1、Passage 4中国是一个疆域辽阔、人口众多的多民族的统一国家。它立国的地理环境对中国文化的形成发展起到了至关重要的作用。Multi-national multi-ethnic, multi-racial united unified unitary unification underlying/underpinning the founding of the countryEthnic group nationality ethnic minorityChina is a multi-ethnic unified/unitary country with a vast territory
2、and a large population, of which geographic surrounding/environment has played a crucial role in the formation and development of Chinese/its culture. affiliated attached high school中国位于东亚大陆，处于一个相对隔绝封闭的地理环境中：北部是辽阔的大漠与草原，西部是浩瀚的戈壁沙漠和青藏高原，西南部是云贵山地和莽莽雨林，东部和东南部的平原与丘陵地带则面向大洋。Be located be situated=lie in
3、enclosed isolated boundlessLocated/Situated in the eastern Asian continent, it lies in a relatively enclosed setting/environment. In the north are vast deserts and grasslands, in the west endless/boundless Gobi deserts and Qinghai-Tibetan Plateaus, in the south-west Yunnan-Guizhou Mountains and luxu
4、riant/dense rain-forests, and in the east and south-east plains and hilly lands facing the oceans.face sth face the music be faced with这种相对封闭的地理环境为中国古代文化相对独立的发展提供了自然条件。This distinctive environment provided (favorable) natural conditions for the relatively separate/independent development of ancient
5、Chinese culture.所以在相当长的一段时间里，中国文化与外来文化的武力冲撞较少。这对中国文化形成一个历史悠久又自成体系，具有鲜明的地域特征且具有一定的稳定性的文化系统，有着重要的作用。Therefore, there were less/relatively few force/armed conflicts among the Chinese culture and (the) alien ones for a fairly long period of time, which exerted important impacts on the constitution of a
6、time-honored and self-containing cultural system with striking regional features and definite stability in the Chinese culture.中国内部的地理环境西高东低，东西走向的几条大河较为均匀地分布于其间，构成了辽河、黄河、长江、珠江几个流域。The (inner) terrain of China is high in the west and low in the east. Several west-east running large rivers are evenly
7、distributed, forming/creating the valleys of the Liaohe River, the Yellow River, the Changjiang River, and the Pearl River. heart-throb流域内纵横其间的支流为农业的发展和交通提供了有利的自然条件，也促成了区域文化的发展。The criss-crossing branches/tributaries inside the valleys not only provide favorable natural conditions for agricultural d
8、evelopment and convenient transportation, but facilitate the progress of regional cultures as well.风格多样各异的区域文化融合为一体，丰富了中国文化的内涵。但又产生了区域文化间几次的冲突，这里面既有民族间的，也有地方政权间的，但最终是复归于文化的融合和政治的一统。In their merging into a whole, regional cultures with/of various styles enriched the (connotation/content of)Chinese cu
9、lture, yet brought about/caused several conflicts, among which some occurred between different ethnic groups, while others between local regimes. In any case, they eventually reverted to cultural integration and political unity/unification.家电以旧换新实施办法出台 电视最高补贴 400 元财政部网站 2009 年 7 月 2 日 财政部新闻办公室 Websi
10、te of the Ministry of FinanceImplementing Measures for Household/Home Appliance Trade-in Unveiled,/ with 400 yuan/RMB Ceiling Subsidy for a TV set News/Press Office,/of the Ministry of Finance近日，财政部、商务部、发展改革委、工业和信息化部、环境保护部、工商总局、质检总局联合印发了家电以旧换新实施办法 （以下简称办法 ） ，对家电以旧换新的补贴办法、操作流程及组织实施等内容做出了具体规定。Recently
11、/In the past few days, The Implementing Measures for Household/Home Appliance Trade-in (hereinafter referred to as the Measures)was jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
12、, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and the State Quality Inspection Administration, making/providing detailed/specific regulations for household appliance trade-in project in terms of subsidy measures/means/methods, operating procedures an
13、d organizing implementation.办法明确，2009 年 6 月 1 日至 2010 年 5 月 31 日，凡在北京、天津、上海、江苏、浙江、山东、广东、福州和长沙等 9 个试点省市注册登记具有法人资格或具有试点省市当地户口，在规定时间内交售旧家电并购买新家电的单位和个人，在购买新家电时可享受新家电销售价格 10%的家电补贴。It is clearly stipulated in the Measures that within/in such nine pilot provinces and cities as Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, J
