Writing 2009 Integrated Writing 1: Listening Section

Writing 2009
Integrated writing 1
Many Americans choose to retire in their late fifties instead of mid-sixties as people would
normally do. This phenomenon is called·early retirement" and according to recent studies held by
sociologists,this trend will continue for a couple of reasons.
Paradoxically, “vast working experiences", which were believed to be the precious assets of old
workers, were turned against them. This is because after many decades of working on the same
position and dealing with similar situations, employees intheir fifties feel bored of going to offices
every day. Therefore,retiring earlyseems tobealuringremedyfor exhausted oldworkers.
Also, older employees tend to have greater difficulties in dealing with younger colleagues.
After twenty or even thirty years of career life, many senior workers find out that most of their
former working fellows have either retired or transferred to other companies, getting familiar
with younger colleagues usually takes longer and appears to be more difficult for senior
workers,which further explains why many staffs decide to retire early.
In addition,as their age furthers up the ladder, older staffs usually undergo tougher experiences to
keep up with the "work pace" of their younger coworkers. Feeling stressed and frustrated, senior
workers may also desire a less demanding after- retirement lifestyle.
Listening section
As a new social phenomenon, "early retirement” is by no means inevitable, if employers are

prepared to take the proper measures.
First, the government and employers should provide diversified work training for senior workers.
After taking different work training, workers can transfer among various departments and update
the skills they have learned. Therefore, older workers won’t feel that they have been stuck in the
same place for too long.
Second, the so-called "isolation” problem can also be handled properly. Instead of separating
each individual into his or her own job, employers could set up working “teams”. The teams
could consist of both young and older workers because by working together closely, the older
staff members will have better chances to know their younger colleagues and help to boost the
whole team’s performance with their valuable experience. Furthermore, when both younger and
older employees work in a cozy atmosphere, they not only feel happier but also perform better.
Third, although older workers often can’t work at the same pace as their younger co-workers, it
does not mean they have to quit completely. Instead, to take the best advantage of older workers’
work experience, the employers can create some part-time jobs or make their work less stressful.
Sample essay1:
The professor identifies the new rising practice of "early retirement", but denies the belief stated
in the passage that it is inevitable. He further points out that it can be easily avoided if
companies and governments made suitable allowances for older staffs.
First, instead of training people for just one role and bonding them in the same position
for the rest of their careers, the professor clarifies that if the government and companies had
offered various training across different departments, employees would still be able to keep
their skills fresh and up to date, even in their senior ages. With plenty of interdepartmental
working experiences and wide connections with many interesting colleagues, senior staffs
simply won't easily get so bored to retire earlier than they should, which has been worried so
much in the passage.
Second, the reading essay also raises its concern about generation gaps between young
and senior employees, and believes this has contributed to the early retirement phenomenon as
well. However, this seemly reasonable argument soon collapses after the professor has offered
his solution: the cut-off feeling between generations could be easily avoided by introducing
working groups consisting of both ends of the age scale, combining the skills, knowledge and
experiences of the older generation with the fresh drives and innovative ideas of the younger
set. Not only would this reduce the original problem, but it would help the staffs working as a
team and ultimately performing better.
Third, simply to offset the passage's anxiety that senior employees often fail to follow
the work pace of their younger fellows, the professor makes an outward and honest statement
that if older generations retire completely, their employers may suffer from loosing not only
loyal staffs but also the invaluable experiences they grasp.
Sample essay2:
While both the reading passage and lecture discuss a new phenomenon, "early retirement", the
lecturer refutes the idea that it is somehow unstoppable. In his speech, he points out several
practical steps that can and should be taken to remedy the situation.
To begin with, the lecturer states that both the corporate world and government should provide
on-the-job training to older employees. He points out that by so doing, workers will be able to
take on a variety of roles and responsibilities and will not feel ''bored", which directly
contradicts the reading passage .
Secondly, the lecturer dismisses the idea that older workers have trouble working with others.
In fact, he suggests that instead of feeling sidelined, older workers could contribute more
effectively if organized into small working groups. This intimate inter- action between workers
of various ages will create a happier and more efficient work environment, which again goes
against the reading passage.
Thirdly, while the lecturer admits that older workers may not be able to work at the same speed
as their younger counterparts. He points out that they can still contribute by working part-time
or with a reduced workload. Thus, they need not feel frustrated or overwhelmed.
Independent writing 1
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Because people are busy doing many different things, they do very few things well.
2007.4.5
Zebras are unique animals originated from the vast plain in Central Africa. The most
astonishing characteristic about this horse-shape vegetarian animal is the black-and-white
strips spreading over its body. Many researchers have concluded that the vertical strips of zebras
function much like a protection color.
First, those vertical strips could cause optical illusions in many cases. When flesh- eating animals
such as lions and wolves focus their attention on moving zebras, those black-and-white lines
can often save their lives by confusing the predators about the real distance between them.
Thuswhen the chasers attempt to attack a zebra,they often jump earlier than they should, which
leaves the zebra a good chance to escape.
Second, the protection color also helps a zebra to hide itself among the flock, especially in time
of danger. Because the black-and-white strips covering zebra bodies all look similar ill a flock, it
becomes very difficult for a predator to single out an individual zebra and have it locked in the sight.
Therefore, the odds for any particular zebratorunawayunscratched hasbeen maximized.
Third, the vertical lines of zebras could offer further protection by blending them into the
surrounding environment. This is because zebras often graze in areas where grasses are tall.
Resembling perfectly the tall grasses and their shades in the sunshine, the black-and-white
protection color helps zebras to disguise themselves pretty well.
Listening section
Female professor:
Well, again , your textbook stands on the wrong side. Although the protection color theory has
been quite popular for a long time, it doesn't provide a satisfactory explanation for the
functions of zebras' vertical stripes.As a matter of fact, the supporting points given by your text
are groundless at best.
First, the optical illusions produced by those vertical stripes won't really help zebras to
enlarge their chances of escaping. This is based on the fact that predators like lions never
jump to attack zebras; instead, they normally approach their prey quietly and slowly. Since
jumping is unnecessary in the process of attack, the so-called optical illusions may only
help zebras very occasionally.
Second, I doubt it is really that difficult for predators to single out a specific zebra
among a flock. Modern biological researches have proved that predators are hardly subjected
to the black-and-white stripes, since they see those vertical lines only as a solid color.
Therefore, even when zebras gather together to form a large flock, predators could still
distinguish accurately any individual zebra from its peers without much effort.
Third, I am sure if zebras intentionally hid themselves in high grasses, their stripes would
certainly help a lot. But ... er ...,the fact is that zebras do not have the habit of hiding from
their natural enemies. On quite the contrary, they tend to gather around on open places where
little high grass is in sight. What 's more, zebras are fond of making loud noises when they are
in a flock, which makes any possible disguise a labor in vain.
Sample essay:
According to the reading passage, black-and-white stripes function as zebras' protection color.
However, this theory is totally dismissed by the female lecturer in every aspect.
The first paragraph is saying that the zebra stripes could render an optical illusion, causing
predators to leap earlier than they should. Nevertheless, the professor points out that most
predators, including lions and wolves which are specifically singled out in the essay, don't
pounce on their prey from a distance. Instead, they stalk slowly along the ground when
hunting.
Again, the essay makes the assumption that predators will be confused by the r.1ass striped in
a zebra flock , and thus unable to distinguish one prey from another. However, according to the
lecturer, this belief has been verified to be defective, because predators usually pick out one
zebra from a horde and target on it with no problem.
The professor finally indicates that the author of the passage once again concludes with
fault that zebras graze in high grassy areas in order to blend in and hide. However, the truth,
according to the speech, is that zebras tend to go to open places to graze because in this way
no predators could hide from them.
Teachers should be paid at least as much as doctors, lawyers and business leaders.
Sample essay:
Inthe US, the fattest paychecks have kept flowing into the wallet of lawyers, doctors and business
leaders for many decades.However, ever since the origin of this phenomenon, there are never
short of criticisms toward it, among which one voice sounds most appealing- teachers shall be
paid as much as lawyers, doctors and business leaders. Many reasons could be collected to
give this statement a support.
First, in terms of their educational backgrounds, it seems teachers shall be paid equally decent
like lawyers,doctors and business leaders; since they all have to accomplish a higher education
and sweat for years before being qualified for their contemporary occupations.
Second, in order to succeed in his career, a teacher has to contribute no fewer working hours
than any of the professionals above. Although according to a popular conviction, teachers usually
don't work as long as the average - with all the holidays, teachers are entitled to being away
from their positions for at least 3 months a year: two months off during the school term
breaks, two weeks off at Christmas, a week at Halloween, all Public holidays and then a week off
during the half term, etc. As a matter of fact, this impression is somewhat misleading,
because during all these breaks, teachers still have to do researches and preparations for the
next day or the next week, not to mention writing piles of handouts that they provide in class.
Finally, although doctors are responsible for keeping people healthy, lawyers for saving
people from unjust sentence, and business leaders for multiplying people's deposits in bank,
teachers often shoulder a greater responsibility-enlighteningthefutureofhumansociety.
Therefore, based on what we discuss above, it is only justified if teachers are paid as high as any
other professionals.
2006! 2007-6-24
Nowadays, biofuels are widely accepted to be a better replacement for many traditional
fossil fuels because of their evident environment friendly properties. However,since many
biofuels come directly from regular grains and corns, the rise of this renewable energy inevitably
arouses many concerns as well. Some worries focus on the negative effects of the production of
biofuels on the food supply.
First, one potentialproblem caused by the rise of biofuels could be the shortage of food.This is because
most biofuels, such as alcohols,vegetable fats and animal greases,are obtained by processing and
decomposing regular foods and crops. Since many people still come to bed hungry in today's
world, the production of biofuels, especially in a large scale,will almost certainly reduce food
supply and renderfurther starvationinAfrica andLatinAmerica.
Second, manufacturing biofuels could also drive up food prices to a new altitude. This is because
if a large amount of crops are consumed in the process of producing biofuels and at the
meanwhile. The agricultural output remains almost unvaried, the food prices as a whole are not very
likely to keep stable.
Third,some health problems could result from the growing up of biofuels. Since the wide applicat ion
of biofuels burns tons of agricultural output in the engines every- day,many people are left with fewer
options inselectingtheir daily diets. Therefore, some may have to convert to less healthy food which
they tended to avoid before, such as animal meat.
Listening section
Male professor:
Certainly we have no doubt that the wide application of biofuels is a sunshine story to
the protection of our environment.On one side, they can greatly reduce gas pollution by
replacing fossil fuels burned in engines, and on the other side, they are renewable resources that
could be replenished easily whenever necessary. Also, Ibelieve the saying that the production of
biofuels brings negative effects on our food supply is ungrounded and weak.
First, the wide use of biofuels will not cause food shortage. Yes, of course most biofuels are
gained through grains and corns, but those types of grains and corns used to produce fuels are
normally considered less favorite food for human beings. In many cases, these crops are
only for raising animals. So, manufacturing biofuels won’t really take food directly from
our mouth, as claimed in your text. Also, we have to notice that crops consumed in this
manufacturing process only account for less than 5% of the agricultural output each year. As a
matter of fact, there are few things about food shortage that we need to worry about.
Second, a big jump up of food prices is not going to happen in the future. On the contrary, the
application of biofuels may even lower the food prices in general. This is because once
traditional fossil fuels are replaced by cheaper biofuels, the overall transportation cost will be
greatly lowered and therefore a significant part in food prices will be offset due to the wide use
of this new energy.
Third, also, health problems will not occur solely as the result of the extensive employment
of biofuels. As we all know, the manufacture of biofuels expends a large amount of grains and
corns which willbe otherwise saved to raise domestic animals. That is to say, the use of
biofuels reduces the yield of animal meat almost for sure. Therefore, we can even claim that
the use of biofuels helps to improve our health conditions to some extent, since the less animal
meat intake, the healthier diet we got.
Sample essay:
The passage apparently shows reservations about the widespread usage of biofuels. Although the
author recognizes biofuels as ecofriendly, he refuses to lower hiscaution towards their possible
negativeeffects.However, on quite the contrary, the professor sounds overwhelmingly
optimistic in terms ofthefuture application of biofuels.
Firstly,the article reminds its readers of the possi ble food shortage that could have been
rendered by burning alcohols, vegetable oils and animal greases. This reasoning is based on
the fact that all biofuels, regardless of their names and properties, invariably come from the
farming of grains and corns. However, although the professor never denies their coming sources,
he immediately questions the presumed food shortage, since most foods decomposed in the
process of deriving biofuels are previously for grazing animals. Therefore,originating biofuels
won't automatically cause a direct starvation in human.
Again , quite dissimilar with the statement made in the passage, the professor discredits the
probability of a large scale increase in food price. The reason standi ng behind his
analysis seems most persuasive: even though some provisions will be consumed to produce
biofuels, the reduction doesn't sufficiently found the ground for an enlarged food price. On quite
the contrary, thanks to the substitution of traditional fuels by cheaper biofuels, a significant
drop in transportation cost will help to lower the food price as a whole.
Finally, the last paragraph of the reading text shadows the wide application of biofuels,
additionally advising that due to the decline in food choices, which is a possible result of
disintegrating grains and corns for clean energy, people may experience a general dwindle in
health level. Of course, the professor again classifies this point as being falsely grounded.
His logic is that because fewer animals are raised to spare enough food for producing
biofuels, many people are forced to trim down their daily meat consumption and thus diet
healthier food.
It is better to finish one project and then go on to another than to work on two or more
projects at the same time.
Sample essay:
Shall we finish one project and then move on to another or work on two or more projects at the
same time? Both approaches seem tempting because of certain reasons, as far as I am concerned.
First, accomplishing jobs one by one certainly comes hand in hand with its inborn
advantages. At the first glance, it would be apparently better to concentrate one's efforts on
one goal, rather than jump between projects and risk making mistakes. Especially when short
deadlines are given, putting one's whole heart into one job at a time will ensure the first project
finished in time. And even if the person might have a slight delay with the second job, the
outcome is still acceptable. In contrast, if the individual splits his focus into two separate
directions and tries to complete both simultaneously, chances are pretty good for him to end up
with neither on time. Also, if the two projects are of a similar genre, it is possible that
they could become confusing.
Of course, the oppos ite of this practice could a lso make sense under certain circumstances, as
long as one's study time is scientifically organized and the schedule is strictly followed through.
For exa mple, when some individual is working on a long term project, he would probably get bored
and frustrated thinking that it will never end. In contrast, if this person allocates his time
appropriately, when jumping frequently from one project to another, the sense of monotony and
repetitiveness could be alleviated naturally. Also, working on two projects together certainly makes
some sense, if they are interrelated closely, since the conclusions of one project might bring
an effect to the other.
Therefore, whether people shall finish one project before they move on to another, or they
could simply work on two or more job s at the same time largely depends on the very situation
they come across.
(Reading)
In United States, any drug has to pass a series of investigations before it can be put into real
application. These examinations are called drug testing. Although drug testing is generally
believed to be necessary in reducing potential medical risks, there are different opinions.
First, the right moment of new drug promotion is often delayed, as a result of a series of very
complex and prolonged drug testing procedures. Each year, plenty of patients are suffering from
lack of new drugs, while it often takes months and even years to pass government drug testing
procedures.
Second, drug testing can be very costly sometimes. Eventually, all the money spent on drug
testing will have to be paid by patients. However, with the money saved from drug testing, new
drugs can be developed and patients dying for lack of affordable new medicines will decrease in
number.
Third, the biggest advantage boasted by the current drug testing system is medicine safety.
However, with the development of Med Watch system, medicine safety can be easily achieved
without the extended and expensive drug testing procedure. This is because Med Watch system
requires that doctors fill out information such as the side effects of a contain medicine on patients
after each treatment. All these data will be collected and eventually the government can easily
find out the negative effects of each new drug and therefore decide whether this new drug is
suitable for further application.
Now play Track from the audio CD. Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure
to specifically explain how they contradict the reasons given in the reading passage.
Listening section
You all hear about the criticizing remarks on drug testing, right? What would you say? Actually,
these remarks have underestimated drug testing, because they fail to consider some very
important factors.
First, yes, new drug testing does involve a very long procedure, but waiting is certainly
worthwhile, because patients’ safety should always be the N0.1 concern. We cannot forget that,
for example, a few years ago, after passing drug testing only on adults, a new medicine was
brought to market. Later, however, when this new drug was widely applied on children, certain
side effects appeared. Because of these totally unexpected side effects, some children lost their
lives. Therefore, this medical tragedy repeatedly reminds us that we can never be too cautious in
dealing with drug testing.
Second, er ... it is complained that drug testing is too expensive. Well, this point is even more
unreasonable. Please remember this: if we allow new drugs to be broadly applied without
passing any drug testing procedures, we will probably end up with spending much more money.
This is because the problems caused by side effects could have been more expensive to
individuals or to society as a whole. In addition, we all know that part of the money spent on
drug testing is actually going into research. In fact, with the enormous data collected, the drug
testing itself can be valuable research and is definitely worth the money we put in.
Third, the Med Watch mentioned in the passage is of course a good thing. But, it is far from
enough to accumulate first-hand details. Because, you know, the Med Watch system is not
mandatory. I mean, it is completely based on voluntary information feedback of doctors. And
sometimes, those doctors can be too overworked or too overbooked to write down concrete and
specific records we need.
Sample essay:
The author of the passage believes that drug testing is unnecessary and expensive to operate.
However, his statement encounters serious disagreement from the speaker, who insists on the
current governmental practice that any new drugs go through testing for full eventualities, with
no exception.
First, according to the lecturer, although the process of drug testing is time-consuming,
often taking months or even years, the waiting is worthwhile. He bases his reasoning on the
logic that a few months delay is less damaging than hundreds of deaths due to the general
release of unchecked new medicine.
Second, the passage believes that the full process of drug testing shall be shortened or
even canceled to reduce expenses. Nevertheless, the professor immediately points out that a
rush-through or abolition of drug testing will eventually cost a lot more, both financially and
socially. By the way, funds spent on drug testing also flow into researches, where many
priceless data come out.
Finally, about the inevitability of drug testing, the lecturer again argues against the
passage. While MedWatch is taken by the author as a theoretically brilliant replacement for
drug testing, the professor reveals the truth that it is merely an optional practice for doctors.
Because MedWatch is not mandatory at all, overworked doctors may not have the mood or
patience to fill in details, such as new drugs' side effects, which has rendered the whole system
wildly flawed.
Sample essay 2:
Both the reading passage and lecture discuss drug testing. But the lecture refutes the
assertion in the passage that drug testing offers few benefits and might be unnecessary for some
reasons.
In the first place, the lecturer argues that the long time spent for drug testing is
justified in that it ensures patients ' safety. He cites the fact that some children were severely
affected by a medicine that was suitable for adults but used for the children without drug
testing. This undermines the reading's claim that drug testing postpones sales of new drugs and
causes deaths of patients because new drugs are not available.
In the second place, the speaker points out that drug testing is worth the large
amounts of money invested in it, because it avoids the side effects of untested drugs that
eventually cost more money and contributes to research by providing important data. This
challenges the reading's statement that drug testing is expensive and the money spent on it
can be used for developing new drugs and therefore preventing more deaths.
Finally, the lecturer cl aims that the Medwatch that is used to collect Information about
the effects of medicine on patients cannot provide the information desired, because doctors
only voluntarily use the system and might fail to provide the details required. This is contrary
to the argument in the passage that the Medwatch system offers sufficient information about the
negative effects of a medicine and the government can make a decision based on the information
as to more widespread use of the medicine.
For a person to succeed in life, knowledge gained through study is more important than the
ability to be creative. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Sample essay:
As far as the importance of possessing knowledge and the ability of being creative are compared,
young people may present one thousand and one opinions. However, with no doubt, I would
prefer to choose both, in terms of building up one's future profession. The well-accepted
principle that one will eventually succeed only after accumulating sufficient information is
indeed true, although to say that acquiring knowledge is of greater importance than being
creative is not always definite.
First, the ability of obtaining knowledge and ceaselessly learning is a lifelong business
for anyone determining to succeed, because few people could be certain that the knowledge they
have spent years learning in school would still remain relevant and up to date after graduation. In
order to advance up his career ladder, an individual needs both qualifications gained from his
college- hood and, perhaps more decisively, experiences through thousands of working hours.
Constant changes brought with our modern society have made many one-time successful careers
now seemingly obsolete.
This has been most noticeably demonstrated in some careers. For example, many
accountants had spent years studying and gaining degrees, before disappointedly finding out that
their years' hard working can be easily replaced by a single innovation in technology. Decades
ago to be qualified for their future career, potential accountants had to learn calculating all
manually, with the help of files, ledgers, paperwork and cross-referencing. However, most large
and small businesses today employ only computerized accounting packages, as they are quicker
and easier to reconcile, producing a wide variety of reliable reports at a single touch over the
button. Right now, even newly trained personnel who possess only basic computer skills could
have put the careers of the most competent accountants at risks.
Second, on the other hand, creativity is not something that could be substituted that
easily, because it roots deeply in one's personality, emotion and inspiration, things that a
computer fails to mimic. An artist, author or designer can all be extremely successful, as even
though they may take advantage of new technologies, their occupations never anticipate
competitions from robots. This is because even being programmed to copy human creations;
computers never produce their own unique "masterpieces". Fascinating storylines, changing
fashions and eyeball-drawing paintings and sculptures all originate from one's imagination,
somewhere far beyond the reach of machineries.
Therefore, I believe that knowledge and the ability of creativity is equally essential in securing a
successful career.
Sample essay 2:
Western culture tends to place an emphasis on creativity as being indispensable above all.
The brilliant composer Mozart may be the premier example. It is said that Mozart composed
merely by writing the scores of his finished masterpieces directly onto the page and he did not
need to sit at the piano, trying out different combinations of notes and agonizing over certain
passages. However, for most of us, success is not the result of the sheer ability to be creative.
Rather, for most of us, the importance of knowledge gained through study cannot be overlooked;
in fact, it is essential if we are to be successful in life.
First, let us consider the nature of creativity in general. Creativity is the ability to think in
new ways and to consider original approaches to solving problems. This is of course useful in
every field, including fine art, writing and even business. However, there are limits when we
think of creativity as an ability, for ability is finite-some people have greater abilities than others.
On the contrary, people have an endless capacity for studying and acquiring knowledge.
Ultimately, we are more successful in life when we focus on something we can control, such as
studying and learning, rather than something we have no control over, such as the level of
creative ability we are born with.
Second, the success on a job illustrates the importance of gaining knowledge through
study. To be successful on the job, creativity is of course important: however, this creativity
would not be successful in practice without knowledge gained through study. Let us consider the
profession of on architect. The architect first needs to study principles of physics and engineering
that formulate the basis for designing a structure. He or she must study and take time to learn the
protocols of the architecture field. For example, the most famous American architect, Frank
Lloyd Wright, is revered for his original Arts and Grafts style and his trademark houses are
immediately recognizable. However, it would be inadequate to attribute his success to creativity
alone. Wright's house designs resulted from his considerable knowledge of the fundamentals of
engineering and drafting, and of his research into the background of each design site. His most
famous house, Fallingwater, resulted from his careful attention to his clients who requested that
the house be built at the site of a waterfall on their property; Wright then designed the house to
be built on top of the waterfall. This brilliant design seemed to spring from the artist’s
imagination, but it was also or more the result of a great deal of study and research.
In conclusion, it is important to have the ability to be creative, but it is equally or even

