(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
'Climbing the Ladder' to Success
And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
On this program, we explore words and expressions in American English.
Today we talk about a tool for reaching high places – a ladder.
Ladders are made from two long pieces of wood, metal, or rope with a series of steps, called rungs, between them. We climb the rungs to reach higher up.
But we can also climb a different kind of ladder. When we climb the ladder in our job to reach a higher level, we are climbing the ladder of success.
When we speak of a ladder this way, it represents a series of steps or stages that leads to a higher or better position. As you climb the ladder, you become more powerful and more successful.
Take, for example, the corporate ladder:
The website Investopedia defines the term "corporate ladder" as a way of thinking about a company's employment hierarchy. Hierarchy here means the jobs in a corporation that go from the bottom to the top. So, beginning, or entry-level, jobs are the bottom rungs of the ladder and the supervisory positions are the top rungs of the corporate ladder. "Climbing the corporate ladder," then, describes a person's movement higher in a company's leadership.
Some people are very ambitious. They want to get ahead, so they work hard at their career. They think about it seriously and have a plan. Most people who succeed have some level of ambition.
But some people use "climbing the ladder" in a negative way. Let's say on your way up the ladder of success you step on others or try to push them off their ladders. This might mean you are so ambitious that you forget to treat people well. Getting ahead in your job is the only thing you see as you climb up your ladder.
However, as some people climb, they reach down and help up those on the lower rungs. Or, if someone on a rung above them is having trouble, they help them.
You can use the expression "climb the ladder" with or without the word "success."
Now, let's listen to these two friends as they use this expression.
Hey, how are you? I haven't heard from you in such a long time!
I've been good! I've been taking a lot of online classes. So, I just finished a business degree.
Good for you! I've been spending too much time at home watching Netflix.
Well, that can be fun too. But I have some career goals that I need to meet by the end of the year.
You are way more ambitious than me. I'm not really interested in climbing any career ladders.
You're on your own. I have older parents to take care of. So, for me climbing a few more rungs on the ladder means more money and more security.
That is such a good point. But you still need to have fun. Why don't we celebrate your new degree with a hike in the mountains this weekend?
That sounds perfect!
If knowing English helps you move up the ladder in your career, keep coming back to VOA Learning English!
Until next time ...
I'm Anna Matteo.
重点解析
1.a series of 一系列的
The deal ended after a series of rancorous disputes.
经过一连串充满敌意的争吵，该交易泡汤了。
2.be on one's own 独处；孑然一身
College is totally different from high school because you are on your own.
大学和中学完全不同，因为你一切都得靠自己。
3.in a negative way 以消极的方式；以反面的方式
I don't allow myself to look at what happened to me in a negative way.
我从不用消极的态度看待发生在自己身上的事情。
参考译文
职场上的“攀梯”是何意？
欢迎收听voa慢速英语《词汇掌故》。
在本期节目中，我们来探讨一下美式英语中的词汇和表达。
今天我们来讨论一种可以登高的工具——梯子。
梯子由两根长木头、金属或绳子制成，梯子之间有一级一级的踏板，称为台阶。爬梯子是为了到达更高的地方。
但攀登“梯子”还有另一种含义。在职场中，想要更上一层楼时，我们就可以用“攀登成功之梯”来表达。
在职场中使用这种表达，指代的是一系列通向更高或更优职位的步骤或阶段。当你“爬上梯子”（升职）后，会变得更强大，更成功。
以职场的晋升为例：
Investopedia网站将“升职”（corporate ladder）定义为一种思考企业职位等级制度的方式。等级制度在这里指的是职场上从基层到高层的工作。因此，入门级的岗位是职场的基层，而管理岗是职场的高层。“climb the corporate ladder”指的是员工在职场的晋升。
有些人野心勃勃。他们想要出人头地，所以努力地工作。他们认真考虑并制定了规划。大多数成功的人多多少少都会有野心。
但是有些人用“climb the ladder”来表示贬义含义。例如，在“晋升”的过程中，你踩在别人的身上向上爬，或者试图把他们推下梯子。这可能意味着你太有野心了，以至于忘记善待他人。在“晋升”的过程中，你一门心思想只在工作中“占领先机”。
然而，还有一些人在晋升过程中，会伸出手帮助那些位于基层的人。或者，如果他们的上级遇到麻烦，他们也会协助处理。
使用短语“climb the ladder”时，可以选择性使用单词“success”。
现在，我们来听听下面两位朋友是如何使用这个短语的。
嘿，最近怎么样？好久不见了！
我过的还不错！我参加了很多在线课程。刚刚拿到了商学院学位。
你真牛！我大多时间都宅在家里看NETflix上的影片了。
嗯，那也挺有趣。只是我有一些职业目标要在今年年底前实现。
你比我上进多了。我对“升职”方面没有任何欲望。
你养活自己就可以了。我还有年迈的父母要照顾。所以，对我来说，“职位越高”就意味着更好的薪资待遇和更多的安全感。
你说的很有道理。但你还是要找点乐子放松一下。要不咱们周末去爬山庆祝你拿到新学位？
听起来很棒！
如果学习英语能帮助你在职场上更上一层楼，请继续回到VOA慢速英语学习！
下期节目见。
安娜·马特奥为您播报。
