Writing1.
The following passage is incomplete with one body paragraph missing. Study the passage carefully and write the missing paragraph in about 100 words. Make sure that your tone and diction are in unity with the passage provided. In ancient times the most important examinations were spoken, not written. In the schools of ancient Greece and Rome, testing usually consisted of saying poetry aloud or giving speeches.
In the European universities of the Middle Ages, students who were working for advanced degrees had to discuss questions in their field of study with people who had made a special study of the subjects. This custom exists today as part of the process of testing candidates for the doctor's degree.
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One type of test is sometimes called an "objective" test. It is intended to deal with facts, not personal opinions. To make up an objective test the teacher writes a series of questions, each of which has only one correct answer. Along with each question the teacher writes the correct answer and also three statements that look like answers to students who have not learned the material properly.
Generally, however, modern examinations are written. The written examination, where all students are tested on the same questions, was probably not known until the nineteenth century. Perhaps it came into existence with the great increase in population and the development of modern industry. A room full of candidates for a state examination, timed exactly by electric clocks and carefully watched over by managers, resembles a group of workers at an automobile factory. Certainly, during examinations teachers and students are expected to act like machines.
[解析] 这是一道补写缺失段落的试题。在拿到试题的时候,不要匆匆掠过便下笔补充,一定要将内容看透彻。与此同时观察文章的风格和写作手法。补写段落有几个注意点:
1.观察上下文的意思,根据其逻辑关系判断中间缺失的段落的内容。
2.内容在风格上要做到与全文统一,上下文意思衔接紧密。
3.适当使用过渡词语,连接上下文。
该题目给出了第一、二、四自然段,要求补写第三自然段。
第一段是讲古时候,说话是最重要的考试方式。在希腊和罗马的学校里,也都是通过大声念诗等来测试的。
第二段主要讲述在中世纪欧洲的学校里,学生也都是通过和人们讨论问题来获得高级程度的学习资格的。
最后一段是说,有一种旨在测试事实情况的“客观”考试,该考试不是有关个人的见解。
从给出的段落当中,我们可以总结给予的信息对比:
段和段之间有明显的时间差,从古时候到中世纪,再到最后的目前的状况,那么中间肯定是讲述当代的事情;从内容上看,前两段是讲述有关“spoken”的内容,最后一段讲的是“written”的考试。由此可推断出第三段的内容主要讲述当代的手写考试情况。譬如它的简要发展史和它的考试形式等。
2.
Compose an essay E-mail is an entirely new means of communication, but it gains growing popularity rapidly. Write an essay(about 300 words)expressing your view on it.
Electronic mail, or E-mail for short, is an entirely new way of communication by means of computers. Being fast, inexpensive, highly efficient and convenient, E-mail is so popular in developed countries that it is difficult to imagine modern life without it.
Nowadays, millions of computers all over the world have been connected to form a global network called Internet. You can send or receive by E-mail a variety of information and documents such as letters, papers, video and audio files to anyone in over 170 countries in a short time. Moreover, language barriers are not a problem, because Internet software is capable of translating your mail into whatever language you want. You can also store, delete, edit, compile and search your E-mail or simultaneously send it to different places. And user defined passwords will keep your mail a secret. Most importantly, E-mail helps us overcome space and time limitations in communication.
With the rapid growing popularity of computers and the fast expansion of the information highway, wider and wider applications of Internet E-mail will be developed and E-mail will soon become an indispensable means of communication.
[解析] 阅读题目可得知,该作文题目是讲电子邮件是一种新型的交流方式,但它的发展势头却迅猛。就有关问题发表一下个人看法。
关于发表个人意见和看法的文章属于议论文的范畴。要考虑议论文的特点和行文结构。要在文章中条理清晰的陈述自己的意见。想要表述自己在电子邮件的新型交流方式这个话题上的看法,需首先在脑海中形成一个大致框架,想要从哪些方面着手。如方便、廉价、高效等特点。在总述之后可以就其各个特点稍微展开论述。最后可就其前景做简要阐述。
考生要从以下几个方面考虑行文结构:
1.文章切题,内容充实。
2.结构清晰,语言流畅。
3.思维清晰,用词准确。
因此,要着重从以上诸多方面下功夫,才能取得良好成绩。
3.
