真题：

PARTVI WRITING (45 MIN)

Nowadays, some companies have work-from-home or remote working policies, which means that their employees do not have to commute to work every day. Some people think that this can save a lot of time travelling to and from work, thus raising employees’ productivity. However, others argue that in the workplace, people can communicate face to face, which vastly increases the efficiency of coordination and cooperation. What is your opinion?

Write an essay of about 400 words on the following topic：

My Views on Working from Home

In the first part of your essay you should state clearly your main argument, and in the second part you should support your argument with appropriate details．In the last part you should bring what you have written to a natural conclusion or make a summary．

Marks will be awarded for content, organization，language and appropriateness．Failure to follow the above instructions may result in a loss of marks．

Write your essay on ANSWER SHEET FOUR．

参考范文（一）

Telecommuting: an Inevitable Trend

There is no denying the fact that the past years have witnessed an increasing number of people working from home, with some employers encouraging this practice. However, there exist opposing views on this phenomenon, with proponents claiming that it saves time and increases productivity, while opponents arguing that it lacks face-to-face communication and thus affects coordination. Personally, I believe that there is truth in both opinions. Therefore, this new style of working suits more jobs that demand less face-to-face communication. However, with the

popularization of the Internet and its increasingly mighty function, working from home, or telecommuting, will definitely become an inevitable and irreversible trend.

Firstly, the advantages of telecommuting go far beyond saving time spent on travelling to and from the workplace. It provides a worker with an unimaginable degree of freedom and comfort. One can nearly arrange everything related to work according to his or her will. He can get up and go to bed at any time he wishes, as long as he fulfills his daily task. Furthermore, he does not have to worry about his appearances or dressing. This is especially convenient to female workers. Besides, one can choose to work out锻炼 during the break at time he deems proper. Plus, he can enjoy cooking at home and have his favorite food, instead of putting up with the monotonous cuisine in the collective dining hall or potentially hazardous food in restaurants.

Secondly, communicating face to face is gradually losing its necessity in an increasing

number of professions along with the strides made in online communication. This is true not only in such advanced industrialized countries as the U.S. and Japan, but also here in China. Such online communication tools as QQ, We Chat and micro blog provide people with not only verbal chat, but also voice chat and even video chat. One does not necessarily go out to see his colleagues or clients, for it can all be accomplished online. A case in point is the surging wave of online

shopping. Another strong evidence is online education. Such virtual classrooms as YY and MOOC have rendered actual classrooms seem outdated and stupid.

Undeniably, face-to-face communication cannot completely give way to virtual

communication, especially at the starting stage of a community, or in such cases as individualized education and primary schooling. However, as a natural consequence of the development of science and technology, working from home represents the marching direction of advanced

productivity. As a member of modern society, one should get himself or herself fully prepared for the challenge of such a new style of working. （432 words）

参考范文（二）

Telecommuting: a Two-Edged Sword

Angels and devils are two poles apart, but working from home, or telecommuting, seems to combine them perfectly. Along with the advances in computer and Internet technologies, the past years have witnessed an increasing number of people working from home, with some employers

encouraging this practice. However, there exist opposing views on this phenomenon. Some people take it for granted that it is a blessing, while others argue that it is a curse. As I see it, there is an element of truth in both views, and one should make a careful choice according to his or her conditions.

On the one hand, no one can deny the fact that working from home brings about numerous benefits, which go far beyond saving time spent on travelling to and from the workplace. It provides a worker with an unimaginable degree of freedom and comfort. One can nearly arrange everything related to work according to his or her will. He can get up and go to bed at any time he wishes, as long as he fulfills his daily task. Furthermore, he does not have to worry about his appearances or dressing. This is especially convenient to female workers. Besides, one can choose to work out during the break at time he deems proper. Plus, he can enjoy cooking at home and have his favorite food, instead of putting up with the monotonous cuisine in the collective dining hall or potentially hazardous food in restaurants.

On the other hand, however, the above mentioned advantages of telecommuting may well turn out to be its demerits. While enjoying the freedom of time arrangement, one may find himself lack of discipline and regular hours, which might be a hazard to his physical fitness. In the same way, he or she may miss the opportunity to manifest his or her attractiveness to his or her colleagues or people on the way to and back from work while appreciating the time and money that otherwise would be spent on dressing and making up. Similarly, he or she may find it troublesome to cook and wash dishes. What is the most important, as mentioned in the directions, is that telecommuting cut into face-to-face communication and thus affects the efficiency of coordination. As can be easily perceived, face-to-face communication cannot completely give way to virtual communication, especially at the starting stage of a community, or in such cases as individualized education and primary schooling.

In the final analysis, I should admit honestly that I cannot give a yes-no answer to the question whether telecommuting is a good thing or not. Actually, it should be viewed as a two-edged sword, which presents both conveniences and troubles. The best policy, as I see it, is to make your own choice according to the nature of your work as well as your personality.

第二篇：专八历年写作真题及范文

专八历年写作真题及范文

2010 Part Ⅵ Writing (45 min)

Recently newspapers have reported that officials in a little-known mountainous area near Guiyang, Guizhou Province wanted to turn the area into a “central business district” for Guiyang and invited a foreign design company to give it an entirely new look. The design company came up with a blueprint for unconventional, super-futuristic buildings. This has triggered off different responses. Some appreciate of the bold innovation of the design, but others held that it failed to reflect regional characteristics or local cultural heritage. What is your view on this? Write an essay of about 400 words.

A

No one can have failed to notice the fact that Chinese culture has become increasingly diversified in the past decades. This can be embodied by evidences in many fields, one of which is architecture. Recently newspapers have reported that officials in a little-known mountainous area near Guiyang, Guizhou Province wanted to turn the area into a “central business district” for Guiyang and invited a foreign design company to give it an entirely new look. The design company came up with a blueprint for unconventional, super-futuristic buildings. This has aroused a heated debate. Some approve of the bold innovation of the design while others claimed that it failed to reflect regional characteristics or local cultural heritage. When asked of my opinion, I am inclined to agree with the former one, and I base my point of view on the following reasons.

In the first place, an unconventional or exotic design is in accordance with the primary function of this area. As we are told, this lot of land is meant to be a “central business district”. As the name indicates, this area is intended for business, most possibly international business, which is imaginable in the context of the nation’s move of reform and opening-up to the outside world. Such being the case, an innovative and super-futuristic design of the areas is quite understandable, for it may demonstrate local people’s wish to embrace and integrate with other cultures around the world. More foreign investors might be attracted here, which is just the aim of this program.

In the second place, allowing space for novel things is essential for the development of an area. The concept of ancient and modern or that of local and alien is relative. What seems ancient now used to be modern centuries ago; similarly, what looks exotic today might be deemed natural tomorrow. A person needs to accept new knowledge to grow and the same is true with an area or a country. While new things often meet with objections at first, they are mostly accepted and loved later. A number of examples can be listed, with the most striking ones being the art museum in Paris designed by Bei Luming, a Chinese architect, and the Opera House in Sydney, whose designer only received due respect years after his death.

Admittedly, we should respect and treasure traditional and regional culture, inherit it and carry it on. However, preserving the old and traditional should not be the reason to refuse the new and modern.

Bringing what has been discussed into conclusion, we may claim that it is understandable and acceptable for people in the above-mentioned area to adopt the foreign design.

