1. By any measure other than that of the aristocrats, who had been upstaged by the supposedly inferior people, the Athenian democracy was a stunning success.

【答】who had been upstaged by the supposedly inferior people 等于：the aristocrats had been upstaged by the supposedly inferior people

(1) upstage：及物动词，意为“抢…镜头；使相形见绌”。

(2) 句意：“贵族们被所谓的劣等人抢去了风头”。“那些所谓的劣等人让贵族们相形见绌”。

2.It was precisely this opportunity to participate in public life that provided a stimulus for the brilliant unfolding of classical Greek culture.

【答】强调句型：It was ... that ...。本句强调的成分是句子主语：this opportunity to participate in public life

(1) precisely：副词。意为“精确地；恰恰；正好”，用在强调句中再次表示“强调”。

(2) to participate in public life 作定语修饰this opportunity。

(3) unfolding：名词。“演变；伸展；发展”。

(4) 句意：“正是这个参加公共生活的机会，才刺激了古希腊文化的辉煌发展”。“正是这个参与公共生活的机会，才为古希腊文化的辉煌发展提供了刺激”。