第一篇：2011大連市楓葉杯英語演講比賽季軍選手比賽文字稿

2011楓葉杯初賽試題原稿

Recently, the liberal education project at Zhongshan University has attracted great attention.The 35 freshmen taking part in this project will follow a general curriculum providing broad learning in multiple disciplines rather than the usual in depth study of one particular major.They may benefit a great deal by broadening their knowledge, but will they lose out when it comes to job hunting in four years’ time? Give your opinion about this liberal education project.Honorable judges, ladies and gentlemen!I’m happy to have the chance to speak here.I would like to share my opinion with you on the topic “the liberal education project at Zhongshan University.”

Recently, this liberal education project has attracted great attention all over China.Some people believe the project will benefit the students involved greatly.However, others raise their eyebrows because they fear that the students will lose out in the job market.In my opinion, this project should be regarded as a blessing rather than a curse.There are tow arguments I would like to make to support my point of view.Firstly, attending the project, the students lay a solid foundation for their further study and research.As the Chinese saying goes “There is no separation among liberal arts, history and philosophy.” Only when students comprehensively study all three subjects, could they obtain a solid foundation for their future accomplishments in the study of human science.I remember, one of my friends majored in liberal arts and minored in history as an undergraduate student.However, after four year’s study, he found he was especially interested in Medieval History, which he specialized in later for his master’s degree.Recently, he confided to me that he feels he is at a disadvantage in pursuing his further studies because he has not studied philosophy as an undergraduate student and Philosophy, particularly historical materialism is one of the key tools for analyzing past events.Therefore I believe, as dose he, that if he had taken part in this project, he would have benefited enormously.Secondly, the project provides the students with an edge for competing in the job market.Nowadays, to be recruited by a well-known company, university students have to pass many rounds of tests and interviews, which aim at testing students’ all-round abilities.Therefore, I firmly believe, the students, who have extensively studied liberal arts, history and philosophy, will stand out in the tests and attract the attention of any employer.In the modern world, companies need their employees to be versatile, to keep pace with the rapid change of business.So, with their interdisciplinary educational background, the graduates from the project will soon become extremely competent employees capable of tackling any issue that may occur in their future career.In conclusion, I would say, taking part in the project will provide the students with a better academic life and career prospects.It is my belief that we should view the project as a beneficial and encouraging educational reform.Thank you for your time.2011楓葉杯復賽試題整理稿

China’s greatest contribution to global harmony and prosperity over the next 25

years

Honorable Judges, ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to speak here today.I would like to share my opinion with you on the topic China’s greatest contribution to global economy and harmony over the next 25 years.When I saw this topic for the first time, one thing flashed into my mind was a song called “Chinese Language” which is sung by a famous female band and in this song, there is one sentence in its lyrics, like, “all the world is leaning Chinese”.Therefore I want to say, the essence of China’s long history, Chinese Culture will exert a very influential effect to global harmony and prosperity over the next 25 years.I would like to divide Chinese culture into three levels, Chinese language, Chinese educational theory and Chinese traditions.Firstly, Chinese language will contribute enormously to the prosperity of the world’s economy.A few months ago, I went to Beijing with my girlfriend to have a sightseeing there.In the airplane flying to Beijing, I encountered a foreign student from Germany and he studied Chinese as a postgraduate student in Dalian Northeast Financial and Economic University.We talked a lot, in Chinese, related to her life in Dalian, her major and even Chinese Phonetic symbols.When I asked her why did you decide to study Chinese in this country, she told me that when she was an undergraduate student, her major was international trade and because China had become a big economy in the world, it would be very important to learn Chinese to be a businessperson in the future.Therefore, I believe, due to China’s economic status in the world, Chinese language would become a very important factor for the world’s economic prosperity.Secondly, Chinese educational theory is one of the most effective means to create harmonious relationship between human beings.China has a very long history and China’s educational theory has benefited Chinese people enormously.I would like to take Confucius as an example.Confucius emphasized a lot on the harmonious relations between people.He even thought the relationship between teachers and students should be as good as the relationship between father and son.Therefore, even many years after he died, his students still compiled “Lunyu” the most famous book derived from Confucius’ quotations.So I would say if China’s educational theory could be accepted by the world, it will benefited the world’s harmonious relationship between human beings greatly

