经济学人双语精读与写作第四期招新| 名额有限
Education Policy
Copying allowed
What other countries should learn from Singapore’s schools
教育政策
该抄就抄
其他国家应该向新加坡的学校学什么
WHEN the island of Singapore became an independent country in 1965, it had few friends and even fewer natural resources.How did it become one of the world’s great trading and financial centres? The strategy, explained Lee Kuan Yew, its first prime minister, was “to develop Singapore’s only available natural resource: its people”.
岛国新加坡在1965年独立时，它几乎没有朋友，更没有自然资源。它是如何成为世界上最大的贸易和金融中心之一的？新加坡首任总理李光耀解释说，新加坡的战略是“开发新加坡唯一的自然资源：人才”。
Para 1作者用铺陈手法（反面铺垫）突出相关主题-新加坡能成为贸易和金融中心的战略-人才。
铺垫手法”的类型：
第一，正面铺垫。在正铺中，铺垫所预示的方向和情节发展的方向完全一致。
第二，反面铺垫。在反铺中，铺垫的方向和情节发展的结局完全相反。
第三，正反结合铺垫。正铺反铺巧妙结合，使故事情节的发展跌宕幅度大，又有很强的合理性和真实感。
如北宋柳永的“词” 《雨霖铃·秋别》
雨霖铃/雨霖铃·寒蝉凄切
作者：柳永(宋)
寒蝉凄切，对长亭晚，
骤雨初歇。都门帐饮无绪，
留恋处，兰舟催发。
执手相看泪眼，竟无语凝噎。
念去去，千里烟波，
暮霭沉沉楚天阔。多情自古伤离别，
更那堪，冷落清秋节！
今宵酒醒何处？杨柳岸，
晓风残月。此去经年，
应是良辰好景虚设。便纵有千种风情，
更与何人说？
词的上片写一对恋人饯行时难分难舍的别情。起首三句写别时之景，点明了地点和节序。前三句通过景色的铺写，也为后两句的“无绪”和“催发”设下伏笔
【翻译解析】
WHEN the island of Singapore became an independent country in 1965, it had few friends and even fewer natural resources.
看这句话的官方译文：岛国新加坡在1965年独立时，它几乎没有朋友，更没有自然资源。
the island of Singapore became an independent country in 1965主系表 翻译成了主谓关系。 Independent形容词变成了动词。后面的it had few friends and even fewer natural resources 我认为翻译的不够好。 我们可以这样处理：当时，新加坡朋友寥寥无几，而且资源匮乏。
[ paraphrase]
When Singapore was founded/established in 1965, it had few friends and even scarcity/a shortage of natural resources.
我们还可以这样说：
When the country got its independence from Federation of Malaya in 1965, Singapore had few friends and even limited access to natural resources.
How did it become one of the world’s great trading and financial centres?
那它如何成为世界上伟大的贸易和金融中心？
Centre=hub例如the commercial hub of the city 城市的商业中心
[ paraphrase]
How did it become one of the world’s greatest trading and financial hubs?
The strategy,explained Lee Kuan Yew, its first prime minister, was“to develop Singapore’s only available natural resource: its people”.
[长难句解析]
[if !supportLists](1) [endif]句子主干the strategy was“ to develop Singapore’s only available natural resource : its people”.
[if !supportLists](2) [endif]explained Lee Kuan Yew, its first prime minister插入语。其中its first prime minister 又是 Lee Kuan Yew 的同位语
【词组搭配】
Nothing is impossible to the mind. All it’s guidance and power are available to you. When you fully realize that thought causes all, you will know there are never any limits that you yourself do not impose.
