American Dream‏

In the cartoon movie An American Tail, a Russian mouse named Fievel embarks on a journey to America. Along with scores of other mice “immigrants” from other countries, Fievel and his family board a ship that will take them to their new home.
在「美國鼠譚」(An American Tail) 這
部卡通影片裡，一隻來自俄羅斯
名叫菲佛的老鼠，啟程前往美國。菲佛
以和家人，連同許多來自其他國家的老
鼠移民，坐著輪船，前往它們的新家
園。
During their long ocean voyage, the mice talk excitedly about making a new home in the
“land of opportunity.” They express their confidence and hope about this new land in a jubilant chorus:“There are NO CATS in America!” This chorus captures the essence of the American Dream. Not that Americans hate cats, but that they long for a place of freedom and safety —a place where every dream can be fulfilled.
在冗長的海上旅途中，老鼠們都興
高采烈地討論將如何在美國這個「充滿
機會之地」，建立新家園。它們對新大陸
所抱持的信心和希望，都表達在句句歡
唱的歌聲：「美國沒有貓！」這歌詞也
道出了「美國夢」的本質。並非美國人
討厭貓；而是他們嚮往一個自由、安全
的地方，一個能夠實現所有夢想的地
方。
For most Americans, the American Dream describes their concept of “the good life.”
In the past, it meant having your own land or starting your own business. In recent times,the American Dream has involved material possessions and a comfortable lifestyle:
a beautiful home with a well manicured yard, a fancy car (or two) and plenty of time for leisure activities.
對大部份美國人而言，「美國夢」
描述了他們所追求的「美好生活」。在以
前，「美好生活」就是自己擁有土地或
是自己創業。而今天，「美國夢」則包
含各種物質的擁有以及舒適的生活：一
幢漂亮的房子與修剪整齊的庭院、一兩
部豪華的轎車，以及充分的休閒時間。
The American Dream represents the fulfillment of the “pursuit of happiness,” which the Declaration of Independence asserted to be one of man’s “inalienable rights.” In short, the American Dream is enjoying the best life has to offer.
「美國夢」代表「追尋快樂」的實現，而
美國獨立宣言也將之視為人類「不可剝
奪的權利」之一。簡言之，「美國夢」
就是享受生命中最美好的事物。
The American Dream represents the fulfillment of the “pursuit of happiness,” which the Declaration of Independence asserted to be one of man’s “inalienable rights.” In short, the American Dream is enjoying the best life has to offer.
「美國夢」代表「追尋快樂」的實現，而
美國獨立宣言也將之視為人類「不可剝
奪的權利」之一。簡言之，「美國夢」
就是享受生命中最美好的事物。

As a result, for hundreds of years, immigrants have viewed America as the place where one’s dreams can be realized. Some immigrants have actually believed that they would find streets paved with gold in America. It is doubtful whether any of them found golden streets, but time after time their dreams for success did come true.
因此數百年來，移民們都將美國視
為美夢成真的地方。有些移民甚至確信
美國遍地都是黃金。雖然他們是否真正
曾找到佈滿黃金的街道，不得而知，但
他們一次又一次實現了成功的夢想。

As in the “rags-to-riches” stories popularized by 19th-century writer Horatio Alger,
many people with humble backgrounds have achieved remarkable success. For example,
Abraham Lincoln grew up in a poor family, received only a rudimentary education,
and experienced numerous failures, but he overcame these obstacles and
became president of the United States. Nevertheless, the American Dream has not
become a reality for everyone. In some cases—like Fievel’s—it has proven to be only a pipe dream.
十九世紀作家阿爾傑描繪貧賤出身人家奮
鬥成功的小說，曾膾炙人口。如同阿爾
傑小說中一般，許多人縱然出身卑微，
也都可擁有傲人的成就。例如：林肯從
小家境貧困，只受過基本教育，並曾經
歷無數挫折。但林肯終究克服所有障
礙，當選美國總統。儘管如此，並非每
人的美國夢都成真。有時候，就如同小
老鼠菲佛的經歷一般，美國夢也只不過
是種妄想而已。
Despite their belief that “there are NO CATS in America,” Fievel and his mouse-friends had to contend with some very BIG cats when they arrived. Similarly, in real life, some people have faced major obstacles as they pursued the American Dream. Immigrants have not always found a warm welcome in America. Political and economic conditions have at times severely limited their opportunities for advancement.
雖然鼠群們深信「美國沒有貓」，但
菲佛以及其他小老鼠同伴到達美國時，
還是需要與一些非常巨大的貓大戰。同
樣地，在現實生活中，有些人們在追求
美國夢時，也曾遭遇莫大的阻礙。在美
國，移民們並非總是受到溫暖的接待。
現實的政治與經濟條件，有時嚴重地限
制他們的發展機會。