Thirdly, Chinese tradition will provide an extremely positive effect to form a harmonious character of human beings.I would like to take myself as an example.When I was yang, I did not have a pretty handwriting and I often lost temper to my friends.So, my parent decided to let me study calligraphy.In the first few days, I experienced a lot of failures and committed some mistakes.However, I gradually learnt to be patient and my handwriting also became better.Therefore, I would say if Chinese tradition could be accepted by the world gradually, it will benefit the world

greatly for forming human being’s sound and harmonious character.In conclusion, China’s culture, especially Chinese Language, Chinese educational theory and Chinese tradition, will contribute greatly to the world’s prosperity and harmony.Thank you for your time.2011年大連市第十五屆“楓葉杯”英語演講比賽成人組5號選手演講文字稿

第一部分：即興演講。上場前30分鐘現場抽提，30分鐘準備后上臺演講（3-4分鐘）。

題目：

Will Chinese people’s increase of living standards contribute to the establishment of a bridge between West and East?

中國人民生活水平的提高是否有利于在東西方之間構建起一座橋梁？

演講內容（語法及詞匯錯誤已修訂）：

Honorable judges, ladies and gentlemen!I am happy to have the chance to speak here.Today, I would like to share my opinion with you on the topic “will Chinese people’s increase of living standards promote the establishment of a bridge between the west and east?”

尊敬的評委，女士們先生們！很高興能有機會在這里進行演講，今天，我想就“中國人民生活水平的提高是否有利于在東西方之間構建起一座橋梁？”這一主題，與大家分享我的觀點。

When I saw this topic for the first time, one thing that flashed in my mind is the fact that many Confucius Institutions have been opened up all around the world.Therefore I firmly believe that the increase of Chinese people’s financial well-being will contribute a lot to the establishment of the bridge between the west and east.There are three arguments I would like to make to support my point of view.當我第一眼看到這個題目的時候，首先在我腦海里浮現的情景是：中國已經在世界各地建立起了許多孔子學院。因此我堅信，中國人民生活水平的提高非常有利于在東西方之間構建起一座橋梁。我想從三個方面進行論述，以支持我的觀點。

Firstly, I would like to say, the increasing of Chinese people’s financial well-being will give an opportunity to the people from the west and east to communicate with each other.I would like to take myself as an example.When I graduated from my university, I met a foreigner as a foreign teacher in a school and from that time on, we become very good friends.And even now, he has already come back to his native country.We still keep touch with each other and the way for us to keep touch is by phone.So, I would like to say, if there were no increasing of Chinese people’s financial well-being, I would have no chance to talk to such a person and have such a good friend.首先，我想說，中國人民生活水平的提高為東西方人民的相互溝通提供了一個機會。我想以我自己為例來進行說明。當我大學畢業的時候，我結識了一位在學校教書的外教。從那時起，我們成為了要好的朋友。時至今天，雖然他已經返回本國，我們仍然保持著聯系，而我們保持聯系的方式就是電話溝通。因此，我想說，如果中國人民的生活水平沒有提高，我也就不會有機會與他溝通，也就沒有機會與他成為非常好朋友。

And secondly, I want to say, with the development of Chinese people’s financial well-being, the culture of the two countries of the west and east will communicate a lot.Like I said, these days, a lot of Confucius Institutions have been opened up all around the world and a lot of foreigners want to learn Chinese.I knew a foreigner when, a few days ago, I came to Beijing with my girl friend to have a tour.And that foreigner was a student in one of Dalian’s universities to learn Chinese.His Chinese was really fantastic.The reason why he wanted to spend a lot of time in studying Chinese is because he thinks in the future Chinese people will be more wealthy and there would be a very good chance for him to earn money from China.And therefore I would say the increasing of Chinese people’s financial well-being indeed gives an edge for Chinese people to exchange cultures with other people from other countries.其次，我想說，隨著中國人民生活水平的提高，東西方兩國的文化進行了良好的交流。正如我所說的，近些年中國已在世界各地建立起了許多孔子學院，有許多外國人學習中國文化。幾天前，我和女友去北京旅游的時候結識了一位外國朋友。這位外國朋友是在大連一所大學學習漢語的留學生。他的漢語非常的流利。他之所以想要花費大量的時間學習中文，是因為他認為，將來中國人民將會更加富裕，而對于他來說，想從中國賺錢，這是一個非常好的機會。因此，我想說中國人民生活水平的提高為中國人民與世界其他國家的人民進行交流提供了優勢。

