40. Most have worked their way up from sales representatives, and they are very proud of the role they played in the company's growth.

点睛

work one's way up是口语中经常用到的搭配，意为“（从底层）往上爬”，是非常形象的表达。be proud of意为“为……而骄傲、自豪”。they played in the company's growth作role的定语从句，其中短语play a role in意为“在……中发挥作用”。

考点归纳

短语work up在口语中经常出现，还可细化为如下搭配：
work sth. up意为“逐步发展；努力改进”。如：
I can't work up any appetite. 我怎么也无法增加食欲。
work sb./oneself up (into)意为“使激动；使发怒”。如：
What are they so worked up about? 他们为了什么那么激动啊？
work sth. up into sth.意为“使完好，修整”。如：
You should work your notes up into an essay. 你应该把你的笔记整理成论文。

听音解惑

proudof［praudəv］里的［d］与［ə］相邻，读作［prau dəv］。