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  3. Poetry & Literature

испытание, целью которого был

English translation: The Emperor devises a test, which was to cross ...

04:21 Mar 29, 2006
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / children's fantasy
Russian term or phrase: испытание, целью которого был
Император придумал испытание, целью которого был проход по висячему мосту над пропастью. Любой, кто брался выполнить такую, казалось бы, несложную задачу, непременно погибал.

Dear colleagues!
Пособите с фразой, please, а то у меня все как-то коряво выходит.
Andrew Vdovin
Local time: 20:50
English translation:The Emperor devises a test, which was to cross ...
Explanation:
The Emperor devises a test, which was to cross ... Anyone who attempted this invariably died.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 43 mins (2006-03-29 05:04:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry, The Emperor devised a test... Anyone who attempted this invariably died.
Selected response from:

Sergei Nikolenko
Local time: 16:50
Grading comment
Thank you very much for your help Sergei! I think omitting 'целью' is a good idea. Thanks everybody!!!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5a test, the aim of which was
Jack Doughty
4 +4The Emperor devises a test, which was to cross ...
Sergei Nikolenko
5 +1The Emperor came up with an idea of a trial designed to challenge anyone who would dare to cross..
Olga Cartlidge
3 +2a test aiming at..
Andrey Belousov (X)
3something to start with (as an option, needs revision, of course)
Mrs Shell
3a test, in which [someone] would
Marc Adler
3a test that was aimed at...
Eugenio 85


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
something to start with (as an option, needs revision, of course)


Explanation:
Emperior contrived a task where a goal was to cross a suspension bridge above a precipice. Even though it sound like as not such a challenging task but everyone who took a part in it have died.

Mrs Shell
United States
Local time: 09:50
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in UkrainianUkrainian
PRO pts in category: 4
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7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
a test aiming at..


Explanation:
My try

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 mins (2006-03-29 04:41:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

a test, the aim of which was....

Andrey Belousov (X)
United States
Local time: 09:50
Native speaker of: Russian
PRO pts in category: 114

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Erzsébet Czopyk
2 hrs
  -> Thank you! :-)
agree  Jack Doughty: Didn't notice this when I entered mine.
4 hrs
  -> Thank you! :-)
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40 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
The Emperor devises a test, which was to cross ...


Explanation:
The Emperor devises a test, which was to cross ... Anyone who attempted this invariably died.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 43 mins (2006-03-29 05:04:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry, The Emperor devised a test... Anyone who attempted this invariably died.

Sergei Nikolenko
Local time: 16:50
Native speaker of: Russian
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you very much for your help Sergei! I think omitting 'целью' is a good idea. Thanks everybody!!!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kari Foster
1 hr
  -> Thank you
agree  Sergei_A
1 hr
  -> Thank you
agree  tanyazst: по-моему, "цель" тут абсолютно лишняя
3 hrs
  -> Thank you
agree  Alexander Demyanov
10 hrs
  -> Thank you
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46 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
The Emperor came up with an idea of a trial designed to challenge anyone who would dare to cross..


Explanation:
You could just keep it simple and say

The Emperor designed a trial that would challenge anyoone etc

etc but it would sound a bit too modern.

Olga Cartlidge
Local time: 14:50
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Olga Vlasova: A trial designed to challenge a person to cross...
3 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
a test, the aim of which was


Explanation:
A straight translation of these words is fine.
The Emperor devised a test, the aim of which was to cross a bridge suspended over an abyss. All those who undertook this apparently simple task invariably perished.
or: Anyone who undertook this apparently simple task was sure to perish.



Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 658

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Irina Romanova-Wasike
45 mins
  -> Thank you.
agree  Kevin Kelly
48 mins
  -> Thank you.
agree  Erzsébet Czopyk: Andrei Belousov wrote the same-
1 hr
  -> Thank you. Yes, sorry I didn't notice that. But I'll leave this answer in place, as the rest of it may be of some help.
agree  Andrey Belousov (X): I'm glad I'm not alone in the field...
1 hr
  -> Thank you. Take your choice between two sayings: "Great minds think alike" and "Fools seldom differ". I prefer the first one.
agree  Marc Adler: This is the most natural. "The aim of which" is more natural than "aiming to."
12 hrs
  -> Thank you.
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
a test, in which [someone] would


Explanation:
Император придумал испытание, целью которого был проход по висячему мосту над пропастью. Любой, кто брался выполнить такую, казалось бы, несложную задачу, непременно погибал.

The Emperor came up with a test, in which [subjects, etc. (as per context)] would have to cross a bridge suspended above a chasm. Everyone who attempted the seemingly trivial test died, without exception.

Marc Adler
Local time: 08:50
Native speaker of: English
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1 day 23 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
a test that was aimed at...


Explanation:
just one of the versions proposed

Eugenio 85
Local time: 16:50
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
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