Topic 5

5. A company has announced that it wishes to build a large factory near your community. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this new influence on your community. Do you support or oppose the factory? Explain your position.

I SUPPORT THE FACTORY PLAN

Building a large factory will bring about both benefits and harmful impacts on my community. In my opinion, advantages of a new factory outweigh disadvantages. Therefore, I definitely support the new factory plan in my community.

As a threshold matter, there will be numerous benefits of constructing a new factory in my community. For instance, the new factory will surely offers considerable opportunities of jobs -- such as cleaners, workers, managers, and so forth, which may ease the pressure of job market. A lot of folks may find their ideal positions in this factory. Besides, tax revenue from the factory will also supplement local government's income. As a result, statesmen would have more money to budget their financial plans. For instance, education system of our community will be the right beneficiary of the factory, because tax revenue from the factory can be spent in ameliorating facilities of community colleges and providing positions with high salary which may enslave quantity of outstanding professors to work in local colleges. Furthermore, the factory will certainly arouse other businesses appear in my community -- for example, hospitals, restaurants, plazas, and so forth, which will boom economy of my community.

Nevertheless, certain disadvantages of constructing a new factory do exist. Especially, some of them may be extremely devastating. Take potential pollution. As a common sense, a factory releases large quantities of wastes, such as polluted water, poisonous gases, and etc, as by-products while it produces merchandises. These wastes may induce towards severe disasters in my community. Polluted water may cause intestinal diseases and stomach cancer; poisonous gases will lead to respiratory diseases which makes quality of life decrease. Moreover, the factory generates loud noises as well, which is especially intolerable during night. Residents' sleep may be disturbed and they do not have enough energy to face daylight work.

When it comes to make a decision about whether to support or oppose the factory, I would like to support the factory plan. There are several reasons to name. Firstly, the factory will bring a excellent opportunity to economy of our community. Local folks will benefit from the plan from the long run time. Secondly, since technology today has developed to a quite high level, I deeply believe that political leaders and managers of the factory will find right ways to solve potential problems caused by the factory. For instance, they may adopt new waste disposing methods to reduce harmful effects of wasted water to the lowest point. Gases will also be carefully cleaned before releasing into the air. Thus, advantages far outweigh disadvantages of the factory.

In summary, there are both benefits and harmful effects that the factory will bring about. In my view, the factory will contribute a lot to our community in future time. Then, it the final analysis, I support the factory plan.

Smoking, Integrated Writing, Test 2, Kaplan

In the article, the author tries to demonstrate that smoking isn't as harmful as supposed to be in three aspects. However, the speaker of the lecture opposes this opinion and contrasts each point stated in the passages.

In the first place, the author of the article writes that smoking ban doesn't work and limit the freedom of people who smoke, which is debated by the speaker. According to the speaker, smoker could still smoke as they want. Those persons who smoke can still smoke at home or other personal places. Moreover, in the speaker's opinion, smoking bans help smokers quit smoking, because they reduce places where smoking takes place. Furthermore, the speaker says smoking ban can help those addicted out of smoking.

In the second place, the author of the article holds that several stores and businesses have to close due to decreasing number of patronage of people who smoke. Nevertheless, the speaker definitely opposes this point. In effect, the speaker points out that though a few bars close down, new ones open and survive. Moreover, business can be prosperous by attracting nonsmokers.

Finally, the speaker of the lecture doubts the mortality rate of smoking as well. In the article, it is said that secondhand smoke doesn't cause severe problems because it takes longer than a lifetime to develop cancer. However, the speaker disagrees with this point of view and says that lung cancer isn't the only disease caused by smoking. Further more, the speaker also expresses uncertainty on tax contributed by smokers. The speaker believes that smokers do not pay significant tax, which is directly contrary to what is stated in the article.

Topic 35

35. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Attending a live performance (for example, a play, concert, or sporting event) is more enjoyable than watching the same event on television. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

ATTENDING A LIVE PERFORMANCE GIVES MORE THAN TELEVISION

In my opinion, I strongly agree with the statement that attending live performances is quite more enjoyable and exciting than watching the same events on television or listening through radio. There are numerous advantages of going to a live performance, while watching television cannot offer us things equal to those special benefits.

