英語故事＆習語學習：成功之路
下面是一篇短文，講述瞭如何在現在艱難的經濟環境下取得成功的方法。試着在不去了解習語定義的情況下，先閱讀該文掌握大意。在第二次閱讀時，你可以利用前面的定義來學習新的習語，從而來幫助你理解全文。最後，請完成故事末尾的小測驗。[/cn]
The Road to Success
成功之路
The road to success is paved with failures.
成功的道路由失敗鋪就
That's a hard truth, but one that needs to be faced when considering how you are going to makea go of itin life. It's really quite simple, to come out ahead we need to find careers that we can do with all our heart and soul, but that also allow us to come out ahead at the end of the day. Unfortunately, we can't live off the fat of the land although indigenous people did so for thousands of years. We now live in an era that is highly structured and requires us all to make sacrifices as we jockey for position in life.
雖然這是一個殘酷的事實，但在你思考怎樣在人生的道路上取得成功時，你還是需要面對它。將自己全身心投入的事情做好很簡單，但是我們也需要笑到最後。不幸的是，雖然原住民們千百年來都是靠土地吃飯，但我們不是這樣的。我們現在處於一個高度結構化的時代，需要我們竭盡所能來獲取利益。
Let's call a spade a spade: It's dog eat dog out there in the real world! There are so many stumbling blocks for young adults these days. From high unemployment to the high price of higher education - not to mention all the red tape we have to deal with - it's hard to succeed! However, with dedication, it's possible to succeed in the long run. In fact, with dedication, we can find something that really appeals to us.
直言不諱的說吧：現實世界是很殘酷的。現在的年輕人會遇到許多的阻礙。從高失業率到高昂的高等教育費用，更不用提各種繁文縟節了，成功的道路太艱難了！但是，如果我們全身心投入的話，總有一天會獲得成功的。事實上，只要我們盡力去做，就會發現許多有趣的事。
Once we find our special talent, we can carry the torch of the tradition we have chosen. This might be in education, health care, having your own business, or even in politics! Each of us is capable of doing something that takes everyone's breath away if only for a moment. Getting there might mean that we have to fly by the seat of our pants from time to time, but, as they say, necessity is the mother of invention.
當我們發現自己的天賦後，我們就可以將自己選擇的事堅持下去。你選擇的事業可能是教育、醫療、自主創業、或者甚至是從政！我們每一個人都能夠完成使別人眼前一亮的事。爲了成功，我們有時得去冒險。但是，就如同他們所說，需要是發明的動力。
Along the way, we'll need to figure out how to foot the bill, but on the horizon, we'll have the hope of doing something more purposeful with our time.
在通往成功的旅途上，我們需要明白怎樣去付出，但眼前我們需要的是擁有完成某事的決心。
Idioms Used in the Selection
選文中的習語
by the seat of one's pants = improvising, handling something as it happens
某事發生時憑直覺或即興發揮來解決
call a spade a spade =, to tell the truth about something, even if it is difficult to accept
直言不諱
carry the torch = continue a tradition
堅持傳統
come out ahead = be profitable or advantageous in the end
獲利或佔上風
dog eat dog = extremely competitive
極度好鬥的
fit in = do something that helps you belong to something
使自己適應某事
foot the bill = pay for something
付賬
in nothing flat = very quickly
非常快速
in the long run = over a long period of time
從長遠來看
jockey for position = try to get into an advantageous position
試圖取得有利地位
live off the fat of the land = survive based on what nature provides
靠自然的供給生活
make a go of it = succeed
成功
on the horizon = coming in the not too distant future
即將來臨
red tape = official forms that you need to take care of to do something
完成某事時的繁文縟節
stumbling block = a problem or obstacle that blocks your way
阻礙你做某事的問題或障礙
take someone's breath away = surprise someone with beauty
使某人大爲驚訝的美
with all one's heart and soul = with complete commitment and dedication
全身心投入
測驗
We'll _____________ for all your expenses.
We see many changes coming ____________.
There's a lot of ____________ during the application process.
She _______ his __________. He'd never seen such a beautiful woman.
We've had a lot of costs on this project, but we'll ______________ in the end.
The weekend will be over ____________. Time goes so quickly!
Big cities are often _________________, at least as far as business goes.
Let's move to the country and ___________________.
答案
foot the bill
on the horizon
red tape
took his breath away
come out ahead
in nothing flat
dog eat dog
live off the fat of the land
聲明：本雙語文章的中文翻譯系原創內容，轉載請註明出處。中文翻譯僅代表譯者個人觀點，僅供參考。如有不妥之處，歡迎指正。
