復雜的狀語從句的拆分和理解 例109

例109　While even the modestly educated sought an elevated tone when they put pen to paper before the 1960s, even the most well regarded writing since then has sought to capture spoken English on the page.

【結構分析】句首的連詞while表示“雖然”，是個讓步狀語從句while even the modestly educated sought an elevated tone when they put pen to paper before the 1960s，兩個even都表示讓步，同時加強了前后兩部分的對比；since then意思是“從那以后”，then指的是the 1960s。句子的主干是even the most well regarded writing since then has sought to capture spoken English on the page。

【亮點回放】此句話的亮點在于讓步狀語從句的成功使用，while表示“雖然”，有很強的比較效果。

【核心詞匯】

the modestly educated　受過一般教育的人

sought an elevated tone　尋求一種更高雅的語氣

the most well regarded writing　最受關注的文章

sought to capture spoken English　尋求使用口語

【參考譯文】在20世紀60年代以前，僅受過一般教育的人在下筆時都會尋求一種更高雅的語氣；而那之后，即使是最受關注的文章也開始尋求使用口語寫在紙面上。