第15期托福英语学习：托福词汇15

会计考友

　　Lesson 15 Aspirations Gone Astray 走入歧途的理想
9 x/ [6 g6 x, M) A　　Words:
# |4 I3 a$ P2 k# R　　ascribe vt. 把….归于
0 P8 c3 T; j/ a( _- r' c: ]　　aspect n. （问题等的）方面；（事物等的）一部分
　　aspersion n. 诽谤，中伤
　　aspire vi. 渴望
　　aspiring adj. 有抱负的，有理想的，积极向上的
/ K3 k* W& j# U: P　　aspiration n. 雄心，抱负
+ P* A+ P+ a* I　　assail v. （身体上）攻击，（言语上）攻击，批评
* E! C3 ]: i( C. h8 j4 `　　assassin n. 刺客
; s2 e: K2 o/ Q4 a& u　　assassinate vt. 暗杀，行刺
　　assault n. (武力上的)袭击；（口头上的）攻击
0 t% t/ g& U3 |$ n　　assay v. 化验
! M2 l3 }, j- P　　assemble vt. 集合，装配； vi. 聚集
. A# j& S' S+ k) F9 I7 S　　assembly n. 集会；参加集会的人们（译成：。。。大会，。。。议会）；装配，安装
　　assembly line 装配线，流水线
; h, x6 `3 r/ Q4 ^" T  B. `　　assert vt. 声称，坚持，斩钉截铁地说
) G; d3 l$ X8 L5 r0 t　　assess vt. 估计，分析，评估
+ ]# f5 w' e& @/ N　　asset n. assests 财产，资产；优势，重要的品质；宝贵（或有益）的人（或东西）
2 g+ o3 D5 p9 [+ ?+ ^* ?3 L! C　　assignment n. 任务，作业；分配
7 h/ f/ ~; \# ^# c+ l  }　　assimilate vt. 学习，吸收（知识）；吃，吸收（食品或营养）
' j# V; e1 c0 k; X4 _3 i　　assist vt. 援助，帮助
; g5 s$ X: A  b$ c. K! L, x
$ W9 X* F2 H+ \9 W% E8 [　　assistant n. 助手，助教；adj. 辅助的，助理的

会计考友

</p>　　I work in an assembly line in a car factory. Most days, I just assemble car parts. Occasionally, they’ll ask me to assay an unknown drugs substance. Once in a while, I’ll be asked to assist with breaking up a fight. Assault is not common here. But now and then, a frustrated worker will assail his assistant by casting aspersions on some aspect of the other’s work. I’m considered an asset in my company. But before 20 years ago, I was a different kind of asset to an entirely different type of company.
　　They called it “the company” but it was really a secret government group trained to assassinate political leaders. I never aspired to be an assassin. In fact, I was an aspiring chemist and a regular soldier in the army. All I really wanted was to do something great or important for my country. But sometimes, having too great an aspiration can lead you astray.
& C; O4 m  w' }8 e! T' s. D　　I still recall the day of the assembly. It was a small gathering of highly skills people like me. “The company” was assessing our abilities in the areas of weaponry and chemistry. I was a top chemist and a natural marksman, probably the best in my group. They ascribed my success to my steady hands and sharp eyes, the same tools I used for chemistry.
5 r4 Z) x6 q! n( k　　After the assembly, they gave us our assignments. I was assigned to assimilate into the mainstream society of a Latin American country. It wasn’t long before I was doing things that I will forever be ashamed to admit.
　　It’s been over for about 15 years. But I’ll never feel clean and I’ll never be able to assert that I have been a good man all my life.
. y& i( T1 x+ Z. J; i2 L　　我在一家汽车厂的流水线上工作。大多数时候，我只是组装汽车配件。有时，他们会让我化验某种不明药物。有时，我又去帮忙劝架。这里很少有人身攻击。不过，时不时会有一名灰心丧气的工人抨击他的助手，就其工作的某方面进行诽谤。我被视为公司的宝贝。但20年前，我被另一家完全不同的公司视为另一种类型的宝贝。
. v, Z( d3 R9 a& P6 S0 {
　　他们所谓的“公司”实际上是一个受过训练、专门暗杀政界领导人的秘密政府组织。我从未渴望做个刺客。事实上，我是个有抱负的化学家，又是部队中的一名常备兵。我的全部思想就是成就大事、为国效力。但有时，理想过于远大只会将你引入歧途。
; w0 I. f; x, J2 \　　我仍记得那天的集会。那是个小集会，与会者都是些像我这样的技术精湛的人员。当时“公司”评估我们在武器和化学领域的才能。我既是最优秀的化学家，又是天生的神枪手，很可能是我们小组中最棒的。他们将我的成功归于我稳健的双手和敏锐的眼睛，这也是我搞化学时用的工具。
8 H, j$ }. e5 @+ I- O　　会后，“公司”给我们下达了任务。我的任务是渗透进入一个拉美国家的主流社会。不久，我就开始做些我永远耻于承认的事情。
　　这一切已经过去15年了。但我将永远感到自己的肮脏，永远无法斩钉截铁地说我做了一辈子的好人。