1. It is said that Professor Yuan is one of the richest people in China.
 

　　It is said that ...  据说……，相当于People say that ...
 

　　例：It is said that the boy has joined the army.
 

　　据说那个孩子已经参军了。
 

　　2. The grain of this new type of rice would be as big as peanut so that farmers could rest in the cool shadows of big rice plants.
 

　　这种新水稻的粒子将会和花生一样大，以便农民可以在这种水稻的阴凉下休息。
 

　　as ... as ...  "和……一样"，表示程度相同的比较。
 

　　This box is as big as that one.
 

　　这个箱子和那个一样大。
 

　　so that  表示目的，译为"以便……，目的是……"。
 

　　He stood on a chair so that he could reach the top of the tree.
 

　　他站在椅子上以便能够够到树的顶部。