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.
Read the following passage carefully and compose a "topic outline" for it. Computers may one day turn night into day—with good old, natural sunlight.
Colossal computer-controlled mirrors, thousands of feet across, may one day orbit the earth, reflecting sunlight onto a darkened United States.
Some scientists say that 16 of these mirrors, each about a half mile across could aim their reflected light at one area on the earth that was about 200 miles by 300 miles. That much light would equal about 56 moons.
The mirrors would be so high that they could catch the sun's light as it was shining on the other side of the earth. The mirrors could orbit—thousands of miles high—at the same speed as the earth turns on its axis. That way, the mirrors would always be over the same spot.
The aluminum-coated, plastic mirrors could be folded up and packed into a spaceship, according to the scientist. Once released a few hundred miles in space, the mirrors, powered by a solar powered engine, could make the rest of trip into space on their own.
The scientists say that the computer-controlled mirrors could also be made to tilt slowly, so the reflected sunlight would sweep slowly along the surface of the earth. For example, as night fell, the mirrors could be tilted to light up Boston. Later on, as darkness spread slowly westward, Chicago, for example, then San Francisco could be lit up. The reflected sunlight would allow these cities to save up electricity. And in emergencies, such as power-failures, the mirrors could light up the affected area.
What no one knows yet is what effect this artificial daytime would have on plants, animals, and humans. Would it confuse some animals and harm plants that are used to regular day-night cycles? The scientists recommend that studies be done to find out what bad effects there might be.
1. computers maybe one day turning night into day
A. Computer-controlled mirrors maybe orbiting the earth
B. The mirrors high enough to catch the sun's light
C. The mirrors being folded up and packed into a spaceship
D. The mirrors also being tilted slowly
2. No one knowing this artificial daytime's effect on plants, animals and humans
[解析] 这是一篇提纲抽取题。全文共有7个自然段。纵观全文,乍看内容较为细碎,不易总结出层次。但仔细阅读之后,不难发现,虽然段落短小,但中心非常明确,其实第一自然段就是总领全文的自然段,以下5个自然段全部围绕“Computers may one day turn night into day”这个中心来描述的讲述computer-controlled mirror怎样绕地球运行。第2段是说“Computer-controlled mirrors may orbit the earth.”紧接着下一段还是接着该问题继续展开,可合并。下面分别说mirrors的特点:
(1)would be high enough to catch the sun's light;
(2)could be folded up and packed into a spaceship;
(3)could also be tilted slowly.
最后一段独自形成一层意思,与第一自然段平行,是说目前还不太清楚这种人工照明会给动植物和人类带来什么影响。
3.
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 our system of education today, examinations are a common feature. Our present education system has often been criticized as too examination-oriented. However, one must remember that in offices and other areas of work, examinations still feature clearly. There is no doubt that the fear and influence of examination cause much preparation work. So it therefore appears that examinations whether considered good or bad would stay for a while as a test of human knowledge.
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In offices whether government or private ones, examination results show clearly whether a person is fit for promotion. The results indicate how much he knows about the work.
In our schools, examinations play several roles. Yearly school examinations help to grade students into different classes. Government examination help to stream students into different classes so that they can pursue a specific line of study.
In all these cases, examinations inculcate a spirit of hard work and competition. Students or office workers can refresh their mind again and again on what they have learnt. This maintains a certain individual and overall standard of knowledge.
Examinations are meant to test the intellect of a person, how much he knows or how he has learnt from a particular course. It is designed to make students study, which should be their immediate mission in life. In our competitive world today, examinations have a highly selecting or filtering role. In the university, students have to pass annual examinations before they are all owed to continue, or study a harder syllabus. The examination results would show whether the student is ready to start the next phase of his course. Moreover, for entrance into a university, preuniversity examination results would provide a guide as to judge whether a student has the minimum qualifications necessary. This is because the number of seats in the university is limited and only deserving, hard-working students should be given a place.
