1. The casual friendliness of many Americans should be interpreted neither as superficial nor as artificial, but as the result of a historically developed cultural tradition.

【譯文】許多美國人隨意表現(xiàn)出的友善不應(yīng)該被看作是表面或虛假的應(yīng)酬，而應(yīng)看作是一種文化傳統(tǒng)歷史發(fā)展的結(jié)果。

【析句】句子的主干結(jié)構(gòu)是The casual friendliness should be interpreted。注意neither… nor… but結(jié)構(gòu)的使用，這種結(jié)構(gòu)表示“既不是……也不是……而是……”，重點(diǎn)在but之后。

【講詞】casual意為“輕松的，隨意的”。I only have a casual acquaintance with avant-garde music.（我對先鋒派音樂略知一二。）He made a casual remark at the reception.（他在招待會(huì)上作了即席發(fā)言。）superficial意為“膚淺的”。Only the most superficial mind would assert nowadays that man is a reasonable creature.（如今只有比較簡單的頭腦才會(huì)斷言人是有理智的動(dòng)物。）The manager made only a few superficial changes in the feasibility plan.（經(jīng)理只在可行性報(bào)告中做幾處無關(guān)緊要的小改動(dòng)。） artificial意為“人工的；造作的；虛假的”。The policy no doubt set up artificial barriers against women and minorities.（這一政策無疑設(shè)置了歧視婦女和少數(shù)民族的人為障礙。）This brand of tinned beans contains no artificial colouring.（這種品牌的罐裝青豆不含人造色素。）

2. As is true of any developed society, in America a complex set of cultural signals, assumptions, and conventions underlies all social interrelationships.

【譯文】像其他發(fā)達(dá)國家一樣，在美國，人際關(guān)系的背后是一系列復(fù)雜的文化符號、信念和習(xí)俗。

【析句】句子的主干結(jié)構(gòu)是a complex set of cultural signals, assumptions, and conventions underlies all social interrelationships。as在句中是代詞，表示“這一情況，這一事實(shí)”。 

【講詞】as is是一個(gè)常見的表達(dá)方式。The night had turned cold, as is usual around here.（夜晚變得很冷，在這一帶經(jīng)常如此。）As is described in the picture, "love is a lamp which is brighter in darker places."（如同畫中所描繪的那樣，“愛是一盞燈，在暗處更顯明亮。”）assumption意為“承擔(dān)，擔(dān)當(dāng)；假定；設(shè)想”。His assumption of power was welcomed by everyone.（他掌權(quán)為大家所歡迎。）The hostess bustled about with an assumption of authority.（女主人擺出一副權(quán)威的樣子忙來忙去。）