And thirdly, I want to say, with the increasing of Chinese people’s status, Chinese government has to communicate with the outside world to buy things to meet the need of Chinese people, such as airplane.With the development of Chinese economy, more and more people are rich and have the ability to go to someplace by plane and Chinese government have to contact the American government to get the support of its factory to get planes.再次，我想說隨著中國人民生活水平的提高，中國政府必須與其他國家進行溝通，以購買產品，比如飛機，來滿足中國人民的需求。隨著中國經濟的發展，越來越多的人們變得富有，因而由能力乘坐飛機旅行，為此中國政府必須與美國政府進行溝通，以獲得美國飛機制造廠的支持來購買飛機。

So, in conclusion, I would say, the increase of Chinese people’s financial status will increase the opportunity for the exchange between people, the culture and the relationship between the governments.總之，我想說中國人民生活水平的提高，將會增強政府間的關系，也會增加人們之間進行交流的機會和文化之間進行交流的機會。

Thank you!

謝謝！

第二部分：現場提問。臺下評委根據演講內容進行現場提問（一分鐘）。

Judge：Your arguments are interesting.However I would like to ask you to extend it a little.How would you better balance the income levels within China?

評委：你的論點非常有意思。但是我想讓你對它進行一點擴展。你如何平衡在中國存在的收入等級之間的差距？

Contestant：I beg your pardon?

選手：請您再說一遍？

Judge：How would you balance or distribute the income between Chinese people? 評委：你如何平衡或者說分配不同中國人之間的收入差距？

Contestant：You mean some Chinese people are rich and(Judge：very rich)some Chinese people are poor(Judge：very poor).選手：你是說有些中國人很富有（評委：非常富有）而有些中國人很窮（評委：非常窮）。

Judge：How would you make that more equal?

評委：你怎么來對它進行平衡呢？

Contestant：

選手：

Thanks for your question.感謝您的問題。

I think this is a reality for all of the societies in the world.And one thing I think Chinese people should do is Chinese government should play a role to promote the people in the poor condition to have more chances to have a good job.我想這是一個任何國家都需要面對的現實。我認為中國人民首先要做的就是，中國政府應當發揮作用，讓處于貧苦條件的人們有機會獲得好的工作。

And secondly, the Chinese government should also pay more money to establish more educational institutions to educate the people who would not have too much knowledge to learn new things to have more opportunities to find a good job.其次，中國政府應加大投資以興建更多的教育機構，以使那些沒有受過良好教育的人們去學習新的技能以獲得機會找到好的工作。

And thirdly, I also want to say, Chinese government should also use its tax method to levy more tax on the richer generation or the richer level to make the poor level have more money.再次，我還想說，中國政府應當使用它的稅收政策，對富有的一代或富有的階層征收更多的稅款，而使貧窮的階層有更多的收入。

That is my answer.這就是我的答案。

第二篇：2011大連市楓葉杯英語演講比賽成人組季軍選手連續三年(2009-2011)參加楓葉杯初賽的文字稿

2011大連市楓葉杯英語演講比賽成人組季軍選手連續三年

（2009-2011）參加楓葉杯初賽的文字稿

2009

We can reach the moon and come back but we find it troublesome

to cross our own streets and meet our own neighbors.Nowadays, Science and technology has brought great changes to our society and our life style also has been reformed accordingly.In the past, there were not too many apartments, so several households would share a common yard and the neighbors would take care of each other;at that time cell phones were not commonly used, so people would regularly pay a visit to their friends and share the enjoyment of daily life;and also, the internet didn’t become a part of people’s everyday life, so when people had some problems that they were not able to handle or people wanted to acquire the information related to their unfamiliar fields, they would turn to their friends, neighbors or relatives.But now, our new life style has made great impacts on this traditional interpersonal relationship.While our apartments shield us from rain and snow, we are also isolated and it is hard to meet and talk to our neighbors;while we enjoy the convenience provided by the cell phone to contact our friends, we are reluctant to pay the regular visit to them and even during the spring festival, we prefer sending them a short message to a drop-by visit;and also while the internet become our main means to acquire the information we need, a lot of people are indulged in the unreal internet world and become closet geeks.Therefore, in this modern society, it is easy for us to meet the earth’s neighbor---the moon, but it is hard to cross our own streets and meet our own neighbors.So, should our traditional interpersonal relationship be weakened with the modernization of society? I don’t think so.No matter how large the change of our society is, for children, interpersonal communication is still needed to form their personality and keep them from autism;for adults, the encouragement and consolation from their friends are still important when they are emotionally hurt or encounter failures;and also for elders, the communication with their children or friends is still the most effective medicine to keep their physical and mental health

These things are traditional but these things are still vital.So, when you’re free, do cross your own streets and meet your own neighbors, because the communication and attendance between people is human being’s genetic and eternal needs.In matters of principle, stand like a rock;

in matters of taste, swim with the current.Honorable judges, ladies and gentlemen!I’m happy to have the chance to speak here.My topic is “In matters of principle, stand like a rock;in matters of taste, swim with the current.”

