"TheunexaminedLifeisnotworthliving."Socratessaidwhenhewastriedforheresyandseditionforencouraginghisstudentstoasktoughquestionsaboutthemselvesandsociety.Uponexamininghislifeandsituation,hechosetodiefordignityratherthanliveouttherestoflifeindisgraceandhumiliation.Socrateswasseekingtruthtolivealifeofhighstation.Accordingtohim,theunexaminedexistencei.sofn.odiscipline,nofreedomandvoidofdignity.
Tobeginwith,theunexaminedlifeisalifewithoutdiscipline.Putitanotherway,alifethathasnotbeensubjectedtocertaincodesandpurposesisdoomedtomorallooseness,humanalienationmadinsatiableindulgence.Itissuchlifestylethat,tomanyofus,leadstoalackofsenseofjusticeordirectionofvalues.AcaseinpointisDorianGrayinOscarWilde'snovel,ThePortraitofDarianGrayDorianGrayisayoungmanwhotakesadvantagesofhisbeautyandruinsmawpurewomen.Itishisunexaminedlifeandlooselifestylethatleadtohishurtofothersandhisownfinaldownfall.
Contrariwise,theexaminedlifecanprovideonewithchanceforamorethoroughandbetterunderstandingoflifeandtheworld——anunderstandingwhichcanbringusmaximum,freedominthought.Leadinganexaminedlife,Emersonisbelievedbymanytounderstandtheworldbettereventhanmostpeopledotoday.Hiswords"Tobegreatistobemisunderstood."showthatanindependentindividualneedstotrusthimselfevenifpeoplearounddoubtandquestionhislife.FewcouldDivealifeassoberandexaminedasEmersondidinthathisrealmofthoughtenjoyssuchadegreeoffreedomandindependencethatitcaneventoleratethemisunderstandingoftherestoftheworld.
LastbutnotLeast,theunexaminedlifemayamounttotheabsenceofdignity.Inordertobeatruemanofintegrity,oneshouldsubjecthislifeandbeliefstoexaminationandintrospectionorelsehislifewilldegenerateintoalifeofmoralfrivolityandwaywardness.AsSocrateshimselfputit,"Ieattolivewhileotherslivetoeat."Thischiasmaembodieshiscontemptforthosewholiveanunexaminedlifewithnodignity.However,theexaminedlifeisnotconfinedtosuchalearnedmanorwomanasateacherorphilosopher.Aworkingclassmancanalsohaveaclearpurposeinlife.Santiago,Hemingwaycodehero,hassuchaquality,Heclingstoalifeofdignityeveninthefaceofseeminglyinsurmountableobstacles.Hehasbeenregardedastheembodimentofindomitablespiritofhumanity.
Tosumup,Socrates'decisiontodieisthelogicalconsequenceofhisoutlookonlife.Ifhehadchosenotherwise,hewouldhavefelthewasrobbedoftheonlythingthinmadelifemeaningful:examiningtheworldaroundhim,theuniverseandlifeitself.Wherean"examinedlira"is,therearediscipline,freedomanddignitythathighlighttheessenceoflife.
AreInterpersonalSkillsImportanttoYourFutureDevelopment
Afamouspoetoncesaid,"Lifeislikealargepieceofnet."Thenwhatisthenetmadeof
Tothisquestion,peoplemayhavetheirownanswers.Ihavemyownversion,"Lifeislikealargepieceofnetcomposedofinterpersonalrelations."Forsure,thisinterpersonalnetcaneithersnarebirdsforyourbenefitsortrapyourselfforyourharm.Harnessingandusingthisnetskillfullyisofcoursepartofsocializationandlifetechniquesforeveryone,especiallyforaspecialgroup--collegestudentswhoareatthecross-pathoftheirgrowthandfulfillment.Therefore,thisimportantlessonofinterpersonalrelationshipmustbelearnttimely,presumablyintheyearsofcollege.
Somawtragedieshavebeenstagedinalmostallwalksoflifejustbecausetheinterpersonalpathhassomehowbeenblocked.AcaseinpointisthesuccessiveincidentsofsuicideofscientistsinTsukuba,asciencetowninJapan.Inthissupermodernandalmostobsoletetown,manyscientistsaresoconcentrativeontheirresearchandsospurredbyprizesthattheyarereluctanttocommunicateandcooperatewithotherpeoplesothatgraduallytheybecomeself-closedanddepressedandsomeofthemfinallyresorttosuicide.Infact,themurdererisnonebutthelackofgoodinterpersonalskillsthatterminatesthelivesofthoseoutstandingscientists.
Contrariwise,ifwehavegoodinterpersonalskills,wewillbeinthemidstofharmonyandhappiness.Maura,31,hadthemostsuccessfullifeexperiencerecentlywhenshehelpeddissolveafamilyduelthathaslastedacentury.Maurasaidhersuccesswasattributabletoherinterpersonaltechniques.Foratimesincethen,herday-to-dayexistencehasbeenrepletewithdelight.Atthishourofeconomiccrisis,we'veheardofsomanyencouragingcasesofentrepreneursbravingthestorm.Butatthesametime,occasionally,tragediesofsuicideareheard.Aninvestigationtothecausesofthesetragicdeathsrevealsthatmanyoftheseperpetratorsaresufferingfrominterpersonalsyndrome.AtherapyofferedbysomepsychiatristsTalkoutyourproblems.Yes,communicationmaynotbeapanacea,butproveseffectiveincopingwithourpsychologicalinability.
Tosumup,justasDaleCarnegieonceputit,successisdue15%toprofessionalknowledgeand85%tointerpersonalskills.Wemaymeetwithalotofdifferentpeoplewithvariouskindsofcharacters.Andsofrictionandattritionareinevitable.Butatactfulinterpersonalskillwhichcanmakecommunicationmucheasierandmorepleasantmayhelpusdealwithalltheconflictsandthuswecanbecomethewinners.
