大学英语四级难句解析（七）

　　Sustainable development is applied to just about everything from energy to clean water and economic growth, and as a result it has become difficult to question either the basic assumptions behind it or the way the concept is put to use.

　　结构分析

　　主干：Sustainable development is applied to just about everything...and...it has become difficult to question...

　　1. and连接两个并列的分句。

　　2. 前一个分句用了apply...to...句型的被动结构，表示把可持续发展应用于几乎所有的事情上，to的宾语是everything，后面有一个from...to...的介词短语作everything的定语。

　　3. 后一个分句用it+系动词+adj.+to do句型，不定式作主语，it是形式主语;动词to question有两个由either...or...引导的宾语assumptions和way，way后面还有一个省略关系词的定语从句修饰。

　　译文：可持续发展几乎被应用在所有的事务上，从能源、洁净水到经济发展，因此很难对其背后的基本假定和该历年的应用方式加以质疑.

　　Were pushing our kids to get good grades, take SAT preparatory courses and build resumes so they can get into the college of our first choice.

　　主干：Were pushing our kids to...

　　主句部分的三个并列的动词不定式作宾语our kids的补语。so引导目的状语从句，说明我们逼迫孩子做种种事情的目的。

　　译文：我们逼孩子考高分、参加SAT考前辅导班、写简历，从而能让他们进入我们首选的学校。