Writing 1. Directions: [A] Title: On Quality of Buildings [B] Time: 40 minutes [C] You are required to develop the idea according to the following outline and the opening sentence. [D] Your essay should be written clearly on the answer sheet. Outline: 1. present situation; 2. possible reasons; 3. effective measures. Opening sentence: Recently, there is widespread concern over three building collapses, one in the south, two in the northeast. Sample for reference: On Quality of Buildings Recently there is a wide-spread concern over three building collapses, one in the south, two in the northeast, which claim several lives and ruin the resident’s properties. It is clear that the tragedies are mainly caused by poor construction quality, inferior building materials and slack management. Furthermore, the accidents have revealed not only the shortsightedness of construction firms to seek instant profit, but also the irresponsibility of those inspection supervisors. It is not too late, however, if we take remedial measures immediately. First of all, a law should be published, keeping construction firms within the bounds of responsibility. Besides, it is essential that every building, after being established, undergo a quality inspection from certain departments before it is deemed fit for accommodation. In brief, it must be noted that if these measures cannot come into force at once, the number of similar building accidents will be on the rise. 2. Directions: [A] Title: Leading Children in the Right Direction [B] Time limit: 40 minutes [C] Word limit: no less than 200 words [D] Your essay should be based on the outline below and should be written clearly on the answer sheet Outline: 1．中國(guó)兒童優(yōu)越的生活環(huán)境； 2．媒體對(duì)兒童造成的不利影響； 3．我們應(yīng)該如何引導(dǎo)和教育兒童。 Sample for reference: Leading Children in the Right Direction Since the reform and opening up of China, our country has made great progress. Our life is now full of different colors and opportunities, especially for children. Children who have been regarded as flowers of our motherland are now taken better care of. They are really living in a very comfortable environment. This is good but it is sometimes bad for them since the golden age of innocence seems to have disappeared. The new generation of Chinese live in a culture saturated with Hollywood movies, rock music, and media which confronts them with sex and violence. As Children are naturally vulnerable both emotionally and spiritually, these things affect children most seriously. What shall we do so as to protect children from the media which seems to be seeping into every facet of our lives? Obviously, there is no sense in trying to protect children from exposure to it because it is almost inevitable. We should teach them from an early age how to interpret what they are seeing. Teach them to dismiss sex and violence as tasteless trash. We can also use media at our disposal and show children the wonders of the world, inspire and stimulate them. It is our responsibility to lead them in the right direction. 3. Directions: [A] Title: Equality is Now the Key Issue for Women [B] Time: 30~40 minutes [C] Word limit: about 200 words [D] You are required to develop the idea according to the following information. There are still many challenging issues for women to face in the modern society. Yet among them, equality is the key issue. [E] Your essay should be written neatly on ANSWER SHEET 2. Sample for reference: Equality is Now the Key Issue for Women Equality is at the center of everything which touches women worldwide. As long as women remain unequal they can’t have access to resources, they can never participate in political decision-making, they can’t make their own choices in life. That is the bottom line. At the top of this list is the increasing, persistent burden of poverty on women. In many societies women are invisible. They grow the crops, bring up the children, take care of the home, sell food they produce in their garden and work in the informal sector—that sector which doesn’t get counted when a country’s Gross Domestic Product is calculated. Education is a major need for women and girls. Today, in spite of repeated calls at international conferences, education for them is often out of reach, or not provided, and is frequently unequal. Educational opportunities for women are limited at best. Additionally, women’s health needs have in the past often been overlooked, or assumed to be the same as men’s. However, women have specific health needs which must be understood, and that women must have full access to adequate health-care services. An old phenomenon but one which has only been recognized as a social ill in recent years is violence against women. Generally, this means domestic violence, as women are far more likely to be injured by their husbands or male partners than they are to initiate physical attacks. Violence against women is found throughout the world. Another problem is women’s lack of power with men in their communities, and they are seldom asked for the opinions when policies are formulated. Nor do most societies actively promote the advancement of women. In one word, women are still left out of decision-making, they still lack access to economic development, their health needs are neglected and their education inferior, their special skills and gifts as women go unrecognized, just because men and women are still unequal. This issue needs the effort from the whole society and more from women themselves. 