Some people think good movies should be instructive and entertaining at the same time. What is your opinion? Write a 300 word expository essay stating your views.
Nowadays, with the fast development of filmdom around the world, there is a widespread concern over good movies' criterion. But it is well known that the opinion concerning this hot topic varies from person to person.
A majority of people think that good movies should be more instructive, In their views, there are two factors contributing to this point of view. Firstly, to some degree, a movie can show our real life and the real world. Certain scene or some actors' lines may even change a person's life. So a good movie should be more instructive so that it can provide us a right guidance. And secondly, movie may have a more crucial effect on the teenagers. They often imitate the action we think cool as well as the apparel. So it again shows the importance of a instructive movie.
While some others think that being entertaining is the necessary factors for the good movies. They may think the purpose of watching movie is to entertain themselves. A entertaining movie can offer them a good mood, and even can make them more optimistic to their life. So they may agree that good feeling a move supply is more important than its instructiveness.
In my opinion, I agree more with the first point of view. A good movie may influence a generation. Those topics which a movie offers us are to tell us what is or not the importance. Thus it can be seen, a good movie may burden the future of a generation.
[解析] 首先,对这个问题,有两种不同的看法,一种认为一部优秀的电影应该更具有教育意义。另一种认为一部好的电影应该更注重娱乐性。从应试的角度出发,文章的第一段中,应包含主题思想句:如Nowadays,with the fast development of filmdom around the world,there is a widespread concern over good movies' criterion. But it is well known that the opinion concerning this hot topic varies from person to person. 主体段落的展开因人而异,可以用对比法、列举法或叙述法等。结论段的写作也是因人而异,因文章特点而异。
4.
The following passage is incomplete with one body paragraph missing. Study the passage carefully and write the missing paragraph of about 100 words. Make sure that the tone and vocabulary you use are in unity with the passage provided. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Living in the City
Like many other city dwellers, I often complain about having to cope with the problems related with city life. I sometimes fancy getting closer to nature and appreciating its beauty fully in the country. Once a friend asked me, "Do you really hate life in the city that much? If you had a choice, would you move away to the country?" I compelled myself to think about city life more seriously. Now I have to do justice to it. Admittedly, the attractions of city life still appeal to me strongly despite its drawbacks.
In general, city life is relatively convenient and comfortable. The supply of water and electricity is continuous. Whenever one wants, all he has to do is just turning on a faucet or pressing a button. There is also a variety of vehicles for transportation, from buses and cars to trains and planes, that help people move about efficiently. Shopping centers are seen here and there in cities. Thanks to the amazing diversity of commodities, going shopping is often interesting and enjoyable for city dwellers. Besides the fun of making purchases, there are also countless theaters, cinemas, art galleries and restaurants providing residents with various kinds of fascinating entertainment.
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To some extent, city life is truly divorced from nature. It is sometimes very exhausting because of its fast moving tempo. But on the other hand, nothing in the world is perfect; neither is city life. Viewed positively, the drawbacks should still be outweighed by its attractions. In fact, the drawbacks can be regarded as challenges to make life in the city more interesting, more exciting and more meaningful. To me, moving away from the city would mean the loss of excitement and the dynamic nature of modern life. Therefore, I would choose to continue to live in the city.
However, life in the city is not always attractive and pleasant. Sometimes it could be very frustrating. Most city dwellers have had the terrible experience of getting stuck in a traffic jam during the rush hour. Pollution either in the air or water is nothing new. The sun is often blotted out by the dust and dirt floating in the air. As city dwellers live in a forest of concrete buildings, they see little of the beautiful nature. They have to be content with the flowers and trees in the few parks scattered in the city. Everyday, people move in hurried steps, looking worn and exhausted. They are busy, scurrying from place to place and struggling hard for survival.
