1、专业英语八级（作文）模拟试卷 100及答案与解析 一、 PART V WRITING 1 Could introducing disincentives to fat consumption curb the obesity epidemic? Should a flat tax on food items high ( in excess of 20% of the daily requirements) on saturated fats, salt and sugar be implemented? The following are opinions from different si
2、des. Read the excerpts carefully and write your response in about 300 words, in which you should: 1. summarize briefly the different opinions; 2. give your comment. Marks will be awarded for content relevance, content sufficiency, organization and language quality. Failure to follow the above instru
3、ctions may result in a loss of marks. Finlesh The obesity epidemic is taking an enormous toll on global medical costs. In the US, alone the health care costs attributable to either direct or indirect consequences of obesity have been estimated at $ 147bn. Put into context, this amounts to roughly 9%
4、 of the health spending in the US. Thus, it becomes increasingly clear that due to the substantial cost obesity presents to the society, individual choices that might lead to excessive weight gain, can no longer be considered as solely individual in nature. Therefore, the government makes its action
5、 legal by introducing a form of a flat tax in order to dissuade the population from becoming obese and cover the increasing societal costs that the obese individuals are responsible for. Tiffin Other than the economic reasons for such behavior, it could be argued that it is also a thing of habit and
6、 culture: fast fatty food is quick, accessible and tasty. Thus while a tax might be useful in reducing things such as the use of cigarettes which are at heart an unnecessary “luxury“ and thus more easily affected by the price eating food, whether junk or not, is necessary. It also seems that the kin
7、d of fast fatty food is fulfilling a specific need, a need for a quick, tasty and filling meal, something people consider worth paying good money for. Altman There is ample precedent in the form of other “sin“ taxes. A sin tax refers to fees tacked on to popular vices like drinking, gambling and smo
8、king. Given the success achieved with uprooting this societal vice, which on a number of counts is similar to the unhealthy food one, we should employ this tried and true strategy to combat the obesity epidemic. Wilkinson A flat tax infringes on individual choice. Protecting the individual should go
9、 no further than the protection against the actions of a third person. For instance, we can all agree that the government should put measures in place to protect us from thieves. But should it also protect us from frivolous spending? Limit us in the number of credit cards we can own? Tell us how we
10、can invest our money? Burns A flat tax levels out the playing field for healthier food. An important reason why people continuously turn to unhealthy fat, sugar and salt laden food, is the simple fact that its often cheaper than a more wholesome meal comprised at least in part of fresh produce. Thus
11、 it is only reasonable to levy a tax against unhealthy, fatty food in order to give healthy food a fighting chance. Stracansky It hits the most vulnerable part of the society hardest. The practical consequence of an additional tax on what the government considers fatty unhealthy food will disproport
12、ionately affect the poorest part of the population, who often turn to such food due to economic constraints. People keep turning to junk food simply because they are poor and cannot afford the more expensive fresh produce. Write your response on ANSWER SHEET FOUR. 2 It is commonly believed that one
13、needs higher education in order to succeed, but is college education really necessary? Is a university degree a prerequisite to success? Read the excerpts carefully and write your response in about 300 words, in which you should: 1. summarize briefly the different opinions; 2. give your comment. Mar
14、ks will be awarded for content relevance, content sufficiency, organization and language quality. Failure to follow the above instructions may result in a loss of marks. Linda (China) I am in college but find the information I am being taught pretty much useless in the real world. Attending college
15、is necessary to get a job in todays world but the actual information learned is a waste of time, and it is getting tough to land a good job even with a bachelors degree. Kaplooie (Canada) Does a college degree guarantee someone is necessarily better? Absolutely not. But put yourself in the place of
16、the hiring manager. If you have the choice of two people you dont really know, are you going to hire the one with the college degree or the one without? If you can afford it, get the college degree. Even if you never use it, it will forever prevent someone from questioning your educational backgroun
17、d. Vivienne (France) I think college education is essential in life but it is not a must. Four years study in college is a precious experience since we spend our best and most productive years in college. I have noticed that a college degree may offer opportunities. However, wages you will get in th