FrancisBaconsays,"Readingmakesafullman,"conferenceareadyman,"andwritinganexactman."Writeanessayofabout300wordstoeithersupportorrefuteBacon'sstatement"Readingmakesafullman."Illustrateyourpointwithexamplesfromyourownreading,experience.
FrancisBacon'sstatement"Readingmakesafullman."tellsushowimportantreadingistothedevelopmentofourselves.Itisquitetruethatreadingbenefitsusinmanyways.Infact,itispartofourgrowthintoahumancapableofcreationandcontribution.
Readingbroadensthehorizon.Itopensformeagoodnumberofwindowsontheuniverse.Inthecourseofreading,IhavebecomemoreawareofhowimmensetheworldisandhowtinyaspeciesIamcomparedwiththeuniverse.Readingmakesmemoreopen-mindedandmoretolerantofdifferences.Throughreading,Ihavebecomemoreconcernedwithissuesrelatedtothepresent,pastandfutureoftheplanethumansinhabit.Atthesametime,readingarousesmycuriosityabouttheunknown.AsIreadextensively,myexperiencesbuildup.Inbooks,Iamabletofigurativelymeetmorepeople,traveltomoreplacesandexperiencenewexcitements.
Readinghelpsmewithself-discovery.Ithelpsmeadjustmygoalsand1hakesmemoredown-to-earth.Readingmakesmemoreawareofmystrengthsandweaknesses.Italsogivesmecouragetotapmypotentials.AsIread,mypurposecanbeclearlydefined.IammoresureofmyselfandknowbettertowhatIwilldevotetimeandenergyaftergraduation.
Readinghelpsmewithchoicemaking.Equippedwithaviderangeofknowledgeacquiredthroughreading,Ihavebecomemoredecisivethanever.Forinstance,inthefirsttwoyearsofcollege,thequestionofwhetherIwillfurthermystudyasagraduateornotreallybotheredmeforquiteawhile.ButasIkeepreading,it'snolongeraproblembecausereadinghashelpeddevelopmyinterestinthedisciplineandhasmademerealizehowmuchIneedtolearntobeanexpertinit.
Inconclusion,readinghascontributedinmanywaystomygrowthintoamatureadult,Itmakesmemorespecificallyoriented,decisiveanddevoted.
MovingfromAdolescencetowardsAdulthood
Lifeconsistsofseveralstagesinwhichinfanthood,adolescenceandadulthoodarethepartandparcel.Itiscommonlyheldthatthetransitionfromadolescencetoadulthoodisanextremelypainfulexperience.Buthowcouldwetellonehasachievedthetransitionfromadolescencetoadulthoodisahardjob.Dosuchthingsasage,appearanceandmannersreallymatterinidentifyingthetransitionCanallcollegestudentsbeidentifiedasadultsinthefullsenseofthetermIfnot,whataretheessentialdifferencesbetweenthemFormypart,movingfromadolescencetoadulthood,especiallyforacollegefreshman,oneshouldshowsuchqualitiesasastrongsenseofresponsibility,independenceandadaptability.
Tobeginwith,responsibility,shouldbeanidentifiablefeatureofadulthood.Anadultshouldbeabletotakeresponsibilityforhisownlife,hisowndecisionandhisowndeeds.Besidesthat,healsoshouldberesponsibleforothers.AcaseinpointisHongZhanhui,whowasselectedoneoftenpersonagesthathavemovedChinain2005.VeryfewcouldenduresomanypersonaltragediesthatlifehasinflictedonthemasMr.Honghassufferedfrom.Whenhewaseleven,hisfatherwasinsane.Hissisterwasdeadandhismotherleftthemforgood.However,henevergaveup.Instead,heshoulderedtheresponsibilityoftakingcareofhissickfatherand.anadoptedsister.Heledaveryhardlifebutwonrespectfromthewholesociety,CananyonedenythefactthatMr.Hongwasaresponsibleadultalthoughhewasonly18then
Additionally,anothersignofbeingamatureadultisbeingindependent.Intheearlierstageofourlife,wedependonparentsformostofourneeds,bothphysicalandmental.However,ascollegefreshmen,wehavetorelyonourselves.Wehavetosolveourownproblems,makeourowndecisionsan.dsometimesevenenduresolitudeonourown.Throughalltheseanadultcanachievehisindependenceandestablishhisownidentity'andautonomy,MarkTwainisagoodexampleinthisregard.HewasforcedtobeindependentatveryyoungageandsuchanautonomouslithebroughthimfacetofacewithvaluableAmericanexperiencesheotherwisecouldnotpossiblyhavegonethrough.Infact,itishisrichadultindependentlifethathasproducedworldliteraryclassics.
Lastbutnotleast,adulthoodischaracterizedbyadaptiveability.Wearenowlivinginachangingworldinachangingtime.Ifwefailtoadaptourselvestothechangingenvironment,wewilllagbehindandendupwithfailure.Achildmayunderstandablybescaredandatlosswhenfacingatotallystrangesituation.Butforanadult,suchresponseismeanandabjectandcannotbeacceptable.Anadultshouldpossessthecouragetofacechangesandchallengesandturnthemintoadvantages.Anadultshouldbemuchstronger.
Toputitinanutshell,responsibility,independenceandadaptability,amongsomeothers,willhelpbuildastrongerandmatureadultwhoiscapableoftheappreciationofcomplexitiesoftherealworldasopposedtotheblack-and-whitemindsetinadolescentthinking.