more important to be able to derive knowledge from study. We have more control over the latter
and it is the latter that enables creativity to bring about accomplishments. Thomas Jefferson
famously stated, "I find that the harder I work the more luck I seem to have." Similarly, it may be
that when a person devotes more time to studying and learning, the more success he or she will
have in work.
[Reading]
It used to be the case at most universities that only a few students received the highest marks
or grades. But teachers today routinely give a majority of their students' high grades, a practice
sometimes known as grade inflation. Though this practice has critics, it seems virtually
irreversible. It has become part of a whole system of social and educational expectations and it
can no more be changed at this point than can a tire of a moving car. Grade inflation is now
widespread. It is justified for a few reasons.
First, grade inflation has to do with students' motivation and confidence. High grades make
them feel competent and want to learn. As a result, they are used to getting high scores and they
think teachers should give everyone high scores. When teachers get strict, students who get low
scores are frustrated and lose confidence and motivation.
Second, some teachers may feel pressured to give higher grades for fear of students'
complaining and of receiving bad course evaluations, thereby diminishing their reputation and
resulting in denial of promotion or tenure, or causing them to face lower enrollment in their
classes. In other words, if students don't get high scores, they will give the professors low scores
when they evaluate their work and the low evaluations may put the professors' position at risk.
Third, if some schools or teachers are inflating grades, but other schools or teachers
stringently grade their students, then students from the latter will be placed at a disadvantage
because they will be treated unfairly when they enter the job market. Therefore, all schools and
teachers should give their students high grades to ensure fair competition in the job market.
Now play Track from the audio CD.
Listening section
Yes, grade inflation is anything but unusual on today’s American campuses. But, it is an illness,
not a virtue. Because grade inflation already undermines the educational principles that many
American people deeply hold, before we are fully aware of it. However, the good news is that if
some proper measures are taken against over-scoring, this phenomenon can be completely
avoided.
First, students must be told that school is the place for knowledge, not for high scores. “A" or
“B” doesn’t matter in his future life, but gaining knowledge or not does. Once students start to
accept this fundamental principle in their education, they won’t be easily frustrated and give up
their ambition so soon, in the case that a bad score comes. Instead, strikes on academic
performance only encourage their determinations for harder working.
Second, the students’ evaluation should be held long before the final exam. For example, if the
evaluation is held in the middle of a semester, students would tend to evaluate a professor based
on his teaching style, and working attitude, rather than on the final scores granted.
Third, although many employers prefer to hire students with higher scores in today’s job market,
this can also be changed in the near future if schools would like to also explain a student’s
relative position in the class to his potential employer, besides the traditional As or Bs. As a
result, employers would soon start to realize that As are not necessarily always bigger than
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to specifically explain how they
contradict the reasons given in the reading passage.
Sample answer:
The lecturer casts doubt on the author's argument that there is justification for grade
inflation. The lecture refutes the reading completely.
First, the author contends that grade inflation is linked to students' self-efficacy and
motivation. Students expect high grades and low self-confidence and motivation is associated
with low grades. On the contrary, the lecturer says that students should study for knowledge
instead of for grades and make greater efforts when they are given low grades and that giving
everybody high grades tends to obscure the outstanding students. This directly contradicts
what the passage suggests.
Second, the passage asserts that grade inflation stems from teachers' fear of negative
course comments which might in turn affect student enrollments in their course and their
professional promotion. However, the speaker argues that this should not be the case if students'
course evaluations are given before they see their grades. This is another part where the lecture
goes against the reading.
Third, the author holds that grade inflation in some schools will put students in other
schools at a competitive disadvantage that do not have such a practice. This is contrary to the
claim in the lecture that a student's grades. Together with the average grades of the class and
the distribution of grades in the school will help the employer make the right recruiting
decisions.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is not realistic for people to
expect to work at the same company or for the same employer all of their life.
Sample answer:
Many of us can think of an older relative - perhaps a grandparent - who worked at the
same company for his or her entire career. He or she would be rewarded at milestones, perhaps
receiving a paperweight in acknowledgment of ten years' loyal service to the company, then a
watch after twenty years. However, lifelong service to one company is becoming increasingly
rare; indeed, it would be unrealistic to expect that a young person joining a company today will
remain that company's employee throughout his or her working life.
First, let us consider this shift from the point of view of the employer. Traditionally,
companies were seen almost as families. Long-serving workers were considered local. They
were valued for their intimate knowledge of the company's workings, and rewarded with steady
raises and health pensions. By contrast, in today's increasingly competitive global climate,
employers are less interested in having their payrolls burdened by paying top wages to its long-
serving employees. The concept of layoffs may have been unheard of in the economy of
yesterday, but the reality today is one's job may not even exist in five years. Instead, companies
must establish a workforce comprised of highly skilled employees. With less concern for
whether current employees are promoted.
It is evident that companies have changed, but so have employees. Greater numbers of
young people are entering the workforce armed with college degrees. These workers are less
concerned with job security and more interested in working in a field in which they have a
genuine interest. Moreover, it may be easier to advance in one's field by moving to a new
company. I have a friend who works in the software industry; when she has decided that she is
ready for increased challenges and an increased salary. She has found advancement by moving to
a new company, instead of fighting for a promotion at her existing place of employment.
In summary, our entire conception of the employee-employer relationship has shifted,

