This, I think, indicates the changing pace in our society. Nowadays, people prefer TV to film largely because they have less chance than their older generation to spend two or three hours in a cinema; they prefer a kind of entertainment which is freer, less time-consuming and thus more efficient. TV just meets their need. This is at least partly if not wholly the reason that attributes to the boom of TV in our generation.
Nevertheless, there are still a number of film-fans nowadays. They claim that as a classical art, film is far more enjoyable than TV. Some of them also want to recall the “true-life” which existed in the “good-past”. All in all, film is still a charming kind of art as it used to be.
19. Car Accidents Declining in Walton City
It can be seen from the graph that the rate of car accidents in Walton City experienced rises and falls in 1990. From January to March last year it increased by 45%. From March to June it dropped by about half the previous rate. From June to August there was a steep rise of 50%. After that, however, there was a steady decrease.
There are several reasons for this improvement, but the following are the most critical ones. First, new traffic regulations have made drivers more careful. Second, more people are using bicycles for transportation. Finally, in the later part of the year good weather made the roads safer to drive on.
I am confident that there will be even fewer car accidents in Walton in the future. First, major roads have been repaired and the number of public buses has been increased in the past few months. Moreover, a traffic safety campaign has made all the local people more aware of the dangers of unsafe driving.
（五）应用写作型
20. A Letter to the Editor of a Newspaper
June 20th, 2004
Dear Mr. / Miss Editor,
I am a student from Tsinghua University and I am writing to you about my experience of buying a dictionary and my complaint about the service of a bookstore.
It was about a month ago. I went to a bookstore nearby the university to buy an English dictionary. It was only after I paid for the dictionary and returned to school that I found some pages were missing. But when I went back to the bookstore to tell them about the matter, they said that I should have checked the dictionary before I left the store. According to them, it was my fault and they hold no responsibility for the whole matter.
What I want to say is that sincerity and enthusiasm are vital to the survival of service industries in such a market economy featured by fierce competition. It was quite easy for them to change the dictionary for me but they refused to do so. They will lose all customers if they persist in doing so. I hope that this letter can draw the attention of the whole society and that the problem can be solved as soon as possible.
Best regards.
Yours sincerely
Li Ming
21. A Letter to the University President about the Canteen Service on Campus
January 12th, 2002
Dear Mr. President,
I am a sophomore from Department 3 and I am writing to you about the food and service in the canteen on campus.
To be frank, I am rather disappointed at the food quality, price and service in the canteen. First, the dishes are scarcely well cooked and most of them taste the same. Secondly, most of the dishes there are priced so high that some students cannot even afford them. Thirdly, the service in the canteen is far from satisfying and the inside of the canteen always seem untidy.
To solve the problem, I suggest that another canteen be built and a mechanism of competition be introduced between the old and the new. Besides, both the canteens should be subject to the students' supervision.
Dining is an everyday issue for students. It may affect their academic performance. Therefore, I sincerely hope this letter can draw your attention to the matter and I hope the problems mentioned above can be solved as soon as possible.
Best regards.
Yours sincerely
Li Ming
22.
June 28, 2001
Dear Xiao Wang,
I’m thrilled to receive your letter on May 10th, in which you suggested our spending a week together here in Beijing. I do think it’s a fantastic idea and I believe we’ll have a good time together.
As to the arrangement of the holiday, I suggest the following activities. For the first three days I will show you around our campus and some places of interest downtown Beijing, such as the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. For the following two days, we will visit the Great Wall, the Ming Tombs and other historic sites around the city. In the last two days, we will be back in the city and tour some famous business streets, where you can do some shopping. What do you say?
It will be quite hot here in Beijing, so remember to get prepared for the weather. And, last but not least, don’t forget to bring your camera with you, for you will find so many scenes worth photographing here. I will be longing for your arrival.
Best wishes.
Yours truly,
Zhang Ying
（六）其他范文
23. Don't Hesitate to Say No
As a general rule, people like to help others, but there are occasions when you should say no to requests for favors. For instance, it is better to refuse when a child pesters you for sweet food and drinks or for too many toys. Another example is when a relative asks you to use your influence to get him or her a bank loan or a work promotion.
However, we cannot ignore the fact that many people are reluctant to say no. They feel that if they turn down a request from a relative or friend, they will cause ill-feeling within the family or become unpopular with their acquaintances. A notable case in point is when the boss asks them to do something which they feel is unreasonable.
It is important to keep in mind that not saying no when you should say no can sometimes have harmful consequences. If children are given everything they ask for, not only may their health be damaged, but they may grow up selfish and spoilt. Again, in the long run it is kinder to refuse to lend money to a person who has a gambling or alcoholism problem.
24. The Career I Pursue
Unlike many other college students, I thought long and hard about my future before embarking on my studies. I then sought advice from my teachers and my parents about the best life path for me to choose. Finally, I settled on journalism as the career which would best suit my temperament.
Although the financial rewards has two particular attractions for me. First, by supplying people with the information they need every day, it fulfills a socially useful function. Second, it is a job full of novelty, unlike most occupations, which involve simply routine work.
In order to prepare myself for my future career in the world of the media—whether it be working for a newspaper or a magazine, or in the sphere of radio and television—I have carefully selected my college course. My basic fields of study are Mass Communications and Economics. At the same time, having an eye to reporting events worldwide, I am taking extra classes to improve my English and reading widely to increase my general knowledge.
25. Motorcycles and City Traffic
In recent years, the number of motorcycles on city roads in china has been increasing. This is because they are a cheap of transportation for people in a country where motor cars are expensive for most families. In addition, motorcycles are convenient for driving and parking on crowded city streets.
However, motorcycles have disadvantages too. They pollute the atmosphere with smoke and noise. They are also a more dangerous from of transportation than motor cars, because the motorcycle is less stable and there is little protection for the driver in the case of an accident.
