2008年

In his autobiography, Darwin himself speaks ofhis intellectual powers with extraordinarymodesty. He points out that he always experiencedmuch difficulty in expressing himself clearly andconcisely, but (46) he believes that this verydifficulty may have had the compensatingadvantage of forcing him to think long and intently about every sentence, and thusenabling him to detect errors in reasoning and in his own observations. He disclaimed hispossession of any great quickness of apprehension or wit, such as distinguished Huxley. (47) He asserted, also, that his power to follow a long and purely abstract train ofthought was very limited, for which reason felt certain that he never could havesucceeded with mathematics. His memory, too, he described as extensive, but hazy. Sopoor in one sense was it that he never could remember for more than a few days a single dateor a line of poetry. (48) On the other hand, he did not accept as well founded the chargemade by some of his critics that, while he was a good observer, he had no power ofreasoning. This, he thought, could not be true, because the “Origin of Species” is one longargument from the beginning to the end, and has convinced many able men. No one, hesubmits, could have written it without possessing some power of reasoning. He was willing toassert that “I have a fair share of invention, and of common sense or judgment, such asevery fairly successful lawyer or doctor must have, but not, I believe, in any higher degree.” (49) He adds humbly that perhaps he was "superior to the common run of men innoticing things which easily escape attention, and in observing them carefully."

Writing in the last year of his life, he expressed the opinion that in two or three respectshis mind had changed during the preceding twenty or thirty years. Up to the age of thirty orbeyond it poetry of many kids gave him great pleasure. Formerly, too, pictures had given himconsiderable, and music very great, delight. In 1881, however, he said:“Now for many years Icannot endure to read a line of poetry. I have also almost lost my taste for pictures or music.” (50) Darwin was convinced that the loss of these tastes was not only a loss ofhappiness, but might possibly be injurious to the intellect, and more probably to themoral character.

解析：
(46) he believes that this very difficulty mayhave had the compensating advantage offorcing him to think long and intently aboutevery sentence, and thus enabling him to detecterrors in reasoning and in his own observations.
结构分析：
主句// he believes宾语从句//that this very difficulty may have had the compensating advantageof 并列结构//forcing him to think long and intently about every sentence,并列结构 //and thusenabling him to detect errors in reasoning and in his own observations.
词义推敲：
this very difficulty very表示强调，我们可以翻译为“正是这个困难”
compensating advantage 补充的/补偿的优势，
forcing him to 强迫他去
intently 刻意地，专心地，集中地
enabling him to 使他能够
reasoning 推理
参考译文：
达尔文认为正是因为这个困难，促使他对每一个句子进行长时间和针对性的思考，同时也使得他在观察和推理中发现错误。这也就使他具有了别人所不具备的优势。
得分重点：
宾语从句，并列结构，固定短语

(47) He asserted, also, that his power to follow a long and purely abstract train ofthought was very limited, for which reason felt certain that he never could havesucceeded with mathematics.
结构分析：
主句// He asserted, also, 宾语从句//that his power后置定语/ to follow a long and purely abstracttrain of thought was very limited, 非限定定语从句//for which reason felt certain 表语从句//thathe never could have succeeded with mathematics.
词义推敲：
Asserted 宣称，声称
Follow 理解
Abstract 抽象的，深奥的
train of thought 一连串的思想，思路，思想（固定搭配）
参考译文：
达尔文同时声称，对于冗长而且纯抽象的思想，自己的理解能力并不强。因为这个原因，他相信自己在数学方面根本不会成功。
得分重点：
宾语从句， 定语从句，表语从句

(48) On the other hand, he did not accept as well founded the charge made by someof his critics that, while he was a good observer, he had no power of reasoning.
结构分析：
状语结构//On the other hand, 主句//he did not accept 宾语补足语//as well founded宾语// thecharge made by some of his critics 同位语从句//that, 让步状语从句//while he was a good observer, 同位语从句//he had no power of reasoning.