今日长难句：

选自《经济学人》

But given many pre-Columbian peoples' proclivity for human sacrifice, rather than mere bloodletting, it might not have been an honour that was highly sought after.

但考虑到许多前哥伦布时代，人们倾向于活人献祭，而不仅仅是放血，这可能不是一项备受追捧的荣誉。

第一步 简单划分句子成分，进行初步断句

But given/ many pre-Columbian peoples' proclivity /for human sacrifice, rather than /mere bloodletting, it might not /have been /an honour /that was highly sought after.

第二步 抓动词，看主语，确定一下句子的基本框架，先看主句再看从句

Given that...=Considering 考虑到 是一个条件和背景

rather than而不是

主句应该是it 作为主语的这一句

It might not have been an honour. 主句的基本框架 “这可能不是一项荣誉”

that was highly sought after定语从句修饰honour一项备受追捧的荣誉

第三步把刚才跳读和略读的修饰性成分（介词短语）信息还原，细节补充回去，得到句子清晰完整的全貌：

But given many pre-Columbian peoples' proclivity for human sacrifice, rather than mere bloodletting, it might not have been an honour that was highly sought after.

但考虑到许多前哥伦布时代，人们倾向于活人献祭，而不仅仅是放血，这可能不是一项备受追捧的荣誉。

核心要点：

1. mere adj. 仅仅的

If this had been a mere financial crisis, it would be over by now.

2. sacrifice v. 牺牲 n. 祭祀

A working mom has to sacrifice a lot of things. That is just the reality of the society.

3. seek after 追求 追逐

Some people seek after fame and money at the cost of their family and health.

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