命题作文范文
1. Examinations---Harmful or Useful?
In China, July is called "Dark July" because each year in July students have to take various exams. Quite a few dread them, worry about them, and stay up all night studying or them. However, I am not one of them. On the contrary I love to take exams because they are very useful. Examinations are still conducted everywhere, and, to a great degree, they are useful. First, they force students to study all the courses well. Usually after examinations the top students are encouraged to go further ahead in their study; while the low achievers will have to study hard to catch up. Second, they offer students an opportunity to demonstrate how well they have learned. After different examinations, students will see on which course they have to work harder or in which course they have made greater progress. Thus they will know their strong points and shortcomings. And the teachers will also know their students better and adjust their teaching materials and even teaching methods. So examinations are both beneficial and useful to both the teachers and students.
As a college student, I think, the proper attitude towards exams is that we should take advantage of their positive aspects. If we are fully prepared for the courses to be examined, we can benefit a lot from these exams.
2. My Views on Examinations
In most schools and college 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.
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. Examinations do not motivate a student to obtain more knowledge, but to restrict his reading; they do not
enable him to study consistently throughout the semester, but to induce cramming during exam week. Examinations also lower the standards of teaching. Since teachers themselves are often judged by examination results, they are reduced to training their students in exam techniques. And no subjects can be taught successfully merely for the purpose of passing examinations.
Personally, I don't think that examinations can contribute anything really important to the students' academic development. My suggestion is that educational authorities should devise more efficient and reliable measures to evaluate students' ability of analyzing and solving problems.
3. Which Weighs More---School Brand or Major
There is always a heated discussion among students about which weighs more---school brand or major. The answer turns out to be different. However, I prefer to major.
There are two main reasons to explain my view. Firstly, the most important motivationfor study is interest. If I want to be enrolled into a famous university only for its fame or reputation, without considering my major, I will not make great achievements in my academic study because all the courses I have to learn are not what I really want to learn. Thus to select a major one is most interested in is more important than to select school brand. Secondly, a good major always implies what I will learn is very useful. Therefore it will arouse my interest to study more. And I will try my best to concentrate my mind on my study. A good major also means that after
graduation I can easily get a job that meets with what I have learned in college.
In a word, school brand is nothing more than a kind of fame. But major is something very practical. Therefore in my opinion, major weighs more.
4 Which is More Important: Work or Money?
Would you quit your job if you make a fortune or had a lot of money? In a recent poll conducted by the Xinmin Evening, quite a few people said they would do so. They explained that they had been exhausted by the intensity and boringness of their working life if they could be free from the worry about the balance between their incomes and expenses, they would rather stay at home and relax themselves.
It is true that a substantial sum on the bank account will provide people with a fairly wealthy life, yet for many people work is the chief satisfaction of life. In the process of their work, they will find great pleasure in the cooperation with others, the applause from others and even the help they offer to others. These happy moments are indispensable in their life, and quite a lot people even wish to sacrifice their material comfort to seize the satisfaction of work.
The reason to account for all of this is quite simple: Human beings are different from wild animals in that they would naturally pursue for a high standard of life after their basic physical demands are meet. A job is much more than a paycheck. Doing something one ilkes can contribute greatly to his or her happiness and contentment.
5 A Boom in Adult Education
Every weekend sees Mr. Li, the young boss of a privately owned computer company, stay in Beijing University all the day, attending his MBA courses. Mr. Li’s case is not unique, and now more and more city adults spend their leisure time trying to improve themselves at school or college.
There are a number of reasons for people to go back for their education. Some people are doing it to acquire another degree or diploma to impress the society. To them more knowledge; or rather, more credentials means more opportunities for better jobs and quicker promotion. Other people, especially those who are laid off or out of employment go to the vocational school to prepare to return to the job market. The are eager for new skills so that hey can be qualified for the jobs in retail trade, administration, education and other service categories to which they are strange because most of them were blue-collar workers in the factory. There are also people who come to take such courses as Chinese traditional medicine, painting, calligraphy and photography. As their working weeks decline people begin to have time to fulfill their old dream or their heart's desire.
Out of necessity or out of interest, people go back to school for the common goal: to improve themselves, and this boom in adult education, in return, helps to raise the intellectual standard of the whole society.
6. School-age Children Drop Out---A Problem We Have To Tackle
It is reported that in remote areas in China about one million school-age children drop out of school each year and 80% of the drop-outs are from the families which are too poor to keep their children at school.
To tackle the problem, the government has launched the Hope Project. It has helped thousands of children go back to school. But in my opinion this is far from enough. In order to
change this situation completely, the government should set aside an adequate amount of money for education, especially for elementary education in these areas. And also, the government should establish laws to ensure that no children should drop out of schools as elementary school education is compulsory in our country, and the poor families should be aided by local governments so that they can send their children to school.
To sum up, so long as our central and local governments and the whole society pay enough attention to this problem and take effective action, this situation will be changed.
7. Why I Came to College
Why have I chosen to attend college?一A question I have put to myself many times in the past two academic years. But the answer is always the same: college education is something I truly want to do in my life and it is worthwhile.
