第214句 效率降低
the change met the technical requirements of the new age by engaging a large professional element and prevented the decline in efficiency that so commonly spoiled the fortunes of family firms in the second and third generation after the energetic founders.
译文:这种变革通过聘用大量专业人员来适应新时代的技术要求,并阻止了效率的降低,这种效率的降低使得许多家族商行在那些精力充沛的创业者之后的第二代、第三代手中破产倒闭。
点睛:句子的主干是the change met... requirements... and prevented the decline.。其中by engaging a large professional element是介词短语作状语,说明met the technical requirements of the new age的方式。that引导的是定语从句,修饰前面的decline in efficiency.
n. 元素,成分,组成部分,(复数)恶劣天气