美语故事

You are also an eager beaverat work.
你也是一个勤奋上进的人！
【Andrew's Note】
Beavers are very industrious little animals. A couple of beavers working hard can cut down a large tree in a very short time. Someone who is regarded as an eager beaver has that same kind of drive and energy. We find in our friends the beaver.

海狸是非常勤奋的小动物。几只海狸在很短的时间内就能啃倒一棵大树。被称为"an eager beaver"的人具有和海狸一样的干劲和精力。我们朋友中不乏有这种勤奋上进的人。

[1] Marston tells me that most American adults work longer than their Chinese counterparts, in that Americans from all walks of lifeare confronted with more severe competition. So in general Americans take a more positive attitude towards work and are all eager beavers.

[2] But I think Marston still needs time to tune in to（明白或了解）the situation here in China. The Chinese people are likewise confronted with all sorts of problems for subsistence. Frankly speaking, people in different cultural backgrounds face almost the same problems.

[3] But my former middle school classmate who resides in the U.S.A corroboratespart of Marston's argument. And he really brings home to me the reality of modern American society with his own life experience.
[4] Last night my friend in the States called me for a chat. He told me how he got things going in the States. As a matter of fact, he never goes to bed until early in the morning, with less than four hours of sleep each day. Moreover, he concludes that most Americans take their work that way, burning the midnight oil（夜间鏖战，开夜车） and working like anything. Quite amazing indeed.
[5] So this morning I said to Marston in earnest, "I agree with you about the difference in work attitudes between American people and the Chinese equals. You Americans all seem to be workaholics, or rather, eager beavers. You guys put us Chinese to shamein this respect. "

[6] "But there is one exception," Marston blurted out, "You are an early birdand you work your fingers to the boneevery day from morning till night. You are also an eager beaver at work. "

【参考译文】

[1] 马斯顿告诉我，多数美国成年人比中国的成年人工作时间长，因为各行各业的美国人都面临着更加严峻的竞争压力。所以，一般来说，美国人对工作的态度更加积极，他们都是勤奋上进的人。

[2] 但我认为，马斯顿仍然需要时间才能明白中国的现状。中国人同样面临着生存的各种问题。实话实说，不同文化背景的人面临着同样的问题。
[3] 可是，我从前的一位高中同学，现定居美国，他部分地证明了马斯顿的观点。他用自己的切身生活经验使我清楚地认识到美国社会的现状。
[4] 昨天夜里，我的美国同学打电话和我闲聊了一阵。他告诉我他的工作状况。实际上，我的朋友从未在凌晨前上床睡过觉，每天睡眠不足四小时。而且他还说，多数美国都是这样工作的，熬夜到很晚，工作起来非常疯狂。听起来真是不可思议。
[5] 于是，今天早上我认真地对马斯顿说：“关于美国人和中国人的工作态度问题，我完全同意你的说法。你们美国人好像都是工作狂, 确切地说，都是工作勤奋的人。在这方面，你们美国人真的让我们中国人自叹不如。”

[6] “不过也有个例外，”马斯顿脱口而出：“ 你是个早起的人，而且每天从早到晚拼命地工作。你也是个工作勤奋上进的人。”

指点迷津

1.eager beaver:one that is exceptionally, often excessively industrious or zealous 雄心勃勃的人；过于勤奋或热心的人
e.g.:The eager beavers of industry seldom reach their potential, much less rise to the top.
那些在企业卖力干活人，几乎不能发挥他们的潜能，更不用说成为佼佼者。
2.from all walks of life:各行各业
w.g.:We welcome people from all walks of life to give us rational suggestions to improve our service quality.
我们欢迎各行各业的人们给我们提出合理的建议，以便我们改进服务质量。
3.corroborate:confirm, show to be true, right, or valid　论证或证明……正当、正确或有效
e.g.:His evidence corroborates my story.
他的证据充分证实了我所讲的故事的真实性。
4.put to shame:使失色；使相形见绌
e.g.:Our professor is on the ball （勤奋, 有见识）in almost everything, putting all of us to shame.
我们的教授几乎在一切方面都才华横溢、知识渊博，使我们大家都自愧不如。
5.exception:例外；除外
e.g.:We praised them all, with two exceptions.
我们称赞了所有的人，只有两个例外。
e.g.:There is an exception to this grammatical rule.
这条语法规则有个例外。
e.g.:The exception proves the rule.
例外能反证规律。
6.an early bird:早到者；捷足先登
e.g.:Mr. Yan began his summer project in early April, because he knew that the early bird catches the worm.
阎先生在四月初就着手暑假项目，因为他清楚：捷足先登。
7.work one's fingers to the bone:拼命干活；非常努力地工作
e.g.:Mr. Brown worked his fingers to the bone to make enough money to buy a new house.
布朗先生为了挣钱买新房拼命地工作。