In those days, $20 was not a sum to be sniffed at.

那时候，20元不能不当回事。

In those days, $20 was not a sum to be sneezed at.

那时候，20元可不能不当回事。

To many people in many places, it is a princely sum to live on.

对于很多地方的很多人来说，这笔钱可以过上贵族般的生活。

They prefer having a lump sum to an inflation-linked income.

比起和通货膨胀挂钩的收入，他们更喜欢这笔钱。

They paid a huge sum to rent a cabin, a similar about to rent a boat.

两人花了一大笔钱租了一间小屋，又花了差不多同样的钱租了一条船。