用英语讲中国故事高中组推荐篇目（6篇）

高中组—推荐文章6篇

（选自《用英语讲中国故事-基础级》）

推荐篇目选段6段（6篇全文附在选段后）：

篇目1：石拱桥 千年不倒赵州桥

李春遇到的难题传遍了县城。

百姓们又议论起来。

“这地方看来就不是修桥的地方。”

“只有鲁班爷来才能建好这座桥。”

 ……

百姓的议论传到李春耳朵里，他比谁都着急。作为当地最有威望的工匠，修不好这座桥是他一辈子的耻辱。

于是，他整日整夜画图纸、思考对策。

突然，他眼前一亮：“为什么要把拱修得那么高呢？让它由半圆形变成弓形，只要一个大拱，让大拱两肩上各装两个小拱，这样就不用桥墩了，洪水一旦冲击桥身，让洪水从那四个小拱过去，桥身不就减少冲击了吗？还有，我让大拱由 28道拱圈拼成，就像 28个同样形状的弓合龙在一起形成一个弧形的桥洞。每道拱圈都能独立支撑上面的重量，这一道坏了，其他各道不致受到影响。这桥不就更安全了吗？”

这个大胆想法让李春兴奋起来，以至于还在桌案前，他就手舞足蹈起来 ……

The news that Li Chun had come across a difficulty spread throughout the city. The lo­cal people began to grumble:

“It seems that a bridge cannot be built here.”

“Only Lu Ban (the legendary Master Craftsman) could build this bridge.”

These grumbles came to the ears of Li Chun, causing him much distress; as the most respected engineer in the district, to be unable to build the bridge would be the worst dis­grace of his lifetime. So he labored day and night to work out a blueprint, thinking hard about how to find a solution.

Suddenly, he had a flash of inspiration! “Why did the arch have to be so high? Instead of semicircular, the arch could be bow-shaped. And there would only need to be one big arch, supported at each end by two smaller ones. That way, there would be no need for pillar supports. In times of flooding the flood waters would flow through the four small arches, lessening the impact on the bridge. Moreover, I could form the main arch from 28 rounded arc-shaped stone pieces of identical shape, to make a bridge freestanding above the water. Each circular arch will be able to bear the weight imposed upon it, and if one of them weakens, the others will not be affected. Wouldn’t such a bridge be safer?”

Excited by this bold idea, Li Chun danced for joy right there at his desk.

篇目2：尊师重道 程门立雪

有一天，杨时与他的学友游酢（zuò）对某个问题有不同看法，为了求得一个正确答案，他俩决定一起去老师家请教。  

那正是冬天里最冷的时候，天寒地冻，铅色的乌云密布着。他们走到半路，刺骨的寒风刮来，天空飘起鹅毛大雪。风像刀子一样刮着他们的脸，雪花肆无忌惮地钻进他们的衣领。但他们想着心中的问题，只裹紧衣服匆匆赶路。来到程颐家时，正赶上先生坐在炉旁打坐养神。杨时二人不敢惊动老师，就恭恭敬敬地站在门外，等候先生醒来。

雪一刻不停地下着，越下越大。远处的山笼罩上了一层白茫茫的厚雪，近处的树上挂满了亮晶晶的银条儿。杨时二人的双脚冻僵了，冷得发抖，但依然恭敬侍立，耳边只听到簌簌落落雪花飘落的声音。学友游酢忍不住几次想去叫醒程老师，都被杨时拦住了。过了很久，程颐一觉醒来，从窗口向外看，发现两个雪人立在风雪中，仔细一看才发现是杨时他们。只见他们浑身落满了雪，脚底下的积雪已经一尺多厚了，老师赶忙起身迎他俩进屋。

One day, Yang Shi and a fellow-student, You Zuo, got into a dispute over a certain mat­ter. Finding that they could not reconcile their differences, they decided to consult their teacher.

It happened to be the deep winter, and everything was frozen. Lead-colored clouds covered the dark sky. As the pair made their way, a piercingly cold wind sprang up, and flakes of snow as large as swan’s feathers began to fall. The wind cut their faces like a knife, and the snowflakes kept getting inside their collars. But they concentrated on their problem, wrapped their cloaks tightly around them, and hurried onward. When they reached Cheng Yi’s house, they found him sitting by a stove meditating. Yang Shi and his classmate did not dare to disturb their teacher, but stood respectfully outside the door waiting for him to wake up.

The snow fell relentlessly, thicker and thicker. The distant mountains were blanketed in white, and the nearby trees were glazed with silver frost. The feet of Yang Shi and his companion were frozen solid. Though they shivered with cold, the pair still stood respect­fully there. All they could hear was the gentle swish of the falling snowflakes. Several times You Zuo, unable to endure the cold, wanted to wake their teacher, but each time he was stopped by Yang Shi.

After a long time, Cheng Yi came out of his reverie. He looked out of the window, to see the two men standing in a blizzard, covered in snow. Looking closely, he realized that they were Yang Shi and You Zuo. Seeing the pair covered in snow and standing in snow over one foot deep, the teacher hastily arose, and ushered them inside.

篇目3：林则徐 虎门销烟

林则徐是清朝的一位大臣。面对正在逐渐被鸦片拖垮的中国，他忧心如焚，好几次给皇帝上疏，希望能够在全国严禁鸦片。举棋不定的皇帝被他的一句话打动了：“若再任由鸦片泛滥下去，那么过不了几十年，中国就再也没有能够御敌的士兵，也没有能够充当军饷的钱财！”

于是，林则徐被任命为钦差大臣，赴广州禁烟。他命令所有鸦片贩子在限期内交出鸦片，并保证以后再不进行鸦片贸易。各国驻华大臣早就打听好了消息，为继续进行鸦片贸易，有些人对林则徐的命令采取视而不见的态度，有些人则给林则徐准备了巨额贿赂，希望能够收买他。没想到，林则徐比他们接触过的任何一位清朝大臣都要硬气：“鸦片一日没有断绝，我就一日不回京城。我发誓要让这件事有始有终！”

Lin Zexu was a senior official of the Qing Dynasty who was seriously alarmed at the weakening effect opium was having on China. He had sent several memorials to the em­peror, trying to get opium banned nationwide. The indecisive emperor was finally moved to take action by these words of Lin: “If opium is allowed to spread unchecked, within a few decades China will not only be unable to resist enemy forces, we will not be able to pay the troops we currently have!”

