中国是世界上公认发明指南针的国家。早在2400多年前，中国人就创造出世界上最早的指南针。后来经过不断改进，到宋朝(the Song Dynasty)人们制造出铁针指南针并应用于航海。中国是第一个在海船上使用指南针的国家。指南针为明代(the Ming Dynasty)郑和下西洋提供了条件。后来指南针传入欧洲，推动了欧洲航海事业的发展为，哥伦布(Columbus)的航行提供了技术保证。

　　表达难点

　　1.第1句中的“发明指南针的”可处理成后置定语，用现在分词短语having invented the compass来表达，也可用定语从句which has invented...来表达。

　　2.翻译第3句中的“后来经过不断改进”时，宜加上主语“指南针”，而由于前一句的靠后部分已出现过 compass，故这里可用it来作主语。“到宋朝人们制造出铁针指南针并应用于航海”可用并列结构为 people produced... and applied it in...。“铁针指南针”可表达为 compass with iron needles。

　　3.第4句中的“在海船上使用指南针的”较长，宜将其处理成后置定语，用现在分词短语using the compass来表达，其中“在海船上”为状语，译作on sea-going ships，按照英语表达习惯，置于句末。

　　4.最后一句中有3个动作，“指南针传人……，推动了……，……提供了……”，仔细分析可发现，“推动了”和 “提供了”是结果，故将“指南针传人……”作句子主干，“推动了……，提供了……”用现在分词短语来表达， 作结果状语，译作 the compass spread into Eurpe, promoting... and guaranteeing...。

　　参考译文

　　China is universally recognized as the country having invented the compass. As early as 2,400 years ago, Chinese people created the earliest compass in the world. Later it was further improved continuously. During the Song Dynasty, people produced the compass with iron needles and applied it in navigation. China is the first country using the compass on seagoing ships. The compass provided aid for Zheng He's voyages to the Western Ocean in the Ming Dynasty. Later the compass spread into Europe, promoting the development of the European marine industey and guaranteeing technical support for Columbus' navigation.