纵览历年的作文试题，我们可以发现论说文占绝大多数，但近年应用文有上升的势头（01.6、02.1是书信体，91.6、02.6是图表作文）。就话题而言，主要有三大类：社会热门话题、校园话题和日常生活话题。以下是历年作文题的汇总与统计，建议大家研究一下出题规律并写写看。

一、 历年四级考试作文题统计

社会热门话题

(87.9) Women in Modern World

(90.6) Make Our Cities Greener

(91.1) Bicycle --An Important Means of Transport in

China

(91.6) Changes in People's Diet

(94.1) The World Is Getting Smaller and Smaller

(96.1) The Two-day Weekend

(96.6) Global Shortage of Fresh Water

(98.1) Harmfulness of Fake Commodities

校园话题

(88.6) An Early Morning Walk

(92.6) How I Overcome My Difficulties in Learning

English

(94.6) My Ideal Job

(95.6) Advantage of Job Interview

(97.6) Getting to Know the World Outside the Campus

(99.6) Reading Selectively Or Extensively?

(00.1) How I Finance My College Education

(00.6) Is A Test of Spoken English Necessary?

(01.1) How to Succeed in a Job Interview?

(01.6) A letter to a Schoolmate

(02.1) A Letter to the University President about the

Canteen Service on Campus

(02.6) Student Use of Computers.

(03.9) The Day My classmate fell IU (or Got Injured)

(03.12) A Letter in Reply to a Friend

日常生活话题

(89. 1) The Tape Recorder

(90. 1) What Would Happen If There Were No Power

(92.1) Is Failure a Bad Thing?

(93.1) Positive and Negative Aspects of Sport

(93.6) My Most Faror ite program

(95.1) Can Money Buy Happiness?

(97.1) Practice Makes Perfect

(98.6) Do "Lucky Numbers"Really Bring Good Luck?

(99.1) Don' t Hesitate to Say "NO"

(03.1) It Pays to Be Honest

(03.6) An Eye-Witness Account of a Traffic Accident

二、历年考题汇总

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注： 1. 每题前面的数字表示其考试年、月份，如：87.9表示这是87年9月的考题；

2. 点击这个数字可以查看该篇作文的范文；

3. 题目后如有括号，其中的数字为字数要求，如无特别说明，通常为100字。

87.9 Women in the Modern World

1. Women are playing an increasing important part in

society today.

2. With the changes in their social role, women's

position in the family has been improved as well.

3. In spite of these changes, the liberation of women

has not been completely realized.

88. 6 An Early Morning Walk

1. One morning I got up very early, and everything

around was very quiet.

_______________________________________________________

2. When I arrived at the park, I found, to my surprise,

that there were so many people there.

__________________________________________

3.

_____________________________________________________________Taking

early morning walks makes a man healthy and wise.

89. 1 The Tape Recorder

1. The tape recorder is one of the most welcome and

popular electronic devices ever invented.

________________________________________

2. This device is useful in many ways.

_____________________________________________________________________

3. However, it can also become a nuisance.

_____________________________________________________________________

90. 1 What Would Happen If There Were No Power

1. Ever since early this century, electricity has become

an essential part of our modern life.

_________________________________________________________________

2. If there were no electric

power,__________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

3. Therefore,_

_________________________________________________________

90.6 Make Our Cities Greener

1. 城市绿化的现状

2. 绿化的好处（如：清洁空气，美化城市，改善气候……等等）

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3. 怎样才能实现绿化

91.1 Bicycle--An Important Means of Transport in China

1. 为什么自行车在中国这样普及

2. 和汽车的比较

3. 自行车在中国的前途

91.6 Changes in People's Diet

Study the following table carefully and your composition must be based on the information in the table. Write three paragraphs to:

(1) state the changes in people's diet（饮食）in the past five years;

(2) give possible reasons for the changes;

(3) draw your own conclusions.

You should quote as few figures as possible.

92.1 Is Failure a Bad Thing

1. 失败是常有的事

2. 人们对失败有各种不同的态度

3. 我对失败的态度

92.6 How I Overcome My Difficulties in Learning English

1. 你在英语学习中有哪些困难？

2. 我是如何克服这些困难的？

93.1 Positive and Negative Aspects of Sport

1. 体育运动的好处；

2. 体育运动可能带来的副作用；

3. 我参加体育运动的体会；

93.6 My Most Favorite Program

1.我最喜爱的电视（或无线电）节目是

2.这类节目的内容和特点

3.我喜欢它的原因

You can write the composition in one or more paragraphs. Remember to write it neatly.

