Topic 1. My view on driving restrictions in big cities
Traffic jams are very commonly-seen in big cities, and a big headache for the citizens. In rush hours, endless cars get stuck on the road and the whole city is like a huge parking lot.
The driving restrictions, therefore are put forward to alleviate the traffic problems in big cities. By implementing driving restrictions, around half of the private cars can be reduced from the road, which will help decrease the possibility of jams. I believe that the driving restriction can be effective, but it is not the only way out.
If the car ownership is increasing continuously, this policy will have limited effects. So the government should look at other areas to address the traffic problem, including reasonable road design, and encouragement of public using public transport system.
Topic 2. There is no end of learning.
A large number of people tend to live under the illusion that they had completed their education. When they graduate from their schools. Obviously, they fail to take into account the basic fact that there is no end to learning. First of all, it is universally accepted that no college or university can educate its students by the time they graduate. Even the best possible graduate needs to continue learning before he or she becomes an educated person. Furthermore, as a famous saying goes, education is not complete with graduation. A college degree can never ensure long-term job success. Maintaining success in a job depends on education after graduation. Most importantly, learning is rewarding both materially and spiritually by enriching our life and perfecting our personality. In a word, learning is an invaluable career worth our life-long pursuit. No one should be content with just high school or college education.
Topic 3: My View on Microblog
The microblog is very popular in the virtual world. Average citizens, famous economists, as well as movie stars can own a microblog and share their opinions and life with other people. The microblog is attractive for the following reasons. First, the Internet has different forms of dissemination and unique effects in broadcasting message compared with traditional media. It is fast and efficient, and people can get relevant information immediately. Second, message sent by the microblog can reach a large number of people, who can interact with the microblog owners by leaving message in it. This kind of interaction is appealing especially when the owner is a famous figure. The microblog is very useful and adds lots of color into the virtual world. Regulated properly, the microblog can be a very interesting platform for people to share opinions and make friends.
Topic 4: The Significance of Waste Sorting
People are producing waste every day, which is a huge burden on the planet's habitat.
Some waste is not degradable naturally, which will exist forever, but some waste can be recycled and reused again. Waste sorting can help divide the reusable waste from the rest. And there are two reasons for doing this. Firstly, the earth is limited in its natural resources, and many products are made from finite resources, which cannot be generated by nature in a short period of time. Simply dumping this kind of products is wasting resources. Secondly, some part of the waste is of value. To reuse and recycle this kind of waste is to save resources to a large extent, which also contributes to environmental protection. Sorting waste is a meaningful deed. If everyone can do it, small things can make a big positive impact on the environment.
Topic 5: Will Tourism Bring Harm to the Environment?
In recent years, China has witnessed rapid growth in tourism. Many are concerned that
too much tourism may cause grave harm to the environment. And I can't too agree to their view. There are many ways in which tourism brings about bad effects to the environment. One of the examples is that in order to attract tourists, large patches of woods were eliminated to build accommodation facilities as well as artificial scenic spots. This unavoidably destroys the natural beauty of the scenic spots. Worse still, it breaks the ecological balance of these areas, resulting in the shortage of farm land, water and animals. Moreover, with large numbers of tourists flooding into the scenic spots every year, they have produced all kinds of garbage everywhere, placing much pressure on environment protection. All in all, too much tourism brings harm to the environment in many ways. So it is unwise to sacrifice the environment for the unreasonably rapid growth of tourism, and there should be a balance between tourism development and environment protection.
Topic 6: How to Improve Students' Physical Well-being?
Recently, there have been some reports on freshmen getting military training. But the focus is on the negative side. Some students fainted because they couldn't stand the training. In the final analysis, this results from the poor physical well-being of the students. Two factors can be found out to explain this. Firstly, students have been preoccupied with their study in high school, as the goal of getting admitted by a university is just too huge. So they could not spend time in physical exercise. Secondly, students are not aware of the fact that they are not as strong as they think. They believe that they are still young and it's not necessary to worry about their health condition. Now it is high time that students improved their physical well-being by doing more exercise and adopting healthy living styles.
Topic 7: First-tier City or Second-tier City?
