长难句

Symbolic of national unity as they claim to be, their very history—and sometimes the way they behave today—embodies outdated and indefensible privileges and inequalities. (2015 年 text1)

难句分析

主句

their very history embodies privileges and inequalities.

主语 谓语 宾语

插入语

the way they behave...

让步状语从句

Symbolic of national unity as they claim to be

宾语 从属连词 主语 谓语

定语从句

they behave...

主语 谓语

本句是一个复合句，主句意为“他们以往的历史体现了特权和不公平。”outdated and indefensible 形容词作定语修饰 privileges and inequalities，Symbolic of national unity as they claim to be 是由 as 引导的让步状语从句，是部分倒装结构，正常语序为 as they claim to be symbolic of national unity，修饰主句。

破折号之间为插入语，其中定语从句 they behave today 省略了从属连词 that/in which，修饰限定 the way。

参考译文

尽管他们宣称自己象征着国家统一，但是正是他们以往的历史以及今日的某些行为方式体现了已经过时的、站不住脚的特权和不公平。