名校励志英语演讲 152:跨越物质的藩篱 让世界今非昔比(9)
时间:2019-01-18 作者:英语课 分类:名校励志英语演讲
英语课
And this is not just true for individuals; it's also true for this nation. In recent years, in many ways we've become enamored with our own past success, lulled 1 into complacency by the glitter of our own achievements. We've become accustomed to the title of "military super-power" forgetting the qualities that got us there, and not just the power of our weapons, but the discipline and valor 2 and the code of conduct of our men and women in uniform.
个人如此,国家亦然。近些年,我们在许多方面沉湎于曾经取得的成功,为我们国家取得的辉煌成就而沾沾自喜。我们习惯于被称为“超级军事大国”,却忘记了我们之所以得到这个头衔不只是因为武器的威力,还有美国军人严守纪律,英勇无畏的品质和行为准则。
The Marshall Plan, and the Peace Corps 3, and all those initiatives that show our commitment to working with other nations to pursue the ideals of opportunity and equality and freedom that have made us who we are; that's what made us a super power.
马歇尔计划、维和部队,与其他国家积极合作,共同 创造机遇、平等、自由,这使得我们获得了今日的荣誉,使我们成为超级大国。
We've become accustomed on our economic dominance in the world, forgetting that it wasn't reckless deals and get-rich-quick schemes that got us where we are, but hard work and smart ideas, quality products and wise investments. We started taking shortcuts 4. We started living on credit instead of building up savings 5. We saw businesses focus more on re-branding and repackaging than innovating 6 and developing new ideas that improve our lives.
我们习惯了在世界经济领域占主导地位,却忘记了一点:我们获得这一地位不是依靠草率的交易和速富计划,而是通过努力的工作、睿智的想法、优质的产品和英明的投资。之后,我们开始寻找捷径,开始超前消费,而不是节俭储蓄。企业已不再是为改善生活而进行产品创新和创意发掘,而把重点放在了重塑品牌形象,不断更新包装上。
All the while the rest of the world has grown hungry, more restless, in constant motion to build and to discover, not content with where they are right now, determined 7 to strive for more. They're coming.
一直以来,其他国家都在如饥似渴、永不停歇地创造和发现,他们不满足于现状,决心取得更大的发展。这些国家正在赶超我们。
背景介绍
马歇尔计划(The Marshall Plan),官方名称为欧洲复兴计划(European Recovery Program),是二战后美国对被战争破坏的西欧各国进行经济援助、协助重建的计划,对欧洲国家的发展和世界政治格局产生了深远的影响。该计划于1947年7月正式启动,并整整持续了4个财政年度之久。在这段时期内,西欧各国通过参加经济合作发展组织(OECD)总共接受了美国包括金融、技术、设备等各种形式的援助合计130亿美元。该计划因时任美国国务卿乔治·马歇尔而得名,但事实上真正提出和策划该计划的是美国国务院的众多官员,特别是威廉·克莱顿和乔治·凯南。
马歇尔计划形势图
重建计划最初于1947年7月在一个由欧洲各个国家普遍参加的会议上被提出。在这段时期内,西欧各国通过参加经济合作发展组织总共接受了美国包括金融、技术、设备等各种形式的援助合计130亿美元。若考虑通货膨胀因素,那么这笔援助相当于2006年的1300亿美元。马歇尔计划最初曾考虑给予苏联及其在东欧的卫星国以相同的援助,条件是苏联必须进行政治改革,并允许西方势力进入苏联的势力范围。但事实上,美国担心苏联利用该计划恢复和发展自身实力,因此美国故意提出许多苏联无法接受的苛刻条款,最终使其和东欧各国被排除在援助范围之外。
vt.使镇静,使安静(lull的过去式与过去分词形式)
- They lulled her into a false sense of security. 他们哄骗她,使她产生一种虚假的安全感。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The movement of the train lulled me to sleep. 火车轻微的震动催我进入梦乡。 来自《简明英汉词典》
n.勇气,英勇
- Fortitude is distinct from valor.坚韧不拔有别于勇猛。
- Frequently banality is the better parts of valor.老生常谈往往比大胆打破常规更为人称道。
n.(通信等兵种的)部队;(同类作的)一组
- The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
- When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时,他自愿参加了海军陆战队。
n.捷径( shortcut的名词复数 );近路;快捷办法;被切短的东西(尤指烟草)
- In other words, experts want shortcuts to everything. 换句话说,专家需要所有的快捷方式。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
- Offer shortcuts from the Help menu. 在帮助菜单中提供快捷方式。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
n.存款,储蓄
- I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假,那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
- By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时,他的存款已全部用完。
v.改革,创新( innovate的现在分词 );引入(新事物、思想或方法),
- In this new century, the company keeps innovating and developing new products. 新世纪伊始,公司全面实施形象工程及整合营销,不断改革创新,开发高新产品。 来自互联网
- Beijing is backward most prime cause is innovating at system lack. 北京落后的最根本原因在于制度缺乏创新。 来自互联网
adj.坚定的;有决心的
- 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。