“I can envision you as a U.S. envoy to a small undeveloped country,” Tony said. He was Andy’s best friend He was proud of the fact that Andy’s confidence by equating him with great people. “You could be the equivalent of a hero in an epic. You would make your classmates envious, and they’d have to erect a statue of you in front of the school.”
托尼是安迪最好的朋友。托尼以安迪是整個(gè)學(xué)校最優(yōu)秀的學(xué)生而自豪。他總是把安迪與為人相提并論,以此來增強(qiáng)安迪的自信心。“我能想見你作為美國外交是這前往一個(gè)欠發(fā)達(dá)的小國家。”托尼說。“你還可以跟史詩中的英雄媲美。你可以讓你的同學(xué)羨慕你,而且他們會(huì)在校門前為你立一尊雕像。”
“Very funny,” Andy replied. “But in fact, an envoy is an ephemeral job. He usually stays for one episode then he leaves.” Andy was a very smart boy. If you gave him the right equipment, he could accomplish anything. But he lacked confidence.
“真有趣。”安迪回答,“但事實(shí)上,使者是一種短暫的工作,他通常為處理一個(gè)事件而稍事停留。事畢,即離任回國。”安迪是個(gè)很聰明的孩子。你如果給他必要的設(shè)備,他什么都能造出來,但他缺乏信心。
“Well, perhaps you’ll be the doctor who stops the spread of epidemics,” Tony said, “or the scientist who eradicates the AIDS virus. Since you like the outdoors, maybe you’ll find a solution for soil erosion that will prevent the great rivers of the world from eroding their banks.”
“那么,也許你會(huì)成為一名能防止傳染病傳播的醫(yī)生,”托尼說,“或者成為一位根除艾滋病病毒的科學(xué)家。因?yàn)槟阆矚g野外活動(dòng),也許你能找到辦法解決土壤侵蝕問題,那樣就可以防止世界上主要河流侵蝕其河岸的問題了。”
“Let’s be a little more realistic, okay?” Andy said. “And let’s be equitable and talk about you. You love math equations. Perhaps you will force the scholars to erase earlier theories. Or maybe you’ll be an anthropologist who discovers exciting new fossils from the Pleistocene Epoch.”
“我們還是更現(xiàn)實(shí)一點(diǎn),好嗎?”安迪說,“讓我們公平些,談?wù)勀惆?。你?duì)數(shù)學(xué)等式感興趣,也許你會(huì)提出一個(gè)新的經(jīng)濟(jì)平衡理論,從而使學(xué)者們不得不摒棄先前的理論。或者也許你會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)更新時(shí)代一塊令人激動(dòng)的新化石,成為一名人類學(xué)家。”
“Thanks for your attempt at equity,” Tony said, “but you really can’t equate your intellect with mine. You are a dozen times smarter. I’m only good at one thing.”
“謝謝你給我公平待遇,”托尼說,“但你真的不能把你的才智與我的等同起來。你比我聰明得多。我只擅長于一件事。”
“What’s that?” asked Andy.
“什么?”安迪問。
“Being a good public relations agent,” Tony replied.
“做一名優(yōu)秀的公關(guān)人員。”托尼說。
Words:
envious adj. 嫉妒的,羨慕的
envision vt. 想象,預(yù)想
envoy n. 外交使節(jié),使者
ephemeral adj. 短暫的,轉(zhuǎn)瞬即逝的
epic n. 史詩,敘事詩
epidemic n. 傳染病,流行病
episode n. 插曲,一段情節(jié)
epoch n. 新紀(jì)元,時(shí)代
equate vt. (使)等同,認(rèn)為。。。相等
equation n. 等式;相等,平衡
equilibrium n. (敵對(duì)之間)均衡;(情感)平衡
equipment n. 設(shè)備
equitable adj. 公平的,公正的
equivalent n. 等同品;adj. 相等的,等同的;等值的
equity n. 公平,公正
eradicate vt. 根除,杜絕
erase vt. 抹掉,擦去
erect vt. 使豎立,建立,創(chuàng)立
erode vt. 腐蝕,侵蝕
erosion n. 腐蝕,侵蝕