There are many reasons for my choosing to attend college. The main one is that I can enjoy learning and gaining knowledge. I remember that as my high school education was drawing to a close, my desire for continuing to learn became increasingly strong, and the decision was naturally made when I realized I would not be content to simply end my educational career with high school and enter the working world so soon. I decided to enter college not only because it is a place where I can continue to seek scientific truths, but also it is a place where I can be exposed to various new, original ideas. It helps to expand my horizons and make me a well-rounded person. Of course I must admit that I chose to attend college also because I felt it was a practical and necessary step I took to ensure a secure future for myself. For in today's world, a college education has become almost essential if one wishes to compete in job market and to find a satisfactory position.
For these reasons, I never mind spending so many nights on paperwork; I never consider myself miserable and unfairly burdened; and I never think college education is a waste of time and money.
8. Should Class Attendance Be Required?
Required class attendance is so commonly practiced at colleges and universities that many teachers and even students themselves simply assume it is a good thing. In fact, required class attendance does more harm than good.
There are several reasons that colleges and universities should not require the students' class attendance. First, rigid attendance policies do not benefit students' studies. For example, a student may have to give up a lecture which he finds vital to his studies simply because he dare not run the risk of being penalized for poor attendance in his course. Second, the lectures of some teachers are not always constructive. A student should be allowed to decide for himself whether an in-class experience is worthwhile when his teacher merely repeats material from the textbook or wastes class by telling irrelevant stories. Finally and most importantly, there is no proven correlation between attendance and performance in a course. A student may never miss a single attendance in a course, but who knows whether or not he is just sitting there daydreaming all the time?
Required class attendance may secure one hundred percent attendance for a course, but it does not make such sense.
9. The Entry of Education into Market-A Good Thing or Bad Thing?
As the socialist market economy in China is expanding and becoming overwhelming, education is becoming more closely related to the market. Schools, colleges and universities have to find ways to support themselves. Personally, I think the entry of education into market is a good
thing.
The reason for education to enter the market is as follows: First, as a developing country, China is not likely to invest a huge amount of money in education in the near future. Education has to turn to the market to find its own way. Second, many Chinese people have realized that what the students get through education is an invisible and valuable product. Students with higher degrees will find it easier to find jobs in the job market, and vacancies with high salaries are only open to those who have got better education. People feel it is beneficial to invest their money in education.
In reality, the entry of education into market is in accordance with the law of market economy. It does good both to the nation and the individual people. The practice of it will lead to a boom in education, and, in turn, the raise of the quality of Chinese people.
10. My View on Re-employment Efforts
In order to improve the competence of state-run enterprises, the central government has implemented a series of reforms, among which is cutting down the staff. Undoubtedly, this will promote productivity. On the other hand, many people get unemployed as a result of the reform. If the problem couldn't solved properly, it would endanger the stability of our society.
Fortunately, the government has taken effective measure to keep the harm to the minimum degree. Firstly, unemployment fund has been established to help the laid-off sustain the basic standard of life. When it's difficult for the laid-off workers to live，the government will allocate a certain sum of money to them regularly. Secondly, the government encourages the laid-off workers to take up their own business. Thanks to the government's lenient policies, the self-employed economy is very active, and a large number of the laid-off set out to sell fruits，handle small-scale restaurants or help to take care of children, etc. With their own efforts, their standard of life has been gradually raised and they also help activate the market and lift certain part of burden from the government. Thirdly, some workers have been trained for other jobs. The government has tried to provide more employment chances, and many training programs have been set up. To our joy, the method has proved to be highly effective.
I, personally, suggest that the government should do more to solve the serious problems caused by staff-reduction. Although there are still some difficulties on the way ahead, I firmly believe that the future of re-employment is bright.
11. Laid-off Workers Have to Face Reality
The number of laid-off workers is increasing because of the reform of the economic system. These workers have to find jobs to support their families. But in job markets, many laid-off workers are reluctant to undertake hourly-paid domestic work in other people's house or seek positions in the private sectors. This phenomenon causes a problem: lots of jobs are short of labors, while lots of workers are out of employment.
The reason for their unwillingness to do service jobs is as follows: they consider it a shame to serve other families. Actually, it's by no means a shame to make a living with one's own hands no matter what kind of work he does, but it's a disgrace to idle along with folded arms and wait until financial aid arrives. It seems what restricts one's prospects is not external conditions, but one's own so-called“self-esteem" ．
The re-employment of laid-off workers should be solved through the joined efforts of both the government and the workers themselves. It is the government's duty to carry out some
beneficial policies to help them out of difficulty. Meanwhile, laid-off workers should re-consider their attitudes towards different jobs in order to adapt themselves to the harsh reality. Losing a job isn't dreadful, but losing heart is.
12. How to Be Successful in A Job Interview
The job interview is crucial for getting a good job. Managers are trained to interview applicants in a special way. The education and experience of the interviewee are important; yet, equally important to a company is how the person feels about the company. Therefore, in a job interview, the company is concerned with the psychology of the applicant.
