雅思閱讀材料：奧巴馬給女兒的信

　　Dear Malia andSasha,

　　I know that youve both had a lot of fun these last two years onthe campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs,eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldnt have let you have. But I also know that it hasnt always been easyfor you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that newpuppy, it doesnt make up for all the time weve been apart. I knowhow much Ive missed these past two years, and today I want to tellyou a little more about why I decided to take our family on thisjourney。

　　親愛的馬莉亞和莎夏：

　　我知道這兩年你們倆隨我一路競選都有過不少樂子，野餐、游行、逛州博覽會，吃了各種或許我和你媽不該讓你們吃的垃圾食物。然而我也知道，你們倆和你媽的日子，有時候并不愜意。新來的小狗雖然令你們興奮，卻無法彌補我們不在一起的所有時光。我明白這兩年我錯過的太多了，今天我要再向你們說說為何我決定帶領我們一家走上這趟旅程。

　　When I was a young man, I thought life was all about meabout howId make my way in the world, become successful, and get the thingsI want. But then the two of you came into my world with all yourcuriosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill myheart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans formyself didnt seem so important anymore. I soon found that thegreatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realizedthat my own life wouldnt count for much unless I was able toensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillmentin yours. In the end, girls, thats why I ran for President:because of what I want for you and for every child in thisnation。

　　當我還年輕的時候，我認為生活就該繞著我轉：我如何在這世上得心應手，成功立業(yè)，得到我想要的。后來，你們倆進入了我的世界，帶來的種種好奇、淘氣和微笑，總能填滿我的心，照亮我的日子。突然之間，我為自己譜寫的偉大計劃顯得不再那么重要了。我很快便發(fā)現(xiàn)，我在你們生命中看到的快樂，就是我自己生命中最大的快樂。而我也同時體認到，如果我不能確保你們此生能夠擁有追求幸福和自我實現(xiàn)的一切機會，我自己的生命也沒多大價值。總而言之，我的女兒，這就是我競選總統(tǒng)的原因：我要讓你們倆和這個國家的每一個孩子，都能擁有我想要給他們的東西。

　　I want all our children to go to schools worthy of theirpotentialschools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill inthem a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them tohave the chance to go to collegeeven if their parents arent rich.And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give thembenefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with theirown kids and retire with dignity。

　　我要讓所有兒童都在能夠發(fā)掘他們潛能的學校就讀;這些學校要能挑戰(zhàn)他們，激勵他們，并灌輸他們對身處的這個世界的好奇心。我要他們有機會上大學，那怕他們的父母并不富有。而且我要他們能找到好的工作：薪酬高還附帶健康保險的工作，讓他們有時間陪孩子、并且能帶著尊嚴退休的工作。

　　I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that youll liveto see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives andmake our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our ownhuman boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region,gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in eachother。

　　我要大家向發(fā)現(xiàn)的極限挑戰(zhàn)，讓你在有生之年能夠看見改善我們生活、使這個行星更干凈、更安全的新科技和發(fā)明。我也要大家向自己的人際界限挑戰(zhàn)，跨越使我們看不到對方長處的種族、地域、性別和宗教樊籬。

　　Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war andother dangerous situations to protect our countrybut when we do, Iwant to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that wetry our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, andthat we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and womensafe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings thesebrave Americans fight for are not freethat with the greatprivilege of being a citizen of this nation comes greatresponsibility。

　　有時候為了保護我們的國家，我們不得不把青年男女派到戰(zhàn)場或其它危險的地方，然而當我們這么做的時候，我要確保師出有名，我們盡了全力以和平方式化解與他人的爭執(zhí)，也想盡了一切辦法保障男女官兵的安全。我要每個孩子都明白，這些勇敢的美國人在戰(zhàn)場上捍衛(wèi)的福祉是無法平白得到的：在享有作為這個國家公民的偉大特權之際，重責大任也隨之而來。

　　That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I wasyour age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration ofIndependence and telling me about the men and women who marched forequality because they believed those words put to paper twocenturies ago should mean something。

