1Only if the jobless arrive at the jobcentre with a CV, register for online job search, and start looking for work will they be eligible for benefit – and then they should report weekly rather than fortnightly.
主干主语：they；谓语：will be eligible for；宾语：benefit（后半句并列：they should report）
结构Only if 引导倒装的条件状语从句，三个并列动词短语作从句谓语；主句因 only if 前置而部分倒装（will they be）。破折号后 and then 引出并列分句，补充领取条件。整体为强调条件的倒装复合句。
译文只有失业者带着简历来到就业中心、注册网上求职并开始找工作，才有资格领取救济金——此后他们还应每周而非每两周汇报一次。
考点only if 置于句首引起主句部分倒装 · 破折号后并列分句补充时间条件
2On first hearing, this was the socially concerned chancellor, trying to change lives for the better, complete with “reforms” to an obviously indulgent system that demands too little effort from the newly unemployed to find work, and subsidises laziness.
主干主语：this；谓语：was；表语：the socially concerned chancellor
结构On first hearing 为时间状语。trying... 现在分词短语作后置定语修饰 chancellor；complete with... 介词短语进一步修饰，其中 system 后接 that 引导的定语从句，从句含并列谓语 demands... and subsidises...。层层修饰，讽刺口吻。
译文乍一听，这仿佛是一位心系社会的财政大臣，正努力让人们生活得更好，还配套推出了针对明显过于宽松的制度的“改革”——该制度对刚失业者找工作要求过低，还补贴懒惰。
考点现在分词短语作后置定语 · that 定语从句含并列谓语
3What motivated him, we were to understand, was his zeal for “fundamental fairness” – protecting the taxpayer, controlling spending and ensuring that only the most deserving claimants received their benefits.
主干主语：What motivated him；谓语：was；表语：his zeal
结构What 引导主语从句；we were to understand 为插入语。破折号后三个并列动名词短语作 zeal 的同位语，解释“根本公平”的具体内容；ensuring 后接 that 宾语从句。
译文我们理应明白，驱使他的是对“根本公平”的热忱——保护纳税人、控制开支，并确保只有最应得的申领者才能领到救济。
考点what 主语从句 + 插入语 · 破折号后动名词短语作同位语
4Even the very phrase “jobseeker’s allowance” is about redefining the unemployed as a “jobseeker” who had no fundamental right to a benefit he or she has earned through making national insurance contributions.
主干主语：the very phrase；谓语：is about；宾语：redefining the unemployed
结构Even 强调主语。redefining... as... 动名词短语作介词 about 的宾语；who 引导定语从句修饰 jobseeker，从句中 benefit 后又接省略关系代词的定语从句 he or she has earned...，through 介词短语表方式。
译文就连“求职者津贴”这一措辞本身，也是在把失业者重新定义为“求职者”——他们对其通过缴纳国民保险所挣得的救济并无根本权利。
考点双重定语从句嵌套 · be about doing 表示“旨在/意味着”