PETS writting guide.doc

Sample WritingTopic 1: How to solve the problem of traffic jams in big cities in China? To develop public transportation or to develop private cars? The problem of traffic jams in big cities is very common in developing countries and China is of no exception. But as to how to solve this problem, people hold different opinions. Some suggest that in China, we should give priority to the development of private cars, others argue that public transportation should be put in the first place. I am for the latter solution.Firstly, a well-established public transportation system is far more efficient and economical than private cars. We all know that one car holds at most five people but one bus can hold at least 50, ten times as many as a car. To move the same number of people we need several times more vehicles if we use private cars. The more vehicles on the roads the more chances for traffic jams to happen.Secondly, land is rare in cities and parking places for private cars occupy much more land than buses do. In order to provide enough parking lots for private cars, municipal governments have to cut the budget for roads. It is obvious that with fewer private cars, we can certainly have more money and land to build longer and wider roads to reduce traffic jams.Finally, many traffic jams are caused by traffic accidents. With more vehicles in big cities, the probability for accidents to happen is higher and hence more traffic jams. To develop public transportation in big cities means there will be fewer private cars and fewer vehicles. The result is clear: there will be fewer traffic accidents and fewer traffic jams.Based on the discussion, my conclusion is: to solve the problem of traffic jams in big cities in China, the best way is to develop public transportation. Sample WritingTopic 3: In recent years, university graduates find it harder to obtain a decent job. Consequently, it is suggested that universities should put more emphasis on practical courses such as computer, business and so on while focusing less on traditional basic courses such as history, geography. Do you agree or disagree with the suggestion?These days there is a growing tendency for college students to have difficulties in finding jobs when they graduate. A large number of people hold the opinion that lack of practical knowledge, among other things, contributes to this situation. In light of this, they contend that college teachers should lay more stress on practical courses than traditional ones. For my part, I am in favor of their viewpoint.In the first place, emphasis on practical courses is demanded by our ever developing society. As society has entered the information age and commercialization is sweeping across the world, computer and business courses are geared to the social demand. Conversely, if a student has little knowledge of computers or business, he will lag behind the times. By contrast, it seems that traditional courses are out of date. They are either too theoretical or too academic, so that they cant be directly applied to the tasks of real life.In the second place, practical knowledge has a direct bearing on future job prospects. There is no denying the fact that the students better equipped with practical knowledge are more competitive in job hunting, while those majoring in history, geography and the like have few job opportunities. It turns out that many of them have to take jobs below their abilities. Harsh reality confirms that traditional courses have lost much ground.When all the factors are examined, we may safely come to the conclusion that the balance should be tipped toward practical courses in school curriculums. College education, in my opinion, should become more attuned to the demands of employers. Sample Writing 2Nowadays, there are more laborers than what are needed in the labor force market. Even some college or university graduates can not secure a job. This phenomenon has given rise to a heated discussion: should our schools focus on practical courses or pay more attention to basic courses? From my point of view, our education should equip students with more utilitarian courses.Firstly, the purpose of education is to enable people to live better. If students, after having undergone many years of painstaking study and mastered much knowledge from their text-books, fail to obtain jobs to make a living and find that what they acquire in college is not as useful as they have expected, then what is the point of the education? In other words, education only decorates our lives, but gives nothing to us of course, we do not need these things.Secondly, the knowledge acquired in college must be applied to the development of society. Admittedly, some basic courses such as history, geography, mathematics and physics are so important that they lay the solid foundation of other sciences, we should study them well. But we must go further. It is more important for us to develop advanced science and technology. Only in this way, can our civilization reach a higher level.Thirdly, education should follow the development of our society. The school administrators have to know what is in need in the labor market and then decide which courses they should offer to the students. This can make school more useful for people and improve the understanding of school education.All in all, the courses offered in schools should be practical and our education facilities should become more useful.Sample WritingTopic 5: People use computer in shop, bank without leaving home. Someone think it is dangerous because it may make people isolated and lose the social skills to live with others. To what extend do you agree or disagree with this opinion?In this computer-oriented era, people can do practically everything while still at home. They can do their shopping on-line, pay bills on-line, chat on-line and even work