Few creations of big technology capture theimagination like giant dams. Perhaps it ishumankind’s long suffering at the mercy of floodand drought that makes the ideal of forcing thewaters to do our bidding so fascinating.

译文：

很少有什么高科技能像大型水坝这样让人痴迷。可能正是因为人类长期遭受早涝灾害，所以才会如此痴迷于治理江河的理想。

点睛：

第一句是个简单句。第二句是一个强调句型，主干是itis…suffering…that makes... So fascinating，强调的部分是humankind’s long suffering at the mercy of flood and drought，其中心词是suffering。在由that引导的从句中，谓语是makes.宾语是ideal, of forcing the waters to do our bidding作ideal的后置定语，so fascinating作宾语补足语。

capture the imagination of是一个固定搭配，意为“为…吸引”或“激发…想象力”。at the mercy of意为“任…处置;受…所支配”。

A sailor is at the mercy of the weather.

水手受到天气的摆布。

bidding意为“命令;出价;邀请”。与bidding相关的短语有：at one’s bidding“依嘱，遵命”;do one’sbidding“照…的命令做，照…的话办”等。

Do as you are bidden.

按命令行事。

He bade me hold my tongue.

他吩咐我不要吭声。