94.1 The world Is Getting Smaller and Smaller

1. 现代化的交通工具越来越发达

2. 人与人之间的交往越来越频繁

3. 结论

94.6 My Ideal Job

1. 人们对职业各有不同的理想

2. 我理想的职业是什么

3. 我怎样为我理想的职业作准备

95. 1 Can Money Buy Happiness?

1.有人认为金钱是幸福之本(source of happiness)

2.也有人认为金钱是万恶之源(root of all evil)

3.我的看法

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95. 6 Advantage of Job Interview

1.

现在找工作一般都要面试，通过面试，面试者（interviewer）和应试者（interviewee）可以相互了解情况。

2.面试者可以向应试者介绍情况如工作性质、条件、待遇等。

3.应试者也有机会给对方留下一个好印象，如可以表现出自信心，可以介绍教育背景、工作能力等。

96. 1 The Two-day Weekend

1. 双休日给大学生带来的好处。

2．双休日可能给大学生带来的问题。

3．我应当怎样过双休日

96. 6 Global Shortage of Fresh Water

1．人们以为淡水是取之不尽的（提示：雨水、河水、井水……）。

2. 实际上淡水是非常紧缺的（ 提示：人口增加，工业用水增加， 污染……）。

3 . 我们应该怎么办。

97.1 Practice Makes Perfect

1．怎样理解"熟能生巧"？

2．例如：在英语学习中……

3．又如……

97.6 Getting to Know the World Outside the Campus

1．大学生了解社会的必要性

2．了解社会的途径(大众媒介，社会服务等)

3．我打算怎么做

98. 1 Harmfulness of Fake Commodities

1.目前社会上有不少假冒伪劣商品(fake commodities)。为什么会有这种现象？

2.举例说明假冒伪劣商品对消费者个人、社会等的危害。

98.6 Do "Lucky Numbers" Really Bring Good Luck?

1.有些人认为某些数字会带来好运

2.我认为数字和运气无关......

99. 1 Don ' t Hesitate to Say "NO"

1. 别人请求帮助时，在什么情况下我们说"不"

2. 为什么有些人在该说"不"的时候不说"不"

3. 该说"不"时不说"不"的坏处

99. 6 Reading Selectively or Extensively?

1.有人认为读书要有选择

2.有人认为应当博览群书

3.我的看法

2000.1 How I Finance My College Education

1. 上大学的费用(tuition and fees)可以通过多种途径解决

2. 哪种途径适合于我(说明理由)

2000.6 Is A Test of Spoken English Necessary?

1. 很多人认为有必要举行英语口语考试，理由是……

2. 也有人持不同意见……

3. 我的看法和打算

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Is a Test of Spoken English Necessary?

A test of spoken English will be included as an optional

component of the College English Test (CET).

_____________________________________

2001.1 How to Succeed in a Job Interview?

1.面试在求职过程中的作用

2.取得面试成功的因素：仪表，举止谈吐，能力，专业知识，自信，实事求是...... 2001. 6 A Letter to a Schoolmate

Suppose you are Zhang Ying. Write a letter to Xiao Wang,

a schoolmate of yours who is going to visit you during

the week-long holiday.

1. 表示欢迎

2. 提出对度假安排的建议

3. 提醒应注意的事项

2002.1 A Letter to the University President about the

Canteen Service on Campus

假设你是李明，请你就本校食堂的状况给校长写一封信，内容应涉及食堂的饭菜质量、价格、环境、服务等，可以是表扬，可以是批评建议，也可以兼而有之。

January 12th, 2002

Dear Mr. President,

__________________________________________

LiMing

1. 上图所示为19xx年、19xx年、20xx年某校大学生使用计算机的情况，请描述其变化；

2. 请说明发生这些变化的原因（可从计算机的用途、价格或社会发展等方面加以说明）；

3. 你认为目前大学生在计算机使用中有什么困难或问题。

2002.12 It pays to Be Honest

You should write at least 120 words according to the

outline given below in Chinese.

