第14届“21世纪·联想杯”全国英语演讲比赛冠军金璐清华大学What would you do if you had only one day left to live?―What would you do if you had only one day left to live?‖I asked this question to my young students when teaching English this winter. What were their answers?―I would watch television!‖ the first answer. ―I would play with the computer!‖ the second one. ―I would play with computer TOO.‖ The girl finished her sentence perf ectly with a serious smile. Indeed how cute and innocent that smile was, but how seriously my heart was hurt. I was too frightened to listen to more answers like that.Ten years ago, at their age, I had a different answer: I would spend the last day of my life gazing at the face of my dear grandmother until I inscribed every detail of it onto my mind.When grandmother was getting old and weak, my family bought her a telephone so I could save time and the trouble of traveling to her home by making phone calls instead. Later we bought her a television so she could watch modern dramas by herself. Then grandma must have been, we assumed, very contented and happy.But I never really knew how grandma felt. She silently passed away without a word one night. When I heard about her death, a chilling pain pierced my empty heart. The pain grew even sharper as I tried to remember in detail exactly how grandma looked and I failed completely! How could I remember? I had not visited her for ages—it seemed like a century! My memories of her dissolved into thin air and leaked away like water.Even though I have a telephone, can she hear me now?Even though I might be on television, can she see me now?Even though I have modern telecommunications, can she still communicate with me now? With all these ―tele‖s, I was powerless.Don’t people just love the word of ―tele‖, which means far away. Indeed this is how modern technology has changed our world. But please don’t forget this other word with ―tele‖: telepathy: which refers to human beings’ inborn ability to connect to our loved ones. Our minds are supposed to read each other’s minds; our hearts are supposed to feel each other’s hearts — and fulfill these without any forms of tool!But the moment I desperately struggled to remember grandmother’s face, the telepathy between her and me had shut down forever. With the help of modern technology, I killed our telepathy. This shall never happen again! The ―tele‖s are great inventions. But ―telepathy‖ gives them the warmth of a hu man face. Let’s harness the power of television to excite our kids to develop their telepathy with nature… so that they can read the secret language of flowers. Let’s make the telephone lines provoke us to preserve our telepathy with each other, so we can connect in a warm and feeling way. Let technology keep our ―telepathy‖ ALIVE! We need to wake up and make this happen.I told my grandma’s story to those young kids that day. They got very quiet. They asked me fora second chance to answer the question. They had come to a new understanding – that very moment they had made to me and to our future together, a dear promise.Thank you very much!第13届“21世纪杯”全国英语演讲比赛冠军——赵心妍From made in China to created in ChinaOne in four computers in the world comes from China; but from each computer produced, China earns only what 10 apples are worth. I read this in People’ Daily not long ago. While the force of globalization has spread Chinese-made products all over the world and earned China the name ―world’s factory‖, China earns very little profits from this kind of low-cost production. It’s even been said that China has to export 800 million shirts to get an airplane.The p roblem is, China has involved in countless processes of production, but doesn’t necessarily have the intellectual property rights. If all we can be is part of the low-cost, labor-oriented production process, we’ll remain in a passive, disadvantaged positio n and gradually lose our competitive edge in the global arena. To develop China’s creative industry, transforming products from "made in China" to "created in China" has become one of China’s major tasks.This transformation will be no less like a marathon, requiring much effort especially that from Chinese enterprises, the major force in Chinese economy. Though there’ s no one in front leading us which direction to run, there’s much to learn from some Chinese enterprises that have already found the right strategies and are shining on the global stage. These strategies involve brand identity establishment, technological innovation and modern management system.Firstly, the brand that I mentioned above is an intangible yet most valuable asset to a company. It gains credibility from consumers, thus constituting the reason for consumers to buy habitually. Tong Ren T ang, the largest producer of traditional Chinese medicine, remains one of the oldest surviving brand names. The credibility that it gained through quality products has made its name known worldwide and maintains its recognized brand.The second strategy is innovation of technology, which helps enterprises gain its core competency. In the global era where technology emerges at a rapid speed, one has to adopt the latest technology, and also to compete for the speed of developing new ones. The success of Haier, the third largest household appliances manufacturer in the world, lies in its constant innovation. Over the past 16 years, Haier has invested a total of 7 billion RMB in technological