【难句1】 The engines would have variable nozzles, which would be fully opened on take-off and landing, so that the exhaust would be slow and relatively quiet, and narrowed when the aircraft was cruising, providing the necessary speed. (The Economist Nov. 9, 2006)
【结构分析】 本句是主从复合句。主句为The engines would have variable nozzles。其后的定语从句比较复杂,以逗号后and为切入点,得到which would be fully opened…and narrowed…,关系代词which指代先行词nozzles在从句中作主语。其中so that引导的结果状语从句so that the exhaust would be slow and relatively quiet说明(nozzles)would be fully opened on takeoff and landing情况发生时所产生的结果,句末的现在分词结构providing the necessary speed 作(nozzles)would be narrowed when the aircraft was cruising情况发生时的伴随结果,其中when引导的从句作时间状语。
【参考译文】 引擎将配有各种各样的尾喷管,在起飞和降落时这些尾喷管会全部打开,这样喷气速度会下降,噪音也会更小;而在飞机巡航过程中,尾喷管将变小以保证必要的飞行速度。
【难句2】 If it decides in favour, the whole industry will feel the impact, for it will affect not just European airlines but all those that fly into and out of the EU. (The Economist Jun. 8, 2006)
【结构分析】 以连词for为切入点,得到两个并列结构,分别为If it decides in favour, the whole industry will feel the impact和for it will affect not just European airlines but all those that fly into and out of the EU。前一分句中,if引导从句If it decides in favour作条件状语;后一分句中,谓语affect的宾语部分使用了not just…but…结构,句末的定语从句that fly into and out of the EU修饰先行词those。
【参考译文】 如果意见是肯定的,那么整个民航业将受到影响,因为这个方案不仅影响欧洲的航线,同样也对到达欧洲和飞离欧洲的航线产生作用。
【难句3】 The business director concentrates on planning and practicality, whether it’s deciding how to change a company’s business strategy or ensuring that everyone attending a meeting can see the overhead projector. (The Sunday Times Jan. 11, 2006)
【结构分析】 本句的主句在逗号前The business director concentrates on planning and practicality,后面的让步状语从句由whether引导。在从句中,由or并列了两个谓语be deciding 和ensuring。decide的宾语由how to do的形式充当,ensure的宾语由that引导的名词性that everyone attending a meeting can see the overhead projector构成,注意everyone的后置定语是一个现在分词结构,我们可以还原成一个定语从句,who is attending…
【参考译文】 商业导演集中于计划和实施,不管是决定怎样改变一个公司的商业战略,还是保证每位参加会议的人都能看到头顶的放映机。