2023年研究生类研究生入学考试专业课英语专业英汉互译历年高频考题带答案难题附详解

2023年研究生类研究生入学考试专业课英语专业英汉互译历年高频考题带答案难题附详解（图片大小可自由调整）第1卷一.历年考点试题黑钻版(共50题)1.Itiscuriousthatourownoffensesshouldseemsomuchlessheinousthantheoffensesofothers.Isupposethereasonisthatweknowallthecircumstancesthathavecausedthemandsomanagetoexcuseinourselveswhatwecannotexcuseinothers.Wetunaourattentionawayfromourowndefects,andwhenweareforcedbyuntowardeventstoconsiderthem,finditeasytocondonethem.ForallIknowwearerighttodothis;theyarepartofusandwemustacceptthegoodandbadinourselvestogether.

Butwhenwecometojudgeothers,itisnotbyourselvesaswereallyarethatwejudgethem,butbyanimagethatwehaveformedofourselvesfromwhichwehaveleftouteverythingthatoffendsourvanityorwoulddiscreditusintheeyesoftheworld.Totakeatrivialinstance:howscornfulwearewhenwecatchsomeoneouttellingalie;butwhocansaythathehasnevertoldnotone,butahundred?

Thereisnotmuchtochoosebetweenmen.Theyareallacombinationofgreatnessandlittleness,ofvirtueandvice,ofnobilityandbaseness.Somehavemorestrengthofcharacter,ormoreopportunity,andsoinonedirectionoranothergivetheirinstinctsfreerplay,butpotentiallytheyarethesame.Formypart,IdonotthinkIamanybetteroranyworsethanmostpeople,butIknowthatifIsetdowneveryactioninmylifeandeverythoughtthathascrossedmymind,theworldwouldconsidermeamonsterofdepravity.Theknowledgethatthesereveriesarecommontoallmenshouldinspireonewithtolerancetooneselfaswellastoothers.Itiswellalsoiftheyenableustolookuponourfellows,eventhemosteminentandrespectable,withhumour,andiftheyleadustotakeourselvesnottooseriously.2.Thisdefinition(ofintellectual)excludesmanyindividualsusuallyreferredtoasintellectuals—theaveragescientistforone.Ihaveexcludedhimbecausewhilehisaccomplishmentsmaycontributetothesolutionofmoralproblems,hehasnotbeenchargedwiththetaskofapproachinganybutthefactualaspectsofthoseproblems.Likeotherhumanbeings,heencountersmoralissuesevenineverydayperformanceofhisproblemsofhisroutineduties—heisnotsupposedtocookhisexperiments.Manufactureevidence,ordoctorhisreports.Buthisprimarytaskisnottothinkaboutthemoralcode,whichgovernshisactivity,anymorethanabusinessmanisexpectedtodedicatehisenergiestoanexplorationofrulesofconductinbusiness.Duringmostofhiswalkinglifehewilltakehisenergiestoanexplorationofrulesofconductinbusinessandhewilltakehiscodeforgranted,asthebusinessmantakeshisethics.

