Directions:

    In this part, you are to write an essay of about 200 words within 40 minutes. Your essay should cover all the information provided in the bar charts and meet the requirements below.

    1. Interpret the pictures above.
    2. Give your reasons for the increase in population.
    3. Draw your own conclusion.

    根据图中所给的数字, 从人类生活的初期到 1830年地球人口达到了10亿。 那表明至少有 200万年的时间间隔。后来世界人口迅速增长, 到 1930 年达到 20 亿。到 1960 年又增加了 10亿, 其间只有 30年时间, 从那时起, 全球人口一直在上升, 1975年总计为 40亿, 只有 15年又增加了 10亿。

    我认为, 世界人口据增的原因至少有三点。首先, 在许多国家, 尤其是发展中国家出生率持续上升。 一般来说, 那里的人持有这样的看法, 孩子们费不了多少钱, 当孩子长大工作了, 就能挣钱, 当父母亲老了, 孩子们会照料他们。 其次, 有些不发达国家结婚年龄在下降，这也促使了人口的上升。最后，许多发达国家中的死亡率稳步下降, 因为人民生活水平提高了, 卫生保健改善了。

    依我看, 人口增长的主要原因与其说是出生率的上升, 还不如说是由于医疗保健的改善使死亡率下降了。

    According to the figures given in the bar charts, it took from the beginning of human life to the year 1830 for the population of the earth to reach one billion. That represents a time span of at least two million years. Then the world population increased rapidly, reaching two billion in 1930. The next billion was added to it by 1960, only thirty years. From then on the global population was on the rise, amounting to 4 billion in 1975, which was another billion people in only 15 years.

    There are at least three reasons, I think, for the sharp increase in world population. In the first place, the birth rate continues to climb in many countries, especially in developing ones. Generally speaking, people there hold the opinion that children don’t cost much and when they get old enough to work they will bring in money and that when parents are old, they will take care of them. Secondly, the marriage age in some of the underdeveloped countries is going down, which also contributes to the rise in population there. Finally, the death rate in most developed countries declines steadily because people’s standards of living are raised and health care improves.

    In my opinion, the chief reason for the population growth is not so much a rise in birth rates as a fall in death rates as a result of improvements in medical care. (229 words)

    V. 硕士研究生英语入学考试短文写作的基本模式: (仅供参考，使用时务必根据命题要求做相应调整!)

(一) 描述图表性议论文

    As is shown in the picture, ....     From the picture we can also see that ...     According to the information conveyed by the picture, we can deduce that …         It is clear that the picture implies … because we tend to (do) …

    There are at least two good reasons for this phenomenon.  On the one hand, ...      Let’s have an example to illustrate it.   On the other hand, ... is due to the fact that ...     In addition, ... is responsible for ...     Maybe there are some other reasons to show ...      But it is generally believed that the above mentioned reasons are commonly acceptable.

    As far as I am concerned , ...       So my conclusion is that ...        I am sure my opinion is both sound and well-grounded.      (114 words)

(二) 一般性议论文

    As is known to all, it is important to be /do...  I think the measures we need to take are as follows.   For one thing, ...... For another, ....      Let's take ... for example …      From what I have mentioned above we can see that without ...   we cannot ......     It is obvious that ... plays an important part in ...

    Different people, however, have different opinions on this matter.  Some people think that ...      According to them, all of us should ...    Others argue that ...    In their opinion, nobody can ... without ...
   It seems to us that compared with the first standpoint, the second one is much more reasonable ….    There is no doubt that ...    As a consequence, ...

    In short, I firmly support the view that ...    It is because ...   So my conclusion is that ....     (123 words)

(三) 应用文格式示例

1. A letter of application (申请信)

Dear Sir or Madam,

    I’m writing to you to inquire if there would be any position available for me to work as an English teacher in your department. Please allow me to give you my brief reference.  …

   …

    I’m looking forward to your kind early reply. (or Your kind early reply would be very much appreciated.) If you need any further information, please feel free to contact me.

    Many thanks.

Yours sincerely,

Li Ming

 2. A letter of complaint (投诉信)

Dear Sir or Madam,

    I am writing to you to complain of the X Chemical Works, which seriously pollutes the city environment. The major problems are as follows. In the first place, …      Secondly, …           Finally, ….         As a result, ….

    I think several urgent measures should be taken to solve the problems. On the one hand, …         On the other hand, …
 
    It is my sincere hope that the pollution problems caused by the works will be looked into thoroughly and solved as soon as possible. I’m looking forward to your early reply.

Thanks.

Yours truly,

Li Ming

    注意：考试中的书信作文重在测试考生的书面表达能力，而不是书信的格式，因此试题往往只要求考生写出正文部分。书信作文的命题形式一般是给出英语或汉语的写作提纲或其它指令性要求。请参考今年试题的命题形式和要求。

    写作能力培养的途径：1. 总结“复习指导”一书中“写作”一章内近5年考研写作参考作文的基本框架、结构和常用句型。 2. 准备一个小本随时记录所读到的优秀句子、句型，并经常背记。  3. 对照参考作文的英汉文本，总结两种语言在表达同一思想时的异同，然后朗读、背记。4. 改写（加长或缩短）书中或讲义中的参考作文，注意段落结构。