for my very studious students and soooo responsible here is the copy of the "DRAGON BOAT RACES" that I have presented to you. I know that youre kinda cramming because of the assignments i've given to you.... Goood Luck and God bless
DRAGON BOAT RACES
JUNE IS THE TIME OF THE DRAGON BOAT RACES, AN EVENT WHOSE ORIGIN LIESDEEP IN CHINESE MYTHOLOGY. DURING THE COURSE OF THE MONTH, DRAGON BOATSTAKE TO THE WATERS ALL OVER ASIA, FROM NAGASAKI TO SINGAPORE TO MACAU.
MACAU'S DRAGON BOAT RACERS COMPETE ON THE PEARL RIVER WITH A KEEN COMPETITION BETWEEN CREWS REPRESENTING LOCAL CLUBS, SCHOOLS AND WORK PLACES. IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT FOR YOURSELF HOW IT IS DONE, BE SURE TO STAND CLOSE TO THE WATER'S EDGE TO WATCH THE ROWERS PULL ON THEIR OARS, PROPELLING THEIR SLENDER BOATS TOWARDS THE FINISH LINE. BOTH ENDS OF THE BOAT ARE ORNATELY CARVED AND PAINTED TO RESEMPLE THE HEAD OF THE DRAGON OR ANOTHER MYTHOLOGICAL BEAST.
HIDDEN BENEATH THE SPECTACLE OF THE REGATTA IS AN INTERESTING TALE FROM ANCIENT CHINESE MYTHOLOGY. THERE ARE MANY VERSIONS OF THE LEGEND OF THE DRAGON BOAT RACES, BUT THE MOST FREQUENTLY HEARD IS THE TALE OF CHU YUAN, A FAITHFUL AND HONEST SERVANT OF A CHINESE EMPEROR WHO REIGNED FOUR CENTURIES BEFORE CHRIST.
CHU YUAN HAD MANY FINE QUALITIES BUT FOREMOST AMONG THEM WAS A DESIRE TO BE A PET. WITH THIS DESIRE, HE BECAME AN EXAMPLE OF RECTITUDE IN AN EPOCH TROUBLED BY WIDESPREAD CORRUPTION, INCLUDING THAT OF THE KING. BECAUSE HE COULD NOT PERSUADE THE KING TO MEND HIS WAYS; CHU YUAN TIED AN ENORMOUS ROCK AROUND HIMSELF AND JUMPED INTO THE WATERS OF TUNG TIN LAKE IN HUNAN PROVINCE.
ALTHOUGH MANY ATTEMPTS WERE MADE, HIS BODY WAS NEVER FOUND. MUCH LATER HIS GHOST WAS REPORTEDLY SEEN IN THE SPOT WHERE HE DROWNED, MOANING THAT MONSTROUS WATER CREATURES HAD DEVOURED HIM. THUS, THE DRAGON BOAT, COMPETITION HONORS THE DISTANT MEMORY OF AN UPRIGHT AND HONEST STATESMAN.
THE MACAU RACES ARE WATCHED BE A GREAT CROWD OF SPECTATORS WHO CHEER THEIR LOCAL RACING TEAM AS THEY COMPETE AGAINST OARSMEN FROM EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA. THEY APPLAUD NOT ONLY THE ROWERS, BUT ALSO THE SPIRIT OF THE DAY WHEN EVERYONE MUST EAT A DELICACY CALLED ZHONGGI, GLUTINOUS RICE BALLS WRAPPED IN BAMBOO LEAVES.