When considering where to work, graduates are often in a dilemma of choosing between
the first-tier city and the second-tier city. It is generally thought that a first-tier city is a wise choice. It goes almost without saying that there are more job opportunities in mega-cities, which offer higher salaries as well. In addition, life is more colorful in that first-tier cities provide more choices of products and services. However, people are shifting their focus to second-tier cities. First, the living costs are much lower, which makes up for the lower salaries. Second, with smaller population and less pollution, second-tier cities offer more comfortable environment. For my part, I think a first-tier city will suit me better, despite of its crowdedness and high living costs. The promising career development and colorful life there have a great fascination for me.
Topic 8: A Letter of Inquiry
Dear Sirs,
I am a junior student majoring in Business Administration in South University. I am thinking about pursuing further study in your university. And I am wondering if you can help me with some issues regarding my application. Firstly, what kind of language test does your school require for a foreign student? Will TOEFL be good enough? Secondly, I am not sure how much the tuition fees would be for studying a postgraduate degree on business administration in your school. Is there any way that I can apply for scholarships? Thirdly, what kind of materials should I prepare for a student visa? I appreciate your time and help. I am looking forward to hearing from you shortly.
Best regards
Liu Mei
Topic 9: Adequate Preparation Should Be Given to Exams
As is known to all, quite some college students seldom take exams with adequate preparation, which
leads to low marks or even failure in the exams. The reasons for this phenomenon lie in many aspects. In the first place, college students nowadays attach less importance to marks and exams. Second, college students are occupied by so many activities that they can just spare little time for exam preparation. In addition, some teachers fail to be strict with the students, which encourages students to neglect the exams.
To solve this problem, I think both students and teachers should play their parts. On the one hand, students should have a proper attitude towards exam preparation, through which they can have a better command of the knowledge. On the other, teachers ought to control the exams more strictly.
Topic 10: The Importance of Finance Management
Due to the fast-developing economy, people have realized the importance of finance management. It's believed that finance management can help not only save money but also make more money .As college students, we should also pay enough attention to finance management. Nowadays we are surrounded by plenty of temptations. Some students may spend all they have in a short period, which makes it difficult for them to afford basic necessities after that. To make things worse, some of them are fond of keeping up with the Joneses, spending too much on unnecessary things. To do well in finance management, I make a note of the money I spend every day. In this way, I am aware of how my money is spent. What's more, I can make adjustments after analyzing my spending habits.
Topic 11: On Students Quitting School
Many college students have quit school in recent years. They do it for different reasons .Some students quit school because of their poor health. A serious disease or a traffic accident may
have made it impossible for them to continue their schooling. Other students may be forced to do it because their family couldn't afford the tuition. However, there are some students
who quit school out of their own choice. Some embrace a good job offer and leave school.
Others may find that they cannot afford to lose the good opportunity to start their own business, so they quit school to start their career just like Bill Gates.
Whatever the reason, I think college students should think twice before deciding to quit school. After all, graduates are normally better prepared for their future than those who quit school. College education pays off in the long run.
Topic 12: Rich Second Generation
The past decades have witnessed an increase in the number of rich families, which gradually draws more public attention to the issue of rich second generation. There has been a widespread public debate over this issue. Some people believe that the rich second generation can benefit from being affluent. With the abundant resources and chances provided by their wealthy parents, the rich second generation are usually well educated and trained. They are more likely to make important contributions to our country. On the contrary, others hold that being rich has a negative effect on the rich second generation. It is quite common for a rich kid to fall into some bad habits, including flaunting their wealth and feeling too proud.
From my point of view, the rich second generation do have the potential to be leading figures. However, they should remain modest and make efforts for that.
Topic 13: Should English Classes Be Compulsory for Students?
Most universities in China have made English a compulsory course, which has aroused many complaints among students. Many students wish that English could be removed from the list of
compulsory courses. However, I think it is of great significance for all university students to study English. To begin with, as an international language, English is widely used. Today, university students must master the language if they are to communicate with foreigners and to participate in the fierce international competition in the future. In addition, studying English as a foreign language does not only provide students with a useful tool for communication, but also open a door to cultures different from our own. As is universally acknowledged, mutual understanding among different cultures is vital for keeping the world safe and peaceful. Therefore, I strongly recommend that all students should take advantage of the compulsory course,
and try to study English well.