EmploymentMarketToday
Financialcrisis,likeavirus,isspreadingquicklyfromdevelopedcountriestodevelopingones.Itisanundeniablefactthatnoemploymentmarketintheworldhaseludedthepoisonofthevirus.Chinaisoneofthosecountriesthathavebornthebruntoftheblow.NoonedeniesthatemploymentmarketinChinaisgettingsluggish.Meanwhile,multinationalgiantskeepcuttingjobsandstate-ownedenterprisesnolongerrecruitnewpersonnel.Smallbusinessesareforcedtoclosealtogether.Atthismomentwhencollegegraduates'prospectofemploymentseemstohavebecomeextremelybleak,whatisitthatwecandotoalleviateandpossiblyreversethiscrisis
Asforindividuals,collegegraduatescandoalot.Ofcourse,theycanexpedientlymakeadjustmentstosuchadullemploymentmarket.Theymaytemporarilylowertheirexpectationsandambitions.Perhapstheyusedtowishtoworkforamultinationalgiantbutnowamedium-sizedcompanycoulddoforthem.What'smore,younggraduatesmayalsoplayamoreactiverole.Theymayconsiderstartingtheirownbusinesses.Theseyoungpeoplecanlearnfromthoselegendarystoriestellingabouthowayoungentrepreneurmadeitthesedays,suchasTangJun,MaoKankan,tonameonlyafew.
Atthesametime,thereismuchfortheChinesecentralgovernmenttodoaboutit.Asamatteroffact,ithascalledonthegovernmentsatalllevelstostepupjob-creationefforts.Jobfairsareorganizedandpeopleofallwalksoflifehavebeenmobilizedtohelpgraduateswithemployment.Inaddition,policieshavebeenformulatedandstrictregulationshavebeenliftedonthelicensingofprivatebusinesses.Someofthesepoliciesandregulationsareintendedtoencouragegraduatestosetupbusinessesontheirown.Andtheseandothermeasuresandpolicieshavealreadyyieldedgoodresults.AndthisisthereasonwhyChinaisamongthefeweconomiesthatarestillgrowing.
LiketheAmericandream,theChinesedreamisalsodeeplyrootedinthefaithineducationandhardwork.Comparedwiththosewhohavehadnoaccesstocollegeeducation,graduatesarebetterequippedwithprofessionalknowledgeandexpertise.Thisme,msthatabetterfutureisinstoreforthosewithcollegeeducation,aslongastheykeeptheirdream,alive.Opportunitiesfavorthosewhoarereadytotakethem.
Eric,atypicalmodemurbanite,stayshomeatwork.Firstthinginthemorningheplugsintothecomputerterminaltohookupwithoffice.HesendsandreceivesworksduringthedaythroughMSN.Evenings,heputsonhisheadphones,orwatchesamovieonVCR,orlogsbacktocomputertovisittheInternet.Formanydays,EricdoesnottalktopeopleanddoesnotseepeopleexceptthoseonTV.Indeed,modernurbanlifehascutusofffromthecontactwithotherfellowbeings.
First,alienationoccursintheurbanworldofbusiness.Peoplenolongerhavetoseeeachotherinordertodotheirwork.Itsohappensthatstuffmembersfromdifferentbranchesofacompanyacrosstheworldcanholdabudgetmeetingoveradistanceofmillionsofmilesinsteadofsittingtogetherinoneconferencechamber.Employeessuchassecretaries,realestateagents,andaccountantsdonothavetogotoofficeorseethepeopletheyarecopingwith.Andbusinesshasbecomesuchthaturbanwhitecollarsarepaideveninlesspersonalway,sincetheirsalaryisautomaticallycreditedtotheiraccounts.
Anotherareainwhichisolationoccursinurbansocietyiseducation.Atschoolsanduniversitiestoday,studentsdonotseetheirteachersasoftenastheydid.Teachersspendmoretimetendingcomputersandlesstimegettinginvolvedwithstudents.Testsandevenhomeworkassignmentsareadministeredbymachines.Athome,ratherthandiscusswithparents,brothersandsisters,peoplebuysoft-warestolearnsuchskillsasspeedreading,writing,andrealestateinvestmentinsteadofattendingclasseswhererichhumancommunicationscanoccur.
Byandlarge,thankstotheinventionsofmoderntechnology,peopleincitiesarelivinginisolation.However,modernurbanlonelinessisnotonlyconfinedtothephysicaldistancebetweenpeople.Thereisanotherkindofestrangement,moredestructiveanddetrimental--isolationofminds."Wearriveatthemoonandreturn,butwedonotbothertocrossthestreettoseeournewneighbor.",asdescribedbysome.
Theeighteenth-centuryBritishthinkerEdmundBurkemadethefollowingobservationaboutthebenefitsofopposition:"HethatwrestleswithusstrengthensournervesandsharpensourskillOurantagonistisourhelper."
Inyourview,towhatextentcanwebenefitfromoppositiontoourideas,opinions,ordesires.Writeanessayofnolessthan300wordsthatdefends,challenges,orqualifiesBurke'sstatementaboutthebenefitsofopposition.Youshouldpresentyourargumentwithreasonsandexamples.
The18thcenturyBritishthinkerEdmundBurkemadethefollowingobservationaboutthebenefitsofopposition:"Hethatwrestleswithusstrengthensournervesandsharpenourskill.Ourantagonistisourhelper."
Inpourview,towhatextentcanwebenefitfromoppositiontoourideas,opinions,ordesires.Writeanessayofnolessthan300wordsthatdefends,challenges,orqualifiesBruke'sstatementaboutthebenefitsofopposition.Youshouldpresentyourargumentwithreasonsandexamples.
Peopleprefertohearcomplimentarycommentsontheirworks.Admittedlyencouragingcommentssometimesputusontopoftheworldandmakeusfeelwonderful.Butsometimestheymaysoundsogoodthatwearecarriedawayandrenderedincapableofobjectivelyreviewingwhatwehavedone.Inotherwords,thehoney-lippedcandepriveusofthepowertoseeourflawsandtotakestockofourselves.Nevertheless,oppositionthatwemeetinlifehelpsinmanyways.
Tobeginwith,oppositionservesasadrivingforcewhichenablesustostrivemoreforperfection.Actingonothers'opposingviews,wetakeacloselookatourplan,proposal,etc.overagaintoseeifthereisroomforimprovement.Inthecourseofdoingthis,wehaveabetterperceptionofwhatwehavedone,makingadjustmentsaccordinglysothatwearecapableofmakingitmoreflawlesseveninouropponent'seyes.