As a result, Lin Zexu was promoted to the post of special imperial envoy, and sent to Guangzhou to suppress the opium trade. He ordered the opium traders to surrender their wares before a deadline, and after that cease to trade in opium. The officials of all the for­eign countries stationed in China, however, were determined to continue the opium trade, and some simply ignored Lin Zexu’s directive, while others offered him hefty bribes, hoping to buy him over. But, contrary to their expectations, Lin Zexu was unlike some other Qing officials and stuck to his duty. He said, “I will not return to Beijing until the day opium is eradicated altogether. I have sworn to put an end to this business!”

篇目4：杂交水稻 杂交水稻的诞生

日复一日，袁隆平就带着他那顶破草帽泡在水稻田里，一株一株地寻找他想要的水稻。他脚踩烂泥，鞋被水泡烂，被污泥填满；驼背弯腰，整个人直不起身来。可是为了能够赶快解决中国人的吃饭问题，他一刻也不愿意休息。

功夫不负有心人，袁隆平下地搜索的第 14天，终于发现了一株雄花花药不开裂的奇特植株。新型水稻的原型找到了，一切的培育工作可以开展了！袁隆平简直为这个发现欣喜若狂。

袁隆平的这一发现震惊农业界，国家迅速组建了研究小组和袁隆平一起培养杂交水稻。在科研人员的不懈努力下，一代代杂交水稻被培育出来。600公斤、800公斤 ……水稻的产量不断攀升。中国人的吃饭问题终于得到了解决！

Day after day, Yuan Longping toiled on in the paddy fields wearing a battered straw hat, examining rice plants stalk after stalk. His feet were constantly treading in mud, and his shoes were waterlogged and ruined. Moreover, he had to bend over all day long, sometimes unable to straighten his back again without feeling pain. Nevertheless, in his eagerness to find a speedy solution to the Chinese people’s food problem, he was unwill­ing to rest.

But hard work never lets a conscientious man down. On the fourteenth day of his field investigation Yuan Longping found an unusual rice plant whose staminate flower would not be split off. He had found the model for his new type of rice, and the breeding work could start! Yuan was overjoyed at this discovery.

This finding created a sensation. The authorities lost no time organizing a sub-commit­tee to help Yuan study the production of cross-breed rice. With the unrelenting efforts of these scientific research personnel, generation after generation of hybrid rice were bred. Six hundred kilograms, eight hundred kilograms... The yields of paddy rice per hectare kept climbing. A solution had finally been found to the problem of feeding the Chinese people!

篇目5：《黄河大合唱》 《黄河大合唱》的诞生

那是一个烽烟四起、山河破碎的时刻,中华民族正陷于前所未有的民族危难。抗日志士们在前线浴血奋战,鲜血与热泪抛洒在这片伤痕累累的土地;而在后方,这些年轻的艺术家们怀着同样的爱国激情,把他们的心血倾注于这部即将面世的音乐作品上。他们歌颂黄河精神,更歌颂中华民族与她的儿女们。

光未然怀着满腔热血一鼓作气完成了《黄河大合唱》的歌词。他的笔下,有对黄河的歌颂,对黄河船夫的赞美,有对外国侵略者的刻骨仇恨,对饱受苦难的国家与人民的深切同情。他描述仁人志士对外来侵略的顽强反抗,更发出高声的号召:怒吼吧,黄河!父老乡亲,来吧!来保卫全中国!

That was a critical time of war for the Chinese people, when they were trapped in inescapable danger. The anti-Japanese heroes were engaged in bloody frontline battles, their fresh blood and hot tears sprinkling the wounded earth. In the rear areas the young artists shared their patriotic sentiments, and poured their hearts' blood into the composition of musical works, extolling the Yellow River spirit, and the Chinese people and their splendid sons and daughters.

Guang Weiran, filled with enthusiasm, straightaway dashed off the theme song for The Yellow River Chorus. From beneath his writing brush appeared an anthem to the Yellow River, praise for its boatmen, deep-seated hatred for the foreign invaders of China and profound sympathy for the country and its people who had had their fill of suffering. He described the stubborn resistance put up by ordinary people and their heroes against the foreign invaders. He put forth the slogan, "Roar out, Yellow River! Come, our people! Come and defend our Chinese land!"

篇目6：航天精神 杨利伟的飞天梦

夜深了，杨利伟也渐渐感觉有些疲惫。他的眼睛开始发干发涩，书本上的字也有一点模糊。可是还有 10页的课本没有学完，他不想就这么休息，把今天的知识点留到明天学。他打开自己的搪瓷缸，喝了一大口里面的浓茶水。

在搪瓷缸里泡浓茶，是杨利伟和许多航天员同学的习惯。航天员的学习任务量大难度也很高，他们经常学习和讨论问题到深夜。为了保持精力和进行第二天的工作学习，他们一人准备了一个大水杯，里面放上多多的茶叶，从早喝到晚。浓茶已经有些发苦，可他们都把这当作提神的法宝。

对航天员的考验远不止这些，他们还要承受在离心机上飞速旋转的超重耐力训练，在低压试验舱的耐低氧能力训练，在旋转座椅和秋千上进行的前庭功能训练。这些陌生的专业术语，每一项都在挑战着一个人的身体极限。经过一早上头朝下的高速旋转，杨利伟只觉得全身的血都涌向大脑，身体里仿佛住着一千条来回游动的鱼，搅动得他脑子一片晕眩，步子都走不稳。在长时间的低压训练中，他一会儿觉得自己的身体膨胀着，五脏六腑都要炸开。

As the night deepened, Yang Liwei gradually became aware that he was growing tired. His eyes were becoming dry and rough, making the words he was reading blurred, but he still had ten pages of the textbook to study and didn’t even think of taking a rest or leav­ing that day’s assigned task till the following day; instead, he simply took a swig of strong tea from his enamel mug.