and workers may well have several employers during their lives. This new reality may be
difficult for some, but as General Douglas MacArthur stated, "There is no security on this earth;
there is only opportunity." As employees become less unlikely to stay with the same company
for the duration of their careers, they may find that the diminished job security is outweighed by
increased opportunities for advancement and job satisfaction.
Integrated task 6
(Reading)
Recent studies show that Chimpanzees have abilities similar to human beings in learning
languages. It is nothing surprising for researchers who finally conclude that after years of rigid
training, Chimpanzees can master a language with proficiency of a child 2-3 years old. This
incredible language learning talent of Chimps can be understood in terms of the three dimensions
of a real language.
First, Chimps gain knowledge of many Yerkish words after two years' proper instruction.
Yerkish is a researcher -made, geometric language system. In this system, a word is symbolized
by a meaningful picture or object. With the help of Yerkish language, it has been demonstrated
that Chimps are capable of expressing themselves to researchers through simple words like apple
eating and washing.
Second. It is very encouraging for researchers to notice that Chimps even show hints of being
able to master some basic grammar. For example, when a ring is brought to a Chimp, it uses two
Yerkish words "finger" and "bracelet' to express what the ring refers to. As we all know,
employing one noun "finger" to qualify another noun "bracelet" is one of the basic aspects of
grammar in many modern languages.
Third, under appropriate training, Chimps can carry out a simple but genuine conversation with
researchers and sometimes this sort of conversation can even be extended for hours.
Conversation, of course, is linguistic competence of the greatest importance.
Well, they really believe that Chimpanzees can manage a true language? That’s funny. In fact,
although Chimpanzees do learn some basic linguistic knowledge, their language ability is by no
means close to that of human beings.
First, each Yerkish vocabulary has to be taught again and again for countless times
before the Chimps can finally pick it up. In addition, after years of endeavor, researchers have
to admit that even the most successful Chimp student only masters no more than a few dozens
of words. In contrast, a human baby becomes skilled at mastering many words by simply
listening to adults’ talking. In cases of being raised up in a bilingual environment, human kids
easily pick up two languages without confusing this one with another.
Second, the example of “finger bracelet” is true, but that is also as far as Chimps can
ever go. Studies show that once a Chimp was given an assignment to put three meaningful
words in sequence, such as "wash finger bracelet”, by using Yerkish symbols, it seemed totally
confused. Remember, we humans make use of thousands of verbal expressions with
innumerable combinations of words and structures every day, and we can always make them
right. Sometimes we even invent novel usages.
Third, the so-called “conversations" between researchers and Chimps are not real
communications. Instead, they are typically researchers dominated. In other words, the
researchers keep throwing questions to Chimpanzees, and Chimps make merely the
responding. Furthermore, Chimps are never observed using Yerkish language to each other.
Sample answer:
The reading passage concludes that after years' rigorous training chimpanzees can learn a
language as well as a child 2 or 3 years old. However, the lecturer questions the validity of such
an argument in three ways.
First, while the author proposes that the chimpanzees learn many words of Yerkish, a
geometric language invented by the researchers, because they can communicate with the
researchers using o few simple words, the lecturer points out the fact that the chimpanzees need
many times of instruction before they can learn a Yerkish word end the greatest number of
Yerkish words that they can learn is limited to a few dozens, as opposed to the facility with
which human children learn new words in exposure to adult talk and learn two languages in a
bilingual environment.
Second, whereas the author argues that the chimpanzees might show some understanding
of basic aspects of grammar by using a two-word combination to express the idea of a ring, the
lecturer holds an opposing view. He says that the chimpanzees can combine two words, but are
puzzled as to combinations of more words, in contrast to human capacity to make numerous
combinations in language.
The final point on which the author and the lecturer disagree with each other is whether
the chimpanzees can have genuine conversations with the researchers. The lecturer reasons that
the communication between the two is controlled and initiated by the researchers, so it hardly
qualifies as real conversations between two interlocutors. In fact, the researchers find that the
chimpanzees use no Yerkish among themselves.
Independent task 6
Renewable sources of energy (sun, wind, water) will soon replace fossil fuels such as gas,
oil, and coal.
Sample answer:
It would be difficult to find anyone in the industrialized world today who is not familiar
with the worldwide energy crisis; global dependence on fossil fuels such as gas, oil and coal has
created problems in the economic and environmental spheres. Fortunately, there is a promising
alternative to fossil fuels: renewable sources of energy, such as solar, wind and water power.
Considering the present energy crisis, it is likely that these renewable sources of energy will soon
free us from our dependence on fossil fuels.
First, let us consider the economic crisis caused by overuse of fossil fuels. Prices for
fossil fuels have increased, and the impact has been felt on the individual and global level, from
those who drive their cars to work every day, to farmers who use tractors to plow their crops.
The entire airline industry recently raised ticket prices to cover the cost of jet fuel. The price of a
small ice cream cone at my local ice cream parlor recently went up 20 percent; a small sign by
the cash register explained that all of their costs had gone up because of increased energy prices.
Households that use cars as part of their daily lives feel the strain or having to pay higher and
higher prices for gasoline.
However, although the industrialized world is more attuned to the financial burden of the
energy crisis, the more urgent crisis is that faced by the earth. Tourists are rushing to see the
snow-capped top of Mount Kilimanjaro before it melts away: they are also planning trips to the
Galapagos Islands before endangered species of sea life become extinct. This worldwide
environmental tragedy has been brought about by global warming which itself has resulted from
the overuse of fossil fuels.
Fortunately, attention is being directed to alternative sources of energy. These sources

differ from fossil fuels in that they promise to be friendlier to the health of our planet. Moreover,
they are renewable: sun, wind and water are endlessly available in our environment, whereas
fossil fuels exist in finite quantities and will someday be used up.
Therefore, renewable sources of energy are a promising alternative. However, we can't

