英译中
Americans do not go in for envy. The gap between rich and poor is bigger than in any other advanced country, but most people are unconcerned. Whereas Europeans fret about the way the economic pie is divided, Americans want to join the rich, not soak them. Eight out of ten, more than anywhere else, believe that though you may start poor, if you work hard, you can make pots of money. It is a central part of the American Dream.
The political consensus, therefore, has sought to pursue economic growth rather than the redistribution of income, in keeping with John Kennedy's adage that "a rising tide lifts all boats." The tide has been rising fast recently. Thanks to a jump in productivity growth after 1995, America's economy has outpaced other rich countries' for a decade. Its workers now produce over 30% more each hour they work than ten years ago. In the late 1990s everybody shared in this boom. Though incomes were rising fastest at the top, all workers' wages far outpaced inflation.
【参考译文】
美国人心态很平和。他们并不太在意各自收入间的差别，尽管事实上没有哪个别的发达国家的贫富差距像美国这么大。这和欧洲人截然不同。欧洲人对全民收入的分配很是上心。美国人则不一样，他们是想要成为富人，而对打垮富人并无兴趣。十有八九的国民坚信即使出身贫寒，只要通过努力，也能飞黄腾达。这不正是美国梦的精髓所在吗?
于是美国政界一致认为，与其回过头来均分财富，还不如实现经济的增长。这也和美国前总统约翰.肯尼迪的那句"水涨船高"不谋而合。美国经济这十几年的增长速度不可谓不快。随着1995年以来生产率的飞涨，美国经济的发展十二年来一直领先于其他强国，如今的生产效率是十年前的1.3倍。在上世纪的最后十年，所有公民都从中尝到了甜头。尽管那些高收入者获益更大，但所有人的工资增长幅度都远大于通货膨胀的速度。
中译英
中国坚定不移地走和平发展道路，是基于中国国情的必然选择。1840年鸦片战争以后的100多年里，中国受尽了列强的欺辱。消除战争，实现和平，建设独立富强、民生幸福的国家，是近代以来中国人民孜孜以求的奋斗目标。今天的中国虽然取得了巨大的发展成就，但人口多，底子薄，发展不平衡，仍然是世界上最大的发展中国家。推动经济社会发展，不断改善人民生活始终是中国的中心任务。坚持走和平发展道路，是中国实现国家富强、人民幸福的必由之路。中国人民最需要、最珍爱和平的国际环境，愿尽自己所能，为推动各国共同发展作出积极贡献。
【参考译文】
China's firm stand on peaceful development is only natural, given the country's unique situation. In the ensuing 100 plus years after the Opium War of 1840, China suffered great humiliation at the hands of the world's big powers. The Chinese people have, throughout the modern times, yearned and sought for a peaceful, independent, prosperous and happy life free from wars. Despite the tremendous growth we are witnessing in China today, the country is still faced with a large population, a weak economic foundation and rather uneven development. It is still, as it were, the largest developing country in the world. China's major focus, therefore, is on socio-economic development and continued improvement of people's livelihood. The only way to achieve prosperity for China and happiness for its people is by sticking to the path of peaceful development. The Chinese people will try their utmost to promote and contribute to common development among nations and, in order to do that, they need and cherish to the highest degree a peaceful international environment.
