Lesson 3 课文精读 · Getting to the Top
一、课文原文及逐段翻译
引语段
Why do Olympic athletes push themselves to the limits? As one of the Olympic athletes, I miss birthday parties, ruin family holidays and skip nights out, but there is a very good reason for giving up so much. "We're worried about you," said my friend from across the table. He was worried that I had no longer become fun to train with and that I was in danger of being left with only a world championship medal and no one to share it with.
为什么奥林匹克运动员要将自己逼到极限呢？作为一名奥林匹克运动员，我错过生日聚会、放弃节日与家人团聚、不参加派对，但是放弃这么多是有合理的理由的。"我们很担心你，"坐在我对面的朋友说。他担心和我一起训练不再是一件愉悦的事情，担心我处于只剩下世界冠军的奖牌而无人可以分享的危险境地。
第1段
I could have become angry or defensive. Don't they know how hard it is to be at the top in sport? Don't they know what it takes to get there? However, deep down I knew elements of what he was saying were right. I was always tired and every workout had a mental intensity that seemed too much for most to handle. I was pushing the limits and extremes beyond what most thought were healthy.
我本可以生气或者辩解一下的。难道他们不知道在运动中处于顶峰有多难吗？难道他们不知道走向顶峰需要付出多少吗？然而，在内心深处，我知道他说的是对的。我总是疲惫不堪，每次锻炼带来的心理压力对于大多数人来说都太难应对。我把极限逼到了大多数人认为的健康范围之外。
第2段
These are the fears I face as a professional athlete on a day-to-day basis. Who am I doing this for? How much is too much? Why am I doing this? How can I be so selfish? What are the sacrifices for?
这些是我作为职业运动员日常面临的恐惧。我这样做是为了谁？太多是多少？我为什么要这样做？我怎么能这么自私？这些牺牲是为什么？
第3段
I think of countless birthday parties and nights out I have missed, ruining a family holiday in France because of the endless search for a swimming pool to train in, almost missing my brother's wedding because I was too busy hiring a car in downtown Johannesburg and driving through the "no-go" areas in order to do a group ride with the local triathletes. The list is endless.
我想到了曾经错过的无数生日派对和本来可以外出狂欢的夜晚；因为一直寻找可以训练的游泳池，而破坏了一次去法国的全家旅行；为了和当地的铁人三项运动员一起骑行训练，我忙着在约翰内斯堡市中心租车，开车闯过"禁行"区，差点错过哥哥的婚礼。这样的事情不计其数。
第4段
It boils down to this: I was born with an enormous amount of drive and determination. From a small girl, I would stay in at lunch time just to get ahead on class work rather than go out and play; I would get the bus on my own at ten years old and go to swim 100 lengths of the pool while other kids played pool games; I was the only girl in a rugby club of 250 boys. I have always lived my life to extremes. Call it unhealthy if you want, but that is the way I roll, no matter what it is I'm applying myself to.
归根结底：我天生就是个特别有干劲儿和意志力的人。我还是个小女孩时，为了在课业上名列前茅，午餐时间我会留下来学习而不出去玩。十岁的时候，我会自己坐公共汽车去游泳池游50个来回，而其他孩子在游泳池里嬉戏；橄榄球俱乐部里，我是250个男孩中唯一的女孩。生活中我一向把事情做到极致。你若说这是一种病态也行，但这就是我的做事风格，不管做什么我都会全力以赴。
第5段
Being a professional athlete is no different. If you want to be an Olympic champion, it's all about that little extra thing you have done in your preparation that will set you apart from your competitors.
成为一名职业运动员也不例外。如果你想成为奥运冠军，就要在训练中多付出那额外的一点点，它将使你从竞争者中脱颖而出。
第6段
Can this be overdone? Absolutely. But if your dream is to be the best and reach the winner's platform, you had better be totally committed to your sport. In the words of the British triathlete Alistair Brownlee, even if it means getting injured, "I'd prefer to have three or four outstanding years of winning stuff than having ten years of being average."
这过分吗？当然。但如果梦想成为最棒的并站上胜利者的奖台，你最好全身心致力于运动项目中。用英国铁人三项运动员阿利斯特尔·布朗利的话来说，即使这意味着受伤，"我宁愿有三到四年的胜利辉煌，而不选择十年的平庸无为。"
第7段
Doing what we do as athletes sets us apart because we are willing to do that extra little bit that might take us to the top. It is certainly not a balanced way to live and it is certainly not normal but those words are generally not used for anyone who is striving for greatness.
