·Barack Obama·
Tonight is a particular honor for me because，let’s face it，my presence on this stage is pretty unlikely. My father was a foreign student，born and raised in a small village in Kenya. He grew up herding goats，went to school in a tin-roof shack. His father，my grandfather，was a cook，a domestic servant to the British.
But my grandfather had larger dreams for his son. Through hard work and perseverance my father got a scholarship to study in a magical place： America，that shone as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had come before.
While studying here，my father met my mother. She was born in a town on the other side of the world，in Kansas. Her father worked on oil rigs and farms through most of the Depression. The day after Pearl Harbor，my grandfather signed up for duty，joined Patton’s army，marched across Europe. Back home，my grandmother raised a baby and went to work on a bomber assembly line. After the war，they studied on the GI Bill，bought a house through FHA，and later moved west，all the way to Hawaii，in search of opportunity.
And they，too，had big dreams for their daughter，a common dream，born of two continents. My parents shared not only an improbable love，they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation.
They would give me an African name，Barack，or“blessed，”believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success. They imagined me going to the best schools in the land，even though they weren’t rich，because in a generous America you don’t have to be rich to achieve your potential. They are both passed away now. Yet，I know that，on this night，they look down on me with great pride.
铺就辉煌之路
巴拉克·奥巴马
对我而言，今晚是特别荣耀的时刻。的确，从现实来看，我今天能现身在这个舞台上，简直就是不可能的事。我的父亲是一位外籍学生，在肯尼亚的小村庄出生、长大。他从小以羊为伴，在一间铁皮屋学校接受教育。他的父亲，也就是我的祖父，是英国人的家仆，担任厨师的工作。
但祖父对儿子怀抱着更远大的梦想。因此，靠着艰苦的努力和坚强的意志力，父亲获得了奖学金，在一个充满魔法的地方学习，那就是美国，这里闪烁着自由与机会的光芒，照亮了许多之前来到这里的人。
父亲在这里读书时，遇见了母亲。她出生在世界另一端的堪萨斯州的一个小镇。在大萧条时期，她的父亲，也就是我的外祖父，大部分时候在从事石油钻井的工作，闲时也务农。在珍珠港事件后的第二天，外祖父自愿入伍，投入巴顿将军旗下，远征整个欧洲。在家乡，我的外祖母边抚养孩子，边到轰炸机装配线上去工作。战后，他们利用美国退伍军人权利法案的资助继续深造，并通过联邦住宅管理局买了一栋房子。之后，为了寻找新的机会，他们迁往西部，就这样一路来到了夏威夷。
而他们对女儿同样也怀抱着远大的梦想。是的！一个共同的梦想，却诞生在两个洲。我的双亲不仅都拥有一份不同寻常的爱，也都怀抱着同样不变的信念——他们相信在这个国度里，没有不可能的事。
他们为我取了一个非洲式的名字巴拉克，意思是受祝福，他们相信，在兼容并蓄的美国，名字绝对不会是成功的障碍。尽管他们并不富裕，但却期望我能去这个国家最好的学校学习，因为在有容乃大的美国，你不一定要多富裕才能发挥你的潜能。他们现在都过世了，但我知道，就在今晚，他们正骄傲地俯瞰着我。
实战提升篇
核心单词
herd [hE：d] n. 畜群；牧群 v. 放牧
perseverance [7pE：si5viErEns] n. 坚持不懈；坚忍不拔
beacon [5bi：kEn] n.烽火台灯塔；信号浮标 v. 明亮，指引
assembly [E5sembli] n. 与会者；集合
continent [5kCntinEnt] n. 大陆，大洲 adj. 自制的，克制的
barrier [5bAriE] n. 障碍物；路障，栅栏
实用句型
Yet，I know that，on this night，they look down on me with great pride.
但我知道，就在今晚，他们正骄傲地俯瞰着我。
①on this night在这里是插入语，其位置灵活，常常用逗号或破折号与其他成分隔开。
②look down on轻视，类似的表达还有look forward to盼望；look back on回顾，回头看；look ahead考虑到将来等固定搭配。
翻译行不行
1.两人之间逐渐产生了友情。（grow up）
2.当“禁止吸烟”的指示灯亮时，请您熄灭香烟。（sign up）
3.他妻子生病了，得去找医生。（in search of）
第一章 A Glass of Milk (1)
·Betty Stantey·
One day，a poor boy who was trying to pay his way through school by selling goods door to door found that he only had one dime left. He was hungry so he decided to beg for a meal at the next house.
However，he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly，and then asked，“How much do I owe you？”
“You don’t owe me anything，”she replied.“Mother has taught me never to accept pay for a kindness.”He said，“Then I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”As Howard Kelly left that house，he not only felt stronger physically，but it also increased his faith in God and the human race. He was about to give up and quit before this point.
Years later the young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city，where specialists can be called in to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly，now famous，was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from，a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately，he rose and went down through the hospital hall into her room.
Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room and determined to do his best to save her life. From that day on，he gave special attention to her case.