Thedefinitionalsoexcludesthemajorityoffactors,despitethefactthatteachinghastraditionallybeenthemethodwherebymanyintellectualsearntheirliving.Theymaylearnverywell,andmorethanearntheirsalaries,butmostofthemmakelittleornoindependentreflectionsonhumanproblemswhichinvolvemoraljudgment.Thisdescriptionevenfitsthemajorityeminentscholars.Beinglearnedinsomebranchofhumanknowledgeinonething;livingin"publicandindustriousthoughts."Emersonwouldsay,issomethingelse.3.Intheworldoftheactual,Jenniewassuchaspirit.Fromherearliestyouthgoodnessandmercyhadmoldedhereveryimpulse.DidSebastianfallandinjurehimself,itwasshewhostruggledwithstraininganxiety,carriedhimsafelytohismother.DidGeorgecomplainthathewashungry,shegavehimallofherbread.Manywerethehoursinwhichshehadrockedheryoungerbrothersandsisterstosleep,singingwhole-heartedlybetimesanddreamingfardreams.Sinceherearliestwalkingperiodshehadbeenastherighthandofhermother.Whatscrubbing,baking,errand-running,andnursingtherehadbeentodoshedid.Noonehadeverheardherrudelycomplain,thoughsheoftenthoughtofthehardnessofherlot.Sheknewthattherewereothergirlswhoseliveswereinfinitelyfreerandfuller,butitneveroccurredtohertobemeanlyenvious;herheartmightbelonely,butherlipscontinuedtosing.4.AsaformofDocumentarystyle,copyrightshavetheirowncharacteristicsthataredifferentfromotherformsofwrittenlanguage.Therefore,inthetranslationofcopyrights,dueattentionshouldbepaidtothefollowingpoints:formalstyle,matter-of-factattitude,rigidgrammarandfrequentuseofthepassivevoice.5.2008年11月9日，中国政府出台了进一步扩大内需、促进经济增长的十项措施，预计在未来两年时间内投资4万亿人民币。中国政府在例行的中央经济工作会议召开之前突然宣布该方案，既显示了中国政府抗击金融危机、防范经济增长下滑的信心，也反映了中国政府对国内经济增长前景的预期明显恶化。该方案刚一出台便引发世界范围内高度关注，并直接推动全球股市上涨。然而，但由于中国政府并未在第一时间详细披露该方案实施细则，近日来围绕该方案的猜测与争议绵延不绝。6.WhatisthematterwiththeEnglish,thattheyaresoscaredofeverything?Theyareinastateofbluefunk,andtheybehavelikealotofmicewhensomebodystumpsonthefloor.Theyareterrifiedaboutmoney,finance,aboutships,aboutwar,aboutwork,aboutLabour,aboutoutBolshevism,andfunniestofall,theyarescaredstiffoftheprintedword.Nowthisisaverystrangeendhumiliatingstateofmind,inapeoplewhichhasalwaysbeensodauntless.Andforthenation,itisaverydangerousstateofmind.Whenapeoplefallsintoastateoffunk,thenGodhelpit.Becausemassfunkleadssometimeorothertomasspanic,andthenonecanonlyrepeat,Godhelpus.

Thereis,ofcourse,acertainexcuseforfear.Thetimeofchangeisuponus.Theneedforchangehastakenholdofus.Wearechanging,wehavegottochange,andwecannomorehelpitthanleavescanhelpgoingyellowandcominglooseinautumn,orthanbulbscanhelpshovingtheirlittlegreenspikesoutofthegroundinspring.Wearechanging,weareinthethroesofchange,andthechangewillbeagreatone.Instinctively,wefeelit.Intuitively,weknowit.Andwearefrightened.Becausechangehurts.Andalso,intheperiodsofserioustransition,everythingisuncertain,andlivingthingsaremostvulnerable.7.Designerholdsfasttouseofnaturalfabrics8.如果发生不可抗力事件，或我们无法控制的任何其他以外事故，我方对迟交或不交货概不负责。9.产品安全问题关系消费者的生命和健康，虽然“中国制造”中仅有少数产品存在质量和安全问题，但对“中国制造”的品牌已造成极大的负面影响。对此，中国政府应从战略的角度来看待这一问题，不仅严把出口产品的质量监控和管理关，更希望从国内整个产品质量与安全环境着手，正本清源。另一方面，中国政府应从全盘上来考虑，开展“中国制造”的品牌营销战略，树立国家品牌形象。同时，中国政府应加强公共关系管理与危机应对措施，尽快消除不良事件对中国出口贸易的影响。中国企业应在抓好产品质量的同时，随时应对此类突发事件的发生，总结经验和教训，学会及时向外界公布有关信息，说明事实情况。中国的行业协会应当有应急公关意识，充分利用中外行业商会组织，从中协调和沟通，化解媒体、民意的误解。10.TheNewYorkPostsummedupthespreadingbewildermentbydemandinginitsblackestfront:WHATTHEHECKAREYOUUPTO,MR.PRESIDENT?11.Thelaptopcomputerisasmall,portablecomputerthat'slightandsmallenoughtoholdonyourlap.Itissmallerthanaluggagebutlargerthananotebookcomputer.Alaptopusuallyweighsbetween8and14pounds,andwhenfoldedshutisaboutthesizeofasmallbriefcase.Laptopscanbepluggedinorrunonbatteries,althoughthebatteriesmustberechargedeveryfewhours.Laptopcomputersuseathin,lightweightdisplayscreencalledaflat-paneldisplay,ratherthanthecathoderaytubetechnologyoflargerpersonalcomputers.Laptopdisplaysvarywidelyinquality.Typically,theirdisplayscreensshowfewerlinesthandisplaysonlargercomputersandcanbedifficulttoreadinbrightlight.Laptopsareself-containedunits,havingtheirownCPUs,memory,anddiskdrives.Whilemoreexpensivethanadesktopcomputerwithequivalentcomputingpower,alaptopcanbeidealfortheon-the-gouserwhoneedsasecond,portablecomputer.Laptopsaren'talwaysasuitablereplacementfordesktopcomputer,sincetheycan'tbeexpandedormodifiedeasilyshouldyourcomputingneedschange.Also,thedisplayisinferiortostandardvideographicsarray(VGA)displays,althoughactivematrixdisplayscompetewellexceptforsize.12.BillandIsharedasmallapartmentnearabigparknotfarfromtheUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeleycampuswheretheFreeSpeechMovementstartedin1964.IspentmostofmytimeworkingforMalBurnsteinresearching,writinglegalmotionsandbriefsforachildcustodyease.Meanwhile,BillexploredBerkeley,OaklandandSanFrancisco.Onweekends,hetookmetotheplaceshehadscouted,likearestaurantinNorthBeachoravintageclothingstoreonTelegraphAvenue.Itriedteachinghimtennis,andwebothexperimentedwithcooking,Ibakedhimapeachpie,somethingIassociatedwithArkansas,althoughIhadyettovisitthestate,andtogetherweproducedapalatablechickencurryforanyandalloccasionswehosted.BillspentmostofhistimereadingandthensharingwithmehisthoughtsaboutbookslikeTotheFinlandStationbyEdmundWilson.Duringourlongwalks,heoftenbrokeintosong,frequentlycrooningoneofhisElvisPresleyfavorites.