B

Respecting Local Characteristics

Recently a heated debate was triggered off by the report that a little-known mountainous area near Guiyang, Guizhou Province plans to turn itself into a central business district with unconventional, super-futuristic buildings, never paying appropriate attention to its local characteristics. Some people appreciate the bold innovation of the design, whereas others hold that the design should suit its local conditions and reflect its regional characteristics or cultural heritage. As far as I am concerned, I prefer the latter.

Firstly, any urban design should take the city’s original cultural heritage into account. Functional and harmonious architectures are needed to suit the life of the people there. In a mountainous area, unconventional and super-futuristic buildings are incompatible with its landscapes and they usually prove to be unsuited to the climate. Besides, the disappearance of its original features may mean the disappearance of a period of history and even the disappearance of its symbol and identity.

Secondly, the form of traditional buildings anywhere in the world is influenced by local climate and geology. Therefore, the design well suited to local conditions can save a lot of money. As a small developing mountainous area near Guiyang, it should try to take good advantage of its local resources. Over the centuries, the local materials have become the raw material used by sophisticated and expert craftsmen. If it falsely understood “progress”, wanted to be “modern” at any price, despised the outstanding features of its traditional culture and attempted to introduce reinforced concrete buildings, it would impose great pressure on its people. In addition, such buildings require expensive maintenance which is a heavy burden for its people.

Thirdly, it will take a long period of time before local people can truly be accustomed to and appreciate the unconventional, super-futuristic buildings. Lived in the traditional buildings for generations, local citizens are very likely to feel uncomfortable and uneasy surrounded by such super-futuristic buildings, let alone to appreciate them.

To sum up, a good design should take the city’s original cultural heritage into account and suit to local conditions. It should also try to take advantage of local resources and avoid imposing unnecessary burden on the local people. Besides, it is sensible to build what local people can accept and feel comfortable with.

2009 Part Ⅵ Writing (45 min)

Mandarin, or putonghua, is the standard service sector language in our country. But recently, employees at a big city's subway station have been busy learning dialects of other parts of the country. Proponents say that using dialects in the subway is a way to provide better service. But opponents think that encouraging the use of dialects in public counters the national policy to promote putonghua. What is your opinion? Write an essay of about 400 words on the following topic: Are dialects just as acceptable in public places?

A

Dialects Are Acceptable in Public Places

As is well known, mandarin, or Putonghua, is the standard service sector language in China. Lately，however, some employees of a metropolitan subway company start using dialects to cater to the needs of people from different areas. This act gave rise to a heated debate around the

country. Advocates deem it as an effort to render better service while opponents see the countering effects of such a movement to the national policy of promoting Putonghua across China.

When asked of my opinion, I truly find it difficult to offer because I am not adequately informed of the way those employees of the subway company use the dialects. If they just learn dialects in an effort to understand customers better, while insisting speaking Mandarin at the same time, I believe it is absolutely acceptable. However, if they voluntarily talk to customers in dialects, I believe it is unnecessary and really goes against the national policy of promoting Putonghua around the country. Basically, I believe, the former is the case. So, it can be said that I am of the opinion that dialects should be tolerated in public places.

Truly, mandarin, which means "common language", is the country's predominant language and is widely used in China, but dialects still enjoy popularity in most parts of the country. Except for some residents in metropolises like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, people in most parts of the country communicate in dialectical Chinese in their daily life. For those less educated people in underdeveloped areas, their dialect is their only language. If it were forbidden in public places, they could not communicate at all.

Of course, we should promote the use of Putonghua in public places, but we should understand that it takes time. We cannot expect that everyone in the countryside automatically has the ability to speak Putonghua when he or she steps into the big city. They need a process of learning, while subway or bus stations are usually their first class to learn Putonghua. As primary students, they should be allowed the chance to learn step by step. While trying to communicate in Putonghua with customers, workers in service sectors should first learn to understand their customers. So it is nothing to blame for them to learn some daily expressions in various dialects.

Therefore, it can be said that the opponents of the practice mentioned above are just making a fuss. And, most possibly, they failed to realize the fact that subway companies are just service sectors, whose primary task is to provide service instead of promoting a language.

B

It is known to all that Mandarin, or putonghua, is the standard language in China’s service sector. However, recently quite a few employees at metropolis subway stations start using dialects to better serve people from different areas of China. As a result, the opinion on this practice varies from person to person. Some people regard it as a useful supplement of the current service, while others see the countering effects of such movement to the national policy of promoting mandarin across China. From my point of view, I believe dialects are acceptable in public places. Although Mandarin, or putonghua is promoted widely and vigorously in accordance with the national policy, dialects are still acceptable in public places.

First of all, dialects are a kind of culture instead of merely a tool for communication. They represent their respective and distinct cultures. If dialects are totally banned from our daily use or even eliminated from our lives, the cultures will be incomplete or even gradually disappear.

Secondly, dialects can enrich the content of Mandarin, or putonghua so as to promote its long-term and healthy development. The dialect in Northeast China brings a lot of fun and happiness to the majority of the Chinese in recent years through television and Internet. Such a cultural phenomenon demonstrates the audience’s attitude towards local dialects which are capable of catering to the taste of the majority of the Chinese people.

Thirdly, dialects are also the only way of communication for those undereducated local people. If local dialects are forbidden in the public places, they cannot communicate smoothly. Last but not least, dialects are capable of bringing people together. It is often the case that people feel close to and tend to trust those who speak the same dialects with them, which will surely promote the harmony of the society.

Therefore, I can naturally and safely come to the conclusion that local dialects should be tolerated and accepted in public places for their unique role in the society which Mandarin, or Putonghua cannot replace. We should guarantee their existence because they stand for our cultures. From a long-term perspective, dialects should not and would not be prohibited. There is no need for any purposeful and deliberate attempt to protect dialects. The best way to protect dialects is to use them in daily life and pass them down from generation to generation.

2008 Part Ⅵ Writing (45 min)

In a few months’ time you are going to graduate from university. How do you think your college years have prepared you for your future life? Write an essay of about 400 words on the following topic: What I have learned from my years at university

A

What I have learned from my years at university

As my college life is drawing to an end, it is about time to raise the question “what have I learned from my years at university？”.

To be frank, I did not learn too much.

First, as to my professional knowledge, I just followed the flow of curriculum, neither lagged behind nor excelling in the class. I only find myself better in English than in high school or than most of those non-English-majors. I can speak English, but not very fluently; I can write in English, but just some easy articles; I can understand most of the materials in the textbooks, but not very professional or colloquial expressions; I can read in English, but often need to look up words in dictionaries.

Secondly, I did not improve myself a lot in other qualities, such as leadership, team-spirit or communicative skills. The only society I joined was a so-called “Broadcast Art League”, in which I worked for only half a year. The only one substantial working experience was interviewing a first-prize winner in a singing contest on campus. The unreasonable pride of the singer offended me and discouraged me from working on.

Nor did I acquire any other abilities. I cannot work on computer skillfully. I learned nothing more than English and my second foreign language Japanese. I didn’t win any prize except one to encourage students who have made progress in their study---I once promoted my position in the class from beyond 20 to within 10.

So, you may say I am one of those idlers in college and may despise me. But my performance is justifiable.

About four years ago, an excellent high school graduate with a fairly high score in the national exams for college admission missed his target in college enrollment. He was denied the chance to enter his first-choice university and was even deprived of the chance to study his first-choice major. He was allocated to his present university to study English, which even did not

happen in his dream. Coming from a poor rural family, he had neither the vision nor the power to change his fate. That student is me.

