Shoulder responsibility

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.
高考向来是大众关注的焦点。今年的高考于6月7日正式启幕。高考作文题成了公众热议的话题。

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套全国高考试卷，北京、天津、上海、浙江另外自主命制了4套试卷。

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.
今年是中国共产党成立100周年，“八份试卷的作文题都强调了站在新百年节点上的青年责任与担当。”教育专家陈志文在接受澎湃新闻采访时如此表示。

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.
其中一道作文题是关于如何立德树人，将“义”作为确定的目标，再付诸行动实现理想。“我一看到这道题，忽然就理解了成长的含义，”来自河南郑州枫杨外国语学校的18岁学生刘晓畅如此表示。

“This national exam also tests our ideals regarding our motherland, as well as our responsibility and duty of the times,” she said.
“这次高考也考查了我们的报国之志以及我们所处时代的责任与担当，”她说道。

Wang Lingyu, 18, from Subsidiary High School of Taiyuan Normal University, Shanxi province, also wrote an essay about this question.
来自山西太原师范学院附属中学的18岁学生王凌宇就这一话题也写了一篇作文。

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.
他认为青年的理想应当是一个具体的目标，并且为此不懈努力。王凌宇以老一辈人投入西北的植树造林运动为例，论证了自己的观点。“他们的目标是改善当地人民的生活，他们也的确做到了。这激励了我们新一代人要为国家和人民承担起更多的责任，” 王凌宇说道。

Another essay question is about what “you” could do in an era for making things happen.
还有一道作文题是关于“你”在一个大有可为的时代中的可为之事。

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.
来自北京大学南宁附属实验学校的18岁学生李云舟以给全体高考考生的一封信的形式，写了一篇作文。

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.
在他看来，青年应当认真履行自己的职责。“以史为鉴，我认识到，承担责任就是通过自己所热爱、所擅长之事，为国家和社会做出贡献。未来，我希望从事科研相关的工作，”李云舟说道。

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历史人物，如陈独秀和他的两个儿子陈延年、陈乔年。“他们都坚定革命信念，竭尽全力救国家于危难之中，背负起实现民族独立的责任，”李云舟表示。

“For that, they were even willing to sacrifice their lives,” Li added.
“为此，他们甚至愿意献出自己的生命，”他补充道。

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.”
这些即将成年的青年们受到“红色精神”的激励，更加爱国、更加自信，并在高考中写出了自己的心声。正如陈独秀所言，“青春如初春，如朝日，如百卉之萌动，如利刃之新发于硎。”

These gaokao candidates will strive to play their own part in society and hope to lead China to a better future.
这些高考考生会努力为社会做出自己的一份贡献，希望带领中国走向更美好的未来。

以上文章内容选自《21世纪学生英文报高中版》，详情请见《21世纪学生英文报高中版》高二836期