It was the custom of Yang Liwei and his fellow would-be astronauts to brew such strong tea and keep it in enamel cups. Their duties were really onerous, and they often studied and debated problems deep into the night. In order to preserve their energy and keep themselves ready for the following day’s tasks and studies, each of them would brew a thick mash of tea leaves in a big mug, and take sips throughout the day. This strong tea was somewhat bitter, but for them it was a “magic weapon” for invigorating them­selves.

There was far more to the astronauts’ tests than simply written ones; they had to be trained by means of an accelerator to withstand the pressure on their hearts of supersonic flight, of low pressure and of lack of oxygen, and to function normally in space. These specialized techniques tested their bodies to the limit. Once, undergoing a high-speed accelerator test, Yang Liwei felt as if all the blood in his body was rushing into his brain and as if a thousand or more fish were swimming round in his body. He felt giddy, and was unsteady on his feet. After a long period of low-pressure training, he felt as though his body had expanded, and as if his internal organs were about to burst.

全文6篇：

中国风物

石拱桥

千年不倒赵州桥

隋朝末年，赵州城外的洨河（xiáo）发了一场大洪水，已经修建了很多次的大石桥又冲垮了。

“这可怎么办呀？洨河那么宽，怎么过去呀？”

“修了这么多次，又被冲垮了，大概是老天爷在惩罚我们吧？”

赵州的老百姓议论纷纷。

此时，当地最有名的工匠李春眉头紧锁，心里无比焦急。

大石桥修建了那么多次，为什么总是承受不住洪水冲击呢？桥肯定要重建，不然百姓进出城就会受影响，可要是再次被冲毁，又会有巨大的损失，甚至出人命。

李春仔细看着原来的图纸，陷入深深的思索。

原来的石桥是有桥墩的，洨河一旦发起大洪水，力量极大，桥墩就会受到冲击，年久失修，大石桥墩就会被冲垮。如果没有桥墩，让洪水直接穿桥而过，桥就不会被冲垮了。

可是那样的话，桥拱就要很高，百姓过桥就要爬好高的坡，太不方便了。

李春摇了摇头，否定了这个想法。

李春遇到的难题传遍了县城。

百姓们又议论起来。

“这地方看来就不是修桥的地方。”

“只有鲁班爷来才能建好这座桥。”

 ……

百姓的议论传到李春耳朵里，他比谁都着急。作为当地最有威望的工匠，修不好这座桥是他一辈子的耻辱。

于是，他整日整夜画图纸、思考对策。

突然，他眼前一亮：“为什么要把拱修得那么高呢？让它由半圆形变成弓形，只要一个大拱，让大拱两肩上各装两个小拱，这样就不用桥墩了，洪水一旦冲击桥身，让洪水从那四个小拱过去，桥身不就减少冲击了吗？还有，我让大拱由 28道拱圈拼成，就像 28个同样形状的弓合龙在一起形成一个弧形的桥洞。每道拱圈都能独立支撑上面的重量，这一道坏了，其他各道不致受到影响。这桥不就更安全了吗？”

这个大胆想法让李春兴奋起来，以至于还在桌案前，他就手舞足蹈起来 ……

桥建成了，不但安全、方便，还特别美观。赵州老百姓欢欣鼓舞，困扰了多年的大石桥问题终于解决了。

现在，这座石桥已经在洨河屹立了一千四百多年，成为中国拱桥的代表作。

故事要旨

架桥铺路，一直被中国人认为是造福子孙的好事。中国桥梁建设史上出现了大量经典案例，这是中国人民敢于挑战、善于创新品质的体现。

The Arched Bridge

Zhaozhou Bridge Towering for over 1,000 Years

In the closing years of the Sui Dynasty (581-618) a major flood occurred on the Xiao River outside the city of Zhaozhou, which caused the collapse of a large stone bridge which had already been rebuilt many times.

“So, what can be done? That river is very wide; how can we get across?”

“It had been rebuilt many times, and still it collapsed. Perhaps the Lord of Heaven is punishing us?”

The people of Zhaozhou had many opinions.

At this time Li Chun (李春), the most famous local engineer, was extremely puzzled and vexed: The great stone bridge had been rebuilt many times, but still it could not withstand the force of the flood! But it had to be rebuilt once more; otherwise the people would have trouble entering and leaving the city. However, if another flood destroyed it there would again be enormous damage, and perhaps even loss of life.

Li Chun carefully examined the original blueprint of the bridge, deep in thought.

The old bridge had been built on stone supports, which had borne the brunt of the im­pact whenever the river flooded. As time went by, these supports had weakened, until the bridge collapsed. If there were no supports the flood waters would flow past the bridge unimpeded, and the bridge would not collapse.

But in that case the arch of the bridge would have to be very high, and it would be very inconvenient for the people to climb up and down steep slopes.

Li Chun shook his head, and decided against this method.

The news that Li Chun had come across a difficulty spread throughout the city. The lo­cal people began to grumble:

“It seems that a bridge cannot be built here.”

“Only Lu Ban (the legendary Master Craftsman) could build this bridge.”

These grumbles came to the ears of Li Chun, causing him much distress; as the most respected engineer in the district, to be unable to build the bridge would be the worst dis­grace of his lifetime. So he labored day and night to work out a blueprint, thinking deeply of a solution.

Suddenly, he had a flash of inspiration! “Why did the arch have to be so high? Instead of semicircular, the arch could be bow-shaped. And there would only need to be one big arch, supported at each end by two small ones. That way, there would be no need for pillar supports. In times of flooding the flood waters would flow through the four small arches, lessening the impact on the bridge. Moreover, I could form the main arch from 28 rounded arches of identical shape, to make a bridge freestanding above the water. Each circular arch will be able to bear the weight imposed upon it, and if one of them weakens, the others will not be affected. Wouldn’t such a bridge be safer?”

