名校励志英语演讲 108:21世纪的挑战(2)

 　　I am, however, grateful that this day is different in one important respect from another important occasion 79 years ago. In June of 1919, the first president of Yenching University, John Leighton Stuart, was set to deliver the very first commencement address on these very grounds. At the appointed hour, he appeared, but no students appeared. They were all out leading the May 4th Movement for China's political and cultural renewal¹. When I read this, I hoped that when I walked into the auditorium² today, someone would be sitting here. And I thank you for being here, very much.

　　我很庆幸，在某种重要意义上，今天和 79 年前的一个重要的日子大不相同。1919年6月 ，就在这里， 燕京大学首任校长约翰·雷登·斯图尔特准备发表第一个毕业典礼致辞。他准时出场，但学生一个未到。学生们为了振兴中国的政治文化，全部走上街头领导“五四”运动去了。我读到这个故事后，希望今天当我走进这个礼堂时，会有人坐在这里。非常感谢大家前来听我演讲。

　　Over the last 100 years, this university has grown to more than 20,000 students. Your graduates are spread throughout China and around the world. You have built the largest university library in all of Asia. Last year, 20 percent of your graduates went abroad to study, including half of your math and science majors. And in this anniversary year, more than a million people in China, Asia, and beyond have logged on to your web site. At the dawn of a new century, this university is leading China into the future.

　　一百年以来，北大已经发展到拥有两万多学生。贵校的毕业生遍及中国和全世界。贵校建成了亚洲最大的大学图书馆。去年贵校有20%的毕业生去国外深造，其中包括一半的数理专业学生。在这个百年校庆之年，中国、亚洲和全世界有100多万人访问贵校的网址。在新世纪来临之际，北大正在率领中国奔向未来。

　　名人档案

　　姓名： 威廉·杰弗逊·克林顿（William Jefferson Clinton）

　　性别：男

　　职业：美国第42届总统

　　国籍：美国

　　党派：民主党

　　出生日期：1946年8月19日

　　毕业院校：耶鲁法学院

　　成功点睛：用魅力谱写多彩的人生，用智慧创造美国经济的神话。

　　代表作品：自传《我的生活》

　　荣誉：美国第42任总统。他在任期间创造了美国8年的长期经济繁荣，并使美国高科技行业飞速发展，奠定今日美国高科技大国的地位。克林顿是历史上得到最多公众肯定的总统之一。

1 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

2 auditorium   

n.观众席，听众席；会堂，礼堂

参考例句：

• The teacher gathered all the pupils in the auditorium.老师把全体同学集合在礼堂内。
• The stage is thrust forward into the auditorium.舞台向前突出，伸入观众席。