Sentence 6

英文原文：

Since the laws of physics, not some arbitrary decision, have determined the general form of applied-art objects, they follow basic patterns, so much so that functional forms can vary only within certain limits.

OG Example: Applied Arts and Fine Arts

本题全文及相应译文见免费共享资料“黄金阅读”

参考翻译：

由于物理定律，而非一些主观的抉择，决定了实用工艺品的一般形状，（所以）它们（实用工艺品）遵循基本的模式，以至于它们功能性的形状只能在有限的范围内有所变化。

知识点小结：

1. 该句有一个表示因果关系的连接词“since”，意思为“既然，由于”，相当于“because”，所以大家应该理清该句的句内逻辑，把因果关系翻译出来。

2. 托福考试中经常会考到代词的指代，所以翻译时大家也应弄清楚句中的“they”指代的是什么，在这里应该是指代“applied-art objects”。需要注意的是，这个句子比较奇怪，并不符合传统意义上对于代词指代对象的所谓口诀，即“后半句的代词主语指代前半句的名词主语”。提醒大家，此处应该使用“词意对应”这种解决办法。

3. 短语“so much so that”，意思是“达到这样的程度以至于……”， 例如：

She is poor, so much so that she has to go begging.

她很穷，以至于不得不去乞讨。

需要注意的是，该短语前的逗号可以省略，该句即变为“She is poor so much so that she has to go begging.”。同样，原句中如果将逗号省略，则变为“they follow basic patterns so much so that functional forms can vary only within certain limits”。这时候如果不知道“so much so that”这个短语的话，估计很多同学就难以理解这句话了。再看下一个例句：

Perhaps so much time has passed that there will never be satisfactory answers to the cave images, but their mystique only adds to their importance.

与本次句子翻译相关的阅读题目：

Since the laws of physics, not some arbitrary decision, have determined the general form of applied-art objects, they follow basic patterns, so much so that functional forms can vary only within certain limits.

1. The word“they” in the passage refers to ______ .

A. applied-art objects

B. the laws of physics

C. containers

D. the sides of pots

2. Which of the following best expresses the essential information In the highlighted sentence? Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

Since the laws of physics, not some arbitrary decision, have determined the general form of applied-art objects, they follow basic patterns, so much so that functional forms can vary only within certain limits.

A. Functional applied-art objects cannot vary much from the basic patterns determined by the laws of physics.

B. The function of applied-art objects is determined by basic patterns in the laws of physics.

C. Since functional applied-art objects vary only within certain limits, arbitrary decisions cannot have determined their general form.

D. The general form of applied-art objects is limited by some arbitrary decision that is not determined by the laws of physics.

汉英翻译练习：

父母在孩子人格的培养上影响如此之大，以至于会有这样一句古话：“有其父必有其子。”

参考翻译：

Parents exert such huge infl uence on the cultivation of their children's personality that there exists an old saying“like father, like son”.

请将以上句子扩充后的中文段落翻译成英文：

（1）父母在孩子人格的培养上影响如此之大 ,以至于东方会有这样一句古话 :“龙生龙 ,凤生凤，老鼠的孩子会打洞。”（2）而西方哲学家 Aristotle却说“a friend is a second self ”这说明了朋友（在学校，朋友便来自同学）的重要性。（3）尽管同学和父母的影响都很重，要，但对于哪一方面更重要，人们并没有共识。（4）我个人认为，出于生理和心理两个方面，父母的影响更重要一些。

大家想一想，该翻译练习是不是可以用到下面的托福写作中呢？

写作题目：

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

The influence from classmates is more important than that from parents.

——2006.12.1

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