Topic 14: Does Electronic Equipment Promote Education?
Lately a number of colleges are spending large quantity of money on electronic equipment, which is supposed to promote education. This event has aroused a heated discussion. Some people believe that electronic equipment is a good supplement to traditional teaching. It enables teachers to demonstrate things in a more vivid way by showing pictures or videos.
To some extent, students are more involved in the class. In contrast, others are against electronic equipment, which they think will inevitably distract students from study. In their view, teaching with the aid of traditional chalk can make students focus more on study. As far as I am concerned,
electronic equipment is quite beneficial to education. However, we should keep in mind that electronic equipment is just a means of teaching, which will never overshadow the significance of qualified teachers.
Topic 15: Should Parents Send Their Kids to Study Abroad?
There is a growing trend for parents to send their young kids abroad for education. Opinions on this issue vary from person to person. Some insist that kids profit from the overseas learning experience. Being young, kids pick up a new language more easily. Besides, kids can learn to be independent in a foreign country. However, others believe studying abroad does more harm than good. Some worry the kids don't get along with their host families or relatives and run into trouble. In addition, upon returning home, they may have difficulties getting back to the old ways of life and work, which may lead to social alienation or quitting of work. In my opinion, it is better to wait until the kids grow older. Only when they are old enough can they make full use of overseas education.
Topic 16: Grades and Ability
Do high grades imply excellent ability? Opinions vary from person to person. Some agree that high grades reflect high intelligence and are thus indicative of one's ability. Students who do well in exams are therefore always favored in class. Others hold that grades have little to do with one's ability. They point out that some students who do not work well in school may also make great achievements. They take Edison for example, saying that Edison was considered not clever by his primary school teacher, but became a very famous inventor later. In my view, grades are important for us students. When people have no other ways to assess our ability, they can decide whether we are qualified for a school place or a position only from our grades. Therefore, we must try to achieve high grades in school, even though they are not the only standard for our abilities.
Topic 17: Creating a Harmonious Family
The significance of harmony in a family has long been acknowledged. As the saying goes, if the family lives in harmony, all affairs will prosper. It is widely accepted that a harmonious family has many
advantages. To start with, a harmonious family is good for the development of a child's personality, while children usually have mental problems if raised in a family full of quarrels. Moreover, all family members can get a lot of benefits. For example, those who live peacefully
and happily often keep a good mood, hence they can achieve success more easily at work or at school. Lastly, the increase in the number of harmonious families will lead to a more harmonious society. To sum up, a harmonious family is worth all our efforts. Let's work for that, and eventually, a harmonious society.
Topic 18: Annual Expenses for Studying English
The charts show that college students have changed much in their ways of studying English, and their total expenses for it have also increased greatly. In 2000, they bought either reference books or tapes. But in 2008, they can choose among reference books, tapes, CDs or DVDs, MP3s, and the Internet. Consequently, their annual expenses for studying English have risen from 150 yuan to 230 yuan per person, a 50% increase. Many factors contribute to such changes. Firstly, as an international language, English is not only useful when we travel abroad or communicate with foreigners, but also has become a must if we apply for a job in some large companies. Secondly, the income of most families has increased considerably, so college students can spend more on their English study. Last but not least, with the advancement of new technology, more efficient English study facilities become available for students.
Topic 19: Free Entrance to Parks
Recently an increasing number of parks are offering free entrance, ensuring more people, rich or poor, have access to them. It is obvious that this policy has gained wide public support. Nevertheless, some people hold opposite views, claiming that this policy may cause serious problems. First, parks have to bear heavier burden after the implementation of free entrance. More visitors may result in more rubbish or more damage to the facilities. Besides, without the income of tickets, park managers may have problems running the parks. Furthermore, safety cannot be guaranteed, with too many people entering the park. Personally, I am definitely in favor of free entrance; yet it is advisable for parks to take more measures to ensure order and safety. Only in this way can people benefit most from this free entrance policy.