[解析] 这篇文章主要讲的是城市生活的利弊。通观全文,需要补充的是第三段。下面来分析整篇文章:
第一段:像许多其他城市居民那样,我常常抱怨要处理与城市生活相关的那些问题。我有时很想更多地接近大自然,在乡村好好欣赏她的美丽。一次,一个朋友问我:“你真的那么讨厌城市生活吗?如果给你一个选择,你愿意搬到乡村吗?”我不得不开始认真思考城市生活。现在我要给予城市生活公正的对待。说实话,城市生活依然深深地吸引着我,尽管它有很多不足。最后一句是该文章的中心思想句,其中的关键词是吸引和不足。
第二段:总的来说,城市生活相对舒适便捷。水电的供应源源不断。不论什么时候,只要我们需要,只需拧开水龙头或按一个按钮就够了。城市中还有各种各样的交通工具,有公交车、汽车、火车和飞机等,这方便了人们的随处走动。城市中到处可见购物中心。因为那些琳琅满目的商品,购物对城市居民来说常常是十分有趣和享受的。除了购物的乐趣,还有无数的剧院、影院、画廊和酒店给居民提供多种多样的吸引人的娱乐。本段讲的主要是城市生活对作者的吸引。
第四段:在某种程度上,城市生活和大自然是大相径庭的。有时因为它的快节奏,生活会使人筋疲力尽。但是另一方面,世上没有完美的东西,城市生活也是如此。当我们积极地看待这个问题时就会发现,城市生活的不足比它的好处更有价值。实际上,那些不足可以被视为把城市生活创造得更有趣、更令人兴奋、更有意义的挑战。对我而言,从城市搬出去意味着失去那种兴奋和现代生活的生机。因此,我愿意继续过城市生活。本段是结论段,与第一段遥相呼应,表明和强调了作者愿意继续生活在城市中,应用的是“自然得出结论”的结尾方法。
通过上面的分析,我们知道,文章缺省段落的内容应该是城市生活的不足,且不足之处已经暗含在第三段中,即:有时因为它的快节奏,生活会使人筋疲力尽。写作时,我们应以此为中心展开。
首先要写出过渡句:城市生活并非总是充满吸引力和快乐的,有时也很令人沮丧。
然后陈述弊端:大部分人都有在交通高峰期堵车的经验。空气污染和水污染也不再是什么新鲜事。阳光总是被空气中的烟尘阻挡。由于人们居住在林立的混凝土建筑物中,他们很少见到大自然的美丽。能看到散落在城市中的那些公园里的花草树木他们已经很知足了。每天,人们疾步行走,神情疲惫。他们在不同地方穿梭,为生存苦苦挣扎。
句子组织:
However, life in the city is not always attractive and pleasant. Sometimes it could be very frustrating. 然尔城市生活并非总是充满吸引力和快乐的,有时也很令人沮丧。
get stuck in a traffic jam during the rush hour在交通高峰期堵车
nothing new不再是什么新鲜事
a forest of concrete buildings林立的混凝土建筑物
be content with知足
move in hush steps疾步行走
struggle hard for survival为生存苦苦挣扎
原文中的有用用法:
complain about抱怨
compel oneself to迫使自己做某事
do justice to给予公正
thanks to多亏了
fast-moving tempo快节奏
Nothing in the world is perfect. 世上没有完美的事物。
5.
Read the following passage carefully and compose a "topic outline" for it. A
Perhaps you are an average student with average intelligence. You do well enough in school, but you probably think you will never be a top student. This is not necessarily the case, however. You can receive better grades if you want to. Yes, even students of average intelligence can be top students without additional work. Here's how.
1. Plan your time carefully. Make a list of your weekly tasks. Then make a schedule or chart of your time. Fill in committed time such as eating, sleeping, meetings, classes, etc. Then decide on good, regular times for studying. Be sure to set aside enough time to complete your normal reading and work assignment as well. This weekly schedule may not solve all of your problems, but it will make you more aware of how you spend your time. Furthermore, it will enable you to plan your activities so that you have adequate time for both work and play.
2. Find a good place to study. Choose one place for your study area. It may be a desk or a chair at home or in the school library, but it should be comfortable, and it should not have distractions. When you begin to work, you should be able to put your heart into it.
3. Skim before you read. This means looking over a passage quickly before you begin to read it more carefully. As you preview the material, you get some idea of the content and how it is organized. Later when you begin to read you will recognize less important material and you may skip some of these parts. Skimming helps double your reading speed and improves your comprehension as well.