Next,oppositionhelpsuskeeplearning.Everysooften,thosewhoopposeusarebestteachersalthoughwesometimesfinditreallyhardtoadmitit.Theiruniqueperspectiveofanissueandtheiroutlookonlifecanopenanewwindowontheworld.andbroadenourhorizon,Withthereminderoftheirjustifiedopposition,weareencouraged,toexploreournewboundaries.Werealizehowdangerousitistohavealittleknowledge.Tosomeextent,oppositionisablessingratherthananevil,foralessoncanneverbelearntuntilitistaught.
Finally,oppositionhelpsbuildupone'scharacter.Peoplemayopposedifferently,someinfuriouswayswhileothersinmild.Incopingwithoppositionofvariouskinds,youbecomemoreresponsiveandresponsible.Yourconfidenceandwisdomwillbeenhancedaswellandoppositionisnolongerfearsometoyou,nomatterwhatnatureitreflects.Confrontationwithoppositionisasignofmaturity,andmaturitywillundoubtedlycarryyoufar.
EdmundBurke'sobservationofOppositioncanbestconcludethisarticle,"Hethatwrestleswithusstrengthensournervesandsharpensourskill.Ourantagonistisourhelper."
RalphWaldoEmersononcesaid:"Tolaughoftenandmuch;towintherespectofintelligentpeopleandtheaffectionofchildren;toearntheappreciationofhonestcriticsandendurethebetrayaloffalsefriends;toappreciatebeauty,tofindthebestinothers;toleavetheworldalittlebetter;whetherbyahealthychild,agardenpatchoraredeemedsocialcondition;toknowevenonelifehasbreathedeasierbecauseyouhavelived.Thisisthemeaningofsuccess.
Now,useyourownexperiencetodevelopthefollowingtopicsentenceintoathree-paragraphessaywithatleast250words:"Tobesuccessful,apersonmusthavethreekindsofdiscipline:oftheintellect,oftheemotions,andofthebody."
Tobesuccessful,apersonmusthavethreekindsofdiscipline:ofintellect,ofemotions,andofthebody.
Foronething,intellectualdisciplineisofgreatsignificancetooneonhiswaytosuccess.Intellectisnotonlysomethingthatyou'rebornwith,butalsowhatyouhaveobtainedafterthat.Itcouldbeattainedthroughvariousways,suchasreading,thinking,andtalkingwithgreatminds.Intellecttothemindiswhatsensesaretothebody.Ithelpsapersondevelophisviewoftime,lifeandtheworld.Populacethinkmerelyhowtheywillspendtheirtime;amanofintellecttriestouseit,whichiswhyindividualswithintellecthavemuchgreaterchanceforsuccess.
Inaddition,thedisciplineofemotionisasimportantastheintellectualfactor,ifnotmore.Noonecouldeverachievesuccesswithoutpassionandpersistence.Becausewhileyoupursueyourdream,youmustmeetwithmanydifficultiesandsetbacksduringtheprocess,ifyoudonothaveenoughpassionforyourwork,youm.ayjustgiveupandgetnothing.Itisthepassionandpersistencefortheworkthatwouldprepareyouforthecomingsuccess.
Lastbutnottheleast,disciplineofthebodyisalsoindispensabletoone'ssuccess.AsaChinesesayinggoes,"Nothingismoreimportantthanagoodhealth."whichmeansyoucan'tachieveanythingunlessyoumaintainagoodhealth.Differentpeoplehavevariousdefinitionsofbeingsuccessful,however,nomatterhowdifferentsuccessmightmeantovariouspeople,goodhealthisalwaysacharacterthatcan'tbeignored.
Tosumup,Istronglycommittothenotionthatsuccessrequiresatleastthreekindsofdisciplines:ofintellect,ofemotion,andofthebody.Forinstance,justasRalphWaldoEmersononcesaidofthemeaningofsuccess,"tolaughoftenandmuch"meansapassionforlife;"towintherespectofintelligentpeople"referstothedisciplineofintelligence.Withoutthesedisciplines,onecouldhardlymakeasuccessofhislife,Inaword,disciplinesleadtosuccess.
Directions:
BertrandRusselloncesaid:"Whenthepupilcooperateswillingly,helearnstwiceasfastandwithhalfthefatigue."How,inyourview,canstudentsbeencouragedtocooperatewillinglyConsultingyourexperienceandyourimagination,considerhowsuccessfulonemightexpectthismethodtobe.Pleasedevelopthetopicintoathree-paragraphessaywithatleast300wordsinthegiventime.
Generallyspeaking,teachersareexpectedtobepatientandstudentsdiligent.However,withoutcorrectmethodology,evenifteachersremainpatient,students'diligencemaynotbeactivated.Successfuleducationisonlyadream.AsBertrandRussellonceputit,agreatdegreeoffreedomshouldbekeptineducationbecausetheeffectsofauthorityareverylikelytodragstudentsintosubmissionorevoketheirrebellion,eitherofwhichmayhindertheirlearningprocess.Therefore,willingcooperationisanidealcondition.Thenherecomesthequestion:howtoworkuppupils'activeparticipationandcooperation
Whenitcomestohowthequestioncanbesolved,itisadvisablethatwelearnsomethingfromVroom'sExpectancyTheory:Motivation=Valence*Expectancy*Instrumentality.