1. 当前社会上存在许多不诚实的现象。

2. 诚实利人利己，做人应该诚实。

2003. 6 车祸见证书An Eye-Witness Auount of a Traffic Accident

所写见证书须包括以下内容：

1． 车祸发生的时间及地点

2． 你所见到的车祸情况

3． 你对车祸原因的分析

2003.9 The Day My Classmate Fell Ill (or Got Injured).

1.简单叙述一下这位同学生病（或受伤）的情况

2.同学，老师和我是如何帮助他/她的

3.间的这种相互关爱给我的感受是……

2003.12 A Letter in Reply to a Friend

Directions:For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to

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write a letter in reply to a friend's inquiry about

applying for adimission to your college or

university.You should write at least 120 words according to the outline given blow in Chinese:

1． 建议报考的专业及理由

2． 报考该专业的基本条件

3． 应当如何备考

三、参考范文

87.9 Women in the Modern World

Women are playing an increasingly important part in

society today. In many countries, more and more women are no longer housekeepers. They have their own jobs as workers, farmers or even leaders. We can say that almost all jobs that men can do are done equally well by women. Women are no longer looked down upon by society. With the changes in their social role, women's position in the family has been improved as well. Husbands and wives are now more equal in the family. They cope with problems of daily life together and share happiness with each other. Also, in today's families, it is more and

more rare to find women busy with cooking while the men are sitting comfortably in armchairs, reading

newspapers.

In spite of these changes, the liberation of women has not been completely realized. A number of men still

jealously guard against their rights and regard women as incapable creatures. Few women are allowed to attend important international meetings dominated by men. That is really the problem we should solve immediately.

88. 6 An Early Morning Walk

One morning I got up very early, and everything around was very quiet. As I had nothing to do, I decided to take a walk to the park. While I was walking, I found that there were only some young men running in the street. They looked healthy and happy.

When I arrived at the park, I found, to my surprise,

that there were so many people there. Some of them were doing morning exercise. Others were practicing kung fu. The rest, especially old people, were taking walks. They seemed to look younger than their real ages.

An early morning walk can help one to keep fit and work efficiently. It can change one's mood and make one's life happier. I think that everyone, young or old,

female or male, should get up early and take morning 6

walks. Taking early morning walks makes a man healthy and wise.

89. 1 The Tape Recorder

The tape recorder is one of the most welcome and popular electronic devices ever invented. Nowadays, almost every family has a tape recorder. It can record people's

voices or popular songs or some other things that people would like to listen to more than once.

This device is useful in many ways. For example, a reporter can use it in interviews instead of the old,

less accurate means of writing them in a notebook. Also, in studying foreign languages, students can use it to improve their listening ability. Moreover, they can

record their own voice to improve their pronunciation in the foreign language.

However, it can also become a nuisance. Your hearing can be seriously harmed if you listen to a recorder with the volume too high. And, if you can't control yourself, you can waste a lot of time listening to a recorder. So, if used properly, the recorder will serve you well. If used improperly, it can do harm to you.

90. 1 What Would Happen If There Were No Power

Ever since early this century, electricity has become an essential part of our modern life. It plays an important role in many fields such as industry, agriculture and the daily life of men. Electricity is a source of energy that makes it possible for the factories to turn out products and for people to create comfortable living conditions.

If there were no electric power, things would be quite different. Machines could not run and people would have to fall back on their hands to produce what is essential for them to keep alive. Traffic would have to stop at night because there would be no lights in the street. A world in darkness would not be a pleasant one. In a word, things would be in a mess.

Therefore, we should realize the importance of

electricity. As electricity is insufficient in our

country, we should be frugal in using electricity. We should make great efforts to produce more electricity. 90.6 Make Our Cities Greener

Recent efforts toward the greening of our cities have achieved much, although the results are still far from satisfactory. In recent years many trees have been 7

planted in the cities and much care has been taken of the planted trees. In spite of all this, the greening

process is relatively slow compared with cities in many other countries. For example, the green space available on average to each Shanghai citizen is only 0.4 Mu while every Londoner has more than 20 Mu.

We can benefit much from making our cities greener by planting trees. First, trees absorb carbon dioxide to

produce oxygen which is essential to the health of human beings. Second, trees and other greenery make our cities more beautiful. Third, trees can also improve the

climate of the cities.

Since we can get so much from making our cities greener, we should spare no effort to do that. We should plant more trees and take better care of them. We also should not cut down as many trees as we like. In a word, we should do everything to add to the greening of our cities.

91.1 Bicycle--An Important Means of Transport in China The bicycle is the most common means of transport in our country. There are several reasons for that. First, most people are not rich enough to buy a car. Since the bicycle is not expensive, it is affordable by the

average Chinese families. Second, China has a large population and the traffic is heavy. The bicycle has the advantage of being small in size. A road which can only allow two cars to pass may allow more than ten bicycles to run side by side. Finally, people enjoy riding a

bicycle to school and to work. It is so pleasant and the exercise is good for people's health.

