Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic Should Firecrackers Be Banned? You should write at least 120 words and you should base your composition on the outline (given in Chinese) below:
1. 有人认为放鞭炮是好事,为什么?
2. 有人认为放鞭炮是坏事,为什么?
3. 我的看法
Should Firecrackers Be Banned?
There is no denying the fact that setting off firecrackers has been a hotly debated topic in China. People’s opinions differ sharply on this issue. Some hold the positive view. They say that it is an ancient Chinese custom which should be preserved. They also claim that firecrackers make festivals and holiday occasions more colorful and entertaining for both adults and children. Without firecrackers, festivals would become dull and cheerless.
Others, however, hold the opposite view. They maintain that firecrackers should be banned. They point out that firecrackers are responsible for fires, which destroy, property, and for injuries suffered both by the people who set them off and by innocent bystanders. They also argue that firecrackers are a waste of money and resources.
Personally, I believe that we should not go to extremes. On the one hand, we should preserve the old custom of letting off firecrackers; on the other hand, we should make it harmless. This can be done by banning firecrackers from public places. In addition, the setting off of firecrackers should be restricted to festival days.
(二) 解决问题型
Directions: For this part, you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition on the topic My View on Fake Commodities. You should write at least 120 words, and base your composition on the outline (given in Chinese) below:
1. 假冒伪劣商品的危害 2. 怎样杜绝假冒伪劣商品
My View on Fake Commodities
Nobody could have failed to notice the fact that fake commodities have been a grave problem with which we are confronted. Fake and shoddy goods flood the market. Taking a look around, we can find examples too numerous to list: pirated editions of books and films, food and drinks of poor quality and the like.
Fake and shoddy goods are bound to generate severe consequences if we keep turning a blind eye to them. First and foremost, they directly infringe upon consumers’ rights, wasting their money and threatening their health and even lives. Besides, the production and sale of fake goods cause serious losses on the part of honest and lawful producers. Last but not least, the destruction of fake commodities means a grievous waste of the nation’s resources.
In view of the seriousness of this problem, effective measures must be taken before things get worse. First, it is essential that laws and regulations be worked out and enforced to ban the manufacture and circulation of fake and shoddy goods. Secondly, the public should enhance their awareness of identifying and refusing sub-standard commodities. With proper laws and an alert public, it will only be a matter of time for fake and shoddy goods to become things of the past. / With these measures taken, it is reasonable for us to believe that the problem will be solved in the near future.
(三)谚语警句型
Directions: For this part, you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition on the topic Haste Makes Waste. You should write at least 120 words and you should base your composition on the outline (given in Chinese) below.
1. 为什么“欲速则不达”? 2. 举例说明。
Haste Makes Waste
A famous saying goes “Haste makes waste”, which means that one should do everything step by step. Even simple operations can easily be spoiled if we rush to complete them, neglecting important stages in the process. One should make full preparations before beginning any task.
Taking a look around, we can find examples too numerous to list. The best illustration might be English study. Without a good command of pronunciation, we can never hope to speak in an understandable way. Similarly, if we do not learn to spell properly and to acquire a basic grasp of grammar, we will never succeed in writing good compositions.
(或Actually, history abounds with examples of haste making waste. A well-known Chinese fable goes that a farm tried to help the shoots grow by pulling them upward, only to find that they died soon. Another case in point is the so-called Great Leap Forward movement in China in 1950’s and 1960’s. At that time, the Chinese people were so eager to develop their economy that they took some improper measures, only to hinder the expansion of economy.)
(或Here I can think of no better illustration of the proverb than the experience of my own. At the age of 11 or 12, I began to learn to ride. Eager to ride as well as others, I started by sitting on the saddle at the very beginning. Predictably, I often fell from over the bike. Lots of time had been wasted before I realized that I should do it step by step. I tried to slide by standing on one pedal. Then I began to ride the bike from under the cross bar. Finally, I succeeded. )
In short, laying a solid foundation is essential if we want to make achievements in our studies or work, or indeed in any other aspect of our lives. At every step, review what has been achieved and assess the problems ahead before moving to the next step. And remember, Rome was not built in a day.
(四)图表图画型
Changes in the Ownership of Houses in China
It can be seen from the chart that there have been dramatic changes in the ownership of houses in China in the past 50 years. While the percentage of state-owned houses has dropped from 70% in 1950’s to 20% in 1990’s, that of private houses has soared from 30% to 80% during the same period of time.
A number of factors could account for the change in the chart, but the following are the most critical ones. First, thanks to the policy of reform and opening-up, the nation’s economy has been developing at a considerably high speed in the past decades. Therefore, people have more extra money to improve their housing. Secondly, other relevant state policies and the boom of real estate industry provide citizens with more opportunities to choose their own dwelling places. Last but not least, people have attached greater importance to their quality of life. Thus, more of them have purchased houses in their own favor.
In a word, this chart is a perfect indicator of China’s fast expanding economy and people’s rising standard of life. Although a series of problems have arisen in the process, it is reasonable for us to believe that they can be solved in the near future with effective measures taken by both the government and the public.
(五)应用写作型
A Letter to the University President about the Canteen Service on Campus
January 12th, 2002
Dear Mr. President,
I am a sophomore from Department 3 and I am writing to you about the food and service in the canteen on campus.
To be frank, I am rather disappointed at the food quality, price and service in the canteen. First, the dishes are scarcely well cooked and most of them taste the same. Secondly, most of the dishes there are priced so high that some students cannot even afford them. Thirdly, the service in the canteen is far from satisfying and the inside of the canteen always seem untidy.
To solve the problem, I suggest that another canteen be built and a mechanism of competition be introduced between the old and the new. Besides, both the canteens should be subject to the students' supervision.
Dining is an everyday issue for students. It may affect their academic performance. Therefore, I sincerely hope this letter can draw your attention to the matter and I hope the problems mentioned above can be solved as soon as possible.
Best regards.
Yours sincerely
(六)其他范文
Don't Hesitate to Say No
As a general rule, people like to help others, but there are occasions when you should say no to requests for favors. For instance, it is better to refuse when a child pesters you for sweet food and drinks or for too many toys. Another example is when a relative asks you to use your influence to get him or her a bank loan or a work promotion.
However, we cannot ignore the fact that many people are reluctant to say no. They feel that if they turn down a request from a relative or friend, they will cause ill-feeling within the family or become unpopular with their acquaintances. A notable case in point is when the boss asks them to do something which they feel is unreasonable.
It is important to keep in mind that not saying no when you should say no can sometimes have harmful consequences. If children are given everything they ask for, not only may their health be damaged, but they may grow up selfish and spoilt. Again, in the long run it is kinder to refuse to lend money to a person who has a gambling or alcoholism problem.