Expectancyispupils'expectationsandlevelsofconfidenceaboutwhattheyarecapableofdoing;instrumentalityisthebeliefthatgoodperformanceleadstovaluedoutcome,andvalenceistheimportancethattheindividualplacesupontheexpectedoutcome,inourcasetherewardsofcooperation.Hence,inordertoboostpupils'motivation,educatorsshouldliftstudent'sexpectancybymakingstudyeasyandfuntoarousechildren'sinterestandattracttheirattention.Asanoldsayinggoes,interestisthebestteacher.Forexample,myteacherusedtoteachtheclassajingletomemorizeadifficultpassage.ItwassolovelyandinterestingthateventodaymyfriendsandIstillrememberit.Ibelievetheuseofmultimediainteachingisapracticalresorttoachievethisend,too.Ontheotherhand,teachersshouldgiverewardssuchaspublicpraise,higherscore,lesshomework,toysandsnacks,etc.,tothestudentswhofollowtheirinstructionspontaneouslyandcorrectly.Itishardtoimaginethatanybodycangiveconsistentgoodperformanceswithoutanyrecognitionfromtheonesheorsherespectsandthinksimportant.
Themethodabovecannotonlywinstudents'favorinlearning,buttriggerstheirthirstforknowledgeaswell,whichmakesthemwillingtocooperate.Inaddition,toobtainteacher'sadmiration,studentswillfollowtheleadandlistentotheiradvice,whichmakesthemcooperate.
Tosumup,elevatingtheexpectancyandvalenceofchildrencaneffectivelyencouragethemtocooperatewillingly,andthusguaranteesthequalityandefficiencyineducation,toagreaterextent.
Thinkaboutatimewhenyoutookanunpopularstand.WereyoualoneinyourbeliefsHowdidthisexperiencechangeyouWhenisitimportanttotaketherisksthatcertainvaluesdictatePleasedevelopthetopicintoathree-paragraphessaywithatleast300wordsinthegiventime.
Weoftenfaceadifficultsituationinlifewhenwetakeanunpopularstandthatgoagainstthatofthemajority.Ifthisoccurs,shouldwefollowothersorsticktoourownbeliefsThisisacommonchallengeforallofus.Aristotleoncesaid,"Bybeinghabituatedtodespisethingsthatareterribleandtostandourgroundagainstthemwebecomebrave,anditiswhenwehavebecomesothatweshallbemostabletostandourgroundagainstthem."Thus,itisnotsohardforustomaketheconclusionthatwebecomebravebyactingbravely.Bythesametoken,itissignificantthatweinsistonourownbeliefs,becauseitisthewaywebecomebraveandarefirmlyconvincedofourbeliefs.
Asfarasmyownexperienceisconcerned,IdidfeeluncertainaboutmyselfatthetimewheneveryoneelsebelieveditwasamuchbetterchoiceformetostaywhereIwasratherthanmovetoanothercountryaloneforfurtherstudy.YoungasIwas,Idecidedtoleavemyparentsandthefamiliarenvironmentforabroadervisionandmoreopportunities.ParentsworriedaboutwhetherIcouldtakecareofmyselfinanunfamiliarcountry.TeacherswarnedmeaboutthedifficultiesthatImightbeconfrontedwith.FriendsdoubtedhowIcouldadjusttothenewenvironmentinashorttime.Franklyspeaking,Iwasafraid.Withsomanypeoplewhocareaboutmeobjectingtomyseeminglyimpetuousdecision,Ialsoquestionedmyself,"WoulditbethebestformayfutureAmIsureaboutthedecision"Theansweris"Idon'tknowwhatwillhappen,either!"TheonlythingIknewisthatI'msureaboutmydecision,nomatterwhathappens,I'llberesponsibleformyownacts.I'dlovetogivemyselfachancetoexploretheunknownworldouttherebymyself,andonlythrough,trialsanderrorscouldIlearntherealmeaningofresponsibility.
IthasbeenyearssinceImadethatunpopulardecision.Thingsturnedouttobemuchbetterthanmyparentsandfriendsimagined,althoughnotasgoodasIbelieved.Ididbroadenmyhorizonandenrichmyknowledge.IlearnedsomuchfrommynewschoolmatesthatIcouldneverknowbefore.IfoundmyselfquitecompetentinthingsthatInevertried.Therewereofcoursetearsandlaughterinthisoncestrangeplace.Butthisexperienceliterallychangedmealot.Ilearnttocopewithpeoplefromdifferentcultureswithlessprejudice.
What'smoreimportant,byinsistingonthechoiceandgoingalone,Ibecamebraveandconfident.Bymakingmyowndecisionandtakingcareofmyselfeversince,Ilearnedthemeaningofresponsibility.Inaword,itisnotaterriblethingtotakeanunpopularstand.Onceyoubelieveit,sticktoit
YouarerequiredtowriteanarticleinEnglishwiththetopicof"AllthatGlittersisnotGold".
Wedonotknowsincewhenthegoodhasbeencomparedtogold.WhatwedoknowisthatinEnglishwehavemanyphrasesassociatedwithgold,suchas"tohaveaheartofgold","agoldenage","asgoodasgold","fieldsofgold",etc.However,Shakespearewarneduslongago,"Allthatglittersisnotgold."Exactly,whatcanbeseenonthesurfacemaybedeceptiveanduntrustworthy;apieceofuselessironorbrokenglassorevenadisposedplasticbagcanalsobeshinninganddazzlingunderthesun.Onthecontrary,somerealgoldisnotabletoglittersinceitmaybehiddeninsomeuglysandandstone.
Asuperficialbeautydoesnotnecessarilymeanitisgoodorbenign.Takepoppy,oneofthemostbeautifulflowersintheworld,forexample.Atthefirstsightofit,mellowpeddlesredlikefireunderthesummersun,noonebutisrivetedbyitsenchantingbeauty.Butasmatteringknowledgewillsendshudderdownone'sspinalcolumn,sinceitistheidealrawmaterialtousetomanufacturedrugsanddopes,whichhasdestroyedlivesofmillions.Whocan,whenhefirstseesit,thinkthatsuchbeautifulflowerscanbesonoxiousandlethalContrariwise,theplain-lookingandeventheuglycanbeblessedandheaven-sent.Theearthisblackandsometimesuglybutyieldssweetcornsandpotatoesthatnourishpeopleandotheranimals.Nightisblackandsometimesscaring,butcangivepeoplegoodsleepsothattheycanwakeuprefreshedandenergetic.
