1、 A Chinese philosopher, Feng Youlan, once said China is an old country with a new life. To us, that means this country with a long, long history is on its course of modernization. I am encouraged every time I think of it. I do believe China really has a bright future, if it seeks this opportunity to
2、 continue building a road to the world. I see the future as a huge project in which I can play an important role. China needs more and better roads to the rest of the world. I feel needed. I feel inspired. Im ready. -Excerpt from Li Shu （全国英语演讲比赛第二届冠军:李舒,四川大学,1997年）We live at a critical juncture of
3、our evolution because such problems as ethnic conflict and regional unrest are increasingly posing a threat to peace and happiness of the whole human race. To cope with such an era and to embrace an even brighter future, we need to learn to live more harmoniously in a world community which is becomi
4、ng smaller and smaller. -Excerpt from Liang Limin （全国英语演讲比赛第三届冠军:梁励敏,北京外国语大学,1998年）What happened to this beautiful valley in Australia should also happen to our Yellow River and, in fact, it is happening. I have seen farmers planting trees on mountains along the Yellow River. I have seen them climb
5、the mountain tops with seeding on their shoulders because they had no machinery. I have seen them pour on trees the water they carried up in buckets from miles down the valley. These farmers are quietly nourishing our Yellow River, just as the river has nourished them. -Excerpt from Cai Li （全国英语演讲比赛
6、第四届冠军:蔡力,南京大学,1999年）If a person inherits his fathers millions of dollars and leads an easy life, he is not a successful person even in material terms, because there are no difficulties involved in his achieving affluence. The term success, to be sure, will not sit still for easy definition. But as I
7、 understand it, the true meaning of success entails a combination of both the process and the satisfactory result of an endeavor. -Excerpt from Chen Heng （全国英语演讲比赛第五届冠军:陈恒,上海外国语大学,2000年）The first and foremost thing is to let people fall in love with the city at first sight, attracting them by its un
8、ique image. What image does Beijing intend to create for itself once it has the opportunity to host the 2008 Olympics? It is known to all that the Beijing Municipal Government has already set the theme for the future games: New Beijing, Great Olympics. For me, the 2008 Olympics will be a great green
9、 Olympics illuminated with two more special colors, yellow and red. -Excerpt from Qi Yue （全国英语演讲比赛第六届冠军:戚悦,北京语言文化大学,2001年）Like many young people of my age in China, I want to see my country get prosperous and enjoy respect in the international community. But it seems to me that mere patriotism is no
10、t just enough. It is vitally important that we young people do more serious thinking and broaden our minds to bigger issues. -Excerpt from Sun Ning （全国英语演讲比赛第七届冠军:孙宁,北京外国语大学,2002年）The other night, as I saw the moon linger over the land and before it was sent into the invisible, my mind was filled wi
11、th songs. I found myself humming softly, not to the music, but to something else, someplace else, a place remembered, a place untouched, a field of grass where no one seemed to have been except the deer. And all those unforgettable scenes strengthened the feeling that its time for us to do something
12、, for our own and our coming generation. -Excerpt from Gu Qiubei （全国英语演讲比赛第八届冠军:顾秋蓓,上海外国语大学,2003年）Look at us today! So many doors are open to us! I believe there have never been such abundant opportunities for self-development as we have today. The doors open to us also pose challenges. Each door is
13、 a test of our courage, ability and judgement, but with the support of my teachers, parents and friends, I believe I can meet the challenge head on. -Excerpt from Hong Ye （全国英语演讲比赛第九届全军:洪晔,南京大学,2004年The Force of HabitsHabits, whether good or bad, are gradually formed. The more we do a thing, the mor
14、e we tend to like doing it; and if we do not continue to do it, we feel uncomfortable. This is called the force of habits, and the force of habits should be fought against.This applies even to such good things as work or rest. Some people form a bad habit of working too much, and others of idling to
15、o much. Bad habits, once formed, are difficult to get rid of.The wise man always remembers to check any bad habit. He warns himself “I am now becoming idle” or “I like too many sweets” or “I smoke too much”. And then adds, “I will get myself out of this bad habit at once.”The Way to Achieve SuccessM
