复杂的状语从句的拆分和理解 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.

【结构分析】句首的连词while表示“虽然”，是个让步状语从句while even the modestly educated sought an elevated tone when they put pen to paper before the 1960s，两个even都表示让步，同时加强了前后两部分的对比；since then意思是“从那以后”，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。

【亮点回放】此句话的亮点在于让步状语从句的成功使用，while表示“虽然”，有很强的比较效果。

【核心词汇】

the modestly educated　受过一般教育的人

sought an elevated tone　寻求一种更高雅的语气

the most well regarded writing　最受关注的文章

sought to capture spoken English　寻求使用口语

【参考译文】在20世纪60年代以前，仅受过一般教育的人在下笔时都会寻求一种更高雅的语气；而那之后，即使是最受关注的文章也开始寻求使用口语写在纸面上。