Therefore, I may conclude that the greatest harvest in my years in college is depression. But I do not deem it a totally negative thing. Actually, it is a kind of pressure and will transform into motivation in the future. The day I am freed from the present cage, I will utilize my freedom and choose a profession I truly like and make up for all the time I have idled away in college.

Behind all this is a lesson I learned from my life in college, that is, however grave a setback one meets, he should not sigh over it for too long. Instead, he should collect himself in time and find out all advantages around him or find a new target and head for it with all his strength.

B

Before I went to university, it seemed to be such a holy place. As for me, it meant glory, respect, freedom, knowledge and a promising future. However, it was not until I entered the university that I realized it was not the whole story. I have learned much from my four years at university, such as hard work, self-control, friendship and teamwork.

University is a highly competitive place. If you don't want to lag behind other students, you have to study very hard. Besides, the pressure of hunting for a desirable job after graduation also forces you to grasp every minute to equip yourself with as much knowledge as possible. Self-control is another thing that I have learned in university. Here, the absence of parents' control and the loose control of the school give me more freedom. In addition, university is vulnerable易受攻击的 to social influences. So I have to learn how to control myself. I try to arrange my life properly, which, on the other hand, prevents me from indulging in seeking pleasure, and on the other hand, enables me to enjoy university life.

University life makes me have a deeper understanding of friendship. Friendship has become an important part of my life that I can not live without. Far away from my parents, my friends have become my dearest family members. When I feel lonely, they always sit beside me, let me pour out my secrets to them, and softly comfort me. When I am in trouble and feel helpless, it is my friends who reach out their hands and help me out.

Last but not least, university teaches me the importance of teamwork. There are lots of activities in university that you can not accomplish on your own, but have to rely on your cooperation with other people. Cooperation, in turn, relies on effective communication. Effective communication builds on mutual understanding. Thus, I have to try my best to let my cooperators understand me, just as I do my best to understand them.

In a few months' time, I am going to graduate from university. Looking back into the past four years, I must say that my university life is a worthwhile experience. What I have learned here has made a good preparation for my future life. If I were given another chance, I would like to relive it.

C

Time flies, do you believe that I have been a junior in so short time that I think I am just a freshman. What more serious thing is that I did not realize this term has passed half already when I thought I did not do anything benefit to myself, especially to my studying. During the more than gtwo years’ university life, I have really realized the stress from the studying and the social, though the life seems still very ordinary and leisure. However, I have learned many valuable principles and life experience from my years at university, which will be very useful in my lifetime, especially will be good to my work in the society.

First of all, after studyin in the university these years, I really want to say that our senior middle schools’ teachers treated us. The studying in university is not so comfortable just as they said which also needs us to study hard to really improve our abilities. Only in the university, I really know what is individual study and how important of lifetime studying. Even if we leave the school to the society, we also need to study and it is very benefit to our improvement.

Besides, the most impressed thing to me is that we need to save and value time. Just as the old saying: Time is money. In the fast rhythm life nowadays, time is more important. We must learn to increase of the efficiency, especially in our careers in the future.

What’s more, these years in the university I deeply realized that the importance of the teamwork. As a monitor, I really think that a good team will gain more than what it need and use less time. So how to establish a good team is especially important to us which are very benefit to our future work. However the university is a good place to learn it.

University is the epitome of our society; we need to work hard in it to prepare well for entering the society.

D

What have I learned from my years at university? Frankly speaking, I seem to remain untouched or intact. Standing by the window lost in thought for a long time, I realize that nothing in the world remains unchanged: the course of life never runs smooth, for there are so many ups and downs, twists and turns.

Firstly, self-esteem equips me for life's challenges. It is as essential as the air we breathe. It makes me feel worthy and confident about who I am and believe in my intrinsic value. Hence, I’m able to face the reality and be adult in my responses to life’s challenges. Secondly, courage and acceptance lead me to the road of success. A man without failures, in some sense, is a poor man. Of course I will fall into a “well” or something else. Life is going to shovel dirt on me, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to accept the situation, stop wailing and be courageous enough to shake the dirt off and take a step up. Actually each one of my troubles is a stepping stone. Only with courage and acceptance can I get out of the deepest wells. Thirdly, my distinctive individuality or something special of mine make me stand out. I may have my peculiar insight into an issue and not be controlled by anyone else. I may have my style in terms of study and extra activities.

What I have learned from my years at university seems plain but it is hard for me to acquire them totally because a person is never too old to learn. All I can do is to go on pursuing them. What I Have Learned from My Years at University

E

More than two thousand years ago, Confucius, one of the greatest philosophers and educators in Chinese history, sigh with grief while standing on the river and compared the transient passage of time to the flowing water. With a blink of eyes, I will graduate from this university a few months later. At this moment, I think I have a deeper understanding of this great thinker’s saying. Thinking of my impending graduation, I am excited but meanwhile I am upset, mixed with some other feelings beyond words. Looking back the details of the past few years, I can’t help asking myself, “What have I learned from my years at university?”

In my opinion, this question is one that every one of us can’t avoid.

I think what I have learned in the passing years is that I have gained more knowledge and acquired some basic professional skills, which will lay a sound foundation for my future career.

Through the involvement of various social activities and participation in different clubs and association, I got to know more friends as well as my classmates. By getting along with them, I have acquired some useful communicative skills and begin to know how to understand and appreciate others, which I suppose, will be expected to play an important role in my future life. More importantly, I have gained the abilities to handle the problems and deal with crises independently.

If it is safe to say that I have ever achieved some achievements at university, first I’d like to attribute them to my teachers, classmates and friends. Had not been for their staunch support and unselfish aid, I wouldn’t have reached one goal after another. With them I have established an intimate relationship and it is believed that I will continue to benefit from it.

In the spare time, I often went to take part in some sports with my friends. I have been fond of playing table tennis and badminton. And I went to the gym once or twice a week with them. By going in for the sports, I became stronger and stronger and I am sure you will see everything when you see my robust constitution.

Before I went to college, I had been somewhat bashful and even blushed to speak in public. But now I can talk like a streak for a few hours. Isn’t it amazing?

I believe that we study at university not only to learn some professional skills and some knowledge that will be behind the times soon. But more importantly, we have to master the way of thinking and acquire some abilities that we learn beyond books. With these qualities I am sure that we will have enough confidence to meet with the challenges in the future.

2007 Part Ⅵ Writing (45 min)

Some people think that financial disparity affects friendship. What do you think? Write an essay of about 400 words.

A

Money and Friendship

Some people think that financial disparity affects friendship. They may believe that there can be no friendship between the rich and the poor. Their major evidence might be that a rich person and a poor one have different life styles and different tastes for things. At first sight, this argument seems reasonable. However, a careful inspection at it reveals how flimsy it is. In its true sense, friend is not grounded on money.

First, let’s see what true friendship is. True friendship involves recognition or familiarity with another's personality. Friends often share likes and dislikes, interests, pursuits, and passion. True friendship also involves a shared sense of caring and concern, a desire to see one another grow and develop, and a hope for each other to succeed in all aspects of life. Besides, true friendship involves action: doing something for someone else while expecting nothing in return; sharing thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment or negative criticism. Last but not least, true friendship demands mutual trust and respect. All these attributes have little or nothing to do with money.

