经典背诵英语文章

Passage 1 for Recitation, NHCE-3

My brother, Jimmy, did not get enough oxygen during a difficult delivery, leaving him with brain damage, and two years later I was born. Since then, my life revolved around my brother's. Accompanying my growing up was always \"go out and play and take your brother with you\". I couldn't go anywhere without him, so I urged the neighborhood kids to come to my house for some out-of-control kid-centered fun.

We had wanted to let him know that no matter how difficult things got in the world, there would always be people who cared about him. We ended up reminding ourselves instead. For Jimmy, the love with which we sang was a welcome bonus, but mostly he had just wanted to see everyone else happy again.

Just as my father's death had changed Jimmy's world overnight, September 11th changed our lives; the world we'd known was gone. But, as we sang for Jimmy and held each other tight afterward praying for peace around the world, we were reminded that the constant love and support of our friends and family would get us through whatever life might present. The simplicity with which Jimmy had reconciled everything for us should not have been surprising. There had never been any limitations to what Jimmy's love could accomplish.

Passage 2 for Recitation, NHCE-3

He's the most famous businessman and the richest man in the world—worth

an estimated $40 billion in 1997. Without a doubt, Bill Gates belongs in the same class as Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, and other great minds who changed the world.

The self-described \"hacker\" has dominated the personal computing revolution and modernized the whole world in the process. Indeed, his classification into any other rank than this would seriously understate his impact on the world.

Gates' success stems from his personality: an unbelievable and at times frightening blend of high-voltage brilliance, drive and competitiveness. When the chairman and CEO walks through the corridors of Microsoft, it is like a switch being turned on; everything and everyone around him is charged with 10,000 volts of electricity. Gates sets the example and Microsoft employees follow. The schedule he keeps is one hint as to what he expects from his employees. It's not unusual for the \"dean\" of the \"Microsoft campus\" to put in 16-hour days.

Passage 3 for Recitation, NHCE-3

The defining issue of our time is how to keep that promise alive. No challenge is more urgent. No debate is more important. We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well while a growing number of Americans barely get by, or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, and everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules. (Applause.) What’s at stake aren’t Democratic values or Republican values, but American values. And we have to reclaim them.

Let’s remember how we got here. Long before the recession, jobs and manufacturing began leaving our shores. Technology made businesses more efficient, but also made some jobs obsolete. Folks at the top saw their incomes rise like never before, but most hardworking Americans struggled with costs that were growing, paychecks that weren’t, and personal debt that kept piling up.

In 2008, the house of cards collapsed. We learned that mortgages had been sold to people who couldn’t afford or understand them. Banks had made huge bets and bonuses with other people’s money. Regulators had looked the other way, or didn’t have the authority to stop the bad behavior.

Passage 4 for Recitation, NHCE-3

Last year, they created the most jobs since 2005. American manufacturers are hiring again, creating jobs for the first time since the late 1990s. Together, we’ve

agreed to cut the deficit by more than $2 trillion. And we’ve put in place new rules to hold Wall Street accountable, so a crisis like this never happens again. (Applause.)

The state of our Union is getting stronger. And we’ve come too far to turn back now. As long as I’m President, I will work with anyone in this chamber to build on this momentum. But I intend to fight obstruction with action, and I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place. (Applause.)

No, we will not go back to an economy weakened by outsourcing, bad debt, and phony financial profits. Tonight, I want to speak about how we move forward, and lay out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last -– an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.

参考译文:

我们这个时代的关键问题是如何让这样的希望生生不息。没有任何挑战比这更为迫切。没有任何争论比这更重要。我们可以满足于这样一个国家，其中越来越少的人富甲一方而越来越多的美国人却勉强度日，或者我们可以重建我国经济，让人人都得到公平的机会，人人都尽自己的一份力量，人人都遵守同样的规则。（掌声）利害攸关的问题不是民主党的价值观或共和党的价值观，而是美国的价值观。我们必须重新树立这些价值观。

让我们谨记我们是如何走到这一步的。在经济衰退爆发前，就业岗位和制造业早已开始离开我们的海岸。技术使各行各业更有效率，但一些工作岗位也因此陈旧过时。位于最高层的同胞们看到他们的收入前所未有地增长，但大多数勤奋工作的美国人开支上升，工资水平停滞，债务不断增加，为此生活十分艰难。

2008年，纸牌搭建的房子坍塌了。我们知道，抵押贷款批给了没有能力支付或对此一知半解的人。银行拿着别人的钱投下巨大的赌注，得到了丰厚的报酬。监管人员视若无睹，或没有权力阻止不良行为。

