英语四级之大学英语四级翻译练习（三）

　练 习 三
　　Directions: Read the underlined sentences carefully, and then translate them into Chinese. You may check your answers after you finish them.
　　Passage One
　　The science of. meteorology is concerned with the study of the structure, state, and behavior of the atmosphere. The subject may be approached from several directions, but the scene cannot be fully approached from any one vantage point (有利的地位). Different view must be integrated to give perspective to the whole picture.
　　One may consider the condition of the atmosphere at a given moment and attempt to predict changes from that condition over a period of a few hours to a few days ahead. This approach is covered by the branch of the science called synoptic meteorology.
　　Synoptic meteorology is the scientific basis of the technique of weather forecasting by means of the preparation and analysis of weather maps and aerological diagram （高空气象图）. The practical importance of the numerous applications of weather forecasting cannot be overestimated . In serving the needs of shipping, aviation, agriculture, industry, and many other interests and field of human activity with accurate weather warnings and professional forecast advice, great benefits are reaped in the form of the saving of human life and property and in economic advantages of various kinds. One important purpose of the science of meteorology is constantly to strive, through advanced study and research, to increase our knowledge of the atmosphere with the aim of improving the accuracy of weather forecasts.
　　The tools needed to advance our knowledge in this way are the disciplines of mathematics and physics applied to solve meteorological problems. The use of these tools forms that branch of the science called dynamic meteorology.
　　Passage Two
　　Much attention has been given in the media to the so-called information superhighway which is supposed to use computer and telecommunication technology to completely change the way Americans will do business and receive information and entertainment at home in the future. There have been countless newspaper and magazine articles, television and radio discussions, meetings and conferences about it. However, according to a public opinion poll, most Americans say they have never heard of it.
　　The people who conducted the poll didn't actually talk to most Americans, of course, but they did talk to 1 255 individuals, and they say the result has a margin of error of plus or minus three percent age points. 13ut even if it's off by three percentage points, it's still amazing. Two-thirds of Americans do not recall having heard of the in-formation superhighway. And, even among the 34 percent who have heard of it. Most say that they have little understanding of what it is. J3ut even though most of those who have heard of it don't know what it is, six out of ten of them say that they are for it.
　　It seems very odd that people can admit that they don't know what something is and yet say they are for it, or against it, for that matter. It generally works out better when you find things out, rather than this business of linking something before finding out what it is. This is the way they know anything about it or not.
　　Unfortunately, this is the way political leadership works today: the so- called leaders read the polls to find out what the people want and here's the poll telling us that the people are ready to say what they want without knowing the first thing about it. This is the blind leading the blind. No wonder things are the way they are.