The lesson from dams is that big is not always beautiful. It doesn’t help that building a big, powerful dam has become a symbol of achievement for nations and people striving to assert themselves. Egypt’s leadership in the Arab world was cemented by the Aswan High Dam. Turkey’s bid for First World status includes the giant Ataturk Dam.

1. lesson n.經(jīng)驗(yàn)，教訓(xùn)，=experience；課程，=course

2. can (not) help doing/that （不能）防止/避免做某事

3. become a symbol of 成為…象征

4. achievement n.成就；完成

5. strive v.努力，奮斗

strive to do 努力做某事

6. assert v.堅(jiān)持，維護(hù)

assert oneself 堅(jiān)持自己

7. leadership n.領(lǐng)導(dǎo)地位；領(lǐng)導(dǎo)層

8. cement n.水泥 v.鞏固，加強(qiáng)

9. bid v./n.吩咐；競(jìng)價(jià)，投標(biāo)；努力爭(zhēng)取

10. status n.地位，身份；狀態(tài)/況

It doesn’t help that building a big, powerful dam has become a symbol of achievement for nations and people striving to assert themselves.

對(duì)于努力堅(jiān)持自己的國(guó)家和人民來(lái)說(shuō)，修建高大雄偉的水壩已經(jīng)成為了成就的標(biāo)志，這無(wú)法避免。