考研英語的文章一般選自國外的期刊或雜志，如《經(jīng)濟學家》、《泰晤士報》、《自然》、《時代周刊》等。為體現(xiàn)本書的實時性與真實性，本章摘選了來自這些期刊中最為熱門的文章中的語句進行分析，希望幫助考生在復習過程中既掌握有效的理解長難句的方法，又能獲得第一手相關信息。
　　一、定語從句
　　【難句1】He is referring to the upsurge of interest in mobile television, a nascent industry at the intersection of telecoms and media which offers new opportunities to device-makers, content producers and mobile-network operators. (The Economist Jan. 5, 2006)
　　【結(jié)構(gòu)分析】本句結(jié)構(gòu)清晰，是一個復合句。句首部分He is referring to the upsurge of interest in mobile television是主句，其后的a nascent industry at the intersection of telecoms and media…作mobile television的同位語，句末的關系代詞which引導定語從句which offers new opportunities to device-makers, content producers and mobile-network operators來修飾先行詞a nascent industry，關系代詞which在從句中作主語。
　　【參考譯文】他談到了眾人對移動電視的巨大興趣，這是一個在電信和媒體領域有交叉的新興產(chǎn)業(yè)，它給設備制造商、電視內(nèi)容制作者以及移動網(wǎng)絡運營商提供了新的機遇。
　　【難句2】Meanwhile, Apple Computer, which launched a video-capable version of its iPod portable music-player in October, is striking deals with television networks to expand the range of shows that can be purchased for viewing on the device, including “Lost”， “Desperate Housewives” and “Law & Order”. (The Economist Jan. 5, 2006)
　　【結(jié)構(gòu)分析】本句使用了分隔結(jié)構(gòu)，體現(xiàn)了非限制性定語從句分隔，從句which launched a video�瞔apable version of its iPod portable music�瞤layer in October修飾主語Apple Computer(關系代詞which在從句中作主語)分隔了主語和系動詞。連接后得到Meanwhile, Apple Computer is striking deals with television networks to expand the range of shows…其中that又引導定語從句that can be purchased for viewing on the device…修飾先行詞shows(關系代詞that在從句作主語，從句中使用了被動語態(tài))，句末的分詞結(jié)構(gòu)including “Lost”， “Desperate Housewives” and “Law & Order”作伴隨狀語，表明range of shows的具體內(nèi)容。
　　【參考譯文】與此同時，蘋果電腦公司在10月發(fā)售了一款可以觀看電視的便攜式音樂播放器iPod，這個播放器大大幫助了電視網(wǎng)絡擴大其可以供用戶購買的、用于在移動終端的節(jié)目范圍， 包括《迷失》、《絕望的主婦》以及《法律與秩序》。
　　【難句3】Some technologies do indeed improve at such a predictable pace that they obey simple formulae such as Moore’s law, which acts as a battle plan for the semiconductor industry. (The Economist Sep. 21, 2006)
　　【結(jié)構(gòu)分析】本句結(jié)構(gòu)清晰，主句為Some technologies do indeed improve at such a predictable pace that they obey simple formulae such as Moore’s law，使用了such…that…結(jié)構(gòu);關系代詞which引導定語從句which acts as a battle plan for the semiconductor industry，修飾先行詞formulae such as Moore’s law，which在從句中作主語。
　　【參考譯文】的確，有些技術(shù)的進步是以一種可預測的節(jié)奏進行著，它們遵循摩爾定律般簡單的公式，好比是半導體工業(yè)的設計圖紙。
　　【難句4】Visit many online sites to research a car, and they will sell your name immediately to local dealerships which will then harass you in the old-fashioned way. (The Economist May 27, 2006)
　　【結(jié)構(gòu)分析】以and為切入點，本句包含兩個并列分句。注意前一分句省略了和后一分句相同的主語they(指代網(wǎng)絡銷售商)。后一分句中，they will sell your name immediately to local dealerships是主句，關系代詞which引導定語從句which will then harass you in the old�瞗ashioned way，which指代上文的一整句話。
　　【參考譯文】網(wǎng)絡銷售商通過訪問大量的網(wǎng)站去尋找一部車，然后就會把你的名字提供給當?shù)氐慕?jīng)銷商，這又會讓你重回到以前那種購車模式所帶來的困擾中。

　　【難句5】Even China’s population will be declining by the early 2030s, according to the UN, which projects that by 2050 populations will be lower than they are today in 50 countries. (The Economist Jun.5, 2006)
　　【結(jié)構(gòu)分析】本句結(jié)構(gòu)清晰，是一個復合句。主句為Even China’s population will be declining by the early 2030s, according to the UN，其后的定語從句which projects that by 2050 populations will be lower than they are today in 50 countries修飾先行詞UN，關系代詞在從句中作主語，注意這里project作動詞用，譯為“指出”，且從句里使用了比較級。
　　【參考譯文】聯(lián)合國有關報告指出，即便是中國，到2030年初期人口也將開始遞減。這份報告同時還指出，到2050年，將有50個國家的人口低于今天的水平。
　　【難句6】That is surely how history will judge modern criticism of video games, which are accused of turning young people into violent criminals. (The Economist Jun.18, 2006)