去年，这些行业创造了2005年以来的大多数就业岗位。美国制造商重新开始雇人，自1990年代末期以来首次创造了工作机会。我们共同努力，已同意将赤字至少降低两万亿美元，并且制定了让华尔街承担责任的新规则，防止类似的危机再度发生。（掌声）

我们合众国的国情日益强盛。我们已取得长足的进展，绝不能走回头路。只要我还担任总统之职，就将与在座的每一位一起再接再厉。但是，我将采取行动打破障碍，并将反对恢复原有的任何要求，因为当初正是这些引发了这场经济危机。（掌声）

不，我们不能重蹈复撤，听任外包、坏账和虚假的金融利润削弱我国经济。今晚，我希望谈一谈今后如何取得进展，并为建设长盛不衰的经济制定蓝图——以美国制造业、美国能源、美国劳工的技能以及继续发扬美国价值观为出发点的经济。

Passage 5 for Recitation, NHCE-3

You see, an economy built to last is one where we encourage the talent and ingenuity of every person in this country. That means women should earn equal pay for equal work. (Applause.) It means we should support everyone who’s willing to work, and every risk-taker and entrepreneur who aspires to become the next Steve Jobs.

After all, innovation is what America has always been about. Most new jobs are created in start-ups and small businesses. So let’s pass an agenda that helps them succeed. Tear down regulations that prevent aspiring entrepreneurs from getting the financing to grow. (Applause.) Expand tax relief to small businesses that are raising wages and creating good jobs. Both parties agree on these ideas. So put them in a bill, and get it on my desk this year. (Applause.)

Innovation also demands basic research. Today, the discoveries taking place in our federally financed labs and universities could lead to new treatments that kill cancer cells but leave healthy ones untouched, new lightweight vests for cops and soldiers that can stop any bullet. Don’t gut these investments in our budget. Don’t let other countries win the race for the future. Support the same kind of research and innovation that led to the computer chip and the Internet; to new American jobs and new American industries.

Passage 6 for Recitation, NHCE-3

There’s never been a better time to build, especially since the construction industry was one of the hardest hit when the housing bubble burst. Of course, construction workers weren’t the only ones who were hurt. So were millions of innocent Americans who’ve seen their home values decline. And while government can’t fix the problem on its own, responsible homeowners shouldn’t have to sit and wait for the housing market to hit bottom to get some relief.

And that’s why I’m sending this Congress a plan that gives every responsible homeowner the chance to save about $3,000 a year on their mortgage, by refinancing at historically low rates. (Applause.) No more red tape. No more runaround from the banks. A small fee on the largest financial institutions will ensure that it won’t add to the deficit and will give those banks that were rescued by taxpayers a chance to repay a deficit of trust. (Applause.)

Let’s never forget: Millions of Americans who work hard and play by the rules every day deserve a government and a financial system that do the same. It’s time to apply the same rules from top to bottom. No bailouts, no handouts, and no copouts. An America built to last insists on responsibility from everybody.

参考译文:

要知道，长盛不衰的经济要求我们激发这个国家每个人的聪明才智和创造力。这意味着对妇女应当实行同工同酬。（掌声）这意味着应当支持每一个愿意工作的人，每一个敢于承担风险的人，每一个有志成为下一个史蒂夫·乔布斯（Steve Jobs）的实业家。

毕竟，创新是美国的根本。大多数新的就业岗位是由初创企业和小型企业创造的。因此让我们实现一项有助于他们成功的议程。打破妨碍有抱负的企业家进行发展融资的条条框框。（掌声）将减税优惠扩大到那些增加工资和创造良好就业岗位的小型企业。两党都同意这些设想。因此，请把它们变成法案，今年放在我的办公桌上。（掌声）

创新还要求从事基础研究。今天，在我们联邦政(蟹)府资助的实验室和大学获得的各种发现有可能带来新的治疗方法，杀死癌细胞而不损坏健康细胞。新型的和士兵使用的轻便防弹背心可以挡住任何子弹。请不要在预算中除掉这些投资。请不要让其他国家在未来的竞赛中占上风。请支持研究与创新，正是它们带来了电脑芯片和因特网、带来了美国的新就业岗位和新兴行业。

现在是从事基建的最佳时机，特别是由于建筑业是在房地产泡沫破裂时遭受最大重创的行业之一。当然，受到冲击的不仅是建筑工人。数百万无辜的美国人也受到冲击，他们的房屋价值下跌。虽然政(蟹)府无法单独解决这一问题，但不应让负责任的房主等到房地产市场跌入谷底才可获得救助。

