原句

What has happened is that people cannot confess fully to their dreams, as easily and openly as once they could, lest they be thought pushing, acquisitive and vulgar.（Text5. 2000）

confess /kən'fes/ v.承认；坦白；忏悔；供认

lest  / lest / conj.以免（后面通常接虚拟语气）

pushing /'pʊʃɪŋ/ adj.奋斗的；莽撞的；有精力的；富有进取心的

acquisitive /ə'kwɪzɪtɪv/ adj.贪得的；想获得的；可学到的；有获得可能性的

vulgar /'vʌlgə/ adj.粗俗的；通俗的；本土的

翻译

实际发生的情况是人们不能像以前那样轻易地、公开地坦陈自己的梦想，惟恐别人认为自己急功近利、贪得无厌、庸俗不堪。

预告明日长难句

We are treated to fine hypocritical spectacles, which now more than ever seem in ample supply: the critic of American materialism with a Southampton summer home; the publisher of radical books who takes his meals in three-star restaurants; the journalist advocating participatory democracy in all phases of life, whose own children are enrolled in private schools.（Text5. 2000）