have their people undefended. They know too the weaknesses thus far of their security forces but that they’re getting better.
18 QUESTION: And finally, Secretary Rice, on a different subject, after months of negotiations, the Bush Administration has dropped its objections of Senator John McCain’s ban on torture. I know that you and President Bush have both said repeatedly the United States does not torture either here or overseas, but what took so long for the White House to basically put its stamp on this legislation?
19 SECRETARY RICE: Well, this is an important law and it is a law — one of the — really one of the new laws of the post-September 11th era, and so it was important to get it right. It was important to work with Senator McCain to make certain that the President felt that he could both defend the American people and live within his international and American legal obligations.
20 I want to be very clear that the President has always told everyone that he will not allow torture, he will not condone torture, that it is U.S. policy to respect our international obligations. We take them very, very seriously. This is a further example and a further indication for the world that the United States takes these obligations very, very seriously and I think that Senator McCain has done a service in helping us to get there. 21 QUESTION: Well, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, again, thanks so much for talking with us this morning. We appreciate it. 22 SECRETARY RICE: Thank you.
23 QUESTION: And if we don’t see you, happy holidays.
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24 SECRETARY RICE: Happy holidays to you and to your viewers.
(1207 words)
New Words
Secretary /???????????/ n.（美国）国务卿
★
authorize ?????????????vt.?授权，许可 eavesdrop ?????????????vi. 偷听
★
terrorist ????????????n.?恐怖分子
★
warrant ??????????n. 许可证，授权令
★
constitutional ???????????????????? a. 宪法允许的；合乎宪法的
revelation ??????????????n. 惊人的消息；出人意料的内幕
detention ???????????n.?拘留，监禁 prohibition ??????????????n.?禁令，禁律 constitution ??????????????????n.?宪法
★
reassure ??????????? vt.?使放心，使安心 lawfully ??????????ad.?合法地，依法地
★★
election ??????????n.?（尤指政府的）选举 vote ?????? v.?投票，表决
★
boycott ?????????? vt. 抵制；排斥；拒绝参加
favorably ????????????????ad.?赞成地
disposed ????????????a. (fml.) 持?态度的
★
coalition ?????????????n.?联合，联盟
★
sovereignty ????????????n.?主权，独立自主权
disarray ????????????n.?混乱，紊乱
undefended ???????????????a. 无防卫的，无戒备的
senator ??????????n.?参议员
torture ??????????n. 拷打，酷刑逼供
Phrases and Expressions
within the law with regard for amount to oath of office
by its (very) nature move on turn out blow up what if thus far in time
合法地
考虑到，顾及 （效果）等同于 就职宣誓 就其本质而言 变换（话题）
（应召）出来，出动 炸掉
如果?将会怎么样 到此为止，迄今 最终，迟早
Proper Names
NBC (National Broadcasting
全国广播公司（美国三家全国性商业广播电视网之
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Company)
Condoleezza Rice
一，创办与1926年，总部设在纽约市）
康多莉扎·赖斯（1954～ ，美国政治家，前美国国务卿） /????????????????????/
New York Times 《纽约时报》（美国著名报纸，创刊于1851年） 美国国家安全局（美国政府机构中最大的情报部门，National Security Agency 专门负责收集和分析外国通讯资料） Bush Administration 布什政府（乔治·沃克·布什 George Walker Bush 2001～2009年任美国总统期间的美国政府） Washington Post 《华盛顿邮报》（美国全国性报纸，创刊于1877年）
凯特·马丁 Kate /????/ Martin
Center for National Security Studies 国家安全研究中心 George Washington University 乔治·华盛顿大学（美国著名私立大学之一，成立于 1821年，位于美国首都华盛顿） White House 白宫（美国总统的官邸，位于华盛顿特区的宾夕法尼 亚大道上）
伊拉克 Iraq /??????/
伊拉克人 Iraqi /???????/
逊尼派（伊斯兰教主要教派之一，被认为是伊斯兰教Sunni /?????/
的正统派。人数约占全世界穆斯林的85％以上）
约翰·麦凯恩（1936～ ，美国政治家、共和党党员，John McCain /???????/
来自亚利桑那州的资深参议员）
Exercises
Comprehension of the Text
I. Study the following statements. Then mark Y (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage, N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage, or NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.
( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )
( )
1. The National Security Agency eavesdropped on Americans and others inside the U.S. to search for evidence of criminal activity.
2. Secretary Rice did not answer the first question ―Why did the Bush Administration feel this step was necessary?‖ directly.
3. According to Secretary Rice, President Bush had authorized criminal activity.
4. Kate Martin is not in favor of the Administration’s surveillance and detention policies.
5. The White House ordered the New York Times to publish an article about national security.
6. According to Secretary Rice, the elections in Iraq is such a success that American
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( )
( )
( ) ( )
troops are going back soon.
7. President Bush does what he should do within his responsibility and power, according to Secretary Rice.
8. The U.S. troops will probably stay in Iraq to defend Iraqi people from terrorist attacks.
9. President Bush agreed to Senator John McCain’s ban on torture instantly.
10. Secretary Rice commented on intelligence activities with care because they couldn’t be given away.
Translation Practice
II. Translate the following paragraphs into English.
历史上，中华民族一次次战胜了天灾人祸，渡过了急流险滩。深重的灾难，铸就了她百折不挠、自强不息的品格。中华民族的历史证明了一个真理：一个民族在灾难中失去的，必将从民族的进步中得到补偿。
到本世纪中叶，中国要基本实现现代化，面临两大历史任务：既要努力实现工业化，又要追赶新科技革命的浪潮；既要不断提高经济发展水平，又要实现社会公平正义。中国还有很长的路要走，还会遇到许多艰难险阻。但是，任何困难都阻挡不住中国人民前进的步伐，只要我们坚持不懈地努力奋斗，中国现代化的目标就一定能够实现。
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Translation Techniques
Idioms in Chinese-English Translation
汉语成语英译
汉语成语是人们长期以来习用的，简洁精辟的定型词组。汉语成语结构稳定，绝大部分以四字结构形式出现，一般都有出处。汉语成语的意思往往隐含于字面意义之中，不是其构成成分的简单相加，还有些成语必须知其来源或典故才能理解，这对汉语成语的英译造成了一定的困难。汉语成语的英译根据具体情况，一般可采用以下几种方法：直译法、意译法及英语同义习语的套用法。
1. Literal Translation 直译法
有些汉语成语没有比喻意义，它们的字面意义也就是它们的实际意义，这样的成语可以采取直译法。
例1: 牢不可破
be so strongly built as to be indestructible
例2: 史无前例
be without precedent in history
有些汉语成语虽然有比喻意义，但直接按字面翻译后，英语读者能正确理解译文及其含义，这样的成语亦可采用直译法。直译法能更好地传达出原文的形式、意义和精神。
例1: 火上浇油
pour oil on the flames 例2: 剖腹藏珠
cut open your stomach to hide a pearl 例3: 刻骨铭心
be engraved on one’s heart and bones
2. Free Translation 意译法
汉语中还有一些成语涉及独特的汉文化特征，其比喻形象是英语读者不能接受的。这样的汉语成语只能意译。也就是使用英语的习惯表达法，或运用英语读者易懂的切合原文意思的词语来传达原文的含义和精神。
例1: 扬眉吐气
feel proud and elated 例2: 粗枝大叶
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