2016年12月英语六级翻译预热练习：中国习惯

　　老年为少年之过来人，少年为老年之候补者，老与少，只不过时间上之差别而已。然中国习惯，对老少之间，往往划有无形界限。在客观上，有时重老而轻少，有时重少而轻老。在主观上，老者自恃其老，少年自矜其少。几千年来，遂形成老者自以为持重练达而菲薄少年为少不更事;而少年自以为新锐精进而轻蔑老者为老朽昏庸。此真所谓偏颇两失之见也。

　　【参考译文】

　　Old Age and Young The aged are the antecedents of the young, and the young are the candidates of the aged. The difference between age and youth is only a matter of time. But, according to the Chinese custom, there is always an invisible line of demarcation between them. Objectively speaking, sometimes the aged are held in esteem and the young are made light of; sometimes it is just the other way round. Subjectively speaking, the aged are self-conceited because of their good old age, while the young think no small beer of their own youth. For thousands of years it has been assumed that the aged, thinking themselves experienced and more skillful, look down upon the young for their greenness in worldly affairs, while the young, thinking themselves fresh in life and more energetic, call the aged old fogies. Either of these views, of course, is far from being impartial.