[解析] 该文章有5个自然段,要求根据内容补出第2段。
第一自然段简要讲述了现当今的教育中,考试是非常普遍的一种方式,用来考查学习和工作状况。虽然被指责以考试为导向,但它确实为工作和学习提供一种测试方式。
第三段和第四段讲述考试在职场和学校里施行的状况。
最后一段总结了考试的有利作用。
根据内容的上下关系,我们可以推断出,第二段应该在第一段的基础之上,讲“Examination”的具体状况,如它的目的、作用等。还可联系实际说明其作用。将上一段的内容扩展,同时联系下文。
在写议论文时,要根据文章的内容适当联系实际,或列数字,或打比方,或作比较,以丰富文章内容。
4.
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?
5.
Write a concluding paragraph for the following essay. How to Prepare for an Interview
Being interviewed is a situation that nearly everyone faces at some time in life, whether for college or for a job. Most people face this deal with anxiety and even fear. However, people who prepare for an interview avoid much of this anxiety. Preparing for an interview involves doing advance research, choosing the right outfit, and planning appropriate communication with the interview.
Doing research before the actual interview will increase the chances for a successful interview. Find out the location of the interview site and decide how to travel there to arrive on time. Nothing makes as poor an impression on an interviewer as arriving late. In addition, learn about the company or situation where you are being interviewed. This will help you ask intelligent questions. If your interview is for admission to a school, find out what courses the school offers in your field of interest. For a job interview, find out about the kind of work that the company does. If you already work at the company and are being interviewed for a promotion, research the duties of the job for which you are applying. Such research will show the interviewer that you are interested in obtaining the job or being admitted to the school.
Dressing appropriately for the interview is important because your appearance will be the first thing the interviewer notices about you. This means wearing clean, neatly pressed clothing and subdued color combinations such as brown or navy with white. You want to make a good impression, but at the same time you do not want to attract attention to your clothing. Also, you wear loud colors of overly noticeable clothes, the interviewer might question your judgement about what's acceptable behavior for a school or office setting.
Preparing what you might say to the interviewer will help you feel more in control of the situation. From your research, prepare a list of questions that you would like to ask the interviewer. As you prepare what you might say, remind yourself of what not to say. For instance, you won't want to ask questions that are too personal. Also, remind yourself not talk too much. Make a mental note to let the interviewer guide and control the course of the meeting. Also plan to answer the interviewer's questions fully, explaining your answers rather than replying by saying only yes or no. Remember, the interviewer is trying to from an impression of you and how you would fit in at the school or company.
By following these steps, you will be prepared for your interview and feel more confident about the result. You will also increase your chances of making the good impression that is important for getting accepted into the school of your choice or landing the job you want.
[解析] 这是一篇说明文。当我们研究怎样做一些事情时,通常会按时间顺序安排一系列事件。说明文的组织十分重要。在引言段,首先要声明介绍的事件以及它的重要性。对于如何面试成功,首先要说明其必要性。可以使用诸如:Preparing for an interview involves doing advance research, choosing the right outfit,and planning appropriate communication with the interview. 来导出文章的中心句。对于主体段落可以按照顺序列出主要步骤,文章的主体段落是对主题思想句的分项分点的详细阐述和说明,首先说在面试之前要多查阅一些相关的资料,并列举出很多的例子。在第三段中讲述了面试时穿着要得体。第四段讲述了要提前准备好在面试时所要表达的话题。很显然,本题所考的是补充其中一个结论段,我们可以使用这样中心思想:By following these steps, you will be prepared for your interview and feel more confident about the result. 这样读者才能大致了解整个过程。
6.
Read the following passage carefully and compose a "topic outline" for it. Oceanography has been defined as "The application of all sciences to the study of the sea".
Before the nineteenth century, scientists with an interest in the sea were few and far between. Certainly Newton considered some theoretical aspects of it in his writings, but he was reluctant to go to sea to further his work.
For most people the sea was remote, and with the exception of early intercontinental travelers or others who earned a living from the sea, there was little reason to ask many questions about it, let alone to ask what lay beneath the surface. The first time that the question "What is at the bottom of the oceans?" had to be answered with any commercial consequence was when the laying of a telegraph cable from Europe to America was proposed. The engineers had to know the depth profile of the route to estimate the length of cable that had to be manufactured.