做运动员让我们与众不同，因为我们愿意做到那额外的一点点，这可能让我们走向顶峰。它当然不是一种平衡的生活方式，也肯定不寻常，但寻常、平衡这些词是不会用来形容追求伟大的人的。
二、重点单词
athlete n.：运动员。Olympic athletes
limit n.：极限；界限。push themselves to the limits
skip v.：不参加，跳过。skip nights out
defensive adj.：戒备的；防御的。become defensive
element n.：要素，部分。elements of what he was saying
workout n.：训练，锻炼。every workout
intensity n.：强度；强烈。a mental intensity
extreme n.：极端，极致。to extremes
handle v.：应对，处理。too much for most to handle
professional adj.：专业的，职业的。a professional athlete
sacrifice n.：牺牲。What are the sacrifices for
countless adj.：无数的，数不清的。countless birthday parties
endless adj.：无尽的，没完没了的。the endless search
hire v.：租用，雇用。hiring a car
downtown adj./adv.：市中心的。in downtown Johannesburg
drive n.：干劲，驱动力。an enormous amount of drive
determination n.：决心，意志力。drive and determination
length n.：（泳池的）一趟，泳道长度。swim 100 lengths
rugby n.：橄榄球。a rugby club
champion n.：冠军。an Olympic champion
competitor n.：竞争者，对手。apart from your competitors
committed adj.：投入的，尽心尽力的。be totally committed to
platform n.：领奖台；平台。the winner's platform
outstanding adj.：杰出的，出色的。outstanding years
average adj.：平庸的，普通的。being average
balanced adj.：平衡的。a balanced way to live
strive v.：努力，奋斗。striving for greatness
三、一词多义与熟词生义
limit 常见义为动词/名词"限制、限度"，课文 push themselves to the limits 中作复数名词，意为"（身体或能力的）极限"，to the limits 为"到极致"。
skip 常见义为"跳跃、跳绳"，课文 skip nights out 中意为"不参加、缺席（聚会）"，是日常口语高频用法。
defensive 常见义为"防御的、防守的"（体育/军事），课文 become defensive 中意为"戒备的、急于为自己辩解的"，形容人被质疑时的反应。
element 常见义为"元素"（化学），课文 elements of what he was saying 中意为"（话里的）部分、成分"，即"他说的有道理"。
workout 常见义为"锻炼、健身"（名词），课文 every workout 中意为"（每一次）训练课"，特指运动员的系统训练。
drive 常见义为动词"驾驶"，课文 an enormous amount of drive 中作不可数名词，意为"干劲、驱动力、进取心"。
length 常见义为"长度"，课文 swim 100 lengths of the pool 中意为"泳池的一趟（单程）"，100 lengths 即游100趟。
roll 常见义为"滚动"，课文 that is the way I roll 中为口语习语，意为"我的行事风格、作风"，相当于 that's just how I am。
apply 常见义为"申请、应用"，课文 applying myself to 中意为"专心致志于、全力以赴于"，apply oneself to 为固定搭配。
platform 常见义为"平台、月台"，课文 the winner's platform 中意为"（比赛的）领奖台"，reach the winner's platform 即"站上冠军领奖台"。
average 常见义为"平均的、平均数"，课文 being average 中意为"平庸的、一般的"，用于与 outstanding（杰出的）形成对比。
boil down to 字面"熬煮到、浓缩到"，课文 It boils down to this 中意为"归根结底、归结为"，是议论文由现象到本质的过渡习语。
no-go areas 字面"不能去的地方"，课文 driving through the "no-go" areas 中意为"禁行区、危险地带"，因安全原因禁止通行。
四、重点词块
push oneself to the limits 把自己逼到极限
miss birthday parties 错过生日聚会
ruin family holidays 破坏家庭度假
skip nights out 不参加夜间聚会/外出
give up 放弃
from across the table 从桌子对面
no longer 不再
be fun to train with 一起训练很有趣
in danger of 处于……的危险中
be left with 只剩下，被留下
share ... with 与……分享
become defensive 变得戒备/为自己辩解
deep down 在内心深处
on a day-to-day basis 日常地，每天
think of 想起，想到
because of 因为
in order to 为了
boil down to 归结为，归根结底
be born with 天生具有
get ahead 取得进步，领先
rather than 而不是
on one's own 独自，靠自己
live ... to extremes 把……做到极致
apply oneself to 专心致志于，全力以赴
set ... apart from 使……区别于，使脱颖而出
be committed to 致力于，全身心投入
in the words of 用……的话来说
prefer to do ... than do ... 宁愿……而不愿……
strive for 为……而奋斗，追求
the extra little bit 额外的一点点
五、长难句拆解
【原句 1】Why do Olympic athletes push themselves to the limits? As one of the Olympic athletes, I miss birthday parties, ruin family holidays and skip nights out, but there is a very good reason for giving up so much.
