翻译题目
很多人将烟花(fireworks)和节庆联系起来。放烟花是中国庆祝新年重要的一部分。在中国传统文化中，烟花被用以驱赶邪恶的鬼魂。烟花在中国的发展历史悠久，其发明可以追溯到2000年前。传说有个厨师在烹饪的偶然弄出了有趣的火花，通过数代中国人的努力，最终把烟花发展了起来。如今，由于燃放烟花污染环境，环保烟花的研究和研发已经展开。
表达难点
1.第2句“放烟花是……的一部分”如果逐字对译为Firing/Setting off fireworks is a part of…，则稍显生硬，此处译作Fireworks are a part of…已能达意，且更简洁。定语“中国庆祝新年”可用短语Chinese New Year celebration 来表达，也可译为 celebrating Chinese New Year.
2.第4句“烟花在中国的发展……，其发明可以……”可翻译成并列结构the development of firework China…and its invention can date back to…，但这样处理译文显得冗长。故可把后半句“其发明可以……”处理为状语，用现在分词短语dating back to more than 2,000 years ago来表达。
3.第5句中的“传说有个厨师……”可译为a legend/story tells that a cook…，也可译为a legend tells of a cook who…。时间状语“在烹任时”可用从句when he was cooking来表达，亦可筒译作when cooking 由于“传说有个厨师…”跟“最终把烟花发展了起来”的关系不是那么紧密，翻译后半部分时，可另起一句，该部分属于无主语句，翻译时需增译主语“人们”，译作finally， people developed…。但因此句并不需要强调施动者“人们故将受动者”烟花“转换成主语，用被动语态表达：Finally fireworks were developed…。
参考译文
Many people associate fireworks with festivals and celebrations. Fireworks are an important part of Chinese New Year celebration. In traditional Chinese culture, fireworks are used to drive away evil spirits. The development of fireworks in China is a long story dating back to more than 2,000 years ago. A legend tells of a cook who accidently produced an interesting name when cooking. Finally fireworks wen developed through the efforts of generations of Chinese people. Nowadays, because fireworks pollute the environment, the research and development of environment. friendly fireworks are on the go.