As a threshold matter, attending a live performance gives me a peculiar feeling which I cannot get when I watch television. For instance, I attended the opening ceremony of the 29th Olympic Games which was held last month. When I was sitting in the national stadium -- Bird's Nest, where the ceremony was celebrated, the whole vehement atmosphere created by numerous people screaming together completely shocked me. At that time, I sang together with other people and kept swaying national flag in my hand. I even didn't feel a little tired at all. Furthermore, when the torch was lit at the last moment, I felt that hearts of all athletes from every country are linked together. However, when I reviewed the opening ceremony next day at home by watching television, that feelings didn't come into my mind.

Secondly, when going to a live performance, spectators will not be restricted by perspectives of cameras, which is a main shortcoming of watching television at home. For instance, take the most recent show in theater. The singer was chanting at the center of the circle and person around me were singing together with the star. This scenario was made up of a whole cubic surrounding, which could only be experienced by attending it. I could see and hear anything I want to. For instance, I know how excited and ardent of persons in my neighbor seats. Nevertheless, if watching live concert at home or other personal places, these feelings would surely be over us.

Thirdly, attending to live performance could offer good opportunities to contact with our stars within a short distance. For instance, if I could go to Michael Jackson's live performance, I might be extremely fortunate to be chosen as a lucky person and have the chance to communicate with Jackson face to face, which is impossible if I watch the same live rendering at home. As a result, I would be better able to understand what kind of person my idol really is. Moreover, only taking a photo with Jackson would make me sleepless over several days. Nevertheless, watching television far from the venue where concerts are held merely makes me jealous towards the person who would be me.

In summary, there are a myriad of benefits of going to a live performance, such as vehement feeling, opportunities of getting a signature of popular stars, and so forth. To the contrary, watching television or hearing on radio could not offer such beautiful things.

Core Curricula, Integrated Writing, Test 1, Kaplan

In the article, the author explains what core curricula are and then demonstrates that both universities and students gain a lot from this system. However, the speaker of the lecture casts doubt on the author's opinion and cites several reasons to support his standpoint.

In the first place, according to the speaker, some courses of core curricula are too easy for students to learn. Moreover, some other courses are totally irrelevant to students' majors. The speaker also mentions that some obligatory courses of core curricula are just outside students' primary interests. As a result, students couldn't learn much from these courses. All these three points are contrary to what are expressed in the article which writes that core curricula give students a broader perspective on life.

In the second place, the speaker of the lecture says that a few curricula in core ones are too big for students to study as well. In the speaker's opinion, those courses' size is too large and students couldn't do well in these classes. This is in conflict with what is said in the article. The speaker also mentions that guidance should give students some advices on how to get well in core curricula. Furthermore, the speaker holds that core curricula ought to offer creative ways to satisfy students' need. According to the speaker, guidance should also provide opportunities of internship to help students with their careers.

However, if we could solve all the problems mentioned above, students surely are the very beneficiaries. First, universities would increase enrollment of high-quality students and thus ameliorate public profile. Secondly, students would learn the most paramount courses in core curricula and don't have to learn too easy, or rigid curricula they don't like. As a result, students would have careers of promising prospect.

Topic 45

45. Some people prefer to get up early in the morning and start the day's work. Others prefer to get up later in the day and work until late at night. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

GETTING UP EARLY HELPS A LOT

Personally, I am prone to get up early in the morning and begin my work. In my opinion, going to bed early in the night and getting up early in the morning will certainly benefit me in numerous ways. Generally speaking, I will be in good health and filled with energy under this pattern of life.

In the first place, going to bed early in the night and getting up early in the morning guarantees that I have a good sleep and don't feel tired after getting up. This pattern of sleep can provide me with enough rest of high quality, which is crucial for daylight work. In my experiences, I would feel difficult to get asleep and extremely dreary when I get up next morning, if I go to bed late at night on the first day. For instance, once a friend of mine invited me to take part in his birthday party. Many people played happily and didn't go home until two o'clock in the morning. However, when I got back to my bed, I couldn't stop thinking what took place just now and was vehement. At that day, I was asleep at about five o'clock in the morning and woke up late in the afternoon, which was a terrible feeling.

In the second place, going to bed too late at night over a long period definitely harm my health. According to medical lectures held in my community, in the span from 10 to 12 p.m. everyday, our bodies begin to tone and secret certain hormones to keep bodies clean. After that, our bodies are tired and need deep sleep, which aims to recover after a day's hard work. However, if we are still awake and tacking thorny problems, our bodies will receive harmful effects -- for example, imbalanced secretion, insomnia and high blood pressure. Of course, each of these phenomena deserves our careful attention.

