17、precious few是“几乎没有宝贵的”意思吗？
land mines are a particular problem. this silent, hidden enemy has killed thousands, mainmed 700,000,and continues to kill or injure men, women, and children each day. it's a problem that this country has precious few resources to combat, which makes the work of foreign-funded demining agencies a race against time. but in the meantime, it is afghan citizens like zahra (who was wounded in a rocket attack) and mahmuddin who are steadily picking themselves up, and relying on their own skills, strength, and hope to make better lives together.
原译
地雷是个尤为突出的问题。这个无声而暗藏的敌人已使数以千计的人丧生，使70万人残废，而且每天还在使男女老少伤亡。问题是，这个国家几乎没有对付地雷的宝贵的人力物力，从而使由外国提供资金的排雷机构疲于奔命。但与此同时，像扎赫拉（她在一次火箭筒袭击中受伤）和马哈穆丁那样的阿富汗公民却不断地振作起来，依靠自己的技能和力量，希望在一起使生活好起来。
改译
地雷是个尤为突出的问题。这个无声而暗藏的敌人已使数以千计的人丧生，使70万人残废，而且每天还在继续使男女老少伤亡。这是这个国家几乎没有任何能力对付的问题，从而使由外国提供资金的排雷机构的工作十分紧迫，分秒必争。但与此同时，像扎赫拉（她在一次火箭筒袭击中受伤）和马哈穆丁那样的阿富汗人却坚定地振作起来，依靠自己的技能、力量和希望共同使生活更美好。
点评
1.it's a problem that this country has precious few resources to combat, which makes the work of foreign-funded demining agencies a race against time.原文说的是“这是……问题”，而不是“问题是，……”；precious在这里译成“宝贵的”错了，precious few(little)是个短语，意思是“非常少，几乎没有”。例如：
precious few people would agree with you.很少人会同意你的意见。
2.a race against time是“拼命抢时间、争分夺秒”的意思。译为“疲于奔命”不够准确。
3.afghan citizens在这里译“阿富汗人”即可，不必机械地译为“阿富汗公民”。
4.steadily是“坚定地”意思，不是“不断地”。