14、iangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Guangdong, Fuzhou, and Changsha, any institutions/organizations registered with corporate capacity or any individuals (registered) with local domicile, can enjoy a 10% discount/10% purchase discount when they trade in the old home appliances for the new ones in the given
15、time during June 1st, 2009 and May 31st, 2010,此次列入家电以旧换新补贴产品范围的品种有：电视机、电冰箱（含冰柜） 、洗衣机、空调、电脑等 5 类。补贴上限为：电视机 400 元/台，冰箱（含冰柜）300 元/台，洗衣机 250 元/台，空调 350 元/台，电脑 400 元/ 台。Items listed in this trade-in cover 5 categories of TV sets, refrigerators (including ice-boxes), washing machines, air-conditioners, an
16、d computers. The ceiling/cap subsidies are 400 yuan/RMB per TV set, 300 yuan/RMB per refrigerator/icebox, 250 yuan/RMB per washing machine, 350 yuan/RMB per air-conditioner, and 400 yuan/RMB per computer. ￥ yen购买人购买新家电时直接申报家电补贴，由销售企业代财政部门进行审核，对符合要求的，当场兑付补贴资金。When purchasers are buying new household
17、appliances, they can directly apply for subsidies, which will be verified and cashed in on the spot by the relevant selling enterprises on behalf of the financial department if their applications conform with/to the requirements.此外，凡在规定时间内从购买人手中收购旧家电并交售给指定拆解处理企业进行拆解的中标家电回收企业，均可享受运费补贴。In addition, an
18、y bid winner/bid winning enterprises in household appliances recycling are entitled to transportation subsidy if they buy/acquire the old appliances from the purchasers and sell in a given time to the appointed/given disassembling enterprises to process.办法同时明确，试点省市政府负责本地区家电以旧换新工作的监督管理，试点省市政府要建立工作制度，
19、保障家电以旧换新工作有序开展。The Measures also makes it clear that/It is also made clear in the Measures that/It is also clearly stipulated in the Measures that the (provincial and city/municipal) governments of the pilot provinces and cities should be responsible for/should take charge of the trade-in supervisio
20、n and management by establishing working system to ensure the orderly operation of the project.实施家电以旧换新政策是中央继出台家电下乡政策后，为进一步促进扩大内需、推动科学发展，根据我国家电产业发展和消费市场实际做出的又一项重大决策。The policy of implementing household appliance trade-in is another major decision of the central government, based on our countrys/Chin
21、as home appliance development and actual consumer market, to further expand/promote domestic demand and advance/facilitate scientific development after the rural household appliance promotion project/policy实施家电以旧换新有利于扩大消费需求，促进内外需平衡；有利于提高资源能源利用效率，减少环境污染；有利于促进节能减排和循环经济发展，推动产业升级和经济结构调整。It is favorable/
22、helpful to expand consumer demand, facilitate the balance between the internal/domestic and external/overseas demands, promote/increase the utilization efficiency of natural resources, and decrease environmental pollution. It is also conducive to advance energy-saving, emission-reduction, and recycl
23、ing economy, and to propel industrial upgrading and economic restructuring.姜太公钓鱼 angle/fishThe/A legend of Jiang Taigong民间有句俗话，叫做“ 姜太公钓鱼愿者上钩 ”。这句话来自于一段历史故事。A folk saying goes that “When Jiang Taigong angles/fishes, only the willing one comes to be caught (by the hookless rod)“, which originates from
24、 a historical story.style name/courtesy name据史料记载：姜太公名叫姜尚，字子牙，东海(今山东省日照市东)人。因其始封于吕，故以封地为姓，又称吕尚。族望 courtesy nameAccording to the historical records, Jiang Taigong, also named Jiang Shang, with style name Ziya, was born in Donghai(the present eastern Rizhao City, Shandong Province). As his ancestor ha
25、d been granted with the land Lv, he once chose Lv as his surname and also came to be known as Lv Shang.商纣王时，姜尚曾任朝廷大夫。因目睹纣王昏庸残暴，百姓民不聊生，遂辞官隐居于渭水之滨。During the reign of King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty, Jiang Shang held the post as a senior official in court. Witnessing the fatuity and cruelty of the King
