难道没有一种奋起直追的蠢蠢欲动想法？

Don't you have a strong desire to catch up with them?

星期三晚上华尔街获得500点巨长之后，昨天伦敦也开始了奋起直追。

Yesterday London was playing catch-up after Wall Street's tremendous 500-point gain on Wednesday night.

我把脚下的路看得一清二楚，于是奋起直追，曾经为难我的树木、枝条如今似乎已不成障碍。

By visualizing my way, I gave chase, and the trees and branches that had con-fused me before now seemed no obstacle.

人力资本是一个挑战，美国过去在教育成就上傲视全球，但是现在其它国家奋起直追，美国倒显得不进则退了。

Human capital is more of a challenge. Americans once led the world in educational attainment, but this is now barely rising while other countries have caught up (see article).

我不知道这样的报导和描述要达到什么目的：是要全面表达日人的良好素质以激励我国民奋起直追还是别有用心？

I do not know the stories and descriptions to what end: full expression to the good quality of the Japanese people to inspire me to catch up or have ulterior motives?