The typical interview consists of three stages. The first is the beginning of the interview, during which the manager tries to make the applicant feel comfortable and tells the applicant something about the company. In the second stage, the manager asks the interviewee questions about his education, his background, and his interest in the job. Finally the manager will discuss salary and allow the applicant to ask questions about the company. Each stage is equally important. If an applicant does well in all three, the manager might show him around the office, introduce him to some supervisory personnel, or invite him to return for a second interview. This second interview would probably be with the person responsible for making the interview final decision about hiring the applicant.
When having a job interview, remember to relax, to be honest, and to be yourself. If you relax and act naturally, the interviewer will feel comfortable and will know that he can trust you. This will increase your chances of getting the job.
13. Rural Workers: A Mixed Blessing for the City
The early’90s find an unprecedented tide of rural workers flooding into big cities such as Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Beijing. According to a recent survey, in Shanghai alone there are more than 2.5million migrant workers. There is an ambivalent feeling towards rural workers. No one denies the important contribution rural workers have made to the urban development. They have done most of dirty, dangerous and underpaid jobs in heavy industries, construction sites and other fields that city residents are unwilling to enter. They have become an indispensable part of urban life to a point where the machinery of a city cannot operate without those cogs, though small and unnoticed. Yet an anti-migrant attitude runs consistently through the mainstream of urban consciousness. City residents complain that migrant workers have worsened traffic and sanitation problems and have threatened to take already scarce urban jobs. They also blame them for the sharp rise in the urban crime rate.
Despite the problems posed by migrants, one thing is certain: a grand, prosperous edifice of the city is based on the work of millions of migrant workers.
14. My View on the Development Of a Private Car
With the increase in the general standard of living, some Chinese families can now afford a car. Yet opinions of the development of a private car vary from person to person. But in my opinion, private cars should be developed in China.
There are many advantages in possessing a car. It gives a much greater degree of comfort and mobility. The owner of a car is no longer forced to rely on public transport, and hence no irritation caused by waiting for buses or taxies. With a car he can go where he likes and when he wants, he can enjoy his leisure time by making trips to the country or seaside on the weekends. What's more, the growth of automobile industry can lead to the boom of other important industries
such as iron and steel production, energy and technological application. However, others strongly object to developing private cars.
They maintain that as more and more cars are produced and run in the street, a large volume of poisonous gas will be given off, polluting the environment and causing actual harm to the health of people. Besides, private cars contribute to traffic jams so greatly that the advantages gained in comfort and freedom are often cancelled by the frustration caused by heavy traffic.
In short, private cars should be developed in China with the development of our society. And the comfort and independence that a private car can bring to people shall never be neglected.
15. How to Solve the Problem of Heavy Traffic
Nowadays, heavy traffic has become the source of greatest complaint in many big cities. As it has seriously affected people's daily life and economic development, the highest priority of governments has been given to the problem and many experts have been called in for advice.
A great number of solutions are being offered. Some people suggest that more streets and roads should be constructed, for it can reduce traffic density and hence speed up the flow of buses and cars. But traffic flows constantly rise to fill whatever scale of roads and highways are provided for them. And in a city with booming industry, land is precious and cannot be extravagantly used for traffic. So others argue that the number of bicycles and cars should be limited while more bus routes should be opened up because buses can carry more passengers. But the decrease in the number of bicycles and car might give rise to another new set of problems, such as inconvenience to people.
Since neither of the suggestions can effectively solve the problem of heavy traffic, there is an increased awareness that the two solutions may be combined with other possible solutions to produce the best effect.
16. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Air Travel
In the last fifty years, traveling by air has become the most popular form of long-distance journeys. However, there are both positive and negative points associated with it.
The first advantage of air travel is that it is quick; For instance, we can fly from Beijing to Guangzhou in less than three hours. The second advantage of traveling by air is that it is convenient. After we have checked in, all we have to do is get on and sit down. The friendly air stewardess will look after our every need. The third advantage of traveling by air is that it is now relatively cheap, especially for long distance travel. We can fly from Beijing to Guangzhou for only 1,200 yuan. But on the other hand, traveling by air has its disadvantages. Perhaps the most obvious is the element of danger involved; such as hijackings and crashes. Traveling by air also makes it impossible for us to see many scenic spots on the way to our destination. In addition to the above mentioned, a long distance air travel may make us very tired, both mentally and physically. Many precious days of holiday may be wasted recovering from air-sickness.
To conclude, although air travel involves inconvenience and slight risk I would say that the advantages mentioned above weigh much more than the disadvantages.
17. On the Internet
The later part of the 1990s finds the worlds "the Internet" become fashionable in people's daily life. The Internet is a network of thousands of networks, linking schools, universities, businesses, government agencies, libraries and millions of individuals. It is something like an "information superhighways"．
The Internet can bring many conveniences to into the school, home and office. For example, to finish their papers, students in a little town in China can check the card catalogue of Library of Congress which is suited geographically far in the United States. Housewives can do shopping and pay bills without leaving their homes. Businessmen can sign a contract and land an order through electronic media (E-mail). Patients can reach the world's leading authorities and experts on the disease they may suffer from. Moreover, men and women can communicate with people all over the world by sending and receiving electronic mail. With a basic computer and modem any individual can call up information about almost anything from almost anywhere and almost anytime.