Actually, we can find numerous examples of friendship immune to financial disparity. That between Carl Marx and Friedrich Engels is a case in point. Though differing a lot in financial statuses, they formed firm friendship during their common pursuit of communism. While Marx

was leading a miserable life due to lack of money, it was Engels who gave him a hand. It was common belief and ideal that bound them together. An equally convincing example is the friendship among the numerous revolutionaries in China before the liberation of the country. Though they came from different families and financial backgrounds, they became constant friends and comrades during the fight for the nation’s independence and freedom.

Truly, it often occurs that two friends break up because of changes in their financial status. When one of them suddenly makes a fortune or gets a promotion, he or she may cut off traffic with his or her former friend. The same thing might happen when one of them suddenly falls upon dark days. Such people, however, can not be called friends in its true sense.

To sum up, financial disparity does not necessarily affect friendship; much less can it affect true friendship. True friendship can stand the test of time and adversity.

B

Financial Disparity: Not a Barrier for Friendship

With the development of market economy in China arise the income gaps between people working in different fields: some earn good money; some make ends meet; some others live on narrow means. On top of many social problems, this financial disparity may cause, there is a claim that it affects friendship. The assumption seems reasonable, but we may find it does not really hold water by taking a close look into the subject.

First of all, true and lasting friendship is built on common values, pursuits, or hobbies rather than similar incomes. Friends are those who agree with your life views and stick to the some principles, those who encourage you when you lack confidence in meeting challenges and pursuing your dream, or those who share your interests and appreciate your tastes. Indeed, what strengthens these emotional bonds between you and your pals is not the same amount of wealth but spiritual commonalities. Of course, with similar financial backgrounds, you will probable know better about each other's life style, but the difference in this aspect will not matter if you are mutually appreciated, needed and trusted. The friendship between Marx and Engels--the two German revolutionists--is a case in point. The former was often in debt while the latter was well-off; yet the same socialist dream drew them together and made them forever friends.

Moreover, financial disparity between friends does not cause trouble because each of them usually lives a self-reliant life. Different from a married couple who have common properties, budget and spend their income together; even very close friends live on their own finances. For instance, though we exchange ideas with and confide secrets to our friends, we will never rely on them for a comfortable life, no matter how rich they are. Admittedly, there are times when we may go out for fun or to dinner together with friends; however, whether they are richer or poorer than us, we can definitely find a place suitable for all rather than one beyond somebody's means.

It is claimed that people with different financial backgrounds have different social contacts and accordingly, as friends, will get estranged sooner or later. It is true in some cases, but bosom friends are not those who you get in touch with every day, instead, they are those who lend their hands to you when you fall into trouble, just as the old saying goes, a friend in need is a friend indeed. Hence, despite their distinct material life, the richer and the poorer can retain their friendship as long as they still care about each other, understand and support each other.

To sum up, financial disparity will not affect friendship when people have common spiritual pursuits, lead an independent life and stand by each other for better or worse. It might be quite

safe to say that money is not the barrier but the touchstone of real friendship.

C

Financial Disparity: a Barrier for Friendship

Friends are the most important treasures in the world. Throughout our lives, we never stop making friends. Some people think that financial disparity affects friendship. It is difficult for people of different economic backgrounds to become good friends. Without a second thought, some people may rush to dispute this. However, given more rational consideration and careful observation, it has to be admitted that financial disparity is a barrier for friendship.

First of all, it is hard for people of different financial backgrounds to share to same interests. Common interest is thought to be the basic bond between two friends, because a friend is someone we spend them together with and we do things together with. For example, a girl from a rich family will probably develop some “expensive” interests like piano-playing or ballet-dancing; while a girl from a poor one may only be able to afford to enjoy some “cheap” hobbies like reading books or collecting used stamps. Therefore, it is rare for the two to meet on the same road of friendship, and it is even rarer for the two to walk down the road side by side. After all, “birds of a feather flock together”.

Secondly, financial disparity will make mutual understanding difficult to reach between the rich and the poor. The economically superior ones will not understand why their friends do “not want” to go to the concert with them, why they “prefer” to dine at the dirty and noisy roadside restaurant, and why they “like to wear” the same clothes for several days. I guess they will never understand if they do not put into their poor friends’ condition. How can you ask a man who has never tasted green apples to tell how tart they are? Obviously, on understanding, no friendship. It is neither the fault of the rich nor that of the poor. It is just that they seem to belong to different worlds.

Besides, financial disparity will cause the feeling of being inferior and discriminated for the relatively poor one. Equality is the most important nutrition in friendship, based on which the flower of friendship can bud and blossom. However, because of the disparity in financial matters, the relatively poor one will often live under great pressure and always feel inferior, through which their self-esteem is greatly hurt and the feeling of inequality grows. Without a feeling of equality, friendship is just like a castle in the air.

Needless to say, it is difficult for people of different financial backgrounds to become good friends, because it is hard for them to share the same interests and to understand the feelings of each other. No one does not crave for friendship, but remember to plant your flower of friendship in the hearts of those who have similar backgrounds as you, where the flower can live long and blossom lively.

2006 Part Ⅵ Writing (45 min)

Joseph Epstein, a famous American writer, once said, “we decide what is important and what is trivial in life we decide that what makes us significant is either what we do or what we refuse to do but no matter how indifferent the universe may be to our choices and decisions, these choices and decisions are ours to make. We decide. We choose. And as we decide and choose, so are our lives formed. In the end, forming our own destiny is what ambition is about.” Do you agree or

disagree with him? Write an essay of about 400 words entitled: Ambition

A

Ambition

What is ambition? Answers to this question may differ from person to person. Joseph Epstein, a famous American writer, gave his reply as he said, “We decide what is important and what is trivial in life. We decide (so) that what makes us significant is either what we do or what we refuse to do. No matter how indifferent the universe may be to our choices and decisions, these choices and decisions are ours to make. … In the end, forming our own destiny is what ambition is about.” I totally agree with Epstein.

Life is a series of choices and decisions. Of course, you cannot choose your parents, your color, your race or your nationality. Nor can you decide the brand of diaper you use while you are a baby, or the kindergarten you go to as a kid. They are choices and decisions of your parents. But as you grow up, you begin to make your own decisions. You choose the brand and style of your shoes, you choose the girl or the boy you date with, you choose the cat or the lizard you keep as a pet and you choose the college or university you go to.

What is critical here is that you should make sure that you are the decision maker of your own life and do not pass on the right to others, even your parents, because, as Joseph said, ambition is to form your own destiny. A story goes that a disabled young man managed to reach the peak of every famous high mountain in the world before he was 28. He did all this just as his parents told him to do in their will. But the young man committed suicide in the end and his last words were: “now I have nothing to do with all my goals achieved and my fame well established. I have no new goals.” The major cause of the young man’s ruin was, I believe, his lack of consciousness or ability to make his own decisions.

Actually, a number of personalities in history at both home and abroad went against the will of their families and risked being discarded by them, but they had scored tremendous success in the end. Chairman Mao Zedong is a case in point. When he was young, he plunged himself into the tide of revolution in China, though his father objected to his choice. Finally, Chairman Mao fulfilled his ambition and led Chinese people to success.

To sum up, we should not let ourselves easily influenced by others; we should be the master of our own fate.

B

Ambition is the decision one makes and the resolution with which he carries out that decision.

Joseph Epstein, a famous American writer put it, “And as we decide and choose, so are our lives formed.” Indeed, once we make up our minds to choose to do something, then our life becomes meaningful and specially oriented. This notion of life, as far as I observe, is closest to truth and does apply to almost all aspects of life.

