句子三：

　　Odd though it sounds, cosmic inflation is a scientifically plausible consequence of some respected ideas in elementary particle physics, and many astrophysicists have been convinced for the better part of a decade that it is true。

　　句子分析：

　　第一、句子可以拆分为三段：

　　Odd though it sounds, / cosmic inflation is a scientifically plausible consequence of some respected ideas in elementary-particle physics, / and many astrophysicists have been convinced for the better part of a decade that it is true。

　　第二、句子的结构：

　　1)主干结构是cosmic inflation is a consequence, and many astrophysicists have been convinced that it is true。其中Odd though it sounds是倒装的让步状语从句，等于 though it sounds odd

　　2) consequence前后有多重定语。

　　3) and many astrophysicists have been convinced为被动结构。

　　4) that it is true是宾语从句。

　　第三、词的处理：

　　cosmic inflation 宇宙膨胀说

　　scientifically plausible consequence 科学上可信的推论

　　in elementary-particle physics 基本粒子物理学

　　convinced 被说服，相信

　　for the better part of a decade 七八年来

　　参考译文：

　　宇宙膨胀说虽然听似奇特，但它是基本粒子物理学中一些公认的理论在科学上看来可信的推论。许多天体物理学家七八年来一直认为这一论说是正确的。

　　句子四：

　　Interest in historical methods has arisen less through external challenge to the validity of history as an intellectual discipline and more from internal quarrels among historians themselves.

　　句子分析：

　　第一、句子可以拆分为三段：

　　Interest in historical methods has arisen / less through external challenge to the validity of history as an intellectual discipline / and more from internal quarrels among historians themselves.

　　第二、句子的结构

　　1)主干结构是一个简单句：Interest has arisen less through ...and more from.。.

　　2)并列状语less through ...and more from的翻译是关键，through和from意思完全相同，表示原因，直译为：比较少的是因为……，更多的原因是……

　　3)challenge后面的不定式短语to the validity of history as an intellectual discipline是它的定语，直译对历史作为一门学科的正确性提出异议，internal quarrels后面的介词短语among historians themselves作quarrels的定语。

　　第三、词的处理：

　　Interest in historical methods 对历史方法的关注(兴趣)

　　arisen 来自于，产生于challenge质疑，挑战

　　validity 真实性，正确性as an intellectual discipline作为一门学问(一个学科领域)

　　internal quarrels 内部意见不统一，内部分歧

　　参考译文：

　　人们之所以关注历史研究的方法论，主要是因为史学界内部意见不一，其次是因为外界并不认为历史是一门学问。

　　相关推荐：

　　2012考研报名时间、报名入口及报名指南

　　1980-2011考研英语真题及答案