A window likewise allows those who are inside to see outside，and also allows outsiders to see inside．That is why those who live in bustling areas need to draw their curtains to protect their privacy．When visiting friends at night，there’S no need to wait until the door is opened to ask ifthey're there---you can tell that by the light inside the window．　　Similarly，you don’t need to wait for a man to open his mouth to work out what's on his mind--you can see that from his eyes．Shutting a window works in the same way as closing one’s eyes．There ale many things that can be seen only with the eyes closed．Dreams，for instance．If outside them is too much noise and excitement，closing the window will make it easier for the soul to engage in free exploration and quiet contemplati∞．
　　题材来源
　　《窗》(钱钟书)
　　难点注释
　　1．替他们私生活做个保障：toprotecttheftprivacy。其实就是“保护他们的隐私”。
　　2．晚上访人，只要看窗里有无灯光，就约略可以猜到主人在不在家，不必打开了门再问，好比不等人开口，从眼睛里看出他的心思：此句很长，译成英文时要变成两句话，从“好比”前断开。此外，如果完全按照汉语的语序来翻译，句首会有两个状语从句——“晚上访人”为时间状语从句；“只要看窗里有无灯光”为条件状语从句，这样不符合英语表达习惯，所以可以考虑改变原文的语序，将“只要看窗里有无灯光”放在译文第一句句尾。
　　3．关窗的作用等于闭眼：Shuttingawindowworksinthe sameway as closingone’s eyes。此处“……的作用等于”宜译为“…、Ⅳorks in the same way as”，不可按照汉语字面意思翻译成“has the same function”等。
　　4．天地间有许多景象是要闭了眼才看得见的：There are many things that can be seen only with the eyes closed。原句翻译成英语的there be句型，要注意两个动词“闭”和“看见”的翻译——后者翻译成定语从句的谓语，使用被动语态；前者翻译成过去分词，用来修饰前面的eyes。
　　5．关了窗好让灵魂自由地去探胜，安静地默想：closing the window will make it easier for the soul to engage in flee exploration and quiet contemplation。此句是兼语句，宜翻译成英语的svoc结构。