难句剖析
1. Since architecture was not yet a specialized profession in the colonies, the design of buildings was life either to amateur designers or to carpenters who undertook to interpret architectural manuals imported from England.
【解析】句子主干是the design of buildings was life either to amateur designers or to carpenters。since引导的是原因状语从句。who undertook to interpret architectural manuals imported from England作amateur designers or carpenters的定语。
【译文】由于建筑在殖民地还不是一项专门的职业，房屋设计或者由业余设计者来做，或者由那些承担对从英国进口的建筑手册的翻译任务的木匠来做。
2. Increasing wealth and growing sophistication throughout the colonies resulted in houses of improved design, whether the material was wood, stone, or brick.
【解析】 句子主干是wealth and sophistication resulted in houses。whether…or brick作补语修饰houses。
【译文】 整个殖民地日渐增长的财富和精密性导致了设计的改进，不管其材料是木料、石料、还是砖料。
文章类型：人文类——18世纪殖民地房屋的设计改进
本文按照时间顺序，分别从建造者、图书、建造材料等方面介绍了18世纪殖民地房屋的设计改进。