4. Make good use of your time in class. Listening to what the teacher says in class means less work later. Sit where you can see and hear well. Take notes to help you remember what the teacher says.
5. Study regularly. Go over your notes as soon as you can after class. Review important points in class as well as you remain confused about. Read about these points in your textbook. If you know what the teacher will discuss the next day, skim and read that material too. This will help you understand the next class. If you review your notes and textbook regularly, the material will become more meaningful and you will remember it longer. Regular review leads to improved performance on tests.
6. Develop a good attitude about tests. The world won't end if you don't pass a test, so don't worry excessively about a single test. Tests provide grades, but they also let you know what you need to spend more time studying, and they help make your new knowledge permanent.
There are other techniques that might help you with your studying. Only a few have been mentioned here. You will probably discover many others after you have tried these. Talk with your classmates about their study techniques. Share with them some of the techniques you have found to be helpful. Improving your study habits will improve your grades.
1. Students of average intelligence becoming top students without additional work
2. Having six ways to achieve this goal
A. Planning your time carefully
1) Making a list of weekly tasks
2) Making a schedule
B. Finding a good place to study
1) Choosing a comfortable place
2) Choosing a place without distractions
C. Skimming before you read
1) Double speed
2) Improving comprehension
D. Making good use of your time in class
1) Listening well
2) Taking notes
E. Studying regularly
1) Reviewing notes
2) Reviewing textbook
F. Developing a good attitude towards tests
1) No worry about a single test
2) Using test to make new knowledge permanent
3. Discovering some other ways to improve your grade
[解析] 作文提纲分两种,即“句子提纲”(sentence outline)和“论点提纲”(topic outline)。本题正是要求学生对该文章做“论点提纲”的书写。因此首先要掌握论点提纲具有怎样的特点,否则便无从下笔。从教材我们可得知,句子提纲中的每句话都必须是完整的,而论点提纲中的每句话都可以是短语,也可以是从句,甚至单词。两种提纲无优劣之分,只是看题目要求、主题需要或依据个人爱好而定。例如该题就要求使用论点提纲来列,因此要注意论点提纲的形式和特点。
就本题而言,纵览全文可以看出,该文章是讲述中等智商的学生如何在不做额外功课的情况下取得更好的成绩,做一名上等生。即“How to be a top student for those average students with average intelligence?”在列举提纲时,要把握整体层次。该文章明显分为三个层次,即,提出问题,解决问题,列举其他可行方法。所以总的提纲可列为:
1. Students of average intelligence becoming top students without additional work
2. Having six ways to achieve this goal
3. Discovering some other ways to improve your grade
文章在提出问题之后,列举了六点如何提高成绩的方法,如认真计划时间、找到适合学习的地方等,都以序号的形式叙述。在解决问题的六个小点当中,又有具体的分层。拿第一小点为例:作者叙述过“Plan your time carefully”后,紧接着就用更具体的方法阐述如何仔细计划时间。经阅读各句之间的关系分析后可得知,这一点的内容又可分为两个小层次,即①make a list of weekly tasks;②make a schedule or chart。全段内容都是围绕这两点展开。由此不难得出,第一小点的提纲可列为:
A. Planning your time carefully
1)Making a list of weekly tasks
2)Making a schedule
以下五点均按此思维模式,此处不再赘述。提纲可列为:
B. Finding a good place to study
1)Choosing a comfortable place
2)Choosing a place without distractions
C. Skimming before you read
1)Double speed
2)Improving comprehension
D. Making good use of your time in class
1)Listening well
2)Taking notes
E. Studying regularly
1)Reviewing notes
2)Reviewing textbook
F. Developing 8 good attitude towards tests
1)No worry about a single test
2)Using test to make new knowledge permanent
最后,避免把问题叙述得绝对化,作者又阐明还有其他方法可提高分数,即上文中的第3点。
6.
