Practice 16
Directions:
A. Study the following graph carefully and write an essay of about 200 words.
B. Your essay should meet the requirements below:
(1) describe the graph and interpret its meaning.
(2) give your comments on this phenomenon.
C. Your essay must be written clearly on the ANSWER SHEET. (20 points)
范文：
Population Control
Nowadays, one of the most serious problems for China is the growth of its population. It is illustrated by the graph that Chinas population has reached 1.3 billion. It is also reported that the number will keep increasing in the coming years.
As the problem remains, some consequences may naturally follow. For one thing, the rapid growth of the population has caused great pressure on the supply of food, water, fuel and housing, and has consequently brought about a lot of problems to both the society and the peoples life. For another, the large population has led to widespread unemployment in cities and, as a result, the society is facing much more instability. Finally, the large population has also caused continuing poverty in densely populated areas, and has made it harder for children from poor families to receive education. It is obvious that the rapid growth of population should be controlled by the government.
To solve the problem, both the government and the general public should make greater efforts. The government should do more to implement the family planning policy. The public should be informed about the serious problems caused by large population.
［分析讲解］
本文开头先总述图表所反映的现象，然后对图表加以说明。
Useful Expressions:
(1) Nowadays, one of the most serious problems for China is the growth of its population.
(2) It is illustrated by the graph that...
(3) As the problem remains, some consequences may naturally follow.
(4) For one thing,... For another,... Finally,...
(5) the rapid growth of population
(6) to cause great pressure on
(7) has consequently brought about a lot of problems to...
(8) to lead to widespread unemployment in cities and, as a result,...
(9) It is obvious that...
(10) To solve the problem, both the government and the general public should make greater efforts.
Practice 17
Directions:
A. Study the following graph carefully and write an essay of about 200 words.
B. Your essay should meet the requirements below:
(1) describe the graph and interpret its meaning.
(2) give your comments on this phenomenon.
C. Your essay must be written clearly on the ANSWER SHEET. (20 points)
范文：
Traveling on Your Own
Traveling on ones own is growing more and more popular in China. Instead of joining a travel agency and setting out in a group, many people, especially the young, enjoy traveling on their own. As this graph shows, the number of group travelers and selftravelers are both on the rapid increase. But people traveling on their own see their number increasing much faster than those of group travel. In 1996, there were already some people choosing to travel on their own, but in 2002 that number reached almost 40 million.
Traveling on ones own has many visible advantages. You can choose your own favorable trip itinerary and work out the travel schedule by yourself. You will be free to decide where you will go and how long you will stay there. Travel expense will be lower because you can save unnecessary spending and choose economical means of transport. You can avoid unwanted shopping trips organized by the travel agency.
Besides these advantages, traveling on your own provides opportunities to chasten your personality and character. During this selfhelp trip you will test your ability of independence, strengthen your selfprotection awareness and improve your decisionmaking ability. As far as I know, just because of these exercises and practices, many people prefer traveling on their own rather than traveling in a group.
In short, selftravel is a new form of spending holidays which offers people a chance to enjoy the happiness and freedom during the journey. This kind of traveling is not only a test of ones inclination but also a great challenge to ones ability.
［分析讲解］
本文采用间接开头法，即先对某种现象进行描述，然后用数字加以说明，并且对两种形式进行对比。最后引出中心论点。
Useful Expressions:
(1) Traveling on ones own is growing more and more popular in China.
(2) Traveling on ones own has many visible advantages.
(3) to choose your own favorable trip itinerary and work out the travel schedule by yourself
(4) Besides these advantages, traveling on ones own provides opportunities to chasten ones personality and character.
(5) to test your ability of independence, strengthen your selfprotection awareness and improve your decisionmaking ability
(6) Many people prefer traveling on their own rather than traveling in a group.
(7) In short, ...
(8) This kind of traveling is not only a test of ones inclination but also a great challenge to ones abilily.
Practice 18
Directions:
A. Study the following graphs carefully and write an essay of about 200 words.
B. Your essay should meet the requirements below:
(1) describe the graphs and interpret their meanings.
(2) point out the problem and give your comments.
C. Your essay must be written clearly on the ANSWER SHEET. (20 points)
范文：
Fresh Water Supply
What are the prospects of Chinas fresh water supply in the coming decades? Lets take a look at the figures in the graph. China had just enough fresh water in 2000. But, with population increase and economic development in the coming decades, the gap between demand and supply of fresh water will be widened: roughly a shortage of 30 billion cubic meters in 2010, of 35 billion cubic meters in 2020 and of 150 billion cubic meters by the year of 2030.
