1. Why the inductive and mathematical sciences, after their first rapid development at the culmination of Greek civilization, advanced so slowly for two thousand years are questions which have interested the modern philosopher not less than the objects with which these sciences are more immediately conversant.

[結構簡析] 破折號后面的內容(見難句譯注2)先撇開。這樣便于理解，整個句子是主謂表結構，前面一個問題句作主語，question后跟一個定語從句，和not less than連接的表語。

[參考譯文] 為什么歸納發和數學科學，在希臘文明達到頂點時首先快速發展后，兩千年內進展緩慢，現在哲學家對這個問題的興趣不亞于對這些科學很熟悉研究的對象。

2. …—and why in the following two hundred years a knowledge of natural and mathematical science has accumulated, which so vastly exceeds all that was previously known that these sciences may be justly regarded as the products of our own times—…

[參考譯文] 問什么在后來的二百年中自然科學數理科學積累起來，它們廣泛的超越了過去已知的一切，所以就把這些科學視為我們時代的產品。

3. arrested development 停滯發展(被制止了的發展)。

4. Or should we ascribe the characteristics of both periods to so-called historical accidents—to the influence of conjunctions in circumstances of which no explanation is possible, save in the omnipotence and wisdom of a guiding Providence?

[參考譯文] 或者我們是否應當把兩個階段的特點歸因于所謂的歷史的偶然性(意外事件)——歸因于客觀環境中相似(結合)的影響。這一點除非以指導一切的上帝的智慧和無限權利來解釋，否則難以解說清楚。

來源:可可英語 http://www.ccdyzl.cn/cet4/201005/104182.shtml