　　這正是我在你們這年紀時，外婆想要教我的功課，她把獨立宣言開頭幾行念給我聽，告訴我有一些男女為了爭取平等挺身而出游行抗議，因為他們認為兩個世紀前白紙黑字寫下來的這些句子，不應只是空話。

　　She helped me understand that America is great not because it isperfect but because it can always be made betterand that theunfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. Its acharge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each newgeneration to what we know America should be。

　　她讓我了解到，美國所以偉大，不是因為它完美，而是因為我們可以不斷讓它變得更好，而讓它更好的未竟工作，就落在我們每個人的身上。這是我們交給孩子們的責任，每過一代，美國就更接近我們的理想。

　　I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs thatyou see and working to give others the chances youve had. Not justbecause you have an obligation to give something back to thiscountry that has given our family so muchalthough you do have thatobligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Becauseit is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger thanyourself that you will realize your true potential。

　　我希望你們倆都愿接下這個工作，看到不對的事要想辦法改正，努力幫助別人獲得你們有過的機會。這并非只因國家給了我們一家這么多，你們也當有所回饋，雖然你們的確有這個義務，而是因為你們對自己負有義務。因為，唯有在把你的馬車套在更大的東西上時，你才會明白自己真正的潛能有多大。

　　These are the things I want for youto grow up in a world with nolimits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and togrow to compassionate, committed women who will help build thatworld. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn anddream and grow and thrive that you girls have. Thats why Ivetaken our family on this great adventure。

　　這些是我想要讓你們得到的東西：在一個夢想不受限制、無事不能成就的世界中長大，長成具慈悲心、堅持理想，能幫忙打造這樣一個世界的女性。我要每個孩子都有和你們一樣的機會，去學習、夢想、成長、發(fā)展。這就是我?guī)ьI我們一家展開這趟大冒險的原因。

　　I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can everknow. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace,and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the WhiteHouse。

　　Love, Dad

　　我深以你倆為榮，你們永遠不會明白我有多愛你們，在我們準備一同在白宮開始新生活之際，我沒有一天不為你們的忍耐、沉穩(wěn)、明理和幽默而心存感激。

　　Dear Malia andSasha,

　　I know that youve both had a lot of fun these last two years onthe campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs,eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldnt have let you have. But I also know that it hasnt always been easyfor you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that newpuppy, it doesnt make up for all the time weve been apart. I knowhow much Ive missed these past two years, and today I want to tellyou a little more about why I decided to take our family on thisjourney。

　　親愛的馬莉亞和莎夏：

　　我知道這兩年你們倆隨我一路競選都有過不少樂子，野餐、游行、逛州博覽會，吃了各種或許我和你媽不該讓你們吃的垃圾食物。然而我也知道，你們倆和你媽的日子，有時候并不愜意。新來的小狗雖然令你們興奮，卻無法彌補我們不在一起的所有時光。我明白這兩年我錯過的太多了，今天我要再向你們說說為何我決定帶領我們一家走上這趟旅程。

　　When I was a young man, I thought life was all about meabout howId make my way in the world, become successful, and get the thingsI want. But then the two of you came into my world with all yourcuriosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill myheart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans formyself didnt seem so important anymore. I soon found that thegreatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realizedthat my own life wouldnt count for much unless I was able toensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillmentin yours. In the end, girls, thats why I ran for President:because of what I want for you and for every child in thisnation。

　　當我還年輕的時候，我認為生活就該繞著我轉：我如何在這世上得心應手，成功立業(yè)，得到我想要的。后來，你們倆進入了我的世界，帶來的種種好奇、淘氣和微笑，總能填滿我的心，照亮我的日子。突然之間，我為自己譜寫的偉大計劃顯得不再那么重要了。我很快便發(fā)現(xiàn)，我在你們生命中看到的快樂，就是我自己生命中最大的快樂。而我也同時體認到，如果我不能確保你們此生能夠擁有追求幸福和自我實現(xiàn)的一切機會，我自己的生命也沒多大價值。總而言之，我的女兒，這就是我競選總統(tǒng)的原因：我要讓你們倆和這個國家的每一個孩子，都能擁有我想要給他們的東西。

