10. Knowing the Consequences of Choice (2)
选择的重要性（二）

单词与词组   Words and phrases
diplomat                       //                 n.     外交家
mutual                        //                 a.     相互的
bewildered                 //                 a.           令人困惑的
merely                        //                        adv. 仅仅
essential                 //                 a.           基本的
perspective                //                 n.         视野

根据朗读标记，听录音跟读，然后背诵。
        First, I would like to say: To choose▼ means to claim opportunities.
        I am︵ a third-year English major. An︵ important choice for me, of course, is to know what to do▼ upon graduation. I can go to graduate school,↗ at︵ home↗ or︵ abroad.↘ I can go to work︵ as︵ a teacher,↗ a translator,↗ a journalist,↗ an︵ editor↗ and︵ a diplomat.↘ Actually, the system︵ of mutual selection has allowed me▼ to approach almost every career︵ opportunity▼ in China.
        All︵ of these sound good. But they are only possibilities. To those︵ of︵ us▼ who are bewildered︵ at the abundance︵ of opportunities, I would like to say: To choose▼ means to accept challenge.
        To us young people, challenge often emerges in the form︵ of competition. In the next century, competition will not︵ only come from other college graduates, but︵ also from people︵ of︵ all ︵ages▼↗ and︵ of︵ all origins.↘
        With︵ increasing international︵ exchanges, we have to face growing competition▼ from the whole︵ outside world. This︵ is calling for︵ a higher level ▼of︵ our personal development.
        Fifteen years︵ ago, the knowledge︵ of a foreign language↗▼ or︵ of computer︵ operation▼ was considered merely an︵ advantage. But today, with wider educational︵ opportunities,↗ this same knowledge has become essential▼ to everyone.
        As we gain more initiative in choice making, the consequence︵ of︵ each choice, also becomes more︵ important.
        Nuclear power, for︵ instance, may improve︵ our quality of life. But it can︵ also be used▼ to damage the lives︵↗ and possessions︵ of millions. Economic development has enriched our lives▼ but brought with︵ it serious harm to our air,↗ water↗ and health.↘ To those︵ of us▼ who are blind to the consequences︵ of their choices, I would like to say: To choose▼ means to take responsibility. As policy makers︵ of the next century, we cannot fail to see our responsibility▼ to those who share the earth with︵ us.
        The traditional Chinese culture teaches︵ us to study hard↗▼ and work hard▼ so as to honor our family. To me, however, this family is not just the five︵ of us▼ who quarreled︵ over television programs. Rather, it︵ is the whole︵ of the human family. As︵ I am making my choices, I will not forget the smile︵ of my teacher ▼when I correctly spelled︵ out the word "China"▼ for the first time. I will not forget the tearful︵ eyes︵ of women︵↗ and children▼ in Bosnia,↗ Chechen↗ and Somali, where millions︵ are suffering from war,↗ famine↗ or poverty.↘
        All these people, known↗ or unknown, make︵ up︵ our big human family. At different points, they come︵ into my life▼ and broaden my perspective. Now as︵ I am to make choices for myself, it︵ is time to make︵ efforts▼ to improve their lives, because︵ a world will benefit us all▼ only if everyone in︵ it▼ can lead︵ a peaceful︵ ▼and prosperous life.

背诵小贴士 Recitation tips
两大主题, 是挑战也是机会：
1. To choose means to claim opportunities.
2. To choose means to accept challenge.

参考译文
选择的重要性（二）
        首先，我认为，选择意味着抓住机遇。
        我是英语专业三年级学生，我所面临的一个重大选择当然是毕业后的去向。我可以攻读硕士学位，或在国内，或在国外。我可以走上工作岗位，做名教师、翻译、记者、编辑或外交家。实际上，双向选择的体制在我面前铺开了通向各行各业的大道。
        所有这一切听上去令人振奋，但它们毕竟只是可能性。有些人面对五花八门的选择觉得眼花缭乱，我要告诉他们：选择就意味着接受挑战。
        对于我们青年一代，挑战常以竞争的形式出现。到下个世纪，竞争者将不仅只是其他大学毕业生，更有各行各业不同年龄层的人们。随着国际交流的不断增多，我们得面对来自整个外部世界日益激烈的竞争，这就对我们个人的发展提出了更高的要求。
        十五年前，懂门外语或会用计算机是个优越条件。但今天，随着受教育面的拓宽，以上的知识也成了每个人必备的条件。
        当我们面对选择，不断增强自己的主动性时，每一次选择的结果也同样变得愈加重要。
        比方说，核能可以提高人民的生活水平，可它同样也能毁灭千万人的生命财产。经济的发展使我们富裕起来，却也给我们的空气、水和健康带来了严重危害。有些人对选择的后果毫不在乎，我要对他们说：选择还意味着承担责任。作为下个世纪的决策者，我们必须承担对和我们共同拥有这个地球的人们所负的责任。
        传统的中华文化教育我们，要勤奋学习，努力工作，以荣耀家门。然而我认为，这个家门并不只指诸如我的那个争看电视的五口小家。更确切地说，它指的是整个人类这个大家庭。当我为自己的未来做出选择时，我不会忘记自己第一次正确读出“China”这个单词时老师脸上的笑容。我更不会忘记饱受战火、饥荒、贫困蹂躏的波斯尼亚、车臣、索马里，不会忘记那里成千上万的妇女儿童泪水模糊的双眼。
        所有这些我认识或不认识的人们组成了人类这个大家庭。他们从不同的时空中走进了我的生活，开拓了我的视野。现在，我将为自己做出抉择，该是为使他们的生活变得美好而奋斗的时候了。因为只有当每个人都过上和平、富足的生活，世界才能成为大家的乐园。