Sentence 2

英文原文：

As a person becomes more sophisticated, its conceptions of supernatural forces and causal relationships may change. As a result, it may abandon or modify some rites. But the myths that have grown up around the rites may continue as part of the group's oral tradition and may even come to be acted out under conditions divorced from these rites.

TPO-1(2001.11.8): The Origins of Theater

本题全文及相应译文见免费共享资料“黄金阅读”

参考翻译：

（1）按照英文的语序直译：

当人变得（比以前）更加睿智，他的概念（对超自然力量及因果关系）可能改变。结果人们可能会摒弃或是修改一些仪式。但是神话（那些伴随着仪式成长起来的神话）可能将继续作为氏族的口头传统的一部分，甚至可能被演绎出来（在与这些仪式都无关的情形下）。

（2）按照中文思维调整之后的语序译：

当人们认识事物的能力进一步加强时，他们对超自然力量以及因果关系的认识可能会有所改变；因此，他们也许会摒弃或者更改某些仪式。但是，已经在这些仪式中发展起来的神话故事可能会继续作为口头传统的一部分（流传下来），甚至可能在脱离了仪式的情况下被表演出来。

知识点小结：

1.“as”在这里是表伴随状态的连词，意思是“随着”。关于“as”这个单词，大家不妨有诸多用法。我甚至建议大家单独花些时间来熟悉并掌握“as”在词典中的所有词条。一般来说，“grow up”的主语都是“人”（sb.），表示“人的成长”。但事实上，这个词组的主语也可以是“物”（sth.），表示“某个事物兴起并发展起来”。例如：

A variety of heavy industries grew up alongside the port.

各种重工业在港口边上兴起并发展起来。

2.“But”开头的句子很长，要想翻译得准确，大家必须弄清楚句子的结构。首先，“that have grown up around the rites”是定语从句，修饰“the myths”（本句话的主语）。其次，“and”连接两个平行结构——“may continue as part of the group's oral tradition”以及“may even come to be acted out under conditions divorced from these rites”（注意：所谓平行结构，就是连词前后的结构一致。大家不妨对比一下“and”前后的成分）。最后，“divorced from these rites”是分词结构，修饰前面的名词“conditions”。

3. 词组“divorce from”的意思是“与……脱离，与……分开”，其常见用法是“divorce A from B”及“A is divorced from B”。提醒大家注意“divorce from”和“derive from”二者之间的差别。

与本次句子翻译相关的阅读题目：

Stories (myths) may then grow up around a ritual. Frequently the myths include representatives of those supernatural forces that the rites celebrate or hope to influence. Performers may wear costumes and masks to represent the mythical characters or supernatural forces in the rituals or in accompanying celebrations. As a person becomes more sophisticated, its conceptions of supernatural forces and causal relationships may change. As a result, it may abandon or modify some rites. But the myths that have grown up around the rites may continue as part of the group's oral tradition and may even come to be acted out under conditions divorced from these rites. When this occurs, the first step has been taken toward theater as an autonomous activity, and thereafter entertainment and aesthetic values may gradually replace the former mystical and socially efficacious concerns.

According to this paragraph, what may cause societies to abandon certain rites?

A. Emphasizing theater as entertainment.

B. Developing a new understanding of why events occur.

C. Finding a more sophisticated way of representing mythical characters.

D. Moving from a primarily oral tradition to a more written tradition.

汉英翻译练习：

随着时间的推移，人们的观念可能会发生改变，环保意识可能会增强，对可再生能源的呼声可能会更高。

参考翻译：

As time passes, people's perception may change and their environmental consciousness may be enhanced. As a result, the call for renewable resources would become louder and louder.

请将以上句子扩充后的中文段落翻译成英文：

（1）显然，化石燃料在当今社会中依旧占有主导地位：使用可更新能源 (如数年前就被报道的太阳能汽车）的交通工具在日常生活中依旧十分罕见。（2）但能源的革命即将爆发。（3）随着时间的推移，人们的观念可能会发生改变，环保意识可能会增强，对可再生能源的呼声会更高。（4）近年来，正是由于环保观念的提升，中国民众愿意在价格差异不大的情况下，选择对环境更加友好的太阳能热水器——这种略贵的热水器去年令人欣喜地占领了三分之一的市场。

大家想一想，该翻译练习是不是可以用到下面的托福写作中呢？

写作题目：

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

Renewable sources of energy (sun, wind, water) will soon replace fossil fuels such as gas, oil, and coal.

——2008.2.24

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