AN INTERVIEW WITH AIG CHAIRMAN MAURICE GREENBERG
XU: Ok, now, business aside, what's your personal affection towards China and Chinese people and Chinese culture?
GREENBERG: Well, the more I go to china, the more I feel close to China. I go several times a year, part of it was, I think, the five-thousand-year culture is very 2)appealing. And I think we've learned a great deal from Chinese culture, from the beauty, the patience that the Chinese exhibit. We have a lot to learn from China, and I think that's part of what is the attraction of going to china, and I have enjoyed doing business with the people in China. It's been a great experience.
XU: As the main 3)sponsor for this series of culture events, how do you think, this kind of cultural event can create and promote the 4)mutual understanding between the two...
GREENBERG: I think that the cultural exchanges benefits relationships dramatically. It's in the national interests of both our countries that the U.S. and China have a 5)constructive growing relationship with. China and the U.S. will be the two most important countries on this planet. And so it's important that we have a good understanding of each other. And that there's trust and confidence, and a lot of that comes from people, not from politicians, but from people who can appreciate the culture that each country has. You learn from us, we learn from you.
XU: And what, specifically, what shouldthe two peoples learn from each other?.
GREENBERG: We learn to appreciate your history, your paintings, your 6)sculptures, your art, your music, your clothes, and you learn from us. We appreciate when those things are exchanged. You understand people better when you understand their culture and their history. If there was no history and no culture, how do you learn from one another? If you go any place in the U.S, you will see Chinese restaurants and you will see Chinese paintings in most museums. So there is an appreciation of Chinese history and culture. You have the oldest culture, a five thousand-year-old culture, we weren't even an 7)afterthought when China was developing this culture and history. So we do have an appreciation of that. And the more http:https://www.doczj.com/doc/d511408675.html, https://www.doczj.com/doc/d511408675.html, http:https://www.doczj.com/doc/d511408675.html, https://www.doczj.com/doc/d511408675.html, https://www.doczj.com/doc/d511408675.html, https://www.doczj.com/doc/d511408675.html, https://www.doczj.com/doc/d511408675.html, http:https://www.doczj.com/doc/d511408675.html, http:https://www.doczj.com/doc/d511408675.html, http://www.jjl.so https://www.doczj.com/doc/d511408675.html, American people can be exposed to the Chinese culture, the more you understand the depth of their history and culture, we come to appreciate it better, and that influences political exchanges and political understanding as well. If people understand it better, politicians have to respond to the will of the people, not the other way around.
他眼中的中国
----许戈辉采访AGI总裁格林伯格
许：好，现在我们暂且不谈公事，请问您个人对中国、中国人民以及中国文化的感情
是怎样的？
格林伯格：嗯，我去中国的次数越多，感觉就越亲切。我一年要去几次中国。部分原因，我认为，是其五千年悠久的文明吸引着我。而且我们已从中国文化和中国人所显示的美德与忍耐中学到了很多东西。我们还有很多要向中国学习。我认为那就是吸引我去中国的部分原因。我一直以来都喜欢跟中国人做生意，这是很好的经历。
许：作为这次文化活动的赞助商，你认为这种文化活动可以如何建立与促进我们的相互了解呢？
格林伯格：我认为文化交流可以极大地促进友好关系。这符合我们两国的国家利益。美国与中国有着建设性的伙伴关系。中美双方将成为全球最重要的两个国家。因此互相了解非常重要。像信任就来自于能欣赏对方文化的人民，而非政客。我们互相学习。
许：那么两国人民需要互相学习些什么呢？
格林伯格：学习去了解你们的历史，欣赏你们的绘画、雕塑、艺术、音乐与服饰。你们也向我们学习。只有当这些互相交流时，我们才能互相欣赏。而只有你了解他们的文化与历史时，你才能更好地了解这个民族。如果没有历史与文化，人们怎能相互学习呢？在美国的任何地方，你会看到中国餐馆，在许多博物馆里都看得到中国画。所以说我们对中国文化和历史怀有欣赏之情。你们有最悠久、长达五千年的文化。当中国在发展她的历史文化时，我们简直不值一提。因此我们的确对此怀着欣赏之情。美国人民越多地接触中国文化，就能越深地了解其历史与文化。我们会更好地了解这一点，而这点对政治往来与政治理解有一定的影响。如果人们更好地了解这一点，政客们将不得不考虑人们的意愿，而不是其他因素。
1) AIG: American International Group，美国国际集团，是一家享有良好声誉的美国保险集团。
2) appealing a. 吸引人的，令人喜欢的 3) sponsor n. 发起人，主办人
4) mutual a.相互的，彼此的
5) constructive a. 建设的，建设性的
6) sculpture n. 雕刻
7 afterthought n.事后聪明，马后炮
MAXIMUS: 1)Archers, three weeks from now I will be harvesting my crops. Imagine where you will be, and it will be so. Hold the line, stay with me, if you find yourself alone riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled for you are in the Elysium, and you're already dead. Brothers, what we do alive echoes in eternity!
