英语难句的理解与翻译

问题描述

Accordin to the research of Millfield prep school, around 20% of youngsters work best with background music, 10% excel when allow to break up their work with short walks around the room while up to 80% can concentrate better if allowed to fiddle with a small object.

老师， 红色部分我没有看懂，不知道怎么翻译。烦请指导！谢谢。

老师答疑

刘老师：

According to the research of Millfield prep school, around 20% of youngsters work best with background music, 10% excel when allowed to break up their work with short walks around the room, while up to 80% can concentrate better if allowed to fiddle with a small object.

【翻译】根据米尔菲尔德预备学校的研究，如果学习时有背景音乐，大约20%的年轻人学习最为出色；若允许他们休息时在房间到处走动，那么10%的人会表现特别突出；然而学习中让他们玩个小物件，那么高达80%的人注意力会更加集中。

【分析】：红色部分是我改过的。

1. 10% excel：10%的人表现特别突出。

2. when allowed to break up their work = when they are allowed to have a break in their work

3. while = but

4. up to 80%：高达80%的人

5. if allowed to fiddle with a small object = if they are allowed to play with a small object

【跟踪解答】

关于break up这个短语，它是个多义词。除了你说的意思之外，还有“终止，中断”的含义，break up their work，根据上下文，对学生而言就是“中断学习”，理解为学习过程中的休息，课间休息。

并列连词and, so, or, but, while等，放在第一个分句后，之前有没有逗号均可。我们知道，逗号是表示停顿的。你仔细观察一下，上述连词是不是这样？

本句中while表示对比和转折，意思相当于but，之前有没有逗号都可以，不要为此事纠结。