Topic 20: Should Private Car Owners be Taxed for Pollution?
In recent years, the increasing private cars have inevitably worsened the state of air pollution. Confronted with this problem, the government has been considering taxing private car owners for pollution, which has given rise to a heated discussion. For my part, I'm all for the idea of a pollution tax. In the first place, private car owners should pay for the harm they do to the environment. It is an accepted fact that the environment has suffered greatly from car emissions. Therefore, it is quite reasonable for private car owners to pay a pollution tax, if they insist on using a private car. Furthermore, with this tax, the government will hopefully curb the soaring number of private cars. For instance, given strict policies like this, some people may have to put aside the plan of buying a car. To sum up, the pollution tax will be of great benefit in the long run. If strictly enforced, this policy will sure contribute to the protection of our environment.
Topic 21: Welcome to Join Us
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We, DIY Tour Society, arrange self-help tours to famous tourist spots every year. And this year's destination is Guangzhou, the beautiful "flower city". We welcome anyone who fancies delicious Cantonese cuisine and southern ancient culture to join us. You can embrace a lot of benefits if joining us.
To begin with, it is you who are the controller of the tour. We hold online forum to collect views and allow members to vote on the schedule. Besides, we can live with the local students from our tour league so that we can experience the real local life and specialties. Lastly, you can make friends from different places in the tour, thus enlarging your knowledge of various cultures. If you want to join our society, you can send emails to [email protected].
Thanks for your interest.
Topic 22: Should Students Follow Fashions?
Young university students are sensitive to fashions. Some are keen on following fashions: they use mobile phones of the latest style; they wear stylish clothes; they enjoy popular music. Some people are not happy with this phenomenon. They argue that university students should focus on their studies rather than on fashions. They say fashions cost so much that university students cannot afford them. Some students follow fashions crazily, for fear of losing face. Fashions have caused much trouble on campus. However, others may hold different opinions. They say fashions can drive students to work harder for a better life and broaden their horizons, which is essential for their future development. I understand those students who follow fashions, but they must be responsible and not go to extremes. Rich or poor, students should think twice before picking up luxurious hobbies..
Topic 23: A Letter to the University President
Dear Mr. President,
I'm a sophomore majoring in Law. I'm writing to make suggestions on improving the education quality of our university. First, I think there is still much room for improvement concerning our classroom education. Some teachers just recite textbooks and their courses are boring. It's not very helpful for us. We need more interaction and communication in the classes, and we welcome more lively and practical courses. Second, we students need help to develop our initiative in our study. I hope our university can invite some famous people to deliver lectures to us on how to study. Finally, in order to get all students involved in our studies, I suggest some contests be held in the university. For example, the Department of Law can have legal knowledge contests. Thank you for reading my letter. I hope my suggestions will be seriously looked to.
Yours sincerely, Li Ming
Topic 24: My Suggestions on the Swimming Course in Colleges
The swimming course has won great popularity among many colleges. It is offered to students mainly in the hope of helping students master this critical survival skill. As to the outcome of this course, some people are not satisfied, stating that it is not properly and effectively managed. Unlike other sports, swimming is not easily taught and learned. Due to the short periods of study, students are not able to have enough training. What's more, teachers also face difficulties, because it takes a lot of time and efforts to teach students one by one. In my opinion, there are two ways to improve the quality of the swimming course. First, colleges can adjust the schedule, providing more time and chances for students to practice. Second, teachers can adopt better teaching methods, like group work.
Topic 25: Self-employed after Graduation?
An online survey was conducted about the attitudes towards being self-employed after graduation. It is shown that about one-third of the students approved of self-employment, while about two-thirds gave a negative answer. Being self-employed has become quite popular among graduates, because they are greatly attracted by the freedom and considerable profits that it may bring. Besides, a fearsome job
market and high graduate unemployment rates also stop them from seeking a job. As for those who say no, they are concerned about lack of social experience and funds. In addition, knowing few businessmen makes it hard for them to start their own businesses. I strongly recommend that graduates should first work in a company for several years. After gaining enough experience, it's more likely for them to succeed in setting up their own businesses.
