1、The causes of inequality are many and varied, and may be broadly grouped into three factors. The first is social condition or family background. In China, for example, someone born and bred in the city usually earns a higher income and enjoys better social services. The second is aptitude. The cleverer or stronger ones usually earn more and enjoy better conditions than the lesser endowed. The final one is ambition and diligence. All things being equal, someone who aims higher and works harder often earns more.
譯文：雖然導致不平等的原因很多，但我們可以大體上把它們分爲三類。一類是社會條件或家庭出身，例如在中國，與出生於貧困農村的人們相比，一個出生在大城市的人通常擁有更多的收入和更好的社會處境。另外一類是自然天賦，有些人天生聰明或健壯，有些人則天生愚笨或孱弱，前者一般也會比後者擁有更多的收入並處於更好的狀況。最後一類是抱負和努力程度，在其他條件相同的情況下，更有抱負和更努力的人們通常也會有更多的收入。
2、Mass urbanization of the world’s population is an unprecedented trend worldwide. The most important reason why people are moving to cities is economic. People are moving to the cities because that’s where they can find jobs and earn money. Until the 20th century, the major source of employment, full and part-time, was farming. Now, according to recent statistics, no more than 15 percent of all jobs are connected to farming. Jobs now are being created in information technology, manufacturing and service areas, such as tourism and financing, and all of these new jobs are in or around major cities.
譯文：世界人口大規模的城市化在世界範圍內達到史無前例的規模。驅使人們不斷涌向城市的最重要原因是經濟因素。人們都涌向城市是因爲在城裏可以找到工作和掙錢。在20世紀以前，就業的主要途徑，不管是全職還是兼職，一直都是農耕。而現在，根據最近的統計數據，只有不到15%的工作是和農業相關的。越來越多的工作產生於信息技術產業、製造業和服務行業，如旅遊業和融資，而所有這些新興工作都在大城市及其周邊地區。
評析：本題是高口熱點話題“城市化”，在07年9月的高口NTGF部分也涉及到過城市化的問題，前一題的句子翻譯S2也提到了“人們搬進大城市的原因，是追求高品質的生活”，而這裏主要圍繞工作展開。考查詞彙都在大綱範圍內，像urbanization, manufacturing等都屬於常見熱詞，考生在平時對這些詞彙有所積累，翻譯起來並不難。相對passage 2, 這段話稍微有點長，這也提醒考生注意平時多練習聽寫記筆記，熟悉常考話題，這樣在考試時才能拿高分。
3、Crime control is a pretty complex question, the first step, of course, is deterrence to stop people from committing crime in the first place. That involves the economy. Are there enough jobs for everyone? There should be. And social structure, are there enough support system? And so on. When people are convicted, and put in prison, then the goal should be to have reform programs inside prisons. So they want person comes out, they don’t return to a life of crime. If the education program and drug treatment program have been cut, convicted criminals are not being reformed.
譯文：如何控制犯罪率是一個十分複雜的問題。首先，當然要防止犯罪行爲的發生。包括從經濟方面來說，是否有足夠的工作提供給所有人?這個是應該要保證的;從社會機構來說，是否有足夠的社會保障體系?等等。而一旦人們犯了罪，被關進監獄了，那麼監獄裏就需要有改造計劃，可以讓這些人出獄之後，不再回到犯罪生涯。如果停掉教育計劃和*品治療方案，那就無法對這些犯人就行改造了。
評析：本篇段落翻譯選自2008年春季高口的聽力原文，這就暗示了廣大口譯考生，歷年的聽力原文等材料是平時訓練的重要資源，平時多積累，考試的時候方可胸有成竹。
本篇段落關注的是一個常見的.社會問題——如何控制犯罪率。段落給出了兩點建議，一個是要防患未然;二是在對犯人實施改造計劃。內容對考生來說應該並不陌生，語速也較爲平緩，作爲兩段翻譯的的第二段，在難度上是可以接受的。
本段詞彙較爲常見。注意deterrence，意是“威懾，制止”，這裏考生也可將名詞轉譯爲動詞，譯爲“防止犯罪行爲的發生”;另外，convict這個單詞意爲“判…有罪”，convicted criminals指“囚犯，犯人”。
段落的句子結構較爲簡單。考生只需注意這個長句：When people are convicted, and put into prison, the goal should be to have reform programs inside prisons, so that when the person comes out, they dont return to a life of crime. 這個句子雖長，但只要理解語義，理清分句之間的邏輯關係，如when引導的是從句，the goal 後面的內容是主句，so that作的是目的狀語。劃分好結構，再按句子本身的語序進行翻譯就可以了。
總體而言，本篇英譯中難度適中，主題也不偏頗另類，考生在平時注意對社會問題的積累，多進行真題練習，把握好時間和心態，相信會順利完成翻譯。
