經典英語文章
經典美文是語文閱讀教學的重要組成部分,可以陶冶情操,豐富想象,還可以培養學生對語言文字的興趣和敏感力。下面是小編帶來的，歡迎閱讀!
1
Mark Zuckerberg: A Letter to Our Daughter
馬克扎克伯格夫婦寫給女兒的一封信
Dear Max：
親愛的馬克斯：
Your mother and I don't yet have the words to describe the hope you give us for the future. Your new life is full of promise, and we hope you will be happy and healthy so you can explore it fully. You've already given us a reason to reflect on the world we hope you live in.
你的降生給我們帶來了莫大的希望，我和你母親一時找不到合適的詞語言說。你有一個美好的新生活，我們希望你健康、快樂，充實地度過一生。你的到來已經成為了我們反思的原因，反思什麼樣的世界才是我們希望你生活的世界。
Like all parents, we want you to grow up in a world better than ours today.
和天下所有的父母一樣，我們希望你成長的世界，好過我們今天的世界。
While headlines often focus on what's wrong, in many ways the world is getting better.Health is improving.Poverty is shrinking.Knowledge is growing.People are connecting.
雖然新聞總是報道哪裡出了問題，但從很多方面看，世界正在往好的方向發展。衛生水平在改善、貧困人口在減少、知識在積累、人與人彼此聯通。
Technological progress in every field means your life should be dramatically better than ours today.
每個領域的科技進步都意味著你的生活應該比我們今天好得多。
We will do our part to make this happen, not only because we love you, but also because we have a moral responsibility to all children in the next generation.
我們將努力實現這個目標，這不僅僅是因為我們愛你，也因為我們對所有下一代孩子擁有道義上的責任。
We believe all lives have equal value, and that includes the many more people who will live in future generations than live today. Our society has an obligation to invest now to improve the lives of all those coming into this world, not just those already here.
我們認為所有生命都有平等的價值，包括人數超過今天的未來 一代。我們的社會有義務投資於現在，以改善那些即將出生在這個世界上的所有人的生活，而不僅僅是已經降生在這個世界上的人的生活。
But right now, we don't always collectively direct our resources at the biggest opportunities and problems your generation will face.
但是現在，我們並非總是將所有資源集中於你們這一代將面臨的最大機遇和問題上。
Consider disease. Today we spend about 50 times more as a society treating people who are sick than we invest in research so you won't get sick in the first place.
以疾病為例，今天我們在治療疾病方面的花費是投資於將來你們不會生病的研究的 50倍。
Medicine has only been a real science for less than 100 years, and we've already seen complete cures for some diseases and good progress for others. As technology accelerates, we have a real shot at preventing, curing or managing all or most of the rest in the next 100 years.
在不到100年時間裡，我們會看到某些疾病完全被治癒，其他疾病獲得更好治療。隨著科技進步加速，我們在接下來的100年中，將有機會預防和治癒 疾病，同時在大多數疾病方面作出重大突破。
Today, most people die from five things -- heart disease, cancer, stroke, neurodegenerative and infectious diseases -- and we can make faster progress on these and other problems.
今天，大多數人死於五種疾病，分別是心臟病、癌症、中風、神經退行性疾病以及傳染病，我們可以在這些和其他疾病方面取得更快進展。
Once we recognize that your generation and your children's generation may not have to suffer from disease, we collectively have a responsibility to tilt our investments a bit more towards the future to make this reality. Your mother and I want to do our part.
一旦我們認定你們及你們的孩子一代不會在受某種疾病困擾，我們有責任向未來傾斜投資以便實現這個目標。我和你的母親想要盡我們的責任。
Curing disease will take time. Over short periods of five or ten years, it may not seem like we're making much of a difference. But over the long term, seeds planted now will grow, and one day, you or your children will see what we can only imagine: a world without suffering from disease.
但是治癒疾病需要時間。在5到10年內，可能不會看到這些努力取得太大進展。但從長期來看，現在播下的種子將會成長，將來有一天，你和你的孩子們將看到我們只能想象到的情景，即沒有疾病困擾的世界。
There are so many opportunities just like this. If society focuses more of its energy on these great challenges, we will leave your generation a much better world.
有如此多類似的機遇，如果社會集中更多精力於這些艱鉅挑戰，我們將留給你們這一代更美好的世界。
Our hopes for your generation focus on two ideas: advancing human potential and promoting equality.
我們希望你們這一代集中做兩件事：推進人類潛能和促進平等。
Advancing human potential is about pushing the boundaries on how great a human life can be.