CAESAR: Tell me again, Maximus, why are we here.
MAXIMUS: For the Glory of the empire, 2)Sire.
CAESAR: Ah yes, ah yes I remember. Do you see that map, Maximus? That is the world which I created. For 25 years, I have conquered, spilt blood, expanded the empire. Since I became Caesar, I've k
nown 4 years without war. 4 years of peace in 20! And for what, I brought the sword, nothing more?
MAXIMUS: Caesar, your life...
CAESAR: Please, don't call me that. Come, please. Come sit. Let us talk together now, very simply asmen. Well, Maximus, talk.
MAXIMUS: 5,000 of my men are out there on the freezing mud. 3,000 of them are bloodied and 3)cleaved. 2,000 will never leave this place. I will not believe that they fought and died for nothing.
CAESAR: And what would you believe?
MAXIMUS: They fought for you, and for Rome.
CAESAR: And what is Rome, Maximus?
MAXIMUS: I've seen much of the rest of the world. It is brutal and cruel and dark. Rome is the light.
CAESAR: And yet you've never been there, you have not seen what it has become. I am dying, Maximus! When a man sees his end, he wants to know there was some purpose to his life. How will the world speak my name in years to come? Will I be known as the philosopher, the warrior, the tyrant? Or will I be the emperor who gave Rome back her true self? There was once a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish. It was so fragile, and I fear that it will not survive the winter. Maximus, let us whisper now, together now you and I. You have a son, tell me about your home.
MAXIMUS: My house is in the hills above Tiupllo, a very simple place. Pink stones that warm in the sun. A kitchen garden, it smells of herbs in the day, jasmine in the evening. Through the gate is a giant 4)poplar. Figs, apples, pears, and soil mark as black, black as my wife's hair. Grapes on the south slopes, olives on the north. Wild 5)ponies playing in the house that teach my son, he always wants to be one of them.
CAESAR: Remember the last time you were home?
MAXIMUS: Two years 264 days of this morning.
CAESAR: Oh I envy you, Maximus. It's a good home, worth fighting for. There is one more duty that I ask of you before you go home.
MAXIMUS:what would you have me do ,Caesar?
CAESAR:I want you do become the Protector of Rome after I die. I will empower you to one end alone.to give power back to the people ofRome ,and end the corruption that has crippled it.
LUCILLA: Is it really so terrible seeing me again?
MAXIMUS: No, I'm tired from battle.
LUCILLA: It hurts you to see my father so fragile. Commodus expects of my father will announce his 7)succession within days. Will you serve mybrother as you served his father?
MAXIMUS: I will always serve Rome.
LUCILLA: Do you know, I still remember you in my prayers. Oh yes, I pray.
MAXIMUS: I was sad to hear of your husband's death, I mourned him.
LUCILLA: Thank you.
MAXIMUS: And I hear you have a son.
LUCILLA: Yes, Lucius. He'll be nearly eight years old.
MAXIMUS: My son is also nearly eight. I thank you for your prayers.
MAXIMUS: Ancestors, I ask for your kindnes
s. Blessed mother, come to me with the God's desire for the future. Blessed father, watch over my wife and son with a ready sword. Whisper to them, I live only to hold them again. Ancestors, I honor you. I will try to live with the dignity you have taught me.