First of all, ambition renders us a sense of mission. No matter what decision you make you have to be responsible for your choice. Your choice procures you a sense of orientation, or more specially a sense of mission. Only a strong mission may enable one to accomplish greatness. Julius Caesar of the ancient Roman Empire was urged by his ambition “I came, I saw, I conquered”, and he became an unrivaled empire builder in the history of Rome. John Milton, stimulated always by

his ambition that aimed at writing some “mighty lines” which England would unwillingly forget, had in due time secured his position as the second Shakespeare in the history of English literature.

In the second place, ambition can bring one’s potentials to the full. Ambition may well serve as a catalyst activating one’s dormant potentials. Without ambition one’s potential will remain slumbering like a dormant volcano. A case in point is Ms Zhang Haidi, a Chinese Hellen Keller. It is her ambition to be a useful person that has turned the almost paralyzed Zhang Haidi into a well-accomplished figure whose achievements would dwarf those of some normal people aiming at the sun, who may yet probably land on the moon.

Influential as it is upon us, however, ambition must be channeled in the right direction. If wrongly directed, one’s ambition may bring havoc on him and others. Hitler, whose ambition was to conquer Europe by whatever evil means, finally turned him into a demon. It was this demon that almost cast Europe into an unfathomable abyss of anguish and suffering. Another case is Macbeth whose ambition was to become the king of Scotland. However, his ambition was materialized by the murder of King Duncan. Consequently, unbearable guilt and psychological agony drove him into his tragic doom.

To sum up, ambition can benefit us tremendously if it is wisely and correctly channeled, otherwise it may ruin others and ourselves. A poet says: life can be bad; life can be good; life can be dirty; life can be sad; life can be even painful. In my mind, a person can make his life beautiful, meaningful and rewarding and stand out as a respectable personage if he is motivated by a well-oriented ambition. (468 words)

2005 Part Ⅵ Writing (45 min)

Interview is frequently used by employers as a means to recruit prospective employees. As a is your opinion? Write an essay of about 400 words to state your view.

A

Interview: An Essential Step in Recruiting

There is no denying the fact that interview is a frequently used means in recruiting prospective employees. Both employers and job-seekers attach increasing importance to this procedure. The former allocate special time and staff for this task while the latter spend a lot of time and energy figuring out answers to possible questions, not to mention the money spent on dress.

However, people’s views differ sharply as to the role of interview as a selection procedure. Some hold the positive view. They claim that it is an essential step in selecting talents, while others think light of this method. Personally, I believe that job interview plays an essential role in recruiting.

First, interview is of vital importance in recruiting employees for such positions as actors or actresses, shopping assistants, air hostesses, models, etc, which have special demands for physical appearances, bearing and presence. These elements cannot be judged only according to self-description in the resume. This is where the proverb “to see is to believe” works.

Secondly, interview reveals more about a prospective employee in such aspects as communicative skills and personalities. There is no doubt that communication is of striking importance in such a society featured by increasingly fine division of labor. Weakness in

communication and co-operation would hinder the development and success of an entire team. Some people may be excellent in single work, but they may not be good at coordinating with others. Besides, some may have drawbacks in personalities. Yet this can hardly be seen through the resume. Therefore, interview is needed.

Thirdly, through interview, the employer can have a better understanding of the prospective employee’s level of professional knowledge. In a society of increasingly fierce competition, some are tempted to forge diplomas and certificates or exaggerate their capacities. Interview can work as a guard against these liars. Some companies arrange a written test that goes along with job interview. This serves as an effective touchstone.

It is true that interview may also prove unreliable. For instance, some interviewees may exert every effort to present themselves as knowledgeable and competent during the interview while actually they are not. However, if they can lie during an interview, they may also cheat in exams or be dishonest in their resumes. An interview wouldn’t add to the risk of recruiting a wrong employee. Actually, it serves as a second check against liars.

To sum up, interview is indispensable in recruiting employees in that it can tell more about a candidate.

B

Nowadays, when it comes to hunting a job, one of the most heated topics under discussion would be handling the interview. Prospective employees totally immerse themselves in the thorough preparation for it, while employers bother to be present at the scene of it, going through every applicant every now and then. Therefore, whether interview should be a part of the selection procedure comes to the spotlight. As far as I am concerned, I consider interviews to be essential for both employers and employees.

To start with, it is through the process of interview that the bosses get to know the candidates. Unlike resumes on which only the applicants’ basic information is presented in the written form, interviews provide employers with a precious opportunity to discover the applicants’ true selves and examine their actual scope and amount of knowledge, thus having a clear idea of them, including their expertise, manners, communication skills, art of critical thinking, sense of responsibility, to name just a few. In this process, truly capable applicants can demonstrate their potentials to the greatest extent, thus leaving a vivid impression on the employers, which is definitely conducive to their entering the next round and stepping closer to their successful acquiring the job. On the contrary, those skillful in nothing but boasting themselves will be rejected, while those truly able applicants can survive, entering the second round of the interview, which is bound to be teeming with even more challenging questions.

In addition, it is through the process of interview that the potential candidates get to know whether their choice of the company is correct or not. As the word suggests, “interview” refers to seeing each other. Besides being inquired by the company, job candidates at an interview can ask the interviewers detailed questions about the job as well as the company. It is commonplace for “would-be employees” to give up the chance for the next round of interviews simply because they are dissatisfied with the company at first glance, let alone the messy working conditions or the meager salary offered. Hence, by means of interview, the times when “companies choose employees” have gone, which is a sign that job hunters are gaining more rights.

In conclusion, interview should be a part of the selection procedure because of the

irreplaceable role it plays throughout the whole process of recruitment. Let’s all get used to and be familiar with it and we have every reason to believe that it is of even greater importance in the selection of the staff in personnel. (432 words)

2004 Part Ⅴ Writing (60min)

It was reported in the press some time ago that a few second-and third-year students in a provincial university decided to try their hands at business in order to get prepared for the future. They opened six small shops near their university. Their teachers and classmates had different opinions about this phenomenon. Some thought that the students’ business experience would help them adapt better to society after graduation, while others held a negative view, saying that running shops might occupy too much of the students’ time and energy which should otherwise be devoted to their academic study. What do you think? Write a composition of about 300 words on the following topic: Should University Students go in for Business?

Should University Students Go in for Business?

Whether college students should take part-time jobs has been an old topic of debate. Before the issue is settled, a more controversial problem has arisen. In a recent report, some students from a provincial college set up and ran some small shops in the name of helping themselves adapt well to society in the future. To this people’s attitudes differ sharply. Some hold that it is helpful in preparing these students for the future, while others claim that going in for business risks affecting these students’ academic study. Personally, I hold negative view on those students’ deeds.

Admittedly, going in for business for a while may be beneficial to college students. Through the process of buying and selling, they can associate their academic study with social life, thus adopting a more practical approach in taking school courses; through the contact with their suppliers and customers, they can improve their communicative skills, which is conducive to their future work; and, through the bitterness of failure and setbacks, they can appreciate the value of their current chance to study, and treasure it better.

However, like anything else, students going in for business may prove harmful if it is carried to the extreme. Setting up and running shops are far beyond college students. First, most college majors are irrelevant to business. Therefore, setting up and running shops bear no relations with most students’ study. Even for students of business majors, the school courses are much more complicated and professional than buying and selling. They would not gain much from running shops apart from some money and simple social contact, unless their ideal jobs are shopkeepers. Besides, the routine work in a shop is time-consuming. As a shop keeper, one has to concern himself or herself with stocking, selling, accounting, and even cleaning. He or she has to deal with tax collectors, the fire department workers and other government officials.

