(一)图表型
The past years have witnessed a mounting number of Chinese scholars returning from overseas. As is lively illustrated by the column chart, the number of returnees climbed from a mere 69.3 thousand in 2008 to over 272.9 thousand in 2012, at an annual increase rate of around 50%.
A multitude of factors may have led to the tendency revealed by the chart, but the following are the critical ones from my perspective. First and foremost, along with the development of Chinese economy and society, the number of Chinese studying abroad has been soaring in the past years, which has provided an expanding base for the number of returnees. In the second place, the government has enacted a series of preferential policies to attract overseas Chinese scholars back home. Last but not least, the booming economy, science and technology in this country have generated more attative job opportunites for scholars returning from overseas.
The waves of returnees will definitely contribute to this nation’s development, since they have brought back not only advanced science and technology but also pioneering concepts of education and management. With more scholars coming back from overseas, and with the concerted efforts of the whole nation, we have reasons to expect a faster rejuvenation of this country.
(二)图画型
This is a satiric but true-to-life drawing. As we can see in it, a man is drowning, with only one arm above water gesturing for help. Those standing on the bank, however, instead of lending a helping hand, are busy photographing with their mobile phones, most possibly taking the scene as another eyeball-attractor on the Internet.
Exaggerating as it might be, the phenomenon mirrored by the cartoon is not uncommon in modern society. Actually, both the picture and instances in real life point to the fact that many people nowadays ignore what they should do due to the use of mobile phones and the Internet. It never too rare to see some people taking pictures of newly served dishes in a restaurant and upload them to their friend circle in We Chat. Nor is it to find people busy taking photos and update their micro blogs when touring. Some even fail to take proper actions in case of emergency, just as the crowd in the picture do. Their only goal seems to be attracting as much attention online as possible.
Such being the case, it is high time that we pondered over the problem and figured out a solution. Among all measures, I believe, the central one should be resisting the temptation of vanity brought along by such modern self-media as micro blog, and coming more back to life itself.
(三)对立观点型
Is It Up to Students to Evaluate Teachers?
The past few years have witnessed a mounting number of universities allowing students to evaluate their teachers and even decide if they can stay on their positions or not. To this practice, people’s attitudes differ considerably. Some applaud it warmly whereas others criticize and even condemn it harshly.
Proponents of the practice may list the following reasons. In the first place, they assert that students are the people who know the most clearly about the teaching performance of a teacher, so they should have the say in evaluating him or her. In the second place, they contend that students have paid for their education, so they have the right to decide which teacher should be employed.
Opponents, however, point out that it is dangerous to leave the right to students to evaluate teachers. For one thing, students may not know what ought to be taught and how it should be taught; they may only judge a teacher according to his temper and even accent or appearance. For another, in order to please students, some teachers may resort to some improper means.
Personally, I believe that both views are justifiable, and we should achieve a balance between them by employing the evaluating approach in a reasonable and beneficial way. To be specific, students should be allowed to evaluate their teachers, but they may not be the only decision-maker in the teachers’ fate.
(四)观点认同型
My View on Plastic Surgery
The past few years have witnessed a mounting number of people undergoing plastic surgery. To this practice, people’s attitudes differ considerably. Some applaud it warmly whereas others criticize and even condemn it harshly. Personally, I am opposed to plastic surgery, and I base my position on the following reasons.
In the first place, I deem that physical appearances are always of less great importance than inner beauty and practical ability. In the second place, I am definitely opposed to the concept that there is an established norm of beauty. Instead, I hold that beauty, even in the physical sense, manifests itself in varied ways. Last but not least, as is well known, plastic surgery can be very dangerous, resulting in some irreversible injuries.
Indeed, there are some individuals who have achieved success in their career or life with the help of plastic surgery, but it must be pointed out that they belong to the absolute minority and that their success depends far more than their improved physical appearance.
Taking into consideration all the above-mentioned, we may safely come to the conclusion that plastic surgery is definitely unnecessary for normal people. We should focus more on our inner world and try to attract others with our personality and intelligence.
(五)解决问题型
College Students Playing Truant
The past few years have witnessed a mounting number of college students playing truant. Taking a look around, one can find examples too many to enumerate. Sometimes, even less than half of the students in a class attend the lecture..
A number of factors may be responsible for this phenomenon. Personally, I can come up with the following ones. In the first place, there exist faults with the arrangement of curriculum. In other words, some courses are irrelevant, or far beyond or below students. In the second place, some teachers are responsible for the phenomenon. Their teaching is far from attractive or efficient. Lastly, there exist reasons on the part of students, many of whom have become restless under the influence of some social trends.
This phenomenon is definitely unhealthy and requires remedying. Naturally, measures should be taken in the three aspects mentioned above. For one thing, it is imperative that the school perfect its arrangement of courses. For another, teachers should be constantly urged to improve their work. Last but not least, students should be warned against some vicious trends in society and concentrate on their study. Only with these measures taken can we expect a solution of the problem.