Compared with a car, a bicycle has its disadvantages and advantages. For instance, a bicycle is not fit for a

long distance trip. But a person who sits all day long in a car might get fat and unhealthy, while a person on a bicycle may gain good health and pleasure.

The bicycle is popular in China and it will remain so

for a long time to come. Many things must change before cars become common in China. Therefore, in the

foreseeable future, the bicycle will still be welcome. 91.6 Changes in People's Diet

From the chart we can see that during the past five years there have been great changes in people's diet. The greatest change occurs in grain consumption, which has dropped 4% from 49% in 1986 to 45% in 1990 in total 8

food consumption. The second greatest change is in milk consumption, which increased from 10% to 13%. But on the other hand, two trends can be observed in the

consumption of meat and fruit and vegetables.Meat Csumption increased while that of fruit and vegetables dropped.

What has caused the great changes in people's diet? The main reason, I think, lies in the improvement in

people's income level. With the development of our society, people are becoming richer and richer, which enables them to purchase more nutritious food such as meat and milk. In the meantime, grain consumption in people's diet consequently declined gradually.

So from the analysis, we can draw a conclusion that our society is progressing and people are living a better

life than ever before. We are now able to purchase more delicious and nutritious food, resulting in an

improvement in our health.

92.1 Is Failure a Bad Thing

Failure is a common thing in our daily life. As

students, we sometimes fail to get high scores in our

examinations. When we play games, we might be beaten by others. And there are times when we fail to do

satisfactory work. All these failures happen naturally and almost every one of us has such experiences.

However, there are different attitudes towards failure. Some people lose heart when they fail; they think the world is at its end. Some people don't take failure

serious but just let it be. And some others learn much from failure, and therefore see the light of hope

through failure.

In my opinion, what really counts is not failure itself, but what we think of failure and what we do after

failure. As long as we don't give up, keep believing in ourselves, and in the meantime learn from failure, we'll certainly make our mark in the end. So I am never afraid of failure, for I believe that failure is not a bad

thing. Rather, "Failure is the mother of success".

92.6 How I Overcome My Difficulties in Learning English To a Chinese, the task of learning English well is not easy. So I, like many other English learners, have met difficulties in learning English during the past seven

years. But I managed to overcome them and made much progress.

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The spelling and meaning of words can be said to be the first difficulty I met as a beginner. But I found our my own way to deal with them. As to spelling, I never

copied a new word again and again to remember it, but tried to find its relevance to the sound. In fact, as long as I can read the word out, I can write it out. As to the meaning, I rarely recite its Chinese translation but often put the word into the sentence to learn its meaning. Moreover, if you use a word quite often, its spelling and meaning will be easy to remember. After all, we are learning English in order to use it.

Grammar and idioms may be another difficulty. But I have also got over it. I have not read lots of grammar books. But I spent much time reading the articles written by native speakers or specialists in English. By doing so, I came to gain "a sense of English language".

Finally, I want to say that overcoming all these

difficulties requires perseverance. In the past seven years I spent at least an hour on English each day. I believe this is an important reason why I am able to make progress in learning English.

93.1 Positive and Negative Aspects of Sport.

Sports benefit us in many aspects. When taking part in sports, we get the chance to train almost all parts of our body. There is no doubt that properly balanced physical activities keep us physically fit. Furthermore, sports can enrich our life and maintain our

psychological health. Through participation, everyone can learn that on the playing field he not only competes for himself but also for his team. Sports teach us about consideration, cooperation and optimism, and how to cope with difficulties.

But sports can do harm to those people who cannot balance their activities properly. Training too hard may

hurt their body, exhaust their energy and even make them disabled.

Personally, I love sports. I enjoy participating in

sports. I feel that I not only gain a well-balanced life

through sports, but also get more chances to move closer to nature. Sports have really added happiness to my daily life.

93.6 My Most Favorite Program

The News Report has always been my favorite TV program. Almost everyday I turn on the TV at 6:30 p.m. and wait 10

for the news program. This has become a part of my life. The News Report contains a large amount of information --from the international political situation to the

latest football game. Because of its fast pace,which is the most important character of the news programs can contain much information in a short time. In my opinion, the News Report is more than a TV program. It is a way

of communication. From this program, people can know and understand world affairs. The world thus becomes smaller and smaller. I especially appreciate this benefit of

atching the news.

94.1 The World Is Getting Smaller and Smaller

Most of us have had an experience which reminds us the world is getting smaller. Perhaps when you went to some places far away from the city you lived in and thought you knew nobody there, you were surprised to find that you ran into one of your old classmates on the street! Then both of you cried out, "What a small world!"