　　【結(jié)構(gòu)分析】本句的主句That is surely how history will judge modern criticism of video games是主系表結(jié)構(gòu)，其中表語由how引導的名詞性從句充當，定語從句which are accused of turning young people into violent criminals修飾先行詞video games，關系代詞which指代先行詞video games在從句中作主語，這里使用了被動語態(tài)be accused of，在翻譯時我們譯成主動。
　　【參考譯文】對于當今時代那些控訴電視游戲使年輕人變成暴力罪犯的批評者們，歷史最終也將對他們作出同樣的批判。
　　【難句7】Management and HR groups spend a lot of time talking about “engagement”， which comes down to getting employees excited about the work they’re doing and its contribution to the company. (Business Week Feb. 5, 2007)
　　【結(jié)構(gòu)分析】本句的主干一目了然：Management and HR groups spend a lot of time talking about “engagement”，which引導的定語從句which comes down to getting employees excited about…。修飾先行詞engagement，關系代詞which在從句中作主語。介詞about后有兩個賓語the work and its contribution，其中work的修飾語由一個省略了關系代詞that/which的定語從句they’re doing充當，關系代詞在從句中作賓語，contribution則由后置的介詞短語修飾。
　　【參考譯文】管理和人力資源群體花費大量的時間來談論“參與”，激發(fā)雇員對他們的工作和為公司做貢獻的興趣。
　　【難句8】To make the technology as simple as possible, Sony, HP, and other vendors are finally creating software that can be used across all their devices—be it PCs, TVs, or set—top boxes. (Business Week Jan. 29, 2007)
　　【結(jié)構(gòu)分析】本句結(jié)構(gòu)比較清晰，是一個復合句。句首的不定式短語To make the technology as simple as possible作全句的目的狀語。主句為Sony, HP, and other vendors are finally creating software…。關系代詞that引導的定語從句that can be used across all their devices修飾先行詞software，that在從句中作主語，并且使用了被動語態(tài)。第一個破折號后面是對across all their devices的具體說明，注意這里采用了whether…or…引導的讓步狀語從句省略whether的特殊形式be it PCs, TVs, or set。第二個破折號后top boxes是對software的最終闡釋，我們?nèi)サ糁虚g讓步狀語作的分隔成分，可以連接全句為Sony, HP, and other vendors are finally creating software that can be used across all their devices—top boxes。
　　【參考譯文】為了讓科技盡可能的簡單，索尼、惠普和其他銷售者最終開發(fā)了可以在所有裝置上使用的軟件——不論是個人電腦、電視機或是數(shù)字解碼器——這種軟件就是機頂盒。

　　【難句9】On the face of it, that doesn’t seem especially surprising: we feel strong emotion at important events, which are obviously more memorable than ordinary moments. (Time Jan. 18, 2007)
　　【結(jié)構(gòu)分析】這是典型的冒號前為主句，冒號后作解釋說明的實例。句首部分On the face of it為全句的狀語，主句部分為that doesn’t seem especially surprising，這里seem采用了系動詞的用法。注意形容詞surprising指物的�瞚ng使用。冒號后we feel strong emotion at important events是對主句的解釋說明，非限制性定語從句which are obviously more memorable than ordinary moments使用了比較結(jié)構(gòu)，關系代詞which在從句中作主語。注意which后的be動詞使用了復數(shù)形式are，聯(lián)系上文，我們不難判斷出它指代important events。
　　【參考譯文】乍看起來，那似乎不會使我們特別吃驚：在重大事件上我們會感到強烈的感情沖擊——重大事件顯然比平常日子讓人記憶深刻。
　　【難句10】An animal that can remember the significance of that large, nasty-looking thing with the big teeth and sharp claws will survive longer and produce more offspring. (Time Jan. 18, 2007)
　　【結(jié)構(gòu)分析】本句是復合句，句子的主干為An animal will survive longer and produce more offspring。主語animal后接關系代詞that引導的定語從句，關系代詞代替animal在從句中作主語。在從句里，謂語動詞remember的賓語是the significance，它的后置定語為that large, nasty-looking thing with the big teeth and sharp claws;介詞短語with the big teeth and sharp claws補充說明thing的特點。
　　【參考譯文】一種動物只有記住了長相丑惡(具有巨大牙齒和鋒利爪子)且身體龐大的重要性，才能生存長久并繁殖更多的后代。
　　【難句11】Women who live in areas of high air pollution, exposed to invisible particles from traffic fumes, coal-fired power stations and wood fires, are at increased risk of heart disease and death, according to a study. (The Guardian Feb. 1, 2007)
　　【結(jié)構(gòu)分析】本句是主系表結(jié)構(gòu)。主語Women后是定語從句 who live in areas of high air pollution，關系代詞who在從句中代替women作主語，系表部分are at increased risk of heart disease and death被分詞結(jié)構(gòu)(表被動)作的后置定語exposed to invisible particles from traffic fumes, coal�瞗ired power stations and wood fires分隔，由于定語部分較長，在翻譯時我們可以譯為并列結(jié)構(gòu);句子末尾的according to a study作全句的狀語。
　　【參考譯文】一項研究表明，生活在嚴重空氣污染地區(qū)的女性，暴露在車輛尾氣、燃煤發(fā)電廠、森林火災所產(chǎn)生和排放的無形的微小顆粒中，越來越容易患心臟病，甚至會因此直接導致死亡。