merely wait for thorn to take the place of fossil fuels someday. Governments must educate the
public about the value of these alternative sources of energy. Funding must be directed toward
discovering how to harness these natural, renewable sources. Finally, we must cut down on our
present level of energy use in order to conserve the existing fossil fuels. These steps may be
challenging for us to implement on the individual and societal level, but when we are able to use
renewable sources of energy, both the economy and the environment will benefit.
[Reading]
Zebra mussels are spreading rapidly from East Europe, where they initially originated, to the vast
areas of North America. This unique species invades and dominates almost any fresh -water
ecological system, wherever they happen to travel to. To make it even worse, few effective
measures have been developed so far to control the explosion of zebra mussels.
First, as demonstrated in history, the invasion of zebra mussels has been unstoppable all the time.
This is because zebra mussels are so smart that they have long got adapted to fasten themselves
to human vehicles. For example, ever since the 19th century, ships traveling on fresh water routes
in East Europe have been found carrying tons of zebra mussels on the bottoms. Of course, this is
not the only way mussels can travel with ships. Thousands of these little creatures actually hide
themselves and multiply in the "ballast water"—water intentionally filled in order to balance the
ships.
Second, zebra mussels always dominate new areas soon after their first successful invasion. This
type of shellfish has been considered a hardy creature, because they can easily adapt themselves
to almost any environment and keep their amazing reproduction rate during the procedure of
adaptation. What's more, since zebra mussels are new to the ecological system of North America.
Their predators are hardly known.
Third, the pollution caused by the waste of zebra mussels can first lower the quality of a water
body and soon after that, the number of fish dwelling in it. In addition zebra mussels devour food
and nutrition which would otherwise feed many other local fish.
Now play Track from the audio CD
Well, this is the popular belief of zebra mussels. But I won’t say that they are really such a big
threat. On the contrary, most information mentioned in this passage has been exaggerated. The
spread of zebra mussels is, of course, stoppable, if proper measures are taken.
First, yes, in history, people didn’t stop zebra mussels’ invasion. But that was because
people didn’t have the knowledge then. Now we know how to deal with the ballast water for
sure. For example, when ships travel on the sea waters, they can empty all the fresh ballast
water and then refill an equal amount of salt water. Because although zebra mussels are hardy
shellfish, they are fresh water species anyway and salt water kills them almost immediately.
Second, they say the mussels can dominate the whole ecological system of North
America? That is ... pure nonsense. Of course, because the mussels are new to America, they
have no predators now. But it doesn’t mean they will find North America a safe playground
forever. For example, once a bird finds zebra mussels are more than tasty, sooner or later, all
birds will know there comes a kind of great new food.
Third, studies have demonstrated that although the pollution caused by mussels’ waste
may reduce the number of some fish living in the upper water, other fish, especially the fish
living in the bottom, actually increase in numbers.
Sample answer:
In this set of materials, the reading passage claims that zebra mussels pose a major threat
to the ecological system in North America and its invasion is hardly stoppable. However, the
listening passage casts doubt on the claim by pointing out that the threat zebra mussels pose is
overstated and its invasion can be controlled.
First, the passage says that the invasion of zebra mussels can hardly be prevented because
they can easily fasten themselves to the bottoms of the ships or live in "ballast water". However,
the lecture suggests the opposite: the invasion is preventable with our knowledge of "ballast
water". The speaker says that ships can use sail water instead of fresh water as "ballast water"
to get rid of zebra mussels.
Secondly, the passage states that zebra mussels can dominate the ecological system of
North America because of its superior adaptability, high reproduction rate and absence of
predators. In contrast, the lecture suggests otherwise. It says that lack of predators now does not
imply the absence of predators forever; birds might find the mussels to be delicious food and
become their predators.
Thirdly, the passage alleges that zebra mussels can pollute a water body, snatch food and
cause the number of fish in it to decrease. The lecture claims a different picture in this case as
well. It argues that despite a decrease of fish in the upper water, there is in fact an increase of
other fish, particularly those in the bottom.
Independent Task 7
Today, there are so many sources of news and information that it is difficult to know whom
to believe or who is telling the truth. Use specific reasons or examples to support your
ideas.
Sample answer:
Nowadays, some people tend to believe that due to the tremendous number of sources of news
and information, it is becoming more and more difficult to know whom to believe or who is
telling the truth. I agree with this statement for certain reasons.
It is indeed hard to know whom to believe and who is telling the truth when there are lots of
contradicting or overlapping pieces of information. In addition, four major factors certainly
contribute to the puzzle, which one shall stay alert with and take into account before any
decisions could be safely reached.
First, the story tellers could benefit from giving either an accurate account or indeed misleading
information, with or without the listeners' awareness. For example, in a shop, the sales assistant
would function as the source of information. But one shall keep it in mind that if the information
released leads to a sale, they would possibly get commissions.
Second, where the story tellers got their information also matters a lot in deciding whom to
believe. Only information coming from first hand and being ready to be verified makes sense in
one's decision-making. For example, if the info has been passed on from someone else, it might
have been tainted along the way, being appended with changes and embellishments. Be it
intentionally or accidentally, drastic changes could take place on the original content.
Third, people always need to stay alert with the fact that only one source of info often comes
with bias, because an individual’s opinion doesn’t always depicts the whole picture precisely.
Lastly, though it may sound odd at first glance, the sources of information, no matter how much
people may rely on, could be someone making stories up, causing troubles for no reasons or
simply for his own amusement. Therefore, many sources of news and information could make a
trust hard to give.
[Reading]
The Teotihuacan civilization in central Mexico was very remarkable and reached the peak of its
prosperity and influence around AD 500. But in the 6th century, it declined and ultimately
disappeared. There are three reasons.
The first reason is that the Teotihuacan civilization was invaded and conquered by another group
from outside. Research shows evidence that structures were burned in the city, indicating an
invasion from outside. The rise of Tams coincided with the decline of the Teotihuacan
civilization, so it is likely that Toltecs had conquered and burned the Teotihuacan city.
The second reason is famine. There was an abrupt climatic change in 535-536 AD that caused
widespread starvation and social changes followed. The civilization could not cope with this and
collapsed.
The third reason is deforestation. The Teotihuacan people needed wood and other resources, so
they cut too many trees. With the forest—where they got wood and other resources—gone, they
could hardly live there anymore. Then they had to leave the place, abandoning the city.
Sample answer:
For the disappearance of the Teotihuacan civilization, the reading offers three explanations:
outside invasion, famine, and deforestation. In contrast, the lecturer finds these explanations
unconvincing.
First, the reading claims that invasion from an outside group, possibly Toltecs, contributed
to the demise of the Teotihuacan civilization. To support the claim, the author cited research
evidence that structures were burned in the city. However, the professor undermined the claim
by pointing out that only some structures in the city were burned, for example, religious
structures while other structures, for example, residential structures, were kept, so it was
unlikely that an outside invasion had led to the disappearance of the civilization.
Second, the reading states that famine was the cause of the ending of the Teotihuacan
civilization. Because of a sudden climatic change, starvation was widespread in the region for a
few years and resulted in social changes which in turn gave rise to the disappearance of the
civilization. But the lecture suggests a different situation in this case: it argues that the
Teotihuacan people had experienced more severe famines and bad survived them, so they
could handle a famine that lasted only a few years.
Third, the reading says that deforestation contributed to the fate of the civilization, because
the Teotihuacan people had cut many trees and so depleted their needed resources. As a result,
they had to desert their city. On the contrary, the professor challenges the idea by stating that
these people had other options. They could exchange their obsidian that was common but
highly desirable for their needed resources such as food and water.
Independent Task 8
Physical exercise is more important for older people than for younger people.
Sample answer:
Physical exercise is vital for people of all ages, but when it comes to its relative
importance. We need to take into account many factors. For example, older people need physical
exercise to keep mentally sound while younger people need it to grow their bodies. On balance,I
believe that physical exercise is equally important for both groups of people.
In the first place, physical exercise is crucial for younger people in that it helps them
grow their bodies. Since they are still in the process of growing, young people need physical
exercise. Indeed, those who participate in regular physical exercise can anticipate faster growth
than normal, because physical exercise tends to facilitate their growing process. For example, if
young people take part in long jumping or high jumping, it is likely that their capacity for breathing
will improve by and by. Without physical exercise, young people's growth can be impeded to some
extent. My cousin aptly illustrates this case. Before he had regular physical exercise, he seemed to
be growing at a normal rate. In contrast, after he did, he appeared to be growing faster than normal,
other things being equal. Also, young people need a healthy body for their work and study, which
in turn requires physical exercise.
In the second place, physical exercise also plays a key role in older people's life. In fact,
they need it to keep mentally acute. Research finds that older people who make a point of doing
physical exercise regularly suffer less from dementia while those who do not are more often
vulnerable to the onset. Physical exercise not only makes these people more agile in action, but
also more mentally fit. My colleagues provide a good example. Some of them who bury
themselves in books and never step outside of their house for physical exercise find themselves
slow in responding to surrounding situations mentally as well as physically. On the contrary, it
seems that those who frequent sports ground are physically and mentally fit. In addition, physical
exercise can add flavor to older people's life by connecting them to other people with similar
interests and serve as a kind of diversion to make life less dull for them.
In summary, physical exercise is of great importance to people of all ages and plays an
equally important role for older people as well as young people. Therefore, it is advisable that all
people participate in physical exercise in view of their constitution and time and will reap the
rewards reserved for them.
2006
10.8
Integrated Writing
Reading: Dinosaurs can be endothermal. Reasons:
Their fossils are found in polar areas indicating they can keep their temperature in low
temperature environment. They have legs underneath the body, and they can run. Only
endotherms can do this. A special substance found in their fossils indicates they could grow
rapidly as endothermal animals do.
Listening: Dinosaurs cannot be endothermal. Reasons:
The polar area used to be warm, and even if it got cold, dinosaurs could either hibernate or
migrate. The fossils found here cannot prove they are endothermal. The body of the dinosaurs is
lighter than their legs, and the legs are below the body is to support the body weight. The
substance may change following temperature changes and their growth is divided Into three
stages: stop-slow-rapid. This means they are not endothermal.
Independent Writing
In twenty years there will be fewer cars in use than there are today.
10.21
Integrated Writing
Reading: There are more and more people who choose to become self-employed entrepreneurs.
Reasons:
1. The bureaucracies of large companies lead to complicated procedures. And too many
commitments prevent them from realizing their ideas.
2. The safety of the positions is not ensured and they can be laid off easily.
3. Large companies cut down on the pension and require the employees to pay more medical
insurance, and the extra salary benefits are not as attractive.
Listening: It is not sensible to do so. Reasons:
1. Small companies would have bureaucracy too, and they would have to go through
various complicated procedures when dealing with different government departments.
2. The possibility of the failure of small companies is higher than the possibility of getting
laid off in large companies. It is even more risky.
3. Although large companies reduce pension, they have to pay insurances if they open their
own companies. The spending is obviously higher than that of large company employees, so the
extra salary benefits are still attractive.
Independent Writing
You should take the most difficult class in college or university, even if you cannot get the top
grades or marks in them.
10.28
Integrated Writing
Reading: It is good for a professor to make appearances on TV. Reasons:
1. They become more well-known.
2. There would be more active public comments about the universities.
3. The public would have contact with more perspectives.
Listening: Others may have different opinions about those professors who appear on TV.
Reasons:
1. They may feel it is more about entertainment than about education. Then these professors
may not be invited to academic conferences and may lose research funds.
2. The professors may spend too much time preparing for the TV shows instead of spending
the time with their students or on their research.
3. TV requires academic titles instead of academics itself. Their introductions about the
topics will be ignored on TV, and the public do not receive sufficient information.
Independent Writing
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Young people enjoy life better than older
people.
11.3
Integrated Writing
Reading: VCD teaching should replace textbooks. Reasons:
1. They are more vivid and attractive. The content can be easily divided and played according to
the teacher's needs.
2. The students can understand more easily.
3. The cost is low and can be used repeatedly.
Listening: No. Reasons:
1. VCDs are vivid but can illustrate limited information, and the views can be one sided.
2. Students would lose their reacting ability.
3. The cost is not low because the money spent on the equipment should be counted.
Independent Writing
It's better to work for a large company than to work for a small company.
11.5
Integrated Writing
Reacting: The US government made strict rules to protect old buildings. Some people disagree
with them. Reasons:
1. Old buildings are not suitable for inhabitation.
2. Old houses are not harmonious with the newly established neighborhoods around.
3. The cost of maintenance is high.
Listening: Old houses are old, but attractive. Reasons:
1. Modern facilities can be installed.
2. Some developments might not be good because they are forced by external pressure. It is
often the developers rather than the residents who feel the houses are not harmonious with the
others.
3. Old houses can attract tourists and balance the cost and income.
Independent Writing
Universities often require students to finish projects through teamwork and give each team
member the same score. Do you think this is good?
11.17
Integrated Writing
Reading: The standards for giving students grades are:
1. Attendance which motivates students to come to class regularly.
2. Participation in discuss which shows that students are active.
3. Effort of semester grade which encourages students to take challenging courses.
Listening: These are not good ways. Reasons:
1. Even if the students are present. They might not be listening. They might be day
dreaming. And if some students really cannot attend some classes, they would be discouraged for
knowing they would not get high grades.
2. The quality of discussions will be low because students might discuss silly and pointless
subjects.
3. Making efforts does not moan understanding. It is better to offer extra help when students
take challenging courses.
Independent Writing
Being happy with a job is more important than having a high salary. Use specific reasons and
details to explain your opinion.
11.18
Integrated Writing
Reading: The ash should be removed after forest fires. This method of removal is called salvage
logging. The benefits include:
1. The remains of the trees after burning will harm the growth of new trees, and so they should
be removed.
2. Insects harmful to the forest and humans might breed in these remains.
This process requires a lot of labor, indicating job opportunities and the remains can be made use
of.
1. The remains will make the soil more fertile and benefit the growth of new trees.
2. Insects will breed , but they are not harmful . In fact they provide food for the birds.
3. It costs a lot to use helicopters and vehicles for forest management. And the economic
advantages brought about by salvage logging are temporary.
Independent Writing
The best way to travel is in a group led by the guide.

11.19
Integrated Writing
Reading: Birds have three ways of finding directions:
1. The position of celestial bodies.
2. Topography: birds can memorize mountains and rivers.
3. The magnetic field inside their body.
Listening:
1. It has been found in some research that birds can find directions even though the sun and the
moon are blocked by clouds.
2. Birds can fly back from places they have never been to.
3. Compasses can only tell directions, but not the distance from the destination, nor the starling
position.
Independent Writing
Is it more important to choose a subject of your interest than subjects that prepare you for a job
or career?
12.1
Integrated Writing
Reading: Reasons for the existence of life on Mars:
1. There is methane produced by the bacteria.
2. There are crystals in the meteorites from Mars, which are caused by bacteria.
3. There is liquid water on Mars.

1. Methane may have come from volcanoes.
2. The crystals can be produced by bacteria on the earth.
3. Water may have come from ice.
Independent Writing
Classmates are a more important influence than parents on a child's success in school
12.3
Integrated Writing
Reading: Tunguska explosion was not caused by asteroids but by the "swamp gas”.
Reasons:
1. A lot of particles should remain if it was the asteroid. A lot of thorn wore found in the asteroid
explosion in Canada, but none was found here.
2. There should be craters, but there were none.
3. The new methane theory explains the fact that there were no craters and no particles.
Listening:
1. It was easy to find particles in the Canadian explosion because people went there 2 weeks
later, whereas In Tunguska, people did not go until 18 years later. The asteroid might have
already exploded in the atmosphere.
2. Ironic meteorite may leave craters, but stone meteorite may not.
3. If it was gas explosion. It would not concentrate on one spot. The trace left has a single center.
From the ways the trees fell it could be seen that the explosion was a number of miles above the
ground. This could not be caused by methane.
Independent Writing
Grades encourage students to learn.

12.8
Integrated Writing
Reading: Commercials are no longer attractive. And the businesses use buzzer for advertising.
The bad effects include:
1. The customers are harmed as they lose the truth.
2. It is harmful to the society.
3. The trust between people is lost.
Listening: A buzzer is invited to give a lecture at the marketing class of a business school. He
refutes the ideas in the passage from the following aspects:
1. Customers have not lost the truth about the products as the buzzers who have really used them
and know the good things would tell them the truth.
2. Customers are not harmed, but would receive the help from buzzers.
3. In fact bussers let everybody help each other to use good products, and the communications is
making the world better.
Independent Writing
Is it better to learn general subjects or specialize in a specific subject?
12.10
Integrated Writing
Reading: Three reasons for the development from mills to factories:
1. The emergence of new technologies.
2. Stronger protection of property right.
3. The reduction of transportation cost and the overall cost.
Listening: The three reasons are wrong.
1. Machines used at the beginning of industrialization were simple.

2. Netherlands was doing a great job protecting property rights, but factories did not first emerge
there.
3. Transportation cost was reduced, but other costs increased, such as the cost of factory
construction and management.
Independent Writing
It is more important to reserve land for human beings than for endangered animals.
12.15
Integrated Writing
Reading: There are fewer readers of literature now than before.
Listening: The books are too hard to understand. There are many forms of literature: TV, music,
video, and web pages.
Independent Writing
The Internet provides people with a lot of valuable information, but some people think it creates
problems. State your viewpoint and explain why.
12.16
Integrated Writing
Reading: Negative impact brought about by new species:
1. Imported species may do harm to the local ecosystem.
2. Imported species destroy the useful aspects of local species.
3. Imported species add to the local economic burden.

Listening:
1. Imported species do not always do harm to the local ecosystem, agriculture as an example.
2. Imported species do not always destroy the useful aspects of local species. It depends on local
circumstances. Toad imported by Florida as an example.
3. Imported species don't always add to the local economic burden. It depends on local
circumstances. Mesquites imported into Africa provide food and firewood.
Independent Writing
A smart friend is more important than a humorous one.
2007
1.13
Integrated Writing
Reading: some people believe the Chinese found America earlier than Columbus did. Reasons:
1. Roads built by humans wore found at the coast of the US, and there are marks similar to
Chinese characters.
2. A special anchor was found in the US. It features a special shape, and only the
Chinese use this type of anchor.
3. A specially shaped pagoda was found in the US. The architecture style is similar to the
Chinese style.
Listening:
1. Geographers claimed this type of road was formed naturally, not by humans.
2. The Chinese had used this anchor for a long lime, and it was possible that they had exchanged
this with foreign fleets.
3. This type of pagoda has also been found in England.

Independent Writing
Many teachers assign homework to students every day. Do you think that daily homework is
necessary for students? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
1.14
Integrated Writing
Reading: The Anasarzi people disappeared all of a sudden, possibly the result of a severe
drought. There are three pieces of evidence:
1. Global warming was taking place.
2. Something was wrong with the water supply system.
3. The disappearance was sudden, and drought was a common cause for the sudden
disappearance of tribes.
Listening: It is very likely that the disappearance was not caused by drought. Evidence:
1. Global warming was not really that severe.
2. The rings of the trees in the Surrounding area were not thin, indicating sufficient supply of
water.
3. Their water system succeeded in fighting against the previous drought, indicating it should be
capable of the following one; there were other possible causes for the sudden disappearance,
such was war, plague, and they might light against other tribes for water supply.
Independent Writing
Some people suggest that drivers should pay a fee to drive on roads, especially during the busiest
time period of traffic. What is your opinion?
1.19
Integrated Writing
Reading: Some scholars don't think Marco Polo had been to China. Reasons:
1. He is supposed to have been to China during the Yuan Dynasty, but he used Persian instead of
Chinese and Mongolian to record the names of a few places in China.
2. He never mentioned tea and tea chops that were very famous in China.
3. His name was not found in the palace records of the Yuan Dynasty.
Listening:
1. Persian was an official language of Mongolia.
2. Marco Polo only went to the northern part where the royal family was, whereas the tea culture
was popular in the south.
3. Marco Polo might have a Chinese name instead of his original. His name was not found
because now nobody knows what he was called then.
Independent Writing
Most people prefer others making decisions for them than making decisions for themselves.
1.27
Integrated Writing
Reading: The benefits of adding fluoride in public water include:
1. Preventing tooth decay.
2. Eliminating bacteria.
3. Decreasing bone diseases.