This quote is attributed to Thomas Jefferson, to tell us that for maintaining a sound interpersonal relationship, it is vital to cling to basic social principles and be flexible regarding personal tastes.It has been about 200 years since Thomas Jefferson’s offering however, in this modernized and globalized society, I believe, his idea still should be regarded as a primary guideline for our behavior.Firstly, adherence to principles constitutes the foundation for people’s normal and stable life.Admittedly, nowadays, a lot of people no longer think highly of some cardinal principles.In the past, being helpful to people in trouble was a principle held by any individual, being loyal to each other was a principle held by any couple, and being cooperative to other members also was a principle held by any group.But, currently, it is said that selfishness is justifiable, taking a mistress is forgivable and even the emphasizing on self-importance within a team is regard as preferable！

This is wrong!If no one, in this world, firmly observes these principles, how could we trust our friends, enter into marriage or even work harmoniously in our office, and how could our society function normally? Therefore, only when we stick to these principles, can we establish a society for people to live in peace and harmony respecting each other.Secondly, it is being flexible regarding our personal taste that contributes to avoiding interpersonal frictions and conflicts.I would like to give an example to illustrate.When my cousin was in high school, he became a fan of “Jay Chou” or “Zhou Jielun” in Chinese.He liked Chou’s songs a lot and played his music all day long, which drove his father, my uncle, crazy.Therefore, over this issue, they squabbled constantly.So, one day, I told my uncle that “you’d better try to accept these songs and communicate with your son.” “That is hard!” my uncle replied.“But that is only a slight change.Accepting the tastes of your son and his generation may be enough for you to solve this problem.”

In the end, my uncle gradually changed his attitude towards Chou and his songs and accepted them.Though friction still exists, the relationship between the father and the son were dramatically improved.So without my uncle’s flexibility, I think their issues may never be solved.To sum up, in our ordinary life, invariably adhering to principles and being flexible in ourpersonal tastes are two coexisting elements for us to maintain a smooth interpersonal relationship And as long as we combine both of them, we could have a happy and joyful life.Thanks for your time！

Recently, the liberal education project at Zhongshan University has attracted great attention.The 35 freshmen taking part in this project will follow a general curriculum providing broad learning in multiple disciplines rather than the usual in depth study of one particular major.They may benefit a great deal by broadening their knowledge, but will they lose out when it comes to job hunting in four years’ time? Give your opinion about this liberal education project.Honorable judges, ladies and gentlemen!I’m happy to have the chance to speak here.I would like to share my opinion with you on the topic “the liberal education project at Zhongshan University.” Recently, this liberal education project has attracted great attention all over China.Some people believe the project will benefit the students involved greatly.However, others raise their eyebrows because they fear that the students will lose out in the job market.In my opinion, this project should be regarded as a blessing rather than a curse.There are tow arguments I would like to make to support my point of view.Firstly, attending the project, the students lay a solid foundation for their further study and research.As the Chinese saying goes “There is no separation among liberal arts, history and philosophy.” Only when students comprehensively study all three subjects, could they obtain a solid foundation for their future accomplishments in the study of human science.I remember, one of my friends majored in liberal arts and minored in history as an undergraduate student.However, after four year’s study, he found he was especially interested in Medieval History, which he specialized in later for his master’s degree.Recently, he confided to me that he feels he is at a disadvantage in pursuing his further studies because he has not studied philosophy as an undergraduate student and Philosophy, particularly historical materialism is one of the key tools for analyzing past events.Therefore I believe, as dose he, that if he had taken part in this project, he would have benefited enormously.Secondly, the project provides the students with an edge for competing in the job market.Nowadays, to be recruited by a well-known company, university students have to pass many rounds of tests and interviews, which aim at testing students’ all-round abilities.Therefore, I firmly believe, the students, who have extensively studied liberal arts, history and philosophy, will stand out in the tests and attract the attention of any employer.In the modern world, companies need their employees to be versatile, to keep pace with the rapid change of business.So, with their interdisciplinary educational background, the graduates from the project will soon become extremely competent employees capable of tackling any issue that may occur in their future career.In conclusion, I would say, taking part in the project will provide the students with a better academic life and career prospects.It is my belief that we should view the project as a beneficial and encouraging educational reform.Thank you for your time.注：上述文字稿均為由本人撰寫初稿，然后由外籍教師Philip進行修訂。如有想參加楓葉杯英語演講比賽的朋友，歡迎與本人聯系（Email：mi3tom@sina.com，qq：343092406），本人和外教Philip將盡力為大家提供指導和建議。