on-line. In the light of this phenomenon, many fear that this way of tackling things might lead to social isolation, and further to the loss of mens ability to co-exist with one another in society. Personally, however, I dont agree with this view, and it is my firm belief that not only will the Internet bring the world closer together, it will enable men to co-exist better in the worldwide community.First, unsurprisingly, computers and modems have transformed the world into a global village. Messages are sent instantly around the world via the Internet; a bargain is made between a gentleman in Russia and a lady in Argentina; and students studying abroad send voice mails to their loved ones at home, again by using the computer. Indeed, in this fast-paced world, it is impossible to conduct every social contact in a face-to-face manner. Therefore, it is only too natural that efficient on-line communication is partly taking the place of the time-consuming personal encounter. And why not? This on-line way of life has made possible much better communication among all the people on this planet, thus making so-called social isolation simply impossible.At the same time, even if the Internet ensures better social communication, actual social contact is still necessary: Not all business can be handled on-line, and perfect good will can not be achieved while the parties concerned are far apart. As a matter of fact, the Internet has made people realize the need for contact in actual social settings. Furthermore, now that better communication has been achieved among people, in conditions of actual social contact they will be able to conduct all sorts of business and attain their respective goals, with a smile and mutual understanding. Given this, peoples ability to co-exist with one another has actually been enhanced, I would say, in this IT era.In conclusion, the computer and the Internet have brought human relations closer than ever before. To better adapt to this high-tech world, one should master the basic skills of the computer, for ones own sake as well as for the sake of better and happier co-existence.Topic 2Will modern technology, such as the Internet, ever replace the book or written word as the sole source of information?For:1. The Internet technology has undergone eye-catching development and is becoming more and more advanced. It has found its way deep into the peoples heart.2. The Internet is far more convenient and efficient than the written word or other conventional means of conveying meaning.3. By using the Internet, we can save our natural resources such as forest. It is much more environmentally friendly. The traditional form of books consumes too much wood.4. It is a new shift in the concept of reading. The net reading is interactive and conducive to mutual exchanges of information, because it makes instant feedback possible.5. It is a symbol of society progress and human civilization. It is considered as the starting step in the revolution of the press industry.6. It enables us to enjoy greater availability and wider range of information.7. The knowledge contained in conventional books tends to be more outmoded, while the Internet spreads knowledge and information at amazing rate.8. The Internet is an economical way to convey information.Against:1. The Internet has not yet gained as wide application as we expect. There are still some technical limitations.2. It is not as convenient as conventional media such as printed books and newspapers.3. There is no guarantee of the secrecy of information. If strangers steal your register codes, they can look at your private messages and personal details.4. If it is unluckily infected with some viruses, the network may be damaged and all the information may be lost, leading to immeasurable losses.5. Some people may become addicted to netsurfing, which impairs peoples physical and mental health. (eyesight)6. It costs you much to read a novel on line.7. When we read on line, we cant make notes in the margins.Topic 6: Does modern technology make life more convenient, or was life better when technology was simpler? For:1.Modern transport means make it very convenient for people to travel far or near, thus saving a lot of time and energy. By plane, people can cover a distance of one thousand miles within hours.2.Modern household appliances release/free people from burdensome/heavy house chores. Refrigerators, washing machines and microwave stoves have made housekeeping so much easier that women can pursue their own careers without neglecting the duties of a good wife and mother.3. Modern devices of telecommunications to a great extent facilitate and enhance the exchange of information between people. Modern technology has ushered in a brand new era of global information. 4.Modern science and technology free man from the bondage of Nature and enable the human society to enjoy an unprecedented rate of development in all aspects.5.Modern science and technology vastly enrich human life with great conveniences and comforts, enabling people to choose different types of lifestyles. 