PeoplehavesaidthatIknewBillwouldbePresidentonedayandwentaroundtellinganyonewhowouldlisten.Idon'trememberthinkingthatuntilyearslater,butIhadonestrangeencounteratasmallrestaurantinBerkeley.IwassupposedtomeetBill,butIwasheldupatworkandarrivedlate.Therewasnosignofhim,andIaskedthewaiterifhehadseenamanofhisdescription.Acustomersittingnearbyspokeup,saying,"Hewashereforalongtimereading,andIstartedtalkingtohimaboutbooks.Idon'tknowhisname,buthe'sgoingtobePresidentsomeday.""Yeah,right,"Isaid,"butdoyouknowwherehewent?"

Attheendofthesummer,wereturnedtoNewHavenandrentedthegroundfloorof21EdgewoodAvenueforseventy-fivedollarsamonth.Thatboughtusalivingroomwithafireplace,onesmallbedroom,athirdroomthatservedasbothstudyanddiningarea,atinybathroomandaprimitivekitchen.Thefloorsweresouneventhatplateswouldslideoffthediningtableifwedidn'tkeeplittlewoodenblocksunderthetablelegstolevelthem.Thewindhowledthroughcracksinthewailsthatwestuffedwithnewspapers.Butdespiteitall,Ilovedourfirsthouse.WeshoppedforfurnitureattheGoodwillandSalvationArmystoresandwerequiteproudofourstudentdecor.

