1When public opinion is particularly polarised, as it was following the end of the Franco regime, monarchs can rise above “mere” politics and “embody” a spirit of national unity.
主干主语：monarchs；谓语：can rise above and embody；宾语：politics / a spirit of national unity
结构时间状语从句 When public opinion is particularly polarised 修饰主句；as it was following the end of the Franco regime 为方式/比较状语从句，补充说明 polarised 的程度与背景。主句并列谓语 rise above 与 embody，引号强调“mere”与“embody”的修辞色彩。
译文当公众舆论严重两极分化时——就像佛朗哥政权结束后那样——君主可以超越“纯粹”的政治，并“体现”民族团结的精神。
考点as it was 引导省略比较状语从句，补充时间背景 · rise above 与 embody 并列谓语，引号表强调
2But unlike their absolutist counterparts in the Gulf and Asia, most royal families have survived because they allow voters to avoid the difficult search for a non-controversial but respected public figure.
主干主语：most royal families；谓语：have survived；原因状语：because they allow...
结构unlike 介词短语作状语，对比海湾与亚洲的专制君主。主句后接 because 原因状语从句；从句中 allow sb to do 结构，the difficult search 后接 for 介词短语，non-controversial but respected 并列形容词修饰 public figure。
译文但与海湾和亚洲那些专制君主不同，大多数王室之所以能存活下来，是因为它们让选民不必费力去寻找一位既无争议又受尊敬的公众人物。
考点unlike 介词短语前置对比 · allow voters to avoid the search for... 不定式复合结构
3Symbolic of national unity as they claim to be, their very history – and sometimes the way they behave today – embodies outdated and indefensible privileges and inequalities.
主干主语：their very history；谓语：embodies；宾语：privileges and inequalities
结构Symbolic of national unity as they claim to be 为 as 引导的让步状语从句倒装（形容词提前）。破折号插入并列成分 and sometimes the way they behave today，补充主语。主句谓语 embodies 后接并列宾语。
译文尽管他们自称是民族团结的象征，但他们自身的历史——有时还包括他们如今的行为方式——却体现着过时且站不住脚的特权与不平等。
考点as 让步从句倒装：形容词 + as + 主语 + 谓语 · 破折号插入补充主语
4At a time when Thomas Piketty and other economists are warning of rising inequality and the increasing power of inherited wealth, it is bizarre that wealthy aristocratic families should still be the symbolic heart of modern democratic states.
主干形式主语：it；谓语：is bizarre；真正主语：that wealthy aristocratic families should still be...
结构At a time when... 时间状语，when 定语从句修饰 time。主句 it is bizarre that... 为形式主语结构，that 从句为真正主语；should 表惊讶语气。warning of 后接并列名词短语。
译文当托马斯·皮凯蒂等经济学家正在警告不平等加剧、世袭财富权力上升之际，富裕的贵族家庭竟然仍是现代民主国家的象征核心，这实在令人匪夷所思。
考点it is + adj. + that 从句作真正主语 · should 表示惊讶或不可思议
5Charles ought to know that as English history shows, it is kings, not republicans, who are the monarchy’s worst enemies.
主干主语：Charles；谓语：ought to know；宾语：that 从句
结构that 引导宾语从句。从句内 as English history shows 为方式状语从句；it is kings, not republicans, who... 为强调句（分裂句），强调主语 kings。not republicans 插入对比。
译文查尔斯应该明白，正如英国历史所表明的，君主制最可怕的敌人是国王，而不是共和派。
考点it is... who... 强调句型 · as 引导方式状语从句插入宾语从句