diligence [5dilidVEns] n.勤勉，勤奋
quote [kwEut] v.引用；引述
claim [kleim] n.主张，断言，声称
nurture [5nE:tFE] n.养育，教养，培育
absorb [Eb5sC:b] v.汲取，理解
诵读名句
With diligence and wisdom，the Chinese nation created a splendid civilization and made significantcontributions to the progress of humanity.
The argument that a big power is bound to seek hegemony does not apply to China.
In the 21st century，economic globalization and the information network have linked us all together. Different cultures live together and influence each other.
On Being Sentenced to Be Hanged
约翰·布朗：被判处绞刑时发表的讲话
John Browne/约翰·布朗
I have，may it please the court，a few words to say. In the first place，I deny everything but what I have all along admitted—the design on my part to free the slaves. I intended certainly to have made a clean thing of that matter，as I did last winter when I went into Missouri and there took slaves without the snapping of a gun on either side，moved them through the country，and finally left them in Canada. I designed to have done the same thing again on a larger scale. That was all I intended. I never did intend murder，or treason，or the destruction of property，or to excite or incite slaves to rebellion，or to make insurrection.
I have another objection；and that is，it is unjust that I should suffer such a penalty. Had I interfered in the manner which I admit，and which I admit has been fairly proved (for I admire the truthfulness and candor of the greater portion of the witnesses who have testified in this case)—had I so interfered in behalf of the rich，the powerful，the intelligent，the so-called great，or in behalf of any of their friends—either father，mother，brother，sister，wife or children，or any of that class—and suffered，and sacrificed what I have in this interference，it would have been all right；and every man in this court would have deemed it an act worthy of reward rather than punishment.
This court acknowledges，as I suppose，the validity of the law of God，I see a book kissed，which I suppose to be the Bible，or at least the New Testament. That teaches me that all things whatsoever I would that men should do to me I should do even so to them. It teaches me，further，to“remember them that are in bonds as bound with them”. I endeavored to act up to that instruction. I say I am yet too young to understand that God is any respecter of persons. I believe that to have interfered as I have done—as I have always freely admitted I have done—in behalf of his despised poor was not wrong，but right. Now，if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice，and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked，cruel，and unjust enactments— I submit：so let it be done!
在法庭上，我只想讲几句话。首先，除了我一直承认的有计划地解放黑奴之外，我否认其他一切指控。我确实有意要帮助奴隶获得自由，去年冬天我就到过密苏里州接运黑奴，双方未发一枪就将黑奴成功运出，送至加拿大。我打算要扩大这种行动的规模。这就是我想做的一切。我从未图谋杀人、叛国、毁坏私有财产，或鼓励、煽动奴隶谋反作乱。
我还要提出一项异议，那就是：这么惩罚我是不公平的。我在法庭上所承认的我的所作所为已经得到了充分的证明（对于大部分证人所做的真实公正的发言我感到钦佩）。但是，假如我的所为侵犯那些有钱有势的人、有知识的人或那些所谓大人物的利益；或是他们的朋友、父母、兄弟、姐妹、妻子、儿女或他们所属阶级任何人的利益，并因此让他们遭到我现在所受的痛苦和牺牲，那也没什么。这法庭上的每个人都会认为我的行为不但不应受罚，反而值得奖赏。
我想，这个法庭也承认上帝的法律，我看到开庭时你们亲吻一本书，那大概是《圣经》吧，至少是《新约全书》。这本书教导我无论何事，你们愿意人怎样待你们，你们就要怎样待人，还教导我“要像自己也被囚禁那样，不忘身陷囹圄的人们”。我曾努力实践这一训条。我要说我还太年轻，不知道上帝也会待人不公。我总是坦率地承认自己所做的事情，承认我为那些被上帝遗弃的穷苦子民所做的事情：我并没有做错，相反，完全正确。现在，如果为了伸张正义，我必须献出生命，必须在这个被邪恶、残暴与不义的法制剥夺了一切权力的蓄奴国家里，把我的鲜血和我的几个孩子的鲜血以及千千万万人的鲜血流淌在一起，那就请便吧！
导读
1859年，为了唤起各蓄奴州的奴隶起义，在10月16日夜晚，59岁的布朗率领着由22个白人和黑人组成的队伍，进攻弗吉尼亚州的哈帕尔斯渡口，迅速占领了政府的军火库。次日黎明，惊慌的种植场奴隶主赶快集合了队伍，包围了军火库。双方展开了激烈的战斗，经过两昼夜的血战，起义者大部分牺牲，布朗的两个儿子也战死在他身旁。最后只剩下4个人，但仍继续战斗，直到弹尽粮绝，才负伤被俘。同年12月，布朗被判处死刑，在就义前，他写下遗书：“我，约翰·布朗，现在坚信只有用鲜血才能洗清这个有罪国土的罪恶。过去我自以为——正如我现在也痴心妄想的一样——也许不用流很多的血就可以洗清他的罪恶。”约翰·布朗为黑奴自由解放英勇斗争的故事，促进了美国废奴力量的团结，把全国的废奴运动推向了一个新的高潮。
单词注解
incite [in5sait] v. 激励；激起
interfere [7intE5fiE] v.妨碍；冲突；抵触
endeavor [in5devE] v.努力，力图
justice [5dVQstis] n.正义；公平
诵读名句
In the first place，I deny everything but what I have all along admitted—the design on my part to free the slaves.
I have another objection；and that is，it is unjust that I should suffer such a penalty.
I endeavored to act up to that instruction.