——Uell Stanley Andersen
对于人的意念，没有事情是不可能的，你可以使用它所有的指引及力量。当你完全了解思考造就一切，你将知道从来没有任何限制不是你自己加上去的。
——艾尔‧史丹利‧安德森
available / /adjective
1. something that is available is able to be used or can easily be bought or found可用的; 可获得的:
•Tickets are available from the box office.售票处有票出售。
[+ to ]
•Not enough data is available to scientists.科学家没有足够的数据。
available to do sth
•Funds are available to assist teachers who want to attend the conference.想参加大会的教师可获得资助。
[+ for ]
•No figures are available for the number of goods sold.货物出售数量的数据无法获得。
[+ in ]
•There are plenty of jobs available in the area.这个地区有许多就业机会。
readily / widely available ( = very easy to obtain )很容易获得
•Parking is readily available near the station entrance.车站入口附近停车很方便。
2. not before nounsomeone who is available is not busy and has enough time to talk to you〔人〕有空的:
•Collins was not available for comment on Thursday night.柯林斯星期四晚上没空作讲评。
3. someone who is available does not have a wife, boyfriend etc, and therefore may want to start a new romantic relationship with someone else未婚的，没有伴侣的
—availability / / noun U
•the availability of affordable housing有买得起（租得起）的住房供应
•Rooms are offered subject to availability.客房供应至客满为止。
【背景知识】
新加坡怎样被马来西亚联邦开除http://cul.qq.com/a/20150810/023553.htm
被迫独立，新加坡是如何脱离马来西亚的http://world.huanqiu.com/roll/2008-10/264489.html
2.Today Singapore’s education system is considered the best in the world.The country consistently ranks at the top of the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), a triennial test of 15-year-olds in dozens of countries, in the main three categories of maths, reading and science.Singaporean pupils are roughly three years ahead of their American peers in maths.Singapore does similarly well in exams of younger children, and the graduates of its best schools can be found scattered around the world’s finest universities.
今天，新加坡的教育系统被认为在全球首屈一指。经合组织（OECD）的国际学生评估项目（PISA）每三年对几十个国家的15岁学生开展数学、阅读和科学三大科目的测试，新加坡一直名列前茅。新加坡学生的数学成绩比美国学生领先大概三年。在对更年幼学生的测试中，该国表现同样出色。这里最好的学校的毕业生遍布于全球顶尖大学中。
Para 2讲述 新加坡教育体系的杰出。 第一句是主旨句（中心句），二三四句为分句，论证第一句。
Today Singapore’s education system is considered the best in the world.
今天，新加坡的教育系统被认为在全球首屈一指。
【词语联想】
首屈一指
Preeminent :ADJ If someone or something is preeminent in a group, they are more important, powerful, or capable than other people or things in the group.杰出的 [正式] 名词形式 preeminence
还可以怎么说呢？
Top-ranking adj.一流的; first-class 一流的；top-notch最好的；卓越的；第一流的
State-of- the-art最先进和最尖端的( 一般用于科技）；
【词义辨析】
consider:指经过考虑和观察后得出的结论。
think:普通用词，指按照自己的意见提出看法。
believe:通常指根据一定的证据，经思考后而认为属实。
count:指作出判断后而得出的看法等。
deem:正式用词，常用于法律、文学，强调作判断而不是思考。
reckon:指对人或事作全面“权衡”，把各方面意见考虑进去后得出结论。
regard:侧重凭外表或表面现象作判断。多强调观点。
[ paraphrase]
Today Singapore’s education system isconsidered top-ranking in the world.
或
Today Singapore’s education system has reasserted its traditional preeminence in the world.
或Today Singapore’s education system ranks among the best in the world.
The country consistently ranks at the top of the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA),a triennial test of 15-year-olds in dozens of countries,in the main three categories of maths,reading and science.
【词语解析】
The conntry同义替换Singapore
Rank at the top of =receive the top rating名列前茅
OECD: the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development经济合作与发展组织（MTI 的参考背景链接 https://wiki.mbalib.com/wiki/OECD)
Category类别，种类，范畴:
fall into / belong in / fit into a category
•Voters fall into three main categories .选民分为三大类。
【长难句分析】
[if !supportLists]（1）[endif]句子主干The country consistently ranks at the top of the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in the main three categories of mathsreading and science.
[if !supportLists]（2）[endif]a triennial test of 15-year-olds in dozens of countries是PISA 的同位语
【翻译技巧】
The country consistently ranks at the top/ of the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), /a triennial test of 15-year-olds in dozens of countries,/ in the main three categories of maths, reading and science.
