北京理工大學2009年博士入學英語考試的英譯漢

Universities endure

Their work is never complete.To paraphrase Vannevar Bush,they forever seek the endless frontier.The role of individuals is transient.We make our contributions,do our work,exert our influence,pursue our passions chase our dreams,teach and learn,succeed and fail,give substance to the present,help shape the future,and then move on.
And as we move on,we should reflect on our times and what we have learned---but only for the purpose of helping ourselves,and others,to travel more wisely into the future.Having had the rare privilege of serving as presidentof MIT for nearly 14 years,through the change from the twentieth to the twenty-first century,I am indeed compelled to reflect on what i have learned.It is far too soon for me to claim more than a hint of understanding of the institutional legacy my colleagues and i leave,and that is for others to determine in any event.