Excited by this bold idea, Li Chun danced for joy right there at his desk.

The bridge was built. It was not only safe and convenient, it also had a special el­egance. The local people of Zhaozhou were delighted that the problem of the great stone bridge that had been troubling them for many years had finally been solved.

Now, this new stone bridge, which has been towering over the Xiao River for over one thousand four hundred years, has become the representative of China’s arched bridges.

The Moral of This Story

Building bridges and paving roads have all along been fine ways for the Chinese people to enrich their descendants. The history of bridge building in China is a major classical example embodying the Chinese people’s courage in facing challenges and their creative spirit.

中国习俗

尊师重道

程门立雪

北宋时期，福建有一个叫杨时的人。他从小就聪明过人，四岁进学堂，七岁能写诗，八岁就能做文章，人们都称他为 “神童 ”。他 15岁时攻读经书、史书，后来考中了进士。他一生立志研究学问，想提出自己的主张和学说。

当时，洛阳学者程颢（hào）和程颐兄弟在讲授孔孟之道，很多学者都去拜他们为师。杨时听说这个消息，放弃了做官的机会，赶去洛阳，以学生的礼节拜程颢为师。等到杨时学习结束回家的时候，程颢很欣慰地说：“我的学说终于可以往南方传播了。”过了四年，程颢去世了，杨时知道后，在家里大哭了一场。

后来，杨时又不辞劳苦，绕道洛阳，拜程颢的弟弟程颐为师，希望在学问上再进一步。其实，杨时那时已四十多岁，学问也相当高，但仍然很谦虚，十分尊敬老师，深得程颐的喜爱，被程颐视为得意门生。

有一天，杨时与他的学友游酢（zuò）对某个问题有不同看法，为了求得一个正确答案，他俩决定一起去老师家请教。  

那正是冬天里最冷的时候，天寒地冻，铅色的乌云密布着。他们走到半路，刺骨的寒风刮来，天空飘起鹅毛大雪。风像刀子一样刮着他们的脸，雪花肆无忌惮地钻进他们的衣领。但他们想着心中的问题，只裹紧衣服匆匆赶路。来到程颐家时，正赶上先生坐在炉旁打坐养神。杨时二人不敢惊动老师，就恭恭敬敬地站在门外，等候先生醒来。

雪一刻不停地下着，越下越大。远处的山笼罩上了一层白茫茫的厚雪，近处的树上挂满了亮晶晶的银条儿。杨时二人的双脚冻僵了，冷得发抖，但依然恭敬侍立，耳边只听到簌簌落落雪花飘落的声音。学友游酢忍不住几次想去叫醒程老师，都被杨时拦住了。过了很久，程颐一觉醒来，从窗口向外看，发现两个雪人立在风雪中，仔细一看才发现是杨时他们。只见他们浑身落满了雪，脚底下的积雪已经一尺多厚了，老师赶忙起身迎他俩进屋。后来，杨时学得了老师的全部学问，回到南方传播老师的学问。人们称他为 “龟山先生 ”。“程门立雪 ”这个故事就成了尊师重教的传世美谈。

故事要旨

杨时和同学大雪中站立老师门前等候老师的故事，体现他们对教师的尊敬，对学问的尊崇。只有尊师重道，中华民族的文化才能得以传承。

Respect for One’s Teacher

Standing in the Snow

In Fujian Province during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) there lived a man called Yang Shi (杨时 ). From childhood he had been unusually intelligent, starting school at the age of four. At the age of seven he could write poetry, and at the age of eight he could write essays. People called him the “Divine Boy.” By the age of fifteen he had mastered the Classics and Histories, and later qualified for the highest civil service examination. He devoted his whole life to study, and to spreading his ideas and theories.

At that time, the brothers Cheng Hao (程颢 ) and Cheng Yi (程颐 ), famous scholars in the capital, Luoyang, were teachers of the Way of Confucius and Mencius. Many lead­ing men of letters sought them out to be their teachers. When Yang Shi heard of them, instead of going to where an official post had been assigned to him, he made his way to Luoyang, and presented his compliments to Cheng Hao and asked to be accepted as his pupil. When Yang Shi finished his studies and left for home, Cheng Hao said with sat­isfaction, “My ideas are finally being spread in the south.” Four years later, Cheng Hao died. At his master’s death, Yang Shi wept in seclusion at home.

Later, Yang Shi, shrugging off hardships, made his way once more to Luoyang, where he asked Cheng Yi, Cheng Hao’s younger brother, to be his teacher. He wanted to make further progress in his studies. At that time Yang Shi was over forty years old, and a pretty well-known scholar, but he was very modest and respectful of teachers. He had a deep af­fection for Cheng Yi, and was regarded by the latter as an ideal pupil.

One day, Yang Shi and a fellow-student, You Zuo got into a dispute over a certain mat­ter. Finding that they could not reconcile their differences, they decided to consult their teacher.

It happened to be the deep winter, and everything was frozen. Lead-colored clouds covered the dark sky. As the pair made their way, a piercingly cold wind sprang up, and flakes of snow as large as swan’s feathers began to fall. The wind cut their faces like a knife, and the snowflakes kept getting inside their collars. But they concentrated on their problem, wrapped their cloaks tightly around them, and hurried onward. When they reached Cheng Yi’s house they found him sitting by a stove meditating. Yang Shi and his classmate did not dare to disturb their teacher, but stood respectfully outside the door waiting for him to wake up.

The snow fell relentlessly, thicker and thicker. The distant mountains were blanketed in white, and the nearby trees were glazed with silver frost. The feet of Yang Shi and his companion were frozen solid. Though they shivered with cold, the pair still stood respect­fully there. All they could hear was the gentle swish of the falling snowflakes. Several times You Zuo, unable to endure the cold, wanted to wake their teacher, but each time he was stopped by Yang Shi.

