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词汇提示

1.archduke 大公

2.assassinated 刺杀

3.dispute 争端

4.intensely patriotic 强烈爱国

5.enthusiastically 热情地

6.filthy trenches 肮脏的战壕

7.eagerness  渴望

原文

How the First World War Started

During the summer of 1914，many people in the Europe felt very optimistic about the future.

Modern technology was improving people's lives.

Political freedom was gradually increasing in many countries.

New artistic styles and scientific discoveries were being made.

But later the summer，a terrible war begun.

In the early twentieth century，the various countries of Europe competed with each other in an attempt to be the most powerful country on the continent.

In each country，many of the political leaders wanted to control more land，more people，and more resources.

The First World War began when the archduke of Austria-Hungary was assassinated.

Austria-Hungary wanted to punish the assassin，who was from the small country of Serbia.

This led to a serious dispute，and soon other countries were involved.

Within a few weeks，a war had began.

On one side were Germany and Austria-Hungary，and on the other side were Russian，France and Britain.

The people in these countries at first welcomed the news of a war.

Many people were intensely patriotic，and supported the war effort with thinking carefully about the reasons for the war.

Some people thought that the war would bring adventure and glory to their lives，and they cheered enthusiastically in the streets.

After the war started，it soon became clear that it was a terrible disaster.

In the Western part of Europe，the opposing side fought many bloody battles.

Soldiers in both sides lived in filthy trenches that had been dug out of the ground.

Sometimes，hundreds of thousands of men were killed in battles that lasted only a few days.

In most cases，these battle did not result in large gains or losses of territory

The war continued for more than four years.

When the war was finally over，millions of people finally had been killed.

Many people realized that their eagerness to fight against other countries had led them into a greater disaster.

This disaster did not end when the war ended in 1918.

During the next thirty years，there would be many violent revolution in Europe，and a second major war that would be even more worse than the first.

Today，people in most European countries no longer view other countries as enemies.

They have no interest in fighting war with their neighbors.

Instead，they are interested in trading with other countries，and in visiting those countries as tourists.

The lessons of the twentieth century have reminded people that wars can have terrible consequences.