2021年12月四级翻译真题及答案简析——大运河（找大学版）

　　原文

　　大运河(Grand Canal)是世界上最长的人工河，北起北京，南至杭州。它是中国历史上最宏伟的工程之一。大运河始建于公元前4世纪，公元13世纪末建成。修建之初是为了运输粮食，后来也用于运输其他商品。大运河沿线区域逐渐发展成为中国的工商业中心。长久以来，大运河对中国经济发展发挥了重要作用，有力地促进了南北地区之间的人员往来和文化交流。

　　参考译文

　　The Grand Canal, one of the most magnificent projects in the Chinese history, is the longest man-made waterway in the world, which stretches from Beijing in the north to Hangzhou in the south. The construction of the canal began in the 4th century and was completed at the end of 13th century. Originally, it was responsible for grain transportation, and later was used to carry other commodities. The areas along the canal have gradually developed into the center of industry and commerce in China. For a long time, it has played a key role in the economic development of China, promoting the personal exchange and cultural communication between the north and the south greatly.

　　简析

　　句1+句2：大运河(Grand Canal)是世界上最长的人工河，北起北京，南至杭州。它是中国历史上最宏伟的工程之一。

　　解析：该句中“世界上最长的... one of the longest man-made rivers in the world " 类似句式在2017年6月中珠江、长江、黄河中都有出现过，由此可见回顾往年真题的重要性。在翻译技巧上，该句属于课上重点强调过的多动句的翻译，可以选择用定语从句或者并列句来进行翻译。另外，句2句式较为简单且为对句1的解释说明，所以采取了同位语的结构来处理。

　　译文：The Grand Canal, one of the most magnificent projects in the Chinese history, is the longest man-made waterway in the world, which stretches from Beijing in the north to Hangzhou in the south.

　　句3：大运河始建于公元前4世纪，公元13世纪末建成。

　　解析：该句主要注意公元前4世纪的表述为“the 4th century BC”;另外，需要注意第二个分句主干需要用到被动语态来处理，以及由于出现了表示过去的时间所以选择一般过去时。

　　译文：The construction of the canal began in the 4th century BC and was completed at the end of 13th century.

　　句4：修建之初是为了运输粮食，后来也用于运输其他商品。

　　解析：句中“是为了 was responsible for ”,需要注意句中表述为“修建之初”，所以时态是一般过去时，句式上，同样是对多个动作的处理，选择了并列来表达。

　　译文：Originally, it was responsible for grain transportation, and later was used to carry other commodities.

　　句5：大运河沿线区域逐渐发展成为中国的工商业中心。

　　解析：该句注意定语的翻译：“大运河沿线区域 areas along the canal”,选择用介词短语后置修饰前面的名词，类似句式也出现在2016年6月乌镇的题目中。

　　译文：The areas along the canal have gradually developed into the center of industry and commerce in China.

　　句6：长久以来，大运河对中国经济发展发挥了重要作用，有力地促进了南北地区之间的人员往来和文化交流。

　　解析：词汇短语上：“长久以来for a long time” 以及“发挥了...重要作用 play a key role in”都曾出现在往年真题中，再次体现了真题词汇的重要性。另外句式上，也是多动句的处理，选择了非谓语来表达。

　　译文：For a long time, it has played a key role in the economic development of China, promoting the personal exchange and cultural communication between the north and the south greatly