【主干】Why do Olympic athletes push themselves to the limits? ... I miss ..., ruin ... and skip ..., but there is a very good reason ...
【分层】首句为特殊疑问句，助动词 do 前置，push oneself to the limits 为"把自己逼到极限"；第二句中 miss / ruin / skip 为三个并列谓语，but 转折引出 there be 句型，for giving up so much 中 giving up 为动名词作介词宾语，so much 回指前文"聚会、度假、夜生活"。
【译文】为什么奥林匹克运动员要将自己逼到极限呢？作为一名奥林匹克运动员，我错过生日聚会、放弃节日与家人团聚、不参加派对，但是放弃这么多是有合理的理由的。
【考点】并列谓语；there be 句型；动名词作介词宾语。
【原句 2】He was worried that I had no longer become fun to train with and that I was in danger of being left with only a world championship medal and no one to share it with.
【主干】He was worried that ... and that ...
【分层】and 连接两个并列的 that 宾语从句，第一个 that 引导的从句（第一个 that 引导的从句中，I ... become fun to train with 中 to train with 为不定式作状语）；第二个从句中 in danger of 后接动名词被动式 being left with，only a world championship medal and no one to share it with 为 with 的并列宾语，其中 to share it with 为不定式作后置定语修饰 no one。
【译文】他担心和我一起训练不再是一件愉悦的事情，担心我处于只剩下世界冠军的奖牌而无人可以分享的危险境地。
【考点】并列 that 宾语从句；in danger of doing；动名词被动式；不定式作后置定语。
【原句 3】I could have become angry or defensive. Don't they know how hard it is to be at the top in sport? Don't they know what it takes to get there?
【主干】I could have become angry or defensive. ... do they know how hard it is ...? do they know what it takes ...?
【分层】could have done 为虚拟语气，表示"本可以做却未做"；后两句为否定疑问句（Don't they know ...），起强调作用，意为"难道他们不知道吗"；how hard it is 与 what it takes 均为宾语从句，其中 it 为形式主语/形式宾语，真正内容为 to be at the top 与 to get there。
【译文】我本可以生气或者辩解一下的。难道他们不知道在运动中处于顶峰有多难吗？难道他们不知道走向顶峰需要付出多少吗？
【考点】could have done 虚拟语气；否定疑问句表强调；how / what 引导的宾语从句；it 作形式主语。
【原句 4】However, deep down I knew elements of what he was saying were right.
【主干】... I knew (that) elements ... were right.
【分层】deep down 为插入性状语，意为"在内心深处"；knew 后省略 that 的宾语从句，从句主语为 elements of what he was saying，其中 what he was saying 为 what 引导的宾语从句（作介词 of 的宾语），were right 为从句谓语，主谓被多层修饰成分隔开。
【译文】然而，在内心深处，我知道他说的是对的。
【考点】省略 that 的宾语从句；what 引导的从句作介词宾语；主谓分隔。
【原句 5】I was always tired and every workout had a mental intensity that seemed too much for most to handle.
【主干】I was always tired and every workout had a mental intensity ...
【分层】and 连接并列句；后句中 that 引导定语从句修饰 intensity，从句为 seemed too much for most to handle，其中 for most to handle 为"for + 名词 + 不定式"复合结构，意为"对大多数人来说难以应对"。
【译文】我总是疲惫不堪，每次锻炼带来的心理压力对于大多数人来说都太难应对。
【考点】and 并列句；that 定语从句；too ... for sb. to do 结构。
【原句 6】I was pushing the limits and extremes beyond what most thought were healthy.
