读一读英国女王的圣诞演讲
以下文章选自《英文精读写作》
每年圣诞节，英国女王伊丽莎白都会在英国的白金汉宫或其他王室城堡里发表圣诞演讲致辞(今年在温莎城堡)，今年也不例外，这也是每年圣诞节期间最备受英国人关注的事情之一。
英国女王的演讲是标准的英式发音，是极佳的练习听力的材料。建议大家先盲听几遍，再对照下面的逐字稿听一遍。
演讲视频如下：
逐字稿如下：
Queen's Christmas speech
As a child, I never imagined that one day a man would walk on the moon. Yet this year we marked the 50th anniversary of the famous Apollo 11 mission。
小时候，我从未想象过有一天人类会在月球上行走。但是今年，我们纪念了阿波罗11号登月50周年。
As those historic pictures were beamed back to Earth, millions of us sat transfixed to our television screens, as we watched Neil Armstrong taking a small step for man and a giant leap for mankind - and, indeed, for womankind. It's a reminder for us all that giant leaps often start with small steps.
随着这些历史照片传回地球，成千上万的人坐在电视屏幕上，惊叹着看着尼尔·阿姆斯特朗为人类迈出了一小步，不管是男人还是女人，都迈出了巨大的飞跃。这提醒我们，千里之行始于足下。
This year we marked another important anniversary: D-Day. On 6th June 1944, some 156,000 British, Canadian and American forces landed in northern France. It was the largest ever seabourne invasion and was delayed due to bad weather.
今年是另一个重要的周年纪念日：诺曼底登陆纪念日。1944年6月6日，大约有15.6万英国、加拿大和美国的部队在法国北部登陆。这是史上规模最大的海上登陆战役，但因天气原因而推迟。
I well remember the look of concern on my father's face. He knew the secret D-Day plans but could of course share that burden with no one.
我很清楚地记得父亲脸上担忧的表情。他当时已经知道秘密登陆的计划，但必须独自承受这份重担。
For the 75th anniversary of that decisive battle, in a true spirit of reconciliation, those who had formally been sworn enemies came together in friendly commemorations either side of the Channel, putting past differences behind them.
在诺曼底登陆75周年之际，那些曾经是劲敌的各方本着真正的和解精神，在英吉利海峡两岸举行友好纪念活动，将过去的分歧抛在脑后。
Such reconciliation seldom happens overnight. It takes patience and time to rebuild trust, and progress often comes through small steps.
这种和解几乎不会立即实现。重建信任需要耐心和时间，而且这些进展通常需要通过一小步一小步来实现的。
Since the end of the Second World War, many charities, groups and organisations have worked to promote peace and unity around the world, bringing together those who have been on opposing sides.
自第二次世界大战结束以来，许多慈善机构，团体和组织致力于在世界范围内促进和平与团结，将对立的各方聚集在一起。
By being willing to put past differences behind us and move forward together, we honour the freedom and democracy once won for us at so great a cost.
我们愿意放下过去的分歧携手并进，以此来尊重曾经以巨大代价获得的自由和民主。
The challenges many people face today may be different to those once faced by my generation, but I have been struck by how new generations have brought a similar sense of purpose to issues such as protecting our environment and our climate.
今天许多人面临的挑战可能与我们这一代人曾所面临的挑战不同，我也对新一代给如何保护环境和气候的带来的目标感感到惊讶。
My family and I are also inspired by the men and women of our emergency services and armed forces; and at Christmas we remember all those on duty at home and abroad, who are helping those in need and keeping us and our families safe and secure.
我和我的家人也被紧急服务和武装部队的工作人员们所感动；在圣诞节，让我们记住那些在国内外值勤的工作者们，他们帮助那些需要帮助的人，保障我们和家人的安全。
Two hundred years on from the birth of my great, great grandmother, Queen Victoria, Prince Philip and I have been delighted to welcome our eighth great grandchild into our family.
从我高祖母维多利亚女王出生的两百年后，我和菲利普王子很高兴欢迎我们的第八位曾孙进入我们的家庭。
Of course, at the heart of the Christmas story lies the birth of a child: a seemingly small and insignificant step overlooked by many in Bethlehem.
当然，圣诞节故事的核心在于孩子的诞生：这是看似很小且不重要的一个环节，被Bethlehem(耶稣出生地)的很多人所忽视。
But in time, through his teaching and by his example, Jesus Christ would show the world how small steps taken in faith and in hope can overcome long-held differences and deep-seated divisions to bring harmony and understanding.