development, using 6 percent of its income for scientific research and the development of new products. At present, Haier's development operational speed is turning out 1.3 new products a day, maintaining its upper-hand in the fierce competition.The third strategy is the establishment of modern management system. New Hope Group, the National Leading Enterprise for Agriculture, started from family-owned business. When the business was soaring and situation was changing, the family members had divergent views of management. To make sure of the development of their business, they decided to turn their company into a limited liability one, distributing property rights efficiently. Because of this, the company increased its competitiveness rapidly. Establishing a modern management system will lead to efficient levels of division of labor and efficient patterns in the business cycle.With brand identity, technology and flexibility, China’s creative industries will blossom an d give China the cutting edge in the fierce global competition. One day, China will stand firm and proud, with national brands thriving on the global markets, and with millions of products tagged ―created in China‖, instead of ―made in China‖.第12届“21世纪杯”全国英语演讲比赛冠军——陈星Giving is Receiving-Personal Growth in Volunteer WorkLast summer, I volunteered to work as an English teacher in a primary school for children of migrant workers. To be accurate, I didn’t volunteer. I was dragged in. When my friends first hit upon the idea of this project, I was all against it: ―What? T o spend my vacation standing in the heat, yelling at a bunch of nine-year-olds who couldn’t even speak proper Putonghua? After all, there’s no pay for my toil. No, I’m not going.‖ But my friends twisted my arms to have me join them.Unexpectedly, the first lesson I taught turned out a lesson for me. The moment I stepped into the shabby classroom, I was touched by the loud, respectful voices in unison: ―Good morning, teacher!‖ Instead of fooling around, the children were thirsty for knowledge and efficient i n absorbing everything I was able to give them. I started to blame myself because I hadn’t even prepared for the class. During the break, I leaned over the squeaky desk, chatting with a sweaty boy in the front row: ―Without air-conditioning, it’s pretty hot here. Are you tired?‖―Not at all,‖ said he, shaking his head. ―It’s fine here. My Dad builds asphalt roads. That is really tiring and hot.‖As summer advanced, my enthusiasm as a teacher grew. I prepared my teaching carefully and even used some methods my teachers used. I organized many group activities to give the kids fun. Strangely enough, the heat was also becoming less and less unbearable.Soon, my one-month volunteer work came to an end. When I was leaving my last class, I turned back and saw smiling faces and waving hands. Never before had I ever had such a feeling ofsadness, which was nevertheless mixed with a senseof enrichment, fulfillment and happiness. I was paidfor my work, amply paid, not in terms of money, butsomething more valuable.My English was improved. I was able to teach it,although not very professional.I learned about the grassroots-level society. Insidemyself a heart is growing, a heart that not only beatsfor myself, but cares for others as well. The volunteerwork gave me a precious little chance to say thanksto people like the little boy’s father, who constructhighways and undergrounds, build up modernskyscrapers, and make our cities more and morebeautiful. To help the children with their English wasall I could do at present to show my gratitude tothese unsung heroes. The world may not have beenfair to them, so people like me are obliged to dowhatever we can to help make their life better.Whatever I do for them, however, I know it cannot be compared with what they have done to improve the quality of life in our cities.Ladies and gentlemen, now I realize that volunteering is not just a one-time personal experience. It should be a lifetime activity of everybody. Many of us are now offering our assistance to the needy and to each other. Our efforts have indeed made a difference. Whether we are helping children with their schooling, or caring for the elderly in nursing homes, or helping out with 2008 Beijing Olympics, we will not only contribute to the harmony of the world but also elevate ourselves. Emerson once said, ―It’s one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.‖ He was right.I hear that my university is going to organize another voluntary teaching program this summer. This time I won’t be dragged in. I will volunteer.第11届“21世纪杯”全国英语演讲比赛冠军——曹丰Our Future: A Battle between Dreams and RealityGood afternoon, ladies and gentlemen:When I was in the primary school, I have a dream. I want to invent a device which could bring you from one place to another in no time at all. When I was in the secondary school, my dream was to study in my ideal university. And when eventually I got into the university, my dream was to graduate.How pathetic! When we grow up, we dream less and become more realistic. Why? Why do we have to change our dreams, so, so in order to let it be "fulfilled"? Why do we have to surrender to the so-called "reality"? What IS the reality actually?Ladies and gentlemen, the reality is not real. It is a barrier keeping us from all the possible fantasies. Flying, for example, had been a dream to mankind for thousands of