To ensure consistently high quality in its merchandise, the chain of retail stores became involved in every aspect of its suppliers’ operations, dictating not only the number of stitches and the width of the hem in every garment but also the profit margins of those suppliers.
= To ensure consistently high quality/ in its merchandise/, the chain of retail stores/ became involved in every aspect of its suppliers’ operations/, dictating not only the number of stitches/ and the width of the hem in every garment/ but also the profit margins of those suppliers.
#为了确保长期的高品质/它的商品的/，零售商店的限制/变得涉及方方面面供货者的工作/，不但指定针码的数目/滚边的宽度每一件衣服的/还指定供货者的利润。
*这个句子比较难理解，生词并不多，但很多词的含义需仔细推敲，如果选错了意项，可能差之毫厘，谬之千里。例如：the chain of retail stores，chain这个词有锁链的意思，由此引申出“连锁”和“限制”的意思。the chain of retail stores是零售商店连锁的意思吗?看了后面我们就可以发现，句子讲的是零售商店对供货着的限制，所以chain在这里是“限制”的意思。还有Dictate 这个词，有听写，独裁，指定的意思，根据上下文我们发现“指定”符合原文意思，故选之。有的难句，单词都认识而却不能理解句子的意思，这种句子要尤其注意。提高方法是联系上下文选择单词的正确义项。
In the most common procedure for harvesting forage crops such as alfalfa, as much as 20 percent of the leaf and small-stem material, the most nutritious parts of the plant, shatters and falls to the ground.
= In the most common procedure for harvesting forage crops/ such as alfalfa/, as much as 20 percent of the leaf and small-stem material/, the most nutritious parts of the plant/, shatters and falls to the ground.
#用最通常的步骤收割牛马的饲料作物/如苜蓿/，有多达20%的叶子和短小茎杆这样的东西/，最有营养的部分这个植物的/，散落在地上。
*这个句子比较容易理解，但注意一些细节，如：as much as像…那样多，也就是，有多达…
