2009年英語專業八級漢譯英試題

Translate the underlined part of the following text into English.

我想不起來哪一個熟人沒有手機。今天沒有手機的人是奇怪的。這種人才需要解釋。我們的所有社會關系都儲存在手機的電話本里，可以隨之調出使用。古代只有巫師才能擁有這種法寶。

手機刷新了人與人的關系。會議室門口通常貼著一條通告：請與會者關掉手機�？墒菚�議室的手機鈴聲仍然響成一片。我們都是普通人，并沒有多少重要的事情。盡管如此，我們也不會輕易關掉手機。打開手機象征我們與這個世界的聯系。手機反映出我們的“社交饑渴癥”。最為常見的是，一個人走著走著突然停下來，眼睛盯著手機屏幕發短信。他不在乎停在馬路中央還是廁所旁邊。

為什么對于手機短信和來電這么在乎？因為我們迫切渴望與社會保持聯系。

參考答案：

The cellular phone has altered interpersonal relations. On the door of a conference room, there is usually a notice which reads “Please turn off your handset.” However, the room still resounds with rings. Anyway, we are all ordinary people and have few urgent things to do. Nevertheless, we are reluctant to turn off our phones, for a cellular phone in service is a symbol of our connection with the outside world. The use of the cellular phone reflects our “thirst for social contact.” It is often the case that, on the way, a person suddenly stops to send a short message, regardless of his / her location—whether in the middle of a road or beside a toilet.