The following passage is incomplete with one body paragraph missing. Study the passage carefully and write the missing paragraph in about 100 words. Make sure that your tone and diction are in unity with the passage provided. Different Types of Parents
It is universally true that all parents in the world love their children. However, as parents' views of life vary, they love their children in different ways. Generally speaking, in terms of how they treat their children, parents fall into three basic types: autocratic, democratic, and permissive.
The autocratic parent's word is the law. He always sets rules, expecting complete obedience from his children. He assumes that he knows what is best for his children and that they will learn discipline and respect for authority from his orders. He does not realize that he may not know best and that rules without mercy may breed contempt for authority. If the child came home late from a party because a major accident on the highway tied up traffic for miles, this parent would not allow the child to explain his reasons for being late. The child would be immediately punished. This kind of parent probably has good intentions, wanting his child to grow up "right," but his approach to the task may lead to conflicts.
The democratic parent is not so strict. He is willing to discuss rules with his children and listen to their side of an argument. If his child came home an hour late from a party, he would listen to the explanation instead of punishing the child immediately. In general, the democratic parent lays down fewer rules than his autocratic counterpart because he realizes children must learn certain things in life on their own. He prefers to play the role of an advisor and is always available when his children need help.
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Too few people with children are democratic parents, which is the best of the three types. Too much or too little authority often breeds disrespect and resentment. A good parent should offer guidance and advice; he should not try to rule his children or disregard his children completely.
The permissive parent has no rules for his children and offers little guidance. Frequently, this parent is too busy to take time with his children and leaves them to TV, school and chance. He allows his children to come and go as they please. He doesn't care what they do or he thinks they must learn to set their own rules. This parent doesn't understand that all young people need guidance because when they grow up, they will have to abide by rules of society. Not learning to respect order early may cause the children to resent the rules everyone must obey.
[解析] 本文旨在通过对专制型、民主型及纵容型三种不同类型父母对待孩子的不同态度的描写,以形成鲜明的对比,从而得出一位合格的父母所应具备的品质及要求:为孩子提供指导和建议;不要试图对孩子进行统治或者完全忽视他们。文章结构整齐,思路清晰,首段和尾段均对缺省段起到了提示的作用。如果对各段大意及相互关系有了准确的把握,那么补全缺省段落也就迎韧而解了。下面,让我们对文中各段做一下分析:
第一段,父母关爱自己的孩子是一个为大众所公认的真理。然而,父母对待生活的不同态度形成了他们关爱子女的不同方式。一般说来,根据父母对待子女的不同方式,可以将他们分为三类:专制型父母、民主型父母及纵容型父母。
第二段,对于专制型父母来说,他们的话就是法律。他总是立下规矩,期望孩子对他完全顺从。他自认为他知道什么对孩子的成长有利,并确信他的命令会使孩子懂得遵守纪律、尊敬长辈,却没有意识到他那冷酷的统治最终会导致孩子对他们手中权力的反抗。
第三段,相比之下,民主型父母就没有那么严格了,他总是愿意与孩子讨论并听取他们的意见。与专制型父母相比,民主型父母只立下少数规定,因为他们知道孩子必须靠自己在生活中学得一些东西。因此,这类父母更喜欢扮演一个建议者的角色,并在孩子需要帮助的时候向他们伸出援助之手。
最后一段,对孩子实行民主的父母太少了。然而,这类父母是最理想的父母。对孩子要求太多或太少都会使孩子对家长产生不满和愤恨。一位好的父/母亲应该对孩子进行指导并给予建议;他不应该对孩子进行统治或者完全忽视他们。
由此可见,第一段首先提出了本文的主题思想句,In terms of how they treat their children, parents fall into three basic types: autocratic, democratic, and permissive。其中关键要掌握三个关键词:autocratic,democratic,and permissive,因为下文分别要对这三种类型父母进行描述。由此可推知,在对第一类和第二类父母对孩子的态度的介绍之后,随之而来的应该是对纵容型父母的描述。这时,再参照最后一段,可以得出民主型父母是本文作者所推崇的一种类型,这同时也为我们补写缺省段落起到了点睛的作用,即在阐述纵容型父母时,要着重从强调他/她对孩子的态度上所产生的负面影响入手。
原文中一些有用的短语:
1)generally speaking一般而言(=in general)
