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A journey beyond the court - 2024 Commencement Address by Roger Federer at Dartmouth

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Part I. QUESTIONS

Listen to the speech and choose the best answer to each question you hear.

Q1. What was the speaker’s reaction to being awarded an honorary doctorate degree?

A. Indifference.

B. Surprise.

C. Disappointment.

D. Confidence.

Q2. How does the speaker describe his usual attire over the past 35 years?

A. Casual and comfortable.

B. Formal and elegant.

C. Athletic and sporty.

D. Traditional and conservative.

Q3. Aside from giving his speech, what activity did the speaker particularly enjoy during his visit to Dartmouth?

A. Climbing the Baker Tower.

B. Playing football with students.

C. Visiting Dartmouth's historical sites.

D. Attending lectures.

Q4. What shared experience does the speaker mention that connects him to the graduates?

A. Both attended Dartmouth College.

B. Both have a deep appreciation for the color green.

C. Both finished significant phases in their lives and are uncertain about the future.

D. Both played professional tennis.

Q5. What is the speaker’s main message to the graduates regarding their future?

A. The importance of hard work and achievements.

B. The joy of receiving an honorary degree.

C. The significance of maintaining traditions.

D. Accepting and embracing uncertainty.

Part II. TRANSCRIPT

A journey beyond the court – 2024 Commencement Address by Roger Federer at Dartmouth

Thank you! Everybody. It’s great to see you, and hello, class of 2024! This is so exciting. It’s an incredible feeling to be here with you. I am so excited to join you today. Really, you have no idea how excited I am. Keep in mind, this is literally the second time I have ever set foot on a college campus. Second time ever. (Q1) But for some reason, you are giving me a doctorate degree. I just came here to give a speech, but I get to go home as “Dr. Roger.” That’s a pretty nice bonus. “Dr. Roger.” This has to be my most unexpected victory ever! Thank you. President Beilock, the Board of Trustees, faculty members – thank you for this honor. President Beilock, I’m incredibly grateful. And I’ll try my best not to choke. I’m a little outside my comfort zone today. This is not my usual scene. And these are not my usual clothes. Do you dress like this every day at Dartmouth? (Q2) The robe is hard to move in. Keep in mind I’ve worn shorts almost every day for the last 35 years.

trustee n.（慈善事业或其他机构的）受托人

robe n. 礼袍

I’m not a person who gives a lot of speeches like this. Maybe the worst, but an important speech, was when I started out on the Swiss national team. I was only 17 years old, and I was so nervous that I couldn’t even say more than four words: “Happy to be here.” Well, here we are, 25 years later. I still feel a little nervous, but I’ve got a lot more than four words to say to you. Starting with: I’m happy to be here! Happy to be with you, here on the Green. As you might have heard grass is my favorite surface. “Big Green”, it must be destiny!

There is another reason I’m here, and I can sum it up in two words: Beer pong. Or pong, as you call it. And I guess you can call it what you like - I’m told Dartmouth invented it! Now, this sport. Wait. Is pong a sport? Or is it a way of life? Either way, Dartmouth is the Wimbledon of pong, and it’s even raining like in Wimbledon. So I’m glad I got to work on my shots with some of you. I’m actually thinking about turning pro. But I know there’s more to Dartmouth than pong. I have spent an amazing couple of days here, and you have made Hanover feel like home. The mountains here are exactly like the Swiss Alps. Just shorter. But I’m loving it here. I got a chance to hit some balls with my kids at the Boss Tennis Center yesterday. I did a welcome. (Q3) I got to climb the Baker Tower, saw some incredible views and took my kids to see the Dr. Seuss books at the library. Of course I also crushed some chocolate chip cookies from FoCo and I ate an EBA’s chicken sandwich from Lou’s.

Alps n. 阿尔卑斯山

I’ve done it all, but there is another big reason I’m here: Tony G., Class of ’93. Are we wrapping now? Tony Godsick is my business partner, my longtime agent, one of my closest friends, and most important, the proud father of Isabella, Class of 2024. From Tony – and now Bella – I know how special this place truly is. And how loyal you are to each other, and how obsessive you are about this color Green. I was with their family, including Mary Joe and Nico, the day Bella got into Dartmouth. I remember how crazy happy she was. I saw a smile and a level of excitement on her face that I had never seen before.

But then I got here and actually, everybody is smiling like this. I can see how proud you are of this place and this moment. You have worked so hard to get here. I have huge respect for all you have achieved. And for the family and friends who have helped you achieve it. Let’s give them a big hand.

I’m even more impressed, because I left school at the age of 16 to play tennis full-time. So I never went to college but I did graduate recently. I graduated tennis. I know the word is “retire.” “Roger Federer retired from tennis.” Retired. The word is awful. You wouldn’t say you retired from college, right? Sounds terrible. (Q4+Q5) Like you, I’ve finished one big thing and I’m moving on to the next. Like you, I’m figuring out what that is. Graduates, I feel your pain. I know what it’s like when people keep asking what your plan is for the rest of your life. They ask me: “Now that you are not a professional tennis player, what do you do?” I don’t know and it’s OK not to know. So what do I do with my time? I’m a dad first, so, I guess, I drive my kids to school? Play chess online against strangers? Vacuum the house? No, in truth, I’m loving the life of a tennis graduate. I graduated tennis in 2022, and you are graduating college in 2024. So I have a head start in answering the question of what’s next.

Part III. KEY

Q1. B. 细节题。根据：“But for some reason, you are giving me a doctorate degree... This has to be my most unexpected victory ever!”可见，演讲者对被授予荣誉博士学位感到非常意外，很惊喜。因此答案为B。

Q2. A. 细节题。根据：“The robe is hard to move in. Keep in mind I’ve worn shorts almost every day for the last 35 years.”可见，演讲者认为现在穿的礼服行动不便，而过去35 年他几乎每天穿短裤，所以他平常的穿着是随意且舒适的。因此答案为A。

Q3. A. 细节题。根据：“I got to climb the Baker Tower, saw some incredible views and took my kids to see the Dr. Seuss books at the library.” 可知，Federer爬上了贝克塔，看到了美丽的景色，并带孩子们去看了图书馆里的苏斯博士的书。因此答案为A。

Q4. C. 推理题。根据：“Like you, I’ve finished one big thing and I’m moving on to the next. Like you, I’m figuring out what that is. Graduates, I feel your pain.”可见，和毕业生们一样，Federer也完成了一件大事，现在正准备开始下一件，并且都不确定未来要做什么。 因此答案为C。

Q5. D. 主旨题。根据：“I don’t know and it’s OK not to know.” 可见结合Federer讲述自己从职业网球退役后也不知道接下来做什么，鼓励毕业生们接受并拥抱不确定性。因此答案为D。

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