26、 and the dire poverty of the common people/the Kings fatuity and cruelty and the common peoples dire poverty, however, he resigned to live in seclusion near/on the bank of the river Wei/ the Weishui River当时位于西部的诸侯国周国国力强盛，西伯姬昌(即周文王)礼贤下士，仁义治国，老百姓安居乐业。At that time, Zhou, a vassal state in the west, was
27、 powerful under the merciful/benevolent administration/ruling/governance of its duke Ji Chang(later known as King Wen of the Zhou Dynasty). He was courteous to the wise and condescending to scholars / He was considerate and kind to men of talent, and everyone in the state lived a happy and harmoniou
28、s life. 但长期以来，姬昌一直未能遇到一位贤德的辅佐。But for a long time, he had failed/had been unable to obtain the assistance of a wise man.一天，姬昌乘车去渭水北岸打猎。在渭水边上，姬昌看见一个老者在岸边垂钓，大队人马走过，老者充耳不闻，仍然是静静地钓鱼。One day, Ji Chang went hunting on the northern bank of the river, where he found an old man angling. When the mass (groups
29、) of men and horses passed by, the old man still continued his angling quietly without being disturbed./To the by-passing of the mass (groups) of men and horses, the old man turned a deaf ear and still continued his angling quietly without being disturbed.这位老者正是姜尚，传说当时已经 70 岁了。This old man was nobod
30、y but Jiang Shang, who was rumored/said to be 70 years old then/to be at his 70 then.姬昌觉得奇怪，就下车来到老者跟前，却发现老者钓鱼的鱼钩是直的，根本就钓不上鱼来。Puzzled, Ji Chang got off his carriage and went towards to him, only to find that the angling rod of the old man was hookless/the so-called hook of the old man was straight, (
31、which was) impossible to catch any fish.姬昌知道老者是一位奇人，就跟他聊了起来。He knew that the old man was a genius and began chatting up with him. 经过一番谈话，姬昌发现这位老者正是自己要找的人，于是高兴地说：“我祖父在世的时候曾对我说过：将来会有一奇人帮助你把周族兴盛起来。 您正是我要找的人。我的祖父盼望您已经很久了。 ” After their conversation, Ji Chang realized that the old man was the very person
32、 he had been searching for. Then he said in delight, “ My grandfather told me when he was still alive, A genius will help you make our Zhou clan powerful and prosperous someday. You are the very person Im looking for. My grandfather was expecting you for a long time.“ 因此古代文献中又称姜尚为“太公望” 或“姜太公”。So in
33、ancient documents, Jiang Shang was also called Taigong the Expected or Jiang Taigong.于是，姜尚跟随姬昌来到西周，被封为国师。他辅佐西伯推行新政，西周愈加强盛，Shortly after that/Later, Jiang Shang followed Ji Chang to the state Zhou, where he was conferred/titled as the state mentor. He assisted the duke to carry out reforms, making th
34、e state more and more powerful. 周边诸侯国的人民也都纷纷归顺西周，三分天下西周占有了二分。As a result, people of the neighboring vassal states came to convert themselves to/as the subjects of the state Zhou one after another, which enabled Zhou to occupy two thirds territory of the Shang Dynasty.西伯去世后，其子姬发(即周武王)继位，仍封姜尚为国师，尊称尚父。
35、Succeed to the throne/dukedom/chairmanship/chefAfter the death of Ji Chang, Ji Fa, a son of the duke, succeeded to the dukedom. He also conferred Jiang Shang as the state mentor and respectfully addressed him as Father Shang/Shang the Father. 在姜尚的辅助下，姬发在盟津大会诸侯，随后兴兵伐纣，商纣王自焚而死.Under/With his assistanc
36、e, Ji Fa assembled the dukes of the other vassal states in Mengjin before launching wars against the King, who was forced to commit suicide by self-burning (to death)/was forced to burn himself to death 商朝灭亡。姬发建立了周朝，史称周武王，追封其父西伯姬昌为周文王。周朝建立以后，姜尚被封到齐地，建都营丘(今山东省淄博市临淄区齐陵镇附近)，齐国后来成为诸侯国中的强国。After the down
37、fall of the Shang Dynasty, Ji Fa established the Zhou Dynasty and was known as King Wu of the Zhou Dynasty in history. He honored his father Ji Chang with post-humous title of King Wen and granted Jiang Shang with the land Qi, of which capital was (in) Yingqiu(near the present Qiling Town, Linzi Dis