但是随着时间的流逝，耶稣将通过他的教导和榜样向世界表明，在信仰和希望中迈出的一小步可以克服长期而根深蒂固的分歧，从而带来和谐与理解。
Many of us already try to follow in his footsteps. The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference.
我们中的许多人已经尝试跟随他的脚步。当然，路途并不总是那么顺利，今年也许有时会感到十分坎坷，但一小步就能改变世界。
As Christmas dawned, church congregations around the world joined in singing It Came Upon The Midnight Clear. Like many timeless carols, it speaks not just of the coming of Jesus Christ into a divided world, many years ago, but also of the relevance, even today, of the angel's message of peace and goodwill.
在圣诞节来临之际，世界各地的教堂会共同演唱《在晴朗午夜降临》。就像许多永恒的颂歌一样，它不仅说明了多年前耶稣基督进入一个分裂的世界，而且还说明了即使在今天，天使传达的和平与善意依旧重要。
It's a timely reminder of what positive things can be achieved when people set aside past differences and come together in the spirit of friendship and reconciliation. And, as we all look forward to the start of a new decade, it's worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change.
这及时提醒我们，当人们本着友谊与和解的精神，抛弃过去的分歧并团结在一起时，可以取得积极的成就。而且，当我们都期待下一个10年时，我们要记住，能够带来持久改变的，往往是这些小步，而不是大的飞跃。
And so, I wish you all a very happy Christmas.
最后，祝大家圣诞快乐。
虽然是演讲稿，但是其中都是正式的书面语，非常值得模仿和学习。演讲稿较长，有600多词，我选取了其中一些地道表达和值得学习的语言点带大家学习。
1 As a child, I never imagined that one day a man would walk on the moon. Yet this year we marked the 50th anniversary of the famous Apollo 11 mission.
mark在这里表示庆祝，相当于celebrate，逻辑主语一般为人。mark还有一个相似的意思：事件发生的纪念日(if a particular year, month, or week marks an important event, the event happened on that date during a previous year)，此时逻辑主语为年代、月份等时间。可以将第二句话改为：Yet this year marks the 50th anniversary of the famous Apollo 11 mission. 此时的mark可以理解为is。
2 As those historic pictures were beamed back to Earth, millions of us sat transfixed(=shocked) to our television screens, as we watched Neil Armstrong taking a small step for man and a giant leap for mankind - and, indeed, for womankind. It's a reminder for us all that giant leaps often start with small steps.
womenkind是由mankind变形而来的。女王之所以会这样说，是因为一些英美人士认为用mankind/man等词表示人时带有性别歧视的色彩，而且阿姆斯特朗是男性，从中可以看出女王对于男女平等的提倡。我在之前一篇文章中专门讨论过这一问题，相信不久womenkind也会被写进词典。这篇演讲稿当中还出现了一句话：My family and I are also inspired by the men and women of our emergency services and armed forces. 其中的men and women 也充分体现了这一点。
a reminder that 提醒...。在英文写作当中，比remind sb that更加正式。如果后面是名词成分，而不是句子的话，则用a reminder of sth(=remind sb of sth). 这个表达在演讲中也出现了：It's a timely reminder of what positive things can be achieved when people set aside past differences and come together in the spirit of friendship and reconciliation. 而且使用reminder的一个好处就是可以避免不必要的人称，而remind后必须加人称。
leap表示增长或改变(a large increase or change)。在这里可以理解为巨大的进步。Giant leaps often start with small steps就相当于“千里之行始于足下”。leap还有一个地道的短语：by leaps and bounds突飞猛进地。如Information technology has advanced by leaps and bounds.
3 Such reconciliation(和解) seldom happens overnight. It takes patience and time to rebuild trust, and progress often comes through small steps.
overnight突然地(in a very short time)。即可作副词，也可作形容词。比如an overnight success突然的成功 | become famous overnight突然出名。作副词时常与happen/change/become+adj搭配。
It takes...to do sth 需要...才能做成某事。是个非常实用的写作句型，比如It takes hard work, perseverance as well as luck to succeed.千万不要将句子写成了It needs...to...。
come through经历(to be making progress after a difficult or dangerous experience)，比如Success often comes through hard work and perseverance.