Listening:
1. Running water does not remain in the mouth and does not help with tooth decay, and there are
other possible sources of fluoride, such as tooth paste.
2. Fluoride may react with chemicals in the water pipe and poisonous substances that are more
harmful than bacteria may be created.
3. Too much fluoride may make the bones more brittle.
Independent Writing
In today's world, it is more important to speak well than to write well.
2.3
Integrated Writing
Reading: The uses of a lie detector include:
1. Eliminating cheating because it measures the brain activity and can accurately decide
whether the person is lying.
2. The results of a lie detector can be used as evidence in court.
3. The technical development of a lie detector can push forward the development of similar
technologies.
Listening: The shortcomings of a lie detector include:
1. Humans can change brain activity, such as by taking medication. This cannot be detected.
2. The results are not good enough as evidence in court because people sometimes are uncertain
when answering questions. The detector cannot tell uncertainty from true lying.
3. The development of other technologies might be bad. For example, businessmen or politicians
might need to deal with people they totally dislike, and might have to bide the true feelings and
behave politely. If the technologies reveal their true feelings, then nobody would be willing to
take on these types of job.
Independent Writing
People can learn more from watching television than reading books.
3.4
Integrated Writing
Reading: Shortcomings of farm fishing include:
1. Due to farming fish, wild fish are forced to small areas, and can easily have diseases.
2. Farmers feed the fish with mainly chemicals, bad to the health of the people who eat the
fish.
3. Farmers use fish meal made from wild fish to feed farm fish, using several kilos of fish
for one kilo's production of farm fish. It is a waste of resource, and leads to the reduction of
proteins in the ocean.
Listening: Advantages of farm fishing:
1. It is excessive commercial fishing, other than fish farming, that reduces the quantity of
fish. Farm fishing may reduce fishing, and so help the wild fish survive.
2. Beef and pork also •include chemicals. It is not fair to just say fish is bad to human
health. Compared to beef and pork, fish is more nutritious, and so beneficial to humans.
3. Fish used to feed farm fish are those kinds humans don't eat. It is making use of waste
and improves the efficiency of resource utilization. It is not right to say this reduces the total
quantity of food.
Independent Writing
The ability to cooperate with others is more important today than in the past.
3.10
Integrated Writing
Reading: Advantages of a speed camera:
1. Warning people to drive more safely.
2. Freeing police force patrolling the highway so that they can do other work.
3 Making courts' decision on ticket disputes more easily so as to relieve court congestion.
Listening: Disadvantages of a speed camera:
1. Drivers will slow down only when approaching a speed cameras but will drive dangerously
fast between two cameras.
2. Highway police cannot be replaced by speed cameras because they assume some other
important tasks such as catching improper lane changing or talking on cell phone when driving.
3. Speed cameras may often malfunction: they may encourage more drivers to dispute their
tickets so as to worsen the congestion of the court.
Independent Writing
Is it more important for a teacher to help students gain self-confidence or to teach them specific
knowledge? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
3.23
Integrated Writing
Reading:
1. Sulfides pollute the air and reduce the visibility.
2. Sulfides cause acid rains which damage crops.
3. They also harm the health of humans, causing breathing problems.
Listening:
1. Sulfides prevent sunlight from heating the earth and cool the earth.
2. Sulfur dioxide is not the main cause of acid rains. Nitrides are.
3. Sulfides are not the only factor that threatens human health. The professor feels the passage is
over exaggerating.
Independent Writing
It's better to watch serious movies that help people think than to watch movies that could amuse
and entertain people.
4.21
Integrated Writing
Reading: The burning of carbides has caused severe pollution, and so some suggest increasing
gas tax to reduce pollution. This is wrong in three ways:
1. This does not follow the economic principles because the price should be decided
according to the cost and the consumers' will.
2. This is not fair to those with low incomes. All consumers have to pay more money, but
this is more painful for the poor.
3. There are other alternative ways such as building more fuel-economic vehicles. This is
also beneficial to the competitiveness of the American automobile industry.
Listening: The gas tax is right. Reasons:
1. It follows the economic principles because it makes the price reflect cost more precisely. It
costs money to deal with pollution.
2. The government can make it fair to the poor as it lowers income tax when increase gas tax.
3. The gas tax forces automobile makers to produce more economic vehicles. Consumers would
not be willing to buy vehicles that consume too much fuel and so the makers are forced to make
more economic ones.
Independent Writing
Movies and televisions have more negative influence than positive influence on young people's
behavior.
4.29
Integrated Writing
Reading: Prescribed fire is used to prevent forest fires. It refers to burning the dry branches and
dead bushes in the forest every year. The passage does not support the idea from the following
aspects:
1. There are other ways such as disking.
2. It is difficult to coordinate. There are landscape and mountains to protect
3. It is costly and requires a lot of equipment.
Listening:
1. The land will be fertile after burning. Nutrition can get into the soil with water after the
burning of wood. This cannot result from disking.
2. The personnel are well trained and there will not be danger.
3. The cost is not much compared to that of forest fires.
Independent Writing
It is important to know every event happening around the world even if it is unlikely to have any
effect on your daily life.
Passages
Passage 1
Scientific Theories
In science, a theory is a reasonable explanation of observed events that are related. A theory
often involves an imaginary model that helps scientists picture the way an observed event could
be produced. A good example of this is found in the kinetic molecular theory, in which gases are
pictured as being made up of many small particles that are in constant motion.
A useful theory, in addition to explaining past observations, helps to predict events that have not
as yet been observed. After a theory has been publicized, scientists design experiments to test the
theory. If observations confirm the scientist's predictions, the theory is supported. If observations
do not confirm the predictions, the scientists must search further. There may be a fault in the
experiment, or the theory may have to be revised or rejected.
Science involves imagination and creative thinking as well as collecting information and
performing experiments. Facts by themselves are not science. As the mathematician Jules Henri
Poincare said, "Science is built with facts just as a house is built with bricks, but a collection of
facts cannot be called science any more than a pile of bricks can be called a house.”
Most scientists start an investigation by finding out what other scientists have learned about a
particular problem. After known facts have been gathered, the scientist comes to the part of the
investigation that requires considerable imagination. Possible solutions to the problem are
formulated. These possible solutions are called hypotheses.
In a way, any hypothesis is a leap into the unknown. It extends the scientist's thinking beyond the
known facts. The scientist plans experiments, performs calculations, and makes observations to
test hypotheses. Without hypothesis, further investigation lacks purpose and direction. When
hypotheses a.re confirmed, they are incorporated into theories.
Passage 2
Voice and Personality

A number of factors related to the voice reveal the personality of the speaker. The first is the
broad area of communication, which includes imparting information by use of language,
communicating with a group or an individual, and specialized communication through
performance. A person conveys thoughts and ideas through choice of words, by a tone of voice
that is pleasant or unpleasant, gentle or harsh, by the rhythm time is inherent within the language
itself, and by speech rhythms that are flowing and regular or uneven and hesitant, and finally, by
the pitch and melody of the utterance. When speaking before a group, a person's tone may
indicate unsureness or fright, confidence or calm. At interpersonal levels, the tone may reflect
ideas and feelings over and above the words chosen, or may belie them. Here the conversant's
tone can consciously or unconsciously reflect intuitive sympathy or antipathy, lack of concern or
interest, fatigue, anxiety, enthusiasm or excitement, all of which are usually discernible by the
acute listener. Public performance is a manner of communication that is highly specialized with
its own techniques for obtaining effects by voice and/or gesture. The motivation derived from the
text, and in the case of singing, the music, in combination with the performer's skills, personality,
and ability to create empathy will determine the success of artistic, political, or pedagogic
communication. Second, the voice gives psychological clues to a person's self-image, perception
of others, and emotional health. Self-image can be indicated by a tone of voice that is confident,
pretentious, shy, aggressive, outgoing, or exuberant, to name only a few personality traits. Also
the sound may give a clue to the facade or mask of that person, for example, a shy person hiding
behind an overconfident front. How a speaker perceives the listener's receptiveness, interest, or
sympathy in any given conversation can drastically alter the tone of presentation, by encouraging
or discouraging the speaker. Emotional health is evidenced in the voice by free and melodic
sounds of the happy, by constricted and harsh sound of the angry, and by dull and lethargic
qualities of the depressed.
Passage 3
The Beginning of Drama

There are many theories about the beginning of drama in ancient Greece. The one most widely
accepted today is based on the assumption that drama evolved from ritual. The argument for this
view goes as follows. In the beginning, human beings viewed the natural forces of the world,
even the seasonal changes, as unpredictable, and they sought through various means, to control
these unknown and feared powers. Those measures which appeared to bring the desired results
were then retained and repeated until they hardened into fixed rituals. Eventually stories arose
which explained or veiled the mysteries of the rites. As time passed some rituals were
abandoned, but the stories, later called myths, persisted and provided material for art and drama.
Those who believe that drama evolved out of ritual also argue that those rites contained the seed
of theater because music, dance, masks, and costumes were almost always used. Furthermore, a
suitable site had to be provided for performances, and when the entire community did not
participate, a clear division was usually made between the "acting area" and the "auditorium". In
addition, there were performers, and since considerable importance was attached to avoiding
mistakes in the enactment of rites, religious leaders usually assumed that task. Wearing masks
and costumes, they often impersonated other people, animals, or supernatural beings, and mimed
the desired effect-success in hunt or battle, the coming rain, the revival of the Sun - as an actor
might. Eventually such dramatic representations were separated from religious activities.
Another theory traces the theater's origin from the human interest in storytelling. According to
this view, tales (about the hunt, war, or other feats) are gradually elaborated, at first through the
use of impersonation, action, and dialogue by a narrator and then through the assumption of each
of the roles by a different person. A closely related theory traces theater to those dances that are
primarily rhythmical and gymnastic or that are imitations of animal movements and sounds.
Passage 4
Education vs. Schooling

It is commonly believed In United States that school is where people go to get an education.
Nevertheless, it has been said that today children interrupt their education to go to school. The
distinction between schooling and education implied by this remark is important.
Education is much more open-ended and all-inclusive than schooling. Education knows no
bounds. It can take place anywhere, whether in the shower or in the job, whether in a kitchen or
on a tractor. It includes both the formal learning that takes place in schools and the whole
universe of informal learning. The agents of education can range from a revered grandparent to
the people debating politics on the radio, from a child to a distinguished scientist. Whereas
schooling has a certain predictability, education quite often produces surprises. A chance
conversation with a stranger may lead a person to discover how little is known of other religions.
People are engaged in education from infancy on. Education, then, is a very broad, inclusive
term. It is a lifelong process, a process that starts long before the start of school, and one that
should be on integral part of one's entire life.
Schooling, on the other hand, is a specific, formalized process, whose general pattern varies little
from one setting to the next. Throughout a country, children arrive at school at approximately the
same time, take assigned seats, are taught by an adult, use similar textbooks, do homework, take
exams, and so on. The slices of reality that are to be learned, whether they are the alphabet or an
understanding of the working of government, have usually been limited by the boundaries of the
subject being taught. For example, high school students know that they not likely to find out in
their classes the truth about political problems in their communities or what the newest
filmmakers are experimenting with. There are definite conditions surrounding the formalized
process of schooling.
Passage 5
Folk Culture vs. Popular Culture

A folk culture is small, isolated, cohesive, conservative, nearly self-sufficient group that is
homogeneous in custom and race, with a strong family or clan structure and highly developed
rituals. Order is maintained through sanctions based in the religion or family, and interpersonal
relationships are strong. Tradition is paramount, and change comes infrequently and slowly.
There is relatively little division of labor into specialized duties. Rather, each person is expected
to perform a great variety of tasks, though duties may differ between the sexes. Most goods are
handmade, and a subsistence economy prevails. Individualism is weakly developed in folk
cultures, as are social classes. Unaltered folk cultures no longer exist in industrialized countries
such as the United States and Canada. Perhaps the nearest modern-equivalent in Anglo- America
is the Amish, a German American farming sect that largely renounces the products and labor
saving device of the Industrial age. In Amish areas, horse-drawn buggies still serve as a local
transportation device, and the faithful are not permitted to own automobiles. The Amish's central
religious concept of Demut, "humility", clearly reflects the weakness of individualism and social
class so typical of folk cultures, and there is a corresponding strength of Amish group identity.
Rarely do the Amish marry outside their sect. The religion, a variety of the Mennonite faith,
provides the principal mechanism for maintaining order.
By contrast, a popular culture is a large heterogeneous group, often highly individualistic and
constantly changing. Relationships tend to be impersonal, and a pronounced division of labor
exists, leading to the establishment of many specialized professions. Secular institutions of
control such as the police and army take the place of religion and family in maintaining order,
and a money-based economy prevails. Because of these contrasts, "popular" may be viewed as
clearly different from "folk". The popular is replacing the folk in industrialized countries and in
many developing nations. Folk-made objects give way to their popular equivalent , usually
because the popular item is more quickly or cheaply produced, is easier or time saving to use, or
lends more prestige to the owner.
Passage 6
To Lie or Not to Lie

