In contrast to ongoing trade imbalances with China and Japan, the United States trade deficit with Mexico declined by $500 million as a result of record exports to that country.

(A) In contrast to ongoing trade imbalances with China and Japan, the United States trade deficit with Mexico declined by $500 million as a result of record exports to that country.

(B) In contrast to ongoing trade imbalances with China and Japan, the United States sold record exports to Mexico, reducing its trade deficit by $500 million.

(C) When compared with ongoing trade imbalances with China and Japan, the United States sold record exports to Mexico, reducing their trade deficit by $500 million.

(D) Compared with ongoing trade imbalances with China and Japan, the United States sold record exports to Mexico, reducing the trade deficit by $500 million.

(E) Compared to ongoing trade imbalances with China and Japan, the United States record exports to Mexico caused a $500 million decline in the trade deficit with that country.

比较：in contrast to/with, compare to, compared with 比较双方的概念必须对等。而contrary to其后必须加上idea或belief等抽象名词：contrary to popular belief, victors in the ancient Greek Olympic Games received cash prizes in addition to their laurel wreaths.

问题：A中的as a result of record总觉得怪怪的，这里的record是名词还是动词？ 后面的exports是名词还是动词？这后半句如何翻译？

选A

这里的as a result of record exports to that country中的 record exports所谓of的介词宾语 record exports是一个名词修饰名次的短语 to that country作为exports的定语，所以record exports两个都是名词

后半句按照我的理解就是： 美国对墨西哥的贸易赤字由于所记录的对该国的出口减少了5亿