Reading and Thinking 课文精读 · 弄清楚你想做什么
一、课文原文及逐段翻译
第1段
As an adult, one of the first questions you are asked when meeting someone new is, "What do you do? " This is because your career is a very important part of who you are. The career you have defines your life, and so taking time to think about it is an essential exercise for young people.
作为一名成年人，你结识新朋友时首先被问及的问题之一是："你是做什么工作的？"这是因为你的职业是你身份的一个重要组成部分。你所从事的职业决定了你的生活，所以花点时间来思考它，对年轻人来说是项至关重要的锻炼。
第2段
The best time to start thinking about possible careers is while you are still at school, before you make any choices about your further education. This however, is not always easy. Some people know what they want to do from a young age, but many others just have a few ideas bouncing around in their heads.
开始考虑自己可能从事的职业的最佳时间是你还在学校的时候，在你对自己的继续深造作出选择之前。然而，这并不总是那么容易。有些人年轻时就清楚自己想做什么，但更多的人只是有一些想法在脑子里晃来晃去。
第3段
One of the most effective ways to get some insight on a possible career path is to complete a "career aptitude test". The results of the test will tell you about your strengths and interests, and some tests also suggest careers that you may be suited to. Having this information will provide you with a better chance of finding a job you like. There are many free tests online, so give one a try. Getting a head start in considering your future career may help you for the rest of your life. You don't want to look back in years to come and say, "I wish I had thought more about what I really wanted to do".
要想洞察可能从事的职业道路，最有效的方法之一是完成"职业能力倾向测验"。从测验结果能看出你的强项和兴趣，一些测验还会就你可能适合的职业提出建议。拥有这些信息将会为你提供更好的机会来找到你喜欢的工作。网上有很多免费测验，所以尝试一下吧。在考虑你的未来职业方面早做打算，可能会让你终身受益。你不会想在以后的岁月里回望过去时说："要是当时我能对我想做的事情多考虑考虑就好了"。
第4段
There are many different kinds of career aptitude tests. Some ask question about your personal interests and attitudes. Others focus more on asking you to rate different kinds of work scenarios, like working as a librarian or a lawyer. Of course, while completing these sorts of tests, it is very important to be honest---- and don't worry ----there are no right or wrong answers.
有很多不同种类的职业能力倾向测验。有些测验会问一些关于你的个人兴趣和态度的问题。另一些测验则更侧重于让你给不同类型的工作场景打分，比如说当图书管理员或律师。当然，在做这些测验时，诚实是非常重要的——无须担心——答案没有对错之分。
第5段
One popular test asks the participants to grade their preferences for a variety of work tasks. Their answers are then analysed and divided up between six different types of work personalities. The participant is then given a chart showing their score for each type of work personality. The top three scores are used to make a code that indicates the participant's overall work personality. This code is then used to generate a list of career suggestions.
有一项流行的测验要求参与者给自己对各种工作任务的偏好打分。参与者的回答随后会被分析并划分为六种不同类型的职业性格。然后为参与者提供一张图表，显示他们在每一种职业性格上的得分。最高的三项得分会用来组成一个代码，以显示参与者的整体职业性格，然后用这个代码生成一个职业建议列表。
第6段
The career suggestions are also based on your education and experience level but you can look at higher-level careers as well, which is very useful for high school students. For example, you could look at the basic careers to see what work you might like now, and then look at the more advanced career so you know what you may like to aim for in the future. This is a great tool to help plan your career and let you know what targets you need to reach to get there.
职业建议也基于你的教育和经验水平，但是你也可以看看更高层次的职业，这对高中生非常有用。例如，你可以看看基础性的职业，以了解你现在可能喜欢什么工作，然后再看看更高级别的职业，这样你就知道未来你可能想要以什么为目标。这是一个很好的工具，可以帮助规划你的职业，让你知道你需要达成什么目标才能实现理想。
第7段
In conclusion, career aptitude tests are clearly a very useful tool. However, it is important to remember that they are only meant for guidance. The secret to a good career is finding something that you are passionate about. So try a few tests online and start thinking about your future career right now!
