第七单元     Unit 7

人物访谈     Interview

1. 阅读材料   Reading Materials

       

第一篇  Passage 1

 

President Bush Answers Students’ Questions At Qinghua

 

(President W. Bush made a speech at Qinghua University during his visit in China. After the speech he answered the questions asked by the students. The following are some of the questions and answers.)             

Q:  Mr. President, yesterday I watched the press conference made by you and president Jiang Zemin. At the conference, you didn’t clearly answer a question, which is a concern by almost everybody. It’s why the TMD system will cover Taiwan. And what’s more, whenever you talk about the Taiwan issue, you always use a phrase just like, peaceful settlement. You never use the phrase, peaceful reunification. What’s the difference and why?

A:  Thank you, very good question. First of all, I want to compliment you on your English. Very good. The first thing that is important on the Taiwan issue is that my government hopes there is a peaceful, as I said, dialogue, that there is a settlement to this issue. But it must be done in a peaceful way. That’s why I keep emphasizing peaceful. And, by the way, “peaceful” is a word intended for both parties, that neither party should provoke that. 

I also, in your question about missile defenses, have made it clear that our nation will develop defenses to help our friends, our allies, and others around the world protect ourselves from rogue nations that are trying to develop weapons of mass destruction. To me, that’s essential for peace in the world. We have yet to develop a system, and therefore, that’s exactly what I said yesterday. And it’s the truth. But we are in the process of seeing if we can’t develop a system. And I think it will bring more stability to the world than less.

And let me just say one general comment that’s very important for you to know. And it’s also important for the people of my country to know-----that my administration is committed to peacefully resolving issues around the world. We want the issues resolved in a peaceful manner.

And we’ve got a lot of issues that we deal with. We are dealing in the Middle East. And if you follow the news, it’s a very dangerous period of time there. We are working hard to bring a peaceful resolution there. We are working hard to bring a peaceful resolution to Kashmir, which is important for China. And I recently went to Korea and I made it very clear that we want to resolve the issues on the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful way.

Another question, please?

Q:  I’ll repeat my question in English.

A:  Thank you.

Q:  It’s a pity you still haven’t given us a clear question about whether you always use the peaceful settlement. You’ve never said “peaceful reunification”. It’s a pity.

A:  We’re back on Taiwan again-----go ahead.

Q:  This is a question our Chinese people are extremely concerned about.

A:  Yes, I know.

Q:  Three days ago, during your speech in the Japanese Parliament, you said, the United States will still remember its commitment to Taiwan.

A:  Right.

Q:  But my question is, does the U.S. still remember its commitment to 1.3 billion Chinese people? Abiding by the three Joint Communiqués and three notes. Thank you.

A:  Thank you very much. As I said, this seems to be a topic on people’s mind, obviously. I can’t say it any more clearly, that I’m anxious that there be a peaceful resolution that’s going to require both parties to come to a solution. And that’s what I mean by peaceful dialogue. And I hope it happens in my lifetime and I hope it happens in yours. It will be an important milestone. And, secondly, when my country makes an agreement, we stick with it. And there is an act called the Taiwan Relations Act, and I honor that act, which says we will help Taiwan defend herself if provoked. But we’ve also sent the same message that there should be no provocation by either party for a peaceful dialogue.

Q:  Thank you, Mr. Bush. Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the last chance to ask you a question. I have read your autobiography, and in it you wrote about some social problem in the U.S. today, just like the violence in campus and juvenile delinquency, and such as the children in poverty. And we know-----a former schoolmate of our university, Tsinghua, and he studied in USA and was killed last year. And I feel so sad. And I know this kind of crime has become more and more serious in today U.S. As the president, do you have any good plan to improve the human rights today in the U.S.? Thank you.

A:  Sure, well, first of all, I’m proud to report that violent crime actually is going down. But any crime is too much crime. I mean anytime somebody is violent towards their neighbor, it is too much violence. And there is no question, we’ve got people living in poverty. But as I mentioned, our government is very generous in the amounts of money we spend trying to help people help themselves. When we all campaigned for office, one of the big debates is how best to help people help themselves.

 Foreign policy is an important part of our campaigns, of course-----at least for President. But the American voter really is more focused on domestic politics, what’s happening at home, as you can imagine. If the economy is soft, like ours is now, they want to know what’s going to happen-----what are you doing about the economy? If the economy is good, then they don’t talk much about the economy.

But always we talk about two key issues to address your problem. One is welfare; how do we structure a welfare system that helps people in need, and in my judgment, should not make them dependent upon their government. And the other big issue is education. It’s always not only an important part of campaigns, but it’s an important part of being-----once you are in office.

When I was the governor of Texas, I used to always say, an educated child is one less likely to commit a crime. As a governor, and now as President, I have spent a lot of time working with members of both political parties to develop an education plan that starts making sure children learn before they just get shuffled through the system.