The Internet exerts such a profound effect on our life that it has become an indispensable part of people's living and thinking.
18. Advantages and Disadvantages of Home Computers
Just a few years ago, the idea of having a computer in one's home seemed far-fetched for most Chinese. Now, however, with the advent and popularity of the home computer, its advantages and disadvantages have been a subject of discussion.
There is no doubt that like TV, computers benefit people hugely. With the computer, the home will become a library, a school, an office and an entertainment center. All transactions, from banking to shopping, is performed electronically and all information, form train schedules to discount price goods, is so close to us at the touch of a key. In addition to providing us many of the facilities and services that we used to find difficulty in obtaining without traveling, with the Internet, the computer even lets us communicate directly with other people worldwide. Despite the increase in efficiency and convenience generated by the computer, the changes it brings could very well lead to potentially adverse consequences. For example, as nearly all activities could be conducted in the comfort of our homes, we could all become hermitlike, never feeling any need to leave the house. This would be unfortunate especially on the part of our children if they should become so addicted to computers that they might never be exposed to real social interaction.
Unquestionably, the challenge brought to us by home computers won't overload the profits they offer to us. Therefore, instead of considering limit the use of home computers, we all should consider how we can improve the functions of computer and make it the useful aid to our life.
19. Should Euthanasia Be Legalized?
Euthanasia, a medical technique used mainly in the hospitals to lead an unnatural death of the patient, is usually referred to as "mercy killing"．It has become a frequent headline recently. People have different views upon it.
Many people applaud it and argue that euthanasia should be legalized. They point out that the practice of euthanasia can benefit both the patient and his family. To a terminally diseased person who is suffering excruciating pains day and night or living "like a vegetable", it will be the best release for him to end his life painlessly. On the part of his family, considering the financial and emotional drain on them if they have to sustain the meaningless life of the patient, it will also be a big relief. However, the legalization of euthanasia may also bring with it problems that our society has not previously faced. People who strongly oppose to euthanasia argue that it is inhuman to terminate the life of a living being who is still capable or breathing and even thinking. They also raise the possibility that a patient is killed alive simply because of a mistaken terminal diagnosis. Furthermore, the legalization of euthanasia might be inadequately used for some
ulterior or even criminal purposes.
Since the legalization of euthanasia will raise serous moral and social issues, the legislators must take a careful consideration about the advantages and disadvantages of euthanasia before they make their decision.
20. Anti-Drug Campaign
Drug-dealing and drug-abuse is extremely harmful to society and individuals. It is exceptionally hard for an addict to give up drug-abuse. Moreover, driven by the desire for money to buy drugs, the abuser may commit monstrous crimes. Widespread drug-abuse may even deprive a nation of its vitality and spirit.
In the past years, overseas drug-dealers have staged ferocious battles to open up the Chinese market. Drug-abuse is on the increase in some regions of China. Many innocent people fall victims of drugs and numerous families are ruined. Crimes related to drug-abuse are occupying a increasing percentage of the whole of the nation's criminal cases.
Reassuringly, our government places great emphasis on the problem and has staged a vigorous campaign against drugs. As a result, stricter law enforcement against drug-dealers has gone into effect and the whole nation is educated about the evils of drug-dealing and drug-abuse. As college students, we should not only be aware of the harm of drugs and stay clear of drugs but also do our best in the national drug campaign.
According to the investigation into the sources of income of students, the income of the American and the Chinese students comes from almost the same channels: parents, part-time job and scholarships. However, the percentage of each is quite different. Half the American students' income is from their parents and 35％from part-time jobs, and scholarships from the colleges make up the remainder. Chinese students, on the other hand, rely mainly on their parents for their income. On the average, only 5％ of their income comes from-taking part-time job and another 5% comes from the university scholarship.
The abrupt difference between American students and Chinese students in the distributions of income is caused by the following reasons. First, the American students are taught to be independent right from childhood while Chinese parents are inclined to offering the financial support for their children's education. Secondly, Chinese students have little opportunity to find a job while the American universities offer much chance and time for the undergraduates to work part-time. Finally, the scholarships offered by American universities are of greater variety and larger amount than those offered by Chinese universities.
Nevertheless, under the influence of Western culture and pressure of increasing tuition, more Chinese students are seeking part-time jobs nowadays. They consider it a good access to both social experience and better financial condition. Therefore, the distributions of their income are approaching each other.
22. Why Schoolchildren's Homework Should Be Reduced
It is a familiar scene in China that schoolchildren, with a heavy schoolbag almost half the
height of them, hurrying to and back from their class. Our schoolchildren have too much homework to do that they have hardly any time to enjoy their childhood. In my opinion, too much homework does harm to the children and it must be reduced.
I have two reasons to support my statement that schoolchildren's homework should be reduced. First, most part of the homework is nothing but repeated exercises imposed upon the kids. The repeated boring homework will inevitably result in their loss of interest in learning. Secondly, children need physical activities from which they can build up their health, gain a sense of partnership and display their creativity. Children who are fully occupied of homework gain less than what they lose.
According to the above analysis, we can arrive at the conclusion that it’s wise for teachers to reduce their students’ homework.