18、e future depend on many other factors such as your personality, competence and in some cases, good luck. Kerrie(the US) Attending college is a worthwhile endeavor. In the modern American job market it has become nearly impossible to pursue a lifelong career that pays well and offers stability and th
19、e possibility of promotion without a college degree. This means even those who struggle with student loans, but complete degrees, are still better off in the long run than their peers who did not attend college. Anderson (Germany) I think college education is worthy. At university, people should be
20、taught how to think, how to analyze, how to solve problems, increase interaction between lecturers and students, more than just listen. Students can learn to follow their dreams by investing time, effort and money on their goals at university. Msacks(theUS) College is for some people; its not for al
21、l. Weve been brainwashed that the only way to be successful is to go to college, and that degrees translate into success. If you want to be a doctor, lawyer, or other fields that require degrees, go for it. My first 2. 5 years of work experience helped me 1,000 times more than my 5 years of college
22、getting my bachelors and masters degree. But if you really are a self-motivated, self-directed worker, college can be a hindrance rather than a help. Weld (the UK) There are many paths. We should not push every kid into college. Some should go to college, others to high tech vocational training, and
23、 others, maybe straight into business. Write your response on ANSWER SHEET FOUR. 3 Many parents have to think hard about the gifts that their children should give teachers on Teachers Day. But should teachers accept these gifts from parents or their students? Read the excerpts carefully and write yo
24、ur response in about 300 words, in which you should: 1. summarize briefly the opinions about this issue; 2. give your comment. Marks will be awarded for content relevance, content sufficiency, organization and language quality. Failure to follow the above instructions may result in a loss of marks.
25、Ave (the UK) I find the concept of Teachers Day a bit odd. It is not something that happens in the UK as far as I know. In the UK, acceptance of gifts by teachers is strictly prohibited, especially gifts that have been purchased or giving cash as a gift. Obviously, if a child bestows a gift that he
26、has made by himself to the teacher then that can be considered an act of endearment. To refuse in this case would probably do more harm to the child. Ted (the UK) In my school in England teachers may receive a few small gifts ( usually chocolates) at the very end of a school year, but usually these
27、are given to the most popular female teachers. In no way are they intended as a bribe but an expression of liking, and as a goodbye gift. In China, I was delighted to receive little gifts: sweets and flowers, at this time last year, and gifts and thanks from the school. I must agree that some parent
28、s in China hold that they give teachers expensive gifts for the sake of their children. One father sent a van full of boxes of expensive cakes as gifts for all the teachers in one grade. Such gifts do nothing to induce teachers to give more attention to his child, yet are clearly seen as some sort o
29、f bribe. The most precious gifts are little things that students have bought or made by themselves as genuine offers of thanks and friendship. Seneca (China) I think gifts given to teachers are not the ideal way of showing a form of deference; it would be much better if teachers were treated with th
30、e respect they deserve throughout the whole year. If a Teachers Day is needed it should be held in a uniform manner, possibly as a national holiday. Patrick (the US) Instead of buying gifts, why not encourage children to make small gifts, drawing or paper flowers, or even a simple card? A small gift
31、 of love should be the greatest gift of all to a good teacher. I got one, and nothing could make me happier. Mess (the US) Yes, but not necessarily for special care. When I was in school some parents used to give gifts at the end of the school year. As it was Christmas season, many people exchange g
32、ifts and in this case some parents give gifts to teachers to show their appreciation for their efforts. I dont think giving gifts before the work has been done or completed is a good idea. The teachers should do their job without expecting any monetary benefits from parents. Teaching system should b
33、e equal for everybody, and shouldnt involve special care or extra things. Sivester (the US) In Massachusetts, its OK to give a gift to your teacher. However, if the gift costs more than the allowed amount, the teacher cannot accept it. Tammy (Singapore) It is simply a matter of ethics. If teachers s
