胡敏读故事记托福词汇15：走入歧途的理想 Aspirations Gone Astray
Lesson 15 Aspirations Gone Astray 走入歧途的理想
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.
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。
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.
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。
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.
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。
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.
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。
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.
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。
Words:
ascribe vt. 把….归于
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
aspiration n. 雄心，抱负
assail v. (身体上)攻击，(言语上)攻击，批评
assassin n. 刺客
assassinate vt. 暗杀，行刺
assault n. (武力上的)袭击;(口头上的)攻击
assay v. 化验
assemble vt. 集合，装配; vi. 聚集
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
assert vt. 声称，坚持，斩钉截铁地说
assess vt. 估计，分析，评估
asset n. assests 财产，资产;优势，重要的品质;宝贵(或有益)的人(或东西)
assignment n. 任务，作业;分配
assimilate vt. 学习，吸收(知识);吃，吸收(食品或营养)
assist vt. 援助，帮助
assistant n. 助手，助教;adj. 辅助的，助理的