4 By being willing to put past differences behind us and move forward together, we honour the freedom and democracy once won for us at so great a cost.
put sth behind you 试图忘记(不好的事)(to try to forget about an unpleasant event or experience and think about the future)不要把put past当成是一个短语了。put past differences behind us表示的就是“化干戈为玉帛”。倒数第二段当中还出现了另一个同义表达：set aside past differences。set aside differences就是“求同存异”当中的“存异”，“求同”为seek common ground，连起来就是seek common ground while setting aside differences。
win在这里表示努力获得(to succeed in getting something that you want because of hard work or ability) 如won the respect of peers获得同龄人的尊重. once won for us at so great a cost作后置定语修饰前面的freedom and democracy，相当于freedom and democracy that were once won for us at so great a cost.
at so great a cost就相当于at such a great cost. so+形容词+a/an+名词单数=such+a/an+形容词+名词单数。
5 Many of us already try to follow in his footsteps. The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference.
follow in one's footsteps效仿某人。还有个类似的表达：follow one's example 以某人为榜样。其中example表示的就是role model。
bumpy坎坷的(involving both failures and successes)，可以用来形容事物的发展状况。如It has been a bumpy road to justice.实现正义的道路很艰难。与前面的smooth意思刚好相反。在外刊中也出现过类似的表达，比如下面这段当中的there are bumps on the road to growth.也可以改写为the road to growth is bumpy/not smooth.
6 As Christmas dawned, church congregations(集会) around the world joined in singing It Came Upon The Midnight Clear. Like many timeless carols(颂歌), it speaks not just of the coming of Jesus Christ into a divided world, many years ago, but also of the relevance, even today, of the angel's message of peace and goodwill.
dawn开始，来临(if a period of time or situation dawns, it begins)如In the late 1970s, the personal computer era was dawning. dawn作动词时，还有一个非常地道的表达: dawn on someone某人突然明白(to become known or obvious to someone, often suddenly)。如It began to dawn on her that she was lost.
timeless经久不衰的(not affected by time or by changes in fashion)如the timeless beauty of Venice。
speak of表明(to show clearly that something happened or exists)主要出现在书面语当中。如Her skin spoke of warm summer days spent in the sun. not just of the coming of Jesus Christ into a divided world和but also of the relevance of the angel's message of peace and goodwill是并列结构，为保持形式一致，not just和but also后面均要加一个of。
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每年圣诞节，英国女王伊丽莎白都会在英国的白金汉宫或其他王室城堡里发表圣诞演讲致辞(今年在温莎城堡)，今年也不例外，这也是每年圣诞节期间最备受英国人关注的事情之一。
英国女王的演讲是标准的英式发音，是极佳的练习听力的材料。建议大家先盲听几遍，再对照下面的逐字稿听一遍。
演讲视频如下：
逐字稿如下：
Queen's Christmas speech
As a child, I never imagined that one day a man would walk on the moon. Yet this year we marked the 50th anniversary of the famous Apollo 11 mission。
小时候，我从未想象过有一天人类会在月球上行走。但是今年，我们纪念了阿波罗11号登月50周年。
As those historic pictures were beamed back to Earth, millions of us sat transfixed to our television screens, as we watched Neil Armstrong taking a small step for man and a giant leap for mankind - and, indeed, for womankind. It's a reminder for us all that giant leaps often start with small steps.
随着这些历史照片传回地球，成千上万的人坐在电视屏幕上，惊叹着看着尼尔·阿姆斯特朗为人类迈出了一小步，不管是男人还是女人，都迈出了巨大的飞跃。这提醒我们，千里之行始于足下。
This year we marked another important anniversary: D-Day. On 6th June 1944, some 156,000 British, Canadian and American forces landed in northern France. It was the largest ever seabourne invasion and was delayed due to bad weather.
今年是另一个重要的周年纪念日：诺曼底登陆纪念日。1944年6月6日，大约有15.6万英国、加拿大和美国的部队在法国北部登陆。这是史上规模最大的海上登陆战役，但因天气原因而推迟。
I well remember the look of concern on my father's face. He knew the secret D-Day plans but could of course share that burden with no one.
我很清楚地记得父亲脸上担忧的表情。他当时已经知道秘密登陆的计划，但必须独自承受这份重担。
For the 75th anniversary of that decisive battle, in a true spirit of reconciliation, those who had formally been sworn enemies came together in friendly commemorations either side of the Channel, putting past differences behind them.