Topic 1. My view on driving restrictions in big cities
Traffic jams are very commonly-seen in big cities, and a big headache for the citizens. In rush hours, endless cars get stuck on the road and the whole city is like a huge parking lot.
The driving restrictions, therefore are put forward to alleviate the traffic problems in big cities. By implementing driving restrictions, around half of the private cars can be reduced from the road, which will help decrease the possibility of jams. I believe that the driving restriction can be effective, but it is not the only way out.
If the car ownership is increasing continuously, this policy will have limited effects. So the government should look at other areas to address the traffic problem, including reasonable road design, and encouragement of public using public transport system.
Topic 2. There is no end of learning.
A large number of people tend to live under the illusion that they had completed their education. When they graduate from their schools. Obviously, they fail to take into account the basic fact that there is no end to learning. First of all, it is universally accepted that no college or university can educate its students by the time they graduate. Even the best possible graduate needs to continue learning before he or she becomes an educated person. Furthermore, as a famous saying goes, education is not complete with graduation. A college degree can never ensure long-term job success. Maintaining success in a job depends on education after graduation. Most importantly, learning is rewarding both materially and spiritually by enriching our life and perfecting our personality. In a word, learning is an invaluable career worth our life-long pursuit. No one should be content with just high school or college education.
Topic 3: My View on Microblog
The microblog is very popular in the virtual world. Average citizens, famous economists, as well as movie stars can own a microblog and share their opinions and life with other people. The microblog is attractive for the following reasons. First, the Internet has different forms of dissemination and unique effects in broadcasting message compared with traditional media. It is fast and efficient, and people can get relevant information immediately. Second, message sent by the microblog can reach a large number of people, who can interact with the microblog owners by leaving message in it. This kind of interaction is appealing especially when the owner is a famous figure. The microblog is very useful and adds lots of color into the virtual world. Regulated properly, the microblog can be a very interesting platform for people to share opinions and make friends.
Topic 4: The Significance of Waste Sorting
People are producing waste every day, which is a huge burden on the planet's habitat.
Some waste is not degradable naturally, which will exist forever, but some waste can be recycled and reused again. Waste sorting can help divide the reusable waste from the rest. And there are two reasons for doing this. Firstly, the earth is limited in its natural resources, and many products are made from finite resources, which cannot be generated by nature in a short period of time. Simply dumping this kind of products is wasting resources. Secondly, some part of the waste is of value. To reuse and recycle this kind of waste is to save resources to a large extent, which also contributes to environmental protection. Sorting waste is a meaningful deed. If everyone can do it, small things can make a big positive impact on the environment.
Topic 5: Will Tourism Bring Harm to the Environment?
In recent years, China has witnessed rapid growth in tourism. Many are concerned that
too much tourism may cause grave harm to the environment. And I can't too agree to their view. There are many ways in which tourism brings about bad effects to the environment. One of the examples is that in order to attract tourists, large patches of woods were eliminated to build accommodation facilities as well as artificial scenic spots. This unavoidably destroys the natural beauty of the scenic spots. Worse still, it breaks the ecological balance of these areas, resulting in the shortage of farm land, water and animals. Moreover, with large numbers of tourists flooding into the scenic spots every year, they have produced all kinds of garbage everywhere, placing much pressure on environment protection. All in all, too much tourism brings harm to the environment in many ways. So it is unwise to sacrifice the environment for the unreasonably rapid growth of tourism, and there should be a balance between tourism development and environment protection.
Topic 6: How to Improve Students' Physical Well-being?
Recently, there have been some reports on freshmen getting military training. But the focus is on the negative side. Some students fainted because they couldn't stand the training. In the final analysis, this results from the poor physical well-being of the students. Two factors can be found out to explain this. Firstly, students have been preoccupied with their study in high school, as the goal of getting admitted by a university is just too huge. So they could not spend time in physical exercise. Secondly, students are not aware of the fact that they are not as strong as they think. They believe that they are still young and it's not necessary to worry about their health condition. Now it is high time that students improved their physical well-being by doing more exercise and adopting healthy living styles.
Topic 7: First-tier City or Second-tier City?
