The standardized educational or psychological tests that are widely used to aid in selecting，classifying，assigning，or promoting students，employees，and military personnel have been the target of recent attacks in books，magazines，the daily press，and even in Congress.（71）The target is wrong，for in attacking the tests，critics divert attention from the fault that lies with ill informed or incompetent users. The tests themselves are merely tools，with characteristics that can be measured with reasonable precision under specified conditions. Whether the results will be valuable，meaningless，or even misleading depends partly upon the tool itself but largely upon the user.

All informed predictions of future performance are based upon some knowledge of relevant past performance: school grades，research productivity，sales records，or whatever is appropriate.（72）How well the predictions will be validated by later performance depends upon the amount，reliability，and appropriateness of the information used and on the skill and wisdom with which it is interpreted. Anyone who keeps careful score knows that the information available is always incomplete and that the predictions are always subject to error.

     Standardized tests should be considered in this context. They provide a quick objective method of getting some kinds of information about what a person learned，the skills he has developed，or the kind of person he is. The information so obtained has，qualitatively，the same advantages and shortcomings as other kinds of information.（73）Whether to use tests，other kinds of information，or both in a particular situation depends，therefore，upon the evidence from experience concerning comparative validity and upon such factors as cost and availability.

（74）In general，the tests work most effectively when the qualities to be measured can be most precisely defined and least effectively when what is to be measured or predicated can not be well defined. Properly used，they provide a rapid means of getting comparable information about many people. Sometimes they identify students whose high potential has not been previously recognized，but there are many things they do not do.（75）For example，they do not compensate for gross social inequality，and thus do not tell how able an underprivileged youngster might have been had he grown up under more favorable circumstances.

Unit 2　 翻译题解：

71） The target is wrong, for in attacking the tests, critics divert attention from the fault that lies with ill-informed or incompetent users. 　　

句子分析：

第一、句子可以拆分为三段：

The target is wrong, for in attacking the tests, / critics divert attention from the fault / that lies with ill-informed or incompetent users.

第二、句子主干结构是：简单句加for引导的原因状语。后面的that引导的是定语从句。

第三、词的处理　　

The target 根据上下文，这里特指标准化测试 ；divert attention from 原义是把注意力引开，引申为没有注意到lies with在于ill-informed 不甚了解incompetent users（词性转换）使用不当

完整的译文：

71）把标准化测试作为抨击的目标是错误的，因为在抨击这类测试时，批评者没有注意到测试的弊病在于使用测试的人对测试不甚了解或使用不当。

　　72） How well the predictions will be validated by later performance depends upon the amount, reliability, and appropriateness of the information used and on the skill and wisdom with which it is interpreted　　

句子分析：

第一、句子可以拆分为三段：

How well the predictions will be validated by later performance / depends upon the amount, reliability, and appropriateness of the information used and on the skill and wisdom / with which it is interpreted　　

第二、句子主干结构是：　　

1）How well...引导的被动结构是主语从句，How well是主语从句中的状语前置，depends是句子谓语

2）depends后面两个介词短语作并列宾语upon...and on...

3） the information used是名词+定语4）with which it is interpreted定语从句，先行词是the skill and wisdom，代词it指代the information　　

第三、词的处理：

be validated by 为……所证实；depends upon 取决于；reliability 可靠性；appropriateness 适应性；interpreted 解释　　

完整的译文：　　

72）这些测试在多大程度上为后来的表现所证实，这取决于所采用信息的数量、可靠性和适应性，以及解释这些信息的技能和才智。
　　

73） Whether to use tests, other kinds of information, or both in a particular situation depends, therefore, upon the evidence from experience concerning comparative validity and upon such factors as cost and availability.　　

句子分析：　　

第一、句子可以拆分为三段：

Whether to use tests, other kinds of information, or both in a particular situation / depends, therefore, upon the evidence from experience concerning comparative validity / and upon such factors as cost and availability.　　

第二、句子主干结构是：Whether to use..., or both...引导主语从句depends是句子谓语，upon... and upon...是并列结构的双宾语。　　

第三、词的处理：　　

Whether to..., or 是……还是……；both 指代前句的tests, other kinds of information　　in a particular situation 在某一特定情况下；therefore 因此；he evidence from experience 经验依据；concerning 与……有关的；comparative validity 相对效度；such factors as... 诸如……等因素　　

完整的译文：　　

73）因此，在某一特定情况下，究竟是采用测试还是其他种类的信息，或是两者兼用，须凭有关相对效度的经验依据而定，也取决于诸如费用和有无来源等因素。

　　74） In general, the tests work most effectively when the qualities to be measured can be most precisely defined and least effectively when what is to be measured or predicted can not be well defined.　　

句子分析：　　

第一、句子可以拆分为四段：

In general, the tests work most effectively / when the qualities to be measured can be most precisely defined / and least effectively / when what is to be measured or predicted can not be well defined.　　

第二、句子的结构：　　

1）主干结构是一个排比句the tests work most effectively when...and least effectively when...　　

2）连词when引导的是状语从句，意思是当……的时候，从句中都是被动结构。　　

3） what is to be measured or predicted是第二个从句的主语。　　

第三、词的处理：　　

In general 一般的说；work most effectively 最为有效；be most precisely defined 很精确界定；measured 测定　　

完整的译文：　　

74）一般的说，当所要测定的特征能很精确界定时，测试最为有效；而当所要测定或预测的东西不能明确地界定时，测试的效果则最差。
　　

75） For example, they do not compensate for gross social inequality, and thus do not tell how able an underprivileged youngster might have been had he grown up under more favorable circumstances.　　

句子分析：　　

第一、句子可以拆分为三段：

For example, they do not compensate for gross social inequality, / and thus do not tell how able an underprivileged youngster might have been / had he grown up under more favorable circumstances.　　

第二、句子的结构：　　

1）主干结构是并列句they do not compensate for..., and thus do not tell...　　

2） how able是表语前置，正常语序是：... youngster might have been how able　　

3）最后一个句子是虚拟语气句的倒装结构：had he grown up under more favorable circumstances等于If he had grown up...　　

第三、词的处理：　　

they 指示代词，测试；compensate for 弥补；gross social inequality 明显的社会不公　　and thus 因此；tell 说明；underprivileged 贫困的、物质条件差的；under more favorable circumstances 在较好的环境下　　

完整的译文：　　

75）例如，测试并不弥补明显的社会不公，因此它们不能说明一个物质条件差的年轻人，如果在较好的环境下成长的话，会有多大才干。