听TED演讲学KET单词-TED Talk分享：The world needs “childish” thinking

ABOUT TED

TED Talk是美国一家非盈利机构组织的全球性的演讲会议。这个会议的宗旨是“Ideas worth spreading”，传播一切值得被传播的创意。在Ted这个平台上发表演讲的演讲者、演讲话题没有任何限制，只要你有值得被倾听的想法，你就可以被听到。今天厚朴少年学堂想和大家分享一篇Ted青少年演讲，题目是“The world needs childish thinking”, 在这篇演讲中，我们不仅可以积累地道的词汇和句式表达，更重要的是可以通过了解、思考演讲者所表达的想法，refresh our mind。

ADORA SVITAK

本次分享的演讲者是Adora Svitak，中文名字邹奇奇。奇奇3岁开始阅读各种书籍，6岁进行写作，8岁出版故事集Flying Fingers，被美国媒体称为是one of the world’s smartest kids和 a tiny literary giant。在进行这次演讲分享时，奇奇正是一位13岁的“childish kid”。

The world needs “childish” thinking

[video width="852" height="480" mp4="https://www.testdaily.cn/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/0bf26eaaoaaarqagudopabpfb4oda7yqabya.f10003.mp4"][/video] 以下内容节选自邹奇奇的TED 分享：

-Now, I want to start with a question: When was the last time you were called "childish"? 首先我要问大家一个问题：上一回别人说你幼稚是什么时候？
For kids like me, being called childish can be a frequent occurrence. 像我这样的小孩，可能经常会被人说成是幼稚。
Every time we make irrational demands, exhibit irresponsible behavior, or display any other signs of being normal American citizens, we are called childish. 每一次我们提出不合理的要求，做出不负责任的行为，或者展现出有别于普通美国公民的惯常行为之时， 我们就被说成是幼稚。
Which really bothers me. After all, take a look at these events: Imperialism and colonization, world wars, George W. Bush. Ask yourself, who's responsible? Adults. 这让我很不服气。首先，让我们来回顾下这些事件：帝国主义和殖民主义，世界大战，小布什。请你们扪心自问下：这些该归咎于谁？是大人。
-Now, what have kids done? Well, Anne Frank touched millions with her powerful account of the Holocaust. 而小孩呢，做了些什么？安妮·弗兰克对大屠杀强有力的叙述打动了数百万人的心。

Ruby Bridges helped to end segregation in the United States. 鲁比·布里奇斯为美国种族隔离的终结作出了贡献。

And, most recently, Charlie Simpson helped to raise 120,000 pounds for Haiti, on his little bike. 另外，最近还有一个例子，查理·辛普森骑自行车为海地募得 12万英镑。

So as you can see evidenced by such examples, age has absolutely nothing to do with it. 所以，这些例子证明了年龄与行为完全没有关系。
-Then again, who's to say that certain types of irrational thinking aren't exactly what the world needs? 话说回来，谁能说我们这个世界不需要某些类型的非理性思维呢？
Maybe you've had grand plans before, but stopped yourself, thinking, "That's impossible," or "That costs too much," or "That won't benefit me." 也许你以前有过宏大的计划，但却半途而废，心想： “这个不可能，或“这个代价太高”或“这个对我不利”。
For better or worse, we kids aren't hampered as much when it comes to thinking about reasons why not to do things. 不管是好是坏，我们小孩子在思考不做某事的理由时，不太受这些考量的影响。
Kids can be full of inspiring aspirations and hopeful thinking, like my wish that no one went hungry, or that everything were free, a kind of utopia. 小孩可能会有满脑子的奇思妙想和积极的想法，例如我希望没有人挨饿或者所有东西都是免费的，有点像乌托邦的理念。
How many of you still dream like that, and believe in the possibilities? Sometimes a knowledge of history and the past failures of Utopian ideals can be a burden, because you know that if everything were free, then the food stocks would become depleted and scarce and lead to chaos. 你们当中有多少人还会有这样的梦想并相信其可能性？有时候对历史及对乌托邦的了解，可能是一种负担，因为你知道假如所有东西都是免费的，食物储备会被清空，而缺失将会导致混乱。
On the other hand, we kids still dream about perfection. And that's a good thing, because in order to make anything a reality, you have to dream about it first. 另一方面，我们小孩还对完美抱有希望。这是件好事，因为要将任何事情变为现实，你首先得心怀梦想。

-I appreciate your attention today, because to show that you truly care, you listen. But there's a problem with this rosy picture of kids being so much better than adults. Kids grow up and become adults just like you. 我感谢你们今天听我演讲，因为倾听表明你们真的在乎。但小孩比大人强得多的这幅乐观图景是存在一个问题的。小孩会长大并变成像你们一样的大人。
Or just like you? Really? The goal is not to turn kids into your kind of adult, but rather, better adults than you have been, which may be a little challenging, considering your guys' credentials. 跟你们一样，真的吗？我们的目标不是让小孩变成你们这样的大人，而是比你们强的大人。考虑到你们都这么了不起，这可能颇具挑战性。
But the way progress happens, is because new generations and new eras grow and develop and become better than the previous ones. 但是进步正是因为新一代和新时期不断发展、强大，超越上一代而产生的。
It's the reason we're not in the Dark Ages anymore. No matter your position or place in life, it is imperative to create opportunities for children, so that we can grow up to blow you away. 这就是为什么我们不再处于黑暗时代。不管你在实际生活中处在哪一个位置，给孩子创造机会是十分必要的，这样我们才能把你们拍在沙滩上。
Now, the world needs opportunities for new leaders and new ideas. Kids need opportunities to lead and succeed. 世界需要为新的领导者和新的想法创造机会。小孩需要机会去领导和取得成功。
Are you ready to make the match? Because the world's problems shouldn't be the human family's heirloom. 你准备好去促成这一切了吗？因为这个世界的问题，不应该当作传家宝一样传下去。
Thank you.

Word list

childish 幼稚 a frequent occurrence 常有之事 irrational 不合理的 irresponsible behavior 不负责任的行为 be called 被称为是 (we are called childish.) bother 使...不安，烦恼 touch 触动 have/has nothing to do with 与...无关 then again, 话说回来， benefit sb 对某人有利 for better or worse 不管是好是坏 hopeful thinking 积极的想法 burden 负担 chaos 混乱 challenging 具有挑战性的 new generations 新一代 blow sb away 震撼某人；让某人心服口服（口语表达） create opportunities 创造机会 make the match 促成；匹配 heirloom 传家宝 Trust your kids, give them an opportunity to dream big. 愿每一位小朋友都能够自由而强大的成大。