34、how favoritism based on a gift they have received from a student or for any other reasons, then they need to be reprimanded. The school system should have confidence on the teachers. I see nothing wrong with showing appreciation to our teachers for what they have done. Write your response on ANSWER
35、SHEET FOUR. 4 In recent years, waves of Chinese families choose to send their children abroad to study. Is it a good idea? Read the excerpt carefully and write your response in about 300 words, in which you should: 1. summarize briefly the authors opinion about this issue; 2. give your comment. Mark
36、s will be awarded for content relevance, content sufficiency, organization and language quality. Failure to follow the above instructions may result in a loss of marks. Georgia on Their Minds Millions of Chinese have dreamed of attending Harvard University. Harvard Girl, a how-to manual published in
37、 2000 by the parents of one successful applicant, was a national bestseller. Georgia Institute of Technology, a prestigious university in Atlanta, has enjoyed less name-recognition. Yet this is fast changing: the number of Chinese applicants to Georgia Tech has surged, from 33 in 2007 to 2,309 last
38、year. Some applicants are from the best schools in China, and all are ready to pay around $44,000 (for yearly fees and housing costs) the equivalent of nearly ten times the average annual disposable income of urban households. The ambitions of Chinese students are shifting: no longer are they attrac
39、ted just by the glittering names. Pursuit of education abroad is becoming an end in itself. Universities far less renowned than Georgia Tech are reaping the benefits. More than 800,000 Chinese went abroad to study at all levels in 2012 and 2013. At the end of 2013 nearly 1.1m Chinese were studying a
40、broad. China has long been the largest source of foreign students enrolled in higher education globally, with its share rising steeply. Since at least 2009 China has provided the most foreign students not just to the English-speaking countries of the developed world but also to numerous others inclu
41、ding France, Germany, Italy, Japan and South Korea. A fast-growing number of families are sending their children to America earlier to study as well. In 2013 about 32,000 Chinese received visas for study at secondary schools in America, up from just 639 in 2005. The growth has occurred despite a ste
42、ep decline since 2010 in the number of Chinese aged between 18 and 22, from 121m to 89m this year. Several converging trends explain this. One is growing demand for education beyond the compulsory nine years. In 2011 nearly 25m Chinese were enrolled in senior secondary school, more than twice as man
43、y as in 2000. Helped by a rapid increase in recent years in university places, the number of undergraduates has soared. But the quality of instruction is poor at all but a handful of universities, where a total of just a few thousand places are available each year. As well as its Ivy League colleges
44、, America has dozens of high-quality private universities and large colleges funded by states, such as Georgia Tech, which are world class. Another trend is growing middle-class wealth: many more Chinese families can now afford to send their children abroad. They prefer a well-rated university overs
45、eas to a second-tier option at home. Their choices are swayed by an educational system in China which many regard as too rigid. The world has also become more welcoming: visas to study have become easier for Chinese to obtain in many developed countries, especially America. The government, eager to
46、nurture foreign-educated talent familiar with cutting-edge technology and Western ways of doing business, has reason to encourage the outflow. While the number heading overseas to study has been growing quickly, the number coming back has grown even faster; lured by good job prospects in a buoyant e
47、conomy. More than 350,000 Chinese returned from overseas study in 2013, up from just 20,000 ten years earlier. The growth rate in the numbers going abroad to study may prove difficult to sustain at such high levels in the years ahead. The number of college-age Chinese has been shrinking since 2008,
48、and will continue to do so until 2021, when there will be about 20 m fewer people aged between 18 and 22 than now. Write your response on ANSWER SHEET FOUR. 专业英语八级（作文）模拟试卷 100答案与解析 一、 PART V WRITING 1 【正确答案】 Should a Flat Tax on Food Items High on Saturated Fats, Salt and Sugar Be Implemented? Overw
49、eight and obesity are the fifth leading risk for global deaths. Concerns about the long-term health consequences of being overweight have ignited a debate about flat tax that levies on the food items high on saturated fats, salt and sugar. In fact, the policy is of no validity in that it neglects the hidden need for fast fatty food, without the adequate education of a more significant healthy lifestyle. Those who support the policy propose the legitimate reason of the tax for reducing the public burden of the immense health costs linked to a choice to consume a f