After a long time, Cheng Yi came out of his reverie. He looked out of the window, to see the two men standing in a blizzard, covered in snow. Looking closely, he discovered that they were Yang Shi and You Zuo. Seeing the pair covered in snow and standing in snow over one foot deep, the teacher hastily arose, and ushered them inside.

Later, when Yang Shi had completed his study with Master Cheng Yi, he returned to the south and spread his teacher’s ideas. The people called him the “Gentleman of Turtle Mountain.” The story “Standing in the Snow at Cheng’s Door” became a fine tale trans­mitted from generation to generation extolling respect for teachers and for study.

The Moral of This Story

The story of Yang Shi and his classmate standing in the snow waiting at their teacher’s gate encapsulates his respect for his teacher and his reverence for learning. It was only by respect for teachers and reverence for learning that Chinese culture could be handed down.

中国人物

林则徐

虎门销烟

19世纪初，在与资本主义国家的贸易往来中，中国的瓷器、茶叶、丝绸都受到外国人的追捧，因此中国一直处于优势地位。但是此时的欧美资本主义国家通过工业革命大大增长了生产力，中国拥有庞大的人口，是他们最为垂涎的市场。为了打开中国大门，许多国家开始向中国输入鸦片。

鸦片是一种毒品，会让人吸食上瘾，很快就拖垮了中国老百姓的身体，也拖垮了中国经济。这时，一位大英雄出现了，他就是进行 “虎门销烟 ”的林则徐。

林则徐是清朝的一位大臣。面对正在逐渐被鸦片拖垮的中国，他忧心如焚，好几次给皇帝上疏，希望能够在全国严禁鸦片。举棋不定的皇帝被他的一句话打动了：“若再任由鸦片泛滥下去，那么过不了几十年，中国就再也没有能够御敌的士兵，也没有能够充当军饷的钱财！”

于是，林则徐被任命为钦差大臣，赴广州禁烟。他命令所有鸦片贩子在限期内交出鸦片，并保证以后再不进行鸦片贸易。各国驻华大臣早就打听好了消息，为继续进行鸦片贸易，有些人对林则徐的命令采取视而不见的态度，有些人则给林则徐准备了巨额贿赂，希望能够收买他。没想到，林则徐比他们接触过的任何一位清朝大臣都要硬气：“鸦片一日没有断绝，我就一日不回京城。我发誓要让这件事有始有终！”

在林则徐的坚持下，从下令到鸦片完全收缴只用了 34天。他查明了所有鸦片的数量并报告给皇帝，皇帝就叫他全部销毁。

林则徐选择了广东虎门海滩对鸦片进行公开销毁。他命人在海滩上挖了两个大池子，池底铺石，池壁铺木板，在池子中灌入盐水，将鸦片掰碎扔进池中浸泡。半日后，向水中投入生石灰，石灰遇水则沸，士兵们用木耙不断搅拌，让烟土全部溶解，在退潮时再将全部池水放出大洋，不留涓滴。

烟土溶解时浓烟滚滚，当地百姓都到虎门海滩去观看。由于鸦片数量巨大，整整 23天后鸦片才被完全销毁。老百姓们击掌相庆，纷纷赞叹林则徐是一位清白负责的好官。

在中国近代百年来的反侵略斗争中，林则徐领导的禁烟运动是中国人取得的场胜利。他不仅让民众意识到鸦片的危害，更向全世界宣告了中国绝不屈服于帝国主义侵略的决心。

故事要旨

林则徐领导的虎门销烟是近代中国反侵略斗争的重要胜利。他廉洁正直、不屈不挠，是中国人民独立精神的代表。

Lin Zexu

Destroying the Opium

In the early nineteenth century China was in the dominant position in its trade with the capitalist countries of the West, as Chinese porcelain, tea and silk were in great demand. But as the productive power of the capitalist countries of Europe and America grew enor­mously as a consequence of the Industrial Revolution, they fixed their avaricious eyes on China, with its huge population, as a market. To force open China’s doors, many countries started to import opium into China.

Opium is a highly addictive narcotic drug; it was deleterious both to the people’s health and the Chinese economy. Just at this moment, a great hero arose: He was Lin Zexu (林则徐 ), who “destroyed the opium at Humen.”

Lin Zexu was a senior official of the Qing Dynasty who was seriously alarmed at the weakening effect opium was having on China. He had sent several memorials to the em­peror, trying to get opium banned nationwide. The indecisive emperor was finally moved to take action by these words of Lin: “If opium is allowed to spread unchecked, within a few decades China will not only be unable to resist enemy forces, we will not be able to pay the troops whom we have!”

As a result, Lin Zexu was promoted to the post of special imperial envoy, and sent to Guangzhou to suppress the opium trade. He ordered the opium traders to surrender their wares within a deadline, and after that cease to trade in opium. The officials of all the for­eign countries stationed in China, however, were determined to continue the opium trade, and some simply ignored Lin Zexu’s directive, while others offered him hefty bribes, hoping to buy him over. But, contrary to their expectations, Lin Zexu was unlike the other Qing officials and stuck to his duty. He said, “I will not return to Beijing until the day opium is eradicated altogether. I have sworn to put an end to this business!”

Lin Zexu’s persistence paid off, and within thirty-four days from his order all the opi­um had been handed over. He reported this in detail to the emperor, who instructed him to have it all destroyed.

Lin Zexu chose a stretch of seashore in Guangdong known as Humen to publicly burn the confiscated opium. He instructed that two huge pits be dug there, with stones at the bottom and lined with wooden planks. Then quicklime was poured into the pits, and the opium, cut up into chunks, was dumped into the quicklime. All this was allowed to soak for half a day, and then soldiers used wooden paddles to stir it continuously until all the opium was dissolved. When the tide went out again, it took the contents of the pits with it, until not a trace of opium was left.

