【解析】句子的主语是creating...the old continent,其中that引导的是以“European identity”为先行词的定语从句,该从句中又包含which引导的以cultures and traditions为先行词的定语从句.整句话的谓语是is 和 demands.
【译文】不同的文化和传统组成了连接欧洲这个古老的大陆的纽带,而要创造出一种尊重这些不同文化和传统的“欧洲身份”绝非易事,需要人们做出战略性的抉择。
【例2】Such large, impersonal manipulation of capital and industry greatly increased the numbers and importance of share holders as a class, an element in national life representing irresponsible wealth detached from the land and the duties of the landowners; and almost equally detached from the responsible management of business.
【解析】本句是典型的非限定性定语从句,难点在其主语和宾语都有较长的短语和of结构限定,并且分句是由两个and相连的3个部分组成的。分句an element…landowners 又带有两个定语从句,一个是(which was) representing…, 另一个是(which was) detached…
【译文】对资本和企业的这种大规模的非个人操纵大大增加了股东作为一个阶级的数量和重要性。这个阶层作为国计民生的一部分,代表了非个人责任的财富与土地及土地所有者应尽义务的分离,而且也几乎与责任管理相分离。
【例3】Additional social stress may also occur because of the population explosion or problems arising from mass migration movements---themselves made relatively easy nowadays by modern means of transport.
【解析】句子的主干是additional social stress may also occur. Because of 的后面接两个名词短语 the population explosion 和 problems arising from mass migration movements---themselves made relatively easy nowadays by modern means of transport 来表示原因。其中,第二个名词短语又含有一个短语themselves made relatively easy nowadays by modern means of transport 来补充说明mass migration movements. 因此,这里的代词 themselves 指代名词短语 mass migration movements. “made relatively easy nowadays by modern means of transport” 是过去分词短语作为后置定语,修饰themselves.
【译文】由于人口的猛增或大量的人口流动(现代交通工具使这种流通变得相对容易)造成的种种问题也回对社会造成新的压力。
看了上面的举例,你是不是也觉得长难句并不难了!重点是要把握住长难句的主干部分。