Thirdly, if I get up early in the morning, I can do a lot of meaningful things which would help me with health, and mental status. For instance, I could do morning exercises, such as running, pushups, and so forth, on condition that I get up at 7 o'clock everyday. These activities help me improve status of my body and mentality. After morning exercises, I always feel quite relaxed and free of anything constricted, therefore I can face the rest time of the day. Needless to say, my working efficiency surely is much higher than it of getting up late in the morning without any physical exercise.

In summary, going to bed early at night can maintain balance of my body's circulation, which is beneficial and positive for my physical health; getting up early in the morning offers me enough time to do exercises, which tones my body and makes me relaxed and energetic. Then, in the final analysis, I would definitely choose to this healthy routine of life.

Origin of Life, Integrated Writing, Test 6, Barron

In the article, the author primarily talks about the experiment which aimed to discover the origin of life on Earth. However, the speaker casts doubt on the correctness of the experiment and cites several scientists' critiques towards that experiment done several years ago.

In the first place, the speaker of the lecture confirms that the experiment was grand at that time. Nevertheless, the speaker also points out that the electrical problem with the experiment. The author of the article writes that, in laboratory environment, flasks are charged with electricity continuously. But, according to the speaker, though there were frequent electrical storms in early atmosphere of Earth, there was no continuous electricity, which is certainly a flaw of that experiment.

In the second place, in the article, the author mentions that oxygen is reduced in experiment. According to the speaker, this is another flaw as well. The speaker of the lecture says that the premise that there was not considerable oxygen in atmosphere of early Earth cannot be proved anyway. Perhaps that hypothesis is totally wrong, which would undermine the correctness of the experiment.

Finally, the speaker also mentions meteorites as evidence to disprove the conclusion of the experiment in the article. The speaker says that scientists have found that there is amino acid in meteorites, which would demonstrate that this kind of acid could survive under severe conditions. This conclusion means, according to what the speaker says, that the acid was on early Earth which contained asteroids. Moreover, the speaker also points out that we just don't know or unsure about the truth that how life in Earth originated from simple organs into large buildings. There are more work before we make clear.

Topic 55

55. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A person should never make an important decision alone. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

WHETHER MAKING A DECISION ALONE DEPENDS ON DIFFERENT CASES

In my opinion, whether a person should make a paramount decision alone depends on different circumstances. In some cases, such as a statesman, it is required discussion before making a decision. In some other cases, for example, under emergencies when there is no abundant time to discuss, a person may make a decision on his or her own.

As a threshold matter, under cases when decision will influence large quantities of folks, discussion ought to be carried out before a person makes it, instead of deciding everything without asking for others' advices. For instance, a national policy usually directly affects several millions of people. Some people will benefit from a new policy while some other multitudes suffer from it. Therefore, a policy may even have to with stable status of a country. In such a case, the person, usually the president, should discuss each possible impact of policies, and carefully work out a decision at the last moment. If president tries to carry out a new act on his or her own will, which is possible in some countries, the whole country may be messed up as result of the act.

Secondly, when decision has to do with a single person, it is also recommended that the person should talk to his or her parents and friends before he or she decides what to do or which choice to choose. For instance, take a teenage young man who wants to determine which university he attends to. If he depends completely on his own interests without taking others' opinions into account, he may encounter tough situations when he attends that university. For instance, there may be dorm problems, surrounding problems, health care problems and so forth. Thus, the young man ought to talk to his parents first. From talking, he will learn experiences and lessons his parents have already had. Then, by synthesizing information from other persons, the young man will be more likely to make a correct decision.

However, in special cases when time is limited and discussion is not possible to be held, a person has to decide by his or her own within a short period of time. Sometimes it does take place. Perhaps the paradigmatic example is a general who leads a troop in battlefield. Situations in a war are keeping changing. A whole company may be completely killed within an hour, which is a serious circumstance. Therefore, leader of a troop should decide what to do alone, instead of talking too much with his or her soldiers. Any hesitation under such emergent situation will certainly cost severe outcomes -- for example, thousands of people's lives. Similar cases occur in hospitals. Consider a patient who is injured, bleeding and in coma. Doctors have to decide what to do first -- to stop bleeding, or inject something. Without a quick decision, the patient may have to die.

In summary, whether a person should make a paramount decision alone or with other people varies from case to case. Nevertheless, it is highly recommended, from my standpoint, that a person ought to discuss with his or her parents, friends and colleagues before making a decision, unless the right situation is too emergent and special to talk with others.