Whatissupremelytrueofobjectsisalsotrueofhumans.SuchgreatmenasNapoleon,Caesar,ChinesebelovedleaderDengXiaopingallchangedthecourseofhistoryintheirrespectivetimes,despitetheirnottallstatureandthattheycouldnotbeclassifiedashandsome.JaneEyre,theheroineofJaneAustin'snovel,hasmovedhundredsofmillionsthroughouttheworld,isplain,poorandobscure.Kissmoto,theugliestpersonmanhaseverknown,createdbyVictorHugo,muteanddeaf,withafacedeformed,turnsouttobetheincarnationofthegoodandbravewhoprotectedhisloveatthesacrificeofhisownlife.
Insummary,weareyettoexhaustworkingoutthequalitiesthatcontributetowhatisgoodandgold.However,toparaphraseEinstein'swords,kindness,beautyandtruthhavelightedthewayofhumanityandtimeandagainhavegiventhemnewcouragetohavelifecheerfully.Bmonethingweneedtobearinmindisthattheworldloomslargeandcomplexandinordertogettheessenceofitweneedtoreachbeyondthedelusivesurface."Allthatglittersisnotgold."
WearealldifferentandIrespectthatasIrespectyourrighttobeandIrespectyourrighttobecomeasIrespectyourrighttoloveandIrespectyourrighttofightbutdon'texpectrespectfrommeifyoudon'tloveifyoudon'tfightIfyouare...Ifyoubecome...indifferent.
ThespeakerofthispoemexplainsdirectlywhatonemustdotoearnrespectWriteaparagraphtoexplainforwhatreasonsyourespectsomeone.Yourwritingshouldbenofewerthan350words.Ⅶ.Writing(20points)
HaveyouconsideredifthereissomeonewhodeservesyourrespectHasitoccurredtoyouthatforwhatreasonsyoushowrespecttothemHasitdawnedonyouwhatkindofqualitiesarespectablepersonshouldbeequippedwithAsfarasIamconcerned,itiseruditeness,perseveranceandsenseofresponsibilitythataccountformuchofapersonwhoisworthyofrespect.
Firstthingsfirst,Irespectthosewhoareknowledgeable.Wearenowlivingintheageofinformationandknowledgewhichareboomingdaybydayandsobeinginformation-poorcanbeashamefulproblem.The21stcenturyisanerathatattachesgreatimportancetoknowledge.Onlythosewhoareintensiveinaspecializedareaandalsohavesuchknowledgeasphilosophy,artandreligionandsoonarelikelytoearncredits.
Secondly,personswiththespiritofperseverancedeservemyrespect.Perseveranceisnotthatyoucanseetheresultsofyourworkimmediatelybutthatyouneedtomarchtowardsyourgoalstepbystepstronglyandintrepidly.AcaseinpointisYangWei,theChineseprinceofgymnastics.Relatively"nolongeryoungage"judgedbythestandardofgymnasticsandalong-termafflictionofinjuriesdon'tdaunthim.Onthecontraryhestillinsistsontakingexerciseandtrainingeveryday.Induecoursein2008BeijingOlympicGamesYangWeiwongoldintheindividualall-roundaswellastherespectoftheworld.
Lastbutnotleast,ifapersonisresponsibleforwhatheorsheshoulders,Iwilllookuptohimorher.TakeTanQianqiu,anelementaryschoolteacherwholosthislifeinthedeadlyWenchuanearthquakeforexample.Whentherescueteamfoundhisbody,peoplenoticedthathewasstilltightlyhuddlingfourpupilsunderhisbody.Asateacher,Tanchosetoberesponsibleforhisstudentsandhealsochosetoprotectthematthesacrificeofhisownlife.Soisn'tthiskindofpersonworththerespectofthewholeChinesenationShouldn'tthiskindofpersonberememberedeternallyTheanswerisobviousandnumerouscandlesinhandsof20,000students,colleaguesandvillagersareenoughtoprovethis.
Tosumup,theremaybedozensofqualitiesonemusthavetoearnrespectbuttheessentialonesareonlyafew.Andformypart,thosewhohaveampleknowledge,thespiritofperseveranceandthesenseofresponsibilitycanhavemyrespect.
Manypeople,whethertheyareuniversitystudentsornot,believethatthemainpurposeofauniversityistoteachitsstudentsadvancedknowledgeandpreparethemforagood,jobwhentheygraduate.Auniversity,however,candofarmorethanthat.Studentsdonotgotocollegesimplyforacademicstudiesandvocationaltraining.AsfarasIamconcerned,auniversityisalsoanimportantplacetoitsstudentsincultivatingcivilizationandindependentspirits.
First,auniversityisnotaplaceofmerelyteachingtextbookknowledgeandprofessionalskills,butonewherestudentsareputintouchwithnobleandcreativemindsintheircampuslife,Thatishowauniversityhelpsstudentsbecomecivilizedhumanbeings.Apartfromtheirmajors,studentshavemanyopportunitiestostudyphilosophy,literature,finearts,historyandsoon.Asaresult,theywillnotonlylearnthemeanstoearnmoneyinthefuture,butmoreimportantly,theydeveloptheintellectandhumanity.Auniversityoffersitsstudentsalifewithintellectualandspiritualresources,whichwillbebeneficialthroughouttheirlives.Second,auniversityhelpsitsstudentsgetindependentfromtheirparents.Mostchildrendonotliveawayfromtheirparentsuntiltheygotouniversity.Withouttheirparents'takingcareofthemincollege,studentsfindoutwhattheirstrengthsandweaknessesare.Theyhavetolearnhowtodealwiththeirdailylifeandgetalongwithallkindsofpeople.