Why is the world getting smaller and smaller? For one thing, modern technology has created various means of transportation. And they are more and more available. Buses, trains, planes and taxis are found in most cities of the world. They carry goods and passengers from and to every corner of the world. For another thing, with

the development of modern society, people are in contact with one another more frequently. Everyday we must deal with a lot of people unknown to us before. The more advanced a society, the more contacts we make with others.

So we can draw the conclusion that as long as technology makes progress, the world will grow smaller and smaller. 94.6 My Ideal Job

Everyone has his own ideal job. Some want to be doctors, some want to be teachers, and even some want to be engineers.

My ideal job is teaching. Firstly, I like children very much. I would like to sing, to dance, and to play with them. Secondly, a teacher has two vacations each year. I can enjoy myself during the summer and winter holidays. Finally, I want to teach the students all I know and help them to explore their potential so that they can work better for our that country in the future.

In order to be a good teacher, I will study hard not only in class, but also in daily life. I will train my

11

patience, improve my handwriting, and enrich my

knowledge. In a word, I will study harder than ever to prepare for my future teaching job.

95. 1 Can Money Buy Happiness?

Can money buy happiness? Various people have various answers. Some people think that money is the source of happiness. With money, one can buy whatever he wants. With money, one can do whatever he likes. So, in their minds, money can bring comfort, security and so on. Money, as they think, is the source of happiness.

But there are still a lot of others who think that money is the root of all evil. Money drives people to steal, to rob, and to break the law. A lot of people became

criminals just because they were in search of money. And in the Western countries, there is nothing that can't be bought by money. Many people lose their own lives when hunting it.

I think that money is essential to life and we cannot do without money. But even though money is necessary to life, it can't buy happiness. Happiness is not something that can be measured by money. It is a state of mind. One can have plenty of money, with which he can buy whatever he wants, and at the same time he is not happy because he is never satisfied or he is troubled by

various kinds of problems. Therefore, although money is necessary for a happy life, it can't buy happiness.

95. 6 Advantage of Job Interview

When looking for a job, you will most likely have a job interview first. This seems to be in fashion now.

Through the interview the interviewer and the

interviewee can talk face to face, which provides a way for them to know each other better.

On one hand, the interviewer can introduce the main aspects of the job opening to the interviewee, such as the specific requirements for the job, the working

conditions, and the wages and benefits the interviewee will get.

On the other hand, the interviewee also has a chance to give the employer a good impression. He can talk with confidence and show the interviewer how well he is educated and how good his working ability is. And it will be better if he emphasizes that this is the very

job he wants and he won't cast an eye on any other jobs. The interviewer will most probably be moved.

12

Through the job interview, people who look for a job will have a better chance of getting a good one and those who need people to do a job will have a better chance of finding someone that is qualified.

96. 1 The Two-day Weekend

The two-day weekend has brought a lot of benefits to college students. It not only offers us more time to get rid of tiredness and have a good rest, but also gives us more chances to take up some hobbies, such as fishing, reading, or gardening. From these activities we can

learn many things outside the classroom, which will add to our knowledge.

Despite the convenience it brings us, the two-day

weekend has also given rise to quite a few problems. The most serious one is that the weekdays are filled with

more lessons, sometimes too many. Because our classes are limited to Monday through Friday, we have to take more lessons each day than in the past. This leaves us little time to catch our breath during the weekdays. In order to benefit most from the two-day weekend, I have decided to make a good plan for the two-day

weekend. Of course I should take this chance to relax. But during the weekend, I will still set aside enough time to study. By doing so,I can have a good time as well as make progress in my studies.

96. 6 Global Shortage of Fresh Water

Many people believe that the world's supply of fresh

water will never be used up. They think that fresh water comes from such a variety of sources that it is always sufficient for use. Such an opinion leads to a shocking waste of water.

As a matter of fact, the earth is short of fresh water. Furthermore, with the rapid growth of the world's

population, the rising demand for water by industry, and the serious pollution of our surroundings, the world is facing the danger of running out of fresh water.

Actually, in some big cities, fresh water cannot meet the daily needs.

Therefore, to find new ways to save water is an urgent task. First, we should pass strict laws to control any

waste of water. Second, scientists must work even harder to purify sea water and polluted water, and try to find substitutes to reduce the use of fresh water.