Some groups that were not immigrants in the truest sense, such as blacks and native Americans, have also suffered discrimination. Moreover, Americans in general have sometimes found the American Dream to be just “pie in the sky” as they struggle to get by. But amazingly enough, while the American Dream hasn’t come true for everyone, a 1986 study by the Roper Organization revealed that 86 percent of Americans still believe in it.
有些人雖非真正的
移民，例如黑人與原住民，但也遭受歧
視。一般為日常生活打拼的美國人，也
時常會認為美國夢只是一個虛幻的承
諾。雖然並非每人都能實現美國夢，但
羅保機構(Roper Organization) 在一九八六
年所做的研究，卻令人意外地顯示，仍
有86％的美國民眾相信美國夢。

In recent years, beliefs about the American Dream may have begun to change. Baby boomers, for instance, see the American Dream more in terms of being true to yourself and staying healthy than having a big house and a successful job.
近年來，民眾對於美國夢的憧憬可
能開始有所改變。例如：二次世界大戰
以後，嬰兒潮時期出生的人們，認為美
國夢應偏向忠於自我以及保持健康，而
非擁有一棟大房屋與成功的事業。

Most Americans, boomers or otherwise, believe the American Dream means being comfortably well-off and enjoying their lives. They realize the American Dream does not guarantee wealth and happiness, but it does offer people the opportunity to work toward their goals. And as for their prospects of achieving them, well, most people think their chances are pretty good. Even if there are cats in America.
多數的美國人，無論是否在嬰兒潮時期出生
的民眾，相信擁有一定的財富並能享受
生活，就是美國夢。他們了解美國夢無
法確保財富與快樂，但的確提供人們機
會，以朝目標努力。至於達成目標的展
望如何，即使美國有貓，但許多人仍相
信他們的機會是看好的。

?Word Bankembark (v) 乘船；啟程
scores (n pl) 許多
the American Dream (n phr) 美國夢
manicure (v) 修剪
inalienable (adj) 不可剝奪的
inalienable (adj) 不可剝奪的

rudimentary (adj) 基本的
pipe dream (n phr) 幻想；妄想

contend (v) 爭鬥；競爭

baby boomer (n phr) 二次世界大戰以後，嬰兒潮時出生的人們

prospect (n) 展望；期望

The Day's Phrase

New research could make a trip to the dentist less painful
最新研究能減輕看牙醫的痛苦

You could get lost easily in that forest, so I'm making it off limits to you.
你在那森林裡很容易就會迷路，所以我禁止你去那裡。

Grab your phone and make some music!
拿起你的手機來製作音樂吧！

She didn't want to tell me. I had to squeeze the information out of her.
她不想告訴我。我得用逼的叫她說出來。

He wasn't supposed to know our secret, but I decided to let him in from the cold.
他本來不應該知道我們的秘密的，但我決定讓他成為圈內人。

I told you to be quiet! Now, put a sock in it!
我告訴過你要安靜的！你現在是不是該把嘴巴縫起來了！

It's only the size that makes these cows mini
這些母牛只有體型迷你而已
I think she likes you, even though she acts like she doesn't. She's just playing hard to get.
我想她是喜歡你，即使她表現得好像她不是，她不過是故作矜持罷了。

Yen-Hsun Lu is winning his way to the top of world tennis
盧彥勳正大步邁向世界網壇巔峰
I forgot to feed my parrot for two weeks. Now it's dead as a doornail.
我有兩個星期忘了餵我的鸚鵡，牠現在已經死了。

Don't make a long speech. Just keep it short and sweet.
演講不要長篇大論。簡單扼要即可。

A good education does not have to start at a four-year university
想獲得良好教育不見得非上四年制大學不可

We need 10 copies of this page. Can you run them off for me?
這一頁我們需要十份。你可以幫我印嗎？

We figured in plane tickets and hotel bills, but forgot to add the cost of meals.
我們算了機票錢和旅館費用，但是忘了加上三餐的費用了。

Will El Yunque's beautiful tropical rainforest make the New7Wonders of Nature list?
雲蓋國家森林美侖美奐的熱帶雨林會列入世界新七大自然奇景嗎？
Helen always does what she promises. She never lets me down.
海倫一向言出必行。她從來不會讓我失望。

Let's get this over with quickly. I don't want to worry about it later.
我們趕快把這個做完。我等一下可不想為這個煩心。