-The Doctor's Dilemma
Should doctors ever lie to benefit their patients - to speed recovery or to conceal the approach of
death?
Sissela Bok
Should doctors ever lie to benefit their patients - to speed recovery or to conceal the approach of
death? In medicine as in law, government, and other lines of work, the requirements of honesty
often seem dwarfed by greater needs: the need to shelter from brutal news or to uphold a promise
of secrecy; to expose corruption or promote the public interest.
What should doctors say, for example, to a 46-year-old man coming in for a routine physical
checkup just before going on vacation with his family who, thought be feels in perfect health, is
found to have a form of cancer that will cause h.im to die within six months? Is it best to tell him
the truth? If he asks, should the doctors deny that he is ill, or minimize the gravity of the illness?
Should they at least conceal the truth until after the family vacation?
Doctors confront such choices often and urgently. At times, they see important reasons to lie for
the patient’s own sake; in their eyes, such lies differ from self-serving ones.
Studi.es show that most doctors sincerely believe that the seriously ill do not want to know the
truth about their condition, and that informing them risks destroying their hope, so that they
recover more slowly, or deteriorate faster, perhaps even commit suicide. As one physician wrote:
"Ours is a profession which traditionally has been guided by a precept that transcends the virtue
of uttering the truth for truth's sake, and 'as far as possible do no harm '."
Armed with such a precept , a number of doctors may slip into deceptive practices that they
assume will ''do no harm " and they may well help the.ir patients. They may prescribe
innumerable placebos, sound more encouraging than the facts warrant, and distort grave news,
especially to the incurably ill and the dying.
But the illusory nature of the benefits such deception is meant to produce is now coming to be
documented. Studies show that, contrary to the belief of many physicians, an overwhelming
majority of patients do want to be told the truth, even about grave illness, and feel betrayed when
they learn that they have been misled. We are also learning that truthful information, humanely
conveyed, helps patients cope with illness: helps them tolerate pain better, needless medicine,
and even recover faster after surgery.
Not only do lies provide the “help" hoped for by advocates of benevolent deception; they
invade the autonomy of patients and render them unable to make informed choices concerning
their own health, including the choice of whether to be a patient in the first place. We are
becoming increasingly aware of all that can befall patients in the course of their illness when
information is denied or distorted.
Dying patients especially - who are easiest to mislead and most often kept in the dark - can then
not make decisions about the end of life: about whether or not they should enter a hospital, or
have surgery; about where and with whom they should spend their remaining time; about how
they should bring their affairs to a close and take leave.
Lies also do harm to those who tell them: harm to their integrity and, in the long run, to their
credibility. Lies hurt their colleagues as well. The suspicion of deceit undercuts the work of the
many doctors who are scrupulously honest with their patients; it contributes to the spiral of
lawsuits and of "defensive medicine", and thus it injures, in turn, the entire medical profession.
Sharp conflicts are now arising. Patients are learning to press for answers. Patients' bills of rights
require that they be informed about their condition and about alternatives for treatment. Many
doctors go to great lengths to provide such information. Yet even in hospital with the most
eloquent bill of rights, believers in benevolent deception continue their age-old practices.
Colleagues may disapprove but refrain from objecting. Nurses may bitterly resent having to take
part, day after day, in deceiving patients, but feel powerless to take a stand.
There is urgent need to debate this issue openly. Not only in medicine, but in other professions as
well, practitioners may find themselves repeatedly in difficulty where serious consequences seem
avoidable only through deception. Yet the public has every reason to be wary of professional
deception, for such practices are peculiarly likely to become deeply rooted, to spread, and to
erode trust. Neither in medicine, nor in law, government, or the social sciences can there be
comfort in the old saying, "What you don't know can't hurt you."
Passage 7
Love, Knowledge, and Pity
Bertrand Russell
Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love,
the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. These passions, like
great winds, have blown me hither and thither, in a wayward course, over a deep ocean of
anguish, reaching to the very verge of despair.
I have sought love, first, because it brings ecstasy-ecstasy so great that I would often have
sacrificed all the rest of life for a few hours of this joy. I have sought it, next, because it relieves
loneliness - that terrible loneliness in which one shivering consciousness looks over the rim of
the world into the cold unfathomable lifeless abyss. I have sought it, finally, because in the union
of love I have seen, in a mystic miniature, the prefiguring vision of the heaven that saints and
poets have imagined. This is what I sought, and though it might seem too good for human life,
this is what - at last - I have found.
With equal passion I have sought knowledge. I have wished to understand the hearts of men. I
have wished to know why the stars shine. And I have tried to apprehend the Pythagorean power
by witch number holds sway above the flux. A little of this, but not much, I have achieved.
Love and knowledge, so far as they were possible, led upward toward the heavens. But always
pity brought me back to earth. Echoes of cries of pain reverberate in my heart. Children in
famine, victims tortured by oppressors, helpless old people a hated burden to their sons, and the
whole world of loneliness, poverty, and pain make a mockery of what human life should be. I
long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot, and I too suffer.
This has been my life. I have found it worth living, and would gladly live it again if the chance
were offered me.
Passage 8
Our Pursuit of Happiness
Lynn Peters
On pondering over the meaning of happiness, I recall a whimsical dialogue I once had with my
brother, Ian. When I asked him about the last time be felt happy, he quickly quipped, "April,
1967".
It served me right for asking a serious question to someone who deems life a joke, but Ian's
answer reminded me that when we think about happiness, we usually visualize something
extraordinary, a pinnacle of sheer delight - and those pinnacles become rarer the older we get.
For a child, happiness has a magical quality. I remember making hide-outs in newly cut hay,
playing cops and robbers in the woods, and getting a narration part in the school play. Of course,
kids also experience lows, but their delight of pleasure such as winning a race, or getting a new
bike is unreserved.
In the teen-age years the concept of happiness changes, and suddenly happiness is conditional on
such things as excitement, love, popularity end whether that zit will vanish before prom night. I
still feel twinges of agony over not being invited to a party to which many were given
invitations, but I also recall the ecstasy of being plucked from obscurity at another event to dance
with a John Travolta look-alike.
In adulthood the things that bring profound Joy - birth, love, marriage - also bring responsibility
and the risk of loss. Love may not last and loved ones die. For adults, happiness seems
complicated.
My dictionary identifies happy with "lucky" or ''fortunate", but I think a better definition of
happiness is "the capacity for enjoyment". The more we can enjoy what we have, the happier we
are. It is easy to overlook the pleasure we get from loving and being loved, the company of
friends, the freedom to reside where we please, and even good health. Psychologists tell us that
to be happy we need a blend of enjoyable leisure time and satisfying work, but I doubt that my
great-grandmother, who raised 14 children and took in washing, had much of either. She did
have a network of close friends and family, and perhaps this is what fulfilled her. Her life was
long, and difficult by my standards, but she remained positive and cheerful until she died. If she
was happy with what she bad, maybe it was because she had no lofty expectations of what her
life should be like.
We, on the other hand, with so many choices and such stultifying pressure to succeed, have
mutated happiness into one more ''necessity". We are so self-conscious about our "right'' to
happiness that this "presumed right'' is making us miserable. So, we chase it and equate
happiness with wealth and glory, never noticing that the people who possess those things are not
necessarily happier, and that those who possess nothing are more charitable and peaceful than
the rich.
While happiness may be more complex for adults, the solution is the same as ever: happiness is
not about what happens to us - it is about how we perceive what happens to us. And the
perception is the knack of finding a positive for every negative and viewing a setback as a
challenge. Happiness is not wishing for what we do not have, but enjoying what we do possess.
At its core, happiness is simple, but it is difficult to consistently achieve.
Passage9
What Makes a leader
Michael Korda
Not every President is a leader, but every time we elect a President we hope for one. Leadership
is as much a question of timing as anything else, because a leader must appear at a moment when
people are clamoring for leadership. Great leaders dispel argument and debate while offering
unpretentious solutions.
We have an image of what a leader ought to be, and we even recognize the physical signs:
bigger-than-life, commanding features – LBJ’s nose and ear lobes, Ike's broad grin. A trademark
also comes in handy: Lincoln's stovepipe hat, JFK's rocker. We expect our leaders to stand out a
little, not to be like ordinary men.
It also helps for a leader to be able to do something most of us can't: FDR overcame polio. We
don't want our leaders to be "just like us." We want them to be like us but better, special. Yet
if they are radically different, we reject them: Adlai Stevenson was overly cerebral; Nelson
Rockefeller, too rich.
A leader must know how to properly wield power (that’s what leadership is about), and he must
project firmness. A Chinese philosopher once remarked that a leader must have the grace of a
good dancer, and there is a great deal of wisdom to this, for a leader should know how to appear
relaxed and confident. His walk should be firm and purposeful, and he should be able, like
Lincoln, FDR, Truman, like and JDF, to give a good, boisterous, belly laugh. Instead of the
sickly grin that passed for good humor in Nixon or Carter. Ronald Reagan's training as an actor
came in handy during his debates with Carter, when by his nonchalant manner and apparent
affability; he conveyed the impression that in fact he was the President and Carter the challenger.
If we know what we're looking for, why is it too difficult to find? The answer lies in a very
simple truth about leadership: people can only he led where they want to go. Americans wanted
to climb out of the Depression and needed someone to tell them they could do it, FDR did. The
British believed they could still be victorious after the defeats of 1940, and Churchill told them
they were right.
A great leader must have a certain irrational quality, a stubborn refusal to face facts and the
ability to convince us that all is not lost even when we're forlorn. Confucius suggested that, while
the advisers of a great leader should be as cold as ice, the leader himself should have fire, a spark
of divine madness.
Above all, be must dignify our desires and allot us a sense of personal glory. Winston Churchill
managed, by sheer rhetoric, to turn the British defeat and evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940 into a
major victory. FDR's words transformed the crippling of the American fleet at Pearl Harbor into
8 national rallying cry instead of 8 humiliating national scandal. A leader must stir our blood, not
appeal to our reason.
He won't arrive until we're ready for him, for the leader is a mirror, reflecting back to us our own
sense of purpose. Our strength makes him strong; our determination makes him resolute; our
courage makes him a hero. And when these qualities are ineffectual in us, we can't produce him,
and even with all our skill at image building, we can't fake him. He is after all, merely the sum of
us.
Passage 10
Can We Make Garbage Disappear?
Ivan Amato
Whoever said "waste not, want not” hasn't had much influence on 276 million Americans. In one
year they gave a collective heave-ho to more than 195 billion kg of garbage. And that's just the
relatively benign municipal solid waste. Each year American industries belch, pump and dump
more than 1.1 billion kg of really nasty stuff into the air, water and ground, which is about 400
Olympic poolfuls of toxic waste.
The really bad news is that most of the planet's 6 billion people are just beginning to follow in
the trash-filled footsteps of the U.S. and the rest of the developed world. "Either we need to
control ourselves or nature will," says Gary Liss of Loomis, Calif., a veteran of recycling and
solid-waste programs. As he sees it, garbage-maybe every last pound of it-needs to become a vile
thing of the past.
That may seem impossible, but it's not unprecedented. In nature, Liss points out, there is no such
thing as waste. What dies or is discarded from one part of an ecosystem nourishes another part.
Liss says humanity can emulate nature's garbage-free ways, but it will require innovative
technology and a big change in attitude.
We can get a glimpse of a Jess profligate future in Kalundborg, Denmark. There, an unusual
place called an "eco-industrial park" shows how much can be gained by recycling and resource
sharing. Within the park, companies share in the production and use of steam, gas and cooling
water. Excess heat warms nearby homes and agricultural greenhouses .One Company’s waste
becomes another's resource. A power plant, for example, sells the sulfur dioxide it scrubs from
its smokestacks to a wallboard company, which uses the compound as a raw material. Dozens of
these eco-industrial parks are being developed all over the world.
Biotechnology is giving us additional tools to cope with waste-and turn it to our advantage. We
now have microbes that can take toxic substances in contaminated soil or sludge-including
organic solvents and industrial oils - and convert them into harmless by - products. Consider all
that stalk, or stover, that every corn plant grows along with its kernels. Scientists are working
toward engineering corn plants with the kind of fiber content that paper companies would find
attractive. So long as the genetic tinkering poses no ecological threat, that approach could tap
into a huge stream of agricultural waste, turning some of it into an industrial ingredient.
In consumer markets, recycling has already spawned an army of alchemists. Jackets are being
made from discarded plastic bottles, briefcases from worn-out tires and belts from beer-bottle
caps. Even though the US has barely begun to get serious about recycling, about 25% of its 195
billion kg of municipal garbage is now salvaged, at least temporarily, for some sort of second
life.
But technology is not enough. Just as critical are changes in attitudes and life-styles. Our move
from the industrial age to the information age could help enormously, in that technologies
consuming fewer resources may perpetuate a new definition of "quality of life". Maybe we’ll
start placing less value on things that use lots of materials - like three cars in the family driveway
- and more on things that don't swallow up resources - like telecommuting and surfing the
internet.
One person's garbage is another's treasure. When that attitude goes global, the human beings of
the third millennium may be able to look back on their former garbage - producing ways as n
forgivable error of their youth as a species.
Passage 11
The Future of Medicine

