丁香花开自考 综合英语二 作文

自考

综合英语二

作文

L1 Twelve things I wish they teach at school

Q: Why does the author tell us not to be afraid to ask stupid

questions?

A: The author thinks that many apparently naive inquiries like why

grass is green, or why the sun is round

，

or why

we need 55.000 nuclear weapons in the world are really deep

questions. He says when you try to get the answers

，

you

you don't know, and will gain deep understanding of the things.

It’s also important to know, as well as you can, what it is that

asking questions is

the way. He also tells us that to ask “stupid”

questions requires courage on the part of the asker and

n’t confine your learning to schoolwork. Discuss ideas in depth

knowledge and patience on the part of the answerer. And do

with friends. It’s much brav

er to ask questions even when there's a

prospect of ridicule than to suppress your questions and

become deadened to the world around you.

List two of the things Carl Sagan mentions in his article “Twelve

things I wish they teach at

school” and explain w

hy you think them important.

Of the things Carl Sagan wished he had learned in high school, I

think that “Don?t be afraid to ask ?stupid?

questions” and “Everyone makes mistakes” are more important than

others.

If we are eager to learn, we are sure to find a lot of things we

don’t understand. Asking question is a way of learning. Questions

regarded as “stupid” may be intelligent and profound ones. They

may lead to important discoveries, and while trying to get answers we

may gain insights into matters of importance.

It is also important to know that our understanding is limited and

that we can’t avoid making mistakes. What is important is to

learn from our mistakes. In others words, we must think hard and try

to find out why we make mistakes so that we will not make the same or

similar mistakes again. This thinking process is an important aspect of

learning.

L2 ICON Q: what are the factors shift from hero-worship to the

celebrity-worship?

A: The new forms of media-photography, moving pictures, radio and

television are the main factors.

The reproduction of photos in newspapers turned famous people into

celebrities whose dress, appearance, and personal habits were widely

commented upon. Slowly, the focus of public attention began to shift

away from knowing what such

people did to knowing what they looked like.

The shift was accelerated by the arrival of moving pictures.

Between1901 and 1914, 74 percent of the magazine articles about

famous people were about political leaders, inventors, professionals,

and businessmen. After1922, however, most articles were

about movie stars.

With the arrival of television, the faces of the stars became as

familiar as those we saw across the breakfast table. We came to

know more about the lives of the celebrities than we did about most

of the people we know personally. Less than

seventy years after the appearance of the first moving pictures, the

shift from hero-worship to celebrity- worship

was complete.

What are the differences between heroes or heroines and celebrities?

There are three distinctions between heroes or heroines and

celebrities. The distinctions are classified on the bases of quality,

origin and social effect.

First, heroes or heroines are men and women distinguished by

uncommon courage, achievements, and self-sacrifice for the

benefit of others. They are famous for their enduring achievements.

Celebrities are people well-known for their well-knownness, who become

famous because of much publicity and not of any enduring achievements.

Second, to become a hero or heroine, one needs accomplishment; to become

celebrity, one needs luck. Heroes or heroines are

distinguished by their accomplishment; celebrities by their image or

trademark. Heroes or heroines create themselves;

celebrities are created by the media. Heroes or heroines are big men

and women; celebrities are big names.

Third, heroes or heroines inspire respect. They are people against

whom we measure others. Celebrities inspire envy. Except

for the attention celebrities get from the media, they are exactly

like common people.

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L3 Go- Go American Q: what?s the American?s attitude towards time?

A: In the United States, many people keenly feel the shortness of

each life-time. They are aware that once a day in

their life is gone, it will never comeback. And Americans believe no

one stands still. If you are not moving ahead, you are

falling behind. So they value time and want every minute to count.

This attitude towards time is shown in the fast pace of life in the

country. Whatever they do they always seem to be in a

rush. You find people hurrying to get where they are going. They

hurry to eating places for a meal and finish it as quickly

as possible.

Also Americans do what they can to save time. They produce a lot of

labor- saving devices such as clothes-and dish-washers; they rapidly

communicate through phone calls, telex and e-mail and cut down on

personal contacts.

Summarize some striking characteristics of American life. Give some

examples to illustrate the characteristics

“Time is money,” say Americans, since you are allowed only this

much of time in your life, you’d better make the

best use of it.” In the United

-Stated, highly efficient and well-

organized people are admired. These people will list all the things that

they are going to do, draw up plans and carry them out one by one. In

this country, an ideal person turns up at

meeting on time, fulfils an appointment punctually

按时

and does not

waste other people’s time.