years. A hundred years ago, "man could not fly" was still regarded as the "reality". Now if that was really the reality, what did the Wright brothers do? How did some of you get to Macau? Only when we believe that the reality is not real can we soar with our dreams.People say that our future is a battle between the reality and our dreams. And if, unfortunately, Mr. Reality wins this war, then I see no future of mankind at all. AIDS will never be curable as this IS the reality; People living in the undeveloped countries will suffer from starvation forever as this IS the reality; 4)Disputes among different countries would never be settled as this misunderstandings and intolerance IS the reality.Ladies and gentlemen, how many of you have a dream of being able to make a lot of money?Please raise your hands. Oh, quite a number of you! Actually, ladies and gentlemen, this is not a dream, but a task. Every one of us has to make a living, right? Anyway I hope your task will be accomplished. How many of you think that you have already fulfilled your dream and that you don't dream anymore? Dear 5)adjudicators, what do you think? C.S. Lewis once said, "You are never too old to dream a new dream." So for our future, please dream and be unrealistic.Now that I am a university student, my goal is to graduate with excellences. But at the same time, I have a dream deeply rooted in our future. One day, people living in the areas now 6)sweltering with the horror of wars will be able to sit with their families and enjoy their every moment. One day, people from the rich countries are willing to share what they have with those from the poor countries and those from the poor countries will eventually be able to make their own happy living themselves. One day, different cultures in this age of globalization will coexist with tolerance and the unfriendly confrontations among them will be 7)eliminated. One day, the globe will share the dream with me and we will all contribute to making our dream come true. One day, our dream will defeat the reality! Thank you very much.第10届“21世纪杯”全国英语演讲比赛冠军——夏鹏From Walls to BridgesI'm studying in a city famous for its walls. All visitors to my city are amazed by the imposing sight of the city walls, silhouetted by the setting sun with gold and shining lines. With old, cracked bricks patched with lichen, the walls are weather-beaten guards, standing still for centuries in protecting the city.Our ancestors liked to build walls. They built walls in Beijing, Xi'an, Nanjing and many other cities, and they built the Great Wall, which snakes through half of our country. They built walls to ward off enemies and evil spirits. This tradition has been maintained to this day as we still have many parks and schools walled off from the public. I grew up at the foot of the city walls, and I've loved them since my childhood. For a long time, walls were one of the most natural things in the world. My perception, however, changed after a hiking trip to the Eastern Suburbs, a scenic area of my city. My classmates and I were walking with some international students. As we walked out of the city, we found ourselves flanked by taller and taller trees, which formed a huge canopy above our heads. Suddenly an international student asked me, "Where is the entrance to the Eastern Suburbs?""We're already in the Eastern Suburbs," I replied.He seemed taken aback, "I thought you Chinese have walls for everything." His remark set off a heated debate. At one point, he likened our walled cities to "jails," while I insisted that the Eastern Suburbs were one of the many places in China that had no walls.That debate had no winners, but I did learn a lot from this international student. For instance, he told me that universities like Oxford and Cambridge were not surrounded by walls; the campuses were just part of the cities. I have to admit that we do have many walls in China, and as we are developing our country, we must carefully examine them, whether they are physical or intangible. We will keep some walls but tear down those that impede China's development.Let me give you an example.A year ago, when I was working on a term paper, I needed a book on business law and found a copy in the law school library. However, the librarian turned down my request with a cold shoulder, saying, "You can't borrow this book, you are not a student here." In the end, I had to spend 200 yuan buying a copy; meanwhile, the copy in law school was gathering dust on the shelf.At the beginning of this semester, I heard that my university has started not only to unify its libraries but also link them up with libraries of other universities, so my experience will not be repeated. Barriers will be replaced by bridges. Through an inter-library loan system, we will have access to books from any library. With globalization, with China integrated into the world, I believe many of these intangible walls will be knocked down.I know globalization is a controversial issue, and it is hard to say whether it is good or bad. But one thing is for sure: it draws our attention to China's tangible and intangible walls and forces us to examine their roles in the modern world.And how about the ancient walls in my city and other cities? Should we tear them down? Just the opposite. My city, like Beijing and other cities, is actually making a great effort to preserve the walls. These walls attract not only historians and archeologists but also many schoolchildren trying to study our history and cultural heritage. Walls have turned into bridges to our past and to the rest of the world. If the ancient builders of these walls were still alive today, they would be proud to see such great change in the role of their walls. They are now bridges that link East and West, South and North, and all countries of the world. Our cultural heritage will survive globalization.