研英翻譯演練(67)

若水221147 分享 時間:
in general,the tests work most effectively when the qualities to be measured can be most precisely defined and least effectively when what is to be measured or predicted can be not well defined.

參考答案:

要點:句子的框架是the tests work most effectively when…and least effectively when…。and連接兩個并列分句,每個并列分句中皆有一個when引導(dǎo)的時間狀語從句分別說明work most effectively和and(work)least effectively。第二個時間狀語從句中還有一個主語從句what…predicted。the tests是主句的主語,work為動詞做謂語。qualities在此處是可數(shù)名詞,不譯為“質(zhì)量”,而譯為“特征”。defined不能直譯為“被定義為”,而應(yīng)譯為主動語態(tài)“界定”。

譯文:一般來說,當(dāng)所需要測定的特征能被精確界定時,測試最為有效;而當(dāng)所測定或預(yù)測的東西不能被明確界定時,測試效果最差。
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