其中，推進人類潛能就是竭力推動人類生活發展。
Can we connect the world so you have access to every idea, person and opportunity?
我們能連通整個世界，這樣你們能夠獲得每個創意或機會嗎?
Can we harness more clean energy so you can invent things we can't conceive of today while protecting the environment?
我們能利用更多清潔能源，這樣你們能夠投資更多我們今天無法實現的事情同時保護好環境嗎?
Can we cultivate entrepreneurship so you can build any business and solve any challenge to grow peace and prosperity?
我們可以培養創業精神，這樣你們就能建立任何企業，解決任何挑戰，促進和平與繁榮嗎?
Promoting equality is about making sure everyone has access to these opportunities -- regardless of the nation, families or circumstances they are born into.
促進平等就是要確保每個人都能獲得這些機會，不分種族、家庭或出生環境。
Our society must do this not only for justice or charity, but for the greatness of human progress.
我們的社會必須這樣做，不僅因為出於正義或慈善，也為了偉大的人類進步。
Today we are robbed of the potential so many have to offer. The only way to achieve our full potential is to channel the talents, ideas and contributions of every person in the world.
今天，我們被剝奪了潛力，因此許多人更需要機會。而唯一充分發揮我們潛力的方式就是為人才、創意以及世界上所有人的貢獻提供渠道。
Can we nurture peaceful and understanding relationships between people of all nations?
我們能在所有國家之間培養和平與理解關係嗎?
Can we truly empower everyone -- women, children, underrepresented minorities, immigrants and the unconnected?
我們真的能讓每個人獲得平等權利嗎，比如女人、孩子、少數族裔、移民以及未聯網者?
If our generation makes the right investments, the answer to each of these questions can be yes -- and hopefully within your lifetime.
如果我們這一代做出正確投資，這些問題都可以獲得肯定答案，並有望在你們有生之年成為現實。
This mission -- advancing human potential and promoting equality -- will require a new approach for all working towards these goals.
提高人的潛力與促進平等這兩大使命將需要新的方法來實現。
We must make long term investments over 25, 50 or even 100 years.
我們必須以25年、50年甚至100年為限，進行長期投資。
The greatest challenges require very long time horizons and cannot be solved by short term thinking.
艱鉅的挑戰需要長遠地看問題才能解決，短視沒有幫助。
We must engage directly with the people we serve. We can't empower people if we don't understand the needs and desires of their communities.
我們務必要直接接觸那些我們所服務的人。如果不能理解他們的需求與願望，就沒法給他們創造條件。
We must build technology to make change. Many institutions invest money in these challenges, but most progress comes from productivity gains through innovation.
我們務必要打造能帶來變化的技術。許多機構投入資金應對這些挑戰，但在生產力上的最大進展來自創新。
We must participate in policy and advocacy to shape debates. Many institutions are unwilling to do this, but progress must be supported by movements to be sustainable.
我麼務必要參與到政策制定中，形成辯論機制。許多機構不願意這樣做，但進步必須獲得來自可持續運動的支援。
We must back the strongest and most independent leaders in each field. Partnering with experts is more effective for the mission than trying to lead efforts ourselves.
我們務必要支援各個領域中最獨立、最有見地的領頭人。實現這一使命，與專家合作要比光是我們自己倡導更為有效。
We must take risks today to learn lessons for tomorrow. We're early in our learning and many things we try won't work, but we'll listen and learn and keep improving.
我們務必要承受今日的風險，為將來積累經驗。我們尚處在學習的過程中，很多事情嘗試了但沒有效果，不過我們會傾聽學習不斷改進。
Our experience with personalized learning, internet access, and community education and health has shaped our philosophy.
我們接觸的知識、網路、社會教育與健康狀況塑造了我們的人生觀。
Our generation grew up in classrooms where we all learned the same things at the same pace regardless of our interests or needs.
我們這一代在教室中長大，人人都在以同樣的進度學習同樣的東西，而沒有考慮我們的興趣和需求。
Your generation will set goals for what you want to become -- like an engineer, health worker, writer or community leader. You'll have technology that understands how you learn best and where you need to focus. You'll advance quickly in subjects that interest you most, and get as much help as you need in your most challenging areas. You'll explore topics that aren't even offered in schools today. Your teachers will also have better tools and data to help you achieve your goals.
