【难句】 To make the technology as simple as possible, Sony, HP, and other vendors are finally creating software that can be used across all their devices—be it PCs, TVs, or set—top boxes. (Business Week Jan. 29, 2007)
【结构分析】 本句结构比较清晰，是一个复合句。句首的不定式短语To make the technology as simple as possible作全句的目的状语。主句为Sony, HP, and other vendors are finally creating software…。关系代词that引导的定语从句that can be used across all their devices修饰先行词software，that在从句中作主语，并且使用了被动语态。第一个破折号后面是对across all their devices的具体说明，注意这里采用了whether…or…引导的让步状语从句省略whether的特殊形式be it PCs, TVs, or set。第二个破折号后top boxes是对software的最终阐释，我们去掉中间让步状语作的分隔成分，可以连接全句为Sony, HP, and other vendors are finally creating software that can be used across all their devices—top boxes。
【参考译文】为了让科技尽可能的简单，索尼、惠普和其他销售者最终开发了可以在所有装置上使用的软件——不论是个人电脑、电视机或是数字解码器——这种软件就是机顶盒。
【难句】 On the face of it, that doesn’t seem especially surprising: we feel strong emotion at important events, which are obviously more memorable than ordinary moments. (Time Jan. 18, 2007)
【结构分析】这是典型的冒号前为主句，冒号后作解释说明的实例。句首部分On the face of it为全句的状语，主句部分为that doesn’t seem especially surprising，这里seem采用了系动词的用法。注意形容词surprising指物的ing使用。冒号后we feel strong emotion at important events是对主句的解释说明，非限制性定语从句which are obviously more memorable than ordinary moments使用了比较结构，关系代词which在从句中作主语。注意which后的be动词使用了复数形式are，联系上文，我们不难判断出它指代important events。
【参考译文】乍看起来，那似乎不会使我们特别吃惊：在重大事件上我们会感到强烈的感情冲击——重大事件显然比平常日子让人记忆深刻。