有些考生把生詞也作為閱讀中的一個難點，但在閱讀過程中，由考綱范圍所限，生詞在掌握本書推薦的詞匯書后，這一難點完全可以忽略不計。一般來說，考生在閱讀時通常會遇到以下幾大難點，下面將對此進行逐一分析。
長句的解析
由于考研本身所具有的局限性，以及西方的語言習慣(簡單、直接、重心突出)，這就決定了文章中結(jié)構非常復雜的長句出現(xiàn)的機率很小。即使有，也只占極小部分，用于區(qū)分選拔出那些英語非常優(yōu)秀的考生。對于普通考生來說，如在考試中由于這種難度而有一兩道題目做不出來的話是很正常的。考生首先要做的，就是拿下那些絕大部分屬于常規(guī)性試題的分數(shù)，拿下自己該得到的分數(shù)。對于大多數(shù)考生來說，考研英語閱讀文章中有些語句較長，但結(jié)構并不復雜，考生對這類句子的理解，關鍵在于掌握一定的技巧，形成連貫的語義理解。其基本應對策略是先抓句子的主干，把握句子的重心，再對插入成分或并列結(jié)構進行理解。
這類句子可分為兩類：一類是由一些固定的詞組搭配所構成的長句，如 so(such)...that(如此……¬以致……¬），not only...but also(不僅……¬而且……¬）， not...but(不是……¬而是……¬），so as...to(如此……¬以致……¬），transform...from...into...(把……¬從……¬改變?yōu)椤?not;），not so much...as...(不是……¬而是……¬）as...as...(像……¬一樣)等；另一類是由多個插入成分或并列結(jié)構過多構成的長句。對于前者我們只需抓住固定搭配所連接的主干，分步理解；后者則直接抓住句子的主干，分步理解。
下面就近23年來閱讀真題文章中所出現(xiàn)的“長難句”逐一進行分析(“/” 表示斷句標示，適當?shù)臄嗑淇梢詭涂忌芎玫乩斫饩湟?。
The Olympian athletic festival / held every four years / in honor of Zeus, king of the Olympian Gods, /eventually lost its local character, became first a national event and then, after the rules against foreign competitors had been abolished, international.(1987年真題)
【分析】本句實際是由幾個簡單的并列句組成的一個長句，省略了共同的主語The Olympian athletic festival。補充省略部分，該句可理解為以下簡單句的句意組合：
The Olympian athletic festival held every four years in honor of Zeus, king of the Olympian Gods.
The Olympian athletic festival eventually lost its local character.
After the rules against foreign competitors had been abolished, the Olympian athletic festival became first a national event and then, international.
【翻譯】奧林匹克運動會最初是為了紀念Zeus(奧林匹亞的一個神)，每四年主辦一次，最終它喪失了原¬有的地方色彩，逐漸成為一種體育盛事。而后，在一些反對國外競技者參與的規(guī)則被廢除之后，逐漸變成了一種國際性的體育盛事。
Aristotle, for example, whose natural science /dominated the Western thought for two thousand years, believed that / man could arrive at an understanding of reality/ by reasoning from self-evident principle / that everything in the universe has its proper place, hence one can deduce that / objects fall to the ground because that's where it belongs.(1987年真題)
【分析】首先抓住句子主干，對于插入部分我們可以暫時忽略掉。本句主干為：Aristotle believed that man could arrive at an understanding of reality by reasoning from self-evident principle，然后再逐步理解其他成分。“whose natural science dominated Western thought for two thousand years”是對Aristotle的補充說明。“everything in the universe has its proper place, hence one can deduce that objects fall to the ground because that's where it belongs”是對self-evident principle的同步解釋。該句可理解為以下簡單句的句意組合：
Aristotle believed that man could arrive at an understanding of reality by reasoning from self-evident principle.
Aristotle's natural science dominated the Western thought for two thousand years.
Self-evident principle is that everything in the universe has its proper place, hence one can deduce that objects fall to the ground because that’s where it belongs.
