今日长难句:
选自《经济学人》
Psychologists distinguish between a “self-oriented” version, in which people put pressure on themselves to perform flawlessly; an “other-oriented” type, in which people hold their colleagues to the highest of standards; and a “socially prescribed” version, in which employees think they will only get on if they meet the impossible expectations of those around them.
心理学家区分出了三种类型:“自我导向型”,即给自己施加压力,以求表现得完美无瑕;“以他人为导向型”,即以最高标准要求同事;以及“社会规定型”,即员工认为,只有达到了周围人不可能达到的期望,他们才能继续工作。
这句话把框架提取出来看就会非常简单了,sb distinguish between A;B;and C,最核心的语义就是某人区分了三个类型,而这三个类型之后都跟随了定语从句对这三个名词短语进行进一步的解释,我们先来看A类型这个位置 a “self-oriented” version, 一个自我向导型版本,之后跟随in which引导的定语从句,这里in which也可以用where替代,如果想要理解方便,也可以把in which 调换顺序放到句末位置然后把which的先行词带入,变成people put pressure on themselves to perform flawlessly in which(self-oriented version); 自我导向型的人们给自己施加压力,以求表现得完美无瑕;第二个类型B的位置是 an “other-oriented” type,“以他人为导向型”, in which people hold their colleagues to the highest of standards;注意其中的固定搭配hold sb to the highest of standards意思是以最高标准要求某人,再看一下C类型的位置, and a “socially prescribed” version, prescribed在这里意思从它的本意“开处方”引申为“规定,指定“,可以翻译为以及“社会规定型”,in which employees think ,雇员认为什么?这里嵌套了一个省略连词that的宾语从句,宾语从句当中又嵌套了一个if引导的条件状语从句,(that)they will only get on if they meet the impossible expectations of those around them.其中固定搭配only….if…意思是”只有….才…”,只有他们达到周围人不可能达到的期望,他们才能继续工作。在这里get on表示“进展,使前进”。
总结下,这句话由6个简单句组成,6个谓语动词是 distinguish,put, hold, think, will get on, meet。难点在于从句中嵌套从句,也就是第三个类型当中in which定语从句中嵌套宾语从句,宾语从句中又嵌套if引导的条件状语从句。整句话意思是:心理学家区分出了三种类型:“自我导向型”,即给自己施加压力,以求表现得完美无瑕;“以他人为导向型”,即以最高标准要求同事;以及“社会规定型”,即员工认为,只有达到了周围人不可能达到的期望,他们才能继续工作。
核心要点:
1.hold sb to the highest of standards 坚持最高标准
例:That's why we have to keep striving to hold ourselves to the highest of standards -- our own.
因此,我们必须努力坚持最高的标准——我们自己的标准。
2.prescribe v. 给……开(药),让……采用(疗法);开处方;规定
例:Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
你的大夫可能会开抗生素。
3.get on 上车,上马;进展,使前进
例:How did you get on at the interview?
你面试的情况怎么样?
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