duanwu festival (端午节,duānwū jié) is a traditional chinese festival held onthe fifth day of the fifth month of the chinese calendar.it is also known as thedouble fifth.[citation(引用;引证) needed] it has since been celebrated,in variousways,in other parts of east asia as well.in the west,it's commonly known asdragon boat festival.

the exact origins of duan wu are unclear,but one traditional view holdsthat the festival memorializes the chinese poet qu yuan (c.340 bc-278 bc) of thewarring states period.he committed suicide by drowning himself in a riverbecause he was disgusted by the corruption of the chu government.the localpeople,knowing him to be a good man,decided to throw food into the river to feedthe fish so they would not eat qu's body.they also sat on long,narrow paddleboats called dragon boats,and tried to scare the fish away by the thunderingsound of drums aboard the boat and the fierce looking carved dragon head on theboat's prow(船头).

in the early years of the chinese republic,duan wu was also celebrated as"poets' day," due to qu yuan's status as china's first poet of personalrenown(名声名望).

today,people eat bamboo-wrapped steamed glutinous(粘的) rice dumplings calledzongzi (the food originally intended to feed the fish) and race dragon boats inmemory of qu's dramatic death.

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some holidays are so much fun that they catch on outside of theirculture.the most obvious example is probably christmas,which is celebratedaround the world by people who aren't even christian.similarly,in recentyears,the dragon boat festival has moved beyond china to become an internationalholiday celebrated by people who may know little about the holiday'sorigins.

the dragon boat festival is one of three major chinese holidays,along withthe spring and moon festivals.of the three,it is possibly the oldest,dating backto the warring states period in 227 b.c.the festival commemorates qu yuan,aminister in the service of the chu emperor.despairing over corruption atcourt,qu threw himself into a river.townspeople jumped into their boats andtried in vain to save him.then,hoping to distract hungry fish from his body,thepeople scattered rice on the water.

over the years,the story of qu's demise transformed into the traditions ofracing dragon boats and eating zongzi – a kind of rice wrapped in bambooleaves.the races have certainly captured the imagination of people from all overthe world.every spring there are nearly 60 dragon boat races held outside ofchina in cities from vancouver to sydney,from gdańsk,poland to cape town,southafrica.canada alone has nearly 50 dragon boat teams and germany has nearly30.

so what is it about the dragon boat festival that appeals toforeigners?“it's an unusual sport,” says one racer from germany.“it's not likeeverybody's doing it.that's one of the reasons that there's such great teamspirit in a dragon boat team – everybody feels like we're doing somethingspecial.” and what about the zongzi?“ehhh,they're not bad,i guess,” hesays.“something of an acquired taste.i just haven't really acquired it yet.”

英语演讲短作文篇2

water is very important for living things. without water there can be no life on earth. all animals and plants need water. man also needs water.

water is found atmosteverywhere. even in the driest part of the world there is some water in the air.

as we all have found out, water may be a solid, or a liquid or a gas.when it isa solid, it may be as hard as brick, when itis a liquid, you can pour it out of a container. when it is a gas, you cannot see or feel it.

although about 70 percent of the earth's surface is covered with water,there are many places in the world still running out of water. so we should make good use of water on earth.

英语演讲短作文篇3

first inaugural address(excerpts)

we observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom, symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning; signifying renewal, as well as change. for i have sworn before you and almighty god the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.

in your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. since this country was founded, each generation of americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. the graves of young americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.

now the trumpet summons us again, not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are; but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, “rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation”, a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.

can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, north and south, east and west, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? will you join in that historic effort?

in the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. i do not shrink from this responsibility. i welcome it. i do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. the energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it. and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

and so, my fellow americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

my fellow citizens of the world, ask not what america will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

finally, whether you are citizens of america or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. with a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking his blessing and his help, but knowing that here on earth, god’s work must truly be our own.

