“Welcome to the New East Side High!”

 “Welcome to the New East Side High!”

I want all of you to take a good look at these people [some 300 students] on the risers behind me. These people have been here up to five years and done absolutely nothing. These people are drug dealers¹ and drug users. They have taken up space; they have 1)disrupted this school; they have 2)harassed your teachers; and they have 3)intimidated you. Well, times are about to change. You will not be bothered in Joe Clark’s school. These people are 4)incorrigible⁴. And since none of them could graduate anyway, you [turning to the 300 students] are all 5)expurgated. You are dismissed! You are out of here forever! I wish you well... [the 300 are unwillingly⁵ escorted out by Clark’s security team]

[Turning to the students in the assembly]

Next time it may be you. If you do no better than they did, next time it will be you. They said this school was dead, like the cemetery⁶ it’s built on. But we call our East Side teams “Ghosts,” don’t we? And what are ghosts? Ghosts are spirits that rise from the dead. I want you to be my ghosts. You are going to lead our 6)resurrection by 7)defying the expectation that all of us are doomed⁷ to failure. My motto is simple: “If you do not succeed in life, I don’t want you to blame your parents; I don’t want you to blame the white man; I want you to blame yourselves.” The responsibility is yours!

In two weeks we have a practice exam and a minimum basic skills test on April 13th. That’s a hundred and ten school days from now. But it’s not just about those test scores. If you do not have these basic skills, you will find yourselves 8)locked out! Locked out of that “American Dream” that you see advertised on TV — that they tell you is so easy to get.

You are here for one reason — one reason only: To learn, to work for what you want. The alternative is to waste your time and to fall into the trap of crime, drugs, and death. Does everyone understand that? Do all of you understand me? Then welcome to the new East Side High!

Jack⁸’s Addresses to His Graduation Class

Woodruff (announcer): Ladies and gentlemen, our class 9)valedictorian, Jack Charles Howell.

Eric (Jack’s friend): Yo, Jack, go get ‘em.

Howell: I got it, Eric. I’m cool... my speech. I don’t have very much time these days, so I’ll make it quick—like my life. You know, as we come to the end of this phase of our life, we find ourselves trying to remember the good times and trying to forget the bad times. And we find ourselves thinking about the future. We start to worry, thinking, “What am I gonna do? Where am I gonna be in ten years?”

But I say to you, “Hey, look at me.” Please, don’t worry so much, ‘cause in the end none of us have very long on this earth. Life is fleeting⁹. And if you’re ever distressed¹⁰, cast your eyes to the summer sky, when the stars are 10)strung across the 11)velvety¹¹ night. And when a 12)shooting star 13)streaks through the blackness turning night into day — make a wish; think of me. And make your life 14)spectacular. I know I did.

I made it, Mom. I’m a grown-up.

Thank you.

Elle’ Graduation Speech at Harvard Law School

Professor Stromwell: I am, personally, very honored to introduce this year’s class-elected speaker. After getting off to a quite interesting start here at Harvard, she graduates today with an invitation to join one of Boston’s most prestigious¹³ law firms. I am sure we are going to see great things from her. Ladies and Gentlemen: Elle Woods.

Woods: On our very first day at Harvard, a very wise professor quoted Aristotle: ’The law is reason free from passion.’ Well, no offense¹⁴ to Aristotle, but in my three years at Harvard I have come to find that passion is a key 15)ingredient to the study and practice of law—and of life. It is with passion, courage of 16)conviction, and strong sense of self that we take our next steps into the world, remembering that first impressions are not always correct. You must always have faith in people. And most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself.

Congratulations class of 2004—we did it!

注释：
1) disrupt [dis5rQpt] v. 使陷于混乱, 破坏
2) harass² [hE5rAst] v. 骚扰，使苦恼
3) intimidate³ [intimi5deit] v. 威胁，恐吓
4) incorrigible [in5kCridVEbl] a. 无药可救的, 不能被纠正的
5) expurgate [5ekspE:^eit] v. 删除
6) resurrection [7rezE5rekFEn] n. 复苏
7) defy [di5fai] v. 公然反抗，违抗
8) lock out 把……关在门外
9) valedictorian [7vAlidik5tC:riEn] n. 致告别辞者，告别演说者
10) string [striN] v. 连成线状
11) velvety [5velviti] a. 象天鹅绒的, 柔软的
12) shooting star 流星
13) streak¹² [stri:k] v.飞跑，闪现
14) spectacular [spek5tAkjulE] a. 引人入胜的, 壮观的
15) ingredient [in5^ri:diEnt] n. 成分，因素
16) conviction [kEn5vikFEn] n. 深信，确信

“欢迎到新东区高中来！”