经合组织（OECD）的国际学生评估项目（PISA）每三年对几十个国家的15岁学生开展数学、阅读和科学三大科目的测试，新加坡一直名列前茅。
韩刚《90天攻克二级笔译》汉英技巧二:“孰轻孰重”要分明主要是指中英句子结构差异:中文结构“前轻后重”,中文结构事实、背景在前,表态、判断、结论在后,英文恰恰相反,是“前重后轻”。“表态判断为主，事实背景为从”，在翻译时有了这样一个主从句框架搭建原则，逻辑一目了然，译文自然“行云流水”！
这句话中事实背景：经合组织（OECD）的国际学生评估项目（PISA）每三年对几十个国家的15岁学生开展数学、阅读和科学三大科目的测试
结论判断是新加坡一直名列前茅
Singaporean pupils are roughly three years ahead oftheir American peers in maths.
【词语解析】
Roughly=nearly=approximately=about=some
Ahead 意思是在前面 如 ahead of the game/curve成功; 领先，超越:
Peer 的意思是your peers are the people who are the same age as you, or who have the same type of job, social class etc同龄人; 社会地位相同的人； 如American children did less well in math than their peers in Japan.美国儿童的数学成绩比不上日本的同龄儿童。
我们再前面笔记提到过peer, counterpart, answer, ones 等用法，可回看。
[ paraphrase]
American pupils are roughly three years falling behind Singaporean ones in maths.
Singapore does similarly well in exams of younger children,and the graduates of its best schools can be foundscattered around the world’s finest universities.
【词语解析】
Do similarly well=perfrom similarly well
scatter (sth) over / around / across etc sth撒播，这里用的延伸意义，及遍布=spread all over
The world’s finest unversities=the world’s leading universities=the world’s top / best/first-rate universities
[ paraphrase]
Singapore performs similarly well in exams of younger children或不考虑上下文可以用 Singaporean younger pupils also performs well in exams .
Singapore does similarly well in exams of younger children and the graduates of its best schools spread all over the world’s first-rate universities.
3. The island-state has much to teach the world. But other countries are reluctant pupils.One reason is that Singapore favours traditional pedagogy, with teachers leading the class.That contrasts with many reformers’ preference for looser, more “progressive” teaching intended to encourage children to learn for themselves. Although international studies suggest that direct instruction is indeed a good way of conveying knowledge, critics contend that Singapore has a “drill and kill” model that produces uncreative, miserable maths whizzes.Parents worry about the stress the system puts on their children (and on them, even as they ferry kids to extra classes).
这个岛国有很多地方可供全世界借鉴。但其他国家并不情愿向它学习。原因之一是新加坡偏爱传统教学法，由老师主导课堂。与之形成鲜明对比的是，许多改革者倾向于更宽松、更“进步”的教学方式，鼓励孩子们自学。尽管国际研究表明，直接教学法确实是一种传授知识的好方法，但批评人士认为，新加坡的模式是“死读书”，培养出的是缺乏创造力、一味苦学的数学能手。父母们担心这个系统给他们的孩子带来压力（还有对自己的压力，虽然他们一边这样担忧一边还在送孩子上课外班）。
The island-state has much to teach the world. But other countries are reluctant pupils.
[翻译技巧]
翻译的本质不仅是纯语言方面的转换,而是建立在语言形式上的不同文化的交流,传递语言的意义
20世纪70年代美国翻译理论家尤金·A·奈达 提出动态堆成，后形成著名的“功能翻译理论”。柰达如是阐述：在动态对等翻译中译者所关注的并不是源于信息和译语信息的-对应关系而是一种动态关系，即译语接受者与译语信息之间的关系应该与源语接受者和原文信息的关系基本相同。
所以翻译是可以进行语言脱壳。
所以这句话译文为：这个岛国有很多地方可供全世界借鉴。但其他国家并不情愿向它学习。
【词语解析】
The island-state同义替换 Singapore
Relucatant最常见的用法是be relucatant to do sth 不情愿做某事
[ paraphrase]
Singapore has much to teach the world, but other countries are reluctant to learn from it.
我们继续看第二句
One reason is thatSingapore favours traditional pedagogy, with teachers leading the class.
