美文阅读

编者按：

美国同胞们，不要问国家能为你们做些什么、而要问你们能为国家做些什么。
全世界的公民们，不要问美国将为你们做些什么，而要问我们共同能为人类的自由做些什么。

---约翰.肯尼迪

First Inaugural Address

We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom, symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning;signifyingrenewal, as well as change.For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.

In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of ourcourse. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.

Now thetrumpetsummons us again, not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are; but a call to bear the burden of a longtwilightstruggle, year in and year out, “rejoicing in hope; patient intribulation”, a struggle against the common enemies of man:tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.

Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind?Will you join in that historic effort?

In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do notshrinkfrom this responsibility. I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it. And the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a goodconscienceour only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth, God’s work must truly be our own.

读完这篇短文，你有什么感受呢？欢迎在下面的留言框内说出你的想法，也欢迎您给我们的栏目提出宝贵的意见和建议。

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参考译文

就职演讲(节选)

今天我们庆祝的不是政党的胜利，而是自由的胜利。这象征着一个结束，也象征着一个开端；意味着延续也意味看变革。因为我已在你们和全能的上帝面前，宣读了我们的先辈在170多年前拟定的庄严誓言。

公民们，我们方针的最终成败与其说掌握在我手中，不如说掌握在你们手中。自从合众国建立以来，每一代美国人都曾受到召唤去证明他们对国家的忠诚。响应召唤而献身的美国青年的坟墓遍及全球。

现在，号角已再次吹响---不是召唤我们拿起武器，虽然我们需要武器；不是召唤我们去作战，虽然我们严阵以待。它召唤我们为迎接黎明而肩负起漫长斗争的重任，年复一年，从希望中得到欢乐，在磨难中保持耐性，对付人类共同的敌人---专制、社团、疾病和战争本身。

为反对这些敌人，确保人类更为丰裕的生活，我们能够组成一个包括东西南北各方的全球大联盟吗？你们愿意参加这一历史性的努力吗？

在漫长的世界历史中，只有少数几代人在自由处于最危急的时刻被赋予保卫自由的责任。我不会推卸这一责任，我欢迎这一责任。我不相信我们中间有人想同其他人或其他时代的人交换位置。我们为这一努力所奉献的精力、信念和忠诚，将照亮我们的国家和所有为国效劳的人，而这火焰发出的光芒定能照亮全世界。

因此，美国同胞们，不要问国家能为你们做些什么、而要问你们能为国家做些什么。全世界的公民们，不要问美国将为你们做些计人，而要问我们共同能为人类的自由做些什么。

最后，不论你们是美国公民还是其他国家的公民，你们应要求我们献出我们同样要求于你们的高度力量和牺牲。问心无愧是我们唯一可靠的奖赏，历史是我们行动的最终裁判，让我们走向前去，引导我们所热爱的国家。我们祈求上帝的福佑和帮助，但我们知道，确切地说，上帝在尘世的工作必定是我们自己的工作。

读完这篇哲理短文，你有什么感受呢？欢迎在下面的留言框内说出你的想法，也欢迎您给我们的栏目提出宝贵的意见和建议。

词汇释义

1.signify v.象徵,预示

例句：
Do dark clouds signify rain?
有乌云是否显示要下雨?

2.renewal n.更新,革新,复兴

例句：
We are all delighted at the renewal of negotiation.
我们都对谈判能重新开始感到高兴。

3.course n.课程,讲座,过程,路线,一道(菜)

例句：
follow a middle course
采取折衷办法， 避免极端手段

4.trumpet n.喇叭,喇叭声 v. 吹喇叭,吹嘘

例句：
He played a tune on his trumpet.
他用小号吹奏了一首曲子。

5.twilight n.黄昏,微光,略知 v.使微明

例句：
She often sits in the garden at twilight.
黄昏时分她常常坐在花园里。

6.tribulation n.苦难,灾难

例句：
After many trial and tribulation, we finally reach our destination.
经过了许多考验和磨难之後，我们终於到达了目的地。

7.tyranny n.压治统治,暴政

例句：
The world has experienced many tyrannies.
这个世界已经经历过许多个专政政权。

8.shrink n.收缩,萎缩 v.收缩,退缩,萎缩

例句：
The economy is shrinking instead of growing.
经济正在萎缩而不是在增长中。

9.conscience n.良心

例句：
She paid the repair bill as a salve to her conscience.
她付了维修费以减轻内疚感。

难句解析

1.For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.

【参考译文】因为我已在你们和全能的上帝面前，宣读了我们的先辈在170多年前拟定的庄严誓言。

【结构解析】"forebears"意思是“祖先”，“our forebears ... ago”是省略了“which/that”的定语从句，修饰“oath”。

2.Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind?

【参考译文】为反对这些敌人，确保人类更为丰裕的生活，我们能够组成一个包括东西南北各方的全球大联盟吗？

【结构解析】“a grand and global alliance”前省略了“with/in”，“North and South, East and West”作定语，修饰“alliance”。