Scientific medicine has a special pull on our imaginations. Like religion, it embraces our pain
and our fears, and assures us that things can be better. And for all its missteps, it often fulfills its
promise. You need only look back 20 years to see a world in which HIV/AIDS was essentially
untreatable, depression went largely untreated and the U.S. death rate from heart disease was a
third higher than it is today. Science has sparked transformations in each of those realms and
now stands on the verge of even greater ones. As the stories in this edition make clear, the
prospects for improving human health have rarely been so bright. Yet even as we hurtle toward
personalized prescriptions, stem-cell therapies and silver-bullet cancer drugs, the bedrock
challenges of making medicine safe, affordable and accessible loom as large as ever.
What breakthroughs could the new century bring? For cancer patients, the excitement centers on
a new generation of treatments designed not for massive conquest but for narrowly targeted
strikes against tumor cells. Targeted therapy is an emerging ideal in psychiatry as well.
Researchers are working to devise different treatments for different subtypes of depression - a
trend that could help millions who get no relief from Prozac and its cousins - and applying the
same principle to other afflictions as well. As science reveals more about the chemistry of mental
function, diseases ranging from addiction to Alzheimer's could become as manageable as high
blood pressure. With luck, several drugs that target the underlying mechanisms of Alzheimer's
disease could reach the clinic before the first baby boomer turns 70.
That's just the beginning. The mapping of the human genome has set the stage for an era in
which doctors use gene tests to determine which patients a.re most likely to benefit from a
particular treatment or lifestyle regimen. And researchers are now working their way - from the
genome to the proteome - the vast array of biologically active protein molecules encoded by our
DNA. Proteins are the microscopic workhorses behind everything from respiration to cogitation.
By cataloging the 100,000 or so proteins that human genes produce, and pinpointing their
functions, researchers will gain a surfeit of targets for drug molecules. And if the new art of
therapeutic cloning fulfills its early promise, embryonic stem cells may someday help our ailing
bodies produce whatever proteins they lack. The approach is still years from clinical use but the
tools are evolving fast. In an experiment reported this spring, South Korean researchers used
DNA from ordinary skin cells to produce illness of embryonic stem cells - each one genetically
matched to its donor and theoretically capable of producing anything from insulin to dopamine.
The possibilities are endlessly seductive. But technological progress is not a complete recipe for
better health, and there is real danger in equating newer with better. America has built the world's
highest-tech medical system, yet the nation ranks 46th in life expectancy (behind Japan,
Singapore, Canada and virtually all Europe and Scandinavia). And 41 countries, including Cuba,
have achieved lower rates of infant mortality. "Without system wide health-care reform," says
Dr. Henry E. Simmons of the non-partisan National Coalition on Health Care, "we're missing
massive opportunities to create a healthier population.”
New treatments can advance that cause, but they're only as good as our ability to manage them.
Amid all the public debate over the ethics of stern-cell research, for example, there are safety
issues to think about, too. Materials that originate in people or animals can spread everything
from infections to malignancy, even when handled with some care. And as the British Medical
Journal cautioned recently, stem-cell companies are now "springing up around the world with all
the fervor of a now dotcom era". Costs are exploding, meanwhile, as technology expands and the
population ages. Some 15 percent of the U.S. economy is now devoted to medical care, up from
10 percent in1987. And America's uninsured population ( 45 million at last count) is growing in
lock step with total expenditures. It doesn't take an expert to see where that trend leads. The
Institute of Medicine estimates that 18,000 Americans now die every year for lack of health
coverage.
What is a person to do? The forces shaping the health system are far beyond our reach as
individuals, but those shaping our own well-being are not. Even as scientists explore the frontiers
of biomedicine, they keep confirming the truism that health is easier to preserve than it is to
repair. Wonder drugs aside, most of us can still achieve longer, better lives by exercising, eating
well and managing our weight. In other words, medical science can light the path to optimal
health. Walking it is still up to us.
Passage 12
We've Got Mail Always
Andrew Leonard
Is e-mail o blessing or a curse?
E-mail is convenient, saves time, brings us closer to one another, and helps us manage our ever-
more-complex lives. Books are written, campaigns conducted, crimes committed all via e-mail.
But it is also inconvenient, wastes our time, isolates us in front of our computers and introduces
more complexity into our already too-harried lives. To skeptics, e-mail is just the latest chapter
in the evolving history of human communication.
Yet e-mail and all online communication is in fact something truly different; it captures the
essence of life at the close of the 20th century with an authority that few other products or digital
technology can claim. Does the pace of life seem ever faster? E-mail simultaneously allows us to
cope with that acceleration and contributes to it. Are our attention spans shriveling under
barrages of new, improved forms of stimulation? E-mail is made to order for those whose ability
to concentrate is measured in nanoseconds. If we accept that the creation of the globe-spanning
Internet is one of the most important technological innovations of the last half of this century,
then we must give e-mail - the living embodiment of human connection across the Net pride of
place. The way we interact with each other is changing; e-mail is both the catalyst and the
instrument of that change.
Online communication offers new possibilities for transcending physical limitations, how as
simple a thing as e-mail could bring us closer to those whom we love.
It may even help us find those whom we want to love In the first place. Jenn Shreve is a
freelance writer in the San Francisco Bay Area who keeps a close eye on the emerging culture of
the new online generation. For the last couple of years, she's seen what she considers to be a
positive change in online dating habits. E-mail, she argues, encourages the shy. “It offers a semi-
risk-free environment to initiate romance," says Shreve. "Because it lacks the immediate threat of
physical rejection, people who are perhaps shy or had painful romantic failures in the past can
use the internet as a way to build a relationship in the early romantic stages."
E-mail also flattens hierarchies within the bounds of an office. It is far easier, Shrever notes, to
make a suggestion to your superiors and colleagues via e-mail than it is to do so in a pressure-
filled meeting room. Any time when you have something that is difficult to say, e-mail can make
it easier, she says. "It serves as a buffer zone."
Of course, e-mail's uses as a social lubricant can be taken to extremes. There is little point in
denying the obvious dark side to the lack of self-constraint encouraged by e-mail. Purveyors of
pornography rarely call us on the phone and suggest out loud that we check out some "hot teen
action”. But they don't think twice about jamming our e-mail boxes full of outrageously prurient
advertisements. People who would never insult us face to face will spew the vilest, most
objectionable, most appalling rhetoric imaginable via e-mail or an instant message, or in the no-
holds-barred confines of a chat room.
Cyberspace's lapses in gentility underscore a central contradiction inherent in online

communication. lf it is true that hours spent on the Net are often hours subtracted from watching
television, one could argue that the digital era has raised the curtain on a new age of literacy -
more people are writing more words than ever before! But what kind of words are we writing?
Are we really more Literate, or are we sliding ever faster into a quicksand of meaningless
irrelevance, of pop-cultural triviality - expressed, usually, in lowercase letters - run amok? E-
mail is actually too easy, too casual. Gone are the days when one would worry over a teller to a
lover, a relative or a colleague. Now there's just time for that quick e-mail, a few hastily cobbled
together thoughts written in a colloquial style that usually borders on unedited stream of
consciousness. The danger is obvious: snippy comments to a friend, overly sharp retorts to one's
boss, insults mistakenly sent to the target, not the intended audience. E-mail allows us to act
before we can think-the perfect tool for a culture of hyper stimulation.
E-mail, ultimately, is a fragile thing, easy to forge, easy to corrupt, easy to destroy. A few weeks
ago a co-worker of mine accidentally and irretrievably wiped out 1,500 of his own saved
messages. For a person who conducts the bulk of his life online, such a digital tragedy is akin to
erasing part of your own memory. Suddenly, nothing's left.
Still, e-mail is enabling radically new forms of worldwide human collaboration. Those 225
million people who can send and receive it represent a network of potentially cooperating
individuals dwarfing anything that even the mightiest corporation or government can muster.
Mailing-list discussion groups and online conferencing allow us to gather together to work on a
multitude of projects that are interesting or helpful to us to pool our collective efforts in a fashion
never before possible.
Meanwhile, now that we are all connected, day and night, across time zones and oceans and
corporate firewalls, we are beginning to lose sight of the distinction between what is work and
what is play.
E-mail doesn't just collapse distance, it demolishes all boundaries. And that can be, depending on
the moment, either a blessing or a curse.
Passage 13
The Hidden Face of Beauty

Beauty is a curious phenomenon, one of permeable, shifting boundaries. We may think we
understand it, since we sense it effortlessly. In fact, it is a bundle of mysteries researchers are still
uncovering.
Consider the ancient adage: beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Until about 30 years ago it
seemed too obvious for scientists to bother with. When they finally tested it, their results startled
them.
On the one hand, the maxim is false. Facial beauty is the same throughout the world. In every
tribe and culture, individuals will deem Sharon Stone, say, an attractive woman. It goes further.
Males can identify good-looking men, and females alluring women. Old and young, rich and
poor, learned and ignorant, all agree on who is beautiful. So do people of every class and
personality type.
We don't learn this response. We're born with it. In one recent study, babies just 20 hours old
recognized attractive faces and preferred them. So beauty is in our DNA. The eye of the beholder
doesn't matter.
On the other hand, and this is where it gets interesting, the facial shell is just the foundation of
beauty. We see the shell in the face, every day, all the time, and we can't distinguish the two.
This blurring means that we gift the attractive with panoply of virtues. They seem more
competent, likeable, happier, blessed with better lives and personalities. In one experiment,
people predicted happier marriages and better jobs for them, and rated them lower on only one
count: their caliber as parents. Another study, found people consider them more amiable, happy,
flexible, pleasure seeking, serious, candid, outspoken, perceptive, confident, assertive, curious
and active. They exert more control over their destiny; subjects fell, while the homely endure the
world's caprice.
It is called the "beautiful-is-good'' stereotype, and it grants the attractive a parade of boons.
Teachers deem them smarter and give them higher grades. Bosses promote them faster. On one
tale in The Thousand and One Nights, a thief steals a coin-bag, and when the victim accuses him,
people protest: "No. he's such a handsome youth. He wouldn't steal anything!" In fact, attractive
people can shoplift with greater ease, since witnesses are less likely to report them. And when
they do stand before the court, juries acquit them more readily and judges give thorn lighter
penalties.
So are attractive people just the lucky recipients of largesse or do they inhabit a higher plane? In
fact, they do score higher on some scales. Studies show they are more socially skilled, better
adjusted, less shy and less socially anxious. They are also less lonely and more sexually
experienced. However, the stereotype is a mirage on several counts.
In one remarkable experiment, researchers wondered how judgments of beauty would change as
people got to know each other. So they brought a group of strangers together for an hour a day,
over four days. After each session, the subjects rated each other's looks. On the first day, they
relied mainly on facial contour, as expected. But by the second, factors like friendship had
become more important, and by the fourth they predominated. Likeability bred beauty.
Other qualities do, Loo. Prestige is one. To one study, people ranked individuals from high-status
countries as more attractive than those from low-status nations, and also believed good-looking
people were more likely to come from prestigious countries.
Voice, intelligence and familiarity all affect beauty. We see the self-more plainly on video and,
intriguingly, subjects not only rate faces on video as more beautiful than those in photos, but they
disagree about them more. Indeed, the very expressiveness of the face - its merriment,
disappointment, trembling hope-affects our judgment of its beauty, and we find expressive faces
more alluring. Scientists are careful to use the term "physically attractive" because people are
"attractive" in all kinds of ways.
Indeed, nobody loves just a face. Consider identical twins, whose faces are often hard to
distinguish. In one study, researchers asked the fiancés of identical twins to rate the other twin.
Though 39 % said they liked the other one, 30% said they didn't. Only 10% said they "could
have fallen for" the other twin.
Beauty is a deep aurora. It makes genetic sense. If the genes restricted our sense of beauty to
facial contour, we would consider a crass, selfish, grating person just as attractive as his kind and
thoughtful twin. Yet such a person would make a poor parent and raise fewer children. A person
who is kind to others will likely be loving and considerate to offspring. And indeed a majority of
both sexes rate kindness as more important than looks in a spouse.
So love, and fooling loved, can create beauty out of nothing. When Rochester half-jokingly asks
Jane Eyre to give him a potion that will make him a handsome man, she responds, "’It would be
past the power of magic, sir'; and in thought. I added. 'A loving eye is all the charm needed.’”
The morning after she accepts his proposal, she herself looks in the mirror and feels her face
"was no longer plain: there was hope in its aspect and life."
Many people today worry about the role of physical beauty, and indeed our television culture has
grossly exaggerated its importance. Television shows surfaces, often briefly. We see a model in
an advert for 15 seconds, so she remains an utter stranger. Television bas thus intensified
demand for contour virtues. All the same time, we see more beautiful faces than ever before, and
people can't help comparing themselves to these professionals. They are less satisfied with
themselves and feel they have more to live up to.
The ultimate question, of course, is whether looks bestow happiness. In 1995, a team of
researchers tried to answer the question. They probed the "subjective well-being" of attractive
and unattractive students, defining it as a mix of life satisfaction. They found that good looks
correlated only slightly with well-being and self-esteem. But while beauty may not be bliss, the
beautiful-is-good finding is extremely robust, replicated endlessly and beyond doubt. Most
movie heroes and heroines are better looking than the villains. And studies indicate that people
view the ugly as more likely to accept bribes, to have epilepsy and to be politically radical. It is
an unpleasant stereotype and can be devastating when it turns in on itself.
Passage 14
Quality and Function of Satire