As the thick smoke from the pits curled into the air, all the inhabitants of Guangzhou flocked to the Humen seashore. Because the amount of opium to be destroyed was enor­mous, it took twenty-three days to get rid of all of it. The local people clapped hands and congratulated each other; they flocked to express their admiration of Lin Zexu as an upright official devoted to his duty.

In the modern century of our history of resistance to invasion, we Chinese people gained our first victory in the anti-opium movement under the leadership of Lin Zexu. He not only raised the people’s awareness of the damage done by opium, but also he an­nounced to the whole world China’s determination not to bend the knee to imperialist ag­gression.

The Moral of This Story

The destruction of the opium at Humen under the leadership of Lin Zexu was a great victory of China over invasion in modern times. Lin Zexu’s incorruptibility and uprightness, and his unflinching character represent the independent spirit of the Chinese people.

中国成就

杂交水稻

杂交水稻的诞生

1960年，一场严重的粮食饥荒在中国大地上发生了。

面对严酷的现实，西南农学院毕业的袁隆平辗转反侧，不能安睡。自己毕业于农业专业，学来一身本领。这时候国家缺少粮食，不正是自己应该为国家、为人民效力的时候吗？

袁隆平想来想去，决定把突破口放在提高农作物的产量上。如果能够培育出新型的品种，让粮食产量比现在翻几番，问题就能大大解决了！

要想培育出新型水稻，必须要让已有的水稻品种进行杂交。可水稻是自花授粉的作物，难以杂交。一朵一朵地处理水稻花成本实在太大，最理想的解决方案是培育出雄花不育的稻株。

袁隆平经过严密的研究思考，认为这样的植株一定存在于现有的水稻田中，可能是基因突变的结果。于是他迈开了双腿走进水稻田，开始寻找世界上谁也没有见过的水稻雄性不育株。

日复一日，袁隆平就带着他那顶破草帽泡在水稻田里，一株一株地寻找他想要的水稻。他脚踩烂泥，鞋被水泡烂，被污泥填满；驼背弯腰，整个人直不起身来。可是为了能够赶快解决中国人的吃饭问题，他一刻也不愿意休息。

功夫不负有心人，袁隆平下地搜索的第 14天，终于发现了一株雄花花药不开裂的奇特植株。新型水稻的原型找到了，一切的培育工作可以开展了！袁隆平简直为这个发现欣喜若狂。

袁隆平的这一发现震惊农业界，国家迅速组建了研究小组和袁隆平一起培养杂交水稻。在科研人员的不懈努力下，一代代杂交水稻被培育出来。600公斤、800公斤 ……水稻的产量不断攀升。中国人的吃饭问题终于得到了解决！

截至 2017年，中国培育出的 “超级水稻 ”平均亩产已达到了 1100多公斤，而且生命力更强，不容易染上病虫害。中国人依靠着自己的努力，很好地解决了自己的吃饭问题，也为世界许多缺少粮食的国家带来了福音。

故事要旨

杂交水稻极大地解决了中国人的吃饭问题，是我们的国家能够发展的重要根基。而一代代科学家们辛勤付出研究的成果，也缓解了世界的粮食短缺问题，意义十分重大。

Hybrid Rice

The Birth of Hybrid Rice

In 1960 China suffered a serious shortage of food grains.

In this dire situation, Yuan Longping (袁隆平), a graduate of the Southwest Agri­cultural College, found himself tossing and turning at night, unable to sleep. As a spe­cialist in agriculture, a subject he had devoted his life to, wasn’t this time of national food shortage the very time he was called upon to render service to his country and his people?

After a great deal of thought, Yuan came to the conclusion that a breakthrough had to be found in the quality of the crops: If a new type of crop could be raised that could in­crease the grain output by several times, that would be the solution to the problem.

To create a new type of paddy rice required the cross-breeding of existing varieties. However, this would be difficult because paddy rice is self-pollinating. Time after time, Yuan’s experiments produced ears of rice that were too costly, while the ideal solution would be rice stalks that would produce male sterile rice.

Through concentrated research and study, Yuan Longping found that the correct gene would only result from seedlings planted in the existing paddy fields. So he personally trudged through the paddy fields searching for rice stalks that would produce male sterile rice.

Day after day, Yuan Longping toiled on in the paddy fields wearing a battered straw hat, examining rice plants stalk after stalk. His feet were constantly treading in mud, and his shoes were waterlogged and ruined. Moreover, he had to bend over all day long, sometimes unable to straighten his back again without feeling pain. Nevertheless, in his eagerness to find a speedy solution to the Chinese people’s food problem, he was unwill­ing to rest.

But hard work never lets a conscientious man down. On the fourteenth day of his field investigation Yuan Longping found an unusual rice plant whose staminate flower would not be split off. He had found the model for his new type of rice, and the breeding work could start! Yuan was overjoyed at this discovery.

This finding created a sensation. The authorities lost no time organizing a sub-commit­tee to help Yuan study the production of cross-breed rice. With the unrelenting efforts of these scientific research personnel, generation after generation of hybrid rice were bred. Six hundred kilograms, eight hundred kilograms... The yields of paddy rice per hectare kept climbing. A solution had finally been found to the problem of feeding the Chinese people!

By the year 2017, China’s output of “super paddy rice” per mu had topped 1,100 ki­lograms. Moreover, this rice is sturdier and more pest-resistant than the old variety. The Chinese people have found a fine solution to their food problem by their own efforts. In addition, hybrid rice has brought good news to the peoples of other countries all over the globe who are suffering from food shortage.

The Moral of This Story

Hybrid rice has contributed greatly to easing the Chinese people’s food problem. It is an important pillar supporting our country’s development. It is the fruit of diligent research by generations of scientists, and it is of worldwide significance for solving the problem of food scarcity.

