Originally, a freight forwarder (货运代理人) was a commission agent (委托代理人) performing on behalf of (代表…) the exporter/importer routine tasks such as loading/unloading of goods, storage of goods, arranging local transport, obtaining payment for his customer, etc… However, the expansion of international trade and the development of different modes of transport over the years that followed enlarged the scope of his services. Today, a freight forwarder plays an important role in international trade and transport. The services that a freight forwarder renders may often range from routine and basic tasks such as the booking of space or customs clearance (清关) to a comprehensive package of services covering the total transportation and distribution process. 未完待续
课文理解： 1. 核心句子： … a freight forwarder was a commission agent performing on behalf of the exporter/importer routine tasks … 这句句子很长,一段就是一句.不过,作者无非想表达这样一个意思:货运代理人是进出口商的委托代理人,提供这样或那样的服务. 句子显然含有一个定语从句, 其他的结构是帮助起修饰、说明作用的. 1.1 performing = doing (a piece of work) 1.2 on behalf of the exporter/importer = on exporter’s or importer’s behalf = as representative of exporter/importer 1.3 routine tasks (日常工作,日常事务) 这里我们不能用 work 替代 task , 其原因是: task: 可数名词, 一般是指较为困难、辛苦的工作, 正好和routine tasks后面 such as 的例子统一起来. work: 不可数名词, 工作的意思则较为笼统、广泛.
句子中其他需要解释的地方还有: 1.4 originally = from the beginning 1.5 such as loading/unloading of goods … = such as loading/unloading of goods for his customer. 下面三个结构如同本结构.
2. 核心句子： … A and B enlarged the scope of his service. 句子中: A 是指 the expansion of international trade (国际贸易的扩大) B 是指 the development of different modes of transport (不同运输模式的发展)
2.1 enlarge = make or become larger. A and B make the scope of freight forwarding services larger “ en- adj. = v. ” 是 enlarge 这个词的结构, 由前缀"en-"和形容词"large"构成. “ en- adj. = v. ” 这样的例子还有: enable, enrich
句子中其他需要解释的地方还有: 2.2 over the years that followed (意译): 在以后的几年里面