Discipline, Integrated Writing, Test 5, Barron

In the passage, the author mainly talks about three strategies for effectively disciplining children: power, withholding of affection and management techniques. In the last of the article, the author points out that consistency is the most essential element in all of these tactics. In the lecture, the speaker is prone to select management techniques as the main effective discipline.

In the first place, in the article, the author writes that parents tend to use physical punishment as their method to educate children. However, this point is doubted by the professor. The speaker expresses his concern about this method. Also, the speaker points out that power and withholding of affection induce to low self-esteem of children, and management techniques arouses high self-esteem among in children. Therefore, according to the professor, parents should be quite cautious when they turn to power and withholding of affection. In effect, the speaker says, several scientists oppose the method of power and withholding of affection in educating children.

In the second place, the professor says that the best way to teach children is to award good behaviors children do and punish bad behaviors children do. The result, according to the professor, will be highly positive. Children will gain approval of good things they finish and punishment of bad behaviors. Then the speaker says that if parents keep consistency in this method, children will catch the right apprehension of virtual thing and basic ethics.

Topic 65

65. Should a city try to preserve its old, historic buildings or destroy them and replace them with modern buildings? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

DIFFERENT DECEISION IN DISTINCTIVE CIRCUMSTANCES

Whether should a city preserve its ancient, valuable, historic architectures or topple down them and replace them with modern buildings depends upon special cases. With respect to architectures that have invaluable meaning and stand for a certain image of a station, it is recommended that people should preserve them. However, with respect to buildings that are only residential places and do not have historic meanings, people may replace them with modern plaza.

As a threshold matter, if ancient architectures represent special values in the history of a city, or a country as whole, people should make full lengths to protect them from being destroyed. It is especially true of ancient nations. For example, in the city of Beijing, the capital of China, the Imperial Palace is one of the eldest building masses in that district. There are numerous national treasures in Imperial Palace. The wall of the palace is made up of peculiar chemical material which cannot be reproduced today because techniques of producing have been lost forever. Thus, the walls have a good value of researches. Furthermore, the patterns of the palace are typical designs of that period, form which people in contemporary will learn much about customs in that time.

Secondly, some historic buildings should be preserved, though they may seem to be ragged and shabby. Take the ancient arena in Roma. That arena stands for special spirits of the time in the history of Italy. From painstaking researches of archeologists who are studying the arena, we get to know duel is one of the popular activities of that period. People who lived in that period took the person who could win any one in battlefield was the hero of their nation. From these discoveries, we can have a full image of how culture develops from the past to the present. Thus, in such cases, people should preserve ancient architectures as well.

Nevertheless, in other cases, such as useless, residential places, it is better for a city to cast down old buildings and construct modern architectures that can satisfy humans’ needs today. For instance, in Beijing, there was once a large area filled with hutong -- an ancient building masses that date to the 19th century. These buildings are quite the same in patterns. Thus, it isn't necessary to leave all of them untouched; instead, protecting a small portion of them would be enough to preserve historic relics. In effect, the government does tore most of them to construct modern architectures, such as malls, slap-up apartments, and so forth, on original locations, and preserve only a few examples of these hutongs.

In summary, whether a city should preserve its ancient, historic buildings or overthrow them and replace them with modern architectures varies from case to case. In some cases, such as grand houses that have valuable meanings, it is better to leave them intact; however, in some other cases, such as repetitive, residential households, people may replace them with modern architectures.

Jet Stream, Integrated Writing, Test 4, Barron

In the passage, the author mainly talks about the definition and classifications of jet stream. In the lecture, the speaker primarily says the effects that jet stream could have on air travel by providing an example.

In the first place, according to what is stated in the article, the jet stream could be described as an irregular band of wind that takes place high above the ground of Earth, about 20,000 feet. Generally speaking, the jet stream always blows from west to east over middle latitudes. Moreover, the speed of jet stream is over 57 miles per hour. The core speeds of jet stream may be as high as 190 miles an hour. Furthermore, the jet stream between the equator and the North Pole can be separated into two categories: subtropical jet stream and polar jet stream. The main distinction between them is that temperatures between the tropic and the arctic regions of the Earth are different.

In the second place, the speaker of the lecture affirms the definition of jet stream at first. Then the speaker says that jet stream in North America is polar jet stream. In the following part of the lecture, the speaker cites an example that airlines travel between Los Angles and New York. When planes are going to New York from Los Angles, they are just in the same direction of jet stream which provides more buoyant force to tail wing. As a result, people spend less time in travelling to New York. However, according to the speaker, when planes go back to Los Angles, the situation becomes tough. Because the planes are flying against jet stream which is strong and fast, planes will use more fuel and fly longer. Passengers in planes will also feel relatively serious turbulence.

