對"品牌形象",中國人比較熟悉,但"商品貨架
期"并不是人人都知道??紤]到中國商品經濟仍然不發(fā)達這個現實,為了讓讀者明白,
我們采取了解釋的翻譯方法。此處"首相"用的是復數,指"歷屆首相"。
29. Without thorough-going reform, no amount of tinkering with the rules will get Mexico out of its murky political swamp.沒有徹底的改革,無論怎樣修補(政治游戲)規(guī)則也無法使墨西哥從爾虞我詐的政治泥沼中擺脫出來。
注:thorough-going,徹底;tinker,作名詞時的意思是"補鍋匠"、"小爐匠",用作動詞時轉義為"修補"。
30. The opposition offered to draw a line under the abuses of the past, in return for seats in the transitional cabinet.*建議給過去執(zhí)政黨濫用權力劃一條底線,以此換取過渡內閣的席位。
注:the opposition=the opposition party,*(the party in power,執(zhí)政黨)。這句話的意思是*為了政治交易,規(guī)定追究的程度。
31. He is the standard bearer of those who still keep faith in the status quo.在仍然信守現狀的人們中,他是旗手。
注:standard bearer, 旗手,如:Lu Xun was the standard bearer of the literary revolution.(魯迅是文學革命的旗手。) Status quo to,現狀,如:maintain the status quo,維持現狀;keep faith in,信守、堅持。
32. If they think that that clinches the argument against deregulation of the economy, they miss a crucial point.如果他們認為那樣做就能證明反對撤消經濟調節(jié)之說言之有理,那么他們就沒有抓住問題的要害。
注:這個句子有兩個that,第一個是主句與賓語從句的連接次,第二個是賓語從句的主語,意思是"那樣做"。clinch在此處的意思是"有充分證據的證明";regulation of the economy的意思是"經濟調節(jié)",deregulation是regulation的反義詞,即"撤消調節(jié)"。另外,調控用control,如macro-economic control,宏觀經濟調控。
33. Confidence is the ingredient needed to revive Nigeria's chastened political fortunes.如欲復蘇尼日利亞歷經磨難的政治機運,信心乃是一個不可缺少的因素。
注:chastened,歷經磨難、飽經滄桑的;ingredient此處轉義"因素"。
34. A country's legal responsibility toward genuine refugees should not be manipulated for political ends.一個國家對真正的難民所承擔的法律責任不應被政治目的所左右。
注:manipulate, 操縱。
35. The voter turnout was small and the margin tiny, in contrast to the previous election, hen the populist Party swamped the opposition, which was widely tout4ed as a pro-business lobby.選民參選率很低,兩黨得票差額極小,這與上次選舉形成對照:在上次選舉中,平民當以壓倒多數的選票戰(zhàn)勝了*,當時*被大事張揚地說成是商界利益代言人。
注:這個句子的結構比較復雜。為了把這些關系清楚地表示出來,我們重復了某些關鍵詞。例如which was widely touted as a pro-business lobby實際上是在說明上次選舉*何以一敗涂地。Voter turnout, 選民參選率;pro-business lobby中的lobby指資本主義國家的"院外游說集團",此處轉義"代言人";pro-是"親……的意思",如This is a pro-U.S. group. (這是一個親美組織。); widely,廣泛地,轉義為"大事張揚";to be touted as 被吹噓成。
36. He rose to prominence under the tutelage of a former prime minister, and is cosy with the main ministers.他是在一位前總理的親自調教下功成名就的,因此他同內閣主要部門首長謹慎相處。
注:看起來是并列句,但是兩個句子的意思內含因果關系。To be cosy with,謹慎從事;main ministers,直譯是"主要部長"。
37. The State Department countered the accusation with a lizard of statistics purporting to show improvement.國務院用大量自稱能說明工作有所改進的數據駁斥這一指責。
注:the State Department,專指美國國務院(相當于其他國家的外交部),我國國務院的英文譯名是the State Council;blizzard,原意是"暴風雨"、"大風雪"此處轉義; purporting to, 此處有"自稱"的意思,如:This book purports to be an original work but it is actually a compilation. (這本書自稱是原著,實際上編撰而成的集子)
38. Talks between the two sides, brokered by the U.S. ambassador, have reached a stalemate.由美國大使說合的雙方談判陷入僵局。
注:broker, 原意"經紀人",作動詞用時為"說合"、"調停"之義;reach (come to) a stalemate,陷入僵局。
39. Loopholes in the proposed tax law could mean that it is in for a bumpy ride when it goes before the Senate, and may even be quashed by a presidential veto.建議中的稅法漏洞百出,被參議院通過的前景十分艱難,即使通過,也有可能因總統(tǒng)否決而無效。
注: a bumpy ride, 原意是"(乘車)顛簸不堪";quash 是法律名詞,意思是"撤消"、"廢止"、"宣布無效"等等。美國參、眾兩院分別是the Senate、House of Representatives; veto,否決權(n.)、否決(v.)。
40. The judiciary, not local tribunals, should have the last word in electoral disputes.對于選舉爭議,只有政府司法部門而不是地方法庭才有裁決權。
注:the judiciary,一個國家的司法部或司法系統(tǒng);tribunal,一般指審理特定案件的法庭,如:military tribunal, 軍事法庭。

