2019年翻譯資格考試初級筆譯模擬題：指南針

　　漢譯英

　　指南針是利用磁鐵在地球磁場中的南北指極性而制成的一種指向儀器，它和以差動齒輪結(jié)構(gòu)的指南車不同。我們現(xiàn)在所說的指南針是個總的名稱，在各個不同的歷史發(fā)展時期，它有不同的形體，也有不同的名稱，如司南、指南魚和指南針。關(guān)于指南針的最初發(fā)明者和發(fā)明年代現(xiàn)在無可查考。但是有一點是清楚的：指南針是我國古代勞動人民在長期的生產(chǎn)實踐中集體智慧的結(jié)晶。

　　參考譯文

　　A magnetic compass is an instrument showing direction based on the phenomenon that a magnetic bar or needle swinging freely in the earth’s magnetic field will direct itself to lie in a magnetic south-north position. It differs from the south-pointing chariot in that the latter has differential gearing. The term “compass” in this article includes all the various models in different historical periods, among them there are the Sinan, the Zhinanyu and the Zhinanzhen. The inventor and the exact invention dates remain unknown, but it is clear that the primitive magnetic south-pointing instrument appeared very early in China as a result of the knowledge people gained over long years of labor.