　　I want all our children to go to schools worthy of theirpotentialschools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill inthem a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them tohave the chance to go to collegeeven if their parents arent rich.And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give thembenefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with theirown kids and retire with dignity。

　　我要讓所有兒童都在能夠發(fā)掘他們潛能的學校就讀;這些學校要能挑戰(zhàn)他們，激勵他們，并灌輸他們對身處的這個世界的好奇心。我要他們有機會上大學，那怕他們的父母并不富有。而且我要他們能找到好的工作：薪酬高還附帶健康保險的工作，讓他們有時間陪孩子、并且能帶著尊嚴退休的工作。

　　I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that youll liveto see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives andmake our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our ownhuman boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region,gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in eachother。

　　我要大家向發(fā)現(xiàn)的極限挑戰(zhàn)，讓你在有生之年能夠看見改善我們生活、使這個行星更干凈、更安全的新科技和發(fā)明。我也要大家向自己的人際界限挑戰(zhàn)，跨越使我們看不到對方長處的種族、地域、性別和宗教樊籬。

　　Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war andother dangerous situations to protect our countrybut when we do, Iwant to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that wetry our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, andthat we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and womensafe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings thesebrave Americans fight for are not freethat with the greatprivilege of being a citizen of this nation comes greatresponsibility。

　　有時候為了保護我們的國家，我們不得不把青年男女派到戰(zhàn)場或其它危險的地方，然而當我們這么做的時候，我要確保師出有名，我們盡了全力以和平方式化解與他人的爭執(zhí)，也想盡了一切辦法保障男女官兵的安全。我要每個孩子都明白，這些勇敢的美國人在戰(zhàn)場上捍衛(wèi)的福祉是無法平白得到的：在享有作為這個國家公民的偉大特權之際，重責大任也隨之而來。

　　That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I wasyour age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration ofIndependence and telling me about the men and women who marched forequality because they believed those words put to paper twocenturies ago should mean something。

　　這正是我在你們這年紀時，外婆想要教我的功課，她把獨立宣言開頭幾行念給我聽，告訴我有一些男女為了爭取平等挺身而出游行抗議，因為他們認為兩個世紀前白紙黑字寫下來的這些句子，不應只是空話。

　　She helped me understand that America is great not because it isperfect but because it can always be made betterand that theunfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. Its acharge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each newgeneration to what we know America should be。

　　她讓我了解到，美國所以偉大，不是因為它完美，而是因為我們可以不斷讓它變得更好，而讓它更好的未竟工作，就落在我們每個人的身上。這是我們交給孩子們的責任，每過一代，美國就更接近我們的理想。

　　I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs thatyou see and working to give others the chances youve had. Not justbecause you have an obligation to give something back to thiscountry that has given our family so muchalthough you do have thatobligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Becauseit is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger thanyourself that you will realize your true potential。

　　我希望你們倆都愿接下這個工作，看到不對的事要想辦法改正，努力幫助別人獲得你們有過的機會。這并非只因國家給了我們一家這么多，你們也當有所回饋，雖然你們的確有這個義務，而是因為你們對自己負有義務。因為，唯有在把你的馬車套在更大的東西上時，你才會明白自己真正的潛能有多大。

　　These are the things I want for youto grow up in a world with nolimits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and togrow to compassionate, committed women who will help build thatworld. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn anddream and grow and thrive that you girls have. Thats why Ivetaken our family on this great adventure。

　　這些是我想要讓你們得到的東西：在一個夢想不受限制、無事不能成就的世界中長大，長成具慈悲心、堅持理想，能幫忙打造這樣一個世界的女性。我要每個孩子都有和你們一樣的機會，去學習、夢想、成長、發(fā)展。這就是我?guī)ьI我們一家展開這趟大冒險的原因。

　　I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can everknow. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace,and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the WhiteHouse。

　　Love, Dad

　　我深以你倆為榮，你們永遠不會明白我有多愛你們，在我們準備一同在白宮開始新生活之際，我沒有一天不為你們的忍耐、沉穩(wěn)、明理和幽默而心存感激。