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Hilary’s Living History 希拉里「活出历史」

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课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Former U.S. first lady Hilary Rodham Clinton entered the publishing spotlight in June with the release of her memoir, Living History, which details her eight years in the White House. With a first print run of one million copies, his autobiography has secured Ms. Clinton’s place among the best-known spokeswomen for gender equality.

前美国第一夫人希拉里．萝德汉．柯林顿六月时因为她的回忆录「活出历史」推出而成为出版界镁光灯的焦点。这部书描述她在白宫八年的生活细节。第一刷起跳数目就是一百万本，这本自传已经确立柯林顿夫人成为两性平等最佳代言人的地位。

In Living History, she writes: “I became a lightning rod for political and ideological battles waged over America’s future ….” Indeed, the Clinton’s public and private lives came under intense scrutiny during her years as first lady. Hilary reveals her disappointment at having “botched” the health care reforms she spearheaded in her early years as first lady. Likewise, she discusses the humiliation and betrayal of the Lewinsky affair, which culminated with then-president Bill Clinton’s confession that he had lied about his philandering to his wife and the American people.

在「活出历史」这本书里，她描述「我成了针对美国未来而起的政治和意识形态斗争的众矢之的…」的确，希拉里身为第一夫人期间，柯林顿全家的生活于公于私都成为外界强烈关注的焦点。对于她担任第一夫人早期所带领的健保改革方案未得善果，希拉里透露出失望。同样地，对于陆文斯基丑闻案，她也表白自己感受的羞辱与背叛，当时担任总统的比尔柯林顿，坦承他在处理调情这件事情上对妻子与美国人民扯谎，让她受创更深。

Hilary’s response to adversity was to do what Eleanor Roosevelt had recommended: “[work]…. A schedule so hectic that there was no time for brooding.” In January 2000, as Bill left office, she became the first spouse of a president to run for – left alone win – a seat in the U.S. Senate. Ms. Clinton might well make history again in 2008 as the first woman to run for president.

希拉里自己对付逆境的方法采用的是爱莲娜罗斯福所推荐的方式：「工作…用忙碌的工作使得自己没有剩余的时间多想。」2000年一月比尔柯林顿的白宫任期届满时，希拉里成为美国史上第一位总统夫人不但参选－而且也赢得－参议员的席位。或许2008年时柯林顿夫人将再度创造历史，成为美国第一位女性总统候选人。

Vocabulary

单词发音

memoir [ˋmɛmwɑr] n.（本人写的）回忆录，自传

autobiography [͵ɔtəbaɪˋɑgrəfɪ] n. 自传

lightning rod 避雷针, 比喻: 出状况时, 被批评或怪罪者, 代罪羔羊

wage [wedʒ] v. 开展，发动(运动或战争)

scrutiny [ˋskrutnɪ] n. 详细的检查；仔细的观察

botch [bɑtʃ] v.【非正式】〔因不经心或缺乏技术而〕把…做得拙劣

spearhead [ˋspɪr͵hɛd] v. 当…的先锋﹐带头〔做某事〕

culminate [ˋkʌlmə͵net] v. 达到最高点；达到高潮

philandering [fɪˋlændərɪŋ] adj. & n. 玩弄女性（的），调情（的）

adversity [ədˋvɝsətɪ] n. 逆境；厄运；（经济方面的）窘境

hectic [ˋhɛktɪk] adj. 繁忙的﹐忙乱的

brooding [ˋbrudɪŋ] n. 沉思 & adj. 沉思的  persistent morbid meditation on a problem

might well 很可能

Sentence of the Day

She laid it on the line.

对此事她直言以告。

lay it on the line【口】实话实说

课文讲解

Martin and Julie, an American couple, are discussing the upcoming made-for-TV movie about the life of Hilary Clinton:  一对美籍夫妻马丁和茱莉，正在讨论即将播出的有关希拉里柯林顿生平的电视电影：

M: I bet everybody involved in making this movie read her book. I’m looking forward to some scandal!

我猜参与制作这部电影的每个人一定都看过她的书了。希望能看到性丑闻！

J: Sure, Hilary dished the dirt in her memoir, but I hope the producers emphasize her amazing accomplishments.

当然，希拉里也在她的回忆录里扒粪，不过我希望制作人多强调她的惊人成就。

M: Her life story is fascinating especially for women.

她的生活让人着迷，尤其对女性而言。

J: And you’re not impressed? As a first lady who refused to sit on the sidelines, she challenged public perceptions – and put women in the middle of politics where we belong.

你不感到印象深刻吗？身为第一夫人而不愿在旁边做个花瓶，她挑战的是群众的认知－把女性角色置于政治的中心处，早该让女性参一脚的地方。

M: Yeah, she hoed a tough road. She said she sometimes felt overwhelmed to be “America’s Exhibit A” of women’s changing roles in society.

是啊，她披荆斩棘，开辟出一条路来。她说要在女性的社会变迁中做为「美国样板」，让她感到压力很大。

J: Well, thanks to women like Hilary who’ve reached the top echelons of politics and business – like Vice-President Annette Lu here in Taiwan – we’re moving closer to gender equality.

但是我们要感谢像希拉里这种已经爬到政商圈子顶尖的女性──就像是在台湾的吕秀莲副总统──我们是更接近两性平等了。

M: I wouldn’t bet the farm on Hilary winning the presidency though. Can you really imagine a woman as the commander-in-chief of the world’s most powerful military?

不过我并不看好希拉里将来在总统大选中能获胜。妳真的能想象一名女性成为全球最强大的军队的三军统帅吗？

J: Remember Maggie Thatcher? …. Indira Gandhi? You bet I can! And I’ll enjoy watching her twist some old boys’ arms into diverting part of the billions spent on armaments into schools and hospitals.

还记得英国首相撒切尔夫人吗？…或是印度总理甘地夫人？我可是记忆犹新！而且我很欣赏她劝诱一些老鸟议员，将大把花在军备的数十亿预算移转部份给学校和医院使用。

M: That I can support.

这个我支持。

－by Mary Lasovich

Vocabulary

单词发音

dish the dirt【俚】说坏话; 揭某人的短儿 to tell people unpleasant or shocking personal information about someone

sit on the sideline  置身事外; 冷眼旁观

sideline [ˋsaɪd͵laɪn] n. 界线外（观众观看）的场地

hoe [ho] v. 用锄干活

overwhelm [͵ovɚˋhwɛlm] v. 使受不了；使不知所措

Exhibit A 样板 served as an example of something

echelon [ˋɛʃə͵lɑn] n.〔组织﹑企业等的〕梯队; 阶层

bet the farm （北美，非正式）（在赌博、投资或风险事业上）孤注一掷，破釜沉舟 to spend almost all the money you have on something that you think might bring you success

twist someone's arm （非正式）向…施加压力 to pressure someone

divert [daɪˋvɝt] v. 使转向；使改道

armament [ˋɑrməmənt] n.（军队，要塞，军舰，飞机等的）装备武器

Sentence of the Day

She challenges the old boys' network.

她向旧势力的人脉挑战。

old boys' network: 熟人联系网 an exclusive network that links members of a profession, social class, or organization or the alumni of a particular school through which the individuals assist one another in business, politics, etc