· 长难句 ·

The point is this: without agreement on the rights of people, arguing about the rights of animals is fruitless. It leads the discussion to extremes at the outset: it invites you to think that animals should be treated either with the consideration humans extend to other humans, or with no consideration at all.

· 词的处理 ·

point / pɔint / n.核心问题

argue / ˈɑ:ɡju/ vi. 争论

fruitless / ˈfru:tləs / adj. 没有结果的，徒劳的

invite / inˈvait / vt. 招致(坏事)

consideration / kənˌsidəˈreiʃn / n. 仔细思考，体贴

extend / ikˈstend / v. 延伸、将延伸到

extend to 给予

· 句子翻译分析 ·

The point is this: without agreement on the rights of people, arguing about the rights of animals is fruitless. It leads the discussion to extremes at the outset: it invites you to think that animals should be treated either with the consideration humans extend to other humans, or with no consideration at all.

译：问题的症结在于，如果对人的权利没有一致的看法，争论动物的权利是徒劳无益的。这种说法从一开始就将讨论引向(两个)极端，它使人们认为应该这样对待动物：要么像对人类自身一样关切体谅动物，要么完全冷漠无情。

1. 首句较为简单，主干为The point is this; 冒号之后为同位语从句，起解释说明作用。同位语从句中without agreement on the rights of people 为条件状语从句;同位语从句主干为arguing about the rights of animals/ is /fruitless.

2.后半句主干为主谓宾宾补结构，即： It/ leads/ the discussion /to extremes;at the outset为时间状语。冒号之后为extremes的同位语从句，从句主干为it /invites/ you/ to think that ….;

3. that引导think的宾语从句，从句主干为animals/ should be treated/ either with the consideration, or with no consideration at all; humans extend to other humans为省略关系词的定语从句，修饰consideration。