就职演讲(节选)

今天我们庆祝的不是政党的胜利，而是自由的胜利。这象征着一个结束，也象征着一个开端;意味着延续也意味看变革。因为我已在你们和全能的上帝面前，宣读了我们的先辈在170多年前拟定的庄严誓言。

公民们，我们方针的最终成败与其说掌握在我手中，不如说掌握在你们手中。自从合众国建立以来，每一代美国人都曾受到召唤去证明他们对国家的忠诚。响应召唤而献身的美国青年的坟墓遍及全球。

现在，号角已再次吹响---不是召唤我们拿起武器，虽然我们需要武器;不是召唤我们去作战，虽然我们严阵以待。它召唤我们为迎接黎明而肩负起漫长斗争的重任，年复一年，从希望中得到欢乐，在磨难中保持耐性，对付人类共同的敌人---专制、社团、疾病和战争本身。

为反对这些敌人，确保人类更为丰裕的生活，我们能够组成一个包括东西南北各方的全球大联盟吗?你们愿意参加这一历史性的努力吗?

在漫长的世界历史中，只有少数几代人在自由处于最危急的时刻被赋予保卫自由的责任。我不会推卸这一责任，我欢迎这一责任。我不相信我们中间有人想同其他人或其他时代的人交换位置。我们为这一努力所奉献的精力、信念和忠诚，将照亮我们的国家和所有为国效劳的人，而这火焰发出的光芒定能照亮全世界。

因此，美国同胞们，不要问国家能为你们做些什么、而要问你们能为国家做些什么。

全世界的公民们，不要问美国将为你们做些计人，而要问我们共同能为人类的自由做些什么。

最后，不论你们是美国公民还是其他国家的公民，你们应要求我们献出我们同样要求于你们的高度力量和牺牲。问心无愧是我们唯一可靠的奖赏，历史是我们行动的最终裁判，让我们走向前去，引导我们所热爱的国家。我们祈求上帝的福佑和帮助，但我们知道，确切地说，上帝在尘世的工作必定是我们自己的工作。

英语演讲短作文篇4

the footsteps of the 20xx world expo is getting closer and closer to us, civilized and harmonious call is still ringing in my ears. shanghai, china obtained the right to host the world expo 20xx, expo 20xx shanghai china will be a world event, the development of shanghai's new round of golden opportunity, as it is an important embodiment of our national spirit.

world expo is a great influence and a long history of international activities, is the largest gathering of human beings. people from around the world gathered in one place display their products and skills, boast of their hometown and motherland. expo set the culmination of human civilization, which has a unique appeal, make you feel surging.

world expo is a platform, we are the masters. she put up a platform for us to let the world know us; she built a bridge for us, so we better communicate with the world. this platform may let us display self wantonly. we are the masters here, we have to landlord, let guest experience enthusiasm and happiness.

everyone to contribute for the expo, we are no exception, as a living piece of fertile land in pudong's teachers, we are proud and pride. in the vision of a better tomorrow, we have to do for the world expo will own a wonderful ability, we have through our hands, warm heart and sincerity to practical action to achieve the commitment of shanghai to the world. we should educate the many students: do not throw garbage anywhere, no spitting, no jaywalking ... ..., hello, thank you frequently mention, let the material on this city with the new york comparable to the spiritual civilization. educate our students to exciting 20xx, willing to shanghai's future by copies of power, if only planted a small tree, participants in the shanghai world expo foreign guests feel: this is a forest city, pollution-free city, ancient and civilized city. better city, better life! until the time of the 20xx expo, then, we want to become a glorious volunteers, to changing our foreign friends in shanghai and china's long history, about our education for the world expo will contribute their efforts.

we expect the majority of teachers will be great enthusiasm for the world expo into practical action to meet the world expo, the expo will be a total growth, and the city of development, the development of shanghai devote their efforts to advance hand in hand with shanghai.

