5．（2006年12月老六级真题）
Directions: For this part you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled The Celebration of Western Festivals. You should write at least 150 words following the outline given below.
1. 现在国内有不少人喜欢过西方的某些节日
2. 产生这种现象的原因
3. 这种现象可能带来的影响
The Celebration of Western Festivals
No one can have failed to notice the fact that an increasing number of Chinese are fond of celebrating some Western festivals today. For instance, on Valentine’s Day, many people give flowers or chocolate to the one they love. Another case in point is Christmas. It seems that people around the country now love to celebrate the festival.
A number of factors account for the phenomenon mentioned above, but the following might be the critical ones. In the first place, due to the policy of reform and opening-up, Chinese people tend to know more about Western culture and be influenced by it. Secondly, some businessmen wish to make money by encouraging people to celebrate those Western festivals. Last but not least, as traditional Chinese festival lose their attraction, many people tend to find joy in Western festivals.
Though we need not criticize people celebrating Western festivals, nor can we stop them, we have to beware of the danger behind it. While enjoying the atmosphere brought by those Western customs, we might well lose our own tradition and identity.
6．（2006年12月新六级真题）
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled The Importance of Reading Classics. You should write at least 150 words following the outline given below.
1．阅读经典书籍对人的成长至关重要
2．现在愿意阅读经典的人却越来越少，原因是……
3．我们大学生应该怎么做
The Importance of Reading Classics
Reading classics plays a vital role in a person's growth. By reading classic works, either Chinese or foreign, one can learn a great deal about history, geography, politics, wars and customs. Besides, as these classics are the outstanding representatives human language, reading them can enormously improve our ability to read and write and to inherit cultural traditions.
However, a diminishing number of people would like to read classics now. A variety of factors may have contributed to this phenomenon, but the following are the critical one. In the first place, as the pace of life and work quickens, people can find little time to indulge themselves in thick and serious works. They would rather read light and easy magazines or surf the Internet and do online reading. In the second place, most classics depict things far away from our real life, which makes reading them seem irrelevant.
As college students, we should shoulder the burden of inheriting and developing cultural heritage. Therefore, it is essential that we should make plans to read classics regularly. Besides, we should try to influence people around us into reading them.
7．Keeping Pets
There is no denying the fact that keeping pets is a hotly debated topic today. Some people think keeping pets is a good thing to do. They believe that pets, like cats and dogs, can help relieve the loneliness suffered by senior citizens and other social members who are confined to their homes for this reason or that. They also argue that keeping pets helps mankind understand animals’ world and develop positive feelings toward them.
Others, however, hold the opposite view. They regard keeping pets as a useless but harmful thing to do. First, pets can transmit diseases. Secondly, the noises and dung of pets are sources of pollution. Last but not least, as many rare birds and animals are kept as pets, they will surely be hunted on a large scale, which means a threat to the balance of the ecosystem.
Weighing the pros and cons of these arguments, I am inclined to agree with the latter. Anyway, we can lessen our loneliness and express our love toward animals in other ways. And it is my belief that only by placing man and other species on an equal basis can we expect to have a lively and colorful world.
8. Where There Is a Will, There Is a Way
A well-known proverb goes that “where there is a will, there is a way”, which means that one can find a way to success as long as he or she has a strong will. With a strong will, one can focus all his energy on one point, which makes his success possible. Without a strong will, however, one can be easily distracted from his goal or discouraged by setbacks, which leads to his ultimate failure.
History abounds with examples of strong-willed figures winning success. Actually, there is no better illustration of the proverb than the deeds of Gou Jian, king of Yue in ancient China. Defeated by Fu Chai, king of Wu, Gou tried every means possible to steel his will. Eventually, with the help of Fan Li and Xi Shi, he managed to rebuild his country and his armies and had Fu Chai taste the bitterness of failure.
In short, a strong will is essential if we want to make achievements in our studies or work, or indeed in any other aspect of our lives. One should lose no chance to strength his will and remember, God helps those who help themselves.
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