The Economist [02] | Lifelong learning 终身学习 Part 1
Lifelong learning
It is easy to say that people need to keep learning throughout their careers. The practicalities are daunting.
When education fails to keep pace with technology, the result is inequality. Without the skills to stay useful as innovations arrive, workers suffer—and if enough of them fall behind, society starts to fall apart. That fundamental insight seized reformers in the Industrial Revolution, heralding state-funded universal schooling. Later, automation in factories and offices called forth a surge in college graduates. The combination of education and innovation, spread over decades, led to a remarkable flowering of prosperity.
Today robotics and artificial intelligence call for another education revolution. This time, however, working lives are so lengthy and so fast-changing that simply cramming more schooling in at the start is not enough. People must also be able to acquire new skills throughout their careers.
Unfortunately, as our special report in this issue sets out, the lifelong learning that exists today mainly benefits high achievers—and is therefore more likely to exacerbate inequality than diminish it. If 21st-century economies are not to create a massive underclass, policymakers urgently need to work out how to help all their citizens learn while they earn. So far, their ambition has fallen pitifully short.
Lifelong learning
终身学习
It is easy to say that people need to keep learning throughout their careers. The practicalities are daunting[知易行难].
人们需要终身学习，这一点知易行难。
【daunting】
adjective UK /ˈdɔːn.tɪŋ/ US /ˈdɑːn.t̬ɪŋ/
making you feel slightly frightened or worried about your ability to achieve something令人发憷的；使人气馁的
The country was faced with the daunting prospect of overcoming four decades of division.国家面临着弥合40年的分裂这一难题。
When education fails to keep pace with[跟不上] technology, the result is inequality.
当教育跟不上技术进步时，就会造成不平等。
Without the skills to stay useful[有用] as innovations arrive[在创新到来之际], workers suffer[遭殃]—and if enough of them fall behind[落后], society starts to fall apart[崩塌].
在创新到来之际，工人如果没有技能使自己对雇主仍然“有用”，他们就会遭殃。 而如果落后的工人太多，社会就开始崩塌。
That fundamental insight[根本性的洞见] seized reformers in the Industrial Revolution, heralding state-funded[国家资助] universal schooling[全民教育].
这一根本性的洞见极大影响了工业革命时期的改革者，推动了国家资助全民教育的普及。
【seize】
verbUK /siːz/ US /siːz/
to take something quickly and keep or hold it抓住；夺过
I seized his arm and made him turn to look at me.我抓住他的胳膊，让他转身看着我。
He seized the chance/opportunity of a free flight with both hands (= with eagerness or enthusiasm).他急切地抓住机会搭乘免费航班。
to take using sudden force夺取；攫取；抓获
The rebels have seized ten soldiers to use as hostages.叛乱者俘获了10名士兵作为人质。
Political instability helped the army to seize power.政治动荡使军队攫取了权力。
Troops yesterday seized control of the broadcasting station.昨天部队夺取了广播电台的控制权。
If the police or other officials seize something, they take possession of it with legal authority.没收；查获
Customs officers at Heathrow have seized 60 kilos of heroin.希思罗机场的海关官员查获了60公斤海洛因。
If a strong emotion or pain seizes you, you feel it suddenly.（强烈情感或剧痛）突然侵袭
I was suddenly seized by/with a feeling of great insecurity and loneliness.我突然感到很不安全，很孤独。
【herald】
verb [ T ]UK /ˈher.əld/ US /ˈher.əld/ formal
to be a sign that something important, and often good, is starting to happen, or to make something publicly known, especially by celebrating or praising it预示…的开始；（尤指通过庆祝或赞扬）宣布（常指好事）
The president's speech heralds a new era in foreign policy.总统的演说预示着一个外交政策新时代的开始。
This drug has been heralded as a major breakthrough in the fight against breast cancer.据称这种药是在对抗乳腺癌方面取得的一个重大突破。
Later, automation in factories and offices called forth[引发] a surge in[猛增] college graduates. The combination of education and innovation, spread over decades, led to a remarkable[瞩目的] flowering of prosperity.
后来，工厂和办公室自动化又引发了大学生人数猛增。教育和创新相辅相成，历经数十年，令繁荣之花耀眼绽放。
【call forth sth】
to cause something to exist使出现；使产生；引起
The proposed shopping centre has called forth an angry response from local residents.修建购物中心的计划引起了当地居民的愤怒。
【surge】
noun [ C ]UK /sɜːdʒ/ US /sɝːdʒ/
a sudden and great increase陡增，剧增，急剧上升
An unexpected surge in electrical power caused the computer to crash.突然出现的电压剧增导致电脑死机。
There has been a surge in house prices recently.最近房价猛涨。
【remarkable】
adjectiveUK /rɪˈmɑː.kə.bəl/US /rɪˈmɑːr.kə.bəl/
unusual or special and therefore surprising and worth mentioning非凡的；奇异的；引人注目的
Nelson Mandela was a truly remarkable man.纳尔逊．曼德拉确实是个了不起的人。
Meeting you here in Rome is a remarkable coincidence.能在罗马这地方遇到你可真是惊人的巧合。
The 20th century was remarkable for its inventions.20世纪因层出不穷的重大发明而引人瞩目。
【flower】
verb UK /flaʊər/ US /ˈflaʊ.ɚ/
to develop completelyand become obvious成熟；繁荣
Her talent flowered during her later years.她的天赋到了晚年充分展露出来。
Today robotics and artificial intelligence[人工智能] call for [呼唤]another education revolution.
