2017年6月英语六级练习题：翻译③

1.红楼梦

　　Ever since the publication of A Dream of Red Mansions some 200 years ago, hundreds of millions of people have read its Chinese original or its translations in various languages. Of these innumerable people, how many have read the novel by starting with a perusal of the critics’ articles and allowing themselves to be led by the nose by the critics as to how to read the novel? Next to none. All literary works, especially a monumental one like A Dream of Red Mansions, are extremely rich in content and involve diverse social strata-to such an extent that they virtually resemble a mountain of treasure or a labyrinth. And the readers are even more complicated, differing from each other in family background. They will each appreciate a certain aspect of the novel according to their own individuality. They may feel inspired and enlightened, and hence love it, or they may feel hurt, and hence loathe it. In short, the reactions vary.

2.三十六计

　　The Thirty-Six Stratagems is an ancient book concerning the art of war. The thirty-six stratagems are arranged in terms of their names and can fall into six categories.The stratagems’names in the book have different origins.Some are from historical stories, such as “besieging Wei to save Zhao”;some are from ancient military terms,such as “making a feint to the east but attacking in the west”;and some are from idioms, such as “pointing at the mulberry but scolding the locust tree”. Each stratagem name is followed by an explanation and notes. The notes are mostly sharp statements quoted from war examples before the Song Dynasty as well as from famous ancient strategists. After the composition of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, it has been widely read in the general public and the phrase “of all thirty-six stratagems, fleeing is the best” is also frequently used.

3.二十四节气

　　The 24 solar terms is a whole name of the systemthat consists of 12 major solar terms and 12 minorsolar teims linked with each other. It reflects theclimate change, guides agriculture arrangements andalso affects people’s life. In the Spring and AutumnPeriod and the Warring States Period, people began to use solar terms as the supplementarycalendar. It was in 104 B,C. that the 24 solar terms were finally set down. As we all know,China is a country with a long history of agriculture. Agricultural production is largely influencedby the laws of nature. In ancient times, farmers arranged their agricultural activities accordingto the move of : the sun. It is the fact that the 24 solar terms takes into account the position ofthe sun that makes us attach importance to it.