6.Modern science and technology promote the productivity, feeing people from tiring and vexing manual and mechanical labor. Many kinds of heavy dangerous work have been done by computerized machines more efficiently and more quickly. People can be released from toils and enjoy much more leisure time and freedom.7.Modern science and technology are emotionally beneficial/helpful. A phone-call, an e-mail or a fax bring people closer and make the world smaller. People can communicate with friends all over the world easily and cheaply via the Internet.8. Modern technology enables us to be informed of the events/affairs worldwide without moving a step away from our home. The human knowledge multiplies at an incredible rate. Modern people enjoy unprecedented access to information worldwide.9. Advancing medical science has made it possible for human beings to lead a much longer life and suffer less from different kinds of diseases. Doctors and scientists have found cures for many diseases formerly regarded incurable and fatal.10.Improve the structure of society and help man exercise a greater control over the environment.11.The coming of electricity has removed darkness and the world has been transformed into a well-illuminated paradise.12.Without modern science and technology, life would be no more than the struggle for survival; there would be no time or incentive to pursue higher things.Against:1.People used to enjoy larger scope of living and suffer less from fierce competition.2.People used to enjoy a carefree and leisurely life and harmonious society.3.People used to enjoy a better environment and there was little pollution.4.Compared with the present deterioration of morals and social mood and worsening human relationships, people used to enjoy a simple and honest human relationship. They were completely free from modern day stress and pressure.5.Only through the face-to-face contact, can we really experience the warmth and loving care of our family members and friends. Such emotional exchanges can never be replaced by a cold screen and wire.6.Living in an environment free of pollution and enjoying the gifts bestowed by the nature.7.People would never worry about the risks brought by modern technology, such as computer virus, nuclear leakage, global warming, exhaustion of natural resources and extinction of many species. The would not be slaves of machines.8. People need not worry that nuclear weapons threaten world peace and even mankinds survival.Topic 7: With the amazing development of computer science, computers can translate all kinds of languages well so our children dont need to learn more languages in the future. To what extent do you agree or disagree?For:1. There is such a possibility that computers can translate all kinds of foreign languages.2. It releases children from the great strain of language study so that they can spend more time learning what they like and develop their own interests.3. We can enjoy more kinds of colorful foreign cultures in a light and leisurely manner.4. We can get to know more friends all over the world because there is no longer any language barrier at all.Against:1.Language is a very sophisticated phenomenon/thing, which is mysteriously knit with the national characteristics, the culture and the customs.2.Language acquisition is an indispensable stage in ones intellectual development. In the acquisition of language, human beings develop their intellectual ability such as the way of thinking and logic reasoning.3.The computer is a product of mans brain and language is the outcome of mans thinking. It is possible that one day the computer may be able to translate all kinds of languages; however, it can never replace human brain and thinking. Man is the master of the computer.4.Oral language, mixed with meaning and human feeling, can not be fully expressed by machines.5. Communication with language is a basic skill differentiating man from animals. Language in a broad sense includes body language (nonverbal language), verbal language and written language.6. The computer is designed and programmed by human beings to do all the translation work in a comparatively mechanical manner.7.Human language is ever-changing with the change of society and circumstances.8.Mechanical translation is sometimes hardly understandable/readable without human revision.9.Translation itself is not completely science, but an art.10.Can computer translators read between lines?11.Computers can be of great help to human beings but they can never replace human brains or surpass human intelligence. After all, the computer is a man-made machine/product and tool. How can a product become the master of its producer? 12.Foreign languages will become more and more important in peoples daily lives with more international contacts.13.It is unimaginable that a computer can understand and appreciate human feelings. Communication with the help of machines is too impersonal, which ruins the pleasure of emotional exchanges.14.We shall never be so reliant on computers. If so, we humans would sooner or later become slaves of machines.15. Without programs, a computer is nothing but a highly complex device.Topic 8: Many people think we suffer from heavier work pressure than before while enjoying less leisure time. What is your opinion? For:1. With the rapid development of society and economy, competition is becoming increasingly fierce.2. With scarcity of job opportunities and the increasing unemployed population, people have to improve their skills and upgrade their knowledge in order to keep abreast with the social development and face the challenge. Otherwise they can hardly meet the requirements of the modern society and will sooner or later be eliminated by society.3. Everyone is busily engaged in the work in order to make a living. People are required to work for longer hours nowadays; therefore, they, comparatively speaking, enjoy less amount of leisure time.4. People have to endure greater pressure from both the family and the society, because they need to face far more problems than ever.Against:1.Thanks to the ever-accelerated updating of science and technology, peoples working efficiency has been vastly improved, and many strenuous jobs are taken over by computerized machines. As a result, people begin to enjoy more time for rest and relaxation.2. It is quite necessary for people to have more time for rest and relaxation because modern day people usually suffer from much strain from work. Appropriate time for rest and relaxation is a must to ensure better performance at work and higher efficiency.3. We should strike a balance between work and play/leisure. Combine exertion and rest which are interactio