你們這一代會定下自己的人生目標——成為一名工程師、衛生工作者、作家還是社會領袖。等到你們學習的時候，技術知道你如何學習最有效率，也知道你應該把精力放在何處。在感興趣的科目上，學業進展會突飛猛進;在最難懂的領域中，你又可以獲得所需的幫助。你們將探索那些今天學校裡從未涉及的領域。你們的老師也會擁有更好的工具和資料，幫助你們實現自己的目標。
Even better, students around the world will be able to use personalized learning tools over the internet, even if they don't live near good schools. Of course it will take more than technology to give everyone a fair start in life, but personalized learning can be one scalable way to give all children a better education and more equal opportunity.
更好的是，全世界的學生都能在網上使用個性化的學習工具，即便有人沒出生在好的校區。誠然，讓所有人都處在同一起跑線上需要的不僅僅是科技，但是個性化的學習是讓所有孩子獲得更好教育、更平等機會的一個好辦法。
We're starting to build this technology now, and the results are already promising. Not only do students perform better on tests, but they gain the skills and confidence to learn anything they want. And this journey is just beginning. The technology and teaching will rapidly improve every year you're in school.
我們現在就在打造這種技術，而且已經取得了一些進展。學生們不僅僅是拿到了更高的分數，也獲得了技能和信心，學習他們想學的任何東西。這一切只是剛剛開始。等你上學的時候，技術與教育將日新月異地發展。
Your mother and I have both taught students and we've seen what it takes to make this work.
我和你母親都教過學生，我們知道要付出什麼樣的努力才能讓這一切實現。
It will take working with the strongest leaders in education to help schools around the world adopt personalized learning. It will take engaging with communities, which is why we're starting in our San Francisco Bay Area community. It will take building new technology and trying new ideas. And it will take making mistakes and learning many lessons before achieving these goals.
這需要與教育領域最卓越的人士合作，幫助全球的學校採用個性化學習方法。這需要接觸社群，這就是為什麼我們選擇從舊金山灣區開始。這需要打造新的技術，嘗試新的理念。這需要試錯吸取經驗教訓，才能取得成果。
But once we understand the world we can create for your generation, we have a responsibility as a society to focus our investments on the future to make this reality.
只要理解了我們能為你們這一代創造的世界，我們就有責任，全社會共同努力投資未來，使其變為現實。
Together, we can do this. And when we do, personalized learning will not only help students in good schools, it will help provide more equal opportunity to anyone with an internet connection.
齊心協力就能成功。當我們成功之時，個性化的學習不光會幫助好學校的學生，而且會給任何能上網的人帶來更平等的機會。
Many of the greatest opportunities for your generation will come from giving everyone access to the internet.
對你們這一代來說，許多重大機遇將源自讓所有人都接觸網際網路。
People often think of the internet as just for entertainment or communication. But for the majority of people in the world, the internet can be a lifeline.
人們通常以為，網際網路只是娛樂或溝通工具。但對全球大多數人來說，網際網路可以是條生命線。
It provides education if you don't live near a good school. It provides health information on how to avoid diseases or raise healthy children if you don't live near a doctor. It provides financial services if you don't live near a bank. It provides access to jobs and opportunities if you don't live in a good economy.
如果你家不在好校區，它可以提供教育。如果你家附近沒醫生，它能提供有關資訊，預防疾病，保證孩子的健康。如果你家附近沒有銀行，它能提供金融服務。如果你經濟狀況不佳，它能提供職位選擇和機遇。
The internet is so important that for every 10 people who gain internet access, about one person is lifted out of poverty and about one new job is created.
網際網路是如此重要，以至於在每10個上網的人中，就有1個擺脫了貧困，並創造了1個新的工作崗位。
Yet still more than half of the world's population -- more than 4 billion people -- don't have access to the internet.
然而，這個世界上還有多半數人——超過40億——無法上網。
If our generation connects them, we can lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. We can also help hundreds of millions of children get an education and save millions of lives by helping people avoid disease.
如果我們和他們聯通起來，我們就可以讓數十億人擺脫貧困。我們還能幫助數十億兒童接受教育，並通過幫助人們預防疾病的方式挽救數百萬條生命。
This is another long term effort that can be advanced by technology and partnership. It will take inventing new technology to make the internet more affordable and bring access to unconnected areas. It will take partnering with governments, non-profits and companies. It will take engaging with communities to understand what they need. Good people will have different views on the best path forward, and we will try many efforts before we succeed.
這是技術與合作能促進的另一個長期工程。這需要發明新技術，讓上網費用更便宜，接通那些無網路的地區。這需要政府、非營利機構以及公司合作。這需要接觸社群，理解什麼是他們需要的。具體未來要怎樣操作，人們會有不同的看法，我們需要嘗試多次。
Technology can't solve problems by itself. Building a better world starts with building strong and healthy communities.
