Save Our Earth

Ladies and gentlemen，

　　As is known to us all， we used to have a very nice world， in which birds were singing [and]（1）trees were whispering. Looking into the limpid（清澈的）river， we could see the reflection [reflections]（2）of our smiling faces But my dear friends， have you ever noticed the changes around us？ Have you ever noticed that the limpid rivers have become stinking ditches （臭水沟） instead？ I could swear （发誓） that I rarely see birds nowadays， even a common sparrow. So shouldn't we do something？ Shouldn't we try our best to heal this world and make it a better place for us to live in？

　　I don't know much about environmental science， nor can I offer any suggestion. What I can do is try my bit to protect ourenvironment.

　　I plant trees， as I know we still have many barrens （荒地），and sands are swallowing our land every day. Trees can protect the soil from eroding （遭侵蚀）。 Besides， trees can beautify our cities and the environment.

　　Planting trees is obviously a good way to protect the environment， but surely that is not enough. Besides planting trees， I always pay attention to keeping the surroundings clean. I never step on the （3） lawns and I never spit in the （4） wrong places. I always leave rubbish into the （5） dustbins. Whenever I see anybody damaging the environment， I will tell them to stop it. For example， I will ask them to pick up the rubbish and throw it into dustbins.

　　Here I'd like to take this opportunity to advise the gentlemen present today to stop smoking. Smoking does harm not only to your own health but to the people around you. When you blow a puff of （一口） smoke into the air do you know how many cubicliters of clean air you have polluted？ Save the clean air for yourself， for your children， and for your children's children. So gentlemen， stop polluting our environment. I have successfully persuaded （说服） my father to give up smoking. I believe you， distinguished（尊敬的）gentlemen， can make it as well. In this way， you and I can really play a role in the environmental protection.

　　Although I have done only a little bit， I know what I have done does mean something. One flower doesn't make a spring. So ladies and gentlemen， in order to have a clean， beautiful and harmonious（和谐的）world for yourself， for your family， and for your fellow citizens， will you please join me in doing our bit to protect our environment？

　　Thank you！

　　西南师大附中高二（6）班 张维佳

　　评 语

　　本文曾获重庆市史迪威英语演讲比赛优秀奖。

　　这是一篇写得相当不错的演讲稿。尽管有些说法有点过头，不够自然，如开头第一段，另外，在劝说人们放弃吸烟时，口气还不够委婉。但总体而言，无论从文章结构，还是词语的运用，都反映出作者不俗的英语功底。特别是文章较好地体现了演讲的一些修辞特点，如：设问、排比等等，同时还融进了一些幽默，起到了调节听众情绪的作用。某些语言上的不足之处点评修改如下：

　　（1）这里加上and为好。

　　（2）reflection 表示“倒影”时，是可数名词。根据上下文，这里用复数为好。

　　（3）、（4）、（5）根据上下文，这里均是泛指，还是不用定冠词the显得自然。