【问】 One bad winter we watched the river creep up the lower meadows. All the cattle had beenmoved into stalls and we stood to lose little. (New Concept English，Book 3，P. 136)
 [原译]一个气候坏的冬季，我们眼看着河水漫到较低的草地上，所有的家畜都赶到了
 厩里，我们会蒙受一点损失。(《新概念英语》(三)，安徽科技出版社版，P.226)原译文将little译为“一点”，是否恰当?
 【答】 我们中国人在学习英语时，应当特别注意，用作副词或形容词的little，如同形容词few一样，虽然在形态上是肯定的，但是在语义和句法特征上却是否定的。翻译时必须把这种否定意义给表达出来(欲了解little为什么具有否定意义，请见few/a few)：
 1. This problem has been little studied.
 对这个问题还没有进行过什么研究。
 2. He little realizes the danger he is in.
 他几乎没有意识到他所面临的危险。
 3. Metals，generally，offer little resistance and are good conductors.
 一般来说，金属几乎没有什么电阻，因而是良导体。
 还应强调指出，不仅用作副词的little，而且用作形容词和名词的little，也常常具有这种否定意义。类例：
 1. According to some scientists，there may be little oil left in the world by the end of this
 century.
 按照某些科学家的说法，到本世纪末世界上的石油也许所剩无几了。
 2. Unlike writing a picture or sketch needs little translation.
 图画或草图与文字不同，几乎不需要翻译。
 3. Little remains to be said.
 简直没有什么可说的了。
 4. We have made little use of the great amount of energy available to us from the sun.
 我们几乎还没利用过可用的大量太阳能。
 你所提问的句子误译的原因，可能是译者忽略了little与a little的区别。a little带有肯定的意思，可译为“一些”、“一点儿”。例如：
 We have gathered a little information about Saturn’s moons.
 我们已收集到了一些有关土星卫星的资料。
 试比较：
 a) Hurry up，we have little time to waste.
 赶快!我们不能再浪费时间了。
 b) Don’t hurry. We’ve a little time before the train comes in.
 别着急。火车进站以前我们还有一些时间。
 请做下面的英语试题：
 1. “You look thinner. Are you still dieting?”
 “Yes，I still eat____bread. ”
 A. many B. a little C. a lot D. so little (TOEFL，72.6)
 2. There’s still a____water left in my thermos flask. (EPT)
 A. little B. bit C. lot D. some
 3. “Did you tell Betty about our change in plans?”“Yes，I told her we’d be____. ”
 A. some late B. a little late
 C. a few late minutes D. late several minutes (TOEFL，71.6)
 4. “Does Fritz have enough money saved for a new bike?”“Almost，but he still needs____more.”
 A. little B. a little C. a slight D. few(TOEFL，73. 3)
 5. Except for a few charred walls，____remained of the city after it was bombed.
 A. the little B. very little
 C. the small D. very small (TOEFL，77.5)
 6. Would you like some more coffee?There’s still____left.
 A. a little B. little C. a few D. few (Nelson，250B)
 7. “What do you usually do after dinner?”
 “I usually listen to______ ”
 A. little music B. few music
 C. a few music D. a little music(TOEFL，72. 1)