97.1 Practice Makes Perfect

13

The famous saying "Practice makes perfect" is widely accepted today. It means if we practice unfamiliar things again and again, we'll be able to perform it perfectly.

The practice of learning English is a good example. We are not living in an English speaking country. So, in order to learn it well, we need extra practice, such as reading English books, going to English corners or

communicating with foreigners. Only sitting at the desk cannot lead to the mastery of English.

As another example, if we want to be skilled in using the computer, we also need to practice using it. Some children become little experts in computer, just because they play with it everyday. On the contrary, if we just stick to books, we will still feel confused when using

computers. Judging from the evidence offered, we might safely draw the conclusion that practice makes perfect. 97.6 Getting to Know the World Outside the Campus With the rapid development of society, it is essential for college students to get to know the world outside

the campus. There are a variety of reasons why we should do that. The primary one is that we can expand our

horizons. Nowadays, as students, our knowledge is mostly derived from books, which is really limited. Only

through contact with society will we learn more

practical things. Second, it will enable us to be more sophisticated after graduation. Finally, knowing the

world outside the campus may awaken in us a high sense of duty and help us make greater achievements in the future.

As is known to all, there are many ways we can know the society, such as through community service or keeping informed through TV, radio or newspapers.

As a university student, I will read newspapers and

magazines to enrich my knowledge and do some volunteer work for the community or take up a part-time job in my spare time so that I can learn from my experience and prepare for my future work.

98. 1 Harmfulness of Fake Commodities

In recent years, a lot of fake commodities have appeared in the market. These fake commodities have done great harm to the consumers and the society.

Since the policy of reform was implemented, China's economy has improved. A lot of people getting richer, 14

and their living conditions are getting better. But

still some of them are not satisfied. They dream of getting rich overnight and living a heavenly life,

which, of course, is impossible to achieve by fair

means. So they risk breaking the law to produce the market fake commodities.

Once these fake commodities enter the market, they will do immeasurable harm to the society. The direct victims are the consumers. As the quality of the fake

commodities is always very poor, the consumers may suffer great losses. Certain fake commodities, such as food and medicine, will cause irreparable harm to the

health and well-being of the consumers. Fake commodities also cut into the profits of the brand-name-owners. Since the fake ones are cheaper, people tend to be reluctant to buy the genuine ones.

98.6 Do "Lucky Numbers" Really Bring Good Luck?

Some people take it for granted that some lucky numbers can bring them good luck. For instance, the so-called lucky number "8" is widely used now because it is sounded like "getting rich" in Chinese and is believed to bring good fortune.

Yet many others don't think so. They think that numbers have nothing to do with luck. They regard numbers simply as a mathematic symbols for counting. They are anything but a mystery. They laugh at those who think numbers can bring good luck.

I'm in favor of the latter opinion. I think our society is very modern now. We mustn't count on the so-called lucky numbers to fulfill our wishes. Whether we can have good luck depends on ourselves. If we work hard, good luck will come to us.

99. 1 Don ' t Hesitate to Say "NO"

In our daily life, there are many occasions on which we should not hesitate to refuse when asked for help. For one thing, when it is beyond our ability, we should give a direct reply "no". For another, when the thing we are asked for is unreasonable or even illegal, we should say "no" without hesitation.

However, it is not the case in our real life. Many

people prefer to say "yes" when they should say "no". Some are afraid to lose their face, since they think

refusal means their inability. Some people are afraid to offend their acquaintances' face, such as their friends, 15

relatives and so on.

In fact, doing so is quite harmful. If you agree to do the things beyond your ability, the result will only be

worse. The other might as well have asked another person who can help. And if you agree to do the unreasonable or even the illegal favors, such as cheating in the exam, you are in fact not helping the other but hurting him. You yourself will get into trouble too.

99. 6 Reading Selectively or Extensively?

Some people think when we read we should read

selectively. That is to say, we should select some books we are interested in and ignore the others. Reading

selectively can help us concentrate our limited time and attention on those selected books.

Others think we should read extensively. No matter what kind of book it is, we should look it over. We should read various kinds of books, whether we are interested in them or not. They maintain that reading extensively can help to enlarge our view and grasp the general knowledge in different fields.

In my opinion, the two reading ways have their roles respectively in our reading. However, the disadvantages of each methods are easy to see. If we only read the books we select or prefer, the framework of our

knowledge may not be complete. Our knowledge would be rather limited. And if we read without selection, we may not have so much time and energy to be specialized in one particular field. Therefore, the combination of the two methods is more reasonable.

