内容概述
古希腊哲学家、数学家泰勒斯曾向朋友证明“用心思考就能发财”。他预见到橄榄将大丰收，便低价买下当地所有榨油机；待榨油季节到来，再高价出租机器，从而成为当地最富有的人。
中文正文
24° 如何发财
一天，还是穷人的泰勒斯和一个来看他的穷朋友谈话。朋友说，“世上穷人的命可真苦啊！生下来穷，一辈子都穷。”“不一定吧。”泰勒斯回答，“我看人只要用心，发财是很容易的。”“说起来当然容易，”朋友说，“我发现做起来可难啦。”“我告诉你，”泰勒斯说，“六个月后你来找我，我会让你看看发财有多简单。”六个月后，朋友回来了，惊讶地发现他过去的穷朋友如今成了远近最富有的人。泰勒斯看出他的疑惑，告诉他，“我只是想让你看到，只要你专心一个问题，发财该是多么容易的事情。”“那你告诉我，你是怎么做的？”朋友问。“很简单。”泰勒斯解释说，“我发现橄榄要大丰收了，就四处走访，偷偷地把本地所有的榨油机都买下来。等橄榄榨油的时候，这儿没有机器了，都得来我这儿。我把机器租出去，就发财了。你看，只要你多用一点儿心思，发财就很容易。”
英文正文
24° How to become rich. One day, when still a poor man, Thales was conversing with an equally poor visiting friend. "The lot of a poor man is a hard one in this world," remarked the friend, "and if one is born poor one will remain poor the rest of his life." "Not necessarily so," replied Thales, "I am sure that if one should apply himself to the matter, it would be easy to become rich." "That is certainly easier said than done," rejoined the friend, "and I find it very difficult to believe." "I tell you what," said Thales, "when you visit me again six months from now, I will show you how easy it is to become rich." Six months later, when the visitor returned, he was astonished to find that his former poor friend was now the richest man for miles around, and he expressed his great surprise to Thales. "I merely wanted to show you how easy it is to become rich if you apply yourself to the problem," replied Thales. "Well, tell me, how did you do it?" asked the friend. "It was simple," explained Thales. "Foreseeing a heavy crop of olives coming, I went about and secretly bought up all the olive presses of the region. When it came time to press the oil from the olives, no one in the region had a press, and all had to come to me. I realized a fortune by renting out the presses. You see, it is easy to become rich if you but give the matter a little attention."
英语学习拓展
常用词汇
converse音标/kənˈvɜːs/
交谈。
原文用法：Thales was conversing with an equally poor visiting friend
equally音标/ˈiːkwəli/
同样地。
原文用法：an equally poor visiting friend
remark音标/rɪˈmɑːk/
说；评论。
原文用法：remarked the friend
rejoin音标/rɪˈdʒɔɪn/
回答；反驳。
原文用法：rejoined the friend
astonish音标/əˈstɒnɪʃ/
使惊讶。
原文用法：he was astonished to find
foresee音标/fɔːˈsiː/
预见。
原文用法：Foreseeing a heavy crop of olives coming
crop音标/krɒp/
收成；作物。
原文用法：a heavy crop of olives
secretly音标/ˈsiːkrətli/
秘密地。
原文用法：secretly bought up all the olive presses
press音标/pres/
榨油机。
原文用法：all the olive presses of the region
realize音标/ˈriːəlaɪz/
实现（利润）；获得。
原文用法：I realized a fortune by renting out the presses
rent out：出租。原文用法：同上。
同义词与近义词
对应核心词汇：converse
对应核心词汇：converse。
辨析：converse 较正式，强调交流；talk 最常用；chat 指轻松闲聊。
对应核心词汇：foresee
对应核心词汇：foresee。
辨析：foresee 强调事先看到；predict 常基于证据推断；anticipate 强调预期并做准备。
对应核心词汇：astonish
对应核心词汇：astonish。
辨析：astonish 指大吃一惊；surprise 泛指意外；amaze 强调令人惊奇、钦佩。
常用短语与固定搭配
- the lot of：……的命运/处境。原文用法：The lot of a poor man is a hard one in this world
- not necessarily so：不一定如此。原文用法："Not necessarily so," replied Thales
- apply oneself to：专心于；致力于。原文用法：if one should apply himself to the matter
- easier said than done：说起来容易做起来难。原文用法：That is certainly easier said than done
- I tell you what：我跟你说。原文用法："I tell you what," said Thales
- six months from now：六个月后。原文用法：when you visit me again six months from now
- buy up：全部买下。原文用法：secretly bought up all the olive presses
- come to：来到（某人处）。原文用法：all had to come to me
- give the matter a little attention：对此事稍加留意。原文用法：if you but give the matter a little attention
常用句式
- Pattern: I am sure that if one should …, it would be …：我相信如果某人……，就会……。原文例句：I am sure that if one should apply himself to the matter, it would be easy to become rich.
- Pattern: It is easy to … if you but …：只要你……，……就容易了。原文例句：it is easy to become rich if you but give the matter a little attention.
长难句解析
Six months later, when the visitor returned, he was astonished to find that his former poor friend was now the richest man for miles around, and he expressed his great surprise to Thales.
- 主干：he was astonished to find … and he expressed his great surprise …
- 修饰与从句：
- Six months later 为时间状语； - when the visitor returned 为定语从句，修饰时间； - that his former poor friend was now the richest man for miles around 为宾语从句； - for miles around 说明范围。
- 逻辑关系：先写时间，再写朋友的惊讶发现，最后写他向泰勒斯表达惊讶，层次分明。
语言使用特点
- 对话体叙事，使用 remarked、replied、rejoined 等丰富对话动词；
- 运用俗语 easier said than done，增强口语色彩；
- 结尾用 You see 引出总结，突出泰勒斯的观点。
迁移练习
- 用 apply oneself to 写一句话，描述你学习某项技能的经历。
- 解释 easier said than done 的含义，并造句。
- 翻译：他预见到橄榄将大丰收，于是秘密买下了当地所有的榨油机。
点击展开参考答案
- （示例）If you apply yourself to learning a language, you will make steady progress.
- （示例）"Easier said than done" means something is simple to talk about but difficult to actually do. Example: Saving money is easier said than done.
- Foreseeing a heavy crop of olives coming, he secretly bought up all the olive presses of the region.