Is this a defect，or are the authors working out of,or trying to forge,a different kind of aesthetic? (3)

　　这究竟是一种缺陷呢，还是这些作者想要按照一种与众不同的美学体系进行创作，抑或是在试图创立一种与众不同的美学体系?

　　难句类型：插入语

　　解释：本句的句子既短，意思也不难理解，但插入语(or trying to forge)的干扰作用却极强。

　　意群训练：Is this a defect, or are the authors working out of, or trying to forge, a different kind of aesthetic?

　　As my own studies have advanced,I have been increasingly impressed with the functional　similarities between insect and vertebrate societies and less so with the structural differences that seem,at first glance,to constitute such an immense gulf between them. (5)

　　随着我的研究不断深入，我对昆虫和脊椎动物群落之间的功能类似性印象愈来愈深刻，而对结构上的差异印象愈发淡漠，虽然这些结构上的差异初看上去似乎构成了二者间一条无法愈越的鸿沟。

　　难句类型：复杂修饰、插入语、省略

　　解释：本句子的中间一段impressed with the functional similarites between insect and vertebrate societies and less so with the structural differences容易令人看晕，其中的insect and vertebrate societies and less so with由两个and连接了三个部分，然而它们其实不是同一层次的并列，第一个and实际上是between insect societies and vertebrate societies的一部分，是并列的，而and之后的less so with其实是对于一个完整的表达方式I have been increasingly less impressed with的省略形式，去掉了与前面重复的成分。

　　后面修饰的structural differences的定语从句that seem, at first glance, to constitute such an immense gulf between them中，又出现了一个别扭的插入语at first glance,把应该连在一起的seem to 粗暴地分开，令人不熟悉此类难句的人倍感不适。

　　意群训练：As my own studies have advanced, I have been increasingly impressed with the functional similarities between insect and vertebrate societies and less so with the structural differences that seem, at first glance, to constiture such an immense gulf between them.

　　In addition, the style of some Black novels, like Jean Toomer's Cane, verges on expressionism or surrealism ;does this technique provide a counterpoint to the prevalent theme that portrays the fate against which Black heroes are pitted , a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expression ? (5)

　　不仅如此，有些黑人小说(比如JT的甘蔗)的风格接近与表现主义和超现实主义;这种技巧是否为流行的主题提供了一个和谐的对应呢?这种主题刻画了黑人注意与之相抗争的命运，这是一个通常用更为自然主义的表现手法所表达的主题。

　　难句类型：复杂修饰、插入语

　　解释：在本句中有三个词需要先解释一番：verge on这个词组是接近于、濒于的意思，hero在文学作品中是主人公的意思，pit作动词时，除了挖坑、窖藏之外，还有使竞争、使斗争的意思，其英文释义为：to set as gamecocks into or as if into a pit to fight, to set into opposition or rivalry usually used with against.在此用的是后一种语义的被动语态fate againt which Black heros are pitted.如果用主动语态则是：pit black heros againt fate.

　　另外本句的结构复杂，分号之后是一个一般疑问句，但是由于修饰成分过多，过长，使得读者看不清楚这个句子在问什么。其实如果没有最后的那个 prevalent theme的同位语a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expression,本句会易懂得多。

　　意群训练：In addition, the style of some Black novels, like Jean Toomer's Cane, verges on expressionism or surrealism; does this technique provide a counterpoint to the prevalent theme that portrays the fate against which Black heroes are pitted, a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expression?