名校励志英语演讲 123:21世纪的挑战(17)

 　　In the world we live in, this global information age, constant improvement and change is necessary to economic opportunity and to national strength. Therefore, the freest possible flow of information, ideas, and opinions, and a greater respect for divergent political and religious convictions will actually breed strength and stability going forward.

　　在我们生活的世界，在这个全球性的信息时代、不断的改进和变革是增加经济机会和增强国力的必要条件。因此，最大限度地自由交换信息、观念和看法，更多地尊重不同的政治和宗教信仰，实际上将增加实力，推动稳定。

　　It is, therefore, profoundly in your interest, and the world's, that young Chinese minds be free to reach the fullness of their potential. That is the message of our time and the mandate¹ of the new century and the new millennium².

　　因此，为了贵国和世界的根本利益，中国的年轻人必须享有心灵上的自由，以便最充分地发挥自己的潜力。这是我们时代的信息，也是新的世纪和新的千年的要求。

　　I hope China will more fully³ embrace this mandate. For all the grandeur⁴ of your history, I believe your greatest days are still ahead. Against great odds⁵ in the 20th century China has not only survived, it is moving forward dramatically.

　　我希望中国能更充分地赞同这个要求。尽管贵国历史上有过辉煌的功绩，我认为，贵国最伟大的时光仍在前头。中国不仅在20世纪的种种艰难险阻生存了下来，而且正在迅速向前迈进。

　　Other ancient cultures failed because they failed to change. China has constantly proven the capacity to change and grow.

　　其它的古老文化消亡了，因为他们没有进行变革。中国始终显示出变革和成长的能力。

　　克林顿给我们的启示

　　For all the grandeur of your history, I believe your greatest days are still ahead. Against great odds in the 20th century China has not only survived, it is moving forward dramatically.

　　尽管贵国历史上有过辉煌的功绩，我认为，贵国最伟大的时光仍在前头。中国不仅在20世纪的种种艰难险阻生存了下来，而且正在迅速向前迈进。

　　This new century can be the dawn of a new China, proud of your ancient greatness, proud of what you are doing, prouder still of the tomorrows to come. It can be a time when the world again looks to China for the vigor⁶ of its culture, the freshness of its thinking, the elevation⁷ of human dignity that is apparent in its works. It can be a time when the oldest of nations helps to make a new world.

　　新世纪将是新的中国的黎明，贵国为其在历史上的伟大而自豪，为你们进行的事业而自豪，更为明天的到来而自豪。在新世纪中，世界可能再次转向中国寻求她文化的活力、思想的新颖、人类尊严的升华，这在中国的成就中显而易见。在新世纪中，最古老的国家有可能帮助建设一个新世界。

1 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

2 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

3 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

4 grandeur   

n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华

参考例句：

• The grandeur of the Great Wall is unmatched.长城的壮观是独一无二的。
• These ruins sufficiently attest the former grandeur of the place.这些遗迹充分证明此处昔日的宏伟。

5 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

6 vigor   

n.活力，精力，元气

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• She didn't want to be reminded of her beauty or her former vigor.现在，她不愿人们提起她昔日的美丽和以前的精力充沛。

7 elevation   

n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高

参考例句：

• The house is at an elevation of 2,000 metres.那幢房子位于海拔两千米的高处。
• His elevation to the position of General Manager was announced yesterday.昨天宣布他晋升总经理职位。