    我想让大家好好地看看站在我后面的活动台上的这些人（约300名学生）。这些人已经在这里呆了整整五年，却完全无所作为。这些人都是毒贩、吸毒者。他们霸占地方，扰乱校园，骚扰老师，还恐吓学生。然而，时代要改变了。在我的校园，没有人会再找你们的麻烦。这帮人已是无可救药了。既然不管怎么说他们都无人能毕业，你们（转向那300名学生）都被除名了，你们被开除了！你们要永远地离开这里！我希望你们走好……（那300人不情愿地在克拉克的保安队的陪同下离场）
    （转向会场的学生）
    下一次可能就是你们了。要是你们的表现不比他们好，下次就会是你们了。他们说，这所学校已经死了，就如同它作地基的这片坟地一样。但我们自称我们的校队为“鬼魂”，不是吗？而什么是“鬼魂”呢？鬼魂就是从死亡之物上升腾起来的灵魂。我希望你们成为我的鬼魂。你们要推翻我们注定失败的预言，以此引领我们重振旗鼓。我的格言很简单：“如果你们的人生没有获得成功，我不想你们责怪自己的父母，不想你们责怪白人，而是责怪自己。”责任在你们自己身上！
    两星期后，我们会有一次练习考试和一次安排在4月13号的基本技能测验。距离现在还有110个上课日。但是我们为的不仅仅是那些测验的分数。电视上人们鼓吹“美国梦”，并且把它说成唾手可得，然而如果你们没有掌握这些基本技能，你们会发现自己被拒之门外，被拒之于这“美国梦”之外。
    你们在这里的原因有一个——只有一个：为你梦寐以求的一切而学习、工作。而另外一个选择就是浪费自己的光阴，掉进犯罪、吸毒和死亡的泥潭。你们每个人都听明白我的话了吗？全部都明白了吗？要是那样的话，欢迎到“新”东区高中来!

“超龄插班生”杰克的毕业发言

伍德夫(主持)：女士们，先生们，我们的告别辞演说者，杰克·查尔斯·霍威尔。
埃尔克(杰克的朋友)： 唷，杰克，去演讲吧。

霍威尔：我知道了，埃尔克。我真酷……我的致词。如今我没剩下多少时间了，所以我力求简短——就好像我的生命一样。大家知道，当我们人生的这一阶段快要走到尽头的时候，我们会发现自己想要尽力去记住美好的时光,同时尽力去忘记艰难的时候。我们发觉自己遥想未来。我们开始担心，想着：“我要干吗？未来十年我要去哪？”
    但是，我跟你们说: “嘿，瞧瞧我吧。”请不要担心太多，因为最终我们没有谁会在地球上逗留太久。人生稍纵即逝。要是你有忧虑的话，在夏天的晚上，当夜幕似绒、群星满布之时，举目遥望天空吧。当某颗流星闪电般划过黑暗，转夜为昼之时，许个心愿吧——想想我。让你的人生辉煌绚丽吧。我知道我做到了。
我成功了，妈妈，我长大了。
谢谢。

“律政俏佳人”艾莉的哈佛毕业演讲

斯特姆威尔教授：我十分荣幸地向大家介绍今年的班选发言人。她曾经在哈佛有一个非常有意思的开始，今天她毕业了，并被邀请加盟波士顿其中一所最有名望的法律事务所。我确信我们将会看到她大有作为。女士们，先生们：有请艾莉·伍兹。

伍兹：就在我们进入哈佛的第一天，一个睿智的教授引用亚里斯多德的话说：“法律是远离激情的理性。”哦，我可不是要冒犯亚里斯多德，但在哈佛的三年里我却最终发现激情是研究和实践法律——以及人生的关键因素。正是有了激情、坚信的勇气和强烈的自我意识，铭记住第一印象并非总是正确的，我们才一步步地步入世界。你必须保持对人的信任——而且最重要的是，你必须保持对自己的信任。

祝贺2004级的同学——我们成功了！

 

1 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

2 harass   

vt.使烦恼，折磨，骚扰

参考例句：

• Our mission is to harass the landing of the main Japaness expeditionary force.我们的任务是骚乱日本远征军主力的登陆。
• They received the order to harass the enemy's rear.他们接到骚扰敌人后方的命令。

3 intimidate   

vt.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• You think you can intimidate people into doing what you want?你以为你可以威胁别人做任何事？
• The first strike capacity is intended mainly to intimidate adversary.第一次攻击的武力主要是用来吓阻敌方的。

4 incorrigible   

adj.难以纠正的，屡教不改的

参考例句：

• Because he was an incorrigible criminal,he was sentenced to life imprisonment.他是一个死不悔改的罪犯，因此被判终生监禁。
• Gamblers are incorrigible optimists.嗜赌的人是死不悔改的乐天派。

5 unwillingly   

adv.不情愿地

参考例句：

• He submitted unwillingly to his mother. 他不情愿地屈服于他母亲。
• Even when I call, he receives unwillingly. 即使我登门拜访，他也是很不情愿地接待我。

6 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

7 doomed   

命定的

参考例句：

• The court doomed the accused to a long term of imprisonment. 法庭判处被告长期监禁。
• A country ruled by an iron hand is doomed to suffer. 被铁腕人物统治的国家定会遭受不幸的。

8 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

9 fleeting   

adj.短暂的，飞逝的

参考例句：

• The girls caught only a fleeting glimpse of the driver.女孩们只匆匆瞥了一眼司机。
• Knowing the life fleeting,she set herself to enjoy if as best as she could.她知道这种日子转瞬即逝，于是让自已尽情地享受。

10 distressed   

痛苦的

参考例句：

• He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑，无法回答他们的问题。
• The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。

11 velvety   

adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的

参考例句：

• a velvety red wine 醇厚的红葡萄酒
• Her skin was admired for its velvety softness. 她的皮肤如天鹅绒般柔软，令人赞叹。

12 streak   

n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动

参考例句：

• The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
• Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹？

13 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。

14 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。