2000.1 How I Finance My College Education

Several years ago new tuition fee policy was put into practice and college students were asked to pay a certain sum of money. And now, all the students, no matter what subjects they are engaged in, must pay for tuition.

There are many ways for a student to finance his college education. Most students ask their parents to pay the tuition fee and pay for their books, accommodation and other cost. A student can also apply for the

scholarship. Most universities set up scholarship to

offer money to the poor students who do well in entrance exams and reward those who work well at university. A student can also apply for the low-interest loans. In addition to the above, taking part-time jobs is also a 16

common way for a college student to get money to pay part of his tuition and fees.

So far as I'm concerned, I'd prefer earning the

scholarship. This means I must study hard and be a top student, which has always been my goal. After all, the task of a student is to study. And in addition to

solving my financial problems, getting the scholarship can also prove my ability and is good for my future. 2000.6 Is A Test of Spoken English Necessary?

A test of spoken English will be included as an optional

component of the College English Test (CET). Some people contend that it is absolutely necessary to hold a test of spoken English in China because we have been told

many times that a Chinese student who has been learning English for years cannot communicate with a native

English speaker. Sometimes even those top students who excel at grammar and writing skills find their English inadequate to express their thoughts freely when speaking. A test of spoken English will bring the

importance of speaking English to the awareness of the college students, and thus help them with their

communicating skills.

On the other hand, there are also people who maintain that good reading and writing skills would be enough for the average English learners. College students are already under considerable pressure from their

coursework. Another required test will only add to their burden. Also, some students may take the shortcut and only practice the questions according to the fixed format of the test, which will not actually improve their spoken English.

I believe that a test of spoken English will do more good than harm. Since China will continue its policy of opening and reform, the ability to speak fluent English is a must for anyone who wants to surpass others in a highly competitive society. Whether I take the test or not, I shall make all efforts to practice my spoken English in the rest years in college.

2001.1 How to Succeed in a Job Interview?

Nowadays, in an ever tighter job market, great

importance has been attached to an interview by both the employer and the applicant. The interview, so to speak, has become indispensable for getting a satisfactory job. On one hand, the interviewer can take advantage of the 17

occasion to learn about the candidates, such as their work experiences, education and their personalities, so as to pick out the right person for the company. On the other hand, the interviewee can make use of the

opportunity to get to know the job he is going to take up, the salary, the working conditions and many other things about the job he is interested in.

Therefore, the job interview is very important to a job-hunter. But how can one succeed in it?

Firstly of all, the interviewee must pay attention to his or her appearance. The first impression is always where we start. Get dressed properly and neatly.

Secondly, good manners are equally important. Don't be too proud, and neither too timid. Just be courteous. Thirdly, the interviewee must demonstrate his aptitude and skills for the job and his knowledge about the

job-related areas. Be confident. Last but not the least, the interviewee ought to be honest about his or her

personal as well as academic background, for honesty is the best policy.

To sum up, the job interview is indeed important, but there is no need to be nervous. As long as the

interviewee has the ability for the job, with careful preparation and a fairly confident and honest

performance, his or her success can be ensured.

2001. 6 A Letter to a Schoolmate

Dear Xiao Wang,

I'm delighted to learn that you are going to visit me during the week-long vacation. My parents will also be happy to see you again. I'm sure you will enjoy every minute here.

I know you are fond of swimming. A river lies not far

away from my home. We can go swimming there. I think it would be very pleasant and refreshing to swim in such hot summer days. In every big room of my home there is an air-conditioner. We can watch TV, play CDs or read books very comfortably at home.

A mountain about two miles away from here is beautiful and it is worth touring. We can go there on foot. When we climb to the top of the mountain, we can have a wonderful bird-eye view of the whole village.

Just phone me before you set off. There is no need for you to take anything. I'll prepare everything for you. I am looking forward to seeing you soon.

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2002.1 A Letter to the University President about the Canteen Service on Campus

January 12th, 2002

Dear Mr. President,

I'm very lucky to attend this world-famous university, but I'm afraid I'm not content with the canteen service on campus.

Firstly, the quality of the dishes should be improved. Undoubtedly, there are a lot of delicious dishes, but all the year round, they are the same. More and more

students are complaining about eating the same food each day. So I think the most urgent problem is variety.

Secondly, the price is a bit too high. Many of us hope that the canteen can provide us with not only delicious but also cheaper food.

Finally, the environment is so noisy that we can't enjoy our meals in good mood. I suggest that there be some soft music to help us relax.

These suggestions are not just of my own, but also of many other students. We hope our respectable president will pay attention to our suggestions.