第三篇：歷年大連市楓葉杯英語語法演講比賽題目

第十一屆：

1.How can education help me play a positive role in the future of China? 2.Women and equality, theory and reality in modern China.3.Discuss China’s role as a world power in helping solve the problem of poverty 第十二屆：

1.You laugh at me because I’m different , but I laugh at you because you are the same.2.Happiness is like a coke—something you get as a by-product in the process of making something else.3.It is possible to store the mind with a million facts but still be uneducated.第十四屆：

1.There is an old saying “Jack of all trades but master of none.” Do you think that it is better aim to be “a Jack of all trades” or “a master of one” in today's world? 2.China has set up nearly 300 Confucius institutes around the world to teach Chinese language and culture.How do you view the enthusiasm for learning Chinese? What underlies this trend? 3.In matters of principle, stand like a rock;in matters of taste, swim with the current.第十五屆：

l Recently, the liberal education project at Zhongshan University has attracted great attention.The 35 freshmen taking part in this project will follow a general curriculum providing broad learning in multiple disciplines rather than the usual in depth study of one particular major.They may benefit a great deal by broadening their knowledge, but will they lose out when it comes to job hunting in four years’ time? Give your opinion about this liberal education project.l A global survey shows that cell phones have become the “remote control” for life because they are with us all the time.They give us safety, security and instant access to information.They have become the number one tool of communication for us.How do you view people’s reliance on cell phones?

l Government jobs are often considered dull and boring.However, nearly one and a half million people took the national examination for recruitment of civil servants last year.Among these, up to 4 thousand people had applied for post with just one vacancy.What do you think of about this feverish demand for civil service jobs? 第十六屆：

1.Smile and silence are two powerful tools.2.The happiest people are not those who have the best of everything, but who make the best out of everything.3.There is no elevator to success.You have to take the stairs 第十七屆：

1.When you're down and out, remember to keep your head up.When you're up and well, remember to keep your feet down.2.We all live under the same sky, but we don’t all have the same horizon.3.A home without books is like a house without windows

第四篇：16屆21世紀杯英語演講比賽 冠亞季軍演講稿

Championship article Have you ever bought any food on the train? And do you ask for the receipt after buying it? Nowadays, all trains in China provide its passengers with receipts for commodities, but 7 years ago, things were quite different.On 13th of October, 2004, the train T109 from Beijing to Shanghai was speeding on the railway.A graduate student bought a sausage at 1 yuan on the train, then asked for a receipt.“Are you kidding? It’s just one yuan!” The crew member was surprised.The student, however, answered in a determined voice, “I paid the money, so I deserve the receipt.”

“But we never give receipts on the train.’ As a result, his further request was turned down by a cold shoulder.Several days later, the student sued the National Railway Ministry, for not providing receipts for passengers.To his dismay, the court turned down the case for lack of evidence.But he, who majored in law at that time, believed law as a most powerful weapon, so he did not give up.Instead, he began his journey of collecting first-hand evidence by taking trains and buying commodities aboard.When his classmates were playing soccer, he was taking the train;When his classmates were buying food at Mcdonald’s, he was buying food on the train;When his classmates were asking girls out, he was asking for the receipts.As he joked, ‘I was either taking the train or on the way to take the train.’

One month later, he appeared in the court again, with newly-collected evidence and a stronger confidence.And I guess, ladies and gentlemen, you will all cheer for the result because this time, the student won the case.Very soon, a regulation about receipts on the train came out.And whatever we buy on the train now, there’s a receipt for us.Outside the court, the student was asked, “How do you make it to the end?” He said, “As a law student, I root my faith in law.I believe that law is there, to protect every person with no exception, and to ensure every person has a say.”