Fast-

food chains, such as McDonald’s, Kentuckey Fried Chicken(K

FC)

and Pizza Hut (PH), can be found everywhere in

America, and are very popular among American people, since many

people try to spend less time in cooking and eating. Americans like

electronic communication, too. They do their business by using the

telephone, the E-

mail and the internet, they hold “teleconferences” to

settle problem, and they obtain various kinds of information on the

internet. In short, they

want every minute to count

L4 Take over Boson

Q: Can you image what did Barrett think of when he heard Snyder?s

whisper “take over boson”?

A: Because of thirst, Barnet was almost out of mind. He rose several

times and was a constant threat. But when he

heard Snyder said “Take over boson”, he had a strange feeling

suddenly. He came to realize he would and must

take over the task and be responsible for the rest. As long as he

stopped others from the little water, they would always have hopes and

wouldn't die soon. So he picked Snyder’s gun up and decided to hold off

the other from the

water until night when a ship saved them.

Have you ever found yourself suddenly in a position of leadership?

Describe your experience.

L5 Are you giving your kid too much Q: Why parents overindulge their

children? There are several reasons to explain why parents overindulge

their children. One fairly common reason is that

parents overindulge their children out of a sense of guilt. Parents

who both hold down full-time jobs may feel guilty about the amount of

time they spend away from their children and may attempt to compensate

by

showering them with material possessions. Other parents overindulge

because they want their children to have

everything they had while growing up, along with those things the

parents yearned for but didn't get. Still others

are afraid to say no to their children' s endless requests for toys

for fear that their children will feel unloved or will be ridiculed if

they don't have the same playthings their friends have.

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L6 Culture shock

Q: What are four stages that people go through when they experience

situations that are very

different from those to which they are accustomed?

A: Stage one is a honeymoon phase, during which the new experience

is perceived to be interesting, picturesque,

entertaining, and charming. You may notice several superficial

differences such as music, food, and clothing, and the fresh appeal of

the new experience keeps you feeling interested and positive. When you

stay in a new environment for a while, you move to stage two-the crisis

stage-in which the shine wears off and day-to-day realities sink in. In

relationship, you notice annoying habits; in a new country, you find

barriers to establishing connections or to learning the language beyond

a few polite phrases. If you stick with the experience and try to deal

with it realistically, you will probably move to the third

phase: recovery. In recovery, you learn the systems, procedures,

language or nonverbal behaviors of the new environment so that you can

cope with it on the basis of some mastery, competence, and comfort.

Finally, when you feel that you function well and almost automatically

in the new culture, you will move to the fourth phase: adjustment.

Have you ever experienced culture shock? Did you finally adjust to

the new environment?

Studying abroad greatly appeals to young people. It is really a

brand-new experience which provides us with the opportunities to

discover new things. But we have to be mentally prepared for the

problems with which we may be confronted. Owing to the differences in

social system, belief, values and way of life, we may suffer culture

shock and it is hard for us to be adapted to the new environment.

Usually, we need to go through four stages to get accustomed to a

new place. The four stages are honeymoon, crisis, recovery and

adjustment. On arriving in a foreign country, we may feel excited, and

everything appears wonderful. But when we enter the second stage, we

feel that things are not so good as we have expected. We begin to miss

our homes and tend to give it up. However, as long as we stick with it,

we can overcome this culture shock, be adapted to and finally get

benefit from this new culture.

How do people adjust themselves to a new environment?

In a new environment people will go through four stages when they

experience situations that are very different from those to which they

are accustomed. Stage one is a honeymoon phase, during which the new

experience is perceived to be

interesting, picturesque, entertaining, and charming. You may notice

several superficial differences, and the fresh appeal of the new

experience keeps you feeling interested and positive. Stage two is the

crisis stage, in which the shine wears off

and day-to-day realities sink in. the difficulties and

unpleasantness of reality replace the charming and picturesque

“honeymoon”. Stage three is a recovery stage. In which they learn the

systems, procedures, language or nonverbal

behaviors of the new environment so that you can cope with it on the

basis of some mastery, competence, and comfort. Stage four, the

adjustment stage, occurs when they feel that they function well and

almost automatically in the new culture. A greater enjoyment of the new

experience is now possible, and they may regain some of the initial

positive regard they had in the honeymoon stage.