—ExcerptsfromLivingHistorybyHillaryClinton13.Thefailuresthatweneedtocorrectarisebothformpovertyandfromtheshort-sightedwayinwhichwehaveoftenpursuedprosperity.Manypartsoftheworldarecaughtinaviciousdownwardsspiral:Poorpeopleareforcedtooveruseenvironmentalresourcestosurvivefromdaytoday,andtheimpoverishmentoftheirenvironmentfurtherimpoverishesthem,makingtheirsurvivalevermoredifficultanduncertain.Theprosperityattainedinsomepartsoftheworldisoftenprecarious,asithasbeensecuredthroughfarming,forestryandindustrialpracticesthatbringprofitandprogressonlyovertheshortterm.14.北京获得2008奥运会的举办权是世界对北京的认同和信任。北京提出了“绿色奥运、科技奥运、人文奥运”的举办理念。绿色奥运，就是将环境保护作为奥运设施规划和建设的首要条件。北京正在各个领域里努力推广环保工作，积极参与各项改善生态环境的活动，大幅度提高首都环境质量，建设生态城市。北京2008奥运将以绿色清新的面貌出现，为世界环保运动注入新的动力。15.WhileAmericarebuildsathome,wewillnotshrinkfromthechallengesnorfailtoseizetheopportunitiesofthisnewworld.Togetherwithourfriendsandallies,wewillworktogethertoshapechange,lestitengulfus.Whenourvitalinterestsarechallenged,orthewillandconscienceoftheinternationalcommunityisdefied,wewillact;withpeacefuldiplomacywheneverpossible,withforcewhennecessary.ThebraveAmericansservingournationtodayinthePersianGulf,inSomalia,andwhereverelsetheystand,aretestamenttooreresolve,butourgreateststrengthisthepowerofourideas,whicharestillnewinmanylands.Acrosstheworld,weseethemembracedandwerejoice.Ourhopes,ourhearts,ourhands,arewiththoseoneverycontinent,whoarcbuildingdemocracyandfreedom.TheircauseisAmerica'scause.TheAmericanpeoplehavesummonedthechangewecelebratetoday.Youhaveraisedyourvoicesinanunmistakablechorus,youhavecastyourvotesinhistoricnumbers,youhavechangedthefaceofcongress,thepresidency,andthepoliticalprocessitself:16.AmericaFliestoWar

TherumblingofatradewaroverstateaidtoEurope'sAirbushasbeenintheairformonths.OnWednesdayOctober6th,afterunsuccessfultalksbetweentheEuropeanUnionandAmerica,theUnitedStatesTradeRepresentative,RobertZoellick,filedaformalcomplainttotheWorldTradeOrganization(WTO)allegingbillionsofdollarsof"unfair"subsidieswerepaidtoAirbus.Withinanhour,theEUsaidthatitwouldfileacounter-claimaboutequallylargesumsofunfairaidgoingtoAirbus'srival,Boeing.

BoeinghasbeensmartingeversinceAirbussnatchedtheleadintheciviljetmarketlastyearbydeliveringmoreaircraftforthefirsttime.Airbusisstillinfrontthisyear,with224deliveriestotheendofSeptember,comparedwithBoeing's218.TheAmericans'beefisthatAirbus,whichis80%ownedbyEADS,aEuropeanaerospacegroup,and20%byBritain'sBAESystems,stillgetssoftloansfromthegovernmentsofGermany,France,BritainandSpain.

Thisfinancecomesintheformofrepayableloans,knownaslaunchaid,forthedevelopmentofnewaircraft.Some$3.7billionofitenabledAirbustolaunchitsnewA380super-jumbo,whichwilleclipseBoeing'svenerable747whenitentersservicein2006.Boeingcomplains,quitereasonably,thatnowadaysAirbusisaprofitable,successfulcompanyandassuchshouldnolongerreceivethishelp.

Anearliertraderowwassettledin1992withabilateralagreementthatlimitedAirbus'slaunchaidto33%ofthedevelopmentcostsofanewplane,whileindirectsupporttoBoeing(fromthePentagonandNASA)wasrestrictedto4%ofitsturnover.NowBoeingandtheAmericangovernmentwanttoreplacethatdealwithanewagreementthatbansallstateaid.

Boeing'schiefexecutive,HarryStonecipher,hasbeenitchingtohaveagoatAirbus.HewasbroughtoutofretirementattheendoflastyeartorunthecompanyafteritlostitstwotopexecutivesinarowaboutimproperdealingswiththePentagonondefencecontracts.(Indeed,EADSsaysitisconsideringlegalactionafteraUSAirForceofficialwassentencedlastweektoninemonthsinprisonforpassingtheEuropeancompany'sproprietarydatatoBoeingduringnegotiationsoverahugecontracttomaketankersforrefuelingaircraft.)Previously,asnumbertwoatBoeing,Mr.StonecipherwasalwayspushingforamoreaggressivelineagainstAirbussubsidies.

Butthereismoretoitthanthat.First,theBushadministrationisbeingattackedforthelossofmanufacturingjobs,andBoeing'shomebaseforitsciviljetsisaroundSeattleinWashingtonstate,akeybattlegroundinnextmonth'spresidentialelection.AndAirbusislikelytocomeupwithanewaircraftthatcouldspoilthemarketforBoeing'slatestproduct,the250-Beater7E7.TheEuropeansplantounveilsucharival,dubbedtheA350fornow,beforetheendoftheyear.