His words spread a strong faith in law, which is not only a doctrine of a law student, but also a belief that all citizens ought to hold.It is this faith that initiates the student to resort to law for a tiny issue;it is this faith that supports him to endure all the exhausting trips when collecting evidence;It is this faith that makes a seemingly “ridiculous” receipt request legal and rightful.It is this faith that helps to change our life, enhance our judicial system and bring social justice.To many, a receipt of 1 yuan is too small to mention, however rights are to be respected and law is to be believed in.It all starts with a tiny receipt of 1 yuan, but we get a monumental case, a new regulation and a bumper harvest in social justice.The bridge that leads a tiny start to a bumper harvest is faith, the faith in law, rightful and strong.Second place A couple of weeks ago, when I learned the theme of today’s competition, I asked some of my roommates: “What does ‘faith’ mean to you?” Just coming back from a philosophy class, the girls were in a poetic mood: “Faith is what John Lennon had when he wrote the legendary song ‘Imagine’ and dreamed of ‘world peace’”, “Faith is what the Hebrews had when they followed Moses through the Red Sea in search of their freedom.” “And faith is what the pilgrims had when they journeyed to that strange land on Mayflower, and started their pursuit of a new life.”

Thanks for the history lesson girls, but I was not asking for a great, historic event where faith might have altered the entire course of humanity.All I asked was “what does faith mean to you, to us, the individuals toiling with life’s hard choices each day?” Personally speaking, faith is like oxygen: I didn’t know how precious it was until I ran the risk of losing it.My heart stirs still every time memory brings me back to three years ago, when the devastating earthquake engulfed our country.As one of the few cities that took the hit the hardest that day, my hometown was suddenly devoured by a black hole of depression.Having forsaken our worldly possessions, my family joined the army of tents every night, holding our breath and waiting for daybreak;having abandoned the comfort of home, we managed to lift ourselves up, along with neighbors and friends, when each after-shock threatened to tear us down.As a politician once put it, in the face of disaster, we’re reminded that life can be unimaginably cruel, but it’s also in these moments, that we rediscover our common faith in life.Indeed, during those dark hours, faith blazed in the courage of my math teacher Ms.Liu, when she stayed behind in a shaking building until she made sure that the last student had safely evacuated;faith radiated from the persistence of my dad when he kept his eyes wide open every single night, so that my mom and I could have a good night’s sleep;faith was ignited from the empathy of my next-door neighbor, when she took a stranger that was in shock into her arms and consoled him with her warm embrace.In the end, faith was rekindled in the passion of me and my fellow classmates, who immediately got back to preparing for our College Entrance Examination the very next day, with gritted teeth, and a conviction as steady as a rock.Ladies and gentlemen, this is what faith means to me.It’s the small voice in our ears that says: be strong, be good, and don’t give up whenever we’re frustrated by life.That's why after three years, my friends and family have picked themselves up, dusted themselves off and with tougher spirits, begun again their journey towards a better future.At last, to twist the lyrics of last year’s charity song, I call upon my fellow young friends to chant together with me, in the name of faith, for all those who are still suffering in Haiti, Japan and Myanmar: when I get older, I will be stronger, they’ll call me faith, just like a waving flag.Let us carry above our heads the waving flag called Faith, and let its many inspirations lift us up from where we belong.Third-place Honorable judges, ladies and gentleman, good morning.I want you to tell me something.What’s the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear the word faith, a sacred and heart-warming word that’s supposed to remind you of all the beauties and goodness of life, the key that used to keep us going when confronted with all sorts of hardships and obstacles.However, when I hear the word faith, the thing it reminds me of is so remote and intangible.In this rich and peaceful era, there aren’t as many disasters or wars, especially for us young people whose lives are much easier and wealthier than our fathers’.So is faith gradually losing its significance in the human world nowadays? Like many of others, I used to think of faith as of no importance at all, and I deemed myself as a faithless person.I thought I can live my life perfectly fine without intentionally grasping something as my faith.Until one day I met an American Christian named John, who later became a very good friend of mine.John is an extremely faithful Christian, and he thinks of Jesus Christ as his lord.He, as a pastor, tried to convert me into a Christian when we first met.So he lectured me with his extensive knowledge of history and philosophy every time we hung out.In spite of his amazingly detailed description of the history of Jesus, what really got me intrigued is not the story he told, instead, is John himself as probably the first and most faithful person I’ve met in my entire life.I can feel the sparks in his eyes when he talks about biblical things, and I am so touched by the integrity of him when he says:” Jesus Christ is the ultimate pursuit of my life” without any hesitation or doubt.The more we got along, the more I became jealous of him, because he always seems to be joyful and optimistic.When I ask him how he manages it, he said:” I’ve had bad days too, but I also know that God is with me.So I know that it’ll all be okay.” Suddenly it occurred to me how lucky it is to have something you can completely put your trust into, something that will bring you strength when your mind is weak, something that reminds you “ it’s not so bad” when you’re filled with sorrow, something that gives your existence significance and bring it up to a higher level.So I was literally converted, not into a Christian, not into someone faithful either, but into someone who wants to be as faithful at least.That was the first time I am exposed to the power of faith.To put it simple, your life is complete only if you have faith.You must find something important and significant in your life, your purpose, your pursuit, whatever you call it.I’m not saying faith must relate to religion or God.It could be anything.It could be your career goal, your children, your lover, fellowship, or a certain kind of life style, anything, as long as you dare to trust your life in it with your heart of hearts.Now I’m still faithless.I haven’t become a Christian or find what matters to me most yet.But what John gave me is whole new perspective to see life.So I’ll strive to really feel and touch the beauty in life and won’t take it for granted.And that’s also what I encourage all of us to do.Keep looking for the faith of your own, and when you do, you’ll know it’s all worth it.

