1. Since the dawn of human ingenuity, people have devised ever more cunning tools to cope with work that is dangerous, boring, burdensome, or just plain nasty.
解析:本句話較簡單,Since the dawn of human ingenuity,這里since引導的是一個時間狀語,that is dangerous, boring, burdensome, or just plain nasty是that引導的定語從句,先行詞是work。考生在翻譯時注意以下詞語的意思:dawn早期,ingenuity創造性,靈活性;nasty討厭的。
2. As a result, the modern world is increasingly populated by intelligent gizmos whose presence we barely notice but whose universal existence has removed much human labor.
解釋:本句中出現一個被動語態,和but連接的兩個并列定語從句,分別是:whose presence we barely notice,whose universal existence has removed much human labor,先行詞是intelligent gizmos,翻譯時都可以獨立成句。
3. There are already robot systems that can perform some kinds of brain and bone surgery with submillimeter accuracy — far greater precision than highly skilled physicians can achieve with their hands alone.
解析:本句相對簡單,出現了there be的結構,that引導的定語從句that can perform some kinds of brain and bone surgery with submillimeter accuracy,先行詞是robot systems,還有than引導的比較級。按正常的順序翻譯就行。
4. But if robots are to reach the next stage of laborsaving utility, they will have to operate with less human supervision and be able to make at least a few decisions for themselves — goals that pose a real challenge.
解析:本句中出現了條件狀語從句,以及and引導兩個并列謂語,will have to operate with less human supervision and be able to make ,還有that pose a real challenge定語從句,先行詞是goals。