When considering where to work, graduates are often in a dilemma of choosing between
the first-tier city and the second-tier city. It is generally thought that a first-tier city is a wise choice. It goes almost without saying that there are more job opportunities in mega-cities, which offer higher salaries as well. In addition, life is more colorful in that first-tier cities provide more choices of products and services. However, people are shifting their focus to second-tier cities. First, the living costs are much lower, which makes up for the lower salaries. Second, with smaller population and less pollution, second-tier cities offer more comfortable environment. For my part, I think a first-tier city will suit me better, despite of its crowdedness and high living costs. The promising career development and colorful life there have a great fascination for me.
Topic 8: A Letter of Inquiry
Dear Sirs,
I am a junior student majoring in Business Administration in South University. I am thinking about pursuing further study in your university. And I am wondering if you can help me with some issues regarding my application. Firstly, what kind of language test does your school require for a foreign student? Will TOEFL be good enough? Secondly, I am not sure how much the tuition fees would be for studying a postgraduate degree on business administration in your school. Is there any way that I can apply for scholarships? Thirdly, what kind of materials should I prepare for a student visa? I appreciate your time and help. I am looking forward to hearing from you shortly.
Best regards
Liu Mei
Topic 9: Adequate Preparation Should Be Given to Exams
As is known to all, quite some college students seldom take exams with adequate preparation, which
leads to low marks or even failure in the exams. The reasons for this phenomenon lie in many aspects. In the first place, college students nowadays attach less importance to marks and exams. Second, college students are occupied by so many activities that they can just spare little time for exam preparation. In addition, some teachers fail to be strict with the students, which encourages students to neglect the exams.
To solve this problem, I think both students and teachers should play their parts. On the one hand, students should have a proper attitude towards exam preparation, through which they can have a better command of the knowledge. On the other, teachers ought to control the exams more strictly.
Topic 10: The Importance of Finance Management
Due to the fast-developing economy, people have realized the importance of finance management. It's believed that finance management can help not only save money but also make more money .As college students, we should also pay enough attention to finance management. Nowadays we are surrounded by plenty of temptations. Some students may spend all they have in a short period, which makes it difficult for them to afford basic necessities after that. To make things worse, some of them are fond of keeping up with the Joneses, spending too much on unnecessary things. To do well in finance management, I make a note of the money I spend every day. In this way, I am aware of how my money is spent. What's more, I can make adjustments after analyzing my spending habits.
Topic 11: On Students Quitting School
Many college students have quit school in recent years. They do it for different reasons .Some students quit school because of their poor health. A serious disease or a traffic accident may
have made it impossible for them to continue their schooling. Other students may be forced to do it because their family couldn't afford the tuition. However, there are some students
who quit school out of their own choice. Some embrace a good job offer and leave school.
Others may find that they cannot afford to lose the good opportunity to start their own business, so they quit school to start their career just like Bill Gates.
Whatever the reason, I think college students should think twice before deciding to quit school. After all, graduates are normally better prepared for their future than those who quit school. College education pays off in the long run.
Topic 12: Rich Second Generation
The past decades have witnessed an increase in the number of rich families, which gradually draws more public attention to the issue of rich second generation. There has been a widespread public debate over this issue. Some people believe that the rich second generation can benefit from being affluent. With the abundant resources and chances provided by their wealthy parents, the rich second generation are usually well educated and trained. They are more likely to make important contributions to our country. On the contrary, others hold that being rich has a negative effect on the rich second generation. It is quite common for a rich kid to fall into some bad habits, including flaunting their wealth and feeling too proud.
From my point of view, the rich second generation do have the potential to be leading figures. However, they should remain modest and make efforts for that.
Topic 13: Should English Classes Be Compulsory for Students?
Most universities in China have made English a compulsory course, which has aroused many complaints among students. Many students wish that English could be removed from the list of
compulsory courses. However, I think it is of great significance for all university students to study English. To begin with, as an international language, English is widely used. Today, university students must master the language if they are to communicate with foreigners and to participate in the fierce international competition in the future. In addition, studying English as a foreign language does not only provide students with a useful tool for communication, but also open a door to cultures different from our own. As is universally acknowledged, mutual understanding among different cultures is vital for keeping the world safe and peaceful. Therefore, I strongly recommend that all students should take advantage of the compulsory course,
and try to study English well.