It seems to me that city governments should restrict the number of motorcycles allowed on the roads. This would limit the pollution they cause, but at the same time help to relieve traffic congestion. There should be a balance between the advantages and disadvantages of the motorcycle as a form of city transport.
26. Looking Forward to the 21st Century
I am eagerly waiting the arrival of the 21st century, because it promises exciting new developments in science and technology. First of all, it is likely that telecommunications will expand by leaps and bounds. Secondly, more progress will be made in medicine, and thirdly the coming century will see mankind really come to grips with environmental pollution.
As far as communications is concerned, e-mail and the Internet will probably become available all over the globe, enhancing mutual understanding and making wars less frequent. Advances in medicine will enable us to live longer and healthier lives, and science and technology will provide more tools for tackling the pollution problem.
However, there will be new challenges to face in the new century. Population will continue to grow, putting pressure on the food supply. Moreover, there is a danger that people will become too dependent on machines to look after them, leading to a weakening of their spiritual lives.
I intend to prepare myself for the 21st century by keeping abreast of the latest developments in science and technology. But at the same time, I will not neglect cultural pursuits.
27. Man Is to Survive
The human race is facing problems which are getting more acute as time goes on. The most serious are shortages of resources, environmental pollution, and the pressure of population growth. In turn, these problems cause poverty, disease and wars.
Pessimists say that the human race is facing extinction. This is because it is now too late to solve these problems, according to them. They predict that resources will become exhausted sooner or later, that pollution will eventually poison the planet, and that unchecked population growth will cause mass starvation.
But I do not agree that mankind is doomed. In the past, the human race has always shown that it has the wisdom to overcome any threat to its survival. In the future, too, mankind will survive by using its wisdom to find a way out of its problems.
28. How to Succeed in a Job Interview?
It is undeniable that an interview plays a critical role in job-hunting. Through the interview, an employer can meet their future employees in person and know them more thoroughly. Sometimes the written form of examination cannot reveal candidates' real talents or problems. Besides, it is also beneficial for candidates to take an interview. They will have a chance to make their employers understand them better.
A number of factors contribute to the success in a job interview. Personally, I think job-hunters should pay attention to the following points. First, they should be well prepared professionally. That means they should be ready to answer all the important questions concerning their future job. Secondly, they should express themselves confidently and honestly. Last but not least, they should pay enough attention to their appearances, that is, they should be properly dressed.
As far as I am concerned, I will get academically ready first, and then be relaxed to answer all the questions. I will also dress up and behave properly. I do believe that so long as I make good preparations, I will perform well in the interview.
五、冠词用法讲练
（一）冠词的位置
1) 在名词词组中，冠词一般放在最前面。例如：
the last few days a really good concert
2) 名词词组里如果有all, both, exactly, just, many, quite, rather, such, what等词，这类词可以放在冠词之前。例如：
all the time both (the) brothers
exactly the wrong colour just the right place
quite a nice day rather a mess
such a funny story
3) 和as, how／however, so, too连用时, 形容词放在冠词之前。例如：
He’s not so big a fool as you think.
She’s as clever a girl as you’re ever likely to meet.
This is too heavy a bag for me to carry.
How large an armchair did he have?
However tiring a day she may have, she never loses her good humour.
（二）不定冠词 (Indefinite Article)
1) a／an表示“任何一个(类)”，只能用于单数可数名词前。例如：
We are having a committee meeting this afternoon.
a／an不用于不可数名词前。例如：
There will be discussion and argument at the meeting.
He drinks milk every day.
2) 不可数名词用作可数名词时，可用a／an。例如：
I’ve just bought a lovely big Danish cheese.
I don’t like cheese.
She was inspired with a new courage.
She showed great courage.
3) 用于表示价格、速度、比率等名词前，如five pence a kilo, sixty kilometers an hour, four times a day等。
4) 用于下列这样的固定短语中。如a couple, a dozen, half a dozen, a hundred, a lot of, a great many, a great deal of, a large amount／quantity of, a good number of 等。
I’ve done a great deal of work today. (不可数)
What a large number of books you have! (可数)
It’s a good five miles(=at least five miles, perhaps mote) to the station.
5) 以元音开头的单词前不定冠词用an, 如：an apple, an egg, an item, an old man, an umbrella, an hour; 以辅音开头的单词前不定冠词用a university student, a humorous man。
EXERCISE l
A. Put a or an before each of the following:
1. motel (汽车游客旅馆) 2. unusual approach
3. honest boy 4. awkward situation
5. exit (出口) 6. urgent message
7. unique opportunity 8. extremely exciting film
B．Translate the following into English：
1．一座新办公楼 2．一位旅行社代理人
3．一位美国科学家 4．一天的郊游
5．一张印度邮票 6．一次心脏病发作
7．一个先进国家 8．一个有意思的剧本
EXERCISE 2
Fill in the blanks with a or an where necessary:
1. Telephone is very important means of communication.
2. Mothers often tell small children stories before bedtime.
3. I'll pay you thousand year. It’s not enormous salary but after all you are completely unskilled worker.
4. —You’11 get shock if you touch live wire with that screwdriver(螺丝起子). Why don’t you get screwdriver with insulated(绝缘的)handle?
5. — I’m not wage-earner; I’m self-employed man. I have business of my own.
—Then you’re not worker; You’re capitalist!
6. —I have hour and half for lunch.
—I only have half hour — barely time for smoke and cup of coffee.
7. It travels at just under thousand miles hour.
8. I have never known such hot weather.
EXERCISE 3
Insert a or an where necessary:
A．
1. I had very bad night; I didn’t sleep wink (眨眼；打盹).
2. This man has honesty that we all appreciated.