技術本身不能解決問題。打造一個更好的世界始於打造強大、健康的社群。
Children have the best opportunities when they can learn. And they learn best when they're healthy.
到了學習的時候，讓孩子們有最好的機會。身體健康的時候，他們也會學得好。
Health starts early -- with loving family, good nutrition and a safe, stable environment.
健康是個很早就需要關注的問題——家庭要有愛，要提供充足的營養，以及一個安全穩定的環境。
Children who face traumatic experiences early in life often develop less healthy minds and bodies. Studies show physical changes in brain development leading to lower cognitive ability.
年幼時經歷過創傷的孩子，體質和心理通常發展得不夠完善。研究顯示，在大腦發育時期的器質性病變會導致認知能力下降。
If you have to wonder whether you'll have food or rent, or worry about abuse or crime, then it's difficult to reach your full potential.
如果你要為食物或房租發愁，或者是擔心被虐待和人身安全，那麼也很難發揮全部潛力。
If you fear you'll go to prison rather than college because of the color of your skin, or that your family will be deported because of your legal status, or that you may be a victim of violence because of your religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, then it's difficult to reach your full potential.
如果你因為自己的膚色，而害怕自己進不了大學而是進了監獄，或是因為身份是否合法的問題被驅逐，或是可能因為自己的宗教、性取向或性別認同成為暴力的受害者，那麼就很難發揮全部潛力。
We need institutions that understand these issues are all connected. That's the philosophy of the new type of school your mother is building.
我們需要制度認識到，所有這些問題都不是孤立存在的。你母親在建立的新型學校就要貫徹這種理念。
By partnering with schools, health centers, parent groups and local governments, and by ensuring all children are well fed and cared for starting young, we can start to treat these inequities as connected. Only then can we collectively start to give everyone an equal opportunity.
通過與學校、衛生院、家長會以及地方政府合作，確保所有孩子飲食無憂，從年幼時就得到細心呵護，我們在彼此聯通後就能著手解決這類不平等問題。只有到那時，我們才會共同努力，讓人人平等。
It will take many years to fully develop this model.
這種模式需要發展多年才可成型。
But it's another example of how advancing human potential and promoting equality are tightly linked. If we want either, we must first build inclusive and healthy communities.
這是提高人的潛力且促進平等如何緊密相連的又一個例子。如果我們想要實現這兩者，就必須先打造一個包容健康的社會。
For your generation to live in a better world, there is so much more our generation can do.
為了讓你們這一代生活在更好的世界，我們這一代能做的事情還有很多。
Today your mother and I are committing to spend our lives doing our small part to help solve these challenges. I will continue to serve as Facebook's CEO for many, many years to come, but these issues are too important to wait until you or we are older to begin this work. By starting at a young age, we hope to see compounding benefits throughout our lives.
今天，我和你母親承諾，用我們畢生的精力，為解決這些挑戰盡微薄之力。在今後多年裡，我還將繼續擔任Facebook執行長一職，但上面這些問題是不能等到你長大了，或是我們變老了在著手解決的。早早開始，我們希望在我們這輩子中看到一些複合收益。
As you begin the next generation of the Chan Zuckerberg family, we also begin the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to join people across the world to advance human potential and promote equality for all children in the next generation. Our initial areas of focus will be personalized learning, curing disease, connecting people and building strong communities.
當你成為陳-扎克伯格一家的新接班人時，我們也啟動了“陳-扎克伯格慈善專案”，和其他人一起，提高人的潛力併為下一代孩子創造平等的機遇。我們一開始將關注個性化學習、疾病治癒、聯通人們並打造強大的社群。
We will give 99% of our Facebook shares -- currently about $45 billion -- during our lives to advance this mission. We know this is a small contribution compared to all the resources and talents of those already working on these issues. But we want to do what we can, working alongside many others.
為了這一使命，我們將在今後捐出所持Facebook股份的99%——現在價值大約是450億美元。我們知道，和那些已經在著手解決這些問題的人花費的資源與天分相比，這些捐獻微不足道。但我們想盡自己的一份力，和很多這樣的人攜手並進。
We'll share more details in the coming months once we settle into our new family rhythm and return from our maternity and paternity leaves. We understand you'll have many questions about why and how we're doing this.
我們適應新的家庭節奏，並從育兒假迴歸後，我們將在未來數月分享更多細節。我們知道，你們對我們為何和如何做這些專案存在許多疑問。
As we become parents and enter this next chapter of our lives, we want to share our deep appreciation for everyone who makes this possible.