Topic 14: Does Electronic Equipment Promote Education?
Lately a number of colleges are spending large quantity of money on electronic equipment, which is supposed to promote education. This event has aroused a heated discussion. Some people believe that electronic equipment is a good supplement to traditional teaching. It enables teachers to demonstrate things in a more vivid way by showing pictures or videos.
To some extent, students are more involved in the class. In contrast, others are against electronic equipment, which they think will inevitably distract students from study. In their view, teaching with the aid of traditional chalk can make students focus more on study. As far as I am concerned,
electronic equipment is quite beneficial to education. However, we should keep in mind that electronic equipment is just a means of teaching, which will never overshadow the significance of qualified teachers.
Topic 15: Should Parents Send Their Kids to Study Abroad?
There is a growing trend for parents to send their young kids abroad for education. Opinions on this issue vary from person to person. Some insist that kids profit from the overseas learning experience. Being young, kids pick up a new language more easily. Besides, kids can learn to be independent in a foreign country. However, others believe studying abroad does more harm than good. Some worry the kids don't get along with their host families or relatives and run into trouble. In addition, upon returning home, they may have difficulties getting back to the old ways of life and work, which may lead to social alienation or quitting of work. In my opinion, it is better to wait until the kids grow older. Only when they are old enough can they make full use of overseas education.
Topic 16: Grades and Ability
Do high grades imply excellent ability? Opinions vary from person to person. Some agree that high grades reflect high intelligence and are thus indicative of one's ability. Students who do well in exams are therefore always favored in class. Others hold that grades have little to do with one's ability. They point out that some students who do not work well in school may also make great achievements. They take Edison for example, saying that Edison was considered not clever by his primary school teacher, but became a very famous inventor later. In my view, grades are important for us students. When people have no other ways to assess our ability, they can decide whether we are qualified for a school place or a position only from our grades. Therefore, we must try to achieve high grades in school, even though they are not the only standard for our abilities.
Topic 17: Creating a Harmonious Family
The significance of harmony in a family has long been acknowledged. As the saying goes, if the family lives in harmony, all affairs will prosper. It is widely accepted that a harmonious family has many
advantages. To start with, a harmonious family is good for the development of a child's personality, while children usually have mental problems if raised in a family full of quarrels. Moreover, all family members can get a lot of benefits. For example, those who live peacefully
and happily often keep a good mood, hence they can achieve success more easily at work or at school. Lastly, the increase in the number of harmonious families will lead to a more harmonious society. To sum up, a harmonious family is worth all our efforts. Let's work for that, and eventually, a harmonious society.
Topic 18: Annual Expenses for Studying English
The charts show that college students have changed much in their ways of studying English, and their total expenses for it have also increased greatly. In 2000, they bought either reference books or tapes. But in 2008, they can choose among reference books, tapes, CDs or DVDs, MP3s, and the Internet. Consequently, their annual expenses for studying English have risen from 150 yuan to 230 yuan per person, a 50% increase. Many factors contribute to such changes. Firstly, as an international language, English is not only useful when we travel abroad or communicate with foreigners, but also has become a must if we apply for a job in some large companies. Secondly, the income of most families has increased considerably, so college students can spend more on their English study. Last but not least, with the advancement of new technology, more efficient English study facilities become available for students.
Topic 19: Free Entrance to Parks
Recently an increasing number of parks are offering free entrance, ensuring more people, rich or poor, have access to them. It is obvious that this policy has gained wide public support. Nevertheless, some people hold opposite views, claiming that this policy may cause serious problems. First, parks have to bear heavier burden after the implementation of free entrance. More visitors may result in more rubbish or more damage to the facilities. Besides, without the income of tickets, park managers may have problems running the parks. Furthermore, safety cannot be guaranteed, with too many people entering the park. Personally, I am definitely in favor of free entrance; yet it is advisable for parks to take more measures to ensure order and safety. Only in this way can people benefit most from this free entrance policy.
