经济学人: 学历 VS 工作 (1)

 　　Going to university is supposed to be a mind-broadening experience. 读大学应该是开阔思想的经历。

　　That assertion is presumably made in contradistinction to training for work straight after school, which might not be so stimulating¹. 这种说法可能是为了与毕业后直接参加工作培训的说法相对比，这听起来或许没那么励志。

　　But is it actually true? Jessika Golle of the University of Tubingen, in Germany, thought she would try to find out. 但真的是这样么？德国蒂宾根大学的Jessika Golle认为她可以试着找到答案。

　　Her result, however, is not quite what might be expected. As she reports in Psychological Science this week, 但她得到的结果和所期待的大有不同。本周她在《心理科学》的报告称，

　　she found that those who have been to university do indeed seem to leave with broader and more inquiring minds 她发现和那些离校后马上进行职业训练的人相比，

　　than those who have spent their immediate² post-school years in vocational training for work. 那些读过大学的人看起来确实在毕业后有更加开阔的探索性的思维。

　　However, it was not the case that university broadened minds. Rather, work seemed to narrow them. 但大学能够开阔思维，其实并非如此。但工作似乎会使思维狭隘。

　　Dr Golle came to this conclusion after she and a team of colleagues studied the early careers of 2,095 German youngsters. Golle博士和她的同事团队对2095名德国年轻人的早期事业进行研究，之后她得出了这个结论。

　　During the period under investigation³ (the system was modified slightly this year), Germany had three tracks in its schools: 在调查期间（今年对该体系进行了稍微修改），德国的学校分为三类：

　　a low one for pupils who would most probably leave school early and enter vocational training; 低等学校—学生们可能会早找离开学校接受职业训练；

　　a high one for those almost certain to enter university; and an intermediate one, from which there was a choice between the academic and vocational routes. 高等学校—学生基本一定会读大学；以及中等学校—从这里出来的学生要在学术和职业道路中二选一。

　　The team used two standardised tests to assess their volunteers. 该团队利用两种标准测试对他们的志愿者进行评估。

　　One was of personality traits (openness, neuroticism⁴, conscientiousness⁵, agreeableness and extroversion). 一个是人格特征（开放、神经质、有责任心、亲和以及外向）。

　　The other was of attitudes (realistic, investigative, artistic⁶, social, enterprising and conventional). 另一个是态度（现实主义、探究型、艺术型、社会型、开创型和保守型）。

　　They administered both tests twice—once towards the end of each volunteer's time at school, and then again six years later. 每个测试均会进行两次—— 一次是在每位志愿者的离校之时，第二次是在六年之后。

　　Of the original group, 382 were on the intermediate track, and it was on these that the researchers focused. University beckoned⁷ for 212 of them. 原始组中有382人就读中等学校，这是研究人员重点关注的对象。其中212名被大学录取。

　　The remaining 170 opted⁸ for vocational training and a job. 剩下的170人选择职业培训或参加工作。

1 stimulating   

adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的

参考例句：

• shower gel containing plant extracts that have a stimulating effect on the skin 含有对皮肤有益的植物精华的沐浴凝胶
• This is a drug for stimulating nerves. 这是一种兴奋剂。

2 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

3 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

4 neuroticism   

n.神经过敏症

参考例句：

• Is Neuroticism an Independent Dimension of Chinese Personality Structure? 中国人有没有独立的“神经质”人格维度？ 来自互联网
• The usual smoking behavior of male had notable correlation with neuroticism dimension. 男生经常性的吸烟行为与神经质维度显著相关。 来自互联网

5 conscientiousness   

责任心

参考例句：

• Conscientiousness is expected of a student. 学生要诚实。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Only has the conscientiousness, diligently works, can make a more splendid result! 只有脚踏实地，努力工作，才能做出更出色的成绩！ 来自互联网

6 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

7 beckoned   

v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. 他招手示意服务生把账单送过来。
• The seated figure in the corner beckoned me over. 那个坐在角落里的人向我招手让我过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 opted   

v.选择，挑选( opt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was co-opted onto the board. 她获增选为董事会成员。
• After graduating she opted for a career in music. 毕业后她选择了从事音乐工作。