AccordingtoBoeing,Airbuscanonlymakesuchrapidmovesinthemarketplacebecauseitcancountonlaunchaid.Mr.StonecipherpointsoutthattheEuropeancompanyhasbeenabletorolloutfivenewproductsinthepastdecade,whileBoeing,withaneyetoshareholdersanditsbottomline,hasmanagedone.17.Weshouldriotattempttomakeascienceoutoftranslating,sinceitisessentiallynotanisolatablediscipline,butacreativetechnology,awayofdoingsomethingwhichemploysinsightsfromanumberofdifferentdisciplines.18.AnexplosionatachemicalfactoryinnortheasternChinahasforcedlocalofficialstocutoffwatersuppliestoacityof10millionpeople.TapsrandryinHarbinonTuesdaywithvirtuallynoadvancedwarningandnoindicationofhowlongtheshut-offwillpersist.Panickedresidentsrespondedtoconflictinggovernmentstatementswithafuriousbuyingspreeduringwhichallpotableliquidatthecity'sflagshipWal-Martsoldoutinhours.ByTuesdayafternoon,homes,hospitalsandschoolshaulnorunningwater,andfewoptions.19.TheyoungestoftheRockyMountains,theTetonRangeisaspectacularsight.Enhancedbyglaciers,deepcanyons,snowfields,andlakes,therangeshootsupsuddenly,withnofoothillsaroundit.20.WhenIwriteastoryIwanttomakeacertainkindofstructure,and]knowthefeelingIwanttogetfrombeinginsidethatstructure.Thisisthehardpartoftheexplanation,whereIhavetouseawordlike"feeling",whichisnotveryprecise,becauseifIattempttobemoreintellectuallyrespectableIwillhavetobedishonest."Feeling"willhavetodo.

Thereisnoblueprintforthestructure.It'snotaquestionof,"I'llmakethiskindofhousebecauseifIdoitrightitwillhavethiseffect."I'vegottomake,I'vegottobuildup,ahouse,astory,tofitaroundtheindescribable"feeling"thatislikethesoulofthestory,andwhichImustinsistuponindogged,embarrassedway,asbeingnomoredefinablethanthatAndIdon'tknowwhereitcomesfrom.Itseemstobealreadythere,andsomeunlikelyclue,suchasashopwindoworabitofconversation,makesmeawareofit.ThenIstartaccumulatingthematerialandputtingittogether.SomeofthematerialImayhavelyingaroundalready,inmemoriesandobservations,andsomeIinvent,andsomeIhavetogodiligentlylookingfor(factualdetails)，whilesomeisdumpedinmylap(anecdotes,bitsofspeech).IseehowthismaterialmightgotogethertomaketheshapeIneed,andItryit.IkeeptryingandseeingwhereIwentwrongandtryingagain.21.IstartfrommyhomeinthequietlittlesuburbofForestHills,LongIsland.Here,surroundedbygreenlawns,trees,andflowers,areneatlittlehouses,happywiththevoicesandmovementsofwivesandchildren,havensofpeacefulrestformenwhotoilinthecity.IdriveacrossthelacystructureofsteelwhichspanstheEastRiver,andIgetanewandstartlingvisionofthepowerandingenuityofthemindofman.Busyboatschugandscurryabouttheriver—-racyspeedboat,stolid,snortingtugs.IfIhadlongdaysofsightahead,Ishouldspendmanyofthemwatchingthedelightfulactivity,upontheriver.

Ilookahead,andbeforemerisethefantastictowersofNewYork,acitythatseemstohavesteppedfromthepagesofafairystory.Whatanawe-inspiringsight,theseglitteringspires.Thesevastbanksofstoneandsteel-structuressuchasthegodsmightbuildforthemselves!Thisanimatedpictureisapartofthelivesofmillionsofpeopleeveryday.Howmany,Iwonder,giveitsomuchasasecond'sglance?Veryfew,Ifear.Theireyesareblindtothismagnificentsightbecauseitissofamiliartothem.22.Ableakafternooninmidnight,thelastraysofthedaylightarehasteningawayintotheunfathomablegloomthatshroudsthecity,andthroughhalf-desertedstreets,neonlampsarejustbeginningtoflicker,likeinsidiouseyes,givinglighttoacomerofatornnewspaperthatwhirlsacrossthepedestriancrossinginadraughtblowingupfromnowhereIstepoutofthemetrostation.

