原文:以前的功课也许有一大部分是为了这张毕业文凭,不得已而做的,从今以后,你们可以依自己的心愿去自由研究了。(出自 胡适先生的《不要抛弃学问》Never Give up the Pursuit of Learning

译文:You have perhaps finished your college courses mostly for obtaining the diploma, or, in other words, out of sheer necessity. However, from now on you are free to follow your own bent in the choice of studies.

“为了这张文凭”这里译为for obtaining the diploma,这里加了一个obtaining,“为了‘获得’这张文凭”。我们来总结一组关于“得到”的近义词。

acquire   vt. (尤指通过努力)取得,获得;学到;开始占有;开始具有
多指经过本身的努力逐步获得才能,知识,荣誉和习惯等,也可用于对财物等的获得,该词强调“一经获得就会长期持有”的含义。

acquire knowledge 获得知识
acquire a good knowledge of English by careful study 通过用心学习获得很好的英语知识
It is through learning that the individual acquires many habitual ways of reacting to situations.
正是通过学习,个人才得以获得应付各种情况的习惯做法。
His brow has acquired its first wrinkle.
他的额头已出现第一条皱纹。

attain   vt./vi. 达到;获得;到达
正式用词,多用于庄重的场合,主要指经过不懈的努力获得未曾预料到的结果;达到某一目标、重要的目的或得到珍贵的东西。
The salesperson attained his sales goal for the month.
这名销售员完成了当月的销售目标。
He has attained the age of ninety.
他已达90高龄。
The scientist attained great fame by a new discovery.
那科学家由于一次新发现而出了名。

obtain   vt. 得到,获得
多指凭努力或恳求得到急需或很想得到的东西。用于正式语体中。
He obtained the property with a bank loan.
他通过向银行贷款买下了那份房产。
She obtained her degree in 2001.
她在2001年获得学位。
This obtained him added respect.(这个句型要好好记一下,背下来叭干脆~囧)
这使他更受尊敬。
Howard had failed to obtain a scholarship.
霍华德没能得到奖学金。(这里请童鞋们还要注意failed to 的用法,“没能……”,非常有用,一定要记住哦。)

gain   vt. 获得,取得,得到;博得;赢得
指通过较大努力获得某种利益或好处,赢得给自己带来优势的东西;亦可指军事上的武力夺取等。
An investor gains by buying stocks that go up in value.
投资者通过所买股票价格上涨而得到利润。
They advanced up the gangway and gained the deck.
他们经舷梯登上甲板。

earn   vt. 赚得,挣得
指因工作等而得到报酬或待遇。
How much do you earn a week?
你一星期挣多少?
He earned excellent sums of money by acting.
他靠演戏挣了大笔的钱。

achieve   vt. 完成,实现;(经努力)达到,得到
多指克服困难后取得胜利,成功,强调“取得”这一结果、成就、目标、幸福。
The movie star achieved success and wealth.
这个影星取得了成功和财富。
All this cannot be achieved overnight.
这一切不是朝夕之间可以做到的。

secure   v. 弄到,获得;替……弄到
含有肯定占有,难以得到的东西之意。
A million signatures have been secured.
已征集到了100万人的签名。
He secured only 350 votes.
他只获得350票。

get   v. 获得;得到
用得最广,可指以各种方式获得各种东西。
Where can I get enough information?
我从哪儿能得到足够的资料?
What are you going to do when you get your degree?
你获得学位后打算干什么?