Gaokao, also known as the national college entrance exam, has always attracted a lot of attention. This year, the exam started on June 7. Topics for the gaokao composition writing have become a heated topic of public discussion.
高考向來(lái)是大眾關(guān)注的焦點(diǎn)。今年的高考于6月7日正式啟幕。高考作文題成了公眾熱議的話題。

The China’s Ministry of Education has issued four versions of exam papers nationwide, and Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Zhejiang province issued their own exam papers.
教育部命制了4套全國(guó)高考試卷，北京、天津、上海、浙江另外自主命制了4套試卷。

As this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), “the eight essay questions all emphasize that the youth should take a greater sense of responsibility at this crucial historical juncture,” Chen Zhiwen, an educational expert, told The Paper.
今年是中國(guó)共產(chǎn)黨成立100周年，“八份試卷的作文題都強(qiáng)調(diào)了站在新百年節(jié)點(diǎn)上的青年責(zé)任與擔(dān)當(dāng)。”教育專(zhuān)家陳志文在接受澎湃新聞采訪時(shí)如此表示。

One question is about how to cultivate our moral character, make righteousness a goal and take action to achieve our ideals. “When I first saw it, I suddenly understood the meaning of coming of age,” said Liu Xiaochang, 18, from Zhengzhou Fengyang Foreign Language School in Henan.
其中一道作文題是關(guān)于如何立德樹(shù)人，將“義”作為確定的目標(biāo)，再付諸行動(dòng)實(shí)現(xiàn)理想?！拔乙豢吹竭@道題，忽然就理解了成長(zhǎng)的含義，”來(lái)自河南鄭州楓楊外國(guó)語(yǔ)學(xué)校的18歲學(xué)生劉曉暢如此表示。

“This national exam also tests our ideals regarding our motherland, as well as our responsibility and duty of the times,” she said.
“這次高考也考查了我們的報(bào)國(guó)之志以及我們所處時(shí)代的責(zé)任與擔(dān)當(dāng)，”她說(shuō)道。

Wang Lingyu, 18, from Subsidiary High School of Taiyuan Normal University, Shanxi province, also wrote an essay about this question.
來(lái)自山西太原師范學(xué)院附屬中學(xué)的18歲學(xué)生王凌宇就這一話題也寫(xiě)了一篇作文。

He believes the ideals of youth are to set a specific goal and strive for it with perseverance. Wang demonstrated his standpoint by exemplifying the old generation who threw themselves into the afforestation movement in northwestern regions in China. “Their goal was to improve local people’s livelihoods, and they did it. “This encouraged us, the new generation, to shoulder more responsibility for our people and the country,” Wang said.
他認(rèn)為青年的理想應(yīng)當(dāng)是一個(gè)具體的目標(biāo)，并且為此不懈努力。王凌宇以老一輩人投入西北的植樹(shù)造林運(yùn)動(dòng)為例，論證了自己的觀點(diǎn)?！八麄兊哪繕?biāo)是改善當(dāng)?shù)厝嗣竦纳?，他們也的確做到了。這激勵(lì)了我們新一代人要為國(guó)家和人民承擔(dān)起更多的責(zé)任，” 王凌宇說(shuō)道。

Another essay question is about what “you” could do in an era for making things happen.
還有一道作文題是關(guān)于“你”在一個(gè)大有可為的時(shí)代中的可為之事。

Li Yunzhou, 18, from Nanning Experimental School Attached to Peking University, completed his Chinese essay writing in a form of letter that wrote to all of the gaokao candidates.
來(lái)自北京大學(xué)南寧附屬實(shí)驗(yàn)學(xué)校的18歲學(xué)生李云舟以給全體高考考生的一封信的形式，寫(xiě)了一篇作文。

In his eyes, the youth should carefully fulfill their own duties. “Learning from history, I realize that taking responsibility means to make contributions to the country and the society by doing something that I’m interested in and suitable for. In the future, I wish to have a job involving in scientific research,” Li said.
在他看來(lái)，青年應(yīng)當(dāng)認(rèn)真履行自己的職責(zé)?！耙允窞殍b，我認(rèn)識(shí)到，承擔(dān)責(zé)任就是通過(guò)自己所熱愛(ài)、所擅長(zhǎng)之事，為國(guó)家和社會(huì)做出貢獻(xiàn)。未來(lái)，我希望從事科研相關(guān)的工作，”李云舟說(shuō)道。

In his essay, Li mentioned historic figures in the revolutionary era such as Chen Duxiu and his two sons: Chen Yannian and Chen Qiaonian. “They all upheld a revolutionary spirit, that is, making every effort to pull the country out of danger and carrying responsibilities to realize national independence,” Li said.
在他的作文中，李云舟提到了革命年代的歷史人物，如陳獨(dú)秀和他的兩個(gè)兒子陳延年、陳喬年?！八麄兌紙?jiān)定革命信念，竭盡全力救國(guó)家于危難之中，背負(fù)起實(shí)現(xiàn)民族獨(dú)立的責(zé)任，”李云舟表示。

“For that, they were even willing to sacrifice their lives,” Li added.
“為此，他們甚至愿意獻(xiàn)出自己的生命，”他補(bǔ)充道。

Inspired by the “red spirit”, these coming-of-age teenagers are becoming increasingly patriotic and confident, and write their hearts out in the gaokao. As Chen Duxiu said, “Youth is like the early spring, like the morning sun, like the blooming grass, like the sharp blade fresh off the whetstone.”
這些即將成年的青年們受到“紅色精神”的激勵(lì)，更加愛(ài)國(guó)、更加自信，并在高考中寫(xiě)出了自己的心聲。正如陳獨(dú)秀所言，“青春如初春，如朝日，如百卉之萌動(dòng)，如利刃之新發(fā)于硎?！?/span>

These gaokao candidates will strive to play their own part in society and hope to lead China to a better future.
這些高考考生會(huì)努力為社會(huì)做出自己的一份貢獻(xiàn)，希望帶領(lǐng)中國(guó)走向更美好的未來(lái)。

以上文章內(nèi)容選自《21世紀(jì)學(xué)生英文報(bào)高中版》，詳情請(qǐng)見(jiàn)《21世紀(jì)學(xué)生英文報(bào)高中版》高二836期