第9届“21世纪杯”全国英语演讲比赛冠军——洪晔The Doors that Are Open to UsGood morning ladies and gentlemen:The title of my speech today is "The Doors that Are Open to Us ".The other day my aunt paid me a visit. She was overjoyed. "I got the highest mark in the mid-term examination!" she said. Don't be surprised! My aunt is indeed a student; to be exact, a college student at the age of 45.Last year, she put aside her private business and signed up for a one-year, full-time management course in a college. "This was the wisest decision I have ever made," she said proudly like a teenage girl. To her, college is always a right place to pick up new ideas, and new ideas always make her feel young."Compared with the late 70s," she says, "now college students have many doors." My aunt cannot help but recall her first college experience in 1978 when college doors began to be re-opened after the Cultural Revolution. She was assigned to study engineering despite her desire to study Chinese literature, and a few years later, the government sent her to work in a TV factory.I was shocked when she first told me how she (had) had no choice in her major and job. 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. And my aunt told me that we should reach our goals by grasping all these opportunities.The first door I see is the opportunity to study different kinds of subjects that interest us. My aunt said she was happy to study management, but she was also happy that she could attend lectures on ancient Chinese poetry and on Shakespearean drama. As for myself, I am an English major, but I may also go to lectures on history. To me, if college education in the past emphasized specialization, now, it emphasizes free and well-rounded development of each individual. So all the fine achievements of human civilization are open to us.The second door is the door to the outside world. Learning goes beyond classrooms and national boundaries. My aunt remembers her previous college days as monotonous and even calls her generation "frogs in a well." But today, as the world becomes a global village, it is important that our neighbors and we be open-minded to learn with and from each other. I have many fellowinternational classmates, and I am applying to an exchange program with a university abroad. As for my aunt, she is planning to get an MBA degree in the United Kingdom where her daughter, my cousin, is now doing her master's degree in biochemistry. We are now taking the opportunity to study overseas, and when we come back, we'll put to use what we have learnt abroad.The third door is the door to lifelong learning. As new ideas appear all the time, we always need to acquire new knowledge, regardless of our age. Naturally, my aunt herself is the best example. Many of my aunt's contemporaries say that she is amazingly up-to-date for a middle-aged woman. She simply responds, "Age doesn't matter. What matters is your attitude. You may think it's strange that I am still going to college, but I don't think I'm too old to learn." Yes, she is right. Since the government removed the age limit for college admissions in 2001, there are already some untraditional students, sitting with us in the same classrooms. Like these people, my aunt is old but she is very young in spirit. With her incredible energy and determination, she embodies both tradition and modernity.The doors open to us also pose challenges. For instance, we are faced with the challenge of a balanced learning, the challenge of preserving our fine tradition while learning from the West, and the challenge of learning continuously while carrying heavy responsibilities to our work and family. So, each door is a test of our courage, ability and judgment, but with the support of my teachers, parents, friends and my aunt, I believe I can meet the challenge head on. When I reach my aunt's age, I can be proud to say that I have walked through dozens of doors and will, in the remainder of my life, walk through many more. Possibly I will go back to college, too.Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.第8届“21世纪杯”全国英语演讲比赛冠军——顾秋蓓A Scene to RememberGood afternoon, ladies and gentlemen:Today I would like to begin with a story. There was once a physical therapist who traveled all the way from America to Africa to do a census about mountain gorillas. These gorillas are a main attraction to tourists from all over the world; this put them severely under threat of poaching and being put into the zoo. She went there out of curiosity, but what she saw strengthened her determination to devote her whole life to fighting for those beautiful creatures. She witnessed ascene, a scene taking us to a place we never imaged we've ever been, where in the very depth of the African rainforest, surrounded by trees, flowers and butterflies, the mother gorillas cuddled their babies.Yes, that's a memorable scene in one of my favorite movies, called Gorillas in the Mist, based on a true story of Mrs. Diana Fossey, who