---
url: https://gaojian.site/new-concept/book-4/08-trading-standards.md
description: 新概念英语第四册：Trading Standards。精读、词块回忆、双向译练、句法、逻辑与FSRS复习。
---

# 08 · 贸易标准

### 第1段

Chickens slaughtered in the United States, claim officials in Brussels, are not fit to grace European tables. No, say the Americans: our fowl are fine, we simply clean them in a different way. These days, it is differences in national regulations, far more than tariffs, that put sand in the wheels of trade between rich countries. It is not just farmers who are complaining. An electric razor that meets the European Union's safety standards must be approved by American testers before it can be sold in the United States, and an American-made dialysis machine needs the EU's okay before it hits the market in Europe.
As it happens, a razor that is safe in Europe is unlikely to electrocute Americans. So, ask businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, why have two lots of tests where one would do? Politicians agree, in principle, so America and the EU have been trying to reach a deal which would eliminate the need to double-test many products. They hope to finish in time for a trade summit between America and the EU on May 28th. Although negotiators are optimistic, the details are complex enough that they may be hard-pressed to get a deal at all.
Why? One difficulty is to construct the agreements. The Americans would happily reach one accord on standards for medical devices and then hammer out different pacts covering, say, electronic goods and drug manufacturing. The EU— following fine continental traditions—wants agreement on general principles, which could be applied to many types of products and perhaps extended to other countries.

中文理解：布鲁塞尔的官员声称，美国屠宰的鸡不配端上欧洲人的餐桌。美国人却说，不对，我们的鸡没有问题，只是清洗方法不同。如今，在富裕国家之间，给贸易制造障碍的，与其说是关税，不如说是各国法规的差异。抱怨的不只是农民。符合欧盟安全标准的电动剃须刀，要先得到美国检测机构批准，才能在美国销售；美国制造的透析机，也必须获得欧盟认可，才能进入欧洲市场。
其实，在欧洲使用安全的剃须刀，也不大可能到了美国就把人电死。因此，大西洋两岸的企业都问：一次检测足够，为什么要做两次？政治人物原则上也赞同，于是美国和欧盟一直试图达成协议，让许多产品不必重复检测。他们希望赶在五月二十八日美欧贸易峰会之前谈妥。虽然谈判代表都很乐观，但细节如此复杂，他们恐怕连能否达成协议都很难保证。
难在哪里呢？一个难点是协议该怎样组织。美国愿意先就医疗器械标准达成一项协议，再分别磋商其他协议，涵盖电子产品、药品生产等领域。欧盟则遵循欧洲大陆一贯的思路，希望先就普遍原则达成一致，让这些原则适用于多种产品，甚至进一步推广到其他国家。

* **fit to**：适合；有资格；这里评价是否适合上餐桌，别一律译成身体健康。

* **in a different way**：用不同的方法；undefined

* **put sand in the wheels**：给运转制造障碍；比喻阻碍过程；日常可说create obstacles to。

* **meets**：符合；undefined

* **safety standards**：安全标准；meet在这里是达到要求，不是会面。

* **hits the market**：进入市场；描述产品上市，不是冲击或打击市场。

* **As it happens**：实际情况碰巧是；用来补充出乎预期或恰好相关的事实。

* **in principle**：原则上；说明大方向认同，可能仍有细节未定。

* **reach a deal**：达成协议；是谈判达成结果，不能说arrive a deal。

* **eliminate the need**：消除必要性；区别于只是减少需要；文中目标是避免重复检测。

* **in time for**：赶得上；强调赶上，不是in time最终的义项。

* **hard-pressed**：很难应付的；说明困难大，不等于绝对不能做到。

* **construct the agreements**：组织协议的形式；undefined

* **hammer out**：反复磋商定下；强调商议细节的过程，区别于随手提出。

* **general principles**：普遍原则；undefined

* **be applied to**：被应用于；不要把“适用于”总译成be used for，先看对象。

* **extended to**：扩展到；undefined

#### Chickens slaughtered in the United States, claim officials in Brussels, are not fit to grace European tables.

句子的主体是 Chickens…are not fit to grace European tables；claim officials in Brussels 是插入的报道语，采用谓语 claim 在主语 officials 前的倒装。也可改写为 officials in Brussels claim 后接 that 引导的宾语从句，但原句本身不宜解释为把宾语从句主语提前。