【词语解析】
Favour,动词，较喜欢的意思
favour sb / sth over sb / sth[权威例句]Florida voters favored Bush over Gore by a very small margin.佛罗里达州的选民喜欢布什的略多于喜欢戈尔的。
favour sb with sth :formal to give someone something such as a look or reply给〔某人〕以〔某物，如目光或回答〕:•[权威例句]McIntosh favoured her with a smile.麦金托什给了她一个微笑。
Pedagogy 教学（法）;教育学:词根词缀：-agogic-, -agogue, -agog, -agogic, -agoguery, -agogy
【来源及含义】Greek: usually a suffix meaning: lead, leading, leading forth, guide, guiding; bring, take; promoting, stimulating
【同源单词】agogic, agogical, agogics, anagoge, anagogic, anagogical
Reason = factor, culprit, forces等
[ paraphrase]
The first factor seems at play in the fact that Singapore favours traditionalpedagogy, with teacher leading the class.
第三句
That contrasts with many reformers’ preference for looser, more “progressive” teaching intended to encourage children to learn for themselves.
【长难句分析】
[if !supportLists](1) [endif]句子主干That contrasts with many reformers’ preference for looser, more “progressive” teaching
[if !supportLists](2) [endif]intended to encourage children to learn for themselves定语从句修饰teaching
[词语解析]
这里的是Contrast动词，对照，对比:•The snow was icy and white, contrasting with the brilliant blue sky.这雪冰冷洁白，与晴朗的蓝天形成对照。
contrast sharply / strikingly with sth( = be extremely different from something )与某物截然不同
•These results contrast sharply with other medical tests carried out in Australia.这些结果与在澳大利亚进行的其他医学测试的结果截然不同。
[ paraphrase]
By contrast, many reformer favours a looser, more “progressive” teaching intended to encourage children to learn for themselves.
我们继续看第四句
Although international studies suggest that direct instruction is indeed a good way of conveying knowledge,critics contend that Singapore has a “drill and kill” model that produces uncreative, miserable maths whizzes.
【长难句分析】
[if !supportLists]（1）[endif]although引导的让步状语从句，◆although引导让步状语从句，意为“尽管；虽然”，可位于句首，也可位于句中。although不能与but连用，但可跟yet, still 等连用。
【活学活用】
(1) regular exercise is very important, it’s never a good idea to exercise too close to bedtime.
A. If
B. As
C. Although
D. Unless
（2）critics contend that Singapore has a “drill and kill” model that produces uncreative, miserable maths whizzes.这句的主干是critics contend that， 后面是that 引导的宾语从句。 produces uncreative, miserable maths whizzes 定语从句修饰model.
[词语解析]
Convey 动词表达，传递，传达:近义词 transfer, impart 例句All this information can be conveyed in a simple diagram.所有这些信息可以通过一张简单的图表来表示。
convey sth to sb
[词汇拓展]灌输
inculcate sth (in / into sb)/ inculcate sb with sth反复灌输；谆谆教诲:
Instil sth into sb逐渐灌输,逐步培养(感受、思想或行为)
Be imbued with sth使充满,灌输,激发(强烈感情、想法或价值)
Contend =maintain =claim (尤指在争论中)声称,主张,认为
Uncreative=sterile刻板的；无个性的；缺乏创意的
Whizz快手，高手，能人:; 这里相当于geek,maverick genius
[paraphrase]
Although international studies show thatdirect instructionis assuredly a good way of tranferring knowledge, critics argue that Singaporehas a“drill and kill” model that generates sterile, miserable maths geeks.
或Although international studies found that direct instruction is a good teaching pedagogy, critics maintain that / critics note that Singapore has a“drill and kill” model that brings stiff, miserable maths geeks.
我们看第五句
Parents worry about the stressthe system puts on their children (and on them, even as they ferry kids to extra classes).
【词语解析】
担忧的多种表达参见上期笔记
这里可以为worry about = fret about /over
Ferry = pack off (漫长的暑假出现过）
stress sb out :to make someone so worried or nervous that they cannot relax使极度焦虑，使非常紧张，使压力大:
[权威例句]•Studying for exams stresses me out.复习迎考使我非常焦虑。
【长难句分析】
[if !supportLists]（1）[endif]句子主干Parents worry about the stress；
[if !supportLists]（2）[endif]the system puts on their children定语从句，that 省略，修饰stress
[paraphrase]
Parents fret over the strain the system puts on their children (and on them, even as they pack off kids to extra classes)
或parents are concerned that the system puts stress on their chilren and on them,even as they send their children to extra classes.