spent most of her lifetime in Rwanda to protect the ecoenvironment there until the very end of her life.To me, the movie not only presents an unforgettable scene but also acts as a timeless reminder that we should not develop the tourist industry at the cost of our eco-environment.Today, we live in a world of prosperity but still threatened by so many new problems. On the one hand, tourism, as one of the most promising industries in the 21st century, provides people with the great opportunity to see everything there is to see and to go any place there is to go. It has become a lifestyle for some people, and has turned out to be the driving force in GDP growth. It has the magic to turn a backward town into a wonderland of prosperity. But on the other hand, many problems can occur - natural scenes aren't natural anymore. Deforestation to heat lodges are devastating Nepal. Oil spills from tourist boats are polluting Antarctica. Tribal people are forsaking their native music and dress to listen to U2 on Walkman and wear Nike and Reeboks.All these appalling facts have brought us to the realization that we can no longer stand by and do nothing, because the very thought of it has been eroding our resources. Encouragingly, the explosive growth of global travel has put tourism again in the spotlight, which is why the United Nations has made 2002 the year of ecotourism, for the first time to bring to the world's attention the benefits of tourism, but also its capacity to destroy our ecoenvironment.Now every year, many local ecoenvironmental protection organizations are receiving donations - big notes, small notes or even coins - from housewives, plumbers, ambulance drivers, salesmen, teachers, children and invalids. Some of them cannot afford to send the money but they do. These are the ones who drive the cabs, who nurse in hospitals, who are suffering from ecological damage in their neighborhood. Why? Because they care. Because they still want their Mother Nature back. Because they know it still belongs to them.This kind of feeling that I have, ladies and gentlemen, is when it feels like it, smells like it, and looks like it , it's all coming from a scene to be remembered, a scene to recall and to cherish.The other night, as I saw the moon linger over the land and before it was sent into the invisible, my mind was filled with 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 it's time for us to do something, for our own and our coming generation.Once again, I have come to think of Mrs. Diana Fossey because it is with her spirit, passion, courage and strong sense of our ecoenvironment that we are taking our next step into the world.And no matter who we are, what we do and where we go, in our minds, there's always a scene to remember, a scene worth our effort to protect it and fight for it.Thank you very much.第7届“21世纪杯”全国英语演讲比赛冠军——孙宁Globalization: Challenges and Opportunities for China's Younger GenerationGood morning, Ladies and Gentlemen:Today I'm very happy to be here to share with you some of my thoughts on the topic of Globalization. And first of all, I would like to mention an event in our recent history.Thirty years ago, American President Richard Nixon made an epoch-making visit to China, a country still isolated at that time. Premier Zhou Enlai said to him, "Your handshake came over the vastest ocean in the world - twenty-five years of no communication." Ever since then, China and America have exchanged many handshakes of various kinds. The fundamental implication of this example is that the need and desire to communicate across differences in culture and ideology is not only felt by the two countries but by many other nations as well.As we can see today, environmentalists from different countries are making joint efforts to address the issue of global warming, economists are seeking solutions to financial crises that rage in a particular region but nonetheless cripple the world's economy, and diplomats and politicians are getting together to discuss the issue of combating terrorism. Peace and prosperity has become a common goal that we are striving for all over the world. Underlying this mighty trend of globalization is the echo of E. M. Forster's words, "Only connect!"With the IT revolution taking place, traditional boundaries of human society fall away. Our culture, politics, society and commerce are being sloshed into a large melting pot of humanity. In this interlinked world, there are no outsiders, for a disturbance in one place is likely to impact other parts of the globe. We have begun to realize that a world divided cannot endure.China is now actively integrating into the world. Our recent entry to the WTO is a good example. For decades, we have taken pride in being self-reliant, but now we realize the importance of participating in and contributing to a broader economic order. From the precarious role in the world arena to our present WTO membership, we have come a long way.But what does the way ahead look like? In some parts of the world people are demonstrating against globalization. Are they justified then, in criticizing the globalizing world? Instead of narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor, they say, globalization enables developed nations to swallow the developing nations' wealth in debts and interest. Globalization, they argue, should be about an earnest interest in every other nation's economic health.。