第五篇：16屆21世紀杯英語演講比賽 冠亞季軍演講稿

Championship article

Have you ever bought any food on the train? And do you ask for the receipt after buying it? Nowadays, all trains in China provide its passengers with receipts for commodities, but 7 years ago, things were quite different.On 13th of October, 2004, the train T109 from Beijing to Shanghai was speeding on the railway.A graduate student bought a sausage at 1 yuan on the train, then asked for a receipt.“Are you kidding? It’s just one yuan!” The crew member was surprised.The student, however, answered in a determined voice, “I paid the money, so I deserve the receipt.”

“But we never give receipts on the train.’ As a result, his further request was turned down by a cold shoulder.Several days later, the student sued the National Railway Ministry, for not providing receipts forpassengers.To his dismay, the court turned down the case for lack of evidence.But he, who majored in law at that time, believed law as a most powerful weapon, so he did not give up.Instead, he began his journey of collecting first-hand evidence by taking trains and buying commodities aboard.When his classmates were playing soccer, he was taking the train;When his classmates were buying food at Mcdonald’s, he was buying food on the train;When his classmates were asking girls out, he was asking for the receipts.As he joked, ‘I was either taking the train or on the way to take the train.’

One month later, he appeared in the court again, with newly-collected evidence and a stronger confidence.And I guess, ladies and gentlemen, you will all cheer for the result because this time, the student won the case.Very soon, a regulation about receipts on the train came out.And whatever we buy on the train now, there’s a receipt for us.Outside the court, the student was asked, “How do you make it to the end?” He said, “As a law student, I root my faith in law.I believe that law is there, to protect every person with no exception, and to ensure every person has a say.”

His words spread a strong faith in law, which is not only a doctrine of a law student, but also a belief that all citizens ought to hold.It is this faith that initiates the student to resort to law for a tiny issue;it is this faith that supports him to endure all the exhausting trips when collecting evidence;It is this faith that makes a seemingly “ridiculous” receipt request legal and rightful.It is this faith that helps to change our life, enhance our judicial system and bring social justice.To many, a receipt of 1 yuan is too small to mention, however rights are to be respected and law is to be believed in.It all starts with a tiny

receipt of 1 yuan, but we get a monumental case, a new regulation and a bumper harvest in social justice.The bridge that leads a tiny start to a bumper harvest is faith, the faith in law, rightful and strong.Second place

A couple of weeks ago, when I learned the theme of today’s competition, I asked some of my roommates: “What does ‘faith’ mean to you?” Just coming back from a philosophy class, the girls were in a poetic mood: “Faith is what John Lennon had when he wrote the legendary song ‘Imagine’ and dreamed of ‘world peace’”, “Faith is what the Hebrews had when they followed Moses through the Red Sea in search of their freedom.” “And faith is what the pilgrims had when they journeyed to that strange land on Mayflower, and started their pursuit of a new life.”