【翻譯】舉個例子吧，亞里士多德，他的自然科學理論統(tǒng)治了整個西方思想長達兩千年之久。他認為，人們可以通過一些顯而易見的法則推斷來達到對現(xiàn)實的理解。這種不證自明的法則就是，任何事件在宇宙中總有其合適的位置。因而人們可以推斷出，物體掉到地上是因為物體本身就屬于大地的。
Both you and she know that / if you are not sure what you want, you are not likely to find it.(1988年真題)
【分析】that if 屬于常考結(jié)構，對于這種結(jié)構的理解關鍵在于學會對that if 結(jié)構進行斷句。在理解的時候，that if 之間語義應稍作停頓，把if與后面引導的狀語從句語義連貫起來。
【翻譯】你和她都知道，如果你不能確定你所想要的東西，那么你就沒有可能找到它。
The mineral elements from the soil / that are usable by the plant / must be dissolved in the soil solution / before they can be taken into the root. (1991年真題)
【分析】句子主干為：The mineral elements must be dissolved in the soil solution before they can be taken into the root.定語從句“that are usable by the plan”是修飾“The mineral elements”；“from the soil”是介詞短語作狀語。該句可理解為以下簡單句的句意組合：
The mineral elements from the soil must be dissolved in the soil solution before they can be taken into the root.
The mineral elements are usable by the plan.
【翻譯】土地里被植物所用到的礦物質(zhì)元素只有在土地里先期溶解，才能被植物的根吸收。
C.R.Darnes has suggested that / it is as proper to term the plant a water structure / as to call a house composed mainly of brick / a brick building. (1991年真題)
【分析】這里是由as...as...(像……¬一樣，正如……¬一樣)連接兩個并列成分構成的長句。該句的主干為：C.R.Darnes has suggested that / it is as proper to term the plant a water structure / as to call a house a brick building.“composed mainly of brick”是分詞作狀語修飾“a house”。這里把“磚與房子的關系比做水與植物的關系說明水對于植物的重要性”。
【翻譯】C.R.Darnes認為，正如把一棟主要由磚建造的建筑稱為磚瓦建筑一樣，我們可以把植物看作一種水體結(jié)構。
To be promoted or to fall behind / is not a matter of salary but /even more a matter of self-respect. This constant need to prove / that one is as good as or better than one's fellow-competitor / creates constant anxiety and stress, the very causes of unhappiness and illness. (1993年真題)
【分析】第一句主要是not...but...(不是……¬而是……¬）的理解。第二句主干：This constant need to prove creates constant anxiety and stress.句子主干中“This constant need to prove”是不定式短語作主語。 “that one is as good as or better than one's fellow-competitor”是對This constant need to prove的同步說明。“the very causes of unhappiness and illness”是對“constant anxiety and stress”的同步說明。
【翻譯】晉升與貶職不僅僅是薪水的改變，更多的是有關自尊的事情。這種不斷地證明一個人和自己的對手一樣優(yōu)秀或者比其更優(yōu)秀的需要，使人產(chǎn)生了一種長久的焦慮和壓力，正是這種焦慮和壓力導致了人的不快樂和疾病。
I suggest / transforming our social system from a bureaucratically managed industrialism /in which maximal production and consumption are ends in themselves into / a humanist industrialism / in which / man and full development of his potentialities——those of love and of reason——are the aims of all social arrangements.(1993年真題)
【分析】本句是由transform...from...into...(把……¬從……¬改變?yōu)椤?not;）固定詞組搭配所構成的長句。transform...from...into...連接的短語作“suggest”后面所接的賓語從句的主語，主語較長妨礙¬了對句意的理解。句子主干為：I suggest transforming our social system from a bureaucratically managed industrialism into a humanist industrialism are the aims of all social arrangements.句中“in which maximal production and consumption are ends in themselves”是對a bureaucratically managed industrialism的描述?！癷n which man and full development of his potentialities——those of love and of reason”是對a humanist industrialism的描述。
【翻譯】我建議，把我們的社會體系從一種以追求產(chǎn)值和消費的官僚工業(yè)化體系轉(zhuǎn)變成為一種人性化的工業(yè)體系。在這種人性化工業(yè)體系當中，人及人潛能(情感和理性)的充分發(fā)展才是我們社會組織的目標。
