15.   acacia                          阿拉伯树胶，金合欢胶

16.   dragons blood                    龙血树脂，麒麟血

17.   sparingly                        少量的，节约的

18.   novice                          新手，初学者

19.   cellulose tape                    纤维带，指纹胶带

20.   lift                             提起，拿起。这里指取下指纹。

21.   molded impression                模性压痕

22.   visible impression                 可见压痕

23.   pliable                          柔韧的，柔顺的

24.   smear                           搽上，涂污，弄得模糊不清

难句译注

1.       The basic premise in searching for latent prints is to examine more carefully those areas, which would most likely be touched by persons who have been on the scene.

[结构简析] 句子长是因为有两个定语从句：which 和who； which 修饰areas; who 修饰persons.

[参考译文] 搜寻潜手印的基本前提是：要非常仔细的检查那些最可能为曾到过现场的人所触摸的地方。

2.       If the fingermark does not disclose ridge detail when viewed under a reading glass, the chances are that its value in identification is nil when photographed.

[结构简析] 条件句，主从句中都有一个when +过去分词句型。第一个直接紧跟从句，第二个在主句的表语后面。译时根据其所在位置。

[参考译文] 假如指印在放大镜下观察时没有显露隆起部分的细节（不显露指纹纹理），那很可能，在摄影时其鉴别价值等于零。

3.       Where fingermarks are found, it will be necessary for the investigator to compare them against the ones of persons having legitimate access to the premises so that the traces might be eliminated as having evidentiary value if they prove to be from these persons.

[结构简析] 复合句，前面是主从句， where…it will be necessary, 从句so that 中又有一个条件句，if they …。

[参考译文] 如果发现了指印，检查人员就必须把发现的指印和有权进入房屋的人的指印作比较。如果指印证实是来自这些人的，那么作为证据价值的线索就可排除掉。

4.       A good black powder is composed of lampblack, graphite, and powdered acacia. Dragon’s blood is good powder for white surface and can be fixed on paper by heating. In developing latent prints, the accepted method is to use the powder sparingly and brush lightly. Do not use powder if the fingermark is visible under oblique lighting. It can be photographed. A good policy for the novice is to experiment with his own prints on a surface similar to the one he wishes to search in order to determine the powder best suited to the surface.

[结构简析] 句子长，因为表语中有形容词短语similar to , 而to 的宾语又有一个省略which的定从he wishes to search.. 此外副词短语in order to … 的宾语也有一个修饰的分词短语best suited.

[参考译文] 对新手来说，最好的办法就是用自己在类似于他想要搜索的表面上的指印作一个实验，以确定最适用于这种表面的粉末。

写作方法与文章大意

这是一篇介绍在犯罪现场搜寻“（潜）指印”的文章。采用平铺直叙步步深入的写作方式。头两段先介绍经常会有“潜指印”的地方是房子的出口和入口，汽车的后视镜，方向盘等。屋内光滑无孔的物体，如若接触就会留有潜指印，但粗糙物体的潜指印就没有价值，放大镜下不显现纹理的指印也无价值，就得看摄影显示决定。

接着，介绍运用白粉，黑粉轻拂扫，新鲜纤维带把潜手印取下的种种方法和步骤。

最后一段介绍了除潜手印外还有两种不能忽略的手印：模性和可见压痕及其形成和取证方法。