Thanks for the history lesson girls, but I was not asking for a great, historic event where faith might have altered the entire course of humanity.All I asked was “what does faith mean to you, to us, the individuals toiling with life’s hard choices each day?” Personally speaking, faith is like oxygen: I didn’t know how precious it was until I ran the risk of losing it.My heart stirs still every time memory brings me back to three years ago, when the devastating earthquake engulfed our country.As one of the few cities that took the hit the hardest that day, my hometown was suddenly devoured by a black hole of depression.Having forsaken our worldly possessions, my family joined the army of tents every night, holding our breath and waiting for daybreak;having abandoned the comfort of home, we managed to lift ourselves up, along with neighbors and friends, when each after-shock threatened to tear us down.As a politician once put it, in the face of disaster, we’re reminded that life can be unimaginably cruel, but it’s also in these moments, that we rediscover our common faith in life.Indeed, during those dark hours, faith blazed in the courage of my math teacher Ms.Liu, when she stayed behind in a shaking building until she made sure that the last student had safely evacuated;faith radiated from the persistence of my dad when he kept his eyes wide open every single night, so that my mom and I could have a good night’s sleep;faith was ignited from the empathy of my next-door neighbor, when she took a stranger that was in shock into her arms and consoled him with her warm embrace.In the end, faith was rekindled in the passion of me and my fellow classmates, who immediately got back to preparing for our College Entrance Examination the very next day, with gritted teeth, and a conviction as steady as a rock.Ladies and gentlemen, this is what faith means to me.It’s the small voice

in our ears that says: be strong, be good, and don’t give up whenever we’re frustrated by life.That's why after three years, my friends and family have picked themselves up, dusted themselves off and with tougher spirits, begun again their journey towards a better future.At last, to twist the lyrics of last year’s charity song, I call upon my fellow young friends to chant together with me, in the name of faith, for all those who are still suffering in Haiti, Japan and Myanmar: when I get older, I will be stronger, they’ll call me faith, just like a waving flag.Let us carry above our heads the waving flag called Faith, and let its many inspirations lift us up from where we belong.Third-place

Honorable judges, ladies and gentleman, good morning.I want you to tell me something.What’s the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear the word faith, a sacred and heart-warming word that’s supposed to remind you of all the beauties and goodness of life, the key that used to keep us going when confronted with all sorts of hardships and obstacles.However, when I hear the word faith, the thing it reminds me of is so remote and intangible.In this rich and peaceful era, there aren’t as many disasters or wars, especially for us young people whose lives are much easier and wealthier than our fathers’.So is faith gradually losing its significance in the human world nowadays? Like many of others, I used to think of faith as of no importance at all, and I deemed myself as a faithless person.I thought I can live my life perfectly fine without intentionally grasping something as my faith.Until one day I met an American Christian named John, who later became a very good friend of mine.John is an extremely faithful Christian, and he thinks of Jesus Christ as his lord.He, as a pastor, tried to convert me into a Christian when we first met.So he lectured me with his extensive knowledge of history and philosophy every time we hung out.In spite of his amazingly detailed description of the history of Jesus, what really got me intrigued is not the story he told, instead, is John himself as probably the first and most faithful person I’ve met in my entire life.I can feel the sparks in his eyes when he talks about biblical things, and I am so touched by the integrity of him when he says:” Jesus Christ is the ultimate pursuit of my life” without any hesitation or doubt.The more we got along, the more I became jealous of him, because he always seems to be joyful and optimistic.When I ask him how he manages it, he said:” I’ve had bad days too, but I also know that God is with me.So I know that it’ll all be okay.” Suddenly it occurred to me how lucky it is to have something you can completely put your trust into, something that will bring you strength when your mind is weak, something that reminds

you “ it’s not so bad” when you’re filled with sorrow, something that gives your existence significance and bring it up to a higher level.So I was literally converted, not into a Christian, not into someone faithful either, but into someone who wants to be as faithful at least.That was the first time I am exposed to the power of faith.To put it simple, your life is complete only if you have faith.You must find something important and significant in your life, your purpose, your pursuit, whatever you call it.I’m not saying faith must relate to religion or God.It could be anything.It could be your career goal, your children, your lover, fellowship, or a certain kind of life style, anything, as long as you dare to trust your life in it with your heart of hearts.Now I’m still faithless.I haven’t become a Christian or find what matters to me most yet.But what John gave me is whole new perspective to see life.So I’ll strive to really feel and touch the beauty in life and won’t take it for granted.And that’s also what I encourage all of us to do.Keep looking for the faith of your own, and when you do, you’ll know it’s all worth it.