1. Misfortunes Bring Out One’s Best Qualities

　　(該題屬于典型的“諺語警句型”)

　　(解釋含義)An inspiring saying goes that “misfortunes bring out one’s best qualities”.Simple as the saying is, its meaning is profound and thought-provoking. Evidently, it ismeant to tell us that unfavorable conditions can stimulate one’s will to fight and give full play tohis talents, and that we should not be indulged in depression after we have met setbacks.

　　(舉例說明之外國歷史事例)Actually, history abounds with examples to prove this saying.Here I can think of no better illustration of the proverb than the experience of ThomasCarlyle, a famous English historian. His manuscript of “The History of French Revolution” wasaccidently burnt by the careless housekeeper of his close friend just after he finished writing it.Instead of blaming his friend, the historian comforted him by saying that the destroyed one wasnot his best version. Then he rewrote the book and indeed made it a much better one.

　　或

　　(舉例說明之中國歷史事例)Actually, history abounds with examples to prove this saying.Here I can think of no better illustration of the proverb than the experience of Confucius, theearliest and greatest educator in Chinese history. He completed his famous work Spring andAutumn only after he met a series of setbacks and experienced bitterness of life. Anothercase in point might be Hua Yanjun, or Abing, the well-known folk musician in recent China. As ablind man, he lived at the lowest level of the society before liberation. But it might just be hissufferings that had brought out his best qualities as a musician and enabled him to create themost reputable melody, his masterpiece The Moon in Two Springs.

　　或

　　(舉例說明之個人經歷)Actually, history abounds with examples to prove this saying. Taking alook around, we can also find examples too many to enumerate. Here I can think of no betterillustration of the proverb than the experience of my own. Though performing well enough inthe college entrance exam, I was only provided with the opportunity to enroll in a second-classuniversity. However, I did not lose my heart. Instead, I found the remoteness and quietness ofthe campus a favorable condition for my study. In terms of English, I have passed CET-4 witha high score. Now I believe I can do the same with my CET-6.

　　(我的做法)Bringing what has been discussed into a conclusion, we may say that a cursecan also turn into a blessing. Personally, I will not indulge myself in bitterness and complaintafter meeting setbacks. What I will do is to seek opportunities and turn adversities intofavorable conditions. In a word, I truly agree with the proverb given in the directions and willtake the right actions in my life and work in the future.

　　2. Control Weight and Keep Fit

　　(該題屬于“引語評論型”與“解決問題型”相結合的出題方式)

　　(描述現象)The past few years have witnessed a mounting number of people gaining weightwhile becoming unhealthy.(舉例論證) Taking a look around, one can find examples too manyto enumerate. Just as the saying goes, “while the weight of many people is increasing, theirlevel of their health is decreasing.”

　　(分析原因)A number of factors can account for the phenomenon, but the following mightbe the critical ones. In the first place, there exist faults with those people’s diet. In otherwords, they do not eat healthy food or they do not eat in the healthy way. In the second place,lack of exercise is also responsible for the phenomenon. Due to the fast pace of modern life,many people’s exercise is far from adequate. Lastly, there exist reasons on the part of thosepeople’s psychology. As a result of the fierce competition in current society, many peoplehave lost the balance in their state of mind, which in turn gives rise to physical and mentalproblems.

　　(我的做法)Personally, I will take measures in the three aspects mentioned above tocontrol my weight and keep fit. For one thing, I shall foster the good habit of diet. Foranother, I shall work out regularly. Last but not least, I will try reading or traveling to achieve abalance in my state of mind. In a word, I truly agree with the proverb given in the directionsand will take the right actions in my life in the future.

　　(如果題目要求提出建議則按如下寫法)

　　(提出建議)This phenomenon is definitely unhealthy and requires remedying. Naturally,measures should be taken in the three aspects mentioned above. For one thing, it isimperative that people foster the good habit of diet. For another, they need work outregularly. Last but not least, they can try reading or traveling to achieve a balance in their stateof mind. Only with these measures taken can we expect a solution of the problem.

　　或

　　(提出建議)In view of the seriousness of the situation, effective measures should betaken before things get worse. First, it is essential that people foster the good habit of diet.Second, it is suggested that they work out regularly. Then, it is advisable for them to tryreading or traveling to achieve a balance in their state of mind. With these measures taken, itis reasonable for us to believe that the problem will be solved in the near future.

　　3. Get Truly Educated

　　(該題屬于“引語評論型”與“觀點認同型”相結合的出題方式)

　　(我的觀點)I fundamentally agree with the saying that students must take courses outsidetheir major field of study to become "truly educated." Nevertheless, I would caution that goingtoo far in this direction might be risky.

　　(我的論據)The primary reason why I agree with the proposition is that "true" educationamounts to far more than gaining the knowledge and ability to excel in one's major course ofstudy and in one's professional career. True education also facilitates an understanding ofone-self, and tolerance and respect for the viewpoints of others. Secondly, even the masteryof a specific area requires some knowledge about a variety of others. For example, a political-science student can fully understand that field only by understanding the variouspsychological, sociological, and historical forces that shape political ideology.

　　(讓步/指出弊端)Nevertheless, in the pursuit of true education students must be careful notto overextend themselves. Otherwise, he would lack enough knowledge or experience in anysingle area to have anything valuable to offer.