因此，我将向本届国会提交一项方案，为每位负责任的房主提供机会，通过有史以来最低的利息进行重新贷款，使他们可在房贷上每年节省3,000美元。（掌声）不再有官僚挡道。不再有银行拖延。对规模最大的金融机构收取一小笔费用，可确保不导致赤字递增，

并使那些被纳税人救助的银行有机会偿还它们的信用赤字。（掌声）

让我们永远不要忘记：每天都勤奋工作、遵纪守法的千百万美国人理当拥有一个以同样方式行事的政(蟹)府和金融体系。现在应该从上到下实行同一个规则：不再允许纾困、施舍和逃避责任。美国的长盛不衰要求每一个人都承担责任。

Passage 7 for Recitation, NHCE-3

People often wonder why historians go to so much trouble to preserve millions of books, documents and records of the past. Why do we have libraries? What good are these documents and the history books? why do we record and save the actions of men, the negotiations of statesmen and the campaigns of armies?

Because, somethings, the voice of experience can cause us to stop, look and listen. And because, sometimes, past records, correctly interpreted, can give us warning of what to do and what not to do.

If we are ever to create enduring peace, we must seek its origins in human experience and in the record of human idealism. From the story of the fortitude, courage and devotion of men and women, we create the inspirations of youth. From stories of the Christain martyrs, right down to Budapest's heroic martyrs of today, history records the suffering, the self-denial, the devotion and the heroic deeds of men. Surely from these records there can come help to mankind in our confusions and perplexities, and in our yearnings for peace.

The supreme purpose of history is a better world. History gives a warning to those who would promote war. History brings inspiration to those who seek peace. In short, history helps us learn. Yesterday's records can keep us from repeating yesterday's mistakes. And from the pieces of mosaic assembled by historians come the great murals which represent the progress of mankind.

Passage 8 for Recitation, NHCE-3

The world is changing rapidly and most people are anxious about it. In fact, I think it might even be stronger and more accurate to say that most people are down right fearful of what they see going on around them. Technological change and innovation are completely altering many aspects of our lives and it doesn’t stop. Economic changes, social changes, scientific changes, political changes, the least is endless. However, the big question we all face is how are we going to respond to these changes. Well, the specific answer is about what to do, take time and thought to uncover. The best way to approach the future and all of the changes it will bring can be summed up in one word: confidence.

Personal confidence is one of the greatest assets we all possess. Certainly, some people seem to have much more of it than others. But I believe that confidence is a skill that we can all develop. In some ways, it is undoubtedly the most important skill we can develop. With confidence, all things are within the realm of possibility. Without confidence, even the smallest challenges seem insurmountable. What I find fascinate is that people with confidence always seem to end up on top. They seem to overcome the obstacles that stand in their way. It’s as if problems and challenges run from the person who has confidence.

Passage 9 for Recitation, NHCE-3

The Art of Living

The art of living is to know when to hold fast and when to let go. For life is a paradox: it enjoins us to cling to its many gifts even while it ordains their eventual relinquishment. The rabbis of old put it this way:\" A man comes to this world with his fist clenched, but when he dies, his hand is open.\"

Surely we ought to hold fast to life, for it is wondrous, and full of a beauty that breaks through every pore of God’s own earth. We know that this is so, but all too often we recognize this truth only in our backward glance when we remember what was and then suddenly realize that it is no more.

Here then is the first pole of life’s paradoxical demands on us: Never too busy for the wonder and the awe of life. Be reverent before each dawning day. Embrace each hour. Seize each golden minute.

Hold fast to life...but not so fast that you cannot let go. This is the second side of life’s coin, the opposite pole of its paradox: we must accept our losses, and learn how to let go.

This is not an easy lesson to learn, especially when we are young and think that the world is ours to command, that whatever we desire with the full force of our passionate being can, nay, will, be ours. But then life moves along to confront us

with realities, and slowly but surely this truth dawns upon us.

Passage 10 for Recitation, NHCE-3

Set Goals

Unless you shape your life, circumstances will shape it for you. You have to work, sacrifice, invest, and persist to get the results you want. Choose them well. You can’t start your planning until you know where you want to go.

You are the sculptor of your own image. Have others already done what you want to do? Study them and do what they did. Start anywhere, at anytime, and persist. Stop worrying about what others think you can or can’t do. Believe in yourself and your abilities. Have the self-confidence to challenge your current situation. This is your life to live; it’ s day by day and step by step.

Write down your goals. Only three percent of people have written goals and only one percent review those goals daily. Be in that elite one percent. Visualize the attainment of your goals often. Goals are dreams with dates attached. You will only become as great and as happy as the goals you choose.