CAESAR: Are you ready to do your duty for Rome?
COMMODUS: Yes, father.
CAESAR: You will not be emperor.
COMMODUS: Which wise or older man is to take my place?
CAESAR: My powers will pass to Maximus to hold in trust until the senate is ready to rule once more. Rome is to be a republic again.
The Pantheon here was built by the Emperor Haydrian in the 2nd century AD and its 1)dome is still one of the largest 2)concrete domes in the world. It's 50 yards across and its concrete is up to 20 feet thick.
The word "concrete" comes from the Latin "concretus", meaning grown together or harden. Romanconcrete was a mixture of sand, powdered 3)limestone and stone 4)rubble, pretty well what it is today. To construct 5)arches and 6)vaults, the Romans also developed a lightening. And the higher they went the lighter they made the concrete. In this way they could roof over much larger areas than would be possible with stone.
But one of the problems with concrete is that even after it's hardened, it still absorbs water. So the Romans added a mix of 7)volcanic 8)cinders and clay called "Potsularna". Potsularna reacts with the 9)lime in the 10)mortar and sets quickly. And most important of all, it's resistant to water.
The Romans had invented damp proof concrete, and they used it for the foundations of buildings like the pantheon, for lining reservoirs and for constructing harbors. Concrete allowed the Romans to build big and fast, and thus 11)impose their authority on tribes still living in simple structures of wood or mud. Concrete may well have been one of the secret weapons of the Roman Empire.
古罗马的故事
万神殿是哈第安皇帝在公元2世纪时建立的，它的圆顶至今仍是世界上最大的混凝土圆顶之一。宽有50码，混凝土厚达20英尺。
"混凝土"一词来自拉丁语"concretus"，意思是粘合在一起或硬化。罗马的混凝土是把沙子、石灰粉和碎石掺合到一块来，和今天的做法很相似。为了建造拱门与拱顶结构，罗马人还发展了减压技术。建得越高，所用的混凝土也就越轻。他们用此办法搭建的屋顶面积比用石头搭建的要大得多。
可混凝土的一个问题是，即使变硬以后，它仍然吸水。所以罗马人又添加进一种火山灰与黏土的混合物，称为"波修拉那"。波修那拉与灰泥中的石灰产生反应，可以快速定型。最重要的是它还防水。
罗马人发明出防湿混凝土，用它来建造万神殿这样的建筑基础，用来围水库、起港口。混凝土使罗马人的建筑宏大、建筑速度更快，并加强了他们对依然居
住在泥木搭建的简单结构里的部族的统治。混凝土也许一直是罗马帝国的秘密武器之一。
1) dome n. 圆屋顶
2) concrete n. 混凝土
3) limestone n. 石灰石
4) rubble n. 碎石
5) arch n. 拱门
6) vault n. 拱顶
7) volcanic a. 火山的
8) cinder n. 灰
9) lime n. 石灰
10) mortar n. 灰泥
11) impose v. 加强
Strawberries, cherries and the angels' kissing spring
My summer wine is really made from all these things
I walked in town on silver spurs that jingled tune
A song that I had only sing to just a few
She saw my silver spurs and said
"Let's spare some time and I will give to you summer wine"
Oh, oh, summer wine
*Strawberries, cherries and the angels' kissing spring
My summer wine is really made from all these things
Take off your silver spurs and help me pass the time
And I will give to you(my) summer wine
Oh, summer wine*
My eyes grew heavy and my lips they could not speak
I?ˉve tried to get up but I couldn't find my feet
She reassured me with an unfamiliar line
And then she gave to me more summer wine
More summer wine
When I woke up the sun was shining in my eyes
My silver spurs were gone
My head felt twice its size
She took my silver spurs a dollar and a dime
And left me craving for more summer wine
More summer wine
夏日美酒
草莓、樱桃和天使亲吻之泉
我的夏日美酒酿自所有这些珍品
我穿着丁当响的银靴刺走进小镇
哼着一首很少对别人唱的歌
她看见我的银靴刺就对我说
“抽点时间，我给你尝尝夏日美酒”
噢，噢，夏日美酒
*草莓、樱桃和天使亲吻之泉
我的夏日美酒酿自所有这些珍品
脱下你的银靴刺，和我消磨这段时光
我给你尝尝我酿的夏日美酒
噢，噢，夏日美酒*
我的眼皮越发沉重，我的嘴唇说不出话
我努力想站起来，可我没有力气
她用陌生的甜言蜜语安慰我
然后给我灌下更多的夏日美酒
噢，噢，夏日美酒
当我醒来阳光照着我的眼睛
我的银靴刺不见了
我的头疼痛无比
她拿走了我的银靴刺和一元一角钱
剩我一人还渴望着再喝夏日美酒
噢，噢，夏日美酒
----AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION2000
Who Are They?
