Americans no longer expect public figures, whether in speech or in writing, to command the English language with skill and gift.
主干：Americans no longer expect public figures宾 to command the English language with skill and gift. 宾补
方式状语修饰command：with skill and gift.
插入语：whether in speech or in writing
参考译文：不管是演讲还是写文章，美国人都不再期望公众人物用技巧和文采来驾驭英语语言。
In spite of “endless talk of difference,” American society is an amazing machine for homogenizing people.
主干：In spite of “endless talk of difference,” 状 American society is an amazing
machine
介词短语作后置定语：for homogenizing people.
参考译文：尽管”美国人无休止地谈论差异“，美国社会却是一台同化国民的机器，其相当惊人。
翻译之道：1.句首的 In spite of 用作介词，后面可以跟名词，但在汉语中“尽管”、“虽然”后面不能直接接名词，因此翻译时需要用主谓结构，名词 talk译为动词作谓语。2.句中的 amazing 和 homogenizing people不好同时安排，翻译时将 amazing 拿出来单独处理。
But it’s obvious that a majority of the president’s advisers still don’t take global warming seriously.
主干：But it’s obvious
主语从句： that a majority of the president’s advisers still don’t take global warming seriously.
参考译文：但是大多数总统身边的顾问仍然没有认真对待全球变暖的问题，这点是很明显的。
翻译之道：将obvious 安排在最后，并以“这”字概括，符合汉语重心在后的特点。
Many see that the country is getting ready to build lots of new power plants to meet our energy needs.
主干：Many see
宾语从句： that the country is getting ready to build谓 lots of new power plants to meet our energy needs. 不定式作目地状语
参考译文：很多人都能理解，国家为了满足能源增长的需要，正准备修建大量新电厂。
翻译之道：根据语法规则，作句子状语的不定式的逻辑主语应为主句的主语。把目地状语拿到句首，加上主句的主语这一译法，值得学习。