Topic 20: Should Private Car Owners be Taxed for Pollution?
In recent years, the increasing private cars have inevitably worsened the state of air pollution. Confronted with this problem, the government has been considering taxing private car owners for pollution, which has given rise to a heated discussion. For my part, I'm all for the idea of a pollution tax. In the first place, private car owners should pay for the harm they do to the environment. It is an accepted fact that the environment has suffered greatly from car emissions. Therefore, it is quite reasonable for private car owners to pay a pollution tax, if they insist on using a private car. Furthermore, with this tax, the government will hopefully curb the soaring number of private cars. For instance, given strict policies like this, some people may have to put aside the plan of buying a car. To sum up, the pollution tax will be of great benefit in the long run. If strictly enforced, this policy will sure contribute to the protection of our environment.
Topic 21: Welcome to Join Us
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We, DIY Tour Society, arrange self-help tours to famous tourist spots every year. And this year's destination is Guangzhou, the beautiful "flower city". We welcome anyone who fancies delicious Cantonese cuisine and southern ancient culture to join us. You can embrace a lot of benefits if joining us.
To begin with, it is you who are the controller of the tour. We hold online forum to collect views and allow members to vote on the schedule. Besides, we can live with the local students from our tour league so that we can experience the real local life and specialties. Lastly, you can make friends from different places in the tour, thus enlarging your knowledge of various cultures. If you want to join our society, you can send emails to [email protected].
Thanks for your interest.
Topic 22: Should Students Follow Fashions?
Young university students are sensitive to fashions. Some are keen on following fashions: they use mobile phones of the latest style; they wear stylish clothes; they enjoy popular music. Some people are not happy with this phenomenon. They argue that university students should focus on their studies rather than on fashions. They say fashions cost so much that university students cannot afford them. Some students follow fashions crazily, for fear of losing face. Fashions have caused much trouble on campus. However, others may hold different opinions. They say fashions can drive students to work harder for a better life and broaden their horizons, which is essential for their future development. I understand those students who follow fashions, but they must be responsible and not go to extremes. Rich or poor, students should think twice before picking up luxurious hobbies..
Topic 23: A Letter to the University President
Dear Mr. President,
I'm a sophomore majoring in Law. I'm writing to make suggestions on improving the education quality of our university. First, I think there is still much room for improvement concerning our classroom education. Some teachers just recite textbooks and their courses are boring. It's not very helpful for us. We need more interaction and communication in the classes, and we welcome more lively and practical courses. Second, we students need help to develop our initiative in our study. I hope our university can invite some famous people to deliver lectures to us on how to study. Finally, in order to get all students involved in our studies, I suggest some contests be held in the university. For example, the Department of Law can have legal knowledge contests. Thank you for reading my letter. I hope my suggestions will be seriously looked to.
Yours sincerely, Li Ming
Topic 24: My Suggestions on the Swimming Course in Colleges
The swimming course has won great popularity among many colleges. It is offered to students mainly in the hope of helping students master this critical survival skill. As to the outcome of this course, some people are not satisfied, stating that it is not properly and effectively managed. Unlike other sports, swimming is not easily taught and learned. Due to the short periods of study, students are not able to have enough training. What's more, teachers also face difficulties, because it takes a lot of time and efforts to teach students one by one. In my opinion, there are two ways to improve the quality of the swimming course. First, colleges can adjust the schedule, providing more time and chances for students to practice. Second, teachers can adopt better teaching methods, like group work.
Topic 25: Self-employed after Graduation?
An online survey was conducted about the attitudes towards being self-employed after graduation. It is shown that about one-third of the students approved of self-employment, while about two-thirds gave a negative answer. Being self-employed has become quite popular among graduates, because they are greatly attracted by the freedom and considerable profits that it may bring. Besides, a fearsome job
market and high graduate unemployment rates also stop them from seeking a job. As for those who say no, they are concerned about lack of social experience and funds. In addition, knowing few businessmen makes it hard for them to start their own businesses. I strongly recommend that graduates should first work in a company for several years. After gaining enough experience, it's more likely for them to succeed in setting up their own businesses.