（早就想把这篇A1练past paper题目时写的练笔在这里存个档了；9093/22 February/March 2018的意思是“2018年二月或三月在代码为2的区域考的AS/AL English Language Paper 2 (Writing Paper)”（我当时抄题时抄成了May/June）。这篇文章毋庸置疑是我大学前的学生时代写过最好的一篇课内练笔，没有之一，就连一向压分无下限的老师都给了23分（满分25），为此原稿泛黄的那两张纸至今还被我珍藏在衣柜里。十七岁的文笔如今看来确实稚嫩了些，但个人认为这篇的中心思想永远不会过时，尤其是在生命的节奏愈发离谱生命的内核却愈发空虚的这个当下，于是决定花点时间把手稿打成字。一字未改，包括语法错误与被老师划掉的地方。）
The principal of an international college is going to give a speech to final-year students on the last day of term. Write the text of the speech. Focus on the principal’s good wishes, the school’s pride in the students, and advice for the students as they set out on a new phase of their lives.
Good afternoon, students. I could have addressed you as ladies and gentlemen but since today is my last chance to address you as my students, I shall not waste it.
Now, I can sense that some of you have your attention wavering even before I begin my speech. For once, I’ll forgive you; anyway, it’s the last day of the last year you have here and after this long stupid speech you shall be free - am I right? But before I introduce you to my long stupid speech, I would like to introduce you to a kind of insect you might have met in biology lessons before: the mayfly.
The mayfly got its name since most of them hatch in may, int he busiest month of the year - I’m sure you know that more than I do. However, instead of its interesting name, this tiny insect is better known for its short, very short, life span - to be accurate, 24 hours.
What can you do in 24 hours?
To own a life - even only for 24 hours - you must start it first. And to start a life, you must fight for it. When I say I am proud of you, you may wonder what I am proud for. For your grades? For your application results? For winning basketball matches? - True, they are all reasons why I am proud of you. But now, please let me tell you, loud and clear, The reason why I am proud of you: I am proud of you because you are like mayflies.
Death looms ahead of all of us. For us, it’s decades away; for mayflies, hours, which could be broken down into minutes, seconds, milliseconds. Yet even for such a life that counts in milliseconds, even with the fact that more than half of all mayfly eggs are unable to hatch, streams and ponds in the may sunshine still swarm with the almighty struggles of those lively creatures who would try all their might to start a life. You here, back when you were just sperms, all won that race that enabled you to start the life you own now, to start your education through elementary and middle school which later brought you here. And you did not stop here; you grasp on to the life you had earned yourself. Mayflies search for their food amidst the deep waters; you guys try your best to earn good grades that promise you a future. Mayflies hide from predators such as birds and fish; you guys resist the temptation of doing bad things some other teenagers do - smoking, fighting, drug dealing......this list goes on and none of you belong to it. Standing here means that you haven’t dropped out because of poor grades, or been expelled because of severe offences. Yes; I am proud of you because you are like mayflies.
But now I still haven’t answered the question I brought up: What can you do in 24 hours?
For a mayfly, this question is the equivalent of what it can do with its life. And it does something with it - oh boy does it do something with it. It wanders on the surface of the waters, it flutters amidst the twigs against the wind, it feeds, it drinks, it meets its soulmate and mates and lays eggs and passes down hundreds and thousands of 24 hours to the next generation; and then, as the sun sets, it dies.
It dies. Simple as that. And at first glance it may seem that it hasn’t left a trace in this world; no well-know mayfly has made its name remembered by us so far. Yet who can say that a mayfly’s life is meaningless? Obscure, yes, but full. No millisecond in a mayfly’s life, in that 24 hours, is wasted.
When I say I wish you well, you may wonder what exactly I wish you can have. A good university? A good job? Money? Fame? Anything at all? - True, they are all things I wish you can have. But now, please let me tell you, loud and clear, what I really mean by wishing you well: I wish you all can live your lives like mayflies.
What can you do in 24 hours? You can rise from your bed vowing to yourself that no millisecond would be wasted. Switch on the radio while brushing your teeth. Read a book while waiting for your bus. Smile at strangers you meet in the street and perhaps they’d smile back. Count the number of leaves on the twig outside your classroom. Hug your friends. Forgive your foes. Thank your professor for marking your essay. And then, as the sun sets, kiss your loved ones goodnight for you shall never know whether you’ll see them tomorrow. Yes; I wish you all can live your lives like mayflies.
And if we shrink ourselves to the size of mayflies, this question extends to what we can do with our lives. Its magnitude changes; its core doesn’t. Make the best out of it; make every millisecond count. Be responsible to yourself, do not hesitate to make decisions, and never forget anything or anyone that makes you smile. And then, as the sun sets and you lie on your bed dying, watching the last mayflies outside the window fluttering in the late may sunlight, you would be able to close your eyes smiling knowing that you’ve passed down hundreds and thousands of 24 hours to your children, and that you have no regret since you’d wasted none of your own.
If there is one thing mayflies have and I do not wish you do, it’s loneliness. Mayflies are alone in this world, with no guardians and no supporters. But you do; and it’s me, it’s us, it’s the entire school and every brick and every tree and every flower in it, mayflies and all. Here I would like to share with you my favorite bible quote, Psalm 23:4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” I’m no shepherd and you’re no sheep, but I shall guard you, support you, comfort you, wherever you go in this wide world outside the sanctuary of the school walls.
Today is the last day of April. Tomorrow will be may. Tomorrow you shall sit your CIE exams and fight for bright futures and hatch like the brave little mayflies. I would like all of you to keep this spirit in your hearts and seek help from it whenever the need arises. Live your lives like mayflies; for the present is all you own.
I hope my long stupid speech haven’t bored you. Thank you all for listening. Good luck in life.
