The Language of Music

A painter hangs his or her finished pictures on a wall, and everyone can see it. A composer writes a work, but no one can hear it until it is performed. Professional singers and players have great responsibilities, for the composer is utterly dependent on them. A student of music needs as long and as arduous a training to become a performer as a medical student needs to become a doctor. Most training is concerned with technique, for musicians have to have the muscular proficiency of an athlete or a ballet dancer. Singers practice breathing every day, as their vocal chords would be inadequate without controlled muscular support. String players

practice moving the fingers of the left hand up and down, while drawing the bow to and fro with the right arm-two entirely different movements.

Singers and instruments have to be able to get every note perfectly in tune. Pianists are spared this particular anxiety, for the notes are already there, waiting for them, and it is the piano tuner’s

responsibility to tune the instrument for them. But they have their own difficulties; the hammers that hit the string have to be coaxed not to sound like percussion, and each overlapping tone has to sound clear.

This problem of getting clear texture is one that confronts student conductors: they have to learn to know every note of the music and how it should sound, and they have to aim at controlling these sounds with fanatical but selfless authority.

Technique is of no use unless it is combined with musical knowledge and understanding. Great artists are those who are so thoroughly at home in the language of music that they can enjoy performing works written in any century.

2 Schooling and Education

It is commonly believed in United States that school is where people go to get an education. Nevertheless, it has been said that today children interrupt their education to go to school. The distinction between schooling and education implied by this remark is important.

Education is much more open-ended and all-inclusive than schooling. Education knows no bounds. It can take place anywhere, whether in the shower or in the job, whether in a kitchen or on a tractor. It includes

both the formal learning that takes place in schools and the whole universe of informal learning. The agents of education can range from a revered grandparent to the people debating politics on the radio, from a child to a distinguished scientist. Whereas schooling has a certain

predictability, education quite often produces surprises. A chance conversation with a stranger may lead a person to discover how little is known of other religions. People are engaged in education from infancy on. Education, then, is a very broad, inclusive term. It is a lifelong process, a process that starts long before the start of school, and one that should be an integral part of one’s entire life.

Schooling, on the other hand, is a specific, formalized process, whose general pattern varies little from one setting to the next. Throughout a country, children arrive at school at approximately the same time, take assigned seats, are taught by an adult, use similar textbooks, do homework, take exams, and so on. The slices of reality that are to be learned, whether they are the alphabet or an understanding of the working of government, have usually been limited by the boundaries of the subject being taught. For example, high school students know that there not likely to find out in their classes the truth about political problems in their communities or what the newest filmmakers are experimenting with. There are definite conditions surrounding the formalized process of schooling.

3 Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the topic Studying Abroad. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below:

1、目前很多中国学生出国留学，2、出国留学的好处，3、我的看法。

Nowadays, going abroad for studies is enjoying a striking popularity among adolescents. Importance should be attached to studying abroad.

There are a great many advantages of studying overseas. First and foremost, living and studying abroad offers students a different perspective of the world. On a university campus, international students are likely to encounter their counterparts from various countries and areas and are exposed to diverse ideas and values. What is more, overseas experience is the best opportunity for the real-life use of foreign languages. There is no better opportunity to improve second-language skills than living in the country in which it is spoken.

Generally peaking, it is my view that although going abroad is expensive and perhaps painful, the payoff is worthwhile. In the first place, in addition to knowledge, overseas students can gain precious experiences

that those who stay at home will never have. Furthermore, overseas experience, frustrating and painful as it may be, is conducive to the growth of adolescents.

4Directions: For this part you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic My Views on Examinations. You should write at least 120 words and base your composition on the outline below:

1、大学都用考试来衡量学生的成绩，

2、考试可能带来的副作用，

3、我对考试的看法。

My Views on Examinations

In most colleges and universities the examination is used as a chief means of deciding whether a student succeeds or fails in mastering a particular subject. Although it does the job quite efficiently, its side effects are also enormous。

To begin with, examinations lower the standards of teaching. Since teachers are often judged by examination results, they are reduced to training their students in exam techniques. No subjects can be taught successfully merely through being approached with intent to take examinations. In addition, the most undesirable effect is that

examinations encourage bad study habits. As the examination score is the only criterion for his academic performance, a student is driven to memorize mechanically rather than to think creatively。

In fact, few of us admit that examinations can contribute anything really important to the students’academic development. If that is the case, why cannot we make a change and devise something more efficient and reliable than examinations?

5 Directions： Write a composition about On Students Evaluating their Teachers according to the outline below．You should write at least １２０ words．

【思路点拨】

学生参与教师评价已被很多学校普遍采用；这一做法有其必要性但引发的问题也不少，你认为正确的方法应当怎样做？

【参考范文】

On Students Evaluating their Teachers

It is a common practice in many schools or universities for students to take part in the evaluation of a teachers performance．Every semester， by writing their evaluations on the forms provided， students are supposed to judge their lectures， interest in student problems，methods of assigning work， and general ability to conduct a class．

This will of course provide a good source for the school authority to know its teachers．However， it is very difficult to evaluate another persons performance objectively．It's very likely that a student writes

irresponsible remarks about his teacher simply because he has failed the course．Its also likely that a teacher receives good remarks because he gives few tests and assignments and hence， he is “ easy”．

Completing teacher evaluations requires maturity and

objectivity．Students are not mature and not always objective enough．They tend to be influenced by the grades they are earning and are biased in their judgments．It's true students evaluations are important sources， yet they are not the only source．They can only serve to be a part of a teachers evaluation．

6 Directions: Write acomposition about Credit Cards. You should write at least 120 words.

【思路点拨】

信用卡在国内越来越广泛使用，给我们的生活带来了方便，同时也被人认为鼓励消费，助长奢侈。你怎么看待这个问题？

【参考范文】

Credit Cards

Originally a rare thing, credit cards are used more and more in China. The holder of credit cards can buy goods and services without using cash. In addition. credit cards allow us to purchase things that we may not currently have the money to buy. Therefore, it is a great convenience for our life.