隨著我們為人父母，掀開人生嶄新一頁時，我們想要對那些讓這一切變為現實的人致以深深的謝意。
We can do this work only because we have a strong global community behind us. Building Facebook has created resources to improve the world for the next generation. Every member of the Facebook community is playing a part in this work.
我們能做這樣一種工作，完全是因為身後有一個強大的全球性社群。打造Facebook為改善下一代的環境提供了資源。Facebook社群的每位成員，都是這份工作的一份子。
We can make progress towards these opportunities only by standing on the shoulders of experts -- our mentors, partners and many incredible people whose contributions built these fields.
只有站在專業人士的肩上，我們才能在這些機遇上取得進展——這裡包括我們的導師、合夥人以及眾多在相關領域上付出的傑出人士。
And we can only focus on serving this community and this mission because we are surrounded by loving family, supportive friends and amazing colleagues. We hope you will have such deep and inspiring relationships in your life too.
我們只能專注於服務這一社群以及這一使命，因為在身邊陪伴我們的是有愛的家庭、相互支援的朋友以及了不起的同事。我們希望在你的人生中，也能出現這樣深刻且積極的人際關係。
Max, we love you and feel a great responsibility to leave the world a better place for you and all children.We wish you a life filled with the same love, hope and joy you give us.
麥克斯，我們愛你，並且把為你和所有孩子留下一個更好的世界當成一個重任。我們希望你的人生中也充滿愛、希望與喜悅——就如同你贈與我們的一樣。
We can't wait to see what you bring to this world.
我們已經等不及要看看你會為這個世界帶來些什麼。
Love,
愛你
Mom and Dad
爸爸和媽媽
2
Dear Basketball,
親愛的籃球，
From the moment
從小時候
I started rolling my dad’s tube socks
我穿著老爸的直筒襪
And shooting imaginary
假裝著
Game-winning shots
我在大西部論壇球館
In the Great Western Forum
投中制勝球的樣子
I knew one thing was real:
我就清楚知道一件事情：
I fell in love with you.
我愛上你了。
A love so deep I gave you my all —
我愛你如此之深，已奉獻我的所有
From my mind & body
從我的思想到我的身體
To my spirit & soul.
從我的精神到我的靈魂
As a six-year-old boy
六歲的我
Deeply in love with you
深深的愛著你
I never saw the end of the tunnel.
我從沒想過這段旅程結束時的樣子
I only saw myself
我只看到我自己
Running out of one.
在這條路上奔跑
And so I ran.
所以我不停的跑
I ran up and down every court
每場比賽我都不停奔跑
After every loose ball for you.
為爭取每一次得到你的機會
You asked for my hustle
你需要我拼盡全力
I gave you my heart
我為你奉上了我的心
Because it came with so much more.
因為這需要的不僅僅是盡力。
I played through the sweat and hurt
我為打球流盡血汗、帶著一身傷病
Not because challenge called me
不是因為困難在挑戰我
But because YOU called me.
而是因為你在呼喚我
I did everything for YOU
我已經為你做了一切
Because that’s what you do
因為你也是這樣對待我
When someone makes you feel as
因為你讓我感覺
Alive as you’ve made me feel.
我自己是一個鮮活的人
You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream
你讓一個6歲的孩子實現了他的湖人夢
And I’ll always love you for it.
為此我將永遠愛你。
But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer.
但是我不能再如此迷戀你了
This season is all I have left to give.
這個賽季是我所能給的僅有的
My heart can take the pounding
我的心還能繼續承受各種打擊
My mind can handle the grind
我的意志也還能繼續堅持下去
But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye.
但我的身體讓我知道是時候說再見了
And that’s OK.
這也很好
I’m ready to let you go.
我已經做好準備跟你說再見了
I want you to know now
我現在只是想讓你知道
So we both can savor every moment we have left together.
我們倆都可以永遠珍藏著彼此一起度過的每一段時光
The good and the bad.
無論是好的，還是壞的
We have given each other
我們已經給了彼此
All that we have.
我們所能給的全部
And we both know, no matter what I do next
我們倆都知道，接下來無論我去做什麼
I’ll always be that kid
我都會是那個
With the rolled up socks
穿著老爸的直筒襪
Garbage can in the corner
瞄準角落裡的垃圾桶
:05 seconds on the clock
假裝進攻時間還有5秒
Ball in my hands.
手裡拿著籃球的小孩
5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1
5秒…4秒…3秒…2秒…1秒
Love you always,
一直愛你的，
Kobe
科比