3. Such an outcome,if it happens,could cause a political controversy;or it could lead to more power being transferred to the EU in the worst possible circumstances,namely when the Union is deeply unpopular.
要点 这是个复合句。条件从句因为太短,置于主句的主谓之间,造成句子割裂,翻译时应将从句提到句首。namely when the……unpopular是一个状语从句,用来解释the worst possible circumstances.the EU:the European Union,欧盟。
译文 这种结果一旦产生,就可能引起政治上的争吵;在最糟糕的情况下,即在欧盟很不得人心的时候,也可能使更多的权利落到欧盟手中。
4. That fact,let alone the current division between the 11 euro countries and the four,led by Britain,that have not joined,is likely to mean that the Union should become a multi-system entity,with some countries signing up to everything and others choosing only some things.
要点 句子的主干结构是That fact…… is likely to mean that……。with some countries signing up to everything and others choosing only some things是“with +复合结构”形式,表示伴随状态。短语let alone……not joined置于主谓之间,造成句子割裂,翻译时应将其还原,放在最后。分词短语led by Britain和定语从句that have not joined都修饰the four.euro:欧元。multi-:前缀,表示“多…的”,如mutilateral,多边的:multiple,多个的。
译文 这一事实可能意味着欧盟将成为一个多体系的实体,其中一些国家对每一件事都表示赞同,而另一些则不尽然;更不用说以英国为首的尚未加入欧洲统一货币体系的四国和已经加入这一体系的十一个欧元国家之间目前已存在的分歧了。
adj. 许多,多种多样的
n. 倍数,并联