【主干】I was pushing the limits and extremes beyond ...
【分层】过去进行时 was pushing 表持续状态；beyond 后接 what 引导的宾语从句，what 在从句中作主语，most thought 为插入语，were healthy 为从句谓语，整句意为"超出大多数人认为健康的（范围）"。
【译文】我把极限逼到了大多数人认为的健康范围之外。
【考点】过去进行时；what 引导的宾语从句；插入语 most thought。
【原句 7】From a small girl, I would stay in at lunch time just to get ahead on class work rather than go out and play; I would get the bus on my own at ten years old and go to swim 100 lengths of the pool while other kids played pool games.
【主干】... I would stay in ... rather than go out and play; I would get the bus ... and go to swim ...
【分层】分号连接两个并列分句，would 在此表"过去的习惯"（而非将来），两个分句各以 would + 动词原形开头；just to get ahead 为不定式作目的状语；rather than 连接并列动作 stay in 与 go out and play，表取舍；while 引导时间状语从句，表对比（我游泳 vs 别的孩子戏水）。
【译文】我还是个小女孩时，为了在课业上名列前茅，午餐时间我会留下来学习而不出去玩。十岁的时候，我会自己坐公共汽车去游泳池游50个来回，而其他孩子在游泳池里嬉戏。
【考点】would 表过去习惯；不定式作目的状语；rather than 并列结构；while 表对比。
【原句 8】If you want to be an Olympic champion, it's all about that little extra thing you have done in your preparation that will set you apart from your competitors.
【主干】... it's all about that little extra thing ... that will set you apart ...
【分层】If 引导条件状语从句；主句 it's all about ... 中 that little extra thing 为介词 about 的宾语，其后 you have done ... 与 that will set you apart ... 均为定语从句，共同修饰 thing；set sb. apart from 意为"使某人从……中脱颖而出"。
【译文】如果你想成为奥运冠军，就要在训练中多付出那额外的一点点，它将使你从竞争者中脱颖而出。
【考点】if 条件状语从句；双重定语从句修饰同一先行词；set apart from 搭配。
【原句 9】"I'd prefer to have three or four outstanding years of winning stuff than having ten years of being average."
【主干】I'd prefer to have ... than having ...
【分层】I'd = I would，prefer to do A than do B 为"宁愿做A而不愿做B"，A 为不定式 to have ...，B 为动名词 having ...（口语中形式可不对称）；winning stuff 与 being average 分别为 of 后的动名词短语，形成"辉煌"与"平庸"的对比。
【译文】"我宁愿有三到四年的胜利辉煌，而不选择十年的平庸无为。"
【考点】prefer to do ... than do ... 取舍句型；动名词作介词宾语；对比结构。
六、语法点清单
1. could have done 虚拟语气（本可以做而未做）
I could have become angry or defensive. "情态动词 + have done" 表对过去的推测或虚拟，此处意为"我本可以生气/辩解（但没有）"，暗示主人公选择了克制与自省。
2. 并列 that 宾语从句
He was worried that ... and that ... 两个 that 从句并列作 worried 的宾语，第二个 that 不可省略（否则易与后面成分混淆），这是"转述多重担忧"的常用结构。
3. in danger of + 动名词
I was in danger of being left with ... in danger of 后接名词或动名词，此处用被动式 being left with，意为"面临被留下……的危险"，比 be in danger to do 更地道。
4. what 引导的宾语从句与形式主语 it
what it takes to get there（达到那里需要付出什么）；what most thought were healthy（大多数人认为健康的程度）。what 在从句中充当成分，most thought 为插入语；另 Don't they know how hard it is to be ... 中 it 为形式主语。
5. would 表过去的习惯
I would stay in ...; I would get the bus ... would 在此不表将来，而表"过去经常、总是"（常与 when I was ... 呼应），是回忆类记叙文的标志结构，区别于 used to（would 不表状态）。
6. rather than 并列结构
just to get ahead on class work rather than go out and play. rather than 连接两个并列动作，表"而不是"，后接动词原形（与前面 to 后的原形并列）或动名词，需与前面成分保持对称。
7. 双重定语从句修饰同一先行词
