III Year Lettorato Inglese -- Group 3C (Peterson-More):

Jennifer Pudney pp. 118-122, Passages 22-27 (previously assigned and discussed in class), suggested English translations.

Pudney passage #22

Until you have learned these rules you will not be able to handle/tackle/face a translation of average difficulty. I assure you that you are unlikely to //

I assure you it is unlikely [that] you will pass the annual exam if you have not studied// you do not study these exercises thoroughly/carefully.

You should start / It’s a good idea to start/begin [studying] immediately/now/at once/straight away. As compared to last year’s// As compared to the one last year , the examination will be just as difficult. Turn your home// Transform your home into a big/enormous/huge study and get to work!

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Pudney passage #23

According to a U.F.O. expert, UFOs are a threat to Russia’s national security. “There is no doubt,” said/explained/declared Vladimir Azhazh, “that in recent years the number of kidnappings by wicked martians has increased // that there has been a sharp increase/rise in kidnappings by wicked martians in the last few years.”

He estimates that at least 5% of the people who have disappeared / who disappear in Russia without leaving any trace / a trace have ended up // end up on flying saucers.

He warns that “a catastrophe without precedents / an unprecedented catastrophe is threatening // hovers over humanity.” What draws [the] aliens to us? // Why are aliens so drawn to us / Why are aliens so interested in us ? What do they want from us? What is a martian like? The UFO expert could not/ was not able to answer these questions [convincingly/satisfactorily].

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Pudney passage #24 [lines 1-5 & 9-12]

The large number / Even such a large number of [security] guards / policemen employed to protect // in charge of protecting the Pope weren’t enough to prevent the attempt on his life by Alì Agca in St. Peter’s Square on [that] Tuesday, May 13, 1981. If a nun hadn’t grabbed his jacket / grabbed him by the jacket, he would have escaped / he wouldn’t have been caught/arrested.

Who organized the attack? What was their /aim/objective/goal ? At his trial, Alì did help to clarify the episode/incident/affair. He didn’t explain anything; he didn’t apologize/defend himself. At Christmas in 1983 the Pope visited him in prison. A historic photo was taken: the would-be killer/ assassin and his victim were talking/speaking to each other.

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Pudney passage #25

Despite/ In spite of the publicity/ widespread attention given to the problem/issue/matter/question, the birthrate in Italy has been falling/ has fallen so much/so drastically/ so sharply //

Despite/ In spite of the publicity/ widespread attention given to the problem/issue/matter/question, there has been such a drastic/huge/sharp decline in the birthrate in Italy

as to cause concern/ raise alarm that in/within a few centuries Italians will become extinct/be an ‘endangered species.’ […]

In an interview the Minister for the Family stated/declared/said/claimed that he/she would encourage young couples/people to have more children by offering [them] tax breaks/relief on their first/main homes, more jobs for heads of families and part-time jobs with the same rights as full-time jobs. Moreover, he/she said he would work to open more nursery schools/pre-schools/ to assist with child care// to ensure there is child care for working couples. He/she concluded saying that until Italians are convinced of the gravity of the situation// He/she concluded saying that until Italians are convinced of how serious/dire the situation is, Italy will become evermore/ more and more a country of elderly people/ the elderly.

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Pudney passage #26

A ten-year-old child/boy who fell from a cliff approximately 10 meters high/ who fell approximately 10 meters from a cliff on Wednesday, August 3, was saved by a rescue helicopter which/ that had taken off/ took off from a passing/ nearby aircraft carrier.

Many people saw/watched/ were present at the rescue and for all of them it was the first time they had seen/witnessed such an operation/ this type/kind of operation. […]

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Pudney passage #27

For [the past] two years, the companies in the north of the city have been trying in vain to overcome / get through the grave economic crisis affecting / hanging over the entire country. People are talking about // There is /has been talk of mass/largescale firings and the latest/ most recent news [in the area] is that at least two factories will be closed for certain next autumn/fall. According to studies/surveys conducted in recent days, 40% of all workers, especially young people // many of whom are young people, will have to leave the area/city/ region or even the country, to look for work/ jobs/ employment. Some experts actually think the number will be much higher and that soon the entire area / region will suffer the consequences with a drastic decline// sharp drop in the quality of life. What can be done? The situation requires urgent measures but the government is /has been too slow to adopt them: too much time has already been lost.