Topic 75

75. Some universities require students to take classes in many subjects. Other universities require students to specialize in one subject. Which is better? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

COMBINATION WOULD BE THE BEST CHOICE

From my experiences, neither a too broad education nor a too narrow teaching is beneficial for university students in mastering knowledge to be successful after they graduate from universities or colleges. The best way, in my opinion, is to designate several compulsory courses that students are required to take without exception, and offer a variety of selective courses from which students could broaden their knowledge.

As a threshold matter, too broad education in numerous courses will not give too much to students. As we know, the time that students can spend in classes and in reviewing is limited, approximately eight to ten hours. Thus, if students take four or five courses, they could not arrive at a good understanding of lectures represented in classes. Students may know what they are learning, but they will not appreciate what are essences in these courses. Moreover, when students are busy running from one classroom to another, they may gradually develop kind of tiredness of studying, which will be deteriorated by the burden of too many courses.

Secondly, if universities mandate that only one subject is available for their vigorous students to study, it will also induce to negative impacts in pedagogy/instruction. For instance, a long time study in one single subject may lead to extremely hard content in textbooks, which requires students have a clever brain. Unfortunately, not all the students are prodigies. Furthermore, it is completely unnecessary for professors to lecture so many and so deep in one subject. From the perspective of students, no one would like to read materials and write papers of the same topic, which is boring and will pose uncomfortable feeling to them.

Thirdly, in my opinion, combination of broad education and deep researches in peculiar subject would be the best choice for both universities and students. Universities should designate several compulsory courses, for example, three or four courses, students must study, and provide various selective courses in science, arts, literature, and so forth, for students to meet their personal interests. In this circumstance, not only will students get enough knowledge in their majors, but also will form a good atmosphere of learning. As a result, students will be developed in specialties and also always optimistic and confident when they encounter thorny problems.

In summary, a too broad education in every aspect of society is impractical in helping students become excellent timbers in special fields, and a too narrow teaching in one single subject will frustrate students in learning. Therefore, in my analysis, combination of several compulsory courses and various related, selective courses is the best choice to adopt.

Rest, Integrated writing Test 7, Barron

The passage mainly talks about three steps in solving problems: problem representation, considering alternatives solutions, and action. In the lecture, the speaker primarily discusses the importance of taking a break, or rest, in working out thorny situations, which is related to the second step of solving problems.

In the first place, the author of the article suggests that a usual way to evaluate alternatives is to write down pros and cons of each solution, then make a decision among them. However, the speaker of the lecture does not refer to this solution; instead, the speaker points out that rest may have paramount influences in solutions. According to the speaker, the function of rest is not clearly; perhaps it sleeps on problems; or it is incubation period of solving problems. Then, the speaker takes the discovery of the structure of certain chemical. In this example, the scientist dreamt a snake that the tail was contained in the mouth, which looked like a circle. When the scientist waked up, it was determined that a "ring" should be right pattern of that chemical.

In the second place, the speaker also refers to two possibilities that would interpret that sleep plays an crucial role in working out solutions. Firstly, according to the speaker, in a break, persons may encounter something special, or other information, appeal in their dreams. The example stated by the speaker is a person who dreamt of triangles. Secondly, more simply, the value of break is to interfere with peculiar parts of brain, which intrigue clues to problems.

Topic 85

85. A foreign visitor has only one day to spend in your country. Where should this visitor go on that day? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

THE CAPITAL OF MY COUNTRY DESERVES APPRECIATION

If a foreign visitor has mere one single day to stay in my country, I would advise him or her to visit the capital of my country -- Beijing, which has a several thousands years' history. In the city of Beijing, the visitor will experience amazing things and will never forget in later life.

In the first place, in museums seated in Beijing, such as the National Museum, the visitor has a good opportunity of encountering invaluable treasures produced in my country. For instance, the golden stature of the Qing Dynasty represents the first-class artwork in the world during that time. Besides, the Si Mu vessel, once used for cooking in ancient times, made up of copper, reflects the developed techniques of refining medal. From those ancient cultural relics, the visitor can sense the centuries-old history of China, and better understand historical culture of the Yellow River.

