1. The existence of the giant clouds was virtually required for the Big Bang, first put forward in the 1920s, to maintain its reign as the dominant explanation of the cosmos.

【譯文】巨大的宇宙云的存在，實(shí)際上是使二十年代首創(chuàng)的大爆炸論得以保持其宇宙起源論的主導(dǎo)地位所不可缺少的。

【析句】本句的主干為T(mén)he existence of the giant clouds was virtually required for the Big Bang，過(guò)去分詞短語(yǔ)first put forward in the 1920s在句中作后置定語(yǔ)，修飾前面的the Big Bang。

【講詞】Big Bang是天文學(xué)的一個(gè)名詞，應(yīng)該譯成“大爆炸”或“大爆炸理論”。put forward意為“提出”。The Council has put forward valuable concrete proposals on energy conservation.（委員會(huì)提出了寶貴而具體的節(jié)能意見(jiàn)。）China has put forward three historical sites for UNESCO heritage list.（中國(guó)提交三個(gè)歷史名勝申請(qǐng)成為聯(lián)合國(guó)教科文組織的世界遺產(chǎn)。）

UNESCO的全稱是the United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization。

2. Astrophysicists working with ground based detectors at the South Pole and balloon borne instruments are closing in on such structures,and may report their findings soon.

【譯文】天體物理學(xué)家使用南極陸基探測(cè)器及球載儀器，正越來(lái)越近地觀測(cè)這些云系，也許不久會(huì)報(bào)告他們的觀測(cè)結(jié)果。

【析句】本句為連詞and引導(dǎo)的并列分句，主語(yǔ)為Astrophysicists，現(xiàn)在分詞短語(yǔ)（working with ground-based detectors at the South Pole and balloon-borne instruments）是主語(yǔ)的后置定語(yǔ)，兩個(gè)并列謂語(yǔ)分別為are closing in on such structures和may report their findings soon。

【講詞】to close in on意為“接近”或“快要”。AOL is closing in on launching video VoIP.（美國(guó)在線很快將推出網(wǎng)絡(luò)視頻電話。）Deadly bird flu virus is closing in on Europe.（致命的禽流感正在接近歐洲。）

ground based意為“陸基”，即基于陸地，也可以說(shuō)land based。以類似方式組成的單詞還有web-based（基于網(wǎng)絡(luò)的；網(wǎng)上的），如web-based email system（網(wǎng)絡(luò)在線電郵系統(tǒng)）。