The great interest in exceptional children / shown in public education over the past three decades / indicates the strong feeling in our society that / all citizens, whatever their special conditions, deserve the opportunity to fully develop their capabilities. (1994年真題)
【分析】句子主干為：The great interest indicates the strong feeling in our society. 介詞短語“in exceptional children”作狀語修飾 “the great interest”。過去分詞短語“shown in public education over the past three decades”作定語修飾“the great interest”?！癮ll citizens , whatever their special conditions, deserve the opportunity to fully develop their capabilities”是同位語“the strong feeling”的說明。
【翻譯】在過去的三十年，人們在公共教育領域?qū)μ厥鈨和憩F(xiàn)出來的強烈興趣表明，在我們社會里，人們有一種強烈的愿望。那就是，所有的公民，無論他們自身狀況如何，都應該獲得全面發(fā)展自己能力的機會。
If its message were confined merely to information——and that in itself would be difficult if not impossible to achieve, for even a detail such as the choice of the color of a shirt is subtly persuasive——advertising would be so boring that / no one would pay any attention.(1995年真題)
【分析】對于由較長的插入成分所構成的長句，我們可以首先跳過破折號內(nèi)的插入內(nèi)容，直接抓住破折號以外的主體內(nèi)容來理解句子主干部分。本句主干為：If its message were confined merely to information, advertising would be so boring that no one would pay any attention.再把插入部分“and that in itself would be difficult if not impossible to achieve, for even a detail such as the choice of the color of a shirt is subtly persuasive”代入主句中，并結(jié)合前后句意理解。
【翻譯】如果廣告所傳遞的信息僅限于告知，那么廣告將變得讓人厭煩以至于不會有人去注意它。當然，即使有可能的話廣告本身要做到這一點(廣告僅僅傳遞一種告知信息而不帶任何勸誘成份)也是有困難的。因為，即使是一個小小的細節(jié)，如對襯衣顏色的選擇也是一種隱性的誘導。
The change met the technical requirements of the new age / by engaging a large professional element and / prevented the decline in efficiency that / so commonly spoiled the fortunes of family firms in the second and third generation / after the energetic founders. (1996年真題)
【分析】本句是由兩個并列成分構成的長句。句子主干為：The change met the technical requirements of the new age and(這里省略掉了共同的主語the change)prevented the decline . 介詞短語“by engaging a large professional element”作狀語修飾整個主句。介詞短語“in efficiency”作狀語修飾 “the decline”(這里要學會如何結(jié)合句意區(qū)分介詞短語作狀語是修飾整個句子還是修飾其中的一部分，這里and之后是一省略主語的獨立句子，狀語不可能躍過一個句子去修飾另外一個句子，因此這里的 in efficiency修飾的是 the decline)?！皊o commonly spoiled the fortunes of family firms in the second and third generation after the energetic founders”是定語從句修飾“the decline in efficiency”，對其具體內(nèi)容的說明。
【翻譯】這種革新通過雇傭大量的職業(yè)人士，滿足了新時代工藝的需要，同時也阻止了效率的下降。而這種效率的下降，通常在富有活力的創(chuàng)始人之后的第二代或第三代領導時期對家族企業(yè)產(chǎn)生不利的影響。
The railway companies, though / still private business managed for the benefit of shareholders, were very unlike old family business.(1996年真題)
【分析】首先理解句子主干：The railway companies were very unlike old family business.再把插入成分“though still private business managed for the benefit of shareholders”代入句中理解，形成連貫的語義。
【翻譯】盡管一些鐵路公司仍然是私有的，而且是為了其股東利益而管理，但他們已經(jīng)¬和傳統(tǒng)的家族企業(yè)有很大的不同了。
The paid manager / acting for the company / was in more direct relation with the men and their demands, but even he had seldom that familiar personal knowledge of the workmen / which the employer had often had / under the more patriarchal system of the old family business / now passing away. (1996年真題)
