四六级翻译练习：指南针

四六级翻译练习题：指南针

中国是世界上公认发明指南针的。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(the Song Dynasty)人们制造出铁针指南针并应用于航海。中国是第一个在海船上使用指南针的。指南针为明代(the Ming Dynasty)郑和下西洋提供了条件。后来指南针传入欧洲，推动了欧洲航海事业的发展为，哥伦布(Columbus)的航行提供了技术保证。

四六级翻译参考译文：

China is universally recognized as the country having 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 in navigation. China is the first country using 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 industey and guaranteeing technical support for Columbus' navigation.