2018考研英语长难句分析指导（四十五）

When that happens, it is not a mistake: it is mankind’s instinct for moral reasoning in action, an instinct that should be encouraged rather than laughed at.

结构分析：句子主干是When that happens, it is not a mistake: it is …instinct…, an instinct that should be…。以冒号为界，将全句分成两个复合句。前面的复合句里，when that happens是时间状语从句。冒号后面的复合句里有一个that从句，做instinct的定语。

译文：这种反应本身没有错，这是人类道德观念在进行推理时，本能在起作用，这种本能应得到鼓励而不应遭到嘲弄。