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L7 Model Millionaire I

Q: Suppose you are the millionaire. Explain how you get to know

Hughie Erskine and what you do in return for the pound be gave you when

you first met?-

A: I' m Baron Husberg. I have enough money to buy the whole of

London. One day, on a whim I asked my artist

friend Alan Trevor to paint me as a beggar. Alan had almost finished

the picture when a very charming young

man walked into his studio. I suppose he must have been very

sympathetic with me, for when Alan was away a minute, the young man

quickly put a pound into my hat. I was startled for a moment, but I was

pleased when I realized that he took me for a real beggar. Later I

learned from Alan all about this young man: he was poor, and could

not marry the girl he loved b

ecause her father wouldn’t let them

unless he had 10,000 pounds. Touched by the

young man’s spirit of kindness, I decided to help him. The next day

I had a cheque for 10, 000 pounds delivered to him as a wedding gift.

L8 Model Millionaire II

Q: Retell t

he story “the model millionaire”.

A: Hughie Erskine was a charming young man who was in love with a

nice girl called Laura Merton. Laura’s father

made it clear to Hughie that he would not marry his daughter to him

until Hughie had the thousand pounds. One day, Hughie went to see his

artist friend Alan Trevor in his studio. There he found his friend

painting a beggar, who

was an old man in rags. Hughie felt so sorry for the poor model that

he gave him the only pound he had. The old model was actually a

millionaire. When he heard all about Hughie and Laura, and their problem,

he had a

cheque for ten thousand pounds delivered to him the very next day.

The couple were happily married, and the

attended their wedding.

The story shows that a genuine millionaire is not one who has, but

who gives.

Which is more important to you: a more comfortable life or a

meaningful one?

L9 Only three more days

Q: The author got a solution finally. What was the solution? Was it

risky?

A: He laid out the diaries in two big steel suitcases. Over them he

placed a number of his broadcast scripts, each page of which had been

stamped by the military and civilian censors as passed for broadcast. On

top he put a few General Staff maps he had picked up from friends. Then

he phoned the Gestapo Headquarters to say he had a couple of suitcases

full of his dispatches, broadcasts and notes that he wanted to take out

of the country. As he was flying off early the next day, there would be

no time for Gestapo officials at the airfield to go over the contents.

Could they take a look now, if he brought them over; and if they

approved, put a Gestapo seal on the suit-cases so he wouldn't be held up

at the airport?

Yes, it was risky. He thought life in the Third Reich(raik)had

always been risky. It was worth a try.

How did the author spend his last two days in Berlin?

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L10 The washwoman

Q: Describe the situation that I saw the old woman for last time.

A: One evening, while Mother was sitting near the oil lamp mending a

shirt, the door opened and a small puff of

steam, followed by a gigantic bag, entered the room. I ran toward

the old woman and helped her unload her bag.

now, more bent. Her head shook from side to side as though she were

saying no. She could not She was even thinner

utter a clear word, but mumbled something with her sunken mouth and

pale lips.

After the old woman had recovered somewhat, she told us that she had

been ill badly. But as soon as she was able to stand on her feet once

more, she began her washing. She said

because of the wash. The wash would not let me die. “I don't want to be

a burden on anyone!”

What do you think is the most admirable quality of the old woman in

the text “The washwoman”

The old washwoman had a very strong sense of duty. Every piece of

laundry she did was clean and neatly ironed. One harsh winter, she felt

ill after she collected a great deal of laundry. She was so sick that a

doctor and some neighbors thought she was dying, and a priest was sent

for. However, she recovered, and as soon as she was able to stand on her

feet once more, she began her washing. She couldn’t allow herself to

stay in bed because of the wash. Supported by a strong sense of duty and

driven by an indomitable will, she finally finished the wash, and

returned it to its owners. Her story tells us that to be respected

person, what work you do is not so important. What counts is your

attitude. A washwoman and an economist should both be respected because

they both do work society needs.

L11 How I served my apprenticeship

Q: why was Andre Carnegie so proud of the one dollar and twenty

cents

—

the first pay he

brought home?

A: Carnegie was very proud of the one dollar and twenty cents he

earned for the first time in his life when he was only twelve. The

money

，

though small in amount, meant a great deal(

First

，

when he got his first pay he felt that he had grown up (He

was no longer a boy who had to depend on his parents;

he had become a man who was able to help support the family

，

a

contributing member. This was important because at that

time life was hard for the family and it was difficult for his

parents to manage alone(

Also he thought the money was the direct reward of honest manual

labor. It represented a week of very hard work. This money gave him the

greatest satisfaction of being rewarded for what lie had done.

What is your view of poverty?

L12 A friend for environment

Q: Why did Rachel Carson write the silent spring? What?s the content

of it?

A: Because she felt that the wonders of Nature are precious and

permanent, and much of Nature was forever beyond the destruction of man.

