1The second half of the 20th century saw a collection of geniuses, warriors, entrepreneurs and visionaries labour to create a fabulous machine that could function as a typewriter and printing press, studio and theatre, paintbrush and gallery, piano and radio, the mail as well as the mail carrier.
主干主语：the second half of the 20th century；谓语：saw；宾语：a collection of geniuses, warriors, entrepreneurs and visionaries labour to create a fabulous machine
结构句式为“主语+谓语+宾语+不定式”结构，主语the second half of the 20th century作时间状语修饰谓语saw，宾语a collection后接of短语修饰，collection后为现在分词labour作后置定语，to create为不定式作目的状语，that引导的定语从句修饰machine，列举了机器的功能，包括typewriter and printing press、studio and theatre等多个并列成分，体现了20世纪后半叶科技发展的综合性。
译文20世纪后半叶，一群天才、勇士、企业家和先驱者共同努力，创造出了这样一个神奇的机器，它既能像打字机和印刷机一样工作，又能像演播室和剧院一样表演，还能像画笔和画廊一样创作，同时还能像收音机一样播放，还能充当邮件传递者。
考点过去分词作后置定语 / 并列结构与同位语的运用
2Humans are unique in their capacity to not only make tools but then turn around and use them to create superfluous material goods – paintings, sculpture and architecture – and superfluous experiences – music, literature, religion and philosophy.
主干主语：Humans；谓语：are；表语：unique in their capacity；不定式：to not only make tools but then turn around and use them to create superfluous material goods and superfluous experiences
结构句式为“主语+系动词+表语+不定式”结构，表语unique后接介词短语in their capacity修饰，to后跟not only...but then...to create的复杂并列结构，but then转折连接，to create为目的状语，后面用破折号列举了material goods和experiences两类多余的产物，both are superfluous but serve as cultural markers distinguishing human uniqueness.
译文人类在制造工具和利用工具创造多余的物质产品（如绘画、雕塑和建筑）以及多余的精神体验（如音乐、文学、宗教和哲学）的能力上独一无二。
考点not only...but...的并列结构 / 破折号列举同位语
3Even after the advent of widespread social media, a pyramid of production remains, with a small number of people uploading material, a slightly larger group commenting on or modifying that content, and a huge percentage remaining content to just consume.
主干主语：a pyramid of production；谓语：remains；宾语：与with短语并列的三个状语部分
结构句式为“Even after+介词短语，+主语+谓语+宾语+with复合结构”形式，Even after the advent作时间状语，with a small number...uploading material为独立主格结构作结果状语，a slightly larger group...为并列主格，a huge percentage remaining content为倒数第三部分，三个with短语构成并列关系，展示了社交媒体时代生产金字塔的阶层结构。
译文即使在广泛社交媒体出现之后，生产金字塔仍然存在：少数人上传内容，稍多的人进行评论或修改，大多数人则只是消费。
考点介词短语作时间状语 / 独立主格结构 / 三重并列
4The hardest task that television asks of anyone is to turn the power off after he has turned it on.
主干主语：The hardest task；谓语：is；不定式：to turn the power off；that引导的定语从句：that television asks of anyone
结构句式为“the+最高级+名词+that引导的定语从句+系动词+不定式”结构，the hardest task作主语，that引导定语从句修饰task，asks of anyone为固定搭配，is后接不定式作表语，after he has turned it on为时间状语从句，强调电视的控制力与观众的反向互动。
译文电视向观众提出的最艰巨的任务是：在打开电视后把电源关闭。
考点that引导的定语从句 / 固定搭配asks of
5My definition revolves around the concept of “stickiness” – creations and experiences to which others adhere.
主干主语：My definition；谓语：revolves；介词短语：around the concept of “stickiness”；同位语：creations and experiences
结构句式为“主语+谓语+介词短语+破折号+同位语”结构，主语My definition后接动词revolves around介词短语修饰，破折号后“stickiness”概念的同位语creations and experiences，to which others adhere为定语从句修饰前面的名词，体现定义的核心是“粘性”即他人愿意坚持的创作。
译文我的定义围绕“粘性”概念展开——即他人愿意坚持的创作和体验。
考点around短语作状语 / to which引导的定语从句