Question

【题目】The Chinese language differs from Western languages 【1】in that,instead of an alphabet, it uses characters which stand for ideas, objects or deeds. Chinese words are formed by putting together different characters. In many cases, a single character can also make up a word. The history of the Chinese language can be examined by looking at 【2】 这些汉字是如何发展的．

Chinese writing began thousands of years ago. According to an ancient story, a man named Cang Jie invented Chinese writing. After seeing the tracks of animals in the snow and observing that the appearance of each one was different, 【3】 he had the idea that he could use different shapes to represent different objects. The first Chinese characters were drawings of physical objects. Some characters have been simplified and others have been made more difficult over time. However, as a whole, the characters have developed from drawings into standard forms. 【4】 并非所有的汉字都从物体的图画演变而来. 【5】 Sometimes to express ideas, some characters were made by combining two or more characters together．

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】在于(因为)它不使用字母而是用汉字表示思想、物体和行为

【2】how these characters developed

【3】他想到可以用不同的形状来代表不同的物体

【4】Not all characters were developed from drawings of objects

【5】有时候为了表达概念/想法， 某些汉字由两个或多个汉字组合而成

【解析】本题为汉译英，英译汉。汉译英时，分清主从，汉语句中各分句关系比较松散，所以在动笔前应认真分析句子要旨所在。句中重点往往在后。英译时，要突出重点或主句，其他部分可分别用介词短语，非谓语动词形式或各种从句表示。英译汉，翻译时既要忠实于原文，又要符合汉语的习惯；翻译不可太拘泥。拘泥；能够直译尽量不意译；翻译的过程应该是先理解后表达。

【1】本句中含有which引导的定语从句，先行词是characters。instead of意为而不是。故整个句子应译为在于(因为)它不使用字母而是用汉字表示思想、物体和行为。

【2】本题为汉译英。涉及的单词有how,characters,developed .故整句可以译为how these characters developed 。

【3】本句“he had the idea that he could use different shapes to represent different objects.”中that引导定语从句，在从句中不充当成分，意为他可以用不同的形状来代表不同的物体 ，整句可以译为他想到可以用不同的形状来代表不同的物体 。

【4】本题为汉译英。涉及到的单词有 Not all，characters，drawings of objects 。 故整句可译为Not all characters were developed from drawings of objects

【5】本句“Sometimes to express ideas, some characters were made by combining two or more characters together．此句中分词表目的，意为为了...，故整句可译为有时候为了表达概念/想法， 某些汉字由两个或多个汉字组合而成。