名校励志英语演讲 175:人人都能成为总统(2)

 　　Most people think that to speak at Yale's commencement, you have to be President.But over the years, the specifications¹ have become far more demanding.Now you have to be a Yale graduate, you have to be President, and you have had to have lost the Yale vote to Ralph Nader.

　　很多人认为，只有总统才能在耶鲁大学的毕业典礼上发表演讲。但近几年条件却更加严格。演讲人必须是美国总统，是耶鲁大学校友，而且他在总统选举中在耶鲁大学所在投票区里得到的票数要少于拉尔夫·纳德。

　　This is my first time back here in quite a while. I'm sure that each of you will make your own journey back at least a few times in your life. If you're like me, you won't remember everything you did here. That can be a good thing. But there will be some people, and some moments, you will never forget.

　　这是我毕业这么长时间以来第一次回到母校。我也相信你们每个人会在毕业以后至少回来几次。当你们像我这么老的时候，你们会不记得在这里做过的每一件事情。这或许是一件好事。不过，一些人，一些事你永远也不会忘记。

　　Take, for example, my old classmate, Dick Brodhead, the accomplished² dean of this great university. I remember him as a young scholar, a bright lad a hard worker. We both put a lot of time in at the Sterling³ Library, in the reading room, where they have those big leather couches. We had a mutual⁴ understanding—Dick wouldn't read aloud, and I wouldn't snore.

　　就拿我的老同学狄克·布罗德黑德来说，如今他是这所伟大的学校的杰出校长，他读书时的聪明、好学与刻苦至今让我记忆犹新。那时，我们经常泡在图书馆那个有着大皮沙发的阅读室里。我们之间有个默契：他不大声朗读课文，我睡觉时不打呼噜。

　　Our course selections were different, as we followed our own path to academic discovery. Dick was an English major, and loved the classics. I loved history, and pursued a diversified⁵ course of study. I like to think of it as the academic road less traveled.

　　后来，随着学术探索的领域不同，我们选修的课程也各不相同。狄克主修英语，酷爱古典文学，而我主修历史，喜欢多样化的学习过程。我喜欢把这种学习过程想成是少有人走过的学术之路。

　　For example, I took a class that studied Japanese Haiku. Haiku, for the uninitiated, is a 15th century form of poetry, each poem having 17 syllables⁶. Haiku is fully⁷ understood only by the Zen masters.

　　有趣的是，我选修过日本俳句，对门外汉来说，俳句是15世纪日本的一种诗歌形式，每首诗只有17个音节，我想其意义只有禅学大师才能明了。

1 specifications   

n.规格；载明；详述；（产品等的）说明书；说明书( specification的名词复数 )；详细的计划书；载明；详述

参考例句：

• Our work must answer the specifications laid down. 我们的工作应符合所定的规范。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This sketch does not conform with the specifications. 图文不符。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

3 sterling   

adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？
• Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。

4 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

5 diversified   

adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域

参考例句：

• The college biology department has diversified by adding new courses in biotechnology. 该学院生物系通过增加生物技术方面的新课程而变得多样化。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Take grain as the key link, develop a diversified economy and ensure an all-round development. 以粮为纲，多种经营，全面发展。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 syllables   

n.音节( syllable的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a word with two syllables 双音节单词
• 'No. But I'll swear it was a name of two syllables.' “想不起。不过我可以发誓，它有两个音节。” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

7 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。