英语写作大赛由中国外文局CATTI项目管理中心、中国外文界主办，大赛旨在为更好推动中华文化走出去，鼓励用外语讲述中国故事，通过赛事选拔更多优秀人才，全面提升当代大学生等各类群体的英语写作能力和素养，培养和发现优秀的英语写作人才，向世界阐释推介更多具有中国特色、体现中国精神、蕴藏中国智慧的优秀文化。
组委会现将初赛精选获奖作文展示如下，供大家参考学习。
精选作文2 刘露
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Once in a social media group, I was talking about hometowns with my friends. When one person said he was from Shandong, another immediately commented that Shandong people were strong and rude and labeled them as “barbaric.” Moreover, Shandong has an objectionable “wine table culture,” cumbersome etiquette, and so on. In his eyes, these were the reasons why he disliked Shandong. But a few months later, the man with the most negative views about Shandong had to go there to attend his sister’s wedding. Interestingly, after he arrived there, he made a U-turn in his attitude towards Shandong. He told us that Shandong people were warm and patriotic, and the government did a good job in local governance. During the epidemic, nucleic acid tests and quarantine hotels were free of charge, which brought a lot of convenience to people. His preference for Shandong has skyrocketed. And his previous stereotypes about this place were shattered by his own experience.
We all have such stereotypes toward different provinces, even “regional discrimination,” not to mention the serious situation that China faces in the eventful and complicated international relations. It is not just stereotyping, but also being misunderstood, maliciously smeared, and “stigmatized” by other countries. For example, the COVID-19 outbreak was slandered as a “Chinese virus” by Western media, and the cotton incident in Xinjiang made many people who did not know the truth believe that slavery still existed in China. In the face of these rumors, dear international friends, do you choose to blindly listen to them or discover the real China with your own eyes?
When you set foot on this vast land, you will find that this country, which was poor and backward a few decades ago, is so diligent in its efforts to “lift itself out of poverty” and create a well-off life for all its people by 2020. When you feel China’s power by yourself, you will see that China’s Belt and Road Initiative is by no means “neocolonialism.” Instead, it will bring development opportunities to more countries and enhance the beauty of the world. When you listen to China, you will hear that China called upon all countries to uphold the shared values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom during the 20th CPC National Congress. A clean hand wants no washing, and a straight foot is not afraid of a crooked shoe. We have the confidence to be tested by the world and we welcome friends from all over the world to come here and witness a comprehensive and authentic image of China.
Actions speak louder than words. As more and more international friends come to China, we also hear objective and true comments from different countries worldwide. Many international students studying in China are fascinated by the Chinese culture of “harmony in diversity” and impressed by China’s high technology. They deeply feel the fine quality of the Chinese people and are moved by their utmost trust and satisfaction in the government. As Fei Xiaotong said, “The real power to stabilize social relations is not emotion,but understanding.”
Stereotype will limit our perspective toward another country, but it is the easiest way to know about a country, for this is the start of communication. Don't be limited to stereotypes. Experience and feel it by yourself, then you will see a real and comprehensive China, and a more integrated and beautiful world.
专家简评：作者从一件小事入手，引出stereotype的话题，生动自然，有四两拨千斤的效果，最终逐步升华主题，拔高层次，一气呵成。
大赛解释权及参赛作品处置权归组委会所有，未经授权，严禁转载及使用。
