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高中 · 人教版2025 · 选择性必修第四册 · Unit 5
Reading and Thinking
WORKING OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
弄清楚你想做什么
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。
aptitude
动名词作主语

taking time to think about it is an essential exercise 中 taking time... 是动名词短语作主语，谓语动词用单数 is。

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 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任何选择之前。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。
bounce around
现在分词作定语

ideas bouncing around in their heads 中 bouncing around 是现在分词作后置定语，修饰 ideas，相当于 that bounce around...。

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。"
head start
I wish + had done 虚拟语气

I wish I had thought more about what I really wanted to do. 中 wish 后的从句用过去完成时（had thought），表示与过去事实相反的愿望。"我真希望当时多想想"= 实际上当时没多想。

There are many different kinds of career aptitude tests. Some ask questions 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。
scenariolawyer
while doing 省略结构

while completing these sorts of tests 中 while 后省略了 you are，完整形式为 while you are completing。当主从句主语一致时，时间状语从句可以省略主语和be动词。

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。
assemble
被动语态串联

本段大量使用被动语态：are analysed, divided, is given, are used, is used，因为测试过程是客观程序，不强调执行者。被动语态在此突出了客观性和系统性。

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。
which 指代前面整句

which is very useful for high school students 中 which 指代前面整个句子内容："你可以看看更高层次职业"这件事。这是 which 在非限制性定语从句中的常见用法。

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！
be meant for 的用法

they are only meant for guidance 中 be meant for 意为"旨在/用于……目的"。mean...for... 表示"把……设计/用于……目的"。

the secret to + 名词/动名词

The secret to a good career is finding something... 中 the secret to + 名词/动名词 表示"……的秘诀"。注意介词用 to 而非 of。

要点摘要
  • 引言：职业决定身份，年轻时思考职业至关重要
  • 最佳时机：在校期间开始考虑，比之后再想要好
  • 核心工具：职业能力倾向测验，了解优势和兴趣
  • 测验类型：兴趣态度类 vs. 工作场景评分类
  • 测验示例：六大职业性格类型，高分组合生成代码和建议
  • 实用价值：基础职业 vs. 高级职业，帮助设立目标
  • 总结：测验供参考，真正的秘诀是找到热爱的事业
Using Language
YOUR CAREER AND YOU
你的职业与你
Dear Editor, I'm writing to ask for some advice on choosing a career. I'm in my final year of high school and I'm really confused about what to do next.
尊敬的编辑， 我写信是想就职业选择征求一些建议。我正处于高中的最后一年，对于下一步该做什么感到非常困惑。
疑问词 + 不定式结构

what to do next 是"疑问词 + to do"结构，作介词 about 的宾语。常见：what to do, how to do, where to go 等。

My parents want me to become a doctor because they think it's a secure and well-paid job. However, I'm more interested in art and design. I've always loved drawing and creating things, and I think I would be happier doing something creative.
我父母希望我成为一名医生，因为他们认为这是一份稳定且高薪的工作。然而，我对艺术和设计更感兴趣。我一直喜欢画画和创作，我觉得做创意工作会更开心。
would be happier doing...

I would be happier doing something creative 中 would be + 比较级 + doing 表示"如果做某事会更开心"，隐含了一种假定的比较。

But I also worry that I might not earn enough money as an artist. What should I do? Should I follow my parents' advice or my own passion?
但我也担心当艺术家可能挣不到足够的钱。我该怎么办？我应该听从父母的建议还是追随自己的热情？
whether...or... 的选择结构

follow my parents' advice or my own passion 是两个并列选项，完整表达为 Should I follow...or should I follow...，后一个 follow 被省略。

Dear student, It's completely normal to feel confused about your future career. The conflict between practical considerations and personal interests is something many young people face.
亲爱的同学， 对未来职业感到困惑是完全正常的。现实因素的考虑与个人兴趣之间的冲突是许多年轻人都面临的问题。
It is + adj + to do 形式主语

It's completely normal to feel confused 中 It 是形式主语，真正的主语是 to feel confused about...

My advice is to find a balance. You don't have to choose one and give up the other completely. For example, you could study design while also taking some business courses. In today's world, creative skills are highly valued in many industries. You might find a way to combine your artistic talents with a practical career.
我的建议是找到一个平衡点。你不必选择一个而完全放弃另一个。例如，你可以学习设计，同时修读一些商业课程。在当今世界，创意技能在许多行业中备受重视。你可能会找到一种方式，将你的艺术才华与实际职业结合起来。
find a way to do

find a way to combine your artistic talents with a practical career 中 find a way to do = 找到做……的方法。

Remember, the most important thing is to be true to yourself. A career that makes you happy is worth more than a well-paid job that you hate. Good luck with your decision!
记住，最重要的是忠于自己。一份让你快乐的职业比一份你讨厌的高薪工作更有价值。祝你在做决定时好运！
be true to oneself

be true to yourself 意为"忠于自己"，表示遵循内心的真实想法和价值观。

要点摘要
  • 学生来信：困惑于父母期望（医生）与个人兴趣（艺术设计）的冲突
  • 编辑回信：困惑是正常的，关键在于找到平衡
  • 建议：不必二选一，可以结合创意技能与实际职业
  • 核心观点：忠于自己，快乐比高薪更重要