今天，机器人和人工智能呼唤又一场教育革命。
【call for】
to need or deserve a particular action, remark, or quality需要；值得；应该
This calls for a celebration!这值得庆祝一下！
It's the sort of work that calls for a high level of concentration.这类工作需要注意力高度集中。
He told you that you were an idiot? Well, I don't think that was called for (= I think it was rude and not deserved)!他说你是白痴？那么，我觉得真是太不应该了！
to demand that something happens号召，呼吁；要求
Members have called for his resignation.成员们要求他辞职。
This time, however, working lives[工作生涯] are so lengthy[漫长] and so fast-changing that simply cramming[塞满] more schooling in at the start is not enough.
而这一次，工作生涯如此漫长而又变化迅速，只在人生初期强加更多教育已经不足以应付。
【cram】
verbUK /kræm/ US /kræm/
to force a lot of things into a small space塞满；塞进；挤入
Eight children were crammed into the back of the car.8个孩子被塞进了汽车的后座。
The room was packed and we were crammed against the door.房间里挤得水泄不通，我们被挤靠在门边。
to do many things in a short period of time急匆匆地做（许多事）
I had to cram three countries into a week's business trip.我出差一周跑了3个国家。
to try to learn a lot very quickly before an exam（考试前）死记硬背，突击学习
She's cramming for her historyexam.为应付历史考试她拼命突击。
People must also be able to acquire new skills[获取新技能] throughout their careers[在整个职业生涯中].
人们还必须能在整个职业生涯中获取新技能。
Unfortunately, as our special report in this issue sets out[陈述], the lifelong learning that exists today mainly benefits high achievers[成功人士]—and is therefore more likely to exacerbate[加剧] inequality than diminish it.
不幸的是，正如我们本期特别报道所述，目前的终身学习主要是令成功人士受益，因此更可能加剧而非减轻不平等。
【set out】
to start an activity with a particular aim（怀着特定目的）开始，着手
She set out with the aim of becoming the youngest ever winnerof the championship.她努力的目标就是成为历史上最年轻的冠军。
They set out to discovera cure for cancer.他们开始寻找一种治疗癌症的方法。
to start a journey出发，启程
【exacerbate】
verb UK /ɪɡˈzæs.ə.beɪt/US /ɪɡˈzæs.ɚ.beɪt/
to make something that is already bad even worse使恶化；使加重；使加剧
This attack will exacerbate the already tense relations between the two communities.这次袭击将使两个团体间已经紧张的关系更加恶化。
If 21st-century economies are not to create a massive underclass, policymakers urgently need to work out[制定措施] how to help all their citizens learn while they earn[在谋生的同时学习]. So far, their ambition has fallen pitifully short[小得可怜].
如果21世纪的经济体不想要产生一个庞大的底层阶级，政策制定者亟需制定措施，帮助国民在谋生的同时学习。而迄今为止，他们的抱负还小得可怜。
【work out】
to happen or develop in a particular way发生；发展
How is the new monitoring procedure working out?新的监督程序运行得如何？
Let's hope this new job works out well for him.希望这项新工作会非常适合他。
to be the result of a calculation结果是；算下来
These figures work out differently each time I add them.我每次把这些数字相加得出的结果都不一样。
The safe load for a truck of this size works out at nearly 20 tons.这种大小的卡车的安全载重量算出来是将近20吨。
In fact the trip worked out cheaper than we'd expected.实际上这次旅行花的钱比我们预计的要少。
Lifelong learning
It is easy to say that people need to keep learning throughout their careers. The practicalities are daunting[知易行难]. When education fails to keep pace with[跟不上] technology, the result is inequality. Without the skills to stay useful[有用] as innovations arrive[在创新到来之际], workers suffer[遭殃]—and if enough of them fall behind[落后], society starts to fall apart[崩塌]. That fundamental insight[根本性的洞见] seized reformers in the Industrial Revolution, heralding state-funded[国家资助] universal schooling[全民教育]. Later, automation in factories and offices called forth[引发] a surge in[猛增] college graduates. The combination of education and innovation, spread over decades, led to a remarkable[瞩目的] flowering of prosperity.Today robotics and artificial intelligence[人工智能] call for [呼唤]another education revolution. This time, however, working lives[工作生涯] are so lengthy[漫长] and so fast-changing that simply cramming[塞满] more schooling in at the start is not enough. People must also be able to acquire new skills[获取新技能] throughout their careers[在整个职业生涯中]. Unfortunately, as our special report in this issue sets out[陈述], the lifelong learning that exists today mainly benefits high achievers[成功人士]—and is therefore more likely to exacerbate[加剧] inequality than diminish it. If 21st-century economies are not to create a massive underclass, policymakers urgently need to work out[制定措施] how to help all their citizens learn while they earn[在谋生的同时学习]. So far, their ambition has fallen pitifully short[小得可怜].
原文选自《经济学人》 2017年1月14日 Technology and education版块 Lifelong Learning文章
单词释义来源：剑桥字典网页版 https://dictionary.cambridge.org
原文链接：https://gbr.economist.com/articles/view/5878aaadffe2d6434a24290c/en_GB/zh_CN
翻译链接：https://gbr.economist.com/articles/view/5878aaadffe2d6434a24290c/zh_CN/en_GB
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