In view of what has been listed above, going in too much for business would hamper most students’ academic work and have negative effects on their future development. Actually, there are many other ways in which college students can gain insights into society and develop practical skills. For instance, they can take part in some extracurricular programs and social practices in vacations. They can work as part-time shop assistants, accountants or promoters. Or they can just try to set up a shop and run it for a short period of time, then leaving it to their parents or other relatives. Anyway, most of them are expected to be more promising than shop-keepers.

2003 Part Ⅴ Writing (60 min)

An English newspaper is currently running a discussion on whether young people in China today are (not) more self-centered and unsympathetic than were previous generations. And the paper is inviting contributions from university students. You have been asked to write a short article for the newspaper to air your views.

A

A Self-conscious and Sympathetic Generation

It seems to have become a common consent that young people today are more self-centered and unsympathetic than were previous generations. Many complain that young people are no longer obedient to their parents and always have their own ways of doing things. Some even accuse that young people today seldom show sympathy to others, especially when their own benefits are threatened.

I don’t agree with these kinds of opinions. I think young people today are more self-conscious, not self-centered, as some people say. They have better self-esteem and therefore they are able to respect and sympathize with others better.

For many older people, they were taught to always put others interests first and ignore their own feelings, even to the sacrifice of their own families. Self-value was unheard of for most of them. Young people today, however, are very blessed to realize that they were born first as individuals and then members of the society. They are supposed to love and respect themselves first and thus learn to love and respect others. They love their parents but don’t agree that they belong to their parents. They have their own wills and own ways of living.

Owing to awakening of self-consciousness, young people today show more respect to other people’s choices. One of the many ways by which they express their sympathy is to respect other people’s privacies, encouraging but never prying. They are also very willing to give material and financial supports to the poor. I know two young ladies who have been helping different kids in remote countryside pay their tuition fees for many years and I’ve also worked as a volunteer to help the orphans. Thousands of young volunteers for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games are another case in point for the spirit of devotion in the younger generation.

Being self-centered and being self-conscious are two different things and sympathy can be expressed in many different ways. In every generation, there are people who are self-centered and never sympathize with others. Generally speaking, most of the young people today are not like that. Besides respecting their own value, they are kind and sympathetic.

B

Love, and Then Be Loved

In recent years, more and more teachers complain that their students are indifferent to others. Some even worry that the young generation might ruin the future of China. To be sure, many of our young people cannot see eye to eye with this view. However, as a university student, I myself would like to contend that we young people today are in general more self-centered and unsympathetic than our previous generations.

To start with, most, if not all, young people choose to attend exclusively to their own needs. In their eyes, it is all too natural to seek satisfaction from what they do, even if it may mean

inconvenience to others. Take my dormitory for example. It is a common scene here that a roommate cheerfully talks to his girlfriend on the phone at midnight when others are struggling for a sound sleep. One may complain now and then, but to no avail. In fact, the others, to the exclusion of me, live their dormitory life in much the same way. When I take a nap at noon, they often play cards. They have no regard for others. Life is a joy to them, yet they often enjoy it to the neglect of others’ feelings. In sharp contrast, our caring parents always pay heed to our needs and those of others. Whenever my father comes back home late in the night, he tiptoes in for fear that he might awake me.

Moreover, our young people tend to be insensitive to others’ difficulty. When a classmate falls ill, few people offer to help, but regard it as none of their business. Some students in my class come from poor families. Yet they are active mobile phone users, who may spend twice as much as what their parents earn from arduous labor. When asked why they behave so, they answer that their parents have the obligation to accommodate their expenses. Personally, I detest their answer, for I know my parents never thought that way when they were young. Being aware of their parents’ financial difficulty, they managed to save every penny they could.

For the above reasons and those not mentioned here, I subscribe to the view that young people in today’s China are more self-centered and unsympathetic than were our previous generations. It is high time that we learned from older generations so that a harmonious and splendid future can be anticipated.

2002 Part Ⅴ Writing (60 min)

All of us would agree that in order to be successful in the present-day society, we university graduates have to possess certain personal qualities that can enable us to realize our aim. What do you think is the most important personal quality of a university graduate? Write a composition of about 300 words on the following topic: The most important personal quality of a university student

A

Sociability: the most important personal quality of a university sutdent

It is generally acknowledged that university students have to be in possession of certain personal qualities so that they can be successful in modern society. Among these qualities are diligence, courage, honesty and leadership. Personally, I believe that the sociability, or the disposition to communicate well with others, is the most important personal quality that a university student has to have.

There is no denying the fact that the society today is featured by increasingly fine division of labor. It is hard for one to accomplish anything solely on himself or herself. Therefore, co-operation is indispensable in almost everyone’s daily life and work. To cooperate well with our workmates and other teams, we have to be able to communicate with them in an effective way. We should know how to think from the perspective of our partners and even our opponents; we should know when to insist and when to concede; and we should know how to make ourselves understood and how to persuade others.

Sociability is of equal importance for a student’s sound growth in college. Actually, the four or five years in college are the crucial period of time in a person’s development. It can even decide

his or her eventual success. It is during this period that a student accumulates the bulk of knowledge to be used in his or her future job; it is during this period that a student absorbs life experience and lessons to be drawn upon in his or her future life; and, more important, it is during this period that a person establishes his or her basic network of friends. All this calls for sociability or the ability to communicate effectively with people. Lack of the ability to associate with others would not only result in failure in these aspects but also contribute to psychological problems and even committing suicide.

Admittedly, other qualities are of great value in a person’s success, but they all need communication as the basis. We can hardly imagine a courageous and diligent person achieving anything entirely by himself or herself. Without communication, honestly seems to go no where. And leadership definitely goes with communication.

Taking all the above-mentioned into consideration, we may safely reach the conclusion that sociability is the most important personal quality that a university student has to possess if he or she wants to succeed in the present-day society. To develop the sociability, one has to be conscious of its importance and purposefully join some societies, clubs or associations, and participate actively in their activities. Besides, leaders and teachers in colleges should also attach importance to this quality and create as many chances as possible to enhance it.

All of us would agree that in order to be successful in the present-day society, we university graduates have to possess certain personal qualities that can enable us to realize our aim. What do you think is the most important personal quality of a university graduates? Write a composition of about 300 words on the following topic:

B

The most important personal quality of a university student

Statement: In my opinion, for a university student, morality outweighs other personal qualities in the present society.

Sub-statement 1: Morality such as decent behavior, honesty and humility is an essential element of Chinese traditional culture as well as modern civilization.

<Without morality, embezzlement and corruption would be rampant; cheating of various kinds would be flooded; unscrupulous pursuit of high profits would be worshipped; and the nation would be in chaos in the end.>

Sub-statement 2: Morality is beneficial to college students and their personal development, which can help them survive and succeed in their future career.

Restatement: Moral quality is of chief importance to university students in a variety of ways.

C

Diligence: The Most Important Personal Quality of a University Student

Everyone has one or more dreams. But it is much easier to set an aim than to realize it. In the course of obtaining success, we need a number of helps, either external or internal. Besides, our personal qualities are of superior importance. Among the qualities, such as smartness, honesty and confidence, the most important one, in my opinion, is diligence.

We are sure to encounter a number of difficulties on the way to success. On the one hand, we must hold on. On the other hand, we should make efforts to find the best solutions as soon as possible. We have to force ourselves to know more, do more, and sweat more. Only working

industriously can assure us of a good result.

