14. The findings of a research institution have consistently shows that workers in all countries can be trained on the job to achieve radically higher productivity and, as a result, radically higher standards of living.
【分析】复合句。该句的主干是 The findings...have shows that...,其中 that 引导宾语从句。从句中的 to achieve 作目的状语,其中 as a result 为插入语。
【译文】一家研究所的研究结果一贯表明:所有国家的工人都可以通过在岗位培训从根本上提高生产率,从而从根本上提高生活水平。
【点拨】consistently 指“一致地;一贯地,始终如一地”,对应的形容词consistent 常与 with 搭配,表示“与...相符合的”。
15. Not long ago, with the country centering a recession and Japan at its pre-bubble peak, the U.S. workforce was derided as poorly educated and one of the primary cause of the poor U.S. economic performance.
【分析】简单句。句子的主干是 the U.S. workforce was derided as poorly educated and one of the primary cause...。with 复合结构作句子状语,介词短语 of the poor U.S. economic performance 作 cause 的后置定语。
【译文】不久前,随着美国进入衰退期,日本正处在前泡沫时期的顶峰,美国的劳工被嘲笑受教育程度低,并且被认为是美国经济运行不佳的最主要原因。
【点拨】1) peak 最基本的含义是“山峰,山顶”,此处指“高峰,顶端,最高点”,at its peak “在最高峰”。2)deride 意为“嘲笑,嘲弄”,常跟复合宾语,即 deride + 宾语 + 宾语补足语。3)economic performance一般译为“经济运行状况”。
【临摹】他一定是疯了,才会嘲笑这么杰出的人是傻瓜。