2015年5月CATTI英语二级笔译实务试题英译汉第一篇Alongarugged,wideNorthSeabeachhereonarecentday,childrenformedteamsofeightto10,takingtheirplacesbesidemoundsofsandcarefullycordonedbycandy-canestripedtape.Theyhadonehourfortheirsandcastlecompetition.Somebuiltfishlikestructures,completewithscales.Othersspenttheirtimeonelaborateditchanddikelabyrinths.Eachcastlewasadornedontopwithawhiteflag.Thentheywatchedtheseainvadeanddevourtheirwork,seeingwhosecastlecouldwithstandthetidelongest.Thelaststandingflagwon.Theirswasnoordinarydayatthebeach,butanewlyminted,state-sanctionedcompetitionforschoolchildrentoraiseawarenessofthedangersofrisingsealevelsinacountryofprecariousgeographythathasprovidedlessonsfortheworldaboutwatermanagement,butthatfearsthatitsnextgenerationwillgrowcomplacent.Fifty-fivepercentoftheNetherlandsiseitherbelowsealevelorheavilyflood-prone.Yetthankstoitsrenownedexpertiseandlargewatermanagementbudget(about1.25percentofgrossdomesticproduct),theNetherlandshasavertedcatastrophesinceafloodingdisasterin1953.ExpertsheresaythattheynowworrythatthefamedDutchwatermanagementsystemactuallyworkstoowellandthatcitizenswillbegintotakeforgrantedthenation’ssuccessinstayingdry.Asglobalclimatechangethreatenstoraisesealevelsbyasmuchasfourfeetbytheendofthecentury,theauthoritieshereareworkingtomakerealtochildrentheforecaststhatmayseemfar-off,butthatwillshapetheirlivesinadulthoodandoldage.“Everythingworkssosmoothlythatpeopledon’trealizeanymorethattheyaretakingariskindevelopingurbanareasinlow-lyingareas,”saidRaimondHafkenscheid,theleadorganizerofthecompetitionandawaterexpertwiththeForeignMinistry.Beforethecompetition,thechildren,ages6to11,werecoachedbyexpertsindikebuildingandwatermanagement.Volunteersstoodby,manyofthemfreshlygraduatedcivilengineers,givinglast-minuteadviceonhowbesttobattletherisingwater.ArecentlyreleasedreportbytheOrganizationforEconomicCooperationandDevelopmentonwatermanagementintheNetherlandspointedtoan“awarenessgap”amongDutchcitizens.Thefindingdidmuchtogetthesandcas...