e. g. Generally speaking/In general, people like her. 人们一般都喜欢她。
2)in terms of根据,按照
e. g. In terms of the benefits of sports, they can keep us healthy, and cultivate our team spirit. 从体育运动给我们带来的好处讲,它们可以使我们保持身体健康,并且培养我们的合作精神。
3)fall into:分成(=classify into)
e. g. This topic falls naturally into three sections. 这个论题可自然地分成三个部分。
4)be good for对……有益
e. g. It isn't good for children to give them everything they want. 孩子们要什么就给什么,这对他们并无益处。
5)tie up阻碍;使动弹不得
e. g. a): The accident tied up the traffic for hours. 这宗事故使交通阻塞了好几个小时。
b)I can't come out tonight. I'm a bit tied up at work. 今晚我来不了,我有工作实在脱不开身。
6)be willing to do sth乐于做……
e. g. As an eloquent girl, she is always willing to participate in various debates held in her school. 她很善辩,总是愿意参加学校组织的各种形式的辩论赛。
7)lay down(坚定或正式)阐述;声明;规定
e. g. The regulations lay down that members must always sign guests in. 规则规定会员必须为带来的客人签字。
8)on one's own单独地;独自地
e. g. How do you like living on your own?你觉得独自生活怎么样?
7.
Write an outline. Read the following passage carefully and compose a "topic outline" for it. Women's Lib
Women in Britain are without doubt better off today than they used to be. At the beginning of the nineteenth century women seem to have had almost no rights at all. They could not vote, or even sign contracts. Their marriages were arranged by their parents, and once they were married they could not own property. Most of the time they were kept at home, and even when they were allowed to work, they were never given responsible jobs. It is strange to think that, as far as we know, most women were happy with this situation.
Today the position is quite different. Women can now vote, and choose their own husbands. In 1970 a law was passed to give them an equal share of property in the case of divorce, and in the same year the Equal Pay Act gave them the right to equal pay with men for work of equal value.
Yet despite these changes, there is no doubt that there are still great differences in status between men and women. Many employers—maybe even the majority—seem to ignore the Equal Pay Act, and the average working woman is likely to earn only about half what a man earns for the same job. Most women who do work still do unskilled jobs, while only a small proportion of the country's workers—possibly one third—are in fact women. This small percentage is partly because of a shortage of nurseries. If there were sufficient nurseries, up to twice as many women might well go out to work. There is also great inequality in education. Only a quarter of all university students are women, and at present boys'schools are undoubtedly much better than girls' schools.
1. Deprived of all human right of women in the 19th century
A. No voting rights
B. Arranged marriage by parents
C. Without responsible jobs
2. Enhancement in women's position nowadays
A. Voting rights
B. Be responsible for their own marriage
C. Having the right to equal pay with men
3. Great differences in status between men and women
A. Less payment than men
B. Doing unskilled jobs
C. Suffering inequality in education
[解析] 这篇文章篇幅较短,全文共三个自然段。通过阅读分析得知,这是一篇关于过去与现在妇女地位相对比的文章。很自然地全文可以分为三个部分,即过去、现在妇女的地位及现在仍存在的一些问题。这样,全文脉络清晰明了。
首先,第一部分写的是19世纪妇女在自身权利方面存在的一些问题,她们没有选举权,婚姻是父母包办的,并且没有负责任的工作方面的权利。这样一来,第一部分的提纲可列为:
1. Deprived of all human right of women in the 19th century
A. No voting rights
B. Arranged marriage by parents
C. Without responsible jobs
其次,第二部分就是从与第一部分所对应的方面写出了如今妇女所享有的权利,这样第二部分的基本思路便与第一部分基本相似。其提纲就显而易见地可以这样写:
2. Enhancement in women's position nowadays
A. Voting rights
B. Be responsible for their own marriage
C. Having the right to equal pay with men
最后,通过今昔相比,文章又提出了现如今依然存在的问题。其提纲可列为:
3. Great differences in status between men and women
A. Less payment than men
B. Doing unskilled jobs
C. Suffering inequality in education
这样,通过层层分析文章的脉络也就一目了然,提纲也就应运而生了。