(六)名言警句型
A Curse Can Be a Blessing in Disguise
A famous saying goes that “A curse can be a blessing in disguise”. Simple as the saying is, its meaning is profound and thought-provoking. Evidently, it is meant to tell us that unfavorable conditions can one day prove to be favorable ones ant that we should not be indulged in depression after we have met setbacks.
Actually, history abounds with examples to prove this saying. Taking a look around, we can also find examples too many to enumerate. Here I can think of no better illustration of the proverb than the experience of my own. Though performing well enough in the college entrance exam, I was only provided with the opportunity to enroll in a second-class university. However, I did not lose my heart. Instead, I found the remoteness and quietness of the campus a favorable condition for my study. In terms of English, I have passed CET-4 with a high score. Now I believe I can do the same with my CET-6.
Bringing what has been discussed into a conclusion, we may say that a curse can also turn into a blessing. So, one should not indulge himself in bitterness and complaint after he meets setbacks. What he really has to do is to seek opportunities and turn adversities into favorable conditions. In a word, we should truly understand the profound meaning of the proverb and take the right actions in our life and work in the future.
(七)书信型
December 14th, 2013
Dear Sir or Madam,
I’m writing to lodge the complaint about the poor quality of an air conditioner that I purchased from Sun Appliance Company.
Frankly speaking, Sun Appliance has always been my favorite. On December 4th, 2013, I bought the air conditioner (serial number 12345) from one of your chain stores. The machine operated well at first, but ten days later, there was a fault that bothered me, that is, the fan made so much noise that I could not sleep well at night. Worse still, the heating system didn’t work well and the machine began to leak recently. Its poor quality ruined almost all my previous impression toward your products.
I strongly suggest that a repairman should be sent to my home without delay. I wonder if you could find out the exact cause of the problem as soon as possible. If you can’t, I am afraid that I will request for full amount of refund or a new air conditioner.
I would appreciate all your assistance in this matter. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Look forward to your reply.
Yours Sincerely,
Li Ming
(八)读后感型
The Goal of Life
A story goes that a disabled young man managed to reach the peak of every famous high mountain in the world before he was 28. He did all this just as his parents told him to do in their will. But the young man committed suicide in the end and his last words were: “now I have nothing to do with all my goals achieved and my fame well established. I have no new goals.”
Simple as the drawing is, the message it conveys is profound and far-reaching. Evidently, it is meant to reveal the fact that, first, one should have a grand ideal and associate it with the needs of society, and secondly, one should have his own pursuits and should not follow others blindly.
The story is especially instructive when we think of similar happenings around us. Some people, after making a fortune, feel empty and desperate, resorting to drugs or other low style of life. Still more young people do the same because they are in lack of lofty ideals and are only drifting with the tide.
As far as I am concerned, I would like to devote myself to any cause that is beneficial to mankind. My short-term goal is to learn about environmental protection and find a job in this field. And I believe this is a meaningful and useful career. It is worth my life-long efforts. I will keep finding and attaining new goals in this field.
(九)给主题句型
Good Manners
Good manners mean good behavior in social intercourse. For people to live in harmony, there should be some common rules to obey in society. Good-mannered individuals pay adequate respect for these rules. For instance, they would not smoke or talk too loudly while eating in a restaurant; nor would they jump in queue while waiting for their turn; neither would they sneeze without covering their mouth and nose.
A selfish man can never possess good manners. They tend to be self-centered, putting their own interest above all others’. Taking a look around, one can find examples too numerous to list. Some hold parties in deep night, seriously affecting their neighbors’ rest; others walk their dogs without chaining them, threatening the safety of passers-by; still others talk at a high voice on phone, totally ignoring the existence of people around them.
Then how to learn good manners? Personally, I believe measures can be taken in the following aspects. In the first place, it is the government’s duty to work out and enforce regulations and even laws to penalize those would severely infringe upon others’ rights through their selfish behavior. In the second place, a deep-going, widespread and ever-lasting campaign should be launched to elevate people’s level of social morality.
(十)其他类型
Volunteering Activities
No one can have failed to notice the fact that the past years witnessed an increasing number of volunteers in China. Taking a look around, one can find examples too many to enumerate. The largest and most notable group of volunteers might be those working for the Beijing Olympic Games and Shanghai Expo.
Such volunteering activities are significant in many ways. First and foremost, they have undoubtedly contributed considerably to this society. As a newly emerging force, volunteers actually present collectivism and the virtue of helping others for fun in a new form. Secondly, by working as volunteers, the younger generation, especially college students, can broaden their horizons, enhance their capacities and associate themselves better with the society. Of course there exist some problems with these volunteering activities, such as lack of training and loose management of volunteers, but we have reasons to believe that they can be solved in the near future.
Personally, I didn’t work as a volunteer in the earthquake or the Olympics for this reason or that. Nor did I have a chance to work for Shanghai Expo. But I am indeed touched by those voluntary deeds and I am determined to work as a volunteer for environmental protection from now on, which I deem of great importance nowadays.