Being industrious means more work and less relaxation. Therefore, diligent people will complete their tasks in a shorter time than others. They will get more information and experience in their work. In the long run they will do their job better and better. Diligence also means broad knowledge and good public relationship. No one will look down upon an industrious person, and no employer will promote an idle one.

In addition, industry is a merit of our Chinese people. It is also a stimulus to Japan’s recovery from the disaster of World War II. It is needed to realize our aims and to make our country more prosperous.

2001 Part Ⅴ Writing (60 min)

The Internet is about to take off in China. As many as 9 million people are online, a number that is estimated to hit 20 million by the end of 2000. It is predicted that this phenomenal growth will have great impact on our society and economy. Choose ONE aspect of our society or economy where you think the impact will be most strongly felt, and write an essay of about 300 words entitled: The impact of the internet on…

A

The impact of the internet on people’s daily life

No one could have failed to notice the fact that the Internet is gaining increasing popularity in China. Statistics manifest that the number of netizens is soaring at an alarming speed. It is estimated that the Internet will have a tremendous impact on society in this country. The impact may be seen in such aspects as politics, economy, education, etc. Personally, I believe that it will be most evident in people’s daily life.

First and foremost, the Internet changed people’s ways to gain information. Traditional ways, such as newspapers, magazines, radio and TV, are facing severe challenges with the wide use of the Internet. A growing number of people tend to scan news and search information useful for daily life on the net. Actually, there has appeared a group of people dependent on searching the Internet. Whatever they do not know or are not sure of, they prefer seeking answers on the net to asking people around them or reading papers. Compared with traditional means of information delivery, the Internet proves more timely, detailed and wide-covering. Besides, it is the one that best combines words, sounds, pictures and videos.

Similarly, the Internet has brought a change to people’s ways to express themselves. Previously, they resort to face-to-face talks with their workmates or relatives; nowadays, more of them choose to put forward their views on matters in the comment column of news or various forums on the net. While they usually reserved their personal views in case they might sound absurd or radical, they hold no reservations in their comment on the Internet. If they like, people can establish blogs of their own to let their voices heard by a lot more people. This is something almost unimaginable in the past.

In the third place, the Internet is emerging as a major “place” where people meet and communicate. It is something interesting if we think about it: we spend less time calling or meeting our friends or relatives in person; instead, we spend more time chatting with them on the Internet, through such tools as QQ, MSN, E-mail and the like. We can even see them on line through video. Though seeming less personal, communication through the Internet is more at our

own convenience.

On the basis of the three changes above, the Internet has effected changes in others facets of people’s daily life. For instance, they can do online shopping, play online games and even see doctors through the net.

To sum up, the impact of the Internet will be most strongly felt in people’s daily life. We should get ourselves ready for the changes and make reasonable use of the Internet.

2000 Part Ⅴ Writing (60 min)

Some people simply see education as going to schools or colleges, or as a means to secure good jobs; most people view education as a lifelong process. In your opinion, how important is education to modern man? Write a composition of about 300 words on the following topic: Education as a lifelong process

Education: a lifelong process

What is education? Answers to this question may differ sharply from person to person. Some people simply see education as going to schools or colleges, or as a means to secure good jobs. Many others, however, see education as a lifelong process. Personally, I totally agree with the second group of people.

It is true that we can easily think of school, colleges and young people when education is mentioned. However, education means far more than that. Those who treat education merely as a means to secure good jobs either do not work really hard in school or just focus their attention and energy on passing exams or obtaining high scores. This has resulted in exam-oriented education and students of low quality. Such students lack the habits of study after they start their jobs, and thus are left behind the trend of times.

In fact, education is a lifelong process. As the saying goes, “one lives to learn.” This is especially true in such an age of information explosion. One would easily find himself ignorant confronted with the ever updating knowledge if he did not keep studying. For instance, a person who completed his education at school in 1970s or 1980s may have encountered new problems when he is working now. One of them might be that he must master the skills of working on computer. Otherwise, he might risk losing his job.

Our modern society has provided everyone the chance to accept education. As long as you wish you could get education by attending night-schools, adult colleges, training centers and even long-distance education through the Internet and TV.

To sum up, education means far more than going to schools or colleges. Instead, it should be a habit accompanying us throughout our life if we want to keep up with times and be winners in competitions of all kinds. One should constantly update his knowledge and try to stand on the top of the tide.

1999 Part Ⅴ Writing (60 min)

Some people claim that competition more important than co-operation in the present-day society. How far do you agree with these people? You are to write a composition of about 300 words on the following topic: Competition or co-operation

A

Competition and co-operation: two sides of a coin

There is no denying the fact that competition and co-operation are two terms most frequently mentioned by modern people. However, views differ a lot as to their relative importance. Some people say that competition is more important than co-operation in the present-day society. Others, however, may hold the contrary view. Personally, I believe that competition and co-operation are equally important in the present-day society.

Truly, competition is a great impetus to the development of the society. Through competition, one can be stimulated to do his best; employers can select the best employees; through competition, through competition, customers can be provided with the best products and service; through competition, the world will become a prosperous one. Actually, the current society sees fiercer and fiercer competition. Less competitive individuals or companies will be lagged behind and even thrown out of the marching trend. Therefore, we should know clearly our strong and weak points and exert every effort to add to our edge of competition.

However, co-operation is of equal importance. The society today is featured by increasingly fine division of labor, so it is difficult or even impossible for one to accomplish a task in his work solely depending on himself. Through co-operation, we can make our work run smoothly and efficiently. Besides, too much emphasis on competition and lack of co-operation would result in needless combats and grievous waste of resources. For instance, enterprises usually spend large sums of money on ads to compete against each other. Actually, their efforts counteract and the cost of products is raised to a great extent. Another example might be like this: Suppose there are just two candidates and two positions from two equally prosperous companies. What usually happens is that the two candidates spend a lot of time and money competing against each other for each position at the same time. Actually, they can cooperate with each other and obtain the positions almost effortlessly.

To sum up, both competition and co-operation are essential to the development of individuals and the society as a whole. Therefore, we should not go to extremes by overemphasizing one of them. The most important thing is to know when to compete and when to cooperate.

B

Co-operation is more important than competition

Some people claim that competition is more important than co-operation in the present day society. I don’t agree with them. I think co-operation is more important than competition because not only people can fulfill today’s complex and high-tech work better by co-operating with each other, but also co-operation helps to form fine public morals in the present day society.

First, co-operation can produce better work effect. Now most work is more difficult and complicated than before. It requires all types of knowledge in different fields. Even the person who is proved to be outstanding in fierce competition can’t do it only by himself. After all, one’s ability is limited. He can’t master all the knowledge in the world. In this case, people had better co-operate; and each one applies knowledge in his major. However, if people compete against each other, work can just be done. The quality of work is uncertain.

Second, co-operation can do good to the forming of a united and fraternal social environment. When people co-operate, they have the same goal. In the process of overcoming difficulties, each

of them uses his own merit to compensate for others’ defects. And they encourage each other to strive for their common aim. By and by, their relationship becomes close and friendly. By contrast, competition causes egoism. The final result of competition is to sort out the only best one by eliminating all the others. So this makes every competitor hope that he himself is better than any other. Unavoidably he won’t help others make progress because he’s afraid that he will be surprised. In this way, he tends to think only for himself, not for others at all. Egoism appears.

In a word, co-operation is more important than competition in the present day society for the sake of good work effort and high moral atmosphere.