中国艺术

《黄河大合唱》

《黄河大合唱》的诞生

1939年初春，光未然与他所在的抗敌演出团队渡过黄河去往吕梁山抗日根据地。黄河的滚滚河水一路奔流向东，气势磅礴；波涛起伏的河面上，船工们身体前倾，奋力划着桨，口中呼喊着整齐的、动人心魄的号子。他的内心不禁受到巨大的震动：黄河奔流不息，正是中华民族勇往直前、坚韧顽强的精神象征。而中华儿女勤劳勇敢、自强不息的精神，又在黄河船夫身上得到淋漓尽致的展示。眼前这幅图景，何等令人震撼！它正是对华夏儿女们精神的诠释，正是中国人民抗击外敌、保家卫国的强大动力！

在年轻诗人的心中，刹那闪现的灵感令他心潮澎湃、文思泉涌。

在延安，光未然见到了他的知音与挚友冼星海。老友再次相见，二人都敞开心扉，尽情交流着他们的经历与思想。正在光未然讲述他的创作灵感时，冼星海的心中也萌生着创作一部大型的合唱音乐作品的想法。

那是一个烽烟四起、山河破碎的时刻，中华民族正陷于前所未有的民族危难。抗日志士们在前线浴血奋战，鲜血与热泪抛洒在这片伤痕累累的土地；而在后方，这些年轻的艺术家们怀着同样的爱国激情，把他们的心血倾注于这部即将面世的音乐作品上。他们歌颂黄河精神，更歌颂中华民族与她的儿女们。

光未然怀着满腔热血一鼓作气完成了《黄河大合唱》的歌词。他的笔下，有对黄河的歌颂，对黄河船夫的赞美，有对外国侵略者的刻骨仇恨，对饱受苦难的国家与人民的深切同情。他描述仁人志士对外来侵略的顽强反抗，更发出高声的号召：怒吼吧，黄河！父老乡亲，来吧！来保卫全中国！

听完光未然朗诵，冼星海被深深震撼了。他内心深处的爱国激情在那瞬间被点燃，更猛然迸发出来。那些文字具有如此强烈的感染力，使他的灵魂几乎燃烧起来。“我一定要把曲子谱好！”他坚定地站起来，眼神明亮。两位老友四目相对，在彼此眼中都看到了一种炽烈的情感。

当时的延安生活条件十分艰苦恶劣，冼星海废寝忘食地投入创作，仅仅花了六天便出色地完成了《黄河大合唱》的谱曲工作。

刚一问世，这部作品便引发了巨大反响。它激励着中华儿女们振作精神，为守护家国英勇抗敌，不惧牺牲。直到今天，它仍然以其巨大的感染力激发着我们的爱国热情。

故事要旨

《黄河大合唱》是在抗日战争的悲壮背景下诞生的，通过歌颂黄河的气势与民族精神，表达了中国人保家卫国的决心和顽强不屈的信念。这种精神，时至今日仍应被我们传承。

The Yellow River Chorus

Birth of a Resounding Melody

In early spring 1939 Guang Weiran (光未然) led his resistance performance troupe across the Yellow River on their way to the Lüliangshan Anti-Japanese Base Area. The majestic waters of the Yellow River rolled swiftly eastward. Amid the surging waves, the boatmen were doubled up as they strained at their oars, their chanting in unison stirring the hearts of their passengers. Guang Weiran received a mighty emotional impetus as he thought, “The Yellow River flows unceasingly, just like the Chinese people surging heroically ahead. It is a symbol of their staunch and unyielding spirit. And the hard-working and brave sons and daughters of the Chinese nation, with their self-reliant and tireless spirit, are completely represented by these Yellow River boatmen. With such a picture before one’s eyes, who wouldn’t be moved? This picture sums up the spirit of the sons and daughters of China as they resist the foreign invaders; it is a robust motive force enabling them to protect their homes and defend their country!”

Into the mind of the young poet came a flash of inspiration, which caused it to swell with emotion. An idea came into his head.

In Yan’an, Guang Weiran bumped into his bosom friend Xian Xinghai (冼星海 ). At this meeting they opened their hearts to each other, and freely and frankly shared their ex­periences and thoughts. As Guang Weiran explained his creative inspiration, there sprout­ed in the mind of Xian Xinghai the idea of composing a major choral piece of music.

That was a critical time of war for the Chinese people, when they were trapped in ines­capable danger. The anti-Japanese heroes were engaged in bloody frontline battles, their fresh blood and hot tears sprinkling the wounded earth. In the rear areas the young artists shared their patriotic sentiments, and poured their hearts’ blood into the composition of musical works, extolling the Yellow River spirit, and the Chinese people and their splen­did sons and daughters.

Guang Weiran, filled with enthusiasm, straightaway dashed off the theme song for The Yellow River Chorus. From beneath his writing brush appeared an anthem to the Yellow River, praise for its boatmen, bone-deep hatred for the foreign invaders of China and profound sympathy for the country and its people who had had their fill of suffering. He described the stubborn resistance put up by ordinary people and their heroes against the foreign invaders. He put forth the slogan, “Roar out, Yellow River! Come, our people! Come and defend our Chinese land!”

When he had heard Guang Weiran declaim his composition, Xian Xinghai was deeply moved, and at that moment a fierce blaze of patriotism was ignited in his heart. It was the words of the song that had had this infectious power –a power that seemed to set his very soul on fire. “I must write a musical score for those words,” he said, leaping to his feet, his eyes shining. The two old friends looked at each other, and a kind of fierce emotion sparked between them.

The conditions of life in Yan’an in those days were unbearably hard, but Xian Xinghai buckled down to his composition work, even forgetting to eat and sleep. After six days of hard work, he completed the musical score for the magnificent Yellow River Chorus.

As soon as it was published, the song caused a sensation. It gave a great boost to the spirits of the sons and daughters of China, and further emboldened them to defend their homeland and resist the enemy, without fearing to sacrifice themselves. Even today, the song still has the great power to arouse a fierce sense of patriotism in our hearts.