命题作文范文
1. Examinations---Harmful or Useful?
In China, July is called "Dark July" because each year in July students have to take various exams. Quite a few dread them, worry about them, and stay up all night studying or them. However, I am not one of them. On the contrary I love to take exams because they are very useful. Examinations are still conducted everywhere, and, to a great degree, they are useful. First, they force students to study all the courses well. Usually after examinations the top students are encouraged to go further ahead in their study; while the low achievers will have to study hard to catch up. Second, they offer students an opportunity to demonstrate how well they have learned. After different examinations, students will see on which course they have to work harder or in which course they have made greater progress. Thus they will know their strong points and shortcomings. And the teachers will also know their students better and adjust their teaching materials and even teaching methods. So examinations are both beneficial and useful to both the teachers and students.
As a college student, I think, the proper attitude towards exams is that we should take advantage of their positive aspects. If we are fully prepared for the courses to be examined, we can benefit a lot from these exams.
2. My Views on Examinations
In most schools and college 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.
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. Examinations do not motivate a student to obtain more knowledge, but to restrict his reading; they do not
enable him to study consistently throughout the semester, but to induce cramming during exam week. Examinations also lower the standards of teaching. Since teachers themselves are often judged by examination results, they are reduced to training their students in exam techniques. And no subjects can be taught successfully merely for the purpose of passing examinations.
Personally, I don't think that examinations can contribute anything really important to the students' academic development. My suggestion is that educational authorities should devise more efficient and reliable measures to evaluate students' ability of analyzing and solving problems.
3. Which Weighs More---School Brand or Major
There is always a heated discussion among students about which weighs more---school brand or major. The answer turns out to be different. However, I prefer to major.
There are two main reasons to explain my view. Firstly, the most important motivationfor study is interest. If I want to be enrolled into a famous university only for its fame or reputation, without considering my major, I will not make great achievements in my academic study because all the courses I have to learn are not what I really want to learn. Thus to select a major one is most interested in is more important than to select school brand. Secondly, a good major always implies what I will learn is very useful. Therefore it will arouse my interest to study more. And I will try my best to concentrate my mind on my study. A good major also means that after
graduation I can easily get a job that meets with what I have learned in college.
In a word, school brand is nothing more than a kind of fame. But major is something very practical. Therefore in my opinion, major weighs more.
4 Which is More Important: Work or Money?
Would you quit your job if you make a fortune or had a lot of money? In a recent poll conducted by the Xinmin Evening, quite a few people said they would do so. They explained that they had been exhausted by the intensity and boringness of their working life if they could be free from the worry about the balance between their incomes and expenses, they would rather stay at home and relax themselves.
It is true that a substantial sum on the bank account will provide people with a fairly wealthy life, yet for many people work is the chief satisfaction of life. In the process of their work, they will find great pleasure in the cooperation with others, the applause from others and even the help they offer to others. These happy moments are indispensable in their life, and quite a lot people even wish to sacrifice their material comfort to seize the satisfaction of work.
The reason to account for all of this is quite simple: Human beings are different from wild animals in that they would naturally pursue for a high standard of life after their basic physical demands are meet. A job is much more than a paycheck. Doing something one ilkes can contribute greatly to his or her happiness and contentment.
5 A Boom in Adult Education
Every weekend sees Mr. Li, the young boss of a privately owned computer company, stay in Beijing University all the day, attending his MBA courses. Mr. Li’s case is not unique, and now more and more city adults spend their leisure time trying to improve themselves at school or college.
There are a number of reasons for people to go back for their education. Some people are doing it to acquire another degree or diploma to impress the society. To them more knowledge; or rather, more credentials means more opportunities for better jobs and quicker promotion. Other people, especially those who are laid off or out of employment go to the vocational school to prepare to return to the job market. The are eager for new skills so that hey can be qualified for the jobs in retail trade, administration, education and other service categories to which they are strange because most of them were blue-collar workers in the factory. There are also people who come to take such courses as Chinese traditional medicine, painting, calligraphy and photography. As their working weeks decline people begin to have time to fulfill their old dream or their heart's desire.
Out of necessity or out of interest, people go back to school for the common goal: to improve themselves, and this boom in adult education, in return, helps to raise the intellectual standard of the whole society.
6. School-age Children Drop Out---A Problem We Have To Tackle
It is reported that in remote areas in China about one million school-age children drop out of school each year and 80% of the drop-outs are from the families which are too poor to keep their children at school.
To tackle the problem, the government has launched the Hope Project. It has helped thousands of children go back to school. But in my opinion this is far from enough. In order to
change this situation completely, the government should set aside an adequate amount of money for education, especially for elementary education in these areas. And also, the government should establish laws to ensure that no children should drop out of schools as elementary school education is compulsory in our country, and the poor families should be aided by local governments so that they can send their children to school.
To sum up, so long as our central and local governments and the whole society pay enough attention to this problem and take effective action, this situation will be changed.
7. Why I Came to College
Why have I chosen to attend college?一A question I have put to myself many times in the past two academic years. But the answer is always the same: college education is something I truly want to do in my life and it is worthwhile.
