1999 Passage 1
1. Luckily,if the doormat or stove failed to warn of coming disaster,a successful lawsuit might compensate you for your troubles. Or so the thinking has gone since the early 1980s,when juries began holding more companies liable for their customers' misfortunes.
「譯文」 幸運(yùn)的是，假如門墊或爐灶沒有警示你可能會(huì)發(fā)生的危害，你或許可以對(duì)自己所遇到的麻煩索賠并獲補(bǔ)償?；蛘哒f人們是這么想的，因?yàn)樽?0年代初以來，陪審團(tuán)越發(fā)認(rèn)為公司應(yīng)對(duì)其顧客所遭受的不幸負(fù)責(zé)。
「析句」 句子本身并不復(fù)雜，兩個(gè)句子表達(dá)了人們的想法。在第一個(gè)句子中，if the doormat or stove failed to warn of coming disaster是指門墊或爐灶沒有警示語。在第二個(gè)句子中，or so the thinking has gone是一個(gè)倒裝結(jié)構(gòu)，正常的語序應(yīng)該是or the thinking has gone so（或者說人們是這么想的）。
「講詞」 liable意為“有責(zé)任的,有義務(wù)的”。I am not liable for other people's debts.（我對(duì)其他人的債務(wù)不負(fù)責(zé)任。）He is liable to come today.（他今天很可能要來。）be liable for sth意為“應(yīng)對(duì)……負(fù)責(zé)”；to hold sb liable for sth意為“某人應(yīng)對(duì)某事負(fù)責(zé)”，類似的表達(dá)還有to hold sb accountable for sth或to hold sb responsible for sth.I will hold you liable for any damage.（如有損壞，我拿你是問。）
2. While warnings are often appropriate and necessary—the dangers of drug interactions,for example—and many are required by state or federal regulations,it isn't clear that they actually protect the manufacturers and sellers from liability if a customer is injured.
「譯文」 雖然警示語常常是合理而必要的，如提示注意藥物的副作用，并且很多是按照州或聯(lián)邦法規(guī)的要求而添加的，但是當(dāng)一名消費(fèi)者受傷時(shí)，警示語是否真能免除制造商和銷售商的責(zé)任，這還不清楚。
「析句」 在這個(gè)主從復(fù)合句中，it isn't clear that they actually protect the manufacturers and sellers from liability if a customer is injured是主句。主句用了一個(gè)形式主語it，真正的主語是that引導(dǎo)的從句，而that從句之后是一個(gè)if引導(dǎo)的條件從句。從句由兩個(gè)部分組成，中間用and連接。破折號(hào)之間的部分是舉例說明warnings的內(nèi)容。注意：many are required by state or federal regulations中的many是指 many warnings.
「講詞」 liability有“責(zé)任”的意思，在此句中protect… from liability意為“保護(hù)……使免責(zé)”。該詞也可表示“不利的條件”。hold no liability for sth.表示“對(duì)……不負(fù)責(zé)任”。Bad pronunciation is a liability in being a narrator.（不良的發(fā)音是做解說員的不利條件。）liability disclaimer意為“免責(zé)聲明”。
3. As personal injury claims continue as before,some courts are beginning to side with defendants,especially in cases where a warning label probably wouldn't have changed anything.
「譯文」 盡管個(gè)人傷害的索賠一如既往地繼續(xù)著，但有些法庭開始支持被告一方，特別是在處理那些有警示語也無濟(jì)于事的案件時(shí)。
「析句」 在這個(gè)主從復(fù)合句中，as引導(dǎo)一個(gè)伴隨狀語從句，主句是some courts are beginning to side with defendants.especially in cases是一個(gè)狀語短語，cases后面跟了一個(gè)where引導(dǎo)的定語從句（where a warning label probably wouldn't have changed anything），修飾cases.
「講詞」 side with意為“與（某人）站在同一邊,和（某人）抱同樣的見解”。A Chinese court has sided with the Starbucks coffee house chain in its battle with a Shanghai rival over their use of the same Chinese name,a news report said.（新聞報(bào)道說，一個(gè)中國法庭支持了星巴克咖啡連鎖店的訴訟，這家連鎖店起訴上海的一個(gè)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)對(duì)手使用同樣的中文名。）
4. In May,Julie Nimmons,president of Schutt Sports in Illinois, successfully fought a lawsuit involving a football player who was paralyzed in a game while wearing a Schutt helmet.