16、any people say that they owe much of it to the cultivation of certain good habits in early life. In forming good habits, I think we should pay attention to four things, that is honesty, industry, enthusiasm and thrift.“Honesty is the best policy.” This is a proverb to which we must pay attention. Th
17、ere are so many temptations in society that through a little carelessness we may go astray. But when we are honest, people will not be dishonest to us.Industry gives every man and woman, every boy and girl, proper work to do. To do nothing is going to ruin oneself.Enthusiasm is a great force. Ones s
18、oul will expand if one devotes oneself to a noble cause. The difficulties in our way are tremendous, but what can we not accomplish, if with enthusiasm?There are many proverbs, which set forth the advantages of thrift. Since we live in the world in which money is a very powerful thing, we should alw
19、ays try to save a portion of our earnings for future use.These are the four things to which we must pay attention. It is only by this way that we can achieve success.TV - A Blessing or a Curse?As TV enters more and more families, people begin to wonder about its advantages and disadvantages. Some be
20、lieve it is a blessing, others hold that it is a curse to society.TV, as a mass media, can bring to people new information on economies, culture, arts, and many other fields. People can enjoy their favorite programs at home. In some countries, some TV stations provide such programs as looking for da
21、ngerous criminals and lost children, helping to find an ideal lover, and others which are quite beneficial to society, some TV stations provide various useful seminars for people of various ages and social status. But on the other hand, TV may exert bad influence on people. Some programs are full of
22、 violence. As a result, people, especially juveniles, are led to commit crimes. An increasing number of people are so indulged in TV programs that some even neglect their duties.In my opinion, the attitude towards TV all depends on oneself. People should choose those programs, which are useful, and
23、can bring to them the sense of beauty.On Test and Test TakingThe purpose of a test is to check how much we students have learned about a subject. It not only helps make our newly acquired knowledge permanent, but also enables us to find out what needs to spend more time improving.But some students d
24、o not deal with test correctly. Some of them are afraid of failing in a test. They cheat even at the risk of being caught on exams. Though cheating might give one “better grades”, it adds nothing to ones knowledge. This dishonest behavior will do one more harm than good.I think that we go to college
25、 in order to have our further studies, and prepare us to be qualified for the future job. Therefore, we should take a correct attitude towards test. As long as we study diligently and review our lessons regularly, we are sure to be used to serve its real purpose.The DictionaryThe dictionary is a liv
26、ing teacher. Whenever you come across a new word, just consult it and you will get a clear definition. Every student, whether attending school or self-taught, should always have a dictionary at hand. As a study aid, it is convenient, inexpensive and almost omniscient （all-knowing）.Language skills wi
27、ll develop with your constant use of various dictionaries. The more you use them, the more familiar you will become with them. Sooner or later, you will be quite skilled in finding the page, scanning the entries and locating the exact meanings of the new words. But you should have one thing in mind.
28、 As a language student, you can never become too much attached to dictionaries; basic language skills do not come from dictionaries, but from your practice. Expose yourself to the language by listening, speaking, reading and writing more, and that is the only way to the mastery of a language.On Lear
29、ningLearning is ones own business, which cannot rely on others. As we know, learning is a process of accumulating knowledge. It is ones life-long task, which cannot be accomplished in one move. A successful learner is an independent one who has both an indomitable （unyielding） will and amazing endur
30、ance. He will try to discover his own way of learning. Instead of waiting for the teachers help, he will make efforts to create favorable conditions on his own initiative. It will certainly be of great help, if there is good environment, sufficient books and equipment, as well as instructions from teacher and beneficial friends. But even if one has got all these favorable conditions, one cannot be sure to succeed in learning.So the most important factor in learning consists in ones own effort. To learn is rather a painstaking and persevering business. Many a man is a fa