4. Directions: [A] Title: Way to Success [B] Time: 30~40 minutes [C] You are required to develop the idea according to the following topic sentence. In order to be successful in your dealing with people or handing business, you must use the right approach. [D] Your essay should be written neatly on ANSWER SHEET 2. Sample for reference: Way to Success In order to be successful in your dialing with people or handling business, you must use the right approach. First of all, you are to be diplomatic so that you do not put people in a defensive position. When people are forced into a defensive position, they close their minds and will not listen to you. Whenever possible, it is better to deal with problems calmly and logically, and without hostility. It is rarely helpful to get angry and emotional. People should be more civilized. Scolding, accusing, and threatening will only make the person as mad at you as you are at him, and nothing will be solved. In fact, it will probably create even more problems. It is better to say things in a way that doesn’t hurt people’s feelings or make them defensive. To remain calm and logical on the outside is always the best policy in dealing with people. But inside you must have strength and intensity. Just as the saying goes, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” It is only in this way can you have alternatives. When dealing with an issue, let the other person know that you want to help solve his problem as well as your own, so that everyone will be satisfied and no one will angry or hurt. 5. Directions: [A] Write an essay in about 200 words on the topic: Importance of Test of Spoken English [B] Your essay should be developed according to the following outline. [C] Your essay should be written clearly on the Answer Sheet II. Outline: 1. State your opinion on Importance of Test of Spoken English 2. Explain your reasons specifically as well as logically Sample for reference: Importance of Test of Spoken English Nowadays there is a tendency of holding oral examinations in various foreign language studies. One example is that a test of spoken English has been included as an optional component of the College English Test. Another is that the Entrance Examination for Post Graduates will also check the students’ oral competence of English. This indicates that the oral competence has become the priority in language learning. To illustrate this tendency, we may take the development of China for example. It is well known that China has been developing very fast sine the introduction of reform and opening up and has begun to play an important role in the international communities. In this process of globalization, oral competence is considered as the most important ability in communication with other people. It is self-evident that our development requires the talents that can communicate orally as well as through reading and writing. Out of all the competences of English, oral ability ranks first. It is of the utmost importance in any communications. In previous years, we used to put emphasis on grammar, vocabulary and reading. Many graduates can understand the language very well by reading. Yet when it came to oral communication, most of them felt very difficult to open their mouth, let alone express themselves fluently and freely. Now many people hold the opinion that if one cannot speak English well, he cannot say that he has grasped the language. This is indeed true. Language, after all, is a tool for communication. Oral communication is the simplest, most direct way to communicate with other people among other forms of communication skills. It is hard to imagine when one is with foreigners, face to face, he has to communicate with a pen, stating that he has a good command of English. Therefore, it is inadequate or sometimes ridiculous to say that one knows a foreign language but excluding oral competence. It is quite clear to see the importance and influence of the test of spoken English. The test can be served as a guide as well as an effective form to improve students’ oral English. They will be stimulated to practice their oral English and therefore, to overcome the obstacles that hinder their progress in language learning. We firmly believe, with our entry into WTO, more and more students will become capable in their oral communication. 6. Directions: [A] Write an essay in about 200 words on the topic “Computers”. [B] Your essay should be developed according to the following outline. [C] Your essay should be written clearly on the ANSWER SHEET 2. Outline: 1. Wide use of computers; 2. Role of Computers; 3. The need to learn it. Sample for reference: Computers Now, computers are widely used in the modern world. They have found their way into millions of government offices, institutions, enterprises, companies and households. High up in space and deep down in oceans, they are used to make the scientific discoveries. On farms and in factories, they help to do difficult work. In offices and at home, they take the place of routine jobs. In face, without computers, the world would not be what it is today. Computers make a lot of impossible things possible. Take E-mail for example, it is a complete different way of communication through computers. Being efficient, inexpensive and convenient, it connects the people from all parts of the world. As can be seen clearly, computers with their magical capabilities, fantastic speed and unbelievable convenience have become the most helpful “partners” of human beings. Some people, however, argue that computers can never replace human brains altogether, but it is also true that computers will be further proved to work more wonders in the coming new century. Therefore, let us learn and use computers in order to meet the challenges of the new era. 7. Directions: [A] Title: Science and Human Beings [B] Time limit: 40 minutes [C] Your essay should be based on the Outline below and should be written clearly on the ANSWER SHEET 2. Outline: 1. Importance of science; 2. Science and our personal life; 3. Science attitudes. Sample for reference: Science and Human Beings As is known to all, science has played an unimaginable role in the history of the world’s development. It is the knowledge that people abstract from their work. It is also the knowledge with which people are armed to understand and master the natural world. Science has changed our lives and made our lives easier. For example, with electronic appliances like radios, televisions and telephones, our life is much more enjoyable than ever before. With the invention of satellites and computers, we can communicate with people far in the other part of the world. In short, science to human being is like food to our bodies, without food, we cannot survive; without science, the world cannot develop. In order to have a better world, we should have scientific attitudes towards all the things around us. “Call a spade a spade” is the priority in dealing with the environment. Besides, being curious, patient, accurate are also necessary for us to discover how the process works and how events take place. Only by doing this way can we have a brighter future in the coming new century. 8. Directions: [A] Write an essay discussing whether groups or organizations are important to people or not. Give some reasons and make your comments. [B] Time limit: 40 minutes [C] Word limit: about 200 words [D] Your essay must be written clearly on ANSWER SHEET 2. Sample for reference: It is common knowledge that men are sociable creatures. Nearly all men want to belong to some group or organization. Surely groups are important to people: to escape loneliness, to gain standing or prestige in school and community… The reasons are manifold and complex. Here I shall explore the main and essential one. First of all, as an individual you can not accomplish what you need all by yourself. In this respect, it becomes necessary for you to rely on other’s help and an organization will facilitate your work. Secondly, in an organization you realize yourself by working for others. Everyone in the organization does his part of work. A desire simply to be recognized will come true. It is one of the happiest things to feel that you are valuable to others and to the society. So we can see an organization is momentous for individuals to gain the feeling of accomplishments which are necessary to them. Thirdly, an organization enables a group of people to achieve the goal which they can not do it separately. People join groups like the football club in order to learn something or in order to do things they can not do alone. By cooperation people can do many things that seem impossible to individuals. For example, through cooperation, men are able to land on the moon. The achievement is realized only by organizations other than individuals. Therefore, we can sagely come to the conclusion that groups are important to people. 9. Directions: [A] Title: One of the Greatest Changes in the 20th Century [B] Time limit: 40 minutes [C] Word limit: about 200 words [D] Your essay must be written clearly on ANSWER SHEET 2. [E] Your essay should be based on the information given below: The 20th century has witnessed great changes in human lives. Choose one of them and states how it has affected our life. Sample for reference: One of the Greatest Changes in the 20th Century The 20th century has witnessed great changes that have brought about great impact on our society as well as the individuals. Among those great changes, I think the most important is the universalization of the personal computer. On the one hand, no one can deny the fact that without the computers our society would have been thrown into a great chaos. Almost all the government departments, companies, banks, and together with many other organizations have their information stored in computers. As for the individuals, they can use the computers to do their office work, to find information needed without much effort. It is said that with the computers a bigger world is being made for us. On the other hand, however, the computer also put people in an embarrassed position. The computer is so important to people that they can not leave it for a little bit while. In case the computer is infected by a kind of virus, which has indeed developed into many kinds and is very difficult to be killed, a great loss is inevitable. For the individuals, many people have spent too long a time in the computers that they have no other interests except serfing on computers. It is said that the internet has made the world bigger but our soul smaller. From what we have discussed above, we may see that the universalization of computer has brought about great convenience for the life and work of the people, but at the same time, it has made people more dependent on the machine instead of themselves. 