One of the saddest facts about my country is that there are a significant number of fourth grade students who can’t read at grade level. Imagine a child who can’t read in the fourth grade is a child that is not going to be able to read in the eighth grade. And if a child can’t read in the eighth grade, it’s likely that child is going to be able to read sufficiently when they get out of high school, and therefore won’t be able to go to college. It’s a shame in America that that’s the case.

So as part of an education bill I managed to get through Congress last year, we’ve got a significant reading initiative, where we’ll work with the states and the local jurisdictions to focus on an education program that emphasizes reading. This I hope to work with my wife and others on an early childhood development program, so the youngsters get the building blocks to learn how to read.

I’m actually working my way to your question, I promise you, because education is the best anti-crime program. It’s important to enforce law. It’s important to hold people accountable for their actions. It’s important to have consistent policy that says if you harm somebody, there will be a punishment for that harm. But in the best interests for my country, the long-term solution is to make sure the education system works for everybody. And when that happens, there will be a more hopeful future for people, and there will be less poverty, less hopelessness, and less crime.

Thank you for letting me come. God bless you all.

 

课文词语  Words and Expressions from the Text

TMD system                           战区导弹防御系统

missile defenses                        导弹防御                           

peaceful settlement                      和平解决

peaceful reunification                    和平统一

be committed to                         致力于  

commitment to Taiwan                   对台湾做出的承诺

three Joint Communiqués                 三个联合公报

juvenile delinquency                     少年犯罪

campaign for office                      (这里指) 总统竞选

before they just get shuffled               在他们开始学步之前

get the building blocks to do …            掌握做事之基础    

                                

第二篇 Passage 2

 

Premier Zhu Answers Questions By the Press

 

(The following are some of the questions and answers by the press and Premier Zhu Rongji at the Fifth Session of the Ninth NPC)  

Q:   Despite the sluggish world economy, China has set its economic growth forecast for this year at 7 percent. Is this growth rate achievable? And what major measures will be taken?

A:   It is true that we have set our forecast of economic growth rate at 7 percent. This figure was arrived at after we gave careful consideration to all the factors, including the slow-down in world economic growth. So 7 percent is within reach. As for the specific measures we are going to adopt to achieve this growth rate, I have already outlined them in the Government Work Report. Judging from our economic performance in the first quarter of this year, the result is actually better than I expected. According to forecast of the State Statistical Bureau, the GDP of the first quarter of this year will grow by 7.5 percent over the same period last year. This gives me much confidence that we will be able to achieve the 7 percent growth rate.

Q:   I have two questions. One is related to the Japan-China relationship. This year marks the 30^th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries. We can expect to see frequent high-level exchanges between the leaders of the two countries. According to my information, through diplomatic channels, the Chinese side expressed the hope that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan can come to China for a visit. My question is, will their visit facilitate the growth of bilateral ties and will the Chinese people welcome them? The second question is related to China’s internal matters. Now in Chinese society, there has been the problem of widening gap between high-income and low-income people. Some experts have called for the improvement of the situation and think it necessary to cultivate and expand the so-called “middle class”. Do you agree to such a view? If yes, what measures are you going to adopt?

A:   This year marks the 30^th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan. The year before last, the Chinese and Japanese sides reached the agreement that this year will be the Year of China-Japan Friendship and a series of events will be organized to celebrate the occasion and to strengthen contact and exchanges between the two sides. In China we will have the Year of Japanese Culture and in Japan, the Year of Chinese Culture. As for the invitation to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan, we have made our wishes known to the Japanese side a long time ago. I am confident that once they are in China, the Chinese people will warmly welcome them.                                                                                                                        

Concerning your second question that referred to the widening gap between the rich and the poor, I think that this problem does exist. You may well still remember that Mr. Deng Xiaoping used to say that we should allow some people to get rich first, which means that inevitably some people are yet to get rich. So within a certain historical period of time, the widening of the gap between the rich and the poor seems unavoidable.

However, while we implement the policy to enable some people get rich first, we always adopt policies to enable low-income groups. How to increase the income of farmers is a subject to which I devoted a considerable amount of my time when I delivered the Government Work Report and it has been regarded as the central task of this government. We have also attached great importance to the development of the social security system, which will take care of laid-off workers, the unemployed and the retirees. These are the priorities of our work. Apart from budgetary allocations, the most important means to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor is the taxation policy, which means to help the groups who are yet to get rich through our taxation policy. I believe that this problem will be solved after a certain period of time.

Q:   Right now, discussions are underway between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland on facilitating closer economic and trade ties between the two sides having arrangements similar to a free trade area. My question is, what measures will the Central Government adopt to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as the financial center in Asia.

