08年6.5第15期托福英语学习:托福词汇15
Lesson 15 Aspirations Gone Astray 走入歧途的理想
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.