【分析】句子的主干為：The paid manager was in more direct relation with the men and their demands, but even he had seldom that familiar personal knowledge of the workmen. 現(xiàn)在分詞短語“acting for the company”作定語修飾“the paid manager”?！皐hich the employer had often had under the more patriarchal system of the old family business”是修飾familiar personal knowledge of the workmen的定語從句。“now passing away”是現(xiàn)在分詞短語作狀語，也是修飾familiar personal knowledge of the workmen。這里要學會...business與 now passing away之間的斷句。前句到business已經(jīng)¬結(jié)束(因為該句結(jié)構已十分完整，已不可能再接其他成分)，now passing away則是一個獨立的狀語。
【翻譯】作為代表公司一方的職業(yè)經(jīng)¬理人，他們和工人以及工人的需求方面(比起企業(yè)的所有者)有著更加直接的聯(lián)系，但他們很少有他們雇主在傳統(tǒng)家族體制下曾經(jīng)¬對工人有過的熟悉程度，這種熟悉情況現(xiàn)在也不再存在了。
At Time Warner, however, such questions are simply the latest manifestation of the soul searching that has involved the company ever since the company was born in 1990. (1997年真題)
【分析】句子主干為：Such questions are simply the latest manifestation of the soul searching.定語從句“that has involved the company ever since the company was born in 1990”修飾“manifestation of the soul searching”。
【翻譯】但是，在時代華納，這種問題僅僅是內(nèi)心自我探究的一種最新的表現(xiàn)。而這種探究自公司1990年誕生以來就一直伴隨著企業(yè)的成長。
What is harder to establish /is whether the productivity revolution / that businessmen assume they are presiding over / is for real. (1998年真題)
【分析】本句不長，但結(jié)構卻較復雜。句子主干為：What is harder to establish is whether the productivity revolution is for real.句子主干的主語由主語從句“what is harder to establish”構成，而表語從句由“where”引導的從句“what is harder to establish”構成，整個句子仍然是系表結(jié)構?！皌hat businessmen assume they are presiding over”是修飾“the productivity revolution”的定語從句。
【翻譯】難以確定的是，商界人士認為他們所主導的生產(chǎn)力革命是否真的產(chǎn)生效果了。
There is, as Robert Rubin, the treasury secretary, says, a “disjunction” between the mass of business anecdote / that points to a leap in productivity / and the picture reflected by the statistics. (1998年真題)
【分析】句子主干部分是由between...and...(在……¬之間)固定搭配連接而成。句子主干為：There is a “disjunction” between the mass of business anecdote and the picture.“that points to a leap in productivity”是定語從句修飾“the mass of business anecdote”的?！皉eflected by the statistics”過去分詞作定語修飾“the picture”。
【翻譯】正如財長Robert Rubin所說，在商界傳言的生產(chǎn)力進步與政府統(tǒng)計數(shù)據(jù)所反映的情況存在著脫節(jié)。
長句的解析
由于考研本身所具有的局限性，以及西方的語言習慣(簡單、直接、重心突出)，這就決定了文章中結(jié)構非常復雜的長句出現(xiàn)的機率很小。即使有，也只占極小部分，用于區(qū)分選拔出那些英語非常優(yōu)秀的考生。對于普通考生來說，如在考試中由于這種難度而有一兩道題目做不出來的話是很正常的。考生首先要做的，就是拿下那些絕大部分屬于常規(guī)性試題的分數(shù)，拿下自己該得到的分數(shù)。對于大多數(shù)考生來說，考研英語閱讀文章中有些語句較長，但結(jié)構并不復雜，考生對這類句子的理解，關鍵在于掌握一定的技巧，形成連貫的語義理解。其基本應對策略是先抓句子的主干，把握句子的重心，再對插入成分或并列結(jié)構進行理解。
這類句子可分為兩類：一類是由一些固定的詞組搭配所構成的長句，如 so(such)...that(如此……¬以致……¬），not only...but also(不僅……¬而且……¬）， not...but(不是……¬而是……¬），so as...to(如此……¬以致……¬），transform...from...into...(把……¬從……¬改變?yōu)椤?not;），not so much...as...(不是……¬而是……¬）as...as...(像……¬一樣)等；另一類是由多個插入成分或并列結(jié)構過多構成的長句。對于前者我們只需抓住固定搭配所連接的主干，分步理解；后者則直接抓住句子的主干，分步理解。
下面就近23年來閱讀真題文章中所出現(xiàn)的“長難句”逐一進行分析(“/” 表示斷句標示，適當?shù)臄嗑淇梢詭涂忌芎玫乩斫饩湟?。
The Olympian athletic festival / held every four years / in honor of Zeus, king of the Olympian Gods, /eventually lost its local character, became first a national event and then, after the rules against foreign competitors had been abolished, international.(1987年真題)
【分析】本句實際是由幾個簡單的并列句組成的一個長句，省略了共同的主語The Olympian athletic festival。補充省略部分，該句可理解為以下簡單句的句意組合：
The Olympian athletic festival held every four years in honor of Zeus, king of the Olympian Gods.
The Olympian athletic festival eventually lost its local character.
After the rules against foreign competitors had been abolished, the Olympian athletic festival became first a national event and then, international.
【翻譯】奧林匹克運動會最初是為了紀念Zeus(奧林匹亞的一個神)，每四年主辦一次，最終它喪失了原¬有的地方色彩，逐漸成為一種體育盛事。而后，在一些反對國外競技者參與的規(guī)則被廢除之后，逐漸變成了一種國際性的體育盛事。
Aristotle, for example, whose natural science /dominated the Western thought for two thousand years, believed that / man could arrive at an understanding of reality/ by reasoning from self-evident principle / that everything in the universe has its proper place, hence one can deduce that / objects fall to the ground because that's where it belongs.(1987年真題)
【分析】首先抓住句子主干，對于插入部分我們可以暫時忽略掉。本句主干為：Aristotle believed that man could arrive at an understanding of reality by reasoning from self-evident principle，然后再逐步理解其他成分。“whose natural science dominated Western thought for two thousand years”是對Aristotle的補充說明。“everything in the universe has its proper place, hence one can deduce that objects fall to the ground because that's where it belongs”是對self-evident principle的同步解釋。該句可理解為以下簡單句的句意組合：
Aristotle believed that man could arrive at an understanding of reality by reasoning from self-evident principle.
Aristotle's natural science dominated the Western thought for two thousand years.
Self-evident principle is that everything in the universe has its proper place, hence one can deduce that objects fall to the ground because that’s where it belongs.
【翻譯】舉個例子吧，亞里士多德，他的自然科學理論統(tǒng)治了整個西方思想長達兩千年之久。他認為，人們可以通過一些顯而易見的法則推斷來達到對現(xiàn)實的理解。這種不證自明的法則就是，任何事件在宇宙中總有其合適的位置。因而人們可以推斷出，物體掉到地上是因為物體本身就屬于大地的。
Both you and she know that / if you are not sure what you want, you are not likely to find it.(1988年真題)
【分析】that if 屬于常考結(jié)構，對于這種結(jié)構的理解關鍵在于學會對that if 結(jié)構進行斷句。在理解的時候，that if 之間語義應稍作停頓，把if與后面引導的狀語從句語義連貫起來。
【翻譯】你和她都知道，如果你不能確定你所想要的東西，那么你就沒有可能找到它。
The mineral elements from the soil / that are usable by the plant / must be dissolved in the soil solution / before they can be taken into the root. (1991年真題)
【分析】句子主干為：The mineral elements must be dissolved in the soil solution before they can be taken into the root.定語從句“that are usable by the plan”是修飾“The mineral elements”；“from the soil”是介詞短語作狀語。該句可理解為以下簡單句的句意組合：
The mineral elements from the soil must be dissolved in the soil solution before they can be taken into the root.
The mineral elements are usable by the plan.
【翻譯】土地里被植物所用到的礦物質(zhì)元素只有在土地里先期溶解，才能被植物的根吸收。
C.R.Darnes has suggested that / it is as proper to term the plant a water structure / as to call a house composed mainly of brick / a brick building. (1991年真題)
【分析】這里是由as...as...(像……¬一樣，正如……¬一樣)連接兩個并列成分構成的長句。該句的主干為：C.R.Darnes has suggested that / it is as proper to term the plant a water structure / as to call a house a brick building.“composed mainly of brick”是分詞作狀語修飾“a house”。這里把“磚與房子的關系比做水與植物的關系說明水對于植物的重要性”。
【翻譯】C.R.Darnes認為，正如把一棟主要由磚建造的建筑稱為磚瓦建筑一樣，我們可以把植物看作一種水體結(jié)構。
To be promoted or to fall behind / is not a matter of salary but /even more a matter of self-respect. This constant need to prove / that one is as good as or better than one's fellow-competitor / creates constant anxiety and stress, the very causes of unhappiness and illness. (1993年真題)
【分析】第一句主要是not...but...(不是……¬而是……¬）的理解。第二句主干：This constant need to prove creates constant anxiety and stress.句子主干中“This constant need to prove”是不定式短語作主語。 “that one is as good as or better than one's fellow-competitor”是對This constant need to prove的同步說明。“the very causes of unhappiness and illness”是對“constant anxiety and stress”的同步說明。
【翻譯】晉升與貶職不僅僅是薪水的改變，更多的是有關自尊的事情。這種不斷地證明一個人和自己的對手一樣優(yōu)秀或者比其更優(yōu)秀的需要，使人產(chǎn)生了一種長久的焦慮和壓力，正是這種焦慮和壓力導致了人的不快樂和疾病。
I suggest / transforming our social system from a bureaucratically managed industrialism /in which maximal production and consumption are ends in themselves into / a humanist industrialism / in which / man and full development of his potentialities——those of love and of reason——are the aims of all social arrangements.(1993年真題)
【分析】本句是由transform...from...into...(把……¬從……¬改變?yōu)椤?not;）固定詞組搭配所構成的長句。transform...from...into...連接的短語作“suggest”后面所接的賓語從句的主語，主語較長妨礙¬了對句意的理解。句子主干為：I suggest transforming our social system from a bureaucratically managed industrialism into a humanist industrialism are the aims of all social arrangements.句中“in which maximal production and consumption are ends in themselves”是對a bureaucratically managed industrialism的描述?！癷n which man and full development of his potentialities——those of love and of reason”是對a humanist industrialism的描述。
【翻譯】我建議，把我們的社會體系從一種以追求產(chǎn)值和消費的官僚工業(yè)化體系轉(zhuǎn)變成為一種人性化的工業(yè)體系。在這種人性化工業(yè)體系當中，人及人潛能(情感和理性)的充分發(fā)展才是我們社會組織的目標。
The great interest in exceptional children / shown in public education over the past three decades / indicates the strong feeling in our society that / all citizens, whatever their special conditions, deserve the opportunity to fully develop their capabilities. (1994年真題)
【分析】句子主干為：The great interest indicates the strong feeling in our society. 介詞短語“in exceptional children”作狀語修飾 “the great interest”。過去分詞短語“shown in public education over the past three decades”作定語修飾“the great interest”?！癮ll citizens , whatever their special conditions, deserve the opportunity to fully develop their capabilities”是同位語“the strong feeling”的說明。
【翻譯】在過去的三十年，人們在公共教育領域?qū)μ厥鈨和憩F(xiàn)出來的強烈興趣表明，在我們社會里，人們有一種強烈的愿望。那就是，所有的公民，無論他們自身狀況如何，都應該獲得全面發(fā)展自己能力的機會。
If its message were confined merely to information——and that in itself would be difficult if not impossible to achieve, for even a detail such as the choice of the color of a shirt is subtly persuasive——advertising would be so boring that / no one would pay any attention.(1995年真題)
【分析】對于由較長的插入成分所構成的長句，我們可以首先跳過破折號內(nèi)的插入內(nèi)容，直接抓住破折號以外的主體內(nèi)容來理解句子主干部分。本句主干為：If its message were confined merely to information, advertising would be so boring that no one would pay any attention.再把插入部分“and that in itself would be difficult if not impossible to achieve, for even a detail such as the choice of the color of a shirt is subtly persuasive”代入主句中，并結(jié)合前后句意理解。
【翻譯】如果廣告所傳遞的信息僅限于告知，那么廣告將變得讓人厭煩以至于不會有人去注意它。當然，即使有可能的話廣告本身要做到這一點(廣告僅僅傳遞一種告知信息而不帶任何勸誘成份)也是有困難的。因為，即使是一個小小的細節(jié)，如對襯衣顏色的選擇也是一種隱性的誘導。
The change met the technical requirements of the new age / by engaging a large professional element and / prevented the decline in efficiency that / so commonly spoiled the fortunes of family firms in the second and third generation / after the energetic founders. (1996年真題)
【分析】本句是由兩個并列成分構成的長句。句子主干為：The change met the technical requirements of the new age and(這里省略掉了共同的主語the change)prevented the decline . 介詞短語“by engaging a large professional element”作狀語修飾整個主句。介詞短語“in efficiency”作狀語修飾 “the decline”(這里要學會如何結(jié)合句意區(qū)分介詞短語作狀語是修飾整個句子還是修飾其中的一部分，這里and之后是一省略主語的獨立句子，狀語不可能躍過一個句子去修飾另外一個句子，因此這里的 in efficiency修飾的是 the decline)?！皊o commonly spoiled the fortunes of family firms in the second and third generation after the energetic founders”是定語從句修飾“the decline in efficiency”，對其具體內(nèi)容的說明。
【翻譯】這種革新通過雇傭大量的職業(yè)人士，滿足了新時代工藝的需要，同時也阻止了效率的下降。而這種效率的下降，通常在富有活力的創(chuàng)始人之后的第二代或第三代領導時期對家族企業(yè)產(chǎn)生不利的影響。
The railway companies, though / still private business managed for the benefit of shareholders, were very unlike old family business.(1996年真題)
【分析】首先理解句子主干：The railway companies were very unlike old family business.再把插入成分“though still private business managed for the benefit of shareholders”代入句中理解，形成連貫的語義。
【翻譯】盡管一些鐵路公司仍然是私有的，而且是為了其股東利益而管理，但他們已經(jīng)¬和傳統(tǒng)的家族企業(yè)有很大的不同了。
The paid manager / acting for the company / was in more direct relation with the men and their demands, but even he had seldom that familiar personal knowledge of the workmen / which the employer had often had / under the more patriarchal system of the old family business / now passing away. (1996年真題)
【分析】句子的主干為：The paid manager was in more direct relation with the men and their demands, but even he had seldom that familiar personal knowledge of the workmen. 現(xiàn)在分詞短語“acting for the company”作定語修飾“the paid manager”?！皐hich the employer had often had under the more patriarchal system of the old family business”是修飾familiar personal knowledge of the workmen的定語從句。“now passing away”是現(xiàn)在分詞短語作狀語，也是修飾familiar personal knowledge of the workmen。這里要學會...business與 now passing away之間的斷句。前句到business已經(jīng)¬結(jié)束(因為該句結(jié)構已十分完整，已不可能再接其他成分)，now passing away則是一個獨立的狀語。
【翻譯】作為代表公司一方的職業(yè)經(jīng)¬理人，他們和工人以及工人的需求方面(比起企業(yè)的所有者)有著更加直接的聯(lián)系，但他們很少有他們雇主在傳統(tǒng)家族體制下曾經(jīng)¬對工人有過的熟悉程度，這種熟悉情況現(xiàn)在也不再存在了。
At Time Warner, however, such questions are simply the latest manifestation of the soul searching that has involved the company ever since the company was born in 1990. (1997年真題)
【分析】句子主干為：Such questions are simply the latest manifestation of the soul searching.定語從句“that has involved the company ever since the company was born in 1990”修飾“manifestation of the soul searching”。
【翻譯】但是，在時代華納，這種問題僅僅是內(nèi)心自我探究的一種最新的表現(xiàn)。而這種探究自公司1990年誕生以來就一直伴隨著企業(yè)的成長。
What is harder to establish /is whether the productivity revolution / that businessmen assume they are presiding over / is for real. (1998年真題)
【分析】本句不長，但結(jié)構卻較復雜。句子主干為：What is harder to establish is whether the productivity revolution is for real.句子主干的主語由主語從句“what is harder to establish”構成，而表語從句由“where”引導的從句“what is harder to establish”構成，整個句子仍然是系表結(jié)構?！皌hat businessmen assume they are presiding over”是修飾“the productivity revolution”的定語從句。
【翻譯】難以確定的是，商界人士認為他們所主導的生產(chǎn)力革命是否真的產(chǎn)生效果了。
There is, as Robert Rubin, the treasury secretary, says, a “disjunction” between the mass of business anecdote / that points to a leap in productivity / and the picture reflected by the statistics. (1998年真題)
【分析】句子主干部分是由between...and...(在……¬之間)固定搭配連接而成。句子主干為：There is a “disjunction” between the mass of business anecdote and the picture.“that points to a leap in productivity”是定語從句修飾“the mass of business anecdote”的?！皉eflected by the statistics”過去分詞作定語修飾“the picture”。
【翻譯】正如財長Robert Rubin所說，在商界傳言的生產(chǎn)力進步與政府統(tǒng)計數(shù)據(jù)所反映的情況存在著脫節(jié)。