研英翻译演练(28)

comments are often made about activities which are relatively easy and satisfying like arranging flowers; but not about jobs which are hard and dirty, like scraping floors.

参考答案:

要点：因为comments后的修饰成分（即介词短语）较长，为了保持句子平衡，主语comments与其定语about activities...被谓语are often made分隔。此外，not about 前省略了comments are made。英语中有时省略重复使用的动词，汉译时往往重复这个动词，如此句中的“are made”。

译文：人们往往对那些做起来相当容易而且结果令人满意的活动作出评论，例如插花，但对那些既苦又脏的活却不加评论，例如擦洗地板。