that little extra thing (that) you have done ... that will set you apart ... 两个定语从句共同修饰 thing，第一个省略关系代词，第二个用 that 引导，层层限定，是英语"名词 + 多重修饰"的典型。
8. prefer to do A than do B 取舍句型
I'd prefer to have ... than having ... "宁愿……而不愿……"，用于鲜明表态；同类表达有 would rather do A than do B、prefer doing A to doing B（注意 to 为介词）。
七、逻辑链
引语·设问（引语段）：以 Why do Olympic athletes push themselves to the limits? 开篇设问；随即以朋友一句"我们担心你"抛出核心矛盾——为金牌放弃一切，值得吗？
↓
内心辩白（第1段）：本能想反驳（Don't they know ...），却 deep down 承认朋友说得对——身心透支，已越过"健康"边界
↓
自我拷问（第2段）：连串反问（为谁？多少算多？为何坚持？是否自私？牺牲为何？）——恐惧与动摇是日常
↓
代价清单（第3段）：错过聚会、破坏法国度假、险误兄长婚礼（租车穿越"禁行区"只为与当地铁人三项选手合练）——"清单没有尽头"
↓
天性溯源（第4段）：boils down to 天生的 drive 与 determination；三个童年例证（午休学习、独自游泳100趟、250男孩中唯一女孩）——living life to extremes
↓
本质提炼（第5段）：职业运动员亦然——冠军取决于"额外那一点点"，set sb. apart from competitors
↓
极致之辩（第6段）：Can this be overdone? Absolutely. 但若梦想登顶，须 be totally committed；引 Brownlee 名言：宁要三四年辉煌，不要十年平庸
↓
收束立意（第7段）：运动员因"愿意多做那一点点"而与众不同；虽不 balanced、不 normal，但这些词本不属于 striving for greatness 的人
这是一篇"自我剖白"式议论文（第一人称夹叙夹议）：引语段以设问与旁人担忧制造悬念；第1—3段由"想辩解"到"承认有理"再到"连串自问"，层层揭开光环背后的恐惧与代价；第4段用 boil down to 一句转入天性溯源，以三个童年细节坐实"极致人格"；第5—6段由个人天性推及职业本质，并用设问（Can this be overdone?）自问自答、引名言强化；第7段以 set apart、balanced / normal、striving for greatness 三组对照收束，既回应开篇设问，又把"追求伟大"的价值判断留给读者。
八、写作迁移
模板 1：Why do ... ? —— 设问开篇
课文：Why do Olympic athletes push themselves to the limits?
仿写：Why do top students stay up late every night even when they are exhausted?（为什么顶尖学生即使筋疲力尽也要每晚熬夜？）——用于开篇设问，瞬间抓住读者、引出议题。
模板 2：Sb. was worried that ... and that ... —— 转述多重担忧
课文：He was worried that I had no longer become fun to train with and that I was in danger of being left with only a world championship medal and no one to share it with.
仿写：My teacher was worried that I had lost my love for reading and that I was in danger of becoming a machine who only chases scores.（老师担心我已失去对阅读的热爱，也担心我正沦为只追逐分数的机器。）——用于借他人之口侧面刻画人物处境。
模板 3：I could have done ..., but deep down I knew ... —— 虚拟让步 + 承认真相
课文：I could have become angry or defensive. ... However, deep down I knew elements of what he was saying were right.
仿写：I could have walked away or argued back, but deep down I knew every word she said was true.（我本可以一走了之或反唇相讥，但在内心深处，我知道她说的每一句都是真的。）——用于写"由抵触到自省"的心理转折。
模板 4：It boils down to this: ... —— 归结本质
课文：It boils down to this: I was born with an enormous amount of drive and determination.
仿写：It boils down to this: success is not about talent but about how badly you want it.（归根结底：成功无关天赋，而在于你有多渴望它。）——用于由现象深入本质，是议论文承上启下的黄金过渡句。
模板 5：Sb. would prefer to do A than do B. —— 鲜明取舍表态
课文："I'd prefer to have three or four outstanding years of winning stuff than having ten years of being average."
仿写：I'd prefer to fail a few times while chasing my dream than live a safe life with no story to tell.（我宁愿为追梦失败几次，也不愿过一种毫无故事可言的安稳人生。）——用于亮明人生态度，适合议论文高潮或结尾。
支付后无法下载，请加客服微信：yxyh29661 建议在QQ等浏览器中注册登录后下载，可用QQ登录 谢谢配合。