21. As my own studies have advanced，I have been increasingly impressed with the functionalsimilarities between insect and vertebrate societies and less so with the structural differences that seem，at first glance，to constitute such an immense gulf between them.
随着我的研究不断深入，我对昆虫和脊椎动物群落之间的功能类似性印象愈来愈深刻，而对结构上的差异印象愈发淡漠，虽然这些结构上的差异初看上去似乎构成了二者间一条无法愈越的鸿沟。
难句类型：复杂修饰、插入语、省略
解释：本句子的中间一段impressed with the functional similarites between insect and vertebrate societies and less so with the structural differences容易令人看晕，其中的insect and vertebrate societies and less so with由两个and连接了三个部分，然而它们其实不是同一层次的并列，第一个and实际上是between insect societies and vertebrate societies的一部分，是并列的，而and之后的less so with其实是对于一个完整的表达方式I have been increasingly less impressed with的省略形式，去掉了与前面重复的成分。
后面修饰的structural differences的定语从句that seem, at first glance, to constitute such an immense gulf between them中，又出现了一个别扭的插入语at first glance，把应该连在一起的seem to 粗暴地分开，令人不熟悉此类难句的人倍感不适。
意群训练：As my own studies have advanced, I have been increasingly impressed with the functional similarities between insect and vertebrate societies and less so with the structural differences that seem, at first glance, to constitute such an immense gulf between them.
22. Although fiction assuredly springs from political circumstances，its authors react to those circumstances in ways other than ideological，and talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments of ideology circumvents much of the fictional enterprise.
虽然小说无疑起源于政治情状，但其作者则是以非意识形态的方式对这些政治情状作出反应的，而将小说和故事主要地当作意识形态的工具来探讨，会在相当程度上阻碍小说事业。
难句类型：复杂修饰
解释：本句从句子的结构上来讲，惟一的难度在于and之后的句子的主语talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments ofideology太长，以至于看到谓语circumvent的时候已经搞不清楚主谓了。更大的难度恐怕还在于对两个词汇的理解circumvent和enterprise。我们以前所背过的circumvent有两个词义，一个是规避，一是以计谋战胜，但是这两种意思放到此处都显然不通;其实circumvent有一个我们没有背过的最常用的意思是包围、限制或陷害;至于enterprise常用的意思是企业，这里的指事业。
意群训练：Although fiction assuredly springs from political circumstances，its authors react to those circumstances in ways other than ideological，and talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments of ideology circumvents much of the fictional enterprise.
23. Is this a defect，or are the authors working out of，or trying to forge，a different kind of aesthetic?
这究竟是一种缺陷呢，还是这些作者想要按照一种与众不同的美学体系进行创作，抑或是在试图创立一种与众不同的美学体系?
难句类型：插入语
解释：本句的句子既短，意思也不难理解，但插入语的干扰作用却极强。
意群训练：Is this a defect, or are the authors working out of, or trying to forge, a different kind of aesthetic?
24. In addition, the style of some Black novels, like Jean Toomers Cane, verges on expressionism or surrealism ; does this technique provide a counterpoint to the prevalent theme that portrays the fate against which Black heroes are pitted , a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expression ?
不仅如此，有些黑人小说的风格接近与表现主义和超现实主义;这种技巧是否为流行的主题提供了一个和谐的对应呢?这种主题刻画了黑人注意与之相抗争的命运，这是一个通常用更为自然主义的表现手法所表达的主题。
难句类型：复杂修饰、插入语
解释：在本句中有三个词需要先解释一番：verge on这个词组是接近于、濒于的意思，hero在文学作品中是主人公的意思，pit作动词时，除了挖坑、窖藏之外，还有使竞争、使斗争的意思，其英文释义为：to set as gamecocks into or as if into a pit to fight, to set into opposition or rivalry usually used with against.在此用的是后一种语义的被动语态fate againt which Black heros are pitted.如果用主动语态则是：pit black heros againt fate。
另外本句的结构复杂，分号之后是一个一般疑问句，但是由于修饰成分过多，过长，使得读者看不清楚这个句子在问什么。其实如果没有最后的那个prevalent theme的同位语a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expression，本句会易懂得多。
意群训练：In addition, the style of some Black novels, like Jean Toomers Cane, verges on expressionism or surrealism; does this technique provide a counterpoint to the prevalent theme that portrays the fate against which Black heroes are pitted, a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expression?
25. Black Fiction surveys a wide variety of novels，bringing to our attention in the process some fascinating and little-known works like James Weldon Johnsons Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. 注意：bring A to B ――〉bring to B A
《黑人小说》考察了极为广泛的一系列小说，在此过程中让我们注意到了某些引人入胜但却鲜为人知的作品，如詹姆斯。韦尔登。约翰逊的《一个曾经是有色人的自传》。
难句类型：倒装
解释：在以bringing开头的作状语的分词中出现了倒装，bring A to B被倒装为bring to B A,其倒装的原因仍是为了避免头重脚轻，正常的语序应该如下：bringing some fascinating and little-known works like James Weldon johnsons Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man to our attention in the process.
意群训练：Black Fiction surveys a wide variety of novels， bringing to our attention in the process some fascinating and little-known works like James Weldon Johnsons Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man.