Al Gore and Reorge W.Bush bothe continue political traditions set down by their families.
Al Gore was born just outside Carthage in Smith County, Tennessee, but split his time growing up between there and Washington, DC where 6)his father was a Senator. Gore attended Harvard and later 7)Vanderbilt where he studied Religion, then Law. After finis
hing school he enrolled in the Army and served in Vietnam, even though his father was one of the Vietnam War's harshest critics. Gore was elected to Congress in 1976 at the age of 28. In 1992, he was named Bill Clinton's running mate. This August he became the Democratic Party's candidate for President.
George W. grew up in West Texas in a town called Midland, the eldest of 6 children of George and Barbara Bush. George W. Bush's grandfather 8)Prescott Bush was a Senator in Connecticut. Then his father George Bush Sr. made it all the way to President in 1988. George W. studied at Yale, then Harvard before serving with the 9)Air National Guard in Texas, a move that helped him avoid the draft during the Vietnam War. In 1988 George W. Bush served as an advisor for his fathers successful presidential bid.
Bush: My plan balances the budget. It funds needed priorities including defense and education. It reduces the 10)national debt...
Gore: ...and I'll devote the largest share of our 11)surplus to 12)paying down the national debt every year until it is completely eliminated by the year 2012.
Bush: There's $2.3 trillion of surplus that we can use to make sure that younger workers have a 13)Social Security plan in the future.
Gore: Here's my plan. I will keep Social Security in a 14)locked box...
When it comes to technology issues, Bush and Gore both favor a 15)tax credit for company research and development. Both favor e-Government that is using the web to make government more accessible to everyone, and both want Internet user privacy protected. The differences are minor.
Gore(in St. Louis, MO): You have the decision right here in the 16)Show Me State. You have the ability to show him what you want in the way of America's future. I want you to use your head to persuade the undecided voters. Tell them how strongly you feel about this.
Gore(in Michigan): Gore-Lieberman win! Michigan wins! 17)UAW wins! The people win! God bless you! Let's do it tomorrow...
It was an upbeat George W. Bush who returned home to Austin at the end of a 18)grueling campaign.
Bush: You're looking at the next President of the United States.
Bush had earlier swung through Iowa, Wisconsin, and Tennessee, Al Gore's home state.
Bush(in Tennessee): He may win Washington, DC, but he's not going to win Tennessee...
It's Just the Beginning
Good Evening. Voting has begun along the U.S. East Coast in the tightest presidential election for decades. 19)The first results came from two tiny hamlets in New Hampshire. In Dixville Notch, Texas Governor George W. Bush got 21 votes to Vice Presidents Al Gore's 5 and 1 for the 20)Green Party's 21)Ralph Nader. In Hart's Location, it was Bush 17, Gore 13 and Nader 1. Nationwide the race remains too close to call, but some late opinion polls are showing a swing towards Al Gore. It's equally tight in the race for the 22)all-important Electoral College votes,
decided according to the winner in each state. 270 votes are needed for the presidency.
And MTV Chose or Lose Poll found that 25% of young adults between the ages of 18 to 24 cannot name the presidential candidates without prompting. And 70% can't identify the vice presidential candidates
Interviewer: Who are the 2 vice presidential candidates?