Andthere,atthatmoment,Iseeher.Sheisstandingontheothersideofthestreet,herfigurehalfshadowedbyalamppost,herhairlooseintheeveningair.Sheiswearingablackovercoatasshealwaysdidinmyremembrance,andsheissmiling.Ican'tseeherface,butIcanseehersmile,atenderwearysmile.Hersmilechokesme.ThenIunderstand,andthevalvesoftimepart,thatafteranintervalofyearssheisbacktomeagain.

Someonepushesme.Anoldmanwithabitsuitcasetotterspast.Sorry,sir,hemurmurs,Ilookup.Sheisgone.Alongghastlyshadowofthestreetlampcastuponthepedestriancrossing,coveringacornerofatomnewspaperthathasstoppedwhirling.23.Howappreciativeareyouofyourlotinlife?Becauseinarecentstudy,60percentoftheBritishhouseholdssurveyedagreedthat"theycannotaffordtobuyeverythingtheyreallyneed",andthisincluded40percentofhouseholdswithanincomeof50,000poundsormore.ThoughinrealpurchasingpowerweearnonaveragethreetimeswhatpeopleearnedintheFifties,thereisgoodevidencethatwerateourselvesnotonejothappier.

Forsometimenow,we'vebeenworkinglongerthanisgoodforus,ofteninamisguidedattempttoacquiretheluxuriesthatwethinkwillmakelifebetter.Butthefeelingsofdissatisfactionthatdriveouroverwroughtambitionsarenotjustaboutownershipandconsumption;theyarealsoaboutpersonalattributes.Forinstance,ontheonehandmanyparentsandschoolsexpectevermoreAgradesfromtheirteenagers,whilemediamessagesexertpressureonthosesamestudentstoexcelinphysicalattractiveness,sportingprowessandsparklingcharacter.Suchinflatedandoftenincompatiblegoalsmayhelptoexplainwhyeatingdisorders,depressionandalcoholismhaveallrisendramaticallysincetheFifties,aspeopleofallagesfeelanythingbetweenshamedandangryaboutnothavingliveduptoexpectations——theirsorsomeoneelse's.

Sohowcanwetemperourappetitetoconsume,andenjoywhatwehaveinstead'?.FredBryantandJosephVeroffofLoyolaUniversityinCaliforniasuggestwelearntosavormoreexpertly,thatis,tobetterappreciatewhoweareandwhatwehave,ratherlikewhenwecloseoureyestorelishthetasteofsomething,insteadofteeingupthenextmouthful.24.Psychologicallytherearetwodangerstobeguardedagainstinoldage.Oneoftheseisundueabsorptioninthepast.Itdoesnotdotoliveinmemories,inregretsforthegoodolddays,orinsadnessaboutfriendswhoaredead.One'sthoughtsmustbedirectedtothefuture,andtothingsaboutwhichthereissomethingtobedone.Thisisnotalwayseasy:one'sownpastisagraduallyincreasingweight.Itiseasytothinktooneselfthatone'semotionsusedtobemorevividthantheyare,andone'smindmorekeen.Ifthisistrueitshouldbeforgotten,andifitisforgottenitwillprobablynotbetrue.

Theotherthingtobeavoidedisclingingtoyouthinthehopeofsuckingvigorfromitsvitality.Whenyourchildrenaregrownuptheywanttolivetheirownlives,andifyoucontinuetobeasinterestedinthemasyouwerewhentheywereyoung,youarelikelytobecomeaburdentothem,unlesstheyareunusuallycallous.Idonotmeanthatoneshouldbewithoutinterestinthem,butone'sinterestshouldbecontemplativeand,ifpossible,philanthropic,butnotundulyemotional.Animalsbecomeindifferenttotheiryoungassoonastheiryoungcanlookafterthemselves,buthumanbeings,owingtothelengthofinfancy,findthisdifficult.

