VOA慢速英语2020 足以载入史册的2020年

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.

这里是美国之音慢速英语词汇掌故节目。

It is safe to say that the year 2020 has been "one for the history books." It stands out. And it is so worth remembering that historians¹ will certainly write about it in history books.

可以肯定地说，2020年是“载入史册的一年。”它非常引人注目。它是如此值得被记住，历史学家们肯定会在历史书上记下这一笔。

Sadly, 2020 will be remembered mostly for a bad reason - the coronavirus pandemic. It will also "go down in history" as the year of face masks and quarantines.

可悲的是，人们对2020年的记忆大多是因为一个不好的原因——新冠病毒大流行。它也将作为“口罩”和“隔离”的一年被载入史册。

Of course, 2020 did not start out as a year that would "make history." It started off as just a normal year. However, when health officials said the virus had turned into a worldwide pandemic ... that was "history in the making." 

当然，2020年一开始并非是一个“创造历史”的年份。它一开始是正常的一年。然而，当卫生官员表示这种病毒已经成为全球流行病时，那是“历史性的一刻。”

Countries closed their borders, schools and businesses closed, and people stayed indoors.

各国关闭边境，学校停学、企业歇业，人们都呆在家里。

Although, something good also can be "one for the history books." For example, the hard work and sacrifice of healthcare workers during the pandemic is also "one for the history books." The scientists who make an effective vaccine² will also "go down in history" for their important work.

尽管如此，一些好事情也能“载入史册。”例如，卫生工作者在大流行期间的辛勤工作和奉献也能“载入史册。”研究出有效疫苗的科学家们也将因为他们的重要成就而“载入史册。”

History remembers some years fondly. Maybe there was a World Cup, a space launch, or an Olympics for the history books.

历史温情地记住了一些年份。可能这一年有足以载入史册的世界杯、太空发射或是奥运会。

But not 2020.

但是2020年并非如此。

Let's imagine that the year 2020 has feelings. It might feel badly to know it is "going down in history" as the year of the COVID-19 pandemic. It might tell us that a pandemic was not in its plans. It might say that the pandemic is not that serious. It might say everyone is making a big deal out of nothing.

我们假设2020年是有情感的。如果它知道自己因为新冠肺炎大流行而载入史册，它可能会感觉不安。它可能会告诉我们，一场大流行并不在它的计划当中。它可能说，大流行没那么严重。它可能会说，大家在小题大做。

That would put 2020 very much "on the wrong side of history." This phrase usually describes outdated³ decisions, practices, or opinions. No one wants to be "on the wrong side of history."

这将使得2020年很大程度上“站在历史的对立面。”这句短语通常用于描述不合时宜的决策、做法或是观点。没人想要“站在历史的对立面。”

So, maybe 2020 should just stop talking. If people had any goodwill⁴ left for this unfortunate year ... it would be "history." That goodwill would be forgotten. If something is "history," it is gone, destroyed, or at least in very serious trouble.

所以，可能2020年应该要闭嘴。如果人们对这不幸的一年还有什么好感，它可能就是“历史。”这种友善会被遗忘。如果某件事是历史，它就会消失、毁灭，或者至少陷入非常严重的麻烦当中。

But 2020 is not unreasonable⁵. More likely, it probably hopes that it will soon be "ancient history." If we say something is "ancient history," it is usually a troubled event that is long forgotten. People have moved on. In other words, 2020 may hope that we completely forget about it.

但是2020年尚属合理。更有可能的是，它可能希望这一切很快成为“陈年旧账。”如果我们说某些事情是“陈年旧账，”它通常是一件长期被遗忘的麻烦事。人们必须向前看。换句话说，2020年可能希望人们把它彻底遗忘。

Although, forgetting about it would be foolish and even dangerous. Lessons from history can be important.

尽管忘记它可能是愚蠢的，甚至是危险的。从历史中吸取经验教训非常重要。

In fact, we have a saying: "those who don't learn history are destined⁶ to repeat it." If we don't study history, it may be our destiny⁷ to make the same mistakes again and again.

实际上我们有一种说法：“不吸取历史经验教训注定会重蹈覆辙。”如果我们不学习历史，可能注定会一次次犯同样的错误。

And here is another saying: "history often repeats itself." So, it may be a good idea to remember the valuable lessons we have learned in 2020.

还有一种说法：“历史总在不断重演。”所以，可能最好是记住我们在2020年学到的宝贵教训。

Even though it may have been a very difficult year for many people, we must fight the urge to "rewrite history." When we "rewrite history," we re-create facts to fit our own way of thinking or our own plans.

虽然这一年对很多人来说都很艰难，我们必须抵制“重写历史”的冲动。当我们重写历史时，我们会重新编造事实，以符合我们的思维方式或计划。

So, to 2020 we say this: Do not despair. Do not be sad. You are part of our "shared history." In your dark and uncertain days, there were also bright, beautiful moments. There were people caring for each other and selfless heroes. And we are not likely to forget them or you. All are destined for the history books.

所以，对2020年，我们要说：不要绝望。别难过。你是我们“共同历史”的一部分。在黑暗和不确定的日子里，也有光明、美好的时刻。有互相关心的人和无私的英雄。我们不太可能会忘记他们，或是忘记你。这一切都注定要被载入史册。

1 historians   

n.历史学家，史学工作者( historian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Historians seem to have confused the chronology of these events. 历史学家好像把这些事件发生的年代顺序搞混了。
• Historians have concurred with each other in this view. 历史学家在这个观点上已取得一致意见。

2 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

3 outdated   

adj.旧式的，落伍的，过时的；v.使过时

参考例句：

• That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了，许多地址已经改了。
• Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。

4 goodwill   

n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉

参考例句：

• His heart is full of goodwill to all men.他心里对所有人都充满着爱心。
• We paid ￡10,000 for the shop,and ￡2000 for its goodwill.我们用一万英镑买下了这家商店，两千英镑买下了它的信誉。

5 unreasonable   

adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的

参考例句：

• I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
• They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。

6 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

7 destiny   

n.命运，定数，天命

参考例句：

• Nobody knows his own destiny.没有人知道自己的命运。
• It was her destiny to become famous.她命里注定出名。