英语新闻︱“小镇做题家”被嘲讽？每个奋斗者都应被尊重

英语新闻︱“小镇做题家”被嘲讽？每个奋斗者都应被尊重

Memes on "xiaozhen zuotijia", or "small-town swot" - a term some have coined to describe those from rural areas who worked hard to get admission into a university - are back on Chinese social networking sites.

“小镇做题家”的表情包重返社交平台了。“小镇做题家”指的是农村学子埋头苦读，通过高考实现人生进阶的群体。

The term is nothing new and was once used for those from humble beginnings as self-mocking as they lack broader vision and social resources, but it is also proof of fairness in education and employment opportunities and class mobility.

“小镇做题家”并非新概念。诞生之初，出身寒门的人用“小镇做题家”来自嘲，他们缺乏一定的视野和社会资源，靠读书出人头地。不过，“小镇做题家”也证明了教育、就业、阶层流动的公平性。

Not long ago, netizens used to ridicule their rural counterparts by saying they can only solve questions on exam papers but lacked flexibility, even blaming them for working overtime. It led to those with humble beginnings feeling like misfits.

不久前，网友还奚落农村孩子只会考试做题，不懂变通，甚至还指责他们加班内卷。这些嘲弄挖苦让寒门子弟感到与社会格格不入。

However, this clearly does not hold water any more. So many rural young people have got a better life after clearing gaokao, dubbed one of the most grueling exam in the world, which determines which universities its takers can attend on the basis of their scores, something that ultimately has a life-changing consequence on their lives. Thanks to higher education, many youngsters from humble beginnings got brighter job prospects and social mobility.

然而，实际情况并非如此。许多农村学子在高考升学后过上了更好的生活。高考是世界上最艰难的考试之一，考生的分数决定他们可以上哪所大学，影响他们的未来。接受了高等教育之后，许多底层出身的孩子获得了更好的就业机会，实现了阶层流动。

Since gaokao was reinstated in the late 1970s, it has proved to be the turning point in the lives of many of the country's talents, who had to clear the exam. Later, their contributions formed the backbone of development in contemporary China.

自上世纪70年代末恢复高考以来，高考成为了中国农村千万人才命运的转折点。他们作出的贡献为当代中国的发展奠定了基础。

It is no exaggeration to say that many small-town swots have participated and contributed to China's development over the past four decades. They are the best example of how China's talent selection system is open and meritocratic. Such vitality in social mobility should be encouraged rather than mocked at.

可以毫不夸张地说，在过去的40年里，许多寒门学子参与了中国的发展，并为中国的发展做出了贡献。“小镇做题家”是中国人才选拔制度开放公平、任人唯才的最好例子。这种充满活力的社会流动应该得到鼓励，而非奚落。

记者：赵满丰

swot

英[swɒt]；美[swɑt]

n. <英，非正，贬>只知一味用功学习的人，书呆子

vi. <英，非正>（尤指为准备考试）刻苦学习，用功

ridicule

英[ˈrɪdɪkju:l]；美[ˈrɪdɪˌkjul]

n. 嘲笑;奚落;嘲弄;戏弄

vt.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落;使…受嘲笑;取笑

misfit

英[ˈmɪsfɪt]；美[ˈmɪsˌfɪt, mɪsˈfɪt]

n. 不容易适应环境的人;不适合

youngster

英[ˈjʌŋstə(r)]；美[ˈjʌŋstər]

n. 年轻人;少年;儿童