【难句】1. What was interesting was how quickly, by using relevant and local examples where possible, the pupils cottoned on to how the interplay of rights and responsibilities could affect their lives, and so became active and engaged participants in the classroom debates. (The Guardian Sep. 12, 2007)
【结构分析】 本句体现了逗号分隔。主语部分由what引导的名词性从句充当，what在从句中作主语。表语由how引导的从句充当，被插入的方式状语by using relevant and local examples where possible分隔。去掉分隔，我们连接为What was interesting was how quickly the pupils cottoned on to how the interplay of rights and responsibilities could affect their lives, and so became active and engaged participants in the classroom debates。注意表语从句由and so连接了两个谓语cottoned on(理解)和became active and engaged participants，并且cottoned on to(理解)后的宾语也由how引导的从句充当。在翻译时，我们仍然将分隔部分所作的状语提前。 【参考译文】 有意思的是，通过讲述可能发生在身边与自己息息相关的例子，学生们很快地理解了权利与责任间的相互作用是怎样影响他们的生活，然后更积极主动地参加课堂讨论。 【难句】2. It is only when the environment demands our attention—a dog barks, a child cries, a telephone rings—that our mental time machines switch themselves off and deposit us with a bump in the here and now. (Time Jan. 19, 2007) 【结构分析】 本句是破折号分隔。分隔部分a dog barks, a child cries, a telephone rings分隔了原本的强调句型It is only when the environment demands our attention that our mental time machines switch themselves off and deposit us with a bump in the here and now。被强调的部分是when引导的状语从句表示时间。分隔部分由三个并列的名词短语构成，举例说明前文the environment的具体情况。 【参考译文】 只有在环境需要我们的注意的时候——狗在吠，孩子哭，电话铃响——我们的精神时间机制才会自动关闭，且让我们在此时此地受到一击。 【难句】3. Nokia, which has made emerging markets a priority, continues to introduce low-cost phones designed for markets where many users do not have access to reliable electricity, and may not even be able to read. (Business Week Jan. 29, 2007) 【结构分析】 本句是逗号分隔，体现为非限制性定语从句。which has made emerging markets a priority分隔了主谓部分，去掉分隔，得到Nokia continues to introduce lowcost phones designed for markets where many users do not have access to reliable electricity, and may not even be able to read。我们注意到markets后是一个关系副词where引导的定语从句where many users do not have access to reliable electricity，and may not even be able to read，where在从句中作状语，相当于in which。在翻译时，我们根据汉语习惯，将定语从句转译为全句的状语，并根据其使用了完成时态翻译为“……后”。 【参考译文】 在新兴市场中取得了优先地位后，诺基亚继续引进低成本的手机，这些手机是针对不能获得可靠电力甚至可能是不识字的使用者构成的市场而设计的。