在诺曼底登陆75周年之际，那些曾经是劲敌的各方本着真正的和解精神，在英吉利海峡两岸举行友好纪念活动，将过去的分歧抛在脑后。
Such reconciliation seldom happens overnight. It takes patience and time to rebuild trust, and progress often comes through small steps.
这种和解几乎不会立即实现。重建信任需要耐心和时间，而且这些进展通常需要通过一小步一小步来实现的。
Since the end of the Second World War, many charities, groups and organisations have worked to promote peace and unity around the world, bringing together those who have been on opposing sides.
自第二次世界大战结束以来，许多慈善机构，团体和组织致力于在世界范围内促进和平与团结，将对立的各方聚集在一起。
By being willing to put past differences behind us and move forward together, we honour the freedom and democracy once won for us at so great a cost.
我们愿意放下过去的分歧携手并进，以此来尊重曾经以巨大代价获得的自由和民主。
The challenges many people face today may be different to those once faced by my generation, but I have been struck by how new generations have brought a similar sense of purpose to issues such as protecting our environment and our climate.
今天许多人面临的挑战可能与我们这一代人曾所面临的挑战不同，我也对新一代给如何保护环境和气候的带来的目标感感到惊讶。
My family and I are also inspired by the men and women of our emergency services and armed forces; and at Christmas we remember all those on duty at home and abroad, who are helping those in need and keeping us and our families safe and secure.
我和我的家人也被紧急服务和武装部队的工作人员们所感动；在圣诞节，让我们记住那些在国内外值勤的工作者们，他们帮助那些需要帮助的人，保障我们和家人的安全。
Two hundred years on from the birth of my great, great grandmother, Queen Victoria, Prince Philip and I have been delighted to welcome our eighth great grandchild into our family.
从我高祖母维多利亚女王出生的两百年后，我和菲利普王子很高兴欢迎我们的第八位曾孙进入我们的家庭。
Of course, at the heart of the Christmas story lies the birth of a child: a seemingly small and insignificant step overlooked by many in Bethlehem.
当然，圣诞节故事的核心在于孩子的诞生：这是看似很小且不重要的一个环节，被Bethlehem(耶稣出生地)的很多人所忽视。
But in time, through his teaching and by his example, Jesus Christ would show the world how small steps taken in faith and in hope can overcome long-held differences and deep-seated divisions to bring harmony and understanding.
但是随着时间的流逝，耶稣将通过他的教导和榜样向世界表明，在信仰和希望中迈出的一小步可以克服长期而根深蒂固的分歧，从而带来和谐与理解。
Many of us already try to follow in his footsteps. The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference.
我们中的许多人已经尝试跟随他的脚步。当然，路途并不总是那么顺利，今年也许有时会感到十分坎坷，但一小步就能改变世界。
As Christmas dawned, church congregations around the world joined in singing It Came Upon The Midnight Clear. Like many timeless carols, it speaks not just of the coming of Jesus Christ into a divided world, many years ago, but also of the relevance, even today, of the angel's message of peace and goodwill.
在圣诞节来临之际，世界各地的教堂会共同演唱《在晴朗午夜降临》。就像许多永恒的颂歌一样，它不仅说明了多年前耶稣基督进入一个分裂的世界，而且还说明了即使在今天，天使传达的和平与善意依旧重要。
It's a timely reminder of what positive things can be achieved when people set aside past differences and come together in the spirit of friendship and reconciliation. And, as we all look forward to the start of a new decade, it's worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change.
这及时提醒我们，当人们本着友谊与和解的精神，抛弃过去的分歧并团结在一起时，可以取得积极的成就。而且，当我们都期待下一个10年时，我们要记住，能够带来持久改变的，往往是这些小步，而不是大的飞跃。
And so, I wish you all a very happy Christmas.
最后，祝大家圣诞快乐。
虽然是演讲稿，但是其中都是正式的书面语，非常值得模仿和学习。演讲稿较长，有600多词，我选取了其中一些地道表达和值得学习的语言点带大家学习。
1 As a child, I never imagined that one day a man would walk on the moon. Yet this year we marked the 50th anniversary of the famous Apollo 11 mission.
mark在这里表示庆祝，相当于celebrate，逻辑主语一般为人。mark还有一个相似的意思：事件发生的纪念日(if a particular year, month, or week marks an important event, the event happened on that date during a previous year)，此时逻辑主语为年代、月份等时间。可以将第二句话改为：Yet this year marks the 50th anniversary of the famous Apollo 11 mission. 此时的mark可以理解为is。
2 As those historic pictures were beamed back to Earth, millions of us sat transfixed(=shocked) to our television screens, as we watched Neil Armstrong taking a small step for man and a giant leap for mankind - and, indeed, for womankind. It's a reminder for us all that giant leaps often start with small steps.
