英语六级翻译题占六级总分的15%。答卷时间为30分钟。为了帮助大伙熟知翻译题型，@沪江英语四六级公众号特意筹备了2023年12月英语六级翻译常考话题预测（5）：四大创造，快来一块训练吧！
2023年12月英语六级翻译常考话题预测（5）：四大创造
预测一
中国是世界上公认创造指南针的国家。早在2400多年前，中国人就创造出世界上最早的指南针。后来经过不断改进，到宋朝大家制造出铁针指南针并应用于航海。中国是第一个在海船上用指南针的国家。指南针为明代郑和下西洋提供了条件。后来指南针传入欧洲，推进了欧洲航海事业的进步为，哥伦布的航行提供了技术保证。
参考译文：
China is universally recognized as the country that invented the compass. As early as 2,400 years ago, Chinese people created the earliest compass in the world. Later it was further improved continuously. During the Song Dynasty, people produced the compass with iron needles and applied it to navigation. China is the first country to use the compass on seagoing ships. The compass provided aid for Zheng He's voyages to the Western Ocean in the Ming Dynasty. Later the compass spread into Europe, promoting the development of the European marine industry and guaranteeing technical support for Columbus' navigation.
预测二
在古时候，著作和铭文一般写在竹片或丝绸上。但丝绸昂贵，竹片太重，用起来都不便捷。后来蔡伦开创了用树皮造纸的办法。传统上大家觉得他是纸张和造纸术的创造者。尽管公元前2世纪中国就已经有了早期的纸，但蔡伦促成了纸张的初次重大改进，并通过添加至关要紧的新材料使造纸过程标准化。蔡伦发现了造纸材料的组合方法，创造了造纸术。这项创造使蔡伦闻名于世，甚至使他在有生之年就已经得到了认同。
参考译文：
In ancient times, writing works and inscriptions were generally written on tablets of bamboo or on pieces of silk. But silk being cosplaytly and bamboo heavy, they were both not convenient to use. Then Cai Lun initiated the method of making paper with the bark of trees. Traditionally, he is regarded as the inventor of paper and the technique of papermaking. Although early forms of paper had already existed in China since the 2nd century BC, he fostered the first significant improvement and standardization of papermaking by adding essential new materials into papers composition. Cai found the composition of paper and invented the technique of papermaking. Cai was reputed for this invention in the world, and even in his own lifetime, he was already given recognition for it.
预测三
印刷术创造之前，想出版新书的学者需要一字一字地抄写。北宋时期，历经多年的实验，毕昇创造了活字印刷术。他把汉字刻在一小块泥胚上，加热汉字直到其变成硬的活字。印书时,大家按顺序将活字摆在一块，印出印迹。印刷完后，他们把字分开，将来重复用。这种办法既经济又省时。中国的活字印刷术第一向东传至朝鲜和日本，之后向西传至波斯和埃及，最后传遍全球。活字印刷术创造促进了世界各国的文化交流。
参考译文：
Before printing was invented，a scholar had to copy characters one by one if he wanted to publish a new book. During the Northern Song Dynasty, Bi Sheng invented movable-type printing after many years of experimentation. He engraved the characters on small pieces of clay and heated them until they became hard movable characters. When printing a book，people placed the moveable characters in order into a whole block and then ran off a print. After printing, they took the block apart and reused the characters later. This method was both economical and time-saving. China's movable-type printing first spread eastward into Korea and Japan, then westward into Persia and Egypt, and at last, around the world. The invention of movable-type printing greatly promoted cultural exchanges among countries all over the world.
预测四
火药是最早出现的化学炸药和推进剂。在火药创造之前，大家用过很多燃烧弹和燃烧设施。大家一般把火药的创造归因于中国的炼金术。大家都知道，火药被列为中国的“四大创造”之一。这项创造可能早在唐朝就已经研制出来了。因为13世纪蒙古人的征战，有关火药的常识被传到全世界。最晚从14世纪开始，火药就已经开始被应用于战争中并产生了肯定的影响。
参考译文：
Gunpowder was the first chemical explosive and propellant. Prior to the invention of gunpowder, many incendiary bombs and burning devices had been used. The invention of gunpowder is usually attributed to Chinese alchemy. It is known to all that gunpowder is listed as one of the “Four Great Inventions” of China. The invention was made perhaps as early as in the Tang Dynasty. Knowledge of gunpowder was spread throughout the world as a result of the Mongol conquests in the 13th century. It was employed in warfare to some effect from at least the 14th century.