4.Yet Singapore shows that academic brilliance need not come at the expense of personal skills.In 2015 Singaporean students also came first in a new PISA ranking designed to look at collaborative problem-solving, scoring even better than they did in reading and science.They also reported themselves to be happy—more so than children in Finland, for instance, a country that educationalists regard as an example of how to achieve exceptional resultswith cuddlier methods of teaching.Not content with its achievements, Singapore is now introducing reforms to improve creativity and reduce stress.This is not a sign of failure, but rather of a gradual, evidence-led approach to education reform—the first of three lessons that Singapore offers the rest of the world.
然而，新加坡的情况表明，优异的学业成绩不需要以牺牲个人能力为代价。2015年，新加坡学生在PISA的一项新排名中也拿下了第一，该排名考察的是协作解决问题的能力。他们在这一项上的得分甚至比阅读和科学的分数还要高。他们还表示自己很快乐，比芬兰孩子更快乐，而芬兰被教育学家奉为用更具亲和力的教学方法获得优异成绩的范例。新加坡并不满足于它的成就。现在，它正在通过改革提升创造力、减轻压力。这不是失败的表现，而是一种循序渐进、以证据为导向的教育改革。这是新加坡带给世界其他地区的三堂课中的第一课。
Yet Singapore shows that academic brilliance need not come at the expense of personal skills.
我们看第一句，yet表示转折。
【词语解析】
Academic birlliance=excellent academic performance
At the expense of以…为代价；
Personal skills= capability
Academic学业的,教学的,学术的(尤指与学校教育有关) 例如 high / low academic standards 高/低学术水平
第二个意思学业（成绩）优秀的:例如•He's not very academic.他学习不怎么样
[paraphrase]
Yet Singapore testifies that academic brilliance need not come at the expense of individual capability.
第二句In 2015 Singaporean students also came first in a new PISA rankingdesigned to look at collaborative problem-solving,scoring even better than they did in reading and science.
【长难句分析】
[if !supportLists]（1）[endif]句子主干In 2015 Singaporean students also came first in a new PISA ranking
[if !supportLists]（2）[endif]designed to look at collaborative problem-solving定语从句修饰ranking
[if !supportLists]（3）[endif]scoring even better than they did in reading and science非谓语做状语
【词语解析】
Ranking (尤指较高的)地位,级别;top-ranked players一流的选手
Come first in a new PISA ranking= rank firstin a new PISA list=be the top of
Design〔为某种特定目的〕计划，设计:design sth for sth例句•She designed a new logo for the company.她为公司设计了一个新的标志。
be designed for sb / sth例句The course is designed for beginners.这门课程是为初学者设计的。
collaborative effort / work / project： a job or piece of work that involves two or more people working together to achieve something合力/合作/协作项目等
Score动词〔在运动、比赛或考试中〕得（分）:例句•She scored an average of 9.9 in the test.这次考试她的平均分是 9.9。
[paraphrase]
In 2015 Singaporean students also rank first in in a new PISA list designed to look at collaborative problem-solving, performing even better than they did in reading and science.
第三句They also reported themselves to be happy—more so than children in Finland, for instance,a country that educationalists regard as an example of how to achieve exceptional results with cuddlier methods of teaching.
【长难句分析】
[if !supportLists]（1）[endif]They also reported themselves to be happy句子主干
[if !supportLists]（2）[endif]破折号之后是补充说明
[if !supportLists]（3）[endif]a country that educationalists regard as an example of how to achieve exceptional results with cuddlier methods of teaching.是Finland 的同位语more so than children in Finland=more happier than children in Finland
第四句Not content with its achievements, Singapore is now introducing reforms to improve creativity and reduce stress.
Be content with满足
Introduce=launch
[paraphrase]
Being unsatified with its achievements, Singapore is now launching reforms to improve creativity and mitigate stress.
第五句This is not a sign of failure, but rather of a gradual, evidence-led approach to education reform—the first of three lessons that Singapore offers the rest of the world.这不是失败的表现，而是一种循序渐进、以证据为导向的教育改革。这是新加坡带给世界其他地区的三堂课中的第一课。
【写作句型】
This is not a sign of ..., but rather
【翻译习得】
Gradual --循序渐进
（to be continued）
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