算盤(abacus)是中國傳統(tǒng)的計算工具，也是中國古代的一項重大發(fā)明。阿拉伯數(shù)字出現(xiàn)以前，算盤在世界各地廣泛使用。算盤是矩形的木框，木框上固定著帶算珠的木桿。木框中間的橫梁(beam)將木桿分成兩部分：木桿上方的兩顆算珠 (counting beads)每個代表5,下方的五顆算珠每個代表1。隨著算盤的應(yīng)用，人們總結(jié)出很多計算技巧，提高了計算速度。由于算盤易于制造，而且計算口訣易于記憶和操作，因此算盤在中國十分流行。

　　參考譯文：

　　As a traditional Chinese calculation tool and an important ancient Chinese invention,the abacus was widely used before the invention of Arabic numerals in the world. The abacus is a rectangle with a wooden frame. Within the frame,rods with stringed beads are fixed. The beam in the middle of the frame divides each rod into two parts. The two counting beads in the upper part of each rod represent five and the rest five beads in the lower part represent one. With the application of the abacus, people summarized many calculation tips to help improve the speed of calculation. As the abacus is simple to produce, and its calculation tips are easy to memorize and operate, it is quite popular inChina.

　　詞句點撥

　　1.廣泛使用:可以用被動語態(tài)表示“被廣泛使用”，即be widely used。

　　2.帶算珠的木桿:可譯為rods with stringed beads。其中rod意為“木桿”，stringed 意為“用帶或繩綁或掛的”，beads意為“珠子”，故stringed beads意為“串起來的珠子”。

　　3.上方：即in the upper part;“下方”可譯為in the lower part。

　　4.隨著算盤的應(yīng)用:可譯為 with the application of the abacus。