复杂的状语从句的拆分和理解 例143

例143　But if robots are to reach the next stage of laborsaving utility, they will have to operate with less human supervision and be able to make at least a few decisions for themselves—goals that pose a real challenge.

【结构分析】if robots are to reach the next stage of laborsaving utility是个很长的状语从句，句子主干的主语是they，后面是动词will have to operate，介词短语with less human supervision做状语，修饰动词，and后面是并列动词be able to make，宾语是a few decisions，后面有that pose a real challenge，修饰前面的名词。

【亮点回放】此句话的亮点在于比较长的条件句if，后面是两个特别重要的动词并列，都很有气势，其中第二个并列句里面套有定语从句。

【核心词汇】

next stage　下个阶段

laborsaving utility　节省劳动力使用

less human supervision　很少的人类监督

a few decisions　一些决定

pose a real challenge　设置真正的挑战

【参考译文】但是如果机器人要达到节省人工的下一个阶段，它们将必须在更少的人力监督之下工作，而且还要能够自己做出至少几个决定——这些目标才会引发真正的挑战。