Part IV Translation (30 minutes)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.

相比于一些发达国家，中国高速铁路起步较晚，但十年间中国已经成为世界上高速铁路发展最快的国家。无论是基础建设、运营里程，还是技术经验和经营管理，中国高铁均在稳步、快速的发展进程中逐步向世界证明自身的能力。近年来，无论是外交访问(diplomatic visit)还是国外领导访华，我国领导人都会向外推介中国高铁，让中国高铁成为代表中国产品的名片，让世界见证中国的实力。中国高铁的向外输出在一定程度上标志着中国从技术引进走向自主创新(independent innovation)，在发展上实现了重大飞跃。

【范文】

In a world where information floods due to the advancement of information technology, we tend to be distracted by the overwhelming resources available.

Admittedly, the information age has brought us much convenience as we can promptly have access to an abundance of resources that we need. Nevertheless, it is just the information explosion that makes us confused and annoyed. For instance, when we look for something online, a large quantity of irrelevant and useless information pops out at once, such as commercial advertisements and vulgar entertainment news, which prevents us from concentrating on what we should do, making it inefficient to carry out a task and thus causing a waste of time.

In light of the seriousness of the problem, much attention should be paid to avoid being distracted. For one thing, we should have a very clear idea of what we want to do. We may write it down beforehand to refrain us from being carried away. For another, we should train ourselves to be more self-disciplined. Above all, it is up to us to distinguish the essence and dross and keep focused.

【译文】

由于信息技术的进步，这个世界信息泛滥，我们容易被可获取的大量资源分散注意力。

诚然，信息时代给我们带来了很多的便利，我们可以快速地获取我们所需的大量资源。然而，正是信息爆炸使我们困惑和烦恼不已。比如，当我们在网上寻找某方面信息的时候，大量不相关的无效信息瞬间涌出，诸如广告、低俗的娱乐新闻，这使得我们无法集中注意力来做我们应该做的事情，使我们做事效率低下，也因此造成了时间的浪费。

鉴于问题的严重性，我们应该多加注意以使自己不分心。一方面，我们应该很清楚自己想要做的事情。可以通过事先做记录来防止自己分心。另一方面，我们应该加以训练，让自己变得更自律。最重要的是，我们要辨别精华和糟粕，并保持专注。

【要点用法】

due to 因为，由于

annoyed 烦恼的，恼怒的

in light of 鉴于，考虑到

advancement 进步，发展

for instance 举例来说，比如

pay attention to 注意

distracted 分心的

a large quantity of 大量的

refrain...from... 克制……

overwhelming 大量的；压倒一切的

pop out 跳出，涌现 不做……，避免……

available 可获得的

vulgar 低俗的

carry away 失去自制力

admittedly 诚然，必须承认的是

concentrate on 集中注意力于……，

self-disciplined 自律的

have access to 获得；使用 专注于……

above all 最重要的是

an abundance of丰富的，大量的

inefficient 效率低的

distinguish 辨别

promptly 迅速地

carry out 完成，执行

dross 废物，糟粕

【句法点评】

1．In a world where information floods due to the advancement of information technology, we tend to be distracted by the overwhelming resources available.

用一个长句开篇，点明文章的中心议题。定语从句+被动语态，句式表达有亮点。

2．Admittedly, the information age has brought us much convenience as we can promptly have access to an abundance of resources that we need.

主体段开头欲抑先扬，思维缜密，体现论证的严谨。

3．Nevertheless, it is just the information explosion that makes us confused and annoyed.

通过转折过渡到论证的核心。强调句式的使用使表达更有力度。

4．For instance, when we look for something online, a large quantity of irrelevant and useless information..., making it inefficient to carry out a task and thus causing a waste of time.

用长难句举例论证，使论证更有说服力。定语从句和非谓语结构相结合，使表达多样化。

5．In light of the seriousness of the problem, much attention should be paid to avoid being distracted.

结尾段过渡自然，提出建议和解决办法。被动语态的使用较为地道，符合英语表达习惯。

6．For one thing, we should have a very clear idea of what we want to do．We may write it down beforehand to refrain us from being carried away．For another, we should train ourselves to be more self-disciplined.

从两个方面阐明该如何做，层次清晰。

7．Above all, it is up to us to distinguish the essence and dross and keep focused.

总结句再次强化本文主旨，起到了画龙点睛的作用。