10 We the People

10 WE THE PEOPLE "A computer?" said Ben. He stared at the large desktop machine. "Yes, that's right," said Annie. "It's useful for learning all about the world. Lots of people even carry small computers in their pockets. On smart phones." "Phones?" said Ben. "What are phones?" "Uh, hard to explain. Let's look at this computer now," said Jack. Annie and Jack grabbed chairs and sat next to Ben. "Watch," said Jack. He tapped a key, and the screen lit up. Ben gasped. "Wait," said Jack. He did a search for

“一台电脑？”本说。 他盯着那台巨大的台式电脑。 “是的，没错，”安妮说。 “这对了解世界很有用。 许多人甚至把小型电脑放在口袋里。 在智能手机上。”“电话？”本说。 “电话是什么？”“嗯，很难解释。 让我们现在看看这台电脑，”杰克说。 安妮和杰克抓起椅子坐在本旁边。 “看，”杰克说。他敲了敲键盘，屏幕亮了起来。 本气喘吁吁地说。“等等，”杰克说。 他搜索了

"United States of America." Then he clicked on an entry. A map of the United States and the country's Great Seal appeared on the screen. "Oh! How did that happen? Where did that come from?" Ben asked. "That's hard to explain, too," said Annie. "But read what it says." Ben read aloud softly from the screen: The United States is a country of fifty states. Stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans, it covers a vast part of North America. It has a population of more than 325 million people. Since its founding, immigrants from all over the globe have moved to the United States and become citizens. "My goodness!" whispered Ben. Jack pointed to the Great Seal of the

“美利坚合众国。” 然后他点击了一个条目。 屏幕上出现了一张美国地图和美国国徽。 “哦!这是怎么发生的？这话是从哪儿来的？”本问。 “这也很难解释，”安妮说。 “但是看看上面写的吧。”本从屏幕上轻声朗读：美国是一个由五十个州组成的国家。 它从大西洋一直延伸到太平洋，覆盖了北美的大部分地区。 它的人口超过3.25亿。 自建国以来，来自世界各地的移民移居美国并成为公民。 “我的天哪！”本小声说。 杰克指了指国玺

United States at the top of the screen. "That's a symbol for our country," he said. "I know that symbol," said Ben. "In 1776, I was on a committee to create it." He read the writing on the seal. "'E pluribus unum.' That's Latin for 'Out of many, one.'" "Right, out of many, one," said Annie. "Our teacher told us what that means: The United States is made up of many different states, and people from all over the world. But we are all one nation." "Yes! Yes!" said Ben. "I wonder if our

美国在屏幕上方。 “这是我们国家的象征，”他说。 “我知道那个符号，”本说。 “1776年，我在一个委员会里创建了它。” 他读了印章上的字迹。 “合众为一。”这是拉丁语，意思是“众中为一”。’”“好吧，就这么一个，”安妮说。 我们的老师告诉我们这是什么意思：美国由许多不同的州组成，人们来自世界各地。 但我们都是一个国家。” “是啊!是的！”本说。“我想知道我们的

delegates have forgotten those words." "Probably," said Annie. "People forget them in our time, too." "It's so important to come together as one country," said Ben. "But how can we do that? We are very divided." "Maybe the different sides have to keep talking to each other, and listening to each other, and agree to go forward." said Annie. "She's right," said Jack. "Don't forget—you can add important stuff later. They'll be called amendments. Like amendments that guarantee freedom of speech and freedom of religion." "And give women the vote!" said Annie. "And end slavery and give everyone equal rights," said Jack. "Yes, yes…that makes sense," Ben said. "Perhaps creating a Constitution is only the first step…not the last." "Exactly!" said Jack.

代表们已经忘记了这些话。” “可能吧，”安妮说。“在我们这个时代，人们也会忘记它们。” “作为一个国家团结起来是非常重要的，”本说。 “但我们怎么能做到呢？”我们的分歧很大。” “也许不同的各方必须继续相互交谈，相互倾听，并同意向前迈进。” 安妮说。“她说得对，”杰克说。 不要忘记——你可以稍后添加重要的内容。 它们将被称为修正案。 比如保障言论自由和宗教自由的修正案。” “给妇女选举权！”安妮说。 “结束奴隶制，给每个人平等的权利，”杰克说。 “是的，是的……这说得通，”本说。 “也许制定一部宪法只是第一步，而不是最后一步。” “没错！”杰克说。

Ben stood up. "I must go now. I must go home. I have to be back for the afternoon session. This Constitution is very important! They need me to be there. You need me to be there!" "We do!" said Annie. Ben hobbled across the library, heading for the door. "Good-bye, Ben!" Sandy the librarian called. "Have a good show!" Readers looked up from their books and stared as Ben Franklin hurried outside. Jack and Annie caught up with Ben in front of the library. The three of them walked quickly to the sidewalk. "My world may seem very rough and simple compared with yours," Ben said breathlessly. "But 'tis filled with the discovery of new things and new ideas! Why, I can even help create a Constitution that will change the history of the world!" "You can!" said Annie.

本站了起来。“我现在必须走了。 我得回家了。我得回去参加下午的治疗。 这部宪法非常重要！他们需要我在场。 你需要我在场！”“我们有！”安妮说。 本一瘸一拐地穿过图书馆，朝门口走去。 “再见,本!”图书管理员桑迪打来电话。 “祝你演出愉快！”读者们从书本中抬起头来，盯着本·富兰克林匆匆走出去。 杰克和安妮在图书馆前追上了本。 他们三个迅速地走到人行道上。 “与你的世界相比，我的世界可能显得非常粗糙和简单，”本上气不接下气地说。 “但它充满了新事物和新思想的发现！”为什么，我甚至可以帮助制定一部改变世界历史的宪法！”“你可以！”安妮说。

"Of course, there are parts that I absolutely do not agree with," said Ben. "But additions, as you said, and changes —amendments—will be made later. First, we must come together to create one country. We may never get another chance." "That's true," said Jack. "This way!" said Annie. She and Jack led Ben into the woods. In spite of the heat, Ben moved quickly between the trees. "Here we are!" Jack said when they reached the oak tree. Jack and Annie held the ladder steady. Ben tucked his walking stick under his arm and climbed up slowly. Once Ben was inside the tree house, Jack grabbed the ladder to follow him. But then he heard Ben say, "Hello, my good lady…!" The sound of a woman's voice came from the tree house. Jack froze at the bottom of the ladder. "Jack! It's her!" said Annie.

“当然，有些部分我绝对不同意，”本说。 “不过，正如你所说的，增补和改动——修改——以后才会有。 首先，我们必须团结起来创建一个国家。 我们可能再也没有机会了。” “那倒是真的，”杰克说。“这边走！”安妮说。 她和杰克把本带进了树林。 尽管天气很热，本还是在树林间快速移动。 “我们到了！”当他们走到橡树旁时，杰克说。 杰克和安妮稳住梯子。 本把手杖夹在腋下，慢慢地往上爬。 本一进树屋，杰克就抓住梯子跟着他。 但他听到本说：“你好，我的好夫人！”一个女人的声音从树屋里传来。 杰克僵在梯子底下。 “杰克!是她！”安妮说。