1998 Part Ⅴ Writing (60 min)

Nowadays with the development of economy, existing cities are growing bigger and new cities are appearing. What do you think is ONE of the major problems that may result from this process of urbanization? Write an essay of about 300 words on the topic given below. One major problem in the process of urbanization

The loss of traditional culture in the process of urbanization

There is no denying the fact that China is now in an accelerating process of urbanization. Nowadays with the development of economy, existing cities are growing bigger and new cities are appearing across the country. An increasing number of Chinese have changed from villagers to city dwellers. They no longer live in even houses, doing farm work or husbandry; instead, they begin to dwell in apartments, working in factories or firms.

However, as every coin has two sides, there have appeared problems during the course of urbanization in this country, among which the most striking one, I believe, is the loss of traditional culture. This can be seen from the following aspects.

In the first place, traditional customs closely related to farming, fishing or husbandry may find no where to exist in modern cities. The most noticeable example is that there existed an array of ceremonies to pray for or to celebrate good harvests in many local areas of this country, but with a growing number of farmers “upgrading” into factory workers or firm employees, these ceremonies find themselves without inheritors or necessity to be there. Other instances might be found with fishing or husbandry culture.

What’ more, some other traditional Chinese customs that might well exist in the countryside may also face the fate of being deserted. A striking example is those practices concerning wedding. In the past, a bride was sent to the groom’s in a sedan chair and firecrackers would be set off as a part of the wedding ceremony. While this can still be seen in some rural areas, we can hardly picture them in a modern city, with cars permeating the streets and lanes and firecrackers banned except during the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year.

Another sector of traditional culture pushed to the edge of extinction as a result of urbanization is some traditional Chinese art, which covers traditional craftsmanship, music and plays. Paper-cut is a typical example. As a form of traditional Chinese culture, it was normally a way of self-recreation by rural women during slack farming seasons. With China advancing into an industrial society, people have got much busier than before. They tend to resort to fast and convenient means of entertainment, like watching movies, TV, or playing cards. Another case in point is some primitive folk songs. As they are usually created and performed during such

activities as farming, husbandry and fishing, they are also confronted with the fate of vanishing during the process of urbanization.

Fortunately, measures have been taken by both the government and the public to protect traditional culture. As we can see, firms dealing with wedding ceremonies have recovered traditional procedures to meet people’s needs to recall the past; artists have gone into villages to collect traditional songs and plays with a purpose to preserve them; and works of paper-cut can be found in stores, especially around and during the Spring Festival. Yet a lot has to be done to

preserve traditional Chinese culture and this nation’s identity during the process of urbanization.

1997 Part Ⅴ Writing (60 min)

Some people hold the view that a student’s success in university study follows the pattern as that of farming, which is characterized by sowing the seeds, nurturing growth and harvesting the rewards’ process. Write an essay of about 300 words on the topic given below to support this view with your own experience as a university student. Sowing the seeds, nurturing growth and harvesting the rewards

A

Sowing the seeds, nurturing growth and harvesting the rewards

There is a view that a student’s success in college study follows the process as that of farming, which is featured by sowing the seeds, nurturing growth and harvesting the rewards. What a vivid simile. I do agree with this statement and my personal experience with learning Japanese as my second foreign language can serve as a typical illustration.

By sowing the seeds, in the process of study, we mean choosing a course and making up our mind to study it well. Actually, I began to study Japanese in a training class outside campus in my second semester in college. There were quite a few reasons for me to do so. First, by that time I had been informed that there was going to be a course of Japanese as a second foreign language for us English majors in college, but I worried that I might not catch up with the flow of the course since I knew nothing about Japanese. Besides, I had been harboring interest in Japanese for quite a long time by then, mostly because it was so similar to Chinese in its written form and I wanted to know the differences between them. Thirdly, I believed that Japanese was an economically successful nation. It is true that it has bullied Chinese and plunged us in an abyss of agony, but we cannot turn a blind eye to the economic miracle they created after the Second World War. I was interested in their secret. Last but not least, I was free during that period of time. Therefore, you can say I had every reason to begin my study of Japanese. In other words, I had prepared both fertile soil and mature seeds for my study.

Next comes nurturing growth, by which we mean exerting efforts to follow the lecturer in class, preview lessons before class and practice after class. I should say that my study with the training class was not as fruitful as it had been expected to be. Though the teacher was mild and gentle, she frequently changed the class schedule to suit her own convenience. Besides, unlike the course on campus, the training class lacked such teaching means as quizzes and exams, which reduced the effect of study. However, I still did what I could to absorb as much as possible from the class, which helped lay a fairly good foundation for my future study. Fortunately, my lecturer of the course of Japanese on campus was a patient and more responsible one. Now that I had a

better basis than my class members, I was stimulated to exert more efforts. I still remember the mornings I spent by the lake of the university reading aloud Japanese words and texts and I can still recall those notebooks filled with my notes and exercises. Yes, it was hard, as hard as watering crops and weeding fields under the sun in summer, but that’s just what leads to your final success or good harvest.

My pleasure in harvesting lay not only in the high scores of terminal exams of the course, but also was derived from my success in graduate entrance examinations. I was admitted to Foreign Affairs College, and half tribute should be paid to my performance in the exam of Japanese as a second foreign language. The high scores I gained in the exam pushed my total scores to a desirable level.

To sum up, my personal experience of language study is a convincing proof of the statement mentioned at the beginning of this essay. Whatever we learn, we need to make up our mind, make full preparation and exert every effort. Remember, “No pains, no gains.”

B

In spring we sow the seeds in the soil. We look after them and cut off seeds for them. And in autumn, we are very happy to get harvest. A student’s success in university study follows the same pattern as that of farming. The teachers are the seeds in our mind by giving lectures to us. We can get nothing without hard working. That is to say “No pains, no gains.”

First, if we hope a harvest, the seeds play the fundamental role, or we can say that listen carefully to the teachers is very important. In my point of view, it is the teacher who Sow the seeds. What is seed? It is knowledge. Some students sleep in the class. They carry nothing with them when left the classroom. That is to say they didn’t get seeds from the teachers. They are not interested in the lectures. They like to stay up all night to review the lesson. Now it seems that they are working hard in a field, which has no seeds in the soil. It sounds ridiculous, isn’t it? Therefore, to absorb in class is very important.

Second, nurturing growth is the key point in farming, or we can say that the hard working the students themselves is the most important thing. We can imagine that we sow the seeds in the soil and then don’t pay attention to them any more. Then how can we get a harvest? If we don’t water the seeds, they will dry and can never become a plant. If we don’t get rid of the seeds, the plant will die of malnutrition. It is the same in study. Listen carefully to the teachers and get the seeds in our mind and notebooks. But we must review the lesson. We must grasp the knowledge. We should borrow more books which are relevant to the class from library and absorb the knowledge. This is the most important process in study. When you say, “Oh, the knowledge is mine now. It doesn’t belong to the teachers any longer,” you finish the hard work process in study.

Third, harvesting is also an important process. That is to say that you must learn to use what you have studied to get a good result in examination. Some students work all day long. They usually fail in the exam. They are worried before exam and forget everything when enter the classroom for exam. They got the seeds, they devoted all their energy to the field but they don’t know how to harvest their rewards. So let’s learn the skill of harvest and get our rewards.

To sum up, the three processes are all important if we want to be a successful student. Without one of them, we will fail in our study. Try to improve yourself in the three aspects; you can certainly become an excellent student.