There are many reasons for my choosing to attend college. The main one is that I can enjoy learning and gaining knowledge. I remember that as my high school education was drawing to a close, my desire for continuing to learn became increasingly strong, and the decision was naturally made when I realized I would not be content to simply end my educational career with high school and enter the working world so soon. I decided to enter college not only because it is a place where I can continue to seek scientific truths, but also it is a place where I can be exposed to various new, original ideas. It helps to expand my horizons and make me a well-rounded person. Of course I must admit that I chose to attend college also because I felt it was a practical and necessary step I took to ensure a secure future for myself. For in today's world, a college education has become almost essential if one wishes to compete in job market and to find a satisfactory position.
For these reasons, I never mind spending so many nights on paperwork; I never consider myself miserable and unfairly burdened; and I never think college education is a waste of time and money.
8. Should Class Attendance Be Required?
Required class attendance is so commonly practiced at colleges and universities that many teachers and even students themselves simply assume it is a good thing. In fact, required class attendance does more harm than good.
There are several reasons that colleges and universities should not require the students' class attendance. First, rigid attendance policies do not benefit students' studies. For example, a student may have to give up a lecture which he finds vital to his studies simply because he dare not run the risk of being penalized for poor attendance in his course. Second, the lectures of some teachers are not always constructive. A student should be allowed to decide for himself whether an in-class experience is worthwhile when his teacher merely repeats material from the textbook or wastes class by telling irrelevant stories. Finally and most importantly, there is no proven correlation between attendance and performance in a course. A student may never miss a single attendance in a course, but who knows whether or not he is just sitting there daydreaming all the time?
Required class attendance may secure one hundred percent attendance for a course, but it does not make such sense.
9. The Entry of Education into Market-A Good Thing or Bad Thing?
As the socialist market economy in China is expanding and becoming overwhelming, education is becoming more closely related to the market. Schools, colleges and universities have to find ways to support themselves. Personally, I think the entry of education into market is a good
thing.
The reason for education to enter the market is as follows: First, as a developing country, China is not likely to invest a huge amount of money in education in the near future. Education has to turn to the market to find its own way. Second, many Chinese people have realized that what the students get through education is an invisible and valuable product. Students with higher degrees will find it easier to find jobs in the job market, and vacancies with high salaries are only open to those who have got better education. People feel it is beneficial to invest their money in education.
In reality, the entry of education into market is in accordance with the law of market economy. It does good both to the nation and the individual people. The practice of it will lead to a boom in education, and, in turn, the raise of the quality of Chinese people.
10. My View on Re-employment Efforts
In order to improve the competence of state-run enterprises, the central government has implemented a series of reforms, among which is cutting down the staff. Undoubtedly, this will promote productivity. On the other hand, many people get unemployed as a result of the reform. If the problem couldn't solved properly, it would endanger the stability of our society.
Fortunately, the government has taken effective measure to keep the harm to the minimum degree. Firstly, unemployment fund has been established to help the laid-off sustain the basic standard of life. When it's difficult for the laid-off workers to live，the government will allocate a certain sum of money to them regularly. Secondly, the government encourages the laid-off workers to take up their own business. Thanks to the government's lenient policies, the self-employed economy is very active, and a large number of the laid-off set out to sell fruits，handle small-scale restaurants or help to take care of children, etc. With their own efforts, their standard of life has been gradually raised and they also help activate the market and lift certain part of burden from the government. Thirdly, some workers have been trained for other jobs. The government has tried to provide more employment chances, and many training programs have been set up. To our joy, the method has proved to be highly effective.
I, personally, suggest that the government should do more to solve the serious problems caused by staff-reduction. Although there are still some difficulties on the way ahead, I firmly believe that the future of re-employment is bright.
11. Laid-off Workers Have to Face Reality
The number of laid-off workers is increasing because of the reform of the economic system. These workers have to find jobs to support their families. But in job markets, many laid-off workers are reluctant to undertake hourly-paid domestic work in other people's house or seek positions in the private sectors. This phenomenon causes a problem: lots of jobs are short of labors, while lots of workers are out of employment.
The reason for their unwillingness to do service jobs is as follows: they consider it a shame to serve other families. Actually, it's by no means a shame to make a living with one's own hands no matter what kind of work he does, but it's a disgrace to idle along with folded arms and wait until financial aid arrives. It seems what restricts one's prospects is not external conditions, but one's own so-called“self-esteem" ．
The re-employment of laid-off workers should be solved through the joined efforts of both the government and the workers themselves. It is the government's duty to carry out some
beneficial policies to help them out of difficulty. Meanwhile, laid-off workers should re-consider their attitudes towards different jobs in order to adapt themselves to the harsh reality. Losing a job isn't dreadful, but losing heart is.
12. How to Be Successful in A Job Interview
The job interview is crucial for getting a good job. Managers are trained to interview applicants in a special way. The education and experience of the interviewee are important; yet, equally important to a company is how the person feels about the company. Therefore, in a job interview, the company is concerned with the psychology of the applicant.