Perhaps the most striking quality of satiric literature is its freshness, its originality of perspective.
Satire rarely offers original ideas. Instead it presents the familiar in a new form. Satirists do not
offer the world new philosophies. What they do is look at familiar conditions from a perspective
that makes these conditions seem foolish, harmful or affected. Satire jars us out of complacence
into a pleasantly shocked realization that many of the values we unquestioningly accept are false.
Don Quixote makes chivalry seem absurd, Brave New World ridicules the pretensions of
science, A Modest Proposal dramatizes starvation by advocating cannibalism. None of these
ideas is original. Chivalry was suspect before Cervantes, humanists objected to the claims of
pure science before Aldous Huxley and people were aware of famine before Swift. It was not the
originality of the idea that made these satires popular. It was the manner of expression the satiric
method that made them interesting and entertaining. Satires are read because they are
aesthetically satisfying works of art, not because they are morally wholesome or ethically
instructive. They are stimulating and refreshing because with commonsense briskness they brush
away illusions and secondhand opinions. With spontaneous irreverence, satire rearranges
perspectives, scrambles familiar objects into incongruous juxtaposition and speaks in a personal
idiom instead of abstract platitude.
Satire exists because there is need for it. It has lived because readers appreciate a refreshing
stimulus, an irreverent reminder that they lived in a world of platitudinous thinking, cheap
moralizing, and foolish philosophy. Satire serves to prod people into an awareness of truth
though rarely to any action on behalf of truth. Satire tends to remind people that much of what
they see, hear, and read in popular media is sanctimonious, sentimental, and only partially true.
Life resembles in only a slight degree the popular image of it. Soldiers rarely bold the ideals that
movies attribute to them, nor do ordinary citizens devote their lives to unselfish service of
humanity. Intelligent people know these things but tend to forgot them when they do not hear
them expressed.
Passage 15
The Nobel Academy

For the last 82 years, Sweden's Nobel Academy has decided who will receive the Nobel Prize in
Literature, thereby determining who will be elevated from the great and the near great to the
immortal. But today the Academy is coming under heavy criticism both from the without and
from within. Critics contend that the selection of the winners often has less to do with true
writing ability than with the peculiar internal politics of the Academy and of Sweden Itself.
According to Ingmar Bjorksten, the cultural editor for one of the country's two major
newspapers, the prize continues to represent "what people call a very Swedish exercise:
reflecting Swedish tastes".
The Academy has defended itself against such charges of provincialism in its selection by
asserting that its physical distance from the great literary capitals of the world actually serves to
protect the Academy from outside influences. This may well be true, but critics respond that this
very distance may also be responsible for the Academy's inability to perceive accurately
authentic trends in the literary world.
Regardless of concerns over the selection process, however, it seems that the prize will continue
to survive both as an indicator of the literature that we most highly praise, and as an elusive goal
that writers seek. lf for no other reason, the prize will continue to be desirable for the financial
rewards that accompany it; not only is the cash prize itself considerable, but it also dramatically
increases sales of an author's books.
Passage 16
Children's Television
There has never been so much television for kids. Part of the reason is that serving the very
young is an especially lucrative and fast-growing business for Disney, Viacom and Time
Warner, three big media conglomerates. Equally, children's TV has never been so controversial.
Parents increasingly fear that, far from broadening their darlings' horizons, watching television
may lead to attention-deficit disorder and obesity.
As the quantity of children's TV has grown, so have parental worries about it, especially in
America and Britain. Baby Einstein is jokingly referred to as "baby crack": it entertains babies
and stops them crying, but is it safe at such a formative stage? An article this year in Pediatrics, a
journal, said that watching TV increases the risk of attention problems. Food adverts on TV are
also being blamed for obesity. In Britain, says me TV executive, the government is leaning
towards banning food ads at certain times of the day.
That would hurt revenues, so programmers are taking the threat seriously. In America,
Nickelodeon pulled itself off the air for three hours in October as a way to get its viewers to go
outside and play. All three big firms are now making shows that promote physical activity. But
the rapid growth of programming for children is likely to continue. However much parents worry
about its effects, they depend on the telly to give them a break from managing their kids. And at
least Sponge Bob Square Pants, Phil Diffy from Disney's "Phil of the Future" and Cartoon
Network's Atomic Belly ore more innocent companions for their children than the sexy, violent
characters that adults are addicted to.
Passage 17
Organic Food
Are organically grown foods the best food choices? The advantages claimed for such foods over
conventionally grown and marketed food products are now being debated. Advocates of organic
foods - a term whose meaning varies greatly - frequently proclaim that such products are safer
and more nutritious than others.
The growing interest of consumers in the safety and more nutritional quality of the typical North
American diet is a welcome development. However, much of this interest has been sparked by
sweeping claims that the food supply is unsafe or inadequate in meeting nutritional needs.
Although most of these claims are not supported by scientific evidence, the preponderance of
written material advancing such claims makes it difficult for the general public to separate fact
from fiction. As a result, claims that eating a diet consisting entirely of organically grown foods
prevents or cures disease or provides other benefits to health have become widely publicized and
form the basis for folklore.
Almost daily the public is besieged by claims for "no-aging" diets, new vitamins, and other
wonder foods. There are numerous unsubstantiated reports that natural vitamins are superior to
synthetic ones, that fertilized eggs are nutritionally superior to unfertilized eggs, that untreated
grains are better than fumigated grains and the like.
One thing that most organically grown food products seem to have in common is that they cost
more than conventionally grown foods. But in many cases consumers are misled if they believe
organic foods can maintain health and provide better nutritional quality than conventionally
grown foods. So there is real cause for concern if consumers, particularly those with limited
incomes, distrust the regular food and buy only expensive organic foods instead.
Passage 18
The Interrelationship of Science, Technology, and Industry

The interrelationship of science, technology, and industry is taken for granted today-summed up,
not altogether accurately, as "research and development." Yet historically this widespread faith
in the economic virtues of science is a relatively recent phenomenon, dating back in the United
States about 150 years, and in the Western world as a whole not over 300 years at most. Even in
this current era of large scale, intensive research and development, the interrelationships
involved in this process are frequently misunderstood. Until the canting of the Industrial
Revolution, science and technology evolved for the most part independently of each other. Then
as industrialization became increasingly complicated, the craft techniques of preindustrial society
gradually gave way to a technology based on the systematic application of scientific knowledge
and scientific methods. This changeover started slowly and progressed unevenly. Until late in the
nineteenth century, only a few industries could use scientific techniques or cared about using
them. The list expanded noticeably after 1870, but even then much of what passed for the
application of science was “engineering science" rather than basic science. Nevertheless, by the
middle of the nineteenth century, the rapid expansion of scientific knowledge and of public
awareness - if not understanding-of it had created a belief that the advance of science would in
some unspecified manner automatically generate economic benefits. The widespread and usually
uncritical acceptance of this thesis led in tum to the assumption that the application of science to
industrial purposes was a linear process, starting with fundamental science, than proceeding to
applied science or technology, and through them to industrial use. This is probably the most
common pattern, but it is not invariable. New areas of science have been opened up and
fundamental discoveries made as a result of attempts to solve a specific technical or economic
problem. Conversely, scientists who mainly do basic research also serve as consultants on
projects that apply research in practical ways. In sum, the science-technology-industry
relationship may now in several different ways, and the particular channel it will follow depends
on the individual situation. It may at times even be multidirectional.
Passage 19
Biological Diversity
Biological diversity has become widely recognized as a critical conservation issues only in the
past two decades. The rapid destruction of the tropical rain forests, which are the ecosystems
with the highest known species diversity on Earth, has awakened people to the importance and
fragility of biological diversity. The high rate of species extinctions in these environments is
jolting, but it is important to recognize the significance of biological diversity in all ecosystems.
As the human population continues to expand, it will negatively affect one after another of
Earth's ecosystems. In terrestrial ecosystems and in fringe marine ecosystems (such as wetlands),
the most common problem is habitat destruction. In most situations, the result is irreversible.
Now humans are beginning to destroy marine ecosystems through other types of activities, such
as disposal and run off of poisonous waste; in less than two centuries, by significantly reducing
the variety of species on Earth, they have unraveled eons of evolution and irrevocably redirected
its course.
Certainly, there have been periods in Earth's history when mass extinctions have occurred. The
extinction of the dinosaurs was caused by some physical event, either climatic or cosmic. There
have also been less dramatic extinctions, as when natural competition between species reached
an extreme conclusion. Only 0.01 percent of the species that have lived on Earth have survived
to the present, and it was largely chance that determined which species survived and which died
out.
However, nothing has over equaled the magnitude and speed with which the human species is
altering the physical and chemical world and demolishing the environment. In fact, there is wide
agreement that it is the rate of change humans are inflicting, even more than the changes
themselves that will lead to biological devastation. Use on Earth has continually been in flux as
slow physical and chemical changes have occurred on Earth, but life needs time to adapt-time for
migration and genetic adaptation within existing species and time for the proliferation of new
genetic material and new species that may be able to survive in new environments.
Passage20
A Personal Statement
This is an actual essay written by a college applicant to New York University in response to this
question:
In order for the Admissions staff or our college to get to know you, the applicant, better, we ask
that you answer the following question:
Are there any significant experiences you have had, or accomplishments you have realized, that
have helped to define you as a person?
I am a dynamic figure, often seen scaling walls and crushing ice. I have been known to remodel
train stations on my lunch breaks, making them more efficient in the area of heat retention. I
translate ethnic slurs for Cuban refugees, I write award- winning operas, I manage time
efficiently.
Occasionally, I tread water for three days in a row. I woo women with my sensuous and godlike
trombone playing. I can pilot bicycles up severe inclines with unflagging speed, and I cook
Thirty-Minute Brownies in twenty minutes. I am an expert in stucco, a veteran in love, and an
outlaw in Peru.
Using only a hoe and a large glass of water, I once single-handedly defended a small village in
the Amazon Basin from a horde of ferocious army ants. I play bluegrass cello, I was scouted by
the Mets, I am the subject of numerous documentaries. When I'm bored, I build large suspension
bridges in my yard. I enjoy urban hang gliding. On Wednesdays, after school, I repair electrical
appliances free of charge.
I am an abstract artist, a concrete analyst, and a ruthless bookie. Critics worldwide swoon over
my original line of corduroy evening wear. I don't perspire. I am a private citizen, yet I receive
fan mail. I have been caller number nine and have won the weekend passes. Last summer I
toured New Jersey with a traveling centrifugal-force demonstration. I bat 400.
My deft floral arrangements have earned me fame in international botany circles. Children trust
me. I can burl tennis rackets at small moving objects with deadly accuracy. I once read Paradise
Lost, Moby Dick, and David Copperfield in one day and still had time to refurbish an entire
dining room that evening. I know the exact location of every food item in the supermarket. I
have performed several covert operations with the CIA.
I sleep once a week; when I do sleep, I sleep in a chair. While on vacation in Canada, I
successfully negotiated with a group of terrorists who had seized a small bakery, I balance, I
weave, I dodge, I frolic, and my bills are all paid.
On weekends, to let off steam, I participate in full-contact origami. Years ago I discovered the
meaning of life but forgot to write it down. I have made extraordinary four course meals using
only a mouli and a toaster oven. I breed prize-winning clams. I have won bullfights in Son Juan,
cliff-diving competitions in Sri Lanka, and spelling bees at the Kremlin. I have played Hamlet. I
have performed open-heart surgery, and I have spoken with Elvis.
But I have not yet gone to college.
(Hugh Gallagher was eighteen when his college application essay won first place in Scholastic
Inc.'s high school writing contest in 1990. His satiric personal statement was reprinted in
Harper's magazine the year he began his studies at New York University. John Kennedy, Jr.
spotted the essay in Harper's, contacted Gallagher, and after a beer together at the Whitehorse
Tavern, passed the essay on to Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner. This meeting led to two
features at the venerable magazine for Gallagher, and the beginning of his writing career.)

Writing 2009 Integrated Writing 1: Listening Section

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Writing 2009

As a new social phenomenon, "early retirement” is by no means inevitable, if employers are

In conclusion, it is important to have the ability to be creative, but it is equally or even

Now play Track from the audio CD.

In summary, our entire conception of the employee-employer relationship has shifted,

Now play Track from the audio CD.

Fortunately, attention is being directed to alternative sources of energy. These sources

Therefore, renewable sources of energy are a promising alternative. However, we can't

Now play Track from the audio CD

Now play Track from the audio CD.

Listening: Dinosaurs cannot be endothermal. Reasons:

1. They become more well-known.

2. There would be more active public comments about the universities.

3. The public would have contact with more perspectives.

2. The students can understand more easily.

3. The cost is low and can be used repeatedly.

Listening: No. Reasons:

2. Students would lose their reacting ability.

1. Old buildings are not suitable for inhabitation.

Listening: Old houses are old, but attractive. Reasons:

1. Modern facilities can be installed.

1. Attendance which motivates students to come to class regularly.

2. Participation in discuss which shows that students are active.

3. Effort of semester grade which encourages students to take challenging courses.

Listening: These are not good ways. Reasons:

Listening: No. Reasons:

The best way to travel is in a group led by the guide.

1. The position of celestial bodies.

2. Topography: birds can memorize mountains and rivers.

3. The magnetic field inside their body.

1. There is methane produced by the bacteria.

3. There is liquid water on Mars.

Listening: No. Reasons:

2. The crystals can be produced by bacteria on the earth.

3. Water may have come from ice.

2. There should be craters, but there were none.

Grades encourage students to learn.

1. The customers are harmed as they lose the truth.

2. It is harmful to the society.

3. The trust between people is lost.

Is it better to learn general subjects or specialize in a specific subject?

1. The emergence of new technologies.

2. Stronger protection of property right.

3. The reduction of transportation cost and the overall cost.

Listening: The three reasons are wrong.

1. Machines used at the beginning of industrialization were simple.

1. Imported species may do harm to the local ecosystem.

2. Imported species destroy the useful aspects of local species.

3. Imported species add to the local economic burden.

A smart friend is more important than a humorous one.

Chinese use this type of anchor.

3. This type of pagoda has also been found in England.

1. Global warming was taking place.

2. Something was wrong with the water supply system.

1. Global warming was not really that severe.

1. Persian was an official language of Mongolia.

1. Preventing tooth decay.

3. Decreasing bone diseases.

3. Too much fluoride may make the bones more brittle.

In today's world, it is more important to speak well than to write well.

2. The results of a lie detector can be used as evidence in court.

Listening: The shortcomings of a lie detector include: