中國是世界上公認(rèn)發(fā)明指南針的國家。早在2400多年前，中國人就創(chuàng)造出世界上最早的指南針。后來經(jīng)過不斷改進(jìn)，到宋朝(the Song Dynasty)人們制造出鐵針指南針并應(yīng)用于航海。中國是第一個(gè)在海船上使用指南針的國家。指南針為明代(the Ming Dynasty)鄭和下西洋提供了條件。后來指南針傳入歐洲，推動了歐洲航海事業(yè)的發(fā)展為，哥倫布(Columbus)的航行提供了技術(shù)保證。

　　表達(dá)難點(diǎn)

　　1.第1句中的“發(fā)明指南針的”可處理成后置定語，用現(xiàn)在分詞短語having invented the compass來表達(dá)，也可用定語從句which has invented...來表達(dá)。

　　2.翻譯第3句中的“后來經(jīng)過不斷改進(jìn)”時(shí)，宜加上主語“指南針”，而由于前一句的靠后部分已出現(xiàn)過 compass，故這里可用it來作主語�！暗剿纬�人們制造出鐵針指南針并應(yīng)用于航海”可用并列結(jié)構(gòu)為 people produced... and applied it in...�！拌F針指南針”可表達(dá)為 compass with iron needles。

　　3.第4句中的“在海船上使用指南針的”較長，宜將其處理成后置定語，用現(xiàn)在分詞短語using the compass來表達(dá)，其中“在海船上”為狀語，譯作on sea-going ships，按照英語表達(dá)習(xí)慣，置于句末。

　　4.最后一句中有3個(gè)動作，“指南針傳人……，推動了……，……提供了……”，仔細(xì)分析可發(fā)現(xiàn)，“推動了”和 “提供了”是結(jié)果，故將“指南針傳人……”作句子主干，“推動了……，提供了……”用現(xiàn)在分詞短語來表達(dá)， 作結(jié)果狀語，譯作 the compass spread into Eurpe, promoting... and guaranteeing...。

　　參考譯文

　　China is universally recognized as the country having invented the compass. As early as 2,400 years ago, Chinese people created the earliest compass in the world. Later it was further improved continuously. During the Song Dynasty, people produced the compass with iron needles and applied it in navigation. China is the first country using the compass on seagoing ships. The compass provided aid for Zheng He's voyages to the Western Ocean in the Ming Dynasty. Later the compass spread into Europe, promoting the development of the European marine industey and guaranteeing technical support for Columbus' navigation.