A:   Since the establishment of Hong Kong SAR government, Hong Kong has encountered temporary economic difficulties due to the impact of the Asian Financial Crisis. Nevertheless, I always believe that Hong Kong still has incomparable advantages. Hong Kong’s GDP is about the same size as that of Guangdong Province. No major city in the Chinese mainland can surpass Hong Kong in the near term. I believe Hong Kong will be able to overcome its temporary economic difficulties. We have every confidence in that.

As for how the central government will help and cooperate with HK SAR government, right now, officials from the Central Government and HK SAR government are having close consultations. Anything that will bring tangible benefits to Hong Kong, as long as it’s feasible, the Central Government will give it full support. I am confident that Hong Kong will surely maintain its status as a financial center in Asia. With China’s accession to the WTO, Hong Kong is blessed with even more opportunity.

 

课文词语  Words and Expressions from the Text

SAR government                       特别行政区政府

sluggish world economy                 低迷的世界经济

economic growth forecast                经济增长的预测目标

through diplomatic channels              通过外交渠道

implement a policy                     执行政策

laid-off workers                       下岗职工

budgetary allocations                   财政预算分配

the priorities of our work                工作之重点

bring tangible benefits to…              给……带来实惠

 

II. 口译实践Interpretation Practice

 

听译下列课文 Listen to the Following Passages and Interpret them:

英汉交替 Interpretation from English into Chinese or Vice Versa

 

第一篇Passage 1

 

相关词语  Related Words and Expressions

见证人                              witness

义和团战争                          the Boxer war

水缸                                water vat

八国联军                            Allied Forces

刮去水缸表面的镏金                  strip away the gold plating on the vats

掀开我们新的关系史上新的一页        turn a new leaf in our new history

联合国安理会常任理事国              permanent members of UN Security Council 

groundless                           无根据的，无理由的

wield influence                       发挥最大作用

conviction                           坚定的信念

huge sense of                         强烈的印象

be engaged in drug smuggling           从事毒品走私

get the right type of conviction           树立正确的信念

 

     （中央电视台记者采访英国首相布莱尔，一下是采访的部分内容。）

问：  首相先生，您看那边有很多人，我想他们已经知道今天这里有一位尊贵的客人来到了。故宫给您留下什么印象？

A:   This is a piece of extraordinary history. In fact, I actually came here ten years ago for my very first visit to China. I’ve just noticed so many changes in China in the ten years I’ve been away. This is just marvelous.

问： 这么说，这是您第二次来了。

A:   It’s my second time that I’ve been here in China.

问： 首相先生，说到故宫，许多中国人把故宫看成是中国近代史的见证人。当然，这段历史中也包含了中英两国的关系，您知道在义和团战争期间，我们两国之间有些令人不快的回忆。就在这道大门之内，在这儿数百米距离以内，有几十口非常大的水缸。在那次战争中，八国联军的士兵到过这里，并把这些缸表面上的镏金给刮走了，当然那是一段过去的历史了。正如您所说的，随着香港的回归，我们已经卸掉了历史的包袱，正在期待两国关系进入一个崭新的时期。那么，今天您作为一个客人来到这里，同时也作为英国政府的领导人来到这里，你将如何掀开我们新的关系史上新的一页？

A:   I think there is a new relationship between Britain and China today. I mean you’re right in saying in history we’ve had some times of a trouble past but on the other hand the historical links are very strong and what we are trying to do is to renew them for today. And the handover of Hong Kong is obviously a very important moment for Britain and for China. And it’s gone well; it’s gone far better than people expected. I think that’s all to the good really. As to the situation in Hong Kong, there were a lot of concerns expressed about it before the handover took place. I think these concerns have largely proved to be groundless. But it’s been a success story from that point of view. So that is good also for Britain and China. There are many common interests in how we open up trade with one another, in how we ensure that China takes its place in the world as a major power, able to wield influence for good.

问：  您刚刚提到了联合国，中国和英国都是世界上很有影响的国家，我们两国都是联合国安理会常任理事国。您认为我们两国如何能促进在国际事务中的合作？比如说在对付贩毒方面？

A:   I think the closer we work together, the better will be our work on these issues. What we’re learning in the world today is the big challenges that we face. Whether it’s international crime or drugs or it’s the global economic crisis, or it’s political instability in various parts of the world, they can only be tackled together. They can only be tackled by countries recognizing they’ve got a common interest in trying to find the way through the difficulties and challenges that they face. So, for example, on the issue of international crime and drugs, we are now working with China, with other countries, to try and get the right type of conviction together, which will allow us to chase after those people who are engaged in drug smuggling. Now, China’s role in that I think is tremendously important. And again, I think, there is huge sense of China taking its place, rightful place really in the world debating these issues.