But then she discovered she was wrong .She learned with sadness that

little in Nature is trap beyond the

wrote the book Silent Spring to sound a startling warning to mankind and

the book showed quite clearly that man was endangering himself and

everything else on this planet by his indiscriminate use of chemical

pesticides. As her title suggests, Miss Carson was saying that there

might come a springtime that would indeed be silent because the birds,

as well as other creatures, and plants would have been destroyed by the

man-made poisons used to kill crop- threatening insects.

5

Carson and her Silent Spring

Rachel Carson was a scientist devoted to environment protection. She

learned with sadness that little in Nature is truly beyond the

“tampering reach of man”. She struggled for the harmony between Nature

and man. In 1962, she published Silent Spring, a masterpiece in

environment protection. In this book she pointed out clearly that man

was endangering himself and everything else on this planet by his

indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides. As the title suggests, there

might come a springtime that would indeed be silent. It would be silent

because the birds, as well as other creatures, and plants would have

been destroyed by the man-made poisons used to kill crop-threatening

insects. She discovered that everything on this planet is connected to

everything else. Because the chemical do not break down in the soil,

they tend to be endlessly recycled in the food chains on which birds and

animals and man himself are completely dependent. By polluting the

environment and destroying the animals and plants, man is destroying

himself. Silent Spring exploded into the public consciousness and

created the enthusiasm for “environment protection”.

L13 Who shall dwell

Q: In the story, how did the father?s attitude towards the neighbors

change? What brought

about the change?

A: When the bomb alert came, the father was clear that he had built

the shelter for his own family, and that he would not let anybody else

in. So when his neighbors came and asked to share the shelter he

rejected them flatly. When a mother begged him to take her little girl

in, he did not know what to do. At that moment his wife dashed outside

and pushed the girl in. Her act set him thinking hard .Just a moment

before the first bomb struck he made a big decision. After giving his

elder son a few instructions, he stepped out and shoved two children

into the shelter. He stood beside his wife, ready to spend the last

minute

with her. His change seemed sudden, but was actually quite natural.

He loved his children, so he was greatly affected by the mother's plea

and gave the chance of survival to the two children. Also his love for

his wife led him to follow her example.

What kind of person do you think the father was in the story “Who

Shall Dwell?”

The man was a loving and responsible father and husband. He believed

t

hat a man’s first Christian duty was to protect his

family. He built a shelter so that they could survive a nuclear

attack. When a bomb alert came, the family immediately got into their

shelter. Then the neighbors came and asked to share his shelter. He

rejected them at first. He seemed selfish, but deep down he felt bad.

Later after his wife walked out and pushed a little girl in, he made a

big decision. He told his eldest son to take care of all the younger

children in the shelter. Then he walked out and pushed two other

children in. he was able to give the chance of survival to others

because he was by nature a good, responsible man.

L14 Cipher in the snow

Q: Describe Cliff Evan?s life before his sudden death.

How Cliff Evans Become a Zero? (The text you should base your

composition on is “Cipher in

the snow.”

A: Cliff Evans lived with his mother, stepfather and five younger

half- brothers and half-sisters.

His stepfather had never legally adopted him, nor did he show any

affection for him. At home Cliff didn't talk much and had never told his

family about his problems.

When he first began school, he was timid but eager to learn. And his

I)Q) was pretty good .Then in his third year a

teacher wrote in the school record that he was “uncooperative and

slow”. Since then he had never got an encouragement

from his teachers. Gradually, the child had no more confidence left.

He never smiled or talked much. He had no friends; he never belonged to

a club, never played on a team and never held an office. He come to

school by himself and left by himself. In class, he would sit back in

the last seat. Finally, he became silent and lonely. He became nothing/a

zero.

6

L15 Bribery- an inevitable evil?

Q: what are the major forms of bribery?

A: Bribery can be classified into three broad categories. The first

category consists of large amount of money paid for political purposes

or to secure major contracts. For example, a certain American company

offered big sums of money to support a U.S. presidential candidate when

it was under investigation. Also in order to get big contracts, such

payments are often made to ruling families or their close advisers.

The second category covers payments made to obtain quicker official

approval of some project. In such cases, the money is often paid to key-

government officials concerned.

The third category involves payments made in certain countries to

make a business deal easy to get approved. For instance, a foreign

company may pay to get permission to import equipment. A common type of

this category is the

smaller sums of money paid to customs officials.

Is Bribery an Inevitable Evil?

Bribery in business can be classified into three broad categories.

The first category consists of substantial payments made for

political purposes or to secure major contracts and also large payments

made to ruling families or their close advisers in order to secure arms