It was to Maury of the US Navy that the Atlntic Telegraph Company turned, in 1853, for information on this matter. In the 1840s, Maury had been responsible for encouraging voyages during which soundings were taken to investigate the depths of the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Later, some of his findings aroused much popular interest in his book
The Physical Geography of the Sea. The cable was laid, but not until 1866 was the connection made permanent and reliable. At the early attempts, the cable failed and when it was taken out for repairs it was found to be covered in living growths, a fact which defied contemporary scientific opinion that there was no life in the deeper parts of the sea.
Within a few years oceanography was under way. In 1872 Thomson led a scientific expedition, which lasted for four years and brought home thousands of samples from the sea. Their classification and analysis occupied scientists for years and led to a five-volume report, the last volume being published in 1895.
1. The definition of oceanography
2. Before the 19th century, few scientists being interest in the sea.
3. The necessity to know more about the bottom of the sea due to the laying of the cable from Europe to America.
A. The beginning of people's interest in the sea after a telegraph cable from Europe to America being proposed
B. The important role of Maury of the US Navy in investigating the depths of the oceans
C. The living growths on the cable disproving without life in the deeper parts of the sea
4. Oceanography being under way within a few years
[解析] 列提纲的题目要求学生对文章的内容彻底了解。本文就海洋学(oceanography)展开了叙述,讲述了海洋学的定义和发展历史。
第一段开门见山,告知了oceanography的定义。
第二段讲述了在19世纪之前,对海洋有兴趣的科学家微乎其微。
第三段接着叙述大多数人都不会去询问有关大海的问题。在这遥远的大海底层,究竟有些什么,还是由于欧关之间的电报电缆的铺设才可以解答。
第四段讲述Maury of the US Navy在测量海洋深度方面起到了很重要的作用。
第五段讲述电缆上生长的生物推翻了一些科学家认为海底无生物的意见。
最后一段讲述海洋学还在发展当中。
从各段之间的关系我们可以进行一定的合并。第三、四、五段是讲述人们开始对海洋产生兴趣之后,海洋学的一些发展,如:经历了海洋测量之后,Maury所著的书,和对海洋底部到底有无生命产生了同以往不同的颠覆性意见。这三个部分可以合并。
7.
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. Nowadays, almost everyone has to compete with others for success, for good jobs, and for better lives. Unfortunately, many people who failed a few times lost their confidence.
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Self-confidence plays an important role in competition. With self-confidence, a weak team may defeat a strong one, common people may do their best or even accomplish missions impossible. In contrast, without self-confidence, sports stars, smart people, and great men may also fail. Such examples are numerous.
Since self-confidence is so important we should try hard to develop our self-confidence by aggressively getting involved in competition and trying to win all the time. At best, a win will make us realize our strengths; at worst, a loss will help US know our weakness. Since life is an endless competition, let's face it with self-confidence and succeed.
Quite a few college students lack self confidence. First, as the only child in the family, we have been depending too much on our parents at home and on teachers in school. We often doubt our ability and feel inferior to others. Second, except a few talents, most of us, who get used to being pushed around, fail to build up confidence in ourselves. Finally, life has become really tough. Difficult exams, financial problems and uncertainty of future careers make us envy those who are rich, or who have talent or who have powerful parents. Instead of working hard to get stronger, some of us become discouraged.
[解析] 全文共分四个自然段。要求根据内容补出第二自然段。文章讲述的是自信(self-confidence)在竞争中的重要作用。
文章将自信问题在大多数人中的匮乏作为开篇,也为全文定出了一个中心。下文就这一问题展开叙述。
第三段讲述“Self-confidence plays an important role in competition”。
第四段讲述我们为了增强自信可采取的办法。
由各段内容可得知,需要补出的第二自然段肯定是描写缺乏自信的方面的。从第一段最后一句“Unfortunately, many people who failed a few times lost their confidence.”中可得知,下文有必要对这一话题展开叙述,举例说明某一部分人确实缺乏自信心,并就该问题简要分析一下原因,为何会缺乏自信,以及因为缺乏自信所造成的一些后果。下文再开始讲述自信在竞争中发挥了重要作用,这样便衔接起来了。
关于补出缺失段落这类题型,重要的还是要分析内容,写出桥梁之段。