(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
‘Stepping-Stone’ Is a Way Up and Out
And now, welcome to Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. On this program we explore words and expressions in the English language.
Today we begin our story in nature.
Imagine you are walking in the woods, and you come to a little creek. You look over the water and spy some fat, ripe blackberries, wild grown, and ready for harvesting.
You can't believe your good luck to find your favorite fruit, free for the taking, just a few meters across the creek. But then you look down and realize you're wearing your favorite shoes. A walk through the water will ruin them! But you are also very, very, berry-hungry.
Stepping-stones are what you need. In a creek or river, stepping-stones are rocks with flat tops that sit above the water line. You can cross a creek by stepping from one rock top to another.
However, the term ‘stepping-stone' is not only for creek-crossings. It is often used figuratively. A worker, for example, can use stepping-stones to reach a higher level or position in their company.
Let's say it is your dream is to become the chief financial officer of a profitable and powerful investment firm. Your first stepping-stone on that path might be admission to a respected university. After completing your studies, you step to another stone, maybe it's a job as a teller at a small bank. Some time later, the bank offers you a supervisory position. That promotion is a third stepping-stone. All of them are helping to make your dream come true.
Stepping-stones can be used to reach any kind of goal. But not every stepping-stone is a good place to land.
For example, some goal-seekers treat people as stepping-stones. And let's face it, most people do not enjoy being stepped on. They may be happy to provide a stepping-stone but usually do not want to serve as one.
Using someone as a stepping-stone could be seen as stealing help.
There is another way we use the term ‘stepping-stone.' Stepping-stones can be parts of a process within a larger operation. For example, learning how to write code is a stepping-stone for many app developers.
Now, if your goal is to master the English Language, feel free to use any VOA Learning English stepping-stones on your path.
And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.
Until next time ...
I'm Anna Matteo.
重点解析
1.look over 检查；查看
He didn't dare look over the edge.
他不敢从边缘向下看。
2.serve as 担任；充当...
The sofa will serve as a bed for a night or two.
沙发可以当床凑合一两夜。
3.Make A Dream Come True 梦想成真；实现梦想
We only get one shot to make a dream come true.
我们只有一次让梦想成真的机会。
参考译文
“垫脚石”是进身之阶或脱困之门？
欢迎收听VOA慢速英语《词汇掌故》。在本期节目中，我们将探索英语词汇和表达。
我们以自然故事来揭晓今天的节目。
想象一下，踱步于森林的你，来到一条小溪边。你望着水面，突然看到对面有一些鲜艳欲滴的、成熟的野黑莓，随时可以一饱口福。
你不敢相信，竟然发现了你最爱的水果，而且免费管够，就在小溪对岸几米远的地方。但你低头一看，发现穿的是你最心爱的鞋子。趟水过去会毁了鞋子的！但你又非常非常想吃到黑莓。
这时候你就需要垫脚石了。在小溪或河流中，垫脚石是指水面上平坦的石块。你可以从一块石头上跳到另一块石头上，就这样跨过一条小溪。
然而，“垫脚石”这个术语并不仅仅适用于渡过小溪。它经常被用作比喻。例如，员工通过“垫脚石”在公司里达到更高的级别或职位。
这么说吧，你的梦想是成为一个效益好、规模大的投资公司的首席财务官。你在这条道路上的第一块垫脚石可能是被一所受人尊敬的大学录取。完成学业后，你就跳到了另一块垫脚石上，也许是在一家小银行当出纳员。一段时间后，银行会给你提供一个管理岗。那次晋升是第三个跳板。他们都在帮助你实现梦想。
“垫脚石”可以用来达到任何一种目标。但并不是每块踏脚石都是好的落脚处。
例如，一些追求目标的人把别人当作垫脚石。咱们实话实话吧，大多数人都不喜欢被踩。他们可能乐于提供“踏板”，但通常不想成为“踏板”。
把别人当做垫脚石可能会被视为“窃取帮助”。
“垫脚石”还有另一种用法。垫脚石可以是一个大型的操作过程的一部分。例如，学习如何写代码是许多应用程序开发人员的垫脚石。
现在，如果你的目标是掌握英语这门语言，那么在奋斗的路上，请随意使用VOA慢速英语这块垫脚石。
以上就是本期《词汇掌故》节目的全部内容。
下期节目见...
安娜·马特奥为您播报。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