#### No, say the Americans: our fowl are fine, we simply clean them in a different way.

No 是独立的否定回应；say the Americans 是倒装的报道语。冒号后 our fowl are fine 和 we simply clean them in a different way 是所说的内容，并非把宾语从句中的否定词提前。

#### These days, it is differences in national regulations, far more than tariffs, that put sand in the wheels of trade between rich countries.

简单强调句，主句为强调句结构，主谓宾结构. 这里的 It is…that…聚焦于 differences in national regulations，可还原为 differences in national regulations put sand in the wheels of trade。判断强调句应看整体结构和还原后的语义，不能仅以 that 是否充当成分作为唯一依据。

#### It is not just farmers who are complaining.

简单强调句，主谓结构.

#### An electric razor that meets the European Union's safety standards must be approved by American testers before it can be sold in the United States, and an American-made dialysis machine needs the EU's okay before it hits the market in Europe.

并列复合句，5-1 句，主谓结构，that 引导的定语从句修饰主语 razor，为主谓宾结 构，后面跟一个 before 引导的时间状语从句，主谓结构.

5-2 句，主句主谓宾结构，同样跟了一个 before 引导的时间状语从句，主谓宾结构.

#### As it happens, a razor that is safe in Europe is unlikely to electrocute Americans.

复合句，主句为主谓宾结构，that 引导的定语从句修饰主语，为主系表结构，句首有一个 as 引导的非限制性定语从句.

这里的翻译，想表达的意思是欧洲生产的电动剃须刀出口到美国，也不会有问题，那么这里的美国人，其实质已经是在美国的使用者了.

#### So, ask businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, why have two lots of tests where one would do?

ask businesses on both sides of the Atlantic 是插入的报道语。why have two lots of tests 是 Why + 动词原形…? 的反问结构，相当于“何必做两套测试？”，不应机械补成 why we have。where one would do 表示“在一套就够用的情况下”，where 引出情境，不限于实际地点。

#### Politicians agree, in principle, so America and the EU have been trying to reach a deal which would eliminate the need to double-test many products.

并列复合句，首句为主谓结构，后面是 so 作连词，第二个句子为主谓宾结构，which 引导定语从句修饰 deal，该从句为主谓宾结构.

#### They hope to finish in time for a trade summit between America and the EU on May 28th.

简单句，主谓宾结构.

#### Although negotiators are optimistic, the details are complex enough that they may be hard-pressed to get a deal at all.

复合句，主句为主系表结构，这里 enough 的作用，即 so，可以看作 the details are so complex that they may be…所以后面是 that 引导的结果状语从句，该从句为主系表结构.

句首 although 引导的让步状语从句为主系表结构.

#### Why?

Why 后面省略了 may they be hard-pressed to get a deal at all.

#### One difficulty is to construct the agreements.

简单句，主系表结构，动词不定式作表语.

#### The Americans would happily reach one accord on standards for medical devices and then hammer out different pacts covering, say, electronic goods and drug manufacturing.

并列句，and 连接的两个句子均为主谓宾结构.

#### The EU— following fine continental traditions—wants agreement on general principles, which could be applied to many types of products and perhaps extended to other countries.

复合句，主句为主谓宾结构，后面跟一个 which 连接的定语从句，该从句为并列句，均为主谓宾结构.

continental traditions 大陆传统指欧洲大陆传统.

## 学完这一课

转述一项有争议的判断，明确谁作出这一判断。

[Nce · 本册复习台](/new-concept/book-4/review) · [三册选择地图](/new-concept/)

*译文依据整理稿，由本站按中文表达重新校订；解析据吴应时整理资料及首轮审校稿；词伙与练习提示为本站学习设计。原PDF第36—38页，2022年2月第2版。*