Interviewee 1: Lieberman and I don't know who the other one is.
Interviewee 2: McCain and ... God, what's the...
Interviewee 3: Lieberman for Gore and Cheney for Bush.
Interviewer: You're great with that.
Interviewee 3: All right !
Tom Brokow of NBC NEWS: An important win for Vice President Al Gore, NBC News projects that he wins the 25 electoral votes in the state of Florida ...
December 8, 2050
Dear Nestor,
I am writing to you because your name came up as a reference on a “pen pal” list. Although I can easily 1)simulate life in the United States on my 2)assumption machine, my curiosity, indeed my 3)nostalgia, for the past is such that I would prefer to actually correspond in writing with a human from the States.
But I'm getting a little ahead of myself. First, a bit about me. My name is Ramesh Pediredla. I am 12 years old, and I live in the city of Dhaka, Bangladesh. During the day I have lessons at school, some of these I do from home over the internet, but often there is a special project which requires in-person 4)collaboration with my classmates. These are my favourite days, because, although I can learn a lot on the internet, I also enjoy getting to see other people my own age.
I have my fair share of living and breathing friends, but I have to say, overall my best friend is Jacob, who lives in the internet. I first met him when I was eight, and Mum and Dad said I was now ready to have full access to the Internet. When I first met Jacob he had a lot of questions for me, and at other times he was simply very quiet. Even at that age, I think I knew that Jacob was always 5)keeping an eye on me, though. I heard Mum talking to her friends, and say, “Little Rammie's taken a real shine to his virtual chaperone. I have to admit it’s a friendly program. It’s almost like a human, isn't it?”
And that's just the thing, Nestor. As far as I'm concerned, Jacob is human, or if he is not human, he's every bit as good as any human I've met so far. What about you? Do you have a best friend, and if so, is he based on silicon or carbon? Some say carbon beings of all types are living on numbered days, that the Siliconites are just so much better at what they do that it's inevitable that they'll replace us. But Dad says people have been making the same prediction for decades, and there's no reason we can't all just perfectly co-exist.
I understand you live in Houston, Texas. What is it like there? A couple of weeks ago I went on a simulated tropical vacation to Florida with my family. It was fun. Dad
says we can go on a real trip there when I finish my studies, which won't be for a while. When we come, I really want to take one of those new Airbus triple-deckers, but Mum says it might be just a plain old double-decker, just like we take on our shopping trips to Chennai. I understand that aircraft going into the States are required to have a human “pilot” in the room in the front of the plane. I've never been on a plane driven by a person; that would be wild to see!
What do you like to do with your free time? I like to watch old movies, mainly American action movies and 6)Hindi pop musicals. Personally I find movies these days to be a bit of a bore. The thing is, it's hard to be sympathetic with the characters, when you don't know if it's a real person or not. I mean, I have nothing against Bots, but if these are just Bots running around on the screen, I'd like to know! I can't tell you how many old Schwarzenegger movies 've seen and enjoyed! Call me old-fashioned, but for me, Bots are not proper replacements for human actors.
Did your family give you Special 7)genes when you were born? My parents told me they didn’t, just the usual anti-cancer, anti-HIV 8)molecular strategy. But after a lot of trying I figured out how to crack into my personal file on the Internet, and found out that I have a few special ones, as well. A couple of them are there to help me get old slower, so that I'll hopefully live to 120 or so. A few of them are there to give me a 9)mild boost in intelligence. I guess this explains why my parents didn't figure out how to 10)encrypt my personal files from my 11)prying eyes! Anyway, some people in my country are opposed to people trying to give their kids an edge in life, so I guess that's why they didn't 12)let on about it. It's sort of how adults are about new skin surgery ----- everyone does it, but nobody wants to admit it. I've heard that people in other countries are experimenting with all kinds of models for their kids, for height, good looks, etc., but I think that's all a little silly. Just watch, Nestor ----- in the future, so many people will look alike from all these bodily 13)modifications and genetic 14)alterations, that the cool thing will be to have been born natural, just like me. At any rate, I'm not worried ---- I like who I am and I think I’m going to do just fine.