Allinall,auniversityprovidesagoldenchanceforstudentstogrowupandbecomematurepeople.Itisdesignedtobeaplacethatcontributestothestudents'personaldevelopmentandexplorationoftheirpotentials.Notonlycantheybeintroducedtonewknowledge,buttheyalsolearnsocialvaluesandpersonalindependence,
Directions:Readthefollowingtopic.WriteonyourAnswerSheetacompositionofabout2O0words.Besuretoprovideatitleforyourcompositionandwriteinparagraphs.
Topic:Nowadayssomestudentsstarttheirownbusinesscompaniesbeforetheygraduate.Howdoyoulookatthisphenomenon
Recentyearshaveseenanincreasingnumberofcollegestudentsstarttheirownbusinessesbeforegraduation.Somescholarsthinkthatthispracticeshouldbestoppedbecauseittendstomakesyoungpeopleturntheirattentionawayfromstudies,whileothersarguethatbyrunningtheirownbusinessstudentsarebetterpreparedtoadjusttoanewenvironmentwhenleavingschool.Inmyopinion,Istronglysupportthelatterpointofviewforthefollowingreasons.
Inthefirstplace,itisapositiveresponsetothenationalpolicyofencouraginggraduatestoestablishtheirprivateenterprises.Duetotheglobalfinancialcrisis,itisstillverydifficultformostofthestudentstogetajobatgraduation,letaloneanidealone.Thusthecentralgovernmentgivesfullsupporttothosewhocansetupsmallbusinessestorelievetheburdenofanarmyofjobseekers.
Secondly,itcanprovideagoodopportunityforstudentstodevelopsocialSkills,putintopracticewhattheyhavelearnedinschool,andfullyprepareforanewlifeoutoftheivorytower.Lastbutnotleast,bymanagingtheirowncareercollegestudentsmayearnsomemoneysothattheycanachievesomeself-reliance.Andtosomeextentatthesametime,itcanhelprelievetheirfamily'sfinancialload.
Inspiteofthebenefitsmentionedabove,-thoseyoungpeopleshouldalwaysbearinmindtheirstatusasfull-timestudentsandneverfailtoputpriority'onstudies.Therefore,itisimportantforthemtostrikeabalancebetweenkeepingabreastofothersinacademicperformanceandrunningtheirownbusiness.
Peoplehavelongassociatedarduousnesswithlearningandbelievedthatleaningmustbehard,laboriousandfatiguing.Andtheveryfacthasbolsteredthisstereotypethatfewcanmakeitwithoutdevotingmuchtimeandenergytoit.Unfortunately,suchconnectiondoesnotholdwater.Anyfurtherlookattheissuesimplyrevealsthattheprocessoflearningisnevervoidofpleasure,although,admittedlysuchdelighthasbeenerodedinonewayoranotherforthousandsofyears.
Learningcangenerateinusunendingpleasure.Firstly,suchpleasurecomesfromthelearningitself.Isthereamorelovelyfacethanthatofachildwholetsoutacry,"I'vegotit!"upondiscoveringthenewIsthereamoremovinganddelightfulpicture
Secondly,greatpleasurerestsinthegreatfreedomofferedbylearning.JustbecauseEinsteinwasfaintolearn,isn'tthatthereason,hecouldroamfreelyintheworldsofscienceandartWhocansayhewasn'tthegayestpersonintheworldwhenplayingtheviolinwiththatnonprofessionalvirtuosityForapersoneagertolearn,thereisnoboundaryintheuniverseandnolimittohishappinessandpossibility.
Last,onecanbedelightedwhenlearningbecauselearningcanwinhimasmanycreditsasheotherwisecannot.Baconsaidthatstudyservesforornament.Here,ornamentistranslatabletocredits.Intheworldtoday,themostcreditablepersonistheonewhoisthemosterudite.
Byandlarge,themostcontentpersonintheworldistheonewhoisstudyingandlearns.Learningisajourneybutnotadestination.Inthehappycourse,forthosewhoarefondoflearning,thehighestlevelisofcourse"delightinginit."
Loveisaneternalsubjectfortirelessdiscussioninhumanhistory.Andthereisneverauniformdefinitionoflove.Butitistouchingandbeingtouchedbyeveryhumanbeing.Whenaskedofmyunderstandingoflove,Ifinditbettertoexpressmyselfintermsofwhatlovedoestopeople'sdailylives;.
"Tobeginwith.lovenotonlybringshappinessbutalsorelievesloneliness.Peoplewholoveyoucarealotaboutwhatyouthinkandwhatyouneed,thereforeyouwillfeelhappywhenevertheybringyouwhatyoubadlyneed,nomatterwhetheritismaterialorspiritual.Withlovesurroundingyou,youwillneverfeellonelyordeserted.
Next,lovemeanssharingandbeingresponsible.Peoplewithtruelovearesupposedtogosidebysidethroughthickandthin,sotheynotonlysharejoysoflifetogetherbutalsosupporteachotherindifficulttimes.Loveissometimesshakenwhenfacingseveredifficulties.Weoftenhearthatasickpersonwasdesertedbyhisofherlovedones,andevensomeparentsabandonedtheirsickchildren.Peoplewithnosenseofresponsibilitycannotgiveorreceivetrueloveandthoseunfortunatesickpeoplewillsufferphysicallyandemotionallywithlovelost.
Finally,lovebringstolerance.Forthepeoplewelove,weacceptboththeirvirtuesandshortcomings.Thepoweroftolerancecanprovideuswithmoreroomtocommunicatewitheachother.
Insummary,loveisnotonlytakingbutalsogiving;itmeanssharing,responsibility,andtolerance.
