While convergent knowledge is based on prior knowledge, divergent thinking is based on imagination.

聚敛性知识建立先验知识的基础上，而发散性思维则建立象力的基础上。

One way to think of it is like the tiles of a roof.

可以把它象成屋顶上的瓦片。

You imagine all the ways a risk could blow up in your face, you envision yourself becoming a spectacular failure, you worry the world will crumble at your feet and that imaginary disaster drives you further down the easy road.

你象着各种各样的风险会你面前爆发，你象自己成为一个引注目的失败者，你担心世界会你脚下崩溃，而象中的灾难会驱使你继象的道路上走得更远。

Imagine your fingers are coated in butter.

象你的手指上被涂上了黄油。

You can think of these words as branches on a tree.

你可以把这些词象成一棵树上的树枝。

So everything would be pink at her wedding, everyone would be dressed in pink, including the men and boys… You wouldn't catch me wearing pink!

所以象的婚礼上，所有的东西都是粉红色的，每个都穿粉红色的衣服，包括男和男孩… … 你不会看到我穿粉红色的！

Metaphors can be particularly helpful in explaining unfamiliar concepts: imagining the Einsteinian model of gravity (heavy objects distort space-time) as something like a bowling ball on a trampoline, for example.

解释不熟悉的概念时，比喻尤其有用：例如，把爱因斯坦的重力模型(重物会扭曲时空)象成蹦床上的保龄球。

But let's say, for example, that you could come up with a maxim for cheating, that you could conceive of working as a universal law in the world.

但是我们假设，比方说，你可以出作弊的准则，你可以把它象成世界上的普遍法则。

And while things are reorganizing and growing inside the chrysalis, the new parts the future butterfly will need are already there on those imaginal discs, growing into their final form.

当新器官蛹内重组和生长时，未来蝴蝶需要的新部分已经那些象的光盘上，成长为它们的最终形态。

Consider visualizing how you'll feel once you have your target amount in the bank. Will it take a weight off your shoulders? Will you be proud of what you've achieved?

象着存折上的数字一亘增加，你是不是感到自己的生活压力小了许多？你会为自己所拥有的而自豪吗？

If there are carbon-based molecules actually in Europa's water, it's not too crazy to wonder if the same spark that occurred here also happened there.

假如木卫二的液态水里真的有碳基分子，那么象地球上曾经出现的生命火焰也木卫二上产生也就不那么疯狂了。

Studies about gender differences have suggested a hypothesis that females have better verbal skills, while males excel at tasks requiring the ability to visualize.

有关性别差异的研究提出这样一个假设，那就是女性语言能力上更好，而男性需要象能力的工作上更优秀。

You can think of it like rivets in an airplane, you can take out one or two rivets and the plane will still fly.

你可以把它象成飞机上的铆钉，你可以去掉一两个铆钉，飞机仍然可以飞行。

I don't think so. But you're perfectly fluent now so it is hard to believe you sitting in ESL classes.

我不这么认为，你现的口语非常流利，很难象你上的是把英语作为第二语言的课程。

The Mongol Empire rose to power in the 13th century, and raided, traded, and toppled empires over previously unthinkable distances.

十三世纪，蒙古帝国得势，并此前难以象的距离上进行了掠夺、贸易和推翻帝国的行动。

And you can imagine how the cramped confines of airline toilets are really bad news for these sufferers.

你可以象飞机上狭窄的厕所对这些患者来说是多么糟糕的事情。

That did some serious damage. Just imagine that this is the asteroid that slammed in to the Earth.

造成如此大的破坏。象一下地球上的这些小行星撞击。

So, instead of cowering on an imaginary stage, just set yourself free.

所以，与其象的舞台上畏畏缩缩，不如释放自己。

Think of these like stairs on a staircase, where the landing is the nucleus.

你可以把这些象成楼梯上的阶梯，最终的平台是原子核。

Think of it like a job interview on paper.

把它象成纸上的工作面试。