Although credit cards are becoming an acceptable part of the financial scene, they are still regarded with suspicion by many as being part of the "li Ve now pay later" syndrome. They provide encouragement to spend more money. Credit cards don't comply with our traditional virtue of practicing economy.

A reasonable person is not easily tempted to live beyond his means. If there are indeed such people, they will no doubt manage to do so even without credit cards. If used wisely, credits can make the payment easy or at least help to tide you over a period of financial difficulty.

7 Directions: Write a composition about Mobile Telephones on Campus according to the outline below. You sh ould write at least 120 words.

1.校园里越来越多的学生拿手机；2.手机对学生的影响 ;3.你的观点 。

【参考范文】

Mobile Telephones on Campus

Mobile telephones are becoming more and more popular. Even the students on campus begin to use mobile telephone. M obile telephone, on the one hand, is good to the students. For one thing , it enables them to keep in touch with their friends and family more conveniently and quickly. For another, it can make the students fashionable and proud.

On the other hand, mobile telephone has a negative effect on the students. First, it will cost them more money than before. Second. it will distract them from their study. Third, it will sometimes become a nuisance especially when it rings in class or in the library.

In my opinion. it is not good for the students on campus to use mobile telephone. Since the students' main purpose on campus is to study, they should pay much attention to their study. If they want to use mobile telephone, they can use it after graduation.

8Directions: Write a composition about Advertising according to the outline bdow. You should write at least 120 words.

1.广告非常普遍；

2.广告有一些消极影响；

3.对待广告的态度 。

【参考范文】

Advertising

Advertising has become increasingly specialized in modern times. In today's busness world, supply usually outnumbers demand. There is great competition among different manufacturers of the same kind of product to attract customers to their product. They always have to remind the consumer of the name and the qualities of their product. They do so by

advertising.

Advertisements have negative social effects as well as economic effects. Fi rst, some of the ads may not tell the truth and cheat the customers. Second, as often as not, ads encourage unnecessary buying. Third. ads usually portray young and beautiful people. Thus older, plain-looking people may feel as if they do not belong to the contemporary world.

It is certainly necessary for us to look at ads, for they provide valuable information on the function, quality and price of the product. However, we should beware of ads that do not tell the truth. Comparing ads for s milar products. we may become better informed and judge them more accu rately.

9 Directions: Write a composition about Modernization of Family Life according to the outline below. You sh ould write at least 120 words.

1. With the rapid development of the socieiy, family life is becoming modernized.

2. The modernization of family life brings us convenience and comfort.

3. In spite of this. these modern facilities also bring us disadvantages.

【参考范文】

Moder nization of Family Life

With the rapid development of the society, family life is becoming modernized. Years ago, people considered owning radios, sewing machines, watches and bicycles as beingmodernized. But in recent years, almost all families have TV seis, refrigerators and washing machines. It is very common to see people drive private cars.

The modernization of family life brings us convenience and comfort. One may enjoy TV or radio programs, communicate with his friends through the telephone line or work with hiscomputer while his washing machine. refrigerator and air-conditioner are running. And by cars one can quickly reach wherever he wants to go.

In spite of this, these modern facilities also bring us disadvantages. For example, radiation from TV sets and computers is harmful to our health; improper driving of cars becom es the major cause of traffic accidents. The quietness of a family is often disturbed by a false dialing or an

unwelcome phone call. But it is believed that these disadvantages will be disposed of with the improvement of modernization and our life will be healthier and more comfortable.

10 Directions: Write acomposition about Environment Pollution according to the outline bdow. You should write at least 120 words.

1.环境污染正在大范围发生：

2．对于污染发生的原因各有见解：

3．须采取措施解决污染问题。

【参考范文】

Environmental Pollution

With the development of industry and agriculture, people today all over the world are beginning to hear and learn more and more about the problem of pollution. M any people see pollution as only part of a larger and more complex problem, that is, the whole process of industrial production and consumption of goods. Others again see the problem mainly in connection with agricultu re, where new methods are helping farm ers grow more and more on their land to feed our ever-increasing populations. However. the land itself is gradually becoming worn out as it is being used, in some cases. too heavily, and artificial fertilizers can not restore the balance.

Whatever its underlying reasons. there is no doubt that much of the pollution caused could be controlled if only companies, individuals and governments would make more efforts. In the home there is an obvious need to control litter and waste. Food comes wrapped up three or four times in packages that all have to be disposed of; drinks are increasingly sold in bottles or tins which cannot be reused. This not only causes a litter problem , but also is a great waste of resources.

Pollution and waste combine to be a problem. Everyone can help to solve by cutting out unnecessary buying , excess consumption and careless disposal of the products we use in our daily lives.