【演说者简介】 刘欣(1975一)，南京大学外国语学院英语系学生，在1995年底的校级英语演讲赛中脱颖而出，代表南京大学参加1996年3月22日在北京举行的“21世纪杯全国大学生英语演讲比赛”.以《选择的重要性》为题发表演说，夺得比赛第一名。

Knowing the Consequences of Choice

     Over the past Spring Festival, I got involved in a family dispute. Right before I got home, four satellite channels of CCTV were added to the 14 channels we had already had. In prime time at night, they all had interesting shows. Therefore, the five of us-my parents, my sisters and I-had to argue over what to watch. Finally, we agreed that we should watch the "most interesting" programme... If we
could agree what that was.
     However, all of us there remember that for a long time after we had TV, there were only one or two channels available. The increase in options reveals an important change in our life: the abundance¹ of choice.
    Fifteen years ago we all dressed in one style and in one colour. Today, we select from a wide variety of designs and shades.
    Fifteen years ago, we read few newspapers. Today, we read English newspapers like the China Daily and the 21st Century, as well as various Chinese newspapers.
    Fifteen years ago, English majors took only courses in language and literature. Today, we also study Western culture, journalism², business communications, international relations, and computer science.
    The emergence³ of choices marks the beginning of a new era in China's history; an era of diversity, of material and cultural richness, and an era of the rebirth of the Chinese nation.
    We enjoy the abundance of choice. But this has not come easily.
    About 150 years ago, China was forced to open up its door by Western canons and gunboats. It has been through the struggle and sacrifice of generations that we finally have gained the opportunity to choose for ourselves. The policy of reform and openness is the choice that has made all the difference.
    Like others of my age, I'm too young to have experienced the time when the Chinese people had no right to choose. However, as the next century draws near, it is time to ask: What does choice really mean to us young people? 
    Is choice a game that relies on chance or luck? Is choice an empty promise that never materializes? Or is choice a puzzle so difficult that we have to avoid it?
    First, I would like to say: To choose means to claim opportunities.
    I am a third-year English major. An important choice for me, of course, is what to do upon graduation. I can go to graduate school, at home or abroad. I can go to work as a teacher, a translator, a journalist, an editor and a diplomat⁴. Actually, the system of mutual⁵ selection⁶ has allowed me to approach almost every career opportunity in China.
    Indeed, this is not going to be an easy choice. I would love to work in such big cities as Beijing or Shanghai or Shenzhen. I would also love to return to my hometown, which is intimate, though slightly lagging in development. I would love to stay in the coastal⁷ area where life is exciting and fast-paced. I would also love to put down roots in central and western China, which is underdeveloped, but holds
great potential.
    All of these sound good. But they are only possibilities. To those of us who are bewildered⁸ at the abundance of opportunities, I would like to say: To choose means to accept challenge.
    To us young people, challenge often emerges⁹ in the form of competition. In the next century, competition will not only come from other college graduates, but also from people of all ages and of all origins.
    With increasing international exchanges, we have to face growing competition from the whole outside world. This is calling for a higher level of our personal development.
    Fifteen years ago, the knowledge of a foreign language or of computer operation was considered merely an advantage. But today, with wider educational opportunities, this same knowledge has become essential to everyone.    
    Given this situation, even our smallest choices will require great wisdom and personal determination.
As we gain more initiative¹⁰ in choice making, the consequence of each choice also becomes more important.
    As we gain more initiative in choice making, the consequence of each choice also becomes more important.
    Nuclear power, for instance, may improve our quality of life. But it can also be used to damage the lives and possessions of millions.
    Economic development has enriched¹¹ our lives but brought with it serious harm to our air, water and health.
    To those of us who are blind to the consequences of their choices, I would like to say, To choose means to take responsibility. When we are making choices for ourselves, we cannot casually¹² say: "It's just my own business. " As policy makers¹³ of the next century, we cannot fail to see our responsibility to those who share the earth with us.
    The traditional Chinese culture teaches us to study hard and work hard so as to honor our family. To me, however, this family is not just the five of us who quarreled over television programmes. Rather, it is the whole of the human family. As I am making my choices, I will not forget the smile of my teacher when I correctly spelled out the word "China" for the first time, I will not forget the happy faces of the boys and girls we helped to send back to school in the mountains of Jiangxi Province. I will not forget the tearful eyes of women and children in Bosnia, Chechnya and Somali, where millions are suffering from war, famine or poverty. 
    All these people, known and unknown, make up our big human family. At different points, they came into my life and broaden¹⁴ my perspective. Now as I am to make choices for myself, it is time to make efforts to improve their lives, because a world will benefit us all only if every one in it can lead a peaceful and prosperous life.