Adaringphilosopheroncesaid,"Everybodywasborntobeunique,"Indeed,whethersomeofuslikeitornot,everybodywasbornanindependentthinker.Andindependentthinkingisthefeatureofhumanity,anditsimportancecannotbetooemphasized.Ifeachofapeopleiscapableofindependentthinking,thenthereemergesanationofthinkers.Ifanindividualceasestakingforgrantedthehand-me-downsandbeginstothinkforhimself,thenhewillnotrepeathisandothers'mistakes.Ifeachofhumanracebecomesthebestofwhichheiscapableof,thenthewholeracecanliveinthebestworld.
Nothingcandosomuchtohelpshapethedestinyofanationasdoesindependentthinking.Emerson,claimedasfatherofAmericanculturalindependence,said,"Imitationissuicide."HewaswarninghiscontemporaryAmericansofthedangerofcopyingtheEuropeanthinking.HeandothersadvancedTranscendentalism,aschoolofthoughtwhichisbelievedtohavecontributedtremendouslytothemakingofAmerica.
Duringthecourseofanation'sdevelopment,thereisnolackofforerunnersofthoughtlikeEmersonwhothinkindependentlyandstandouttopavethewayculturallyforthenation'srebirthandrejuvenation.ConfuciusinantiquityandLuXuninmoderntimesareamongthem.Whatissupremetrueofanationisnolesstreeofanindividual,who,inordertobesuccessful,alsoneedstothinkindependently.Numerousoutstandingpersonagesgrewimpatientofconventionalityandconformity.Theythoughtbythemselvesandhadnofearforbeingdisenfranchisedandevenpersecuted.Andinduecoursetheymadehistory.
Inthecourseofhumaneventstherehaveemergedaveryfewnationswhoknewtheimportanceofprotectingtheirintellectualelitebytoleratingtheirunpopular"heresy"orcontendingthoughts.
However,theworldowesagreatdealtosuchnationsfortheircontributionstomoderncivilization.Also,everybodyisanindependentthinkerbynature,anindependentmindsorareandpreciousthatitneedsourprotectionandencouragement.Itisgoodtorememberthatonecanbenootherthanhimself:Leteverybodybebornhimselfanddiehimself.
Ourcultureemphasizestheimportanceofobedienceandconformity,Andthebestwaytodisciplinestudentsintolisteningtoreasonthatwecanthinkofsofarisexaminations.Sooursisacountryofexaminations.Fromancienttimestomodernage,fromelementaryschoolstouniversities,peoplehavebeentestedandtried.Whatdoexaminations,then,meantochildreninthiscountrySomeclaimthemasadouble-edgedsword,doingbothgoodandharmtochildren.Butasfarasothers(meincluded)areconcerned,theyareonlysinglecuttingknifehurtingkids.
Firstthingsfirst,examscanaffectthechildren'spsyche,causingsometimesunnecessaryanxietiesandamountainofworriesweighsheavilyontheyoungminds.Theundesirableeffectsgobeyondpsychological.Thechildren'sphysicalhealthisalsoimpairedanddamaged.ItiscommonplacethataChinesechildstudies10-15hoursadaysevendaysaweek.Undersuchconditions,whathasbeenconsideredthenatureofchildrenhasbeendistortedanddeformed
Secondly,childrenaresooverwhelmedbyallkindsofexaminationsthattheycannotaffordtimetopracticetheirotherabilities.Consequently,theyarenothandyenoughandlesscompetentincopingwithrealproblems.
Finally,toomanyexaminationssuffocatecreativeabilityinchildren.Insteadofbeingencouragedtodoresearchintoproblemsontheirown,theyaregiven"standard"answerkeystocramfor.Anyothersolutionthan"standard"oneisdeemedtobewrongorheterodoxandunacceptable.Sotheirdesireforcreationhasbeendiscouragedanddoused.Whatisconsideredtobemoredistressingbymanyisthattheywillfindexamination-orientededucationhopelesstoproduceNovelPrizelaureatesinChina.
Wearenowalreadyatacrossroad.Whereshouldweturntoiscrucialtothefutureofourchildren,ourselvesandthisnationatlarge.Maybe,wearewaitingforachanceorsomeeliteofthisnationtochangethecourseofhistory.
Ascollegestudents,weliveinsuchacomfortabletowerofivorythatallaroundusisnothingbutclassassignments,exams,colloquies,socialeventsandsoon.Butaftergraduation,wearelikelytoenteranothertotallydifferentworldwherelifemaybefullofarduousnessanddifficulty.SohowcanwecollegestudentsskillfullyandsuccessfullysurviveintherealworldHowshouldweprepareforlifeAsfarasIobserve,threequalitiesareindispensible,namely,adaptability,couragetofacedifficultiesandspiritofcooperation.
Firstthingsfirst,lifekeepsonchanging,justasForestGump'smomsaid,"Lifeislikeaboxofchocolatesandyouneverknowwhatyou'regonnaget".Themobileworldhasgreatdemandsforthosewhocaneasilyadapttothedevelopingsocietybutwhatonehaslearnedincollegemaysoonturnoutdated.Socollegestudentsmustbecapableofmeetingthechangingneedsoflife.
Secondly,therealworldisnotalwayssofairandbeautifulasweimagine.Hardshipsanddangerareinevitableinthelongjourneyoflife.Sowheneverwemeetwithdifficultiesweshouldn'tbedauntedanddefeated.
Onthecontrary,wemustfacethembravelyandstrongly.Lastbutnotleast,collegestudentsshouldlearnhowtocooperatewithothers.Uponleavingcampus,wewillgoforanewjob,whichmeanswearenotisolatedindividualsbutsmallpartsofanintegratedorganization.Whataccountsformuchofthesuccessofataskorprojectistoalargeextentfriendlycooperationratherthanfrenziedcompetition.Sothespiritofcompetitionisaveryimportantelementinlife.
Tosumup,collegestudentsshouldnotbeconfinedtotherelativesimplicityofcampuslifebutshouldstrikeabalancebetweenthetowerofivoryandreallife.Whattheyshoulddoistomakeenoughpreparationsaheadoftime;toacquirethreenecessary,qualities----adaptability,courageandthespiritofcooperation.