140. Since December, when the report came out, the mayor, neighborhood activists (活躍分子) and various parent-teacher associations have engaged in a fierce battle over its validity: over the guilt of the steel-casting factory on the western edge of town, over union jobs versus children's health and over what, if anything, ought to be done.
譯文
自從12月的報告公布以來,市長、社區(qū)活躍分子和各種家長教師聯(lián)合會都參與到一場關(guān)于這份報告真實性的激辯中來,內(nèi)容包括:城鎮(zhèn)西邊的鑄鋼廠的罪狀、工會工作與兒童健康,以及,如果有什么的話,一些應(yīng)該做的事。
點(diǎn)睛
本句的主干是...the mayor, ...activists and...associations have engaged in a...battle...。when引導(dǎo)的時間狀語從句對since December進(jìn)行進(jìn)一步說明;冒號后over引導(dǎo)三個并列的介詞短語對battle over its validity進(jìn)行詳細(xì)說明。if anything為插入語,意為“如果有什么的話”。
engage in意為“參加,從事”。如:
I have no time to engage in the shopping. 我沒時間購物。
validity意為“真實性,確實性”。如:
The public question the validity of these figures. 公眾對這些數(shù)據(jù)的真實性表示懷疑。
versus意為“對陣;相對”。如:
The final game tomorrow is Brazil versus France. 明天的決賽是巴西隊對法國隊。