Ithinkthatasuccessfuloldageiseasierforthosewhohavestrongimpersonalinterestsinvolvingappropriateactivities.Itisinthisspherethatlongexperienceisreallyfruitful,anditisinthisspherethatthewisdombornofexperiencecanbeexercisedwithoutbeingoppressive.Itisnousetellinggrownupchildrennottomakemistakes,bothbecausetheywillnotbelieveyou,andbecausemistakesareanessentialpartofeducation.Butifyouareoneofthosewhoareincapableofimpersonalinterests,youmayfindthatyourlifewillbeemptyunlessyouconcernyourselfwithyourchildrenandgrandchildren.Inthatcaseyoumustrealizethatwhileyoucanstillrenderthemmaterialservices,suchasmakingthemanallowanceorknottingthemjumpers,youmustnotexpectthattheywillenjoyyourcompany.

Thebestwaytoovercomethefearofdeath—soatleastitseemstome—istomakeyourinterestsgraduallywiderandmoreimpersonal,untilbitbybitthewallsoftheegorecede,andyourlifebecomesincreasinglymergedintheuniversallife.25.InDefenseofTranslation

byHowardGoldblatt(葛浩文)

How'sthisforanoccupationaltestimonial:"Thereisnosuchthingasagoodtranslator.Thebesttranslatorsmaketheworstmistakes.NomatterhowmuchIlovethem,alltranslatorsmustbecloselywatched."

Or:"Traduttore-traditore."(Translator=traitor.)

Whoarethesepeopleeveryonelovestohate,and,ifthey'resobad,howdotheygetawaywithwhatthey'redoing?

Well,Iconfess:I'moneofthem.I'matranslator.

IamsometimesaskedwhyItranslate,sincetomanyitseemsathanklessvocation.Why,theyask,don'tIwritemyownnovels,sinceIhavelived(theyassume)aninterestinglifeandmustbynowhaveanideaofwhatanovelshouldbe?Icanonlysaythatnotalltranslatorsareclosetnovelists,andthatIdonotconsidertranslationtobealesserart—onethatoughttoleadtosomethingbetter.Theshort,andverypersonal,answertothequestionis:BecauseIloveit.IlovetoreadChinese;IlovetowriteinEnglish.Ilovethechallenge,theambiguity,andtheuncertaintyoftheenterprise.Ilovethetensionbetweencreativityandfidelity,eventheinevitablecompromises.And,everyonceinawhile,IfindaworksoexcitingthatI'mpossessedbytheurgetoputitintoEnglish.Inotherwords,Itranslatetostayalive.ThesatisfactionofknowingI'vefaithfullyservedtwoconstituencieskeepsmehappilyturninggood,bad,andindifferentChineseproseintoreadable,accessible;and—yes—evenmarketableEnglishbooks.Tianna!26.Inaspeechdeliveredin1952,RachelCarsonwarned,"Mankindhasgoneveryfarintoanartificialworldofhisowncreation.Hehassoughttoinsulatehimself,inhiscitiesofsteelandconcrete,fromtherealitiesofearthandwaterandthegrowingseed.Intoxicatedwithasenseofhisownpower,heseemstobegoingfartherandfartherintomoreexperimentsforthedestructionofhimselfandhisworld."

Carsonvoicedtheseworriesbeforethetriumphoftelevisionorshoppingmalls,beforetheadventofair-conditioning,personalcomputers,videogames,theInternet,cellphones,cloning,geneticengineering,andaslewofotherinventionsthathavemadetheartificialworldevermoreseductive.UnlikeEarth,theartificialworldismadeforus.Itfeedsourbelliesandmindswithtastypabulum;itsheltersusfromdiscomfortandsickness;itproclaimsouringenuity;itflattersourpride.Snuginsidebubblesfashionedfromconcreteandsteel,fromsiliconandplasticandwords,wecanpretendwearerunningtheplanet.

Bycontrast,thenaturalworldwasnotmadeforourcomfortorconvenience.Itprecededusbysomebillionsofyears,anditwilloutlastus;itmocksourpride,becauseitsurpassesourunderstandingandcontrol;itcanbedangerousanddemanding;itwilleventuallykillusandreclaimourbodies.Weshouldnotbesurprisedthatincreasingnumbersofpeoplechoosetoliveentirelyindoors,leavingbuildingsonlytorideinairplanesorcars,viewingthegreatoutside,iftheyviewitatall,