　　(我的做法)Personally, I will try to expose myself to more fields of knowledge than my ownmajor: computer science. For instance, I will learn more about English and teaching, for I amdetermined to take a job of programming in English teaching. Besides, I will learn more aboutfine art and music. In a word, I truly agree with the saying given in the directions and will takethe right actions in my life in the future.

　　4.All Roads Lead to Rome

　　(同上)

　　(描述現象)The past few years have witnessed a mounting number of people taking jobsoutside what they learn in college.(舉例論證) Taking a look around, one can find examples toomany to enumerate. A case in point might be the Peking University graduates selling pork, orthe Xi’an Jiaotong University graduates who sell Chinese hamburgers.(引語觀點)Someapprove of this phenomenon and claim that one does not have to work in the field that hemajors in during college. (我的觀點)Personally, I agree with them and my reasons are asfollow.

　　(我的論據)In the first place, one might only find what he is really interested in after studiesin college. Therefore, it is nothing worth blame if he engages himself in a career of a differentfield after finding that he is not keen on what he learns in college. In the second place, themost important thing that one learns in college should not be the professional knowledgeitself; rather, it should be the ability to acquire knowledge or to conduct work. Therefore, itdoes not matter if the job is closely related to what he learns as a major.

　　(我的做法)Personally, I am a computer major. But I did not choose to learn aboutcomputer by myself. It was my parents’ decision. After years of study, I find that I am neithertalented nor interested in the major. Meanwhile, I have fostered profound interest in Englishand have spent a considerable amount of time on it. Therefore, I will choose a job related toEnglish in the future, such as an interpreter or an English teacher.

　　5.Classroom Teaching Will Go on

　　(同上)

　　(描述現象)The past few years have witnessed a mounting number of people receive e-education, or Internet-based teaching.(舉例論證) Taking a look around, one can find examplestoo many to enumerate. A case in point might be the soaring popularity of YY and MOOC(Massive Open Online Courses).(引語觀點)Some approve of this phenomenon and claimthat online teaching will take the place of classroom teaching.(我的觀點)Personally, I disagreewith them. Though online teaching has some advantages, it will not totally substitutetraditional instruction.

　　(讓步)\Admittedly, e-education has some merits as compared with traditional teaching.Firstly, it is more economical, in that once a course is prepared, it can be used by largenumbers of students. Secondly, it is more convenient. Instead of having to attend classes atfixed times and places, students are free to study when they choose and progress at their ownpace. Furthermore, by studying from home there is no need to travel to the college oruniversity, saving both time and money.

　　(反駁 +　我的論據)Despite the considerations mentioned above, classroom learning showsno signs of being replaced by e-learning. It seems that face-to-face contact with a teacher isstill widely regarded as the best way for students to make progress. Not only the personalcontact with a teacher, but also the support and encouragement gained from being part of aclass may be one reason for this. Membership of a group may also create a useful spirit ofcompetition, which stimulates learning.

　　(總結)To sum up, there may be a role for Internet-based courses to supplementteacher-taught ones, the former cannot replace the latter.

　　6. Luck: Wings for a Running Horse

　　(同上)

　　(提出話題)The way to success has long been a topic under heated discussion in human society. (引語觀點)While some attribute success to good luck, others hold that hard work is the only way to success and luck has nothing to do with it. (我的觀點)Personally, I deem that both sides go to the extreme. Actually both diligence and luck play a role in a person’s success, though the former weighs much heavier than the latter.

　　(讓步)Admittedly, hard work is indispensable in most people’s success. How could Madam Curie and her husband have succeeded in discovering the element radium without continuous labor? Similarly, how could Mao Zedong have successfully figured out the way to defeat his enemies without the numerous nights spent on books and meetings?

　　(反駁　+　我的論據)However, luck does also have a role to play in a person’s success. If Madam Curie and her husband had not had happened to go to the laboratory late that night, they might well have missed the chance to discover the element. If Mao had been assassinated by his rivalries, as was American president John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln, he would not have become what he was in Chinese history.

　　(總結)To sum up, we may safely say that both hard work and good luck contribute to a person’s success. Without the foundation laid through hard work, one would only sigh before good luck, and with good luck one can go faster and safer on his way to success. Good luck is to a hardworking man what wings are to a running horse. So just get running and seize your good luck!

　　7.

　　(同上)

　　(描述現象)The past few years have witnessed a mounting number of people getting wronged when helping others.(舉例論證) Taking a look around, one can find examples too many to enumerate. The most typical case in point might be the man from Nanjing who helped an old lady but was penalized by law. (引語觀點)Therefore, some people warn those warmhearted by citing the saying “everyone is for himself and God is for everyone.” (我的觀點)Personally, I disagree with them. I hold that we should care about people around us and help each other.

　　(我的論據)The reason is self-evident: everyone will one day meet trouble. When our own capacity is not strong enough to pull ourselves out of the trouble, we might only say die if no one came to help us. As a matter of fact, numerous examples can be given as illustrations. The most recent one might be what happed in Zhaoyuan, Shandong. It was just because of the indifference of those onlookers that the young lady became the victim of the violence attack. Had anyone present offered her a hand, the tragedy might well have been prevented.

　　(我的做法)Personally, I will care about people around me, whether I know them or not, because I believe that it is love that makes the world go around. I will offer my help to any innocent person in trouble. What’s more, I will also show my care to those so-called “bad guys”, helping them come back to the right road. Only in this way can we expect a harmonious society.