The typical interview consists of three stages. The first is the beginning of the interview, during which the manager tries to make the applicant feel comfortable and tells the applicant something about the company. In the second stage, the manager asks the interviewee questions about his education, his background, and his interest in the job. Finally the manager will discuss salary and allow the applicant to ask questions about the company. Each stage is equally important. If an applicant does well in all three, the manager might show him around the office, introduce him to some supervisory personnel, or invite him to return for a second interview. This second interview would probably be with the person responsible for making the interview final decision about hiring the applicant.
When having a job interview, remember to relax, to be honest, and to be yourself. If you relax and act naturally, the interviewer will feel comfortable and will know that he can trust you. This will increase your chances of getting the job.
13. Rural Workers: A Mixed Blessing for the City
The early’90s find an unprecedented tide of rural workers flooding into big cities such as Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Beijing. According to a recent survey, in Shanghai alone there are more than 2.5million migrant workers. There is an ambivalent feeling towards rural workers. No one denies the important contribution rural workers have made to the urban development. They have done most of dirty, dangerous and underpaid jobs in heavy industries, construction sites and other fields that city residents are unwilling to enter. They have become an indispensable part of urban life to a point where the machinery of a city cannot operate without those cogs, though small and unnoticed. Yet an anti-migrant attitude runs consistently through the mainstream of urban consciousness. City residents complain that migrant workers have worsened traffic and sanitation problems and have threatened to take already scarce urban jobs. They also blame them for the sharp rise in the urban crime rate.
Despite the problems posed by migrants, one thing is certain: a grand, prosperous edifice of the city is based on the work of millions of migrant workers.
14. My View on the Development Of a Private Car
With the increase in the general standard of living, some Chinese families can now afford a car. Yet opinions of the development of a private car vary from person to person. But in my opinion, private cars should be developed in China.
There are many advantages in possessing a car. It gives a much greater degree of comfort and mobility. The owner of a car is no longer forced to rely on public transport, and hence no irritation caused by waiting for buses or taxies. With a car he can go where he likes and when he wants, he can enjoy his leisure time by making trips to the country or seaside on the weekends. What's more, the growth of automobile industry can lead to the boom of other important industries
such as iron and steel production, energy and technological application. However, others strongly object to developing private cars.
They maintain that as more and more cars are produced and run in the street, a large volume of poisonous gas will be given off, polluting the environment and causing actual harm to the health of people. Besides, private cars contribute to traffic jams so greatly that the advantages gained in comfort and freedom are often cancelled by the frustration caused by heavy traffic.
In short, private cars should be developed in China with the development of our society. And the comfort and independence that a private car can bring to people shall never be neglected.
15. How to Solve the Problem of Heavy Traffic
Nowadays, heavy traffic has become the source of greatest complaint in many big cities. As it has seriously affected people's daily life and economic development, the highest priority of governments has been given to the problem and many experts have been called in for advice.
A great number of solutions are being offered. Some people suggest that more streets and roads should be constructed, for it can reduce traffic density and hence speed up the flow of buses and cars. But traffic flows constantly rise to fill whatever scale of roads and highways are provided for them. And in a city with booming industry, land is precious and cannot be extravagantly used for traffic. So others argue that the number of bicycles and cars should be limited while more bus routes should be opened up because buses can carry more passengers. But the decrease in the number of bicycles and car might give rise to another new set of problems, such as inconvenience to people.
Since neither of the suggestions can effectively solve the problem of heavy traffic, there is an increased awareness that the two solutions may be combined with other possible solutions to produce the best effect.
16. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Air Travel
In the last fifty years, traveling by air has become the most popular form of long-distance journeys. However, there are both positive and negative points associated with it.
The first advantage of air travel is that it is quick; For instance, we can fly from Beijing to Guangzhou in less than three hours. The second advantage of traveling by air is that it is convenient. After we have checked in, all we have to do is get on and sit down. The friendly air stewardess will look after our every need. The third advantage of traveling by air is that it is now relatively cheap, especially for long distance travel. We can fly from Beijing to Guangzhou for only 1,200 yuan. But on the other hand, traveling by air has its disadvantages. Perhaps the most obvious is the element of danger involved; such as hijackings and crashes. Traveling by air also makes it impossible for us to see many scenic spots on the way to our destination. In addition to the above mentioned, a long distance air travel may make us very tired, both mentally and physically. Many precious days of holiday may be wasted recovering from air-sickness.
To conclude, although air travel involves inconvenience and slight risk I would say that the advantages mentioned above weigh much more than the disadvantages.
17. On the Internet
The later part of the 1990s finds the worlds "the Internet" become fashionable in people's daily life. The Internet is a network of thousands of networks, linking schools, universities, businesses, government agencies, libraries and millions of individuals. It is something like an "information superhighways"．
The Internet can bring many conveniences to into the school, home and office. For example, to finish their papers, students in a little town in China can check the card catalogue of Library of Congress which is suited geographically far in the United States. Housewives can do shopping and pay bills without leaving their homes. Businessmen can sign a contract and land an order through electronic media (E-mail). Patients can reach the world's leading authorities and experts on the disease they may suffer from. Moreover, men and women can communicate with people all over the world by sending and receiving electronic mail. With a basic computer and modem any individual can call up information about almost anything from almost anywhere and almost anytime.
