2023年研究生類研究生入學(xué)考試專業(yè)課英語專業(yè)英漢互譯歷年高頻考題帶答案難題附詳解（圖片大小可自由調(diào)整）第1卷一.歷年考點(diǎn)試題黑鉆版(共50題)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，中國(guó)政府出臺(tái)了進(jìn)一步擴(kuò)大內(nèi)需、促進(jìn)經(jīng)濟(jì)增長(zhǎng)的十項(xiàng)措施，預(yù)計(jì)在未來兩年時(shí)間內(nèi)投資4萬億人民幣。中國(guó)政府在例行的中央經(jīng)濟(jì)工作會(huì)議召開之前突然宣布該方案，既顯示了中國(guó)政府抗擊金融危機(jī)、防范經(jīng)濟(jì)增長(zhǎng)下滑的信心，也反映了中國(guó)政府對(duì)國(guó)內(nèi)經(jīng)濟(jì)增長(zhǎng)前景的預(yù)期明顯惡化。該方案剛一出臺(tái)便引發(fā)世界范圍內(nèi)高度關(guān)注，并直接推動(dòng)全球股市上漲。然而，但由于中國(guó)政府并未在第一時(shí)間詳細(xì)披露該方案實(shí)施細(xì)則，近日來圍繞該方案的猜測(cè)與爭(zhēng)議綿延不絕。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.如果發(fā)生不可抗力事件，或我們無法控制的任何其他以外事故，我方對(duì)遲交或不交貨概不負(fù)責(zé)。9.產(chǎn)品安全問題關(guān)系消費(fèi)者的生命和健康，雖然“中國(guó)制造”中僅有少數(shù)產(chǎn)品存在質(zhì)量和安全問題，但對(duì)“中國(guó)制造”的品牌已造成極大的負(fù)面影響。對(duì)此，中國(guó)政府應(yīng)從戰(zhàn)略的角度來看待這一問題，不僅嚴(yán)把出口產(chǎn)品的質(zhì)量監(jiān)控和管理關(guān)，更希望從國(guó)內(nèi)整個(gè)產(chǎn)品質(zhì)量與安全環(huán)境著手，正本清源。另一方面，中國(guó)政府應(yīng)從全盤上來考慮，開展“中國(guó)制造”的品牌營(yíng)銷戰(zhàn)略，樹立國(guó)家品牌形象。同時(shí)，中國(guó)政府應(yīng)加強(qiáng)公共關(guān)系管理與危機(jī)應(yīng)對(duì)措施，盡快消除不良事件對(duì)中國(guó)出口貿(mào)易的影響。中國(guó)企業(yè)應(yīng)在抓好產(chǎn)品質(zhì)量的同時(shí)，隨時(shí)應(yīng)對(duì)此類突發(fā)事件的發(fā)生，總結(jié)經(jīng)驗(yàn)和教訓(xùn)，學(xué)會(huì)及時(shí)向外界公布有關(guān)信息，說明事實(shí)情況。中國(guó)的行業(yè)協(xié)會(huì)應(yīng)當(dāng)有應(yīng)急公關(guān)意識(shí)，充分利用中外行業(yè)商會(huì)組織，從中協(xié)調(diào)和溝通，化解媒體、民意的誤解。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.北京獲得2008奧運(yùn)會(huì)的舉辦權(quán)是世界對(duì)北京的認(rèn)同和信任。北京提出了“綠色奧運(yùn)、科技奧運(yùn)、人文奧運(yùn)”的舉辦理念。綠色奧運(yùn)，就是將環(huán)境保護(hù)作為奧運(yùn)設(shè)施規(guī)劃和建設(shè)的首要條件。北京正在各個(gè)領(lǐng)域里努力推廣環(huán)保工作，積極參與各項(xiàng)改善生態(tài)環(huán)境的活動(dòng)，大幅度提高首都環(huán)境質(zhì)量，建設(shè)生態(tài)城市。北京2008奧運(yùn)將以綠色清新的面貌出現(xiàn)，為世界環(huán)保運(yùn)動(dòng)注入新的動(dòng)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,