An asteroid
When theaspiringyoung man tried toasserthis opinion that anasteroidwas going to destroy Earth the following year, he wasastonishedto be kicked out of hisassociation. He though he hadassessedthe situation clearly, but he had been wrong to think that the assorted gentlemen would believe his coreassumptions. He tried to giveassurancesof their accuracy, but the verbalassaulton his theory made him feel as if he had beenassassinated.
As he walked out of the building he saw that his most valuableasset, his car, had been stolen. With hisaspirationscrushed even further he walked home toassemblewhat was left of his life. He just couldn't stop thinking that those men to whom he had ascribed such wisdom were unable to assume an open mind to consider other ideas. He had aspired so much for their respect, to becomeassimilatedwith them. Theaspectof this experience that would stay with him the most, however, was the humiliation.
But the day was not over yet. As he turned the corner to his home he began to see theashin the air. When he looked up he saw that his house had been burned down. He was numb. Luckily the neighbors come over, put their arms around him andassistedhim to a nearby home to rest. When theassessorcame in to tell him that he didn’t have fire insurance, the young man went white. When he was found dead the next morning, the neighbors pooled together money to pay for his funeral. The association promptly forgot him.
They only remember him 10 months later when the whole world saw with their own eyes that an asteroid was heading straight for earth.

一顆小行星
當(dāng)這位有抱負(fù)的年輕人試著宣布他的觀點(diǎn)說一顆小行星將在來年摧毀地球時，他被協(xié)會掃出了門，這著實(shí)讓他大吃一驚。他認(rèn)為對情況作了很清晰的評估，但是認(rèn)為各位先生會相信他的核心假設(shè)卻是個錯誤。他試圖讓人們對他的理論準(zhǔn)確性充滿信心，可是對他的理論的語言攻擊讓他覺得好像他已經(jīng)被暗殺了。
走出大樓時，他發(fā)現(xiàn)他最寶貴的財(cái)產(chǎn)---汽車被盜了。抱負(fù)被進(jìn)一步扼殺之后，他只好回家去收拾殘局。他不禁想，那些他認(rèn)為那么有智慧的人怎么就不能再考慮其他問題時采取開明的態(tài)度呢？他曾經(jīng)如此渴望獲得他們的尊重，如此想被他們同化。然而，這段經(jīng)歷最讓他銘心刻骨的方面是他說受的屈辱。
但是這倒霉的一天還沒有結(jié)束。在他拐彎回家時，他開始發(fā)現(xiàn)空氣中有灰末。他抬起頭，發(fā)現(xiàn)到他家的房子已經(jīng)被燒毀。他驚呆了，幸好鄰居們走過來，他們伸出手來抓住并扶著他到一個附近的人家休息。當(dāng)估價員過來告訴他說他沒有辦理火災(zāi)險時，他的臉色唰地一下變白了。第二天早上人們發(fā)現(xiàn)他死了，鄰居們湊錢為他舉行葬禮。協(xié)會里那幫家伙很快就把他拋在了腦后。
十個月后，他們才又想起了這個年輕人，因?yàn)檫@時候全世界目睹了一顆小行星徑直朝地球撞來。

單詞詳解:

ascribe v.把...歸因于(to)
ash n.灰,灰燼
aspect n.(問題,事物)方面
aspiration n.1志向,抱負(fù);強(qiáng)烈的愿望2渴望達(dá)到的目標(biāo)
aspire v.渴望,追求,有志于
aspiring a.有志氣的,有抱負(fù)的
assassinate v.暗殺,行刺
assault n./v.襲擊
assemble v.集合,聚集;裝配
assert v.肯定的說(出)
assess v.1(為征稅)估定(財(cái)產(chǎn)等)的價值2.對(人、工作等)進(jìn)行估價
assessor n.估價元;核審員;估稅員
asset n.資產(chǎn);寶貴的(有益的)人(或東西)
assimilate v.吸收,同化
assist v.協(xié)助,幫助
association n.協(xié)會,聯(lián)盟,社團(tuán)
assorted a.各式各樣的
assume v.假定,假設(shè);想當(dāng)然的認(rèn)為;承擔(dān),擔(dān)任,呈現(xiàn),采取
assumption n.1假定,臆斷;擔(dān)任,承擔(dān)2自負(fù),傲慢
assurance n.1保證2把握,信心;自信
asteroid n.小行星
astonish v.使驚訝