The Moral of This Story

The Yellow River Chorus was born against the tragic background of the resistance to the Japanese invaders. Through its force in lauding the Yellow River and the spirit of the people, it presents the determination and unyielding faith of the generation which defend­ed their homes and their country. This is the spirit we today should inherit.

中国精神

航天精神

杨利伟的飞天梦

提到杨利伟，每个人都不会陌生，他是素有 “中国航天人 ”之称的宇航员。他成功的背后，是无尽的拼搏与努力。

深夜的航天员寝室中，只有一盏台灯还亮着。台灯下奋笔疾书的人便是杨利伟。

要想成为航天员，需要经过重重的考验和选拔。不仅需要过硬的身体素质，还需要掌握扎实的航空航天知识。为了能够胜任航天员的任务，杨利伟每天都在奋力学习，抓紧一分一秒多掌握知识。

夜深了，杨利伟也渐渐感觉有些疲惫。他的眼睛开始发干发涩，书本上的字也有一点模糊。可是还有 10页的课本没有学完，他不想就这么休息，把今天的知识点留到明天学。他打开自己的搪瓷缸，喝了一大口里面的浓茶水。

在搪瓷缸里泡浓茶，是杨利伟和许多航天员同学的习惯。航天员的学习任务量大难度也很高，他们经常学习和讨论问题到深夜。为了保持精力和进行第二天的工作学习，他们一人准备了一个大水杯，里面放上多多的茶叶，从早喝到晚。浓茶已经有些发苦，可他们都把这当作提神的法宝。

对航天员的考验远不止这些，他们还要承受在离心机上飞速旋转的超重耐力训练，在低压试验舱的耐低氧能力训练，在旋转座椅和秋千上进行的前庭功能训练。这些陌生的专业术语，每一项都在挑战着一个人的身体极限。经过一早上头朝下的高速旋转，杨利伟只觉得全身的血都涌向大脑，身体里仿佛住着一千条来回游动的鱼，搅动得他脑子一片晕眩，步子都走不稳。在长时间的低压训练中，他一会儿觉得自己的身体膨胀着，五脏六腑都要炸开，一会儿又觉得肺里没有空气缩成一团，好像马上就要缺氧而死。训练的过程充满了旁人难以想象的艰辛，一路上许多人放弃了，可杨利伟没有。就这样，杨利伟坚持了 5年零 6个月，一共 3000多个学时，每天睡眠时间不足 7小时，始终如一地保持着高度集中的受训状态。最后，凭着全优的成绩和最为全面的综合素质脱颖而出，肩负起首飞的使命，成为 “神舟五号 ”的航天员。

在中国的航空航天队伍中，有千千万万像杨利伟一样的航天人。他们无惧身体和精神上的痛苦与挑战，始终奋战在中国航空航天事业的线。我国几十年来航空航天上的巨大成就，便是这些人辛勤努力的见证。

故事要旨

不畏艰苦和刻苦钻研是中国一代代航天人的精神。他们通过自己的不懈努力，带领着中国的航天事业走在了世界的前沿。

The Astronaut’s Spirit

Yang Liwei’s Outer Space Dream

Mention Yang Liwei (杨利伟 ), and everyone will recognize the name, for he is a first-class aviator known as “China’s first man in space.” Behind his success lay unrelenting endeavors and struggles.

Late at night, a lone lamp shone in the astronaut’s bedroom. The man studying hard by its light was Yang Liwei.

To become an astronaut, it was necessary to undergo a number of stiff tests and selec­tion processes. It was not only necessary to have a superbly tough physique; it was also necessary to have a thorough grasp of the practical knowledge related to space flight. In order to satisfy the requirements of an astronaut, Yang Liwei strove with all his might ev­ery minute and every second of every day to master this knowledge.

As the night deepened, Yang Liwei gradually became aware that he was growing tired. His eyes were becoming dry and rough, making the words he was reading blurred, but he still had ten pages of the textbook to study and didn’t even think of taking a rest or leav­ing that day’s assigned task till the following day; instead, he simply took a swig of strong tea from his enamel mug.

It was the custom of Yang Liwei and his fellow would-be astronauts to brew such strong tea and keep it in enamel cups. Their duties were onerous indeed, and they often studied and debated problems deep into the night. In order to preserve their energy and keep themselves ready for the following day’s tasks and studies, each of them would brew a thick mash of tea leaves in a big mug, and take sips throughout the day. This strong tea was somewhat bitter, but they regarded it as a “magic weapon” for invigorating them­selves.

There was far more to the astronauts’ tests than simply written ones; they had to be trained by means of an accelerator to withstand the pressure on their hearts of supersonic flight, of low pressure and of lack of oxygen, and to function normally in space. These specialized techniques tested their bodies to the limit. Once, undergoing a high-speed accelerator test, Yang Liwei felt as if all the blood in his body was rushing into his brain and as if a thousand or more fish were swimming round in his body. He felt giddy, and was unsteady on his feet. After a long period of low-pressure training, he felt as though his body had expanded, and as if his internal organs were about to burst. For a while it seemed as though his lungs could not take in air, and that he was about to die from lack of oxygen. The training course contained hardships unimaginable to an outsider, and many people dropped out – but not Yang Liwei. He passed the tests with flying colors. The course lasted five and a half years, with three thousand hours of study in all. Every night he slept for less than 7 hours. From beginning to end, a high degree of concentrated training was required. Finally, the man who had shown the best results and consistently outstanding qualities would shoulder the task of piloting the Shenzou Five space shuttle on China’s first manned space flight.

There are thousands of pilots like Yang Liwei in the ranks of China’s air and space forces. They fear neither physical nor mental challenges and hardships. They strive con­sistently in the front line of China’s air and space endeavors. Over the past few decades, China has made great achievements in air and space travel, and this is a monument to the dedication and hard work of men like Yang Liwei.

The Moral of This Story

Forging ahead fearless of hardships is the fine spirit of generation after generation of China’s aviators. Through dogged hard work, they have advanced China’s space program to the forefront of the world.