总之，职业能力倾向测验显然是一个十分有用的工具。然而，重要的是要记住，它们仅供指导之用。职业生涯成功的秘诀在于找到你所热爱的。所以，尝试一些这样的网络测验，然后马上开始思考你未来的职业吧！
二、重点单词
career n.：职业；事业。your career is a very important part of who you are
define v.：界定；决定。The career you have defines your life
essential adj.：至关重要的；本质的。taking time to think about it is an essential exercise
exercise n.：活动；锻炼；练习。an essential exercise for young people
aptitude n.：天资；倾向。complete a "career aptitude test"
insight n.：洞察；见识。get some insight on a possible career path
strength n.：强项；优势；力量。The results will tell you about your strengths and interests
suit v.：适合。careers that you may be suited to
preference n.：偏好；偏爱。grade their preferences for a variety of work tasks
participant n.：参与者。One popular test asks the participants
analyse v.：分析。Their answers are then analysed
personality n.：性格；个性。six different types of work personalities
indicate v.：表明；指示。a code that indicates the participant's overall work personality
generate v.：生成；产生。used to generate a list of career suggestions
passionate adj.：热爱的；充满热情的。finding something that you are passionate about
guidance n.：指导。they are only meant for guidance
三、一词多义与熟词生义
exercise 常见义为"体育锻炼、习题"，课文中 an essential exercise 意为"一项重要的活动/历练"，把抽象的思考过程比作一种"练习"。
define 常见义为"下定义"，课文 The career you have defines your life 中引申为"决定、界定（人生）"，强调职业对生活的塑造作用。
strength 常见义为"力气、力量"，课文 your strengths and interests 中指人的"长处、强项"，与 weakness 相对。
rate 常见义为名词"比率、速度"，课文 asking you to rate different kinds of work scenarios 中作动词，意为"给……评分、评价"。
code 常见义为"密码、代码"，课文 make a code that indicates ... work personality 中意为"编码、代号"，指由得分组合而成的职业性格标识。
tool 常见义为"工具（实物）"，课文 a great tool to help plan your career 中引申为"手段、方法"，泛指有用的途径。
四、重点词块
one of the first questions 首先被问到的问题之一
when meeting someone new 当结识新朋友时
a very important part of who you are 你身份的一个重要组成部分
define your life 决定/界定你的人生
take time to think about 花时间思考
an essential exercise 一项至关重要的历练
the best time to ... is while ... ……的最佳时机是当……的时候
have a few ideas bouncing around in one's head 脑子里有几个念头晃来晃去
get some insight on 对……有所洞察
be suited to 适合（某事物）
give one a try 试一试
get a head start 抢先一步；早做打算
look back 回顾；回望
in years to come 在往后的岁月里
complete a career aptitude test 完成一项职业倾向测验
rate different kinds of work scenarios 给不同类型的工作场景打分
there are no right or wrong answers 答案没有对错之分
be divided up between 被分配到……之中
be based on 以……为基础；基于
aim for 以……为目标
in conclusion 总之；最后
be meant for guidance 旨在用作指导
be passionate about 对……充满热情/热爱
五、长难句拆解
【原句 1】As an adult, one of the first questions you are asked when meeting someone new is, "What do you do?"
【主干】one of the first questions is "What do you do?"
【分层】As an adult 为状语；you are asked 是修饰 questions 的定语从句，省略了关系代词 that/which；when meeting someone new 是省略了主语（you）的时间状语（分词短语）。
【译文】作为一名成年人，你结识新朋友时首先被问及的问题之一是："你是做什么工作的？"
【考点】定语从句省略关系词；when + 分词作时间状语（主语省略）。
【原句 2】The career you have defines your life, and so taking time to think about it is an essential exercise for young people.
【主干】The career defines your life, and taking time ... is an exercise.
【分层】you have 为修饰 career 的定语从句（省略 that）；taking time to think about it 是动名词短语作后一分句的主语；and so 连接并列句；for young people 为对象状语。
【译文】你所从事的职业决定了你的生活，所以花点时间来思考它，对年轻人来说是项至关重要的锻炼。
【考点】定语从句省略关系词；动名词短语作主语；并列连词 and so。
【原句 3】The results of the test will tell you about your strengths and interests, and some tests also suggest careers that you may be suited to.
【主干】The results will tell you ... and some tests suggest careers.
【分层】of the test 为后置定语修饰 results；and 连接并列谓语；that you may be suited to 是修饰 careers 的定语从句，介词 to 留在句尾（be suited to 固定搭配）。
【译文】从测验结果能看出你的强项和兴趣，一些测验还会就你可能适合的职业提出建议。
【考点】定语从句 + 介词尾置（be suited to）。
【原句 4】One popular test asks the participants to grade their preferences for a variety of work tasks.
【主干】One popular test asks the participants to grade their preferences.
【分层】for a variety of work tasks 为介词短语作后置定语修饰 preferences；核心结构为 ask sb. to do sth.（要求某人做某事）。
【译文】有一项流行的测验要求参与者给自己对各种工作任务的偏好打分。
【考点】ask sb. to do 结构；介词短语后置定语。
【原句 5】The career suggestions are also based on your education and experience level but you can look at higher-level careers as well, which is very useful for high school students.
【主干】The suggestions are based on ... but you can look at careers.