By the way, the canteen workers are very patient and always smiling. So I think if our university offers them better conditions, they will offer us better service.

Best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Liming

2002. 6 Student Use of Computers

Students tend to use computers more and more nowadays. Reading this chart, we can find that the average number of hours a student spends on the computer per week has increased sharply. In 1990, it was less than 2 hours; and in 1995, it increased to almost 4 hours; while in 2000, the number soared to 20 hours.

Obviously computers are becoming more and more popular. There are several reasons for this. First, computers facilitate us in more aspects of life. Also, the fast

development of the Internet enlarges our demands for using computers. We can easily contact with friends in remote places through the Internet. Besides, the prices of computers are getting lower and lower, which enables more students to purchase them.

Along with the time spent on computers, there arise some problems. The most serious one is that many students are 19

spending so much time playing PC games so that they ignore their studies. It is urgent to let the students use computers in a proper way.

2002.12 It pays to Be Honest

Although honesty is believed to be a virtue, there are still dishonest people in our society. For example, some businessmen sell fake products to their consumers; some students cheat in the exams.

Dishonest people are short-sighted. Those who sell fake products may make money at first, but consumers won't buy their products any more. As a result, they will lose their fortune or even be sent to prison. By contrast, honest people gain a lot.

Those who always tell truth or keep to their promise not only let others trust them but gain respect from other people as well. Such persons are sure to have a lot of good friends. Because they are trustable and

respectable, everyone is eager to make friends with them. Besides, it is easier for a person with a good record to get a good job. Generally speaking, every

employer wants his employees to be honest. So we can say that anyone who is honest will be paid back later.

In a word, honesty wins trust, respect and honor. So it is important that we should be honest.

2003．6 An Eye-witness A ccount of a Traffic Accident Although traffic accident is a frequent topic around us,I had never withessed one until that frightful day, the 3rd of January 2002.

It was a fine day. Liming and I went shopping and were walking home on the sidewalk of the Chang'an Lane. There were not many people in the street and we were not in a hurry.

I was looking this way and that to enjoy the happy festival scene.When I looked at the main road,I saw a black car trying to overtake a white one in front of it.The black car made no signs and tried to pass the white one from the right side.Just then,the white car made a slight right turn and there it happened! With a shrieking braking noise and a "bang",the black car crashed into the tail of the white one, pushing it off

several meters ahead.The wind pane and the front of the black car were completely damaged,so was the tail of the white one.

I think the fault lay with the black car driver.Maybe he 20

thought there were not many cars and he could drive faster. And he should have made signs before overtaking the one in front.Another fault was that he should have overtaken from the left side. Of course,the white car driver should also be slightly blamed.Why did he make that slight turn right?

2003.9 The Day My Classmate Fell Ill

The whole city suffered from a terrible flu half an year ago.Unfortunately,my close friend John was defeated by the virus,who felt aching all through his body with a

high fever.His case became worse and worse with the time and had no stomach for any food.Being so worried about his case,we knew there needed hadly something to do to pull him out of agony.So,we asked doctors to resolve this problem with our life maintenance for the charge. News about the whole course was spreaded thorough the whole class,which made some afraid because of the possibility of being infected at the beginning.But, each of them said that they should help him.So,those fell into different groups to do something to help, such as writing down notice and other daily necessities for him.So,John defeated the flu disease.

Just as some classmates said that our society is full of love,quiet and warm,and ,no matter who you are,from where you are, which class you belong to, the world will be better and better if you contribute a little to it.

2003.12A Letter in reply to a Friend

December 27,2003

Dear Lily,

I am glad to receive your letter. In your letter, you ask me about what subject should you choose in our school.Iwould like offer my suggestion and I hope it will help you in some way.

In my opinion, as you are an arts student,I advise you to choose English language subject.The reasons mainly lie in two aspects:the best literal-arts in our school

is the English language major because English department is the biggest one in our school which has many

excellent professors and the best teaching

facilities;English major students will be in higher

demand in the labor market as China's entrance to WTO and the developent of global economy.

The entrance to our English department demands good command of English Language,especially the spoken 21

English because there is an additional oral test.

Therefore, to prepare for it, you should improve your spoken English. The way to improve, I suggest, is to listen to the native speakers first by radio or TV,and then imitate their pronunciations and tone. The most important is, you should speak aloud and practice more without fearing of losing face.

This is my personal advice and I hope I could give you some help.If you have any further questions, please feel free to write to me.

Best regarde

Yours,

Mark

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