2019年翻译资格考试初级笔译模拟题：指南针

　　指南针是利用磁铁在地球磁场中的南北指极性而制成的一种指向仪器，它和以差动齿轮结构的指南车不同。我们现在所说的指南针是个总的名称，在各个不同的历史发展时期，它有不同的形体，也有不同的名称，如司南、指南鱼和指南针。关于指南针的最初发明者和发明年代现在无可查考。但是有一点是清楚的：指南针是我国古代劳动人民在长期的生产实践中集体智慧的结晶。

　　参考译文

　　A magnetic compass is an instrument showing direction based on the phenomenon that a magnetic bar or needle swinging freely in the earth’s magnetic field will direct itself to lie in a magnetic south-north position. It differs from the south-pointing chariot in that the latter has differential gearing. The term “compass” in this article includes all the various models in different historical periods, among them there are the Sinan, the Zhinanyu and the Zhinanzhen. The inventor and the exact invention dates remain unknown, but it is clear that the primitive magnetic south-pointing instrument appeared very early in China as a result of the knowledge people gained over long years of labor.