38、trict, Zibo City, Shangdong Province). Later, Qi became a power among the vassal states.金砖国家 BRICS/BRIC Countries/BRICS Countries2001 年，美国高盛公司首席经济师吉姆?奥尼尔（Jim ONeil）首次提出“金砖四国”这一概念，来自这四个国家的英文国名开头字母所组成的词 BRIC，指巴西（Brazil） 、俄罗斯（Russia） 、印度（India ）和中国（ China） ，其发音类似英文的“砖块”（brick）一词。In 2001, Jim ONeil, (a/
39、the)chief economist of Goldman Sachs/Goldman Sachs in the US, put forward for the first time the concept of BRIC, which was an acronym of Brazil, Russia, India, and China and whose pronunciation is similar to that of the English word “brick“.put forward for the first time the concept of BRIC, which
40、was an acronym of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. As its pronunciation is similar to that of the English word “brick“, it was translated/rendered into Chinese as jinzhuan guojia(金砖国家 literally golden brick countries). 公知=公猪2003 年，奥尼尔在一份题为与“金砖四国” 一起梦想 的研究报告中预测，到2050 年，世界经济格局将重新洗牌， “金砖四国” 将超越包括英国、法国
41、、意大利、德国在内的西方发达国家，与美国、日本一起跻身全球新的六大经济体。In 2003, ONeil forecasted in a research report entitled Dreaming with BRICs/ “Dreaming with BRICs” that the world economic pattern would be reshuffled by 2050, when the four countries of BRIC (or BRICs) would surpass/go beyond the advanced/developed Western count
42、ries, including Britain, France, Italy, and Germany economically, and would rank among the six biggest economies together with America/the US and Japan. 高盛这份报告出台后，中国、印度、俄罗斯和巴西作为新兴市场国家的领头羊，受到世界广泛关注， “金砖四国 ”这一概念由此风靡全球。 news briefing./newsletter After the release of this report, China, India, Russia, a
43、nd Brazil have attracted/received global attention as the bellwethers/leaders of emerging-market economies/countries, making the concept (BRIC) prevail/prevalent around the world ever since. Unveil refreshment/ sweep around the worldNew brooms sweep clean.2010 年 12 月，中国作为“金砖四国” 合作机制的轮值主席国，与俄罗斯、印度、巴西
44、一致商定，吸收南非作为正式成员加入“金砖国家” 合作机制， “金砖四国”即变成“金砖五国 ”，并更名为 “金砖国家”(BRICS)。 rotating presidencyhold rotating presidency 担任轮值主席rotating presidentbe rotating president 担任轮值主席As the rotating president of BRIC cooperative mechanism, China agreed with Russia, India, and Brazil in December, 2010 to accept/absorb/t
45、ake in South Africa as a full member to the mechanism/organization, with the term BRIC renamed as/to BRICS.目前， “金砖国家 ”国土面积占世界领土总面积的 27%，人口占世界总人口的43%。Today, the territorial area of BRICS countries accounts for 27% of the world land, and their population 43% of that of the world/43% of the worlds.据有关国
46、际组织计，2009 年五国国内生产总值占世界总量的 16%，贸易额占全球贸易额的 13%。According to the statistics of relevant international organization, the gross domestic product (GDP) of the five countries occupied/took up 16% of that of the world/16% of the worlds, and their trade volume 13% of that of the world/13% of the worlds in 20
47、09.根据 2010 年世界银行和国际货币基金组织改革方案， “金砖国家” 在世界银行的投票权将大幅增加至 13.1%，在国际货币基金组织的份额将达到 14.81%。The 2010 reform program(s) of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund indicates/indicate that the voting power of BRICS in the World Bank/WB will increase greatly to 13.1% and its share in the International Mon
48、etary Fund/IMF will amount to 14.81%. 弱息奥尼尔在创造“ 金砖” 这个名词时，恐怕没有料到它会发展成一个生机勃勃的新兴市场国家合作机制。anticipate/expectWhen ONeil coined the term BRIC, he might not have anticipated/expected that it would develop/evolve into a thriving/vibrant cooperative mechanism for the emerging market economies.“金砖国家”走到一起是互利共赢
49、的选择。zero-sum game 零和游戏 你死我活的游戏A winner takes all/Winners take all. 赢者通吃It is due to the strategy of mutual benefit that the BRICS countries come together./It is a win-win choice for the BRICS countries to cooperate with each other.五国虽国情各异，禀赋不同，但所处发展阶段相近，都面临保增长、保稳定、保民生的艰巨任务。be faced with sth(unpleasant)face the beauty(sth pleasant/centralDifferent national conditions and natural endowments as they have, the five courtiers share similar stages of development, f