The Internet exerts such a profound effect on our life that it has become an indispensable part of people's living and thinking.
18. Advantages and Disadvantages of Home Computers
Just a few years ago, the idea of having a computer in one's home seemed far-fetched for most Chinese. Now, however, with the advent and popularity of the home computer, its advantages and disadvantages have been a subject of discussion.
There is no doubt that like TV, computers benefit people hugely. With the computer, the home will become a library, a school, an office and an entertainment center. All transactions, from banking to shopping, is performed electronically and all information, form train schedules to discount price goods, is so close to us at the touch of a key. In addition to providing us many of the facilities and services that we used to find difficulty in obtaining without traveling, with the Internet, the computer even lets us communicate directly with other people worldwide. Despite the increase in efficiency and convenience generated by the computer, the changes it brings could very well lead to potentially adverse consequences. For example, as nearly all activities could be conducted in the comfort of our homes, we could all become hermitlike, never feeling any need to leave the house. This would be unfortunate especially on the part of our children if they should become so addicted to computers that they might never be exposed to real social interaction.
Unquestionably, the challenge brought to us by home computers won't overload the profits they offer to us. Therefore, instead of considering limit the use of home computers, we all should consider how we can improve the functions of computer and make it the useful aid to our life.
19. Should Euthanasia Be Legalized?
Euthanasia, a medical technique used mainly in the hospitals to lead an unnatural death of the patient, is usually referred to as "mercy killing"．It has become a frequent headline recently. People have different views upon it.
Many people applaud it and argue that euthanasia should be legalized. They point out that the practice of euthanasia can benefit both the patient and his family. To a terminally diseased person who is suffering excruciating pains day and night or living "like a vegetable", it will be the best release for him to end his life painlessly. On the part of his family, considering the financial and emotional drain on them if they have to sustain the meaningless life of the patient, it will also be a big relief. However, the legalization of euthanasia may also bring with it problems that our society has not previously faced. People who strongly oppose to euthanasia argue that it is inhuman to terminate the life of a living being who is still capable or breathing and even thinking. They also raise the possibility that a patient is killed alive simply because of a mistaken terminal diagnosis. Furthermore, the legalization of euthanasia might be inadequately used for some
ulterior or even criminal purposes.
Since the legalization of euthanasia will raise serous moral and social issues, the legislators must take a careful consideration about the advantages and disadvantages of euthanasia before they make their decision.
20. Anti-Drug Campaign
Drug-dealing and drug-abuse is extremely harmful to society and individuals. It is exceptionally hard for an addict to give up drug-abuse. Moreover, driven by the desire for money to buy drugs, the abuser may commit monstrous crimes. Widespread drug-abuse may even deprive a nation of its vitality and spirit.
In the past years, overseas drug-dealers have staged ferocious battles to open up the Chinese market. Drug-abuse is on the increase in some regions of China. Many innocent people fall victims of drugs and numerous families are ruined. Crimes related to drug-abuse are occupying a increasing percentage of the whole of the nation's criminal cases.
Reassuringly, our government places great emphasis on the problem and has staged a vigorous campaign against drugs. As a result, stricter law enforcement against drug-dealers has gone into effect and the whole nation is educated about the evils of drug-dealing and drug-abuse. As college students, we should not only be aware of the harm of drugs and stay clear of drugs but also do our best in the national drug campaign.
According to the investigation into the sources of income of students, the income of the American and the Chinese students comes from almost the same channels: parents, part-time job and scholarships. However, the percentage of each is quite different. Half the American students' income is from their parents and 35％from part-time jobs, and scholarships from the colleges make up the remainder. Chinese students, on the other hand, rely mainly on their parents for their income. On the average, only 5％ of their income comes from-taking part-time job and another 5% comes from the university scholarship.
The abrupt difference between American students and Chinese students in the distributions of income is caused by the following reasons. First, the American students are taught to be independent right from childhood while Chinese parents are inclined to offering the financial support for their children's education. Secondly, Chinese students have little opportunity to find a job while the American universities offer much chance and time for the undergraduates to work part-time. Finally, the scholarships offered by American universities are of greater variety and larger amount than those offered by Chinese universities.
Nevertheless, under the influence of Western culture and pressure of increasing tuition, more Chinese students are seeking part-time jobs nowadays. They consider it a good access to both social experience and better financial condition. Therefore, the distributions of their income are approaching each other.
22. Why Schoolchildren's Homework Should Be Reduced
It is a familiar scene in China that schoolchildren, with a heavy schoolbag almost half the
height of them, hurrying to and back from their class. Our schoolchildren have too much homework to do that they have hardly any time to enjoy their childhood. In my opinion, too much homework does harm to the children and it must be reduced.
I have two reasons to support my statement that schoolchildren's homework should be reduced. First, most part of the homework is nothing but repeated exercises imposed upon the kids. The repeated boring homework will inevitably result in their loss of interest in learning. Secondly, children need physical activities from which they can build up their health, gain a sense of partnership and display their creativity. Children who are fully occupied of homework gain less than what they lose.
According to the above analysis, we can arrive at the conclusion that it’s wise for teachers to reduce their students’ homework.