英语演讲短作文篇5

感谢对手

在20xx年7月13日国际奥委会第112次全体会议上，北京战胜多伦多、大阪、巴黎、伊斯坦布尔，获得第29届奥运会主办权。全国人民为之欢呼雀跃，而主持人水均益却说了一句令人难以忘怀的话：我们要感谢对手。

是的，正是有了多伦多、大阪、巴黎、伊斯坦布尔这样强大的对手，北京才有紧迫感、压力感，才使我们的申办工作做得更扎实、更细致、更完美。这样的对手，可使中国更强大，在国际上的威望更高。从这个意义上讲，我们的确要感谢对手。

世界充满了竞争，竞争无处不在，无时不有。有竞争就会有对手，有了对手才有战胜之而成为强者的念头。优胜劣汰，适者生存，这就是竞争，这就是要战胜对手的根本原因。

?动物保护》杂志上有这样一个故事：在秘鲁的国家森林公园，生活着一只世界上濒临灭绝的年轻的美洲虎。秘鲁人为了很好地保护这只虎，在公园里专门开辟出一块近20平方公里的森林作为虎园，精心设计和建造了豪华的虎房，好让它自由自在地生活。虎园里林木茂密，绿草芳菲，沟壑纵横，流水潺潺，并有成群人工饲养的牛、鹿、兔等供老虎尽情享用。凡是到过虎园参观的人都说，如此美妙的环境，真是美洲虎生活的天堂。然而，让人感到奇怪的是，从没有人看见过美洲虎去捕捉专门为它准备的活食，也从没有人看见过它的王者风范。它只是耷拉着脑袋，睡了吃，吃了睡，一副无精打采的熊样。于是，政府又通过外交途径，从哥伦比亚租来一只母虎与它做伴，结果还是依然如故。一天，一位动物学家来公园参观，看到美洲虎那副懒洋洋的样子，便对管理员说，老虎是森林之王，在它所生活的环境中，不能只放上一群整天只知道吃草、却不懂得猎杀的动物，要放一些猎性动物与其共存，否则美洲虎无论如何也提不起精神来。管理员听了动物学家的话，不久便引进了几只美洲豹投放虎园。这一招果然奏效，自从美洲豹进园那天起，这只美洲虎再也躺不住了。它每天不是站在高高的山顶愤怒地咆哮，就是如飓风般俯冲下山冈，老虎那刚烈威猛、霸气十足的本性被重新唤醒。它又成了一只真正的老虎，成了这片广阔的虎园里真正意义上的森林之王。

在美国北部，人们为了保障鹿群的生活，捕杀了狼，结果鹿群的体质越来越弱，生命力也逐渐降低。后来，又在鹿群中引进了狼。狼是鹿的对手，鹿在某次被追捕的过程中逃脱了，之后它便懂得了只有跑得更快，才不会被狼吃掉的道理。接下来的结果是它不停地奔跑，然后超越自我，勇敢地繁衍了下去，而体质和生命力也一代更比一代强。狼也是一样，为了追杀跑得更快的鹿群，奔跑再奔跑，而它的子孙成了比鹿的子孙更为强大的对手。

一种动物如果没有了对手，就会变得死气沉沉;一个人如果没有了对手，就会甘于平庸，养成惰性，最终导致庸碌无为;一个群体如果没有了对手，就会因为相互的依赖或潜移默化而失去生机与活力;一个政体如果没有了对手，就会逐步走向懈怠，甚至走向腐败和堕落;一个行业如果没有了对手，就会丧失进取的意志，就会因为安于现状而逐步走向衰亡。美洲虎因为有了美洲豹这样的对手，才重新找回了失去的威风;鹿群因为有了狼这样的对手，才长久地保持了生命的延续。有了对手，才会有危机感，才会有竞争力;有了对手，才知道自己所面临的挑战和压力;有了对手，才有了超越自我的一切力量和勇气;有了对手，才使你不得不奋发图强，不得不革故鼎新，不得不锐意进取。否则，等待你的只有被吞并、被替代、被淘汰。

现实生活中，许多人都把对手视为心腹大患，是敌人，是异己，是眼中钉、肉中刺，恨不得马上除之而后快。其实，只要仔细想一想，便会发现拥有一个强劲的对手，反倒是一种福分，一种造化，一种力量，一剂强心针，一副推进器，一个加力挡，一条警策鞭。因为一个强劲的对手，会让你时刻有危机四伏的感觉，会激发你更加旺盛的精神和斗志，会让你排除万难去克服一切艰难和险阻，会让你想方设法去超越、去夺取胜利。

正由于此，我们要说：感谢你——对手!

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