「譯文」 五月份，伊利諾斯州的Schutt體育公司總裁朱利·尼蒙斯就成功地打贏了這樣一場(chǎng)官司，原告是一名橄欖球隊(duì)員，他戴著該公司的頭盔在一場(chǎng)比賽中受傷癱瘓。
「析句」 這個(gè)句子的主干是Julie Nimmons… successfully fought a lawsuit. president of Schutt Sports in Illinois是主語Julie Nimmons的同位語。賓語a lawsuit由一個(gè)現(xiàn)在分詞結(jié)構(gòu)（involving a football player who was paralyzed in a game while wearing a Schutt helmet）修飾，其中的a football player后面跟著一個(gè)定語從句。
「講詞」 involve意為“涉及；包括；參與”等。All the children were involved in the school play.（所有的孩子都參加了學(xué)校排練的劇目。）This lesson involves a lot of work.（這一課需要做的工作有很多。）
paralyze意為“使癱瘓；使麻痹”。The electricity failure paralyzed the train service.（電力中斷使得列車無法運(yùn)行。）The economy was paralyzed by the policy initiated by the government.（政府所實(shí)行的政策致使經(jīng)濟(jì)陷入癱瘓。）
5. At the same time,the American Law Institute—a group of judges,lawyers,and academics whose recommendations carry substantial weight—issued new guidelines for tort law stating that companies need not warn customers of obvious dangers or bombard them with a lengthy list of possible ones.
「譯文」 與此同時(shí)，美國法學(xué)會(huì)——一群法官、律師和學(xué)者，他們的建議舉足輕重——公布了新的民事侵權(quán)法綱要，說明公司不必警示顧客留意顯而易見的危險(xiǎn)，而且也不必給顧客列出一份冗長(zhǎng)的清單，列舉可能造成的各種危險(xiǎn)。
「析句」 句子雖長(zhǎng)，其實(shí)是一個(gè)簡(jiǎn)單句。主干是the American Law Institute… issued new guidelines for tort law.破折號(hào)之間是主語的同位語，說明美國法學(xué)會(huì)的成員構(gòu)成。stating that… possible ones是一個(gè)現(xiàn)在分詞結(jié)構(gòu)，作new guidelines的定語。
「講詞」 weight句中指“分量”。I don't think his opinion carries much weight when the project is being discussed.（在討論這一項(xiàng)目時(shí)，我認(rèn)為他的意見沒有多大的分量。）
warn意為“警告；告誡”，to warn sb of sth是一個(gè)固定的搭配。
bombard是“轟炸”的意思，或表示“連續(xù)的提問；連續(xù)的侵襲；連續(xù)的騷擾”。 At the press conference,the president was bombarded with questions about the scandal.（在記者招待會(huì)上，記者們紛紛向總統(tǒng)追問這一丑聞。）
6. If the moderate end of the legal community has its way,the information on products might actually be provided for the benefit of customers and not as protection against legal liability.
「譯文」 如果法律界的溫和派占上風(fēng)，產(chǎn)品的警示信息也許確實(shí)只是為了照顧顧客的利益，而不是充當(dāng)免除法律責(zé)任的保護(hù)性措施。
「析句」 在這個(gè)復(fù)合句中，If the moderate end of the legal community has its way是一個(gè)條件從句，for the benefit of customers and not as protection against legal liability是主句的目的狀語。
「講詞」 to have one's way意為“得逞；占上風(fēng)”。I will never allow him to have his way.（我決不會(huì)讓他得逞。）A willful man must have his way.（只要人有恒，萬事皆可成。）
protection意為“保護(hù)”，但是有的時(shí)候也表示“保護(hù)性的措施”。
moderate“中等的，適度的，適中的”，作動(dòng)詞意為“使緩和；主持”。The wind was strong all day, but it moderated in the evening.（一整天來風(fēng)都刮得很厲害，但到傍晚時(shí)有所減弱了。）She was chosen to moderate the debate between the two presidential candidates.（她被推選主持兩位總統(tǒng)候選人間的辯論。）
1. Luckily,if the doormat or stove failed to warn of coming disaster,a successful lawsuit might compensate you for your troubles. Or so the thinking has gone since the early 1980s,when juries began holding more companies liable for their customers' misfortunes.
