偶像励志英语演讲 第106期:美国总统奥巴马就职演说(2)

　　These are the indicators¹ of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land-a nagging² fear that America's decline is inevitable³, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
这些是危机的迹象，这一点统计数据将予以证明。不易于衡量但同样严重的是全国各地动摇的信心——一种挥之不去的恐惧感，认为美国将不可避免地走下坡路，下一代人不得不放低眼光。
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America-they will be met.
今天，我告诉大家，我们面临的挑战确实存在，不仅严重而且是多方面的。它们不可能轻易或在一个短时间内被征服。但是，美国，请记住——它们将最终被征服。
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity⁴ of purpose over conflict and discord⁵.
我们今天聚集在这里是因为我们选择希望而非恐惧，选择齐心协力而不是冲突对立。
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances⁶ and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
我们今天在这里宣告，让斤斤计较与虚假承诺就此结束，让窒息我们政治为时太久的相互指责和陈词滥调就此终结。
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture⁷, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that predious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation; the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
我国仍是一个年轻的国家，但用圣经的话说，现在是抛弃幼稚的时候了，是我们让永恒的精神发扬光大的时候了，是选择创造更佳历史业绩的时候了，是将代代相传的宝贵财富、崇高理想向前发展的时候了。上帝赋予所有人平等、自由和充分追求幸福的机会。
重点讲解：
1. a span of
间隔；期间；
eg. The batteries had a life span of six hours.
这些电池的寿命为 6 小时。
eg. The celebrations would last a span of two weeks.
庆祝活动将持续两个多礼拜。
2. worn out
（观点等）过时的，陈腐的；
eg. 'A passport to a brighter future': it sounds like a worn-out advertising⁸ slogan, but for once the cliche⁹ has substance.
“通往更加光明的未来的通行证”，这话听起来像句老掉牙的广告词，但这次这句套话却言之有物。
eg. When writing a composition, one must avoid using worn - out themes.
作文一定要避免陈词滥调。
3. set aside
放弃（信仰、原则或情感）；置…于不顾；
eg. He urged them to set aside minor¹⁰ differences for the sake of peace.
他敦促他们为了和平抛开一些小的分歧。
eg. The plan was set aside.
计划被搁置起来。
4. carry forward
推进；发扬；
eg. They are determined¹¹ to carry forward the enterprise.
他们决心把事业进行下去。
eg. This fine traditional virtue¹² deserves to be carried forward.
这项传统美德值得继续发扬下去。
5. pass on
将…传给；将…交给；
eg. The experienced artisan would pass on the tricks of the trade to the apprentice¹³.
这位经验丰富的工匠会把诀窍传给徒弟。
eg. Matsushita made a considerable effort to pass on his company's legacy¹⁴ to each new recruit.
松下先生作了相当大的努力，把他的公司的优秀遗产传给每一个新成员。

1 indicators   

（仪器上显示温度、压力、耗油量等的）指针( indicator的名词复数 )； 指示物； （车辆上的）转弯指示灯； 指示信号

参考例句：

• The economic indicators are better than expected. 经济指标比预期的好。
• It is still difficult to develop indicators for many concepts used in social science. 为社会科学领域的许多概念确立一个指标仍然很难。

2 nagging   

adj.唠叨的，挑剔的；使人不得安宁的v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的现在分词 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责

参考例句：

• Stop nagging—I'll do it as soon as I can. 别唠叨了—我会尽快做的。
• I've got a nagging pain in my lower back. 我后背下方老是疼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

4 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

5 discord   

n.不和，意见不合，争论，（音乐）不和谐

参考例句：

• These two answers are in discord.这两个答案不一样。
• The discord of his music was hard on the ear.他演奏的不和谐音很刺耳。

6 grievances   

n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚

参考例句：

• The trade union leader spoke about the grievances of the workers. 工会领袖述说工人们的苦情。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He gave air to his grievances. 他申诉了他的冤情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 scripture   

n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段

参考例句：

• The scripture states that God did not want us to be alone.圣经指出上帝并不是想让我们独身一人生活。
• They invoked Hindu scripture to justify their position.他们援引印度教的经文为他们的立场辩护。

8 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

9 cliche   

n./a.陈词滥调(的)；老生常谈(的)；陈腐的

参考例句：

• You should always try to avoid the use of cliche. 你应该尽量避免使用陈词滥调。
• The old cliche is certainly true:the bigger car do mean bigger profits.有句老话倒的确说得不假:车大利大。

10 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

11 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

12 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

13 apprentice   

n.学徒，徒弟

参考例句：

• My son is an apprentice in a furniture maker's workshop.我的儿子在一家家具厂做学徒。
• The apprentice is not yet out of his time.这徒工还没有出徒。

14 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。