Secondly, Beijing is also a internationalized place where there are a lot of modern grand architectures. The pattern of main roads in Beijing resembles several rectangles that overlap, which may be a attracting trait to foreign visitors. Furthermore, the 29th Olympic Games were just held in Beijing several days ago, and it leaves numerous precious fortunes to Beijing. For example, Bird's Nest, the national stadium, where the opening ceremony was held, gives positive appearance of Beijing to visitors. From the inner side of Bird's Nest, it is extremely majestic. Everyone who has been there would never forget that experience. On the opposite side of Bird's Nest seats the Cubic Water, a swimming pool, which is also a beautiful venue that deserves visiting.

Thirdly, the environment of Beijing is also a factor that a visitor from foreign countries may pay attention to. In urban areas, several large parks are located besides community. In these parks, the visitor can have a view of numerous famous trees -- for example, red pine trees, Chinese cedar trees and so forth. Not to mention all kinds of fragrant flowers. On special festivals, workers will hold specific exhibitions of flowers. During that time, the visitor will experience feast of colors and amazing patterns behaved by flowers. Furthermore, at nights of Spring Festival, people in Beijing will hold a ceremony of firecrackers which may light the sky in an astounding way.

In summary, Beijing is a city that owns both ancient culture and modern flavor. Visitors in here will certainly appreciate different patterns of pleasures which cannot be caught in other cities. Therefore, I strongly recommend Beijing as a resort for a visitor from a foreign country or district.

Earthworms, Writing, Test 4, Delta

In the passage, the author mainly talks about the positive effects that earthworms can have on forest ecosystem and in gardens. However, the speaker of the speech casts doubt on that proclamation in several aspects.

Firstly, according to the speaker, earthworms can induce to substantial damage to forest ecosystem in respect that earthworms destroy the cover of soil, which causes native organisms to disappear from that place. In the passage, the author writes that worms are beneficial for forests, which is contrary to what is said by the speaker. Moreover, the speaker says that earthworms can have huge repellant effects on forest ecosystem.

Secondly, when it comes to the matter of forest duff, the speaker and the author also disagree about the influences that earthworms pose when they bring duff deeper into the soil. In the article, the author believes that, in such process, earthworms move organic matter from the surface deeper into soil, which is beneficial for the production of organic fertilizer. Nevertheless, the speaker opposes this perspective and points out that this phenomenon will cause soil losing nutrients more rapidly. Furthermore, the speaker cites a scientific experiment led by a ecologist as evidence. In that experiment, earthworms that live near a fish lake are examined. When earthworms bring duff deeper into soil, the thick and abundant layer becomes disappeared.

Finally, the speaker also refers to the point that other animals are also harmfully influenced by earthworms, which is not mentioned in the passage. In the speaker's opinion, because earthworms have eaten the entire duff on the surface of the soil, other animals, such as spiders, birds, do not have enough food to feed on. As a result, the quantities of these animals decrease.

Topic 95

95. Some people think governments should spend as much money as possible exploring outer space (for example, traveling to the Moon and to other planets). Other people disagree and think governments should spend this money for our basic needs on Earth. Which of these two opinions do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS ON EARTH SHOULD BE CONSIDERD FIRST

From my standpoint, I hold that government should spend as much money as possible in meeting basic demands on Earth, instead of exploring outer space. People who live on Earth are the most important concern and should receive priority over experimentations on other planets in Milk Way galaxy. There are numerous reasons of doing so.

As a threshold matter, exploring outer space doesn’t mean much for us who live in Earth. Take several exploring trials in America, which aims to find whether there are livings in other planets. After all, what can we get from a rabbit eating grass on Mars? In effect, we cannot benefit from such experiments. Moreover, the little outcomes do not match enormous invests spent by government. Exploring outer space also is under high risks. For example, the discovery aircraft exploded a few minutes later after it launched into space, which caused several millions dollars' lost. Moreover, people who lost their lives cannot return back any more.

Secondly, compared with outer space exploration, fundamental needs on Earth are much more imperative. For instance, a considerable number of folks who live in Africa do not have sufficient food supply and experience food scarcity. They will die without international help -- food and other necessities. Another paramount problem is diseases that have been rampant through out the world: no matter developing countries or developed states. Perhaps the paradigmatic, epidemic disease is HIV infection. In almost each country, considerable persons have been suffered from this disease which leads to high death rates.

Thirdly, on Earth, the environment is another thorny issue with which that government ought to be concerned. In contemporary, several kinds of pollution have contributed various harm impacts on environment. For instance, deforestation in Eastern Hemisphere has caused several species face the crisis of extinction; over-produced greenhouses gas cannot be immediately absorbs by fewer forests. As a result, temperature of Earth increases stably. Rising sea level has induced that residents who live near coastlines have to move to other locations. Furthermore, severe weather conditions, such as storms, avalanches, and pouring rain, take place more and more frequently. All these things need to be solved in a hurry, and government should spend money on them.