「譯文」 幸運(yùn)的是，假如門墊或爐灶沒有警示你可能會(huì)發(fā)生的危害，你或許可以對(duì)自己所遇到的麻煩索賠并獲補(bǔ)償?；蛘哒f人們是這么想的，因?yàn)樽?0年代初以來，陪審團(tuán)越發(fā)認(rèn)為公司應(yīng)對(duì)其顧客所遭受的不幸負(fù)責(zé)。
「析句」 句子本身并不復(fù)雜，兩個(gè)句子表達(dá)了人們的想法。在第一個(gè)句子中，if the doormat or stove failed to warn of coming disaster是指門墊或爐灶沒有警示語。在第二個(gè)句子中，or so the thinking has gone是一個(gè)倒裝結(jié)構(gòu)，正常的語序應(yīng)該是or the thinking has gone so（或者說人們是這么想的）。
「講詞」 liable意為“有責(zé)任的,有義務(wù)的”。I am not liable for other people's debts.（我對(duì)其他人的債務(wù)不負(fù)責(zé)任。）He is liable to come today.（他今天很可能要來。）be liable for sth意為“應(yīng)對(duì)……負(fù)責(zé)”；to hold sb liable for sth意為“某人應(yīng)對(duì)某事負(fù)責(zé)”，類似的表達(dá)還有to hold sb accountable for sth或to hold sb responsible for sth.I will hold you liable for any damage.（如有損壞，我拿你是問。）
2. While warnings are often appropriate and necessary—the dangers of drug interactions,for example—and many are required by state or federal regulations,it isn't clear that they actually protect the manufacturers and sellers from liability if a customer is injured.
「譯文」 雖然警示語常常是合理而必要的，如提示注意藥物的副作用，并且很多是按照州或聯(lián)邦法規(guī)的要求而添加的，但是當(dāng)一名消費(fèi)者受傷時(shí)，警示語是否真能免除制造商和銷售商的責(zé)任，這還不清楚。
「析句」 在這個(gè)主從復(fù)合句中，it isn't clear that they actually protect the manufacturers and sellers from liability if a customer is injured是主句。主句用了一個(gè)形式主語it，真正的主語是that引導(dǎo)的從句，而that從句之后是一個(gè)if引導(dǎo)的條件從句。從句由兩個(gè)部分組成，中間用and連接。破折號(hào)之間的部分是舉例說明warnings的內(nèi)容。注意：many are required by state or federal regulations中的many是指 many warnings.
「講詞」 liability有“責(zé)任”的意思，在此句中protect… from liability意為“保護(hù)……使免責(zé)”。該詞也可表示“不利的條件”。hold no liability for sth.表示“對(duì)……不負(fù)責(zé)任”。Bad pronunciation is a liability in being a narrator.（不良的發(fā)音是做解說員的不利條件。）liability disclaimer意為“免責(zé)聲明”。
3. As personal injury claims continue as before,some courts are beginning to side with defendants,especially in cases where a warning label probably wouldn't have changed anything.
「譯文」 盡管個(gè)人傷害的索賠一如既往地繼續(xù)著，但有些法庭開始支持被告一方，特別是在處理那些有警示語也無濟(jì)于事的案件時(shí)。
「析句」 在這個(gè)主從復(fù)合句中，as引導(dǎo)一個(gè)伴隨狀語從句，主句是some courts are beginning to side with defendants.especially in cases是一個(gè)狀語短語，cases后面跟了一個(gè)where引導(dǎo)的定語從句（where a warning label probably wouldn't have changed anything），修飾cases.
「講詞」 side with意為“與（某人）站在同一邊,和（某人）抱同樣的見解”。A Chinese court has sided with the Starbucks coffee house chain in its battle with a Shanghai rival over their use of the same Chinese name,a news report said.（新聞報(bào)道說，一個(gè)中國法庭支持了星巴克咖啡連鎖店的訴訟，這家連鎖店起訴上海的一個(gè)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)對(duì)手使用同樣的中文名。）
4. In May,Julie Nimmons,president of Schutt Sports in Illinois, successfully fought a lawsuit involving a football player who was paralyzed in a game while wearing a Schutt helmet.
