Students of my own age often complain about strict teach-ers , about their parents and about life in school. They say they are bored to death. They don't like to go to school at all. They would prefer to stay at home and listen to Celin Dion. Although I like Celin Dion, I felt very surprised when I heard this. I don't know why they feel like this. What's wrong with them?

Some of you may be aware¹ that many of the village children in China can only sit in a damp² dark room, and have their lessons by candle light. They don't have any desks or blackboards. They have to sit on the floor, using their chairs as desks. The teachers can only write on a piece of wood. But they are all very interested in their lessons. Their biggest dream is to sit in a brightly lit class-room with real desks, chairs and blackboards. Even though some of the poor children are unable to go to school because they have to work, they never complain and never stop trying to study.

What about us!

We have such beautiful classrooms in tall buildings and com-puters at school. We also have many good teachers and interesting activities.

But many of the students in the cities hate studying. Why? Because they are now leading³ a comfortable life. They have got everything they want and don't have to be worried. They listen to POP music and watch football games. They haven't realized that studying is happiness⁴. They don't have a clear aim of study in mind. What's the aim of our study ?As we are young students, we must learn as much as possible to make ourselves full. Then we can use our knowledge to work for our country and make it stronger and stronger. We are now not only studying for our-selves, but also for the future of our motherland⁵.

We should thank our parents for giving us such good chances to study. We should also thank the teachers for teaching⁶ us so well.

Life has already given us so much. What do we complain about?

Think of it. You will really study with pleasure.

点评：

Nowadays⁷ children, especially those in the cities, don't cher-ish the comfortable life they are living. By reading⁸ this speech, we hope that they can change their attitudes⁹ towards life.

指导教师：蹇兴华 孙春红 徐斌