In summary, crisis on Earth is quite more fatal than ventures into outer space. Therefore, in the final analysis, government ought to spend all sorts of resources -- for example, material resources, human resources, to meet basic needs on Earth.

Travelling, integrated writing, Test 1 Delta

In the passage, the author mainly talks about the earliest tourism and later tourism, which is confirmed by the speaker of the speech. Moreover, the speaker mentions a third kind of tourism: environmental tourism.

In the first place, at the beginning of the speech, the speaker says that the earliest travelling dues mainly to political, or economical reasons. People often conquer other tribes. Then, according to the speaker, folks venture and prey wild animals, which is the same as what is stated in the passage. The speaker also refers to a person's book which talks about tourism in ancient times and influential.

In the second place, the speaker talks tourism in contemporary, which is similar to the content of the article as well. In the speaker's speech, the speaker divides current tourism into two kinds: ethnical tourism and environmental tourism. In ethnical tourism, people mainly travel to please themselves and to recreate. The article also mentions this point. Besides, folks today, according to the speaker, go to distant places to find unusual cultures. They live with native tribes and take part in local ceremonies. Furthermore, in the speaker's speech, it is held that the goal of accessing aboriginal cultures is to protect them; or otherwise they may be lost forever.

Finally, the speaker refers to environmental tourism which is not discussed in the article. Environmental tourism is kind of the same as ethnical tourism. In this sort of travelling, people go to natural positions to observe and learn various environmental phenomena and protect wild animals and plants, rather than killing natural species. The example stated by the speaker is African safaris that aim to protect wild animals.

the Sydney Opera House, Test 3, Barron

The passage mainly represents the shpe, structure, and other aspects of Sydney Opera House, and the author of the passage considers that the roof of the house is the most spectacular part. The speaker of the speech holds that the Sydney Opera House in the most unique buiding that cannot be categoried into any existed classes.

Firstly, the speaker says that Sydney Opera House is a master work. It is unique, modern and popular all over the world. Moreover, according to the speaker, not the material, or ornamental environment that attracts her, but the shape, international style that places the opera house in a unparalelled and unique position.

Secondly, in the passage, the author mentions that computer technology helped a lot when building the opera house, which is also confirmed by the speaker. In the speaker's opinion, high technology -- the computer techniques -- helps workers better solve problems of construction. However, the speaker believes that the sails part of the opera house had posed great risk for workers to finish it. Of course, sails are also attracting the speaker.

Finally, from what is said by the speaker at last of her speech, the oprea house blends arts and techniques. Therefore, various unique characteristics can be found in the shape and structrue of the opera house. And this style of architecture, in the speaker's opinion, is completely distinctive from any other wonders in the world, which makes it hard for her to classify the Sydney Opera House into any category. Consequently, the speaker considers the Sydney Opera House as unique.

Topic 105

105. Students at universities often have a choice of places to live. They may choose to live in university dormitories, or they may choose to live in apartments in the community. Compare the advantages of living in university housing with the advantages of living in an apartment in the community. Where would you prefer to live? Give reasons for your preference.

I PREFER TO LIVE IN UNIVERSITY DORMS

Both living in university or college dormitories and living outside university or college in apartments in the community have several benefits, though these advantages are slightly different to some extent. If it were my choice, I would like to live in life in dorms. There are several personal reasons of doing so.

As a threshold matter, living in campus has a lot of special benefits that living outside campus does not have. For example, expenses of living in dorms are much cheaper than dwelling in outside apartment. Rent is quite cheaper; water rates and electricity fees are shared among roommates, while all of them have to be paid by one alone if he or she decides to reside in community out of university. Moreover, when going to dorms everyday, it is convenient to catch up with what is happening among classmates, which is less likely if living alone outside. Furthermore, the environment of dorms provides a good situation and opportunity of communicating with friends, which makes a student feel that he or she lives in home.

Secondly, nevertheless, living outside campus in apartments in the community benefits students in some aspects as well. Take furniture for example. In apartments, various kinds of applications are ready for use at any time. Washing machine can save the time spent in sending and fetching clothes to and from laundry; a kitchen is excellent space where delicious and palpable cooking can be done, while food provided in university cafeteria is considered as unsuitable for eating by almost every student. Moreover, room of living room in apartment is considerable larger than dorms which has to be shared among several persons. Environment of apartment is tranquil and of no noise, which is suitable for students who want to keep a quiet life.

