1The US$3-million Fundamental Physics Prize is indeed an interesting experiment, as Alexander Polyakov said when he accepted this year’s award in March.
主干主语:The US$3-million Fundamental Physics Prize;谓语:is;表语:an interesting experiment
结构主句为系表结构。as引导方式/依据状语从句,其内嵌when引导的时间状语从句修饰said。indeed为强调副词。整体先陈述观点再补出处,层次清晰但易忽略as从句的依附关系。
译文正如亚历山大·波利亚科夫今年三月领奖时所说,这项三百万美元的基础物理学奖确实是一次有趣的实验。
考点as引导非限制性依据状语从句,常译为“正如” · when从句嵌套在as从句中作时间修饰
2These benefactors have succeeded in their chosen fields, they say, and they want to use their wealth to draw attention to those who have succeeded in science.
主干主语:These benefactors;谓语:have succeeded / want;宾语:attention(间接)
结构并列复合句,and连接两个分句。插入语they say打断第一分句。第二分句含不定式目的状语to use...,其中those后接who引导的定语从句。插入语位置易造成主谓关系误判。
译文这些捐助者说,他们已在自己选择的领域获得成功,现在想用财富来吸引人们对那些在科学上取得成功者的关注。
考点插入语they say可置于句首或句中,不影响主句时态 · who定语从句修饰those,表“那些已经成功的人”
3But the Nobel Foundation’s limit of three recipients per prize, each of whom must still be living, has long been outgrown by the collaborative nature of modern research – as will be demonstrated by the inevitable row over who is ignored when it comes to acknowledging the discovery of the Higgs boson.
主干主语:the Nobel Foundation’s limit;谓语:has been outgrown;施事:the collaborative nature
结构被动主句,主语后接of短语及each of whom非限制性定语从句。破折号后as引导非限制性定语从句(as=which),其内含over介词短语、who宾语从句及when时间状语从句,层层嵌套,是典型长难句。
译文但诺贝尔基金会每项奖最多三人且须在世的限制,早已被现代研究的协作本质所超越——希格斯玻色子发现的归属之争将不可避免地证明这一点。
考点each of whom引导非限制性定语从句,补充说明recipients · as will be demonstrated中as指代整个主句内容
4As much as some scientists may complain about the new awards, two things seem clear.
主干主语:two things;谓语:seem;表语:clear
结构As much as引导让步状语从句(=although),主句为系表结构。让步从句用may表可能性,主句用seem表客观判断,形成对比。易被误认为比较结构。
译文尽管一些科学家可能对新奖项颇有微词,但有两点似乎很清楚。
考点as much as此处表让步而非比较 · seem clear后常接that从句或并列分句进一步说明
5It is fair to criticize and question the mechanism – that is the culture of research, after all – but it is the prize-givers’ money to do with as they please.
主干主语:It(形式)/ it;谓语:is;表语:fair / the prize-givers’ money
结构并列句,but连接。前半It is fair to do不定式作真正主语;破折号插入同位解释。后半it指money,后接不定式to do with及as方式状语从句。插入语打断连贯,需还原逻辑。
译文批评并质疑其机制是公平的——毕竟这就是科研文化——但这毕竟是捐奖人的钱,他们爱怎么花就怎么花。
考点It is adj. to do 中it为形式主语 · do with as they please 习惯表达“随意处置”