「譯文」 五月份，伊利諾斯州的Schutt體育公司總裁朱利·尼蒙斯就成功地打贏了這樣一場(chǎng)官司，原告是一名橄欖球隊(duì)員，他戴著該公司的頭盔在一場(chǎng)比賽中受傷癱瘓。
「析句」 這個(gè)句子的主干是Julie Nimmons… successfully fought a lawsuit. president of Schutt Sports in Illinois是主語Julie Nimmons的同位語。賓語a lawsuit由一個(gè)現(xiàn)在分詞結(jié)構(gòu)（involving a football player who was paralyzed in a game while wearing a Schutt helmet）修飾，其中的a football player后面跟著一個(gè)定語從句。
「講詞」 involve意為“涉及；包括；參與”等。All the children were involved in the school play.（所有的孩子都參加了學(xué)校排練的劇目。）This lesson involves a lot of work.（這一課需要做的工作有很多。）
paralyze意為“使癱瘓；使麻痹”。The electricity failure paralyzed the train service.（電力中斷使得列車無法運(yùn)行。）The economy was paralyzed by the policy initiated by the government.（政府所實(shí)行的政策致使經(jīng)濟(jì)陷入癱瘓。）
5. At the same time,the American Law Institute—a group of judges,lawyers,and academics whose recommendations carry substantial weight—issued new guidelines for tort law stating that companies need not warn customers of obvious dangers or bombard them with a lengthy list of possible ones.
「譯文」 與此同時(shí)，美國法學(xué)會(huì)——一群法官、律師和學(xué)者，他們的建議舉足輕重——公布了新的民事侵權(quán)法綱要，說明公司不必警示顧客留意顯而易見的危險(xiǎn)，而且也不必給顧客列出一份冗長(zhǎng)的清單，列舉可能造成的各種危險(xiǎn)。
「析句」 句子雖長(zhǎng)，其實(shí)是一個(gè)簡(jiǎn)單句。主干是the American Law Institute… issued new guidelines for tort law.破折號(hào)之間是主語的同位語，說明美國法學(xué)會(huì)的成員構(gòu)成。stating that… possible ones是一個(gè)現(xiàn)在分詞結(jié)構(gòu)，作new guidelines的定語。
「講詞」 weight句中指“分量”。I don't think his opinion carries much weight when the project is being discussed.（在討論這一項(xiàng)目時(shí)，我認(rèn)為他的意見沒有多大的分量。）
warn意為“警告；告誡”，to warn sb of sth是一個(gè)固定的搭配。
bombard是“轟炸”的意思，或表示“連續(xù)的提問；連續(xù)的侵襲；連續(xù)的騷擾”。 At the press conference,the president was bombarded with questions about the scandal.（在記者招待會(huì)上，記者們紛紛向總統(tǒng)追問這一丑聞。）
6. If the moderate end of the legal community has its way,the information on products might actually be provided for the benefit of customers and not as protection against legal liability.
「譯文」 如果法律界的溫和派占上風(fēng)，產(chǎn)品的警示信息也許確實(shí)只是為了照顧顧客的利益，而不是充當(dāng)免除法律責(zé)任的保護(hù)性措施。
「析句」 在這個(gè)復(fù)合句中，If the moderate end of the legal community has its way是一個(gè)條件從句，for the benefit of customers and not as protection against legal liability是主句的目的狀語。
「講詞」 to have one's way意為“得逞；占上風(fēng)”。I will never allow him to have his way.（我決不會(huì)讓他得逞。）A willful man must have his way.（只要人有恒，萬事皆可成。）
protection意為“保護(hù)”，但是有的時(shí)候也表示“保護(hù)性的措施”。
moderate“中等的，適度的，適中的”，作動(dòng)詞意為“使緩和；主持”。The wind was strong all day, but it moderated in the evening.（一整天來風(fēng)都刮得很厲害，但到傍晚時(shí)有所減弱了。）She was chosen to moderate the debate between the two presidential candidates.（她被推選主持兩位總統(tǒng)候選人間的辯論。）