【分层】are based on 为被动结构；but 表转折引出另一分句；which 引导非限制性定语从句，修饰前面整个分句（即"看更高层次职业"这件事）；as well 意为"也"。
【译文】职业建议也基于你的教育和经验水平，但是你也可以看看更高层次的职业，这对高中生非常有用。
【考点】被动语态 be based on；which 非限制性定语从句（指代整句）；as well。
【原句 6】You don't want to look back in years to come and say, "I wish I had thought more about what I really wanted to do."
【主干】You don't want to look back ... and say ...（I wish ...）
【分层】in years to come 为时间状语；say 后接直接引语；引语中 I wish 后接 that 宾语从句，且用过去完成时 had thought 表示与过去事实相反的愿望（虚拟语气）；what I really wanted to do 是 wish 宾语从句中嵌套的 what 宾语从句。
【译文】你不会想在以后的岁月里回望过去时说："要是当时我能对我想做的事情多考虑考虑就好了"。
【考点】wish + 过去完成时（虚拟语气，与过去相反）；what 引导的宾语从句。
六、语法点清单
1. 名词性从句（who / what 引导）
who you are（表语从句）；what they want to do、what you really wanted to do、what work you might like（宾语从句）；what I may like to aim for（介词宾语）。注意 what 既引导从句又在从句中充当成分。
2. 定语从句（省略关系词 / that）
you are asked（省 that，修饰 questions）；you have（省 that，修饰 career）；that you may be suited to（修饰 careers，介词尾置）。
3. 动名词作主语
taking time to think about it is an essential exercise；Getting a head start ... may help you。把"思考/早做打算"这一动作名词化充当主语。
4. 虚拟语气（wish + 过去完成时）
I wish I had thought more about ...。wish 后接过去完成时，表达"当初要是……就好了"的遗憾，与过去事实相反。
5. 非谓语动词（不定式 / 分词）
to think about it、to rate ...、to complete a test（不定式作主语/宾语/定语）；when meeting someone new（分词作时间状语）；Having this information ...（现在分词作主语）。
6. 并列与转折（and / but / however）
many others just have ... but ...；The suggestions are based on ... but you can ...；However, it is important to remember ...。however 常置于句首表转折。
7. 一般现在时与将来倾向
全文以一般现在时陈述普遍道理（is, defines, tells, suggests），体现说明文客观、普适的语体特征。
七、逻辑链
引子（第1段）：职业是身份的重要部分 → 思考职业对年轻人"至关重要"
↓
背景（第2段）：最佳思考期是"在校时"，但很多人脑中"想法乱晃"、无从下手
↓
方法（第3—4段）：最有效的方法——职业倾向测验；免费、易得、无对错之分
↓
机制（第5—6段）：一种流行测验如何打分 → 划分六种性格 → 生成代码与建议；建议还结合学历，对高中生尤有用
↓
升华（第7段）：测验"仅供指导"，热爱才是秘诀 → 呼吁立即行动
这是一篇"提出问题—给出方法—解释原理—总结建议"的说明文：第1—2段先点明"为何要想"与"何时该想"；第3—6段是核心，介绍职业倾向测验的价值与其运作原理；第7段收束于"测验只是工具、热爱才是根本"的辩证结论，并给出行动号召。
八、写作迁移
模板 1：Taking time to think about ... is an essential exercise for ...
课文：taking time to think about it is an essential exercise for young people.
仿写：Taking time to think about your mental health is an essential exercise for every student.（花时间关注心理健康对每个学生都是至关重要的历练。）——用于强调某件事的重要性。
模板 2：One of the most effective ways to ... is to ...
课文：One of the most effective ways to get some insight on a possible career path is to complete a "career aptitude test".
仿写：One of the most effective ways to improve your writing is to keep a daily journal.（提升写作最有效的方法之一是坚持写日记。）——用于引出有效途径。
模板 3：... give one a try.
课文：There are many free tests online, so give one a try.
仿写：The app is free and easy to use, so give one a try.（这款应用免费又易用，不妨试一试。）——用于鼓励尝试。
模板 4：Getting a head start in ... may help you for the rest of your life.
课文：Getting a head start in considering your future career may help you for the rest of your life.
仿写：Getting a head start in learning a second language may help you for the rest of your life.（尽早开始学一门外语可能让你受益终身。）——用于说明早行动的长远价值。
模板 5：I wish I had thought more about ...
课文：I wish I had thought more about what I really wanted to do.
仿写：I wish I had spent more time with my grandparents.（我真希望当初能多陪陪我的祖父母。）——用于表达与过去事实相反的遗憾（wish + 过去完成时）。
模板 6：The secret to ... is finding something that you are passionate about.
课文：The secret to a good career is finding something that you are passionate about.
仿写：The secret to a happy life is finding something that you are passionate about.（幸福生活的秘诀在于找到你所热爱的事物。）——用于结尾点题、升华主旨。
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