When it comes to me, I am prone to dwell in university dormitories. From my standpoint, there are several reasons to name. In the first hand, I cannot afford to live out of campus, and the cheap price and living expense of residing in dorms are the main factors that attract me. In the second place, living in dorms means that I don't have to ride a bus to university everyday; instead, walking or riding a bicycle is enough, which is both convenient and safe. Furthermore, I always feel safe and protected when I am ambling in campus. Getting out of university to home late at night makes me scared sometimes, because no one else accompanies me.

In summary, dwelling in dorms and residing outside campus have their advantages respectively. However, either side's benefits are not absolutely better than the opposite side. Distinctive students may have differentiating response to this question. If it were me, nevertheless, I am apt to live in university dorms.

Barron, Test 2, Turing Test

In the passage, the author describes the Turing Test that determines wheter a computer is intelligent or not, and so far, no computer has passed the test. However, the speaker of the lecture casts some doubt on the correctness of Turing Test.

The speaker mainly cites an example of an scientist who holds that Turing Test has several flaws which undermine the correctness of Turing Test. In the first place, according to what the speaker says, Turing Test is based on behavior but not thought, which may induce to some kind of paradox. The example supporting this perspective is one called Chinese Room. If there are complete and elaborated references from which a computer can access, the computer will certainly reponse a good answer that can be determined as humans'. According to the speaker, the process is like this: a computer receives Chinese characters as input, then it recognize this sequence from a huge database, and at last it gives a result based on behaivior, or searching, instead of thinking. This can prove that the computer that passes Turing Test is acting intelligent rather than being intelligent. In the second place, according to the speaker, complete input plus adequate output will be enough for a computer to pass Turing Test. However, the speaker says that this doesn't mean the computer really answer basic promblems about intelligence. Finally, the speaker conculdes that Turing Test cannot determine whether a computer can, or can not think.

Topic 115

115. Some people prefer to plan activities for their free time very carefully. Others choose not to make any plans at all for their free time. Compare the benefits of planning free-time activities with the benefits of not making plans. Which do you prefer — planning or not planning for your leisure time? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your choice.

DIFFERENT CHOICES UNDER DISTINCTIVE SITUATIONS

From my standpoint, both planning free-time activities and not making plans have several benefits. Generally speaking, planning free-time can make life follow certain pattern and time is not likely to be wasted; with respect to not designing schedules, it reduces complexity of life and makes people feel relaxed. When it comes to me, I would like to choose distinctive choice in different circumstances.

As a threshold matter, carefully calculating how to spend free-time can benefit folks in several aspects. In the first place, if leisure time is arranged by delicate plans, more meaningful things can be finished than in other cases. For instance, on weekends, as for students, a plan that reads reviewing on Saturday and pre-studying on Sunday certainly contribute to students' performance on tests, which is good for their later life. In the second place, planning free-time also help us with journey. For example, if we want to go to certain resorts in limited leisure time -- for example, three days, a good itinerary can lead us to more interesting places than dawdling without goals.

Secondly, with respect to not making plans, there are a few benefits as well. For example, without a pre-designed plan, folks are able to do what they want to, instead of being narrowly confined by schedules. Under this circumstance, people may feel quite relaxed, which is especially inspiring when they go home after a day long's hard working. Moreover, changes always happen and plans don't comply with reality all the time; thus, in some cases, even a elaborated plan will be out of date and be discarded by their designers. For instance, parents have decided to bring their offspring to climb hills; however, when they get up on morning, they are reluctant to find out that their children have a fever. As a result, the plan has to be abandoned.

When it comes to me, I would like to plan a period that lasts more than one week, and not to arrange my activities on purpose if free-time is less than three days. The reason why I want to schedule long time is that something valuable may be fulfilled in relatively long time. For instance, last summer, I planned to go to my community to help pupils with reading. At the time I had stayed with lovely pupils for four weeks, almost each of them had considerably ameliorated ability of reading, which made me highly satisfied. Nevertheless, if free-time is relatively short, typically less than three days, I prefer to do things according to my feelings on every day. For instance, calling a friend randomly to watch movies may help me get out of tiredness.

In summary, planning or not planning leisure time has different benefits respectively. Furthermore, either side’s benefits are not absolutely better than those of another. Under different situations, I would be prone to distinctive choices.