4歲，普通的孩子還在幼兒園，他卻已經上了小學；6歲，普通的孩子剛上小學，他卻已經入讀高中；如今9歲，普通的孩子仍在讀小學，而他卻即將完成大學學業。他就是比利時神童勞倫特·西蒙斯。
CNN網站截圖
A child prodigy from Belgium is on course to gain a bachelor's degree at the tender age of 9.
比利時的一名神童年僅9歲就將獲得學士學位。
Laurent Simons is studying electrical engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE) -- a tough course even for students of an average graduate age.
勞倫特·西蒙斯正在埃因霍芬理工大學學習電氣工程，這門課程即使對於尋常年齡的大學畢業生來說也是很難的。
Described by staff as "simply extraordinary," Laurent is on course to finish his degree in December.
勞倫特將在12月取得學位，教員對他的評價是「太超常了」。
He then plans to embark on a PhD program in electrical engineering while also studying for a medicine degree, his father told CNN.
勞倫特的父親告訴CNN說，之後勞倫特計劃攻讀電氣工程博士學位，同時攻讀醫學學位。
His parents, Lydia and Alexander Simons, said they thought Laurent's grandparents were exaggerating when they said he had a gift, but his teachers soon concurred.
勞倫特的父母莉迪亞和亞歷山大·西蒙斯說，起初勞倫特的祖父母說孫子有天賦的時候，他們還以為老人是在誇大其詞，但勞倫特的老師們很快就表達了同樣的觀點。
concur[knkr]: vi. 同意；一致
"They noticed something very special about Laurent," said Lydia.
莉迪亞說：「老師們注意到勞倫特非常特別。」
Laurent was given test after test as teachers tried to work out the extent of his talents. "They told us he is like a sponge," said Alexander.
老師們給勞倫特進行了一次又一次測試，以了解他的天資有多高。亞歷山大說：「老師告訴我們，勞倫特就像海綿一樣吸收知識。」
While Laurent comes from a family of doctors, his parents have so far not received any explanation as to why their child prodigy is capable of learning so quickly.
勞倫特來自一個醫生家庭，關於為什麼自己的神童兒子能學得這麼快，迄今為止他的父母還未找到任何解釋。
But Lydia has her own theory.
但莉迪亞有她自己的理論。
"I ate a lot of fish during the pregnancy," she joked.
她開玩笑說：「我在懷孕期間吃了很多魚。」
The TUE has allowed Laurent to complete his course faster than other students.
埃因霍芬理工大學允許勞倫特比其他學生更快完成課程。
"That is not unusual," said Sjoerd Hulshof, education director of the TUE bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, in a statement.
埃因霍芬理工大學電氣工程本科學位的教學主管舒爾德·赫爾肖夫在一份聲明中說：「這並不是稀罕事。」
"Special students that have good reasons for doing so can arrange an adjusted schedule. In much the same way we help students who participate in top sport."
「特殊學生有足夠的理由可以調整學習進度，就跟我們幫助那些參與頂級運動賽事的學生完成課程的安排一樣。」
Hulshof said Laurent is "simply extraordinary" and praised the youngster.
赫爾肖夫說勞倫特「很超常」並稱讚了這名少年。
"Laurent is the fastest student we have ever had here," he said. "Not only is he hyper intelligent but also a very sympathetic boy."
「勞倫特是我校有史以來學習速度最快的學生，」他說：「他不但超級聰明，而且還是一個非常有同情心的男孩。」
Laurent told CNN his favorite subject is electrical engineering and he's also "going to study a bit of medicine."
勞倫特告訴CNN說，他最喜歡的科目是電氣工程，他還「打算學一下醫學」。
9歲男孩勞倫特即將在埃因霍溫理工大學參加學士學位考試。來源：德國《明鏡》周刊網站
His progress has not gone unnoticed and he is already being sought out by prestigious universities around the world, although Laurent's family wouldn't be drawn on naming which of them he is considering for his PhD.
勞倫特的進度有目共睹，他已經收到了世界各地的多所名牌大學的邀請，不過勞倫斯的家人不願透露勞倫斯考慮在哪所大學讀博。
"The absorption of information is no problem for Laurent," said his father.
他的父親說：「吸收信息對勞倫斯來說沒有問題。」
"I think the focus will be on research and applying the knowledge to discover new things."
「我認為重點應該放在研究以及應用知識來發現新事物上。」
While Laurent is evidently able to learn faster than most, his parents are being careful to let him enjoy himself too.
儘管勞倫斯顯然能比多數人學得更快，但他的父母也注重讓勞倫斯享受人生。
"We don't want him to get too serious. He does whatever he likes," said Alexander. "We need to find a balance between being a child and his talents."
「我們不想讓他太有壓力，他可以做自己喜歡的事情，」亞歷山大說，「我們需要在童年和天分之間找到平衡。」
Laurent said he enjoys playing with his dog Sammy and playing on his phone, like many young people.
勞倫特說，他喜歡和他的狗狗塞米一起玩，也喜歡玩手機，和許多年輕人一樣。
However, unlike most 9-year-olds, he has already worked out what he wants to do with his life: develop artificial organs.
但是，和多數9歲孩子不同的是，他已經想好自己這一生想做的工作：研發人造器官。
In the meantime, Laurent has to finish his bachelor's degree and choose which academic institution will play host to the next stage in his remarkable journey.
與此同時，勞倫特必須完成學士學位，並選擇下一階段開啟非凡學習之旅的大學。
Before that, he plans on taking a vacation to Japan for an undoubtedly well-deserved break.
在此之前，他計劃去日本旅遊，享受當之無愧的假期。
英文來源：CNN
翻譯&編輯：丹妮
來源：中國日報網