选择的重要性

    去年春节期间，我陷入过一场家庭纷争。在我回家之前，我们家的电视除了已有的14个频道外又增加了四个卫星频道。晚上的黄金时间，每个频道的节目都很精彩.结果，我们一家五口(父母，两个姐姐和我)为了选台而争执起来。最后，我们决定应当看“最有意思”的节目——如果我们在什么是“最有意思”上可以认同的话。
    不过我们全都清楚地记得，买了电视后的好长一段时间里，只有一两个频道可供选择。电视频道的增多反映出我们生活中的一个重大变化:选择余地的扩大。
    15年前，我们身着同样的款式，单一的色调。而如今，纷繁的花色和众多的式样让我们挑得眼花缭乱。
    15年前，我们几乎无报可读。而如今，除了大大小小的中文报纸，我们还读上了《中国日报》、《21世纪报》这样的英文报纸。
    15年前，英语专业的学生只能选语言与文学课程。而如今，我们还学习西方文化，新闻，商务，国际关系，甚至还有计算机课程。
    选择的涌现标志着中国进入了一个崭新的时代，一个充满多样化的时代，一个物质与精神都愈加丰富的时代，一个中华民族获得新生的时代。
    我们为选择之多而欢呼雀跃，同时也深深地感到这一切来之不易。
    一个半世纪之前，在西方大炮、战舰的威通下，中国被迫打开了国门。经过祖祖辈辈的抗争与牺牲，我们才最终赢得了当家作主的机会。改革开放这个正确的抉择使一切发生了翻天覆地的变化。
    我和其他同龄人一样，太年轻了、没有经历过中国人丧失选择权的岁月。但是，随着下个世纪的脚步越走越近，我们是该们心自间了:选择，对于我们青年一代，到底意味着什么?
    选择，是场靠侥幸来获胜的游戏吗?是句不用兑现的空话吗?抑或是种让人知难而退的困境?
    首先，我认为，选择意味着抓住机遇。
    我是英语专业三年级学生，我所面临的一个重大选择当然是毕业后的去向。我可以攻读硕士学位，或在国内，或在国外。我可以走上工作岗位，做名教师，翻译，记者，编辑或外交家.实际上，双向选择的体制在我面前铺开了通向各行各业的大道。
    说真的，这个选择并不好做。我愿意在像北京、上海、深圳这样的大都市里工作，我也盼着能回到虽不那么发达却使我倍感亲切的故乡。我希望可以留在生活节奏快，令人兴奋的沿海地带，我也愿意扎根于广炭的中西部地区，那里虽然条件艰苦，却有极大的发展潜力。
    所有这一切听上去令人振奋，但它们毕竟只是可能性。有些人面对五花八门的选择挑得眼花缭乱，我要告诉他们:选择就意味着接受挑战。
    对于我们青年一代，挑战常以竟争的形式出现。到下个世纪，竞争者将不仅只是其他大学毕业生，更有各行各业不同年龄层的人们。
    随着国际交流的不断增多，我们得面对来自整个外部世界日益激烈的竞争，这就对我们个/、的发展提出了更高的要求。
    15年前，懂门外语或会用计算机是个优越条件。但今天，随着受教育面的拓宽，以上的知识也成了每个人必备的条件。
    在这种形势下，即便最细小的选择也要求我们具有极大的智慧和自主精神。
    当我们面对选择不断增强自己的主动性时，每一次选择的结果也同样变得愈加重要。
比方说，核能可以提高人民的生活水平，可它同样也能毁灭千百万人的生命财产。
    经济的发展使我们富裕起来，却也给我们的空气、水、健康带来了严重危害。有些人对选择的后果毫不在乎，我要对他们说:选择还意味着承担责任。我们替自己做选择时，不能随口一句“这不关别人的事”。作为下个世纪的决策者，我们必须承担对和我们共同拥有这个地球的人们所负的责任。
    传统的中华文化教育我们，要勃奋学习，努力工作，以荣耀家门。然而我认为，这个家门并不只指诸如我的那个争看电视的五口小家。更确切地说，它指的是整个人类这个大家庭。当我为自己的未来做出选择时，我不会忘记自己第一次正确读出“China"这个单词时老师脸上的笑容。我也不会忘记在我们的帮助下重返校园的江西山区的孩子们兴奋的脸庞。我更不会忘记饱受战火、饥荒、贫困蹂蹦的波斯尼亚、车臣、索马里，不会忘记那里成千上万的妇女儿童泪水模糊的双眼。
    所有这些我认识或不认识的人们组成了人类这个大家庭。他们从不同的时空中走进了我的生活，开拓了我的视野。现在，我将为自己做出抉择，该是为使他们的生活变得美好而奋斗的时候了。因为只有当每个人都过上和平、富足的生活，世界才能成为大家的乐园.