womenkind是由mankind变形而来的。女王之所以会这样说，是因为一些英美人士认为用mankind/man等词表示人时带有性别歧视的色彩，而且阿姆斯特朗是男性，从中可以看出女王对于男女平等的提倡。我在之前一篇文章中专门讨论过这一问题，相信不久womenkind也会被写进词典。这篇演讲稿当中还出现了一句话：My family and I are also inspired by the men and women of our emergency services and armed forces. 其中的men and women 也充分体现了这一点。
a reminder that 提醒...。在英文写作当中，比remind sb that更加正式。如果后面是名词成分，而不是句子的话，则用a reminder of sth(=remind sb of sth). 这个表达在演讲中也出现了：It's a timely reminder of what positive things can be achieved when people set aside past differences and come together in the spirit of friendship and reconciliation. 而且使用reminder的一个好处就是可以避免不必要的人称，而remind后必须加人称。
leap表示增长或改变(a large increase or change)。在这里可以理解为巨大的进步。Giant leaps often start with small steps就相当于“千里之行始于足下”。leap还有一个地道的短语：by leaps and bounds突飞猛进地。如Information technology has advanced by leaps and bounds.
3 Such reconciliation(和解) seldom happens overnight. It takes patience and time to rebuild trust, and progress often comes through small steps.
overnight突然地(in a very short time)。即可作副词，也可作形容词。比如an overnight success突然的成功 | become famous overnight突然出名。作副词时常与happen/change/become+adj搭配。
It takes...to do sth 需要...才能做成某事。是个非常实用的写作句型，比如It takes hard work, perseverance as well as luck to succeed.千万不要将句子写成了It needs...to...。
come through经历(to be making progress after a difficult or dangerous experience)，比如Success often comes through hard work and perseverance.
4 By being willing to put past differences behind us and move forward together, we honour the freedom and democracy once won for us at so great a cost.
put sth behind you 试图忘记(不好的事)(to try to forget about an unpleasant event or experience and think about the future)不要把put past当成是一个短语了。put past differences behind us表示的就是“化干戈为玉帛”。倒数第二段当中还出现了另一个同义表达：set aside past differences。set aside differences就是“求同存异”当中的“存异”，“求同”为seek common ground，连起来就是seek common ground while setting aside differences。
win在这里表示努力获得(to succeed in getting something that you want because of hard work or ability) 如won the respect of peers获得同龄人的尊重. once won for us at so great a cost作后置定语修饰前面的freedom and democracy，相当于freedom and democracy that were once won for us at so great a cost.
at so great a cost就相当于at such a great cost. so+形容词+a/an+名词单数=such+a/an+形容词+名词单数。
5 Many of us already try to follow in his footsteps. The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference.
follow in one's footsteps效仿某人。还有个类似的表达：follow one's example 以某人为榜样。其中example表示的就是role model。
bumpy坎坷的(involving both failures and successes)，可以用来形容事物的发展状况。如It has been a bumpy road to justice.实现正义的道路很艰难。与前面的smooth意思刚好相反。在外刊中也出现过类似的表达，比如下面这段当中的there are bumps on the road to growth.也可以改写为the road to growth is bumpy/not smooth.
6 As Christmas dawned, church congregations(集会) around the world joined in singing It Came Upon The Midnight Clear. Like many timeless carols(颂歌), it speaks not just of the coming of Jesus Christ into a divided world, many years ago, but also of the relevance, even today, of the angel's message of peace and goodwill.
dawn开始，来临(if a period of time or situation dawns, it begins)如In the late 1970s, the personal computer era was dawning. dawn作动词时，还有一个非常地道的表达: dawn on someone某人突然明白(to become known or obvious to someone, often suddenly)。如It began to dawn on her that she was lost.
timeless经久不衰的(not affected by time or by changes in fashion)如the timeless beauty of Venice。
speak of表明(to show clearly that something happened or exists)主要出现在书面语当中。如Her skin spoke of warm summer days spent in the sun. not just of the coming of Jesus Christ into a divided world和but also of the relevance of the angel's message of peace and goodwill是并列结构，为保持形式一致，not just和but also后面均要加一个of。
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