10. Directions: [A] Title: Why Lie? [B] Time: 30~40 minutes [C] World limit: about 200 words [D] You are required to develop the idea according to the following information: From time to time we all tell lies. What are the lies? Try to find and analyze the reasons. [E] Your essay should be written neatly on ANSWER SHEET 2. Sample for reference: Why Lie? From time to time we all tell lies—little lies, big lies, white lies, necessary lies in order to insure social and psychological peace and comfort. You may not want to tell your very ill parent or relative or young child that he or she is terminally ill and will die a painful death. Or you may lie to a friend in order to save face or to gain some advantage over him or her. Businessmen lie every day in order to deceive customers about the value and quality of their products; sales people lie in order to persuade us to purchase something we may not need. We lie about our intelligence, appearance, motives for doing or not doing or not doing some things. Since there is nothing absolute about lies or truths or facts, they are easily molded to fit our version of reality and truth. We cannot live without lying and the lies direct our thoughts and actions everyday; they construct our reality. Why can’t we tell the truth, whatever that is? Because we need our lies to mask our fear and anxiety about the many things we do not understand and cannot control. And like the good actors we are taught to be by our society, we play the parts required by our institutions in order to maintain order, stability and predictability. Lying disguises our inadequacies, our fears and anxieties, our loneliness in the midst of the crowd. We yearn for the comfort of familiar lies to create a more amenable reality. 11. Directions: [A] Title: Release the Children’s Burden [B] You should write an essay based on the picture given below in about 200 words. [C] Your essay should be written clearly on Answer Sheet 2. Outline: 1. Give a brief description of present situation according to the picture. 2. Give your comments. Sample for reference: Release the Children’s Burden Recently, the Ministry of Education has promulgated a new policy that every primary school and middle school throughout the country must release the students’ over-loaded burden which is far more unendurable for them. For all, this is not only an innovation or a reform to our educational system but also a brand new concept of how to exactly fulfill the goal of promoting students’ aptitudes in far-reaching fields and wider dimensions. But in my eyes, this is, in a sense, a good policy, but it brings about many foreshadowed practical problems. Of course, through the reduction of their burden, these students from schools can be from doing too much boring homework and have more free time for them to charge and allot. For instance, they can read books, have sports activities and even develop towards their own directions where their inclinations lie. These will do good to them. On the other hand, many of the parents, deeply affected by traditional Chinese teaching method, still can’t get used to it. They give homework to their children themselves. They still believe that doing more homework means getting higher scores. In fact, this is not necessarily the case. A child’s mental health is much more important than a diploma. So I believe changing these parents’ ideas is quite an important task. Instead of just saying “no homework”, schools should give parents some suggestions such as encouraging their children to take part in sports, to do more after-class reading. Besides, our public media should carry on active propaganda, including opening some columns for parents to discuss educational problems, giving the latest educational information from more advanced countries. Furthermore, our society also should be of some help. For example, during the public holidays, some libraries, museums, gymnasiums, even some university labs should open to parents with young children. In a word, change is a kind of work that cannot be completed in a day. It takes a long process and needs our greatest efforts. 12. Directions: [A] Title: “Buy One and Get One Free” [B] You should write an essay based on the cartoon below in about 200 words. [C] Your essay should be written clearly on ANSWER SHEET 2. Sample for reference: “Buy One and Get One Free” How ridiculous though a familiar scene! How poor the man is to be deceived into the commercial trick, which promises: buy one and get one free. Pitiful as the consumer is, is it less likely. On the one hand, of course, the saleswoman is responsible. Seeing such an advertisement in a shoe store, people have every reason to cherish the possession of two pairs of shoes at the cost of one pair. It is certainly a surprise to them when they realize what they will get—a pair of shoelaces instead of a pair of shoes. What will be followed is the feeling of humiliation. So it is nothing but an absolute deception. But it does not follow that the customer can escape from being blamed. As the old saying goes: no pains, no gains. How could we anticipate getting things for nothing. If something seems too good to be true, it presumably is. Furthermore, it is very likely that people would be caught in the bud of such tricks, but in the long run, such false advertisements do harm to the salesman: harm to his integrity as well as to his credibility, which what really counts indeed. In addition, it undercuts the credibility of the sector; and hence, contributes to the decrease of the sale volume. So, to be wise, promise the very thing you can afford, be wary of being drawn into deceptive tricks.