What are the causes for the insufficiency of fresh water? Firstly, ecological change, particularly in northwest China, has brought about long spells of drought. And in dry seasons, many people in the droughtstricken areas could barely find drinking water for themselves and their livestock. Secondly, water pollution makes fresh water undrinkable or even poisonous. Thirdly, the growing population consumes more fresh water than ever before.
Facing the increasingly serious shortage of fresh water, both the government and the citizens should take effective measures. The government should establish rules to improve the ecological environment. Factories that drain polluted water into rivers and lakes should be severely punished or fined, and deadline should be set for them to build water purifying facilities. We must economize our use of water, speed up water price reform and establish a fair and sustainable price system. Last but not least, birth control policy should be more strictly pursued, particularly in densely populated areas and rural areas.
［分析讲解］
(1) 本文开头以提问的方式引出主题，较有新意。
(2) 第二段列举淡水不足的原因。
(3) 文章最后提出政府和民众应采取有效措施以缓解淡水紧缺的问题。
Useful Expressions:
(1) What are the prospects of Chinas fresh water supply in the coming decades?
(2) the insufficiency of fresh water
(3) the droughtstricken areas
(4) to take effective measures
(5) to improve the ecological environment
(6) to drain polluted water into rivers
(7) to build water purifying facilities
(8) to economize use of fresh water, speed up water price reform and establish a fair and sustainable price system
Practice 19
Directions:
A. Study the following graph carefully and write an essay of about 200 words.
B. Your essay should meet the requirements below:
(1) describe the graph and interpret its meaning.
(2) point out the problem and give your comments.
C. Your essay must be written clearly on the ANSWER SHEET. (20 points)
范文：
This graph shows the changes of the number of households with personal computers in China from 1990 to 2000. As can be seen from the graph, an increasing number of households own personal computers. In 1990, only two families in every one thousand possessed a personal computer. But, in 1995, about 5% of all the families in China have PCs, which is twentyfive times the number of that in 1990. And starting from 1995, there was a steady increase in the number of personal computers and it reached its height by the end of 2000, with 20％ of the families owning personal computers.
The growth of PCs in Chinese households is probably due to the following reasons. The first is that more and more parents buy computers for their children in order to create a good studying condition. Parents are obliged to buy a computer for their children, because schools, be it primary or middle schools, offer computer lessons. The second is that some people use computer as a means of communication. They use it, via the Internet, to get information about the outside world and to communicate with friends and colleagues. The third is that more and more people, especially the young, have realized the importance of computer in their life, so they install personal computers in their home.
This is an information age. To study, we need a computer; to communicate, we need a computer; to know the world, we need a computer. A computer has bridged us with the whole world.
［分析讲解］
本文的开头先归纳图表的意思，然后对一些典型数字加以说明。也是图表作文的一种常见方式。
Useful Expressions:
(1) This graph shows...
(2) The first is...The second is...The third is...
(3) be it primary or middle schools
(4) This is an information age.
Practice 20
Directions:
A. Study the following graph carefully and write an essay in about 200 words.
B. Your essay should cover all the information provided and meet the requirements below:
(1) interpret the following graph.
(2) possible reasons for the phenomenon.
(3) your comments.
C. Your essay must be written neatly on the ANSWER SHEET. (20 points)
范文：
Chinese Society Will Be Getting More and More Aged
From the figures shown in the graph we can come to the conclusion that the increase of the percentage of the aged is becoming greater and greater. Those at the age of 65 and over made up about 5.5% of the population in 1991 and in 2000 the figure amounted to 7%, and in 2037 it will reach 28%. China now ranks and will still rank the first in the world in the number of the aged.
There may be more than one factor that contributes to this trend. First of all, with Chinas family planning policy, the birth rate has dramatically dropped, which results in a low proportion of youngsters. Secondly, medical care in China has been considerably improved which reduced the mortality rate at birth and increased average life expectancy. Furthermore, by 2010 those who were born in the birth peak years of the 1950s and 1960s will enter their old age, thus accelerating the trend.
In short, China is moving toward an aged nation. If we do not take measures to control the population, some social problems may consequently follow. So the fact that Chinese society is getting more and more aged should arouse peoples attention.
［分析讲解］
(1) 开始段先由图表得出结论： the increase of the percentage of the aged is becoming greater and greater，然后描述图表加以论证。
(2) 中间段通过列举法，分析中国社会老龄化的原因。
(3) 结束段对全文进行总结。
Useful Expressions:
(1) come to the conclusion that
(2) make up
(3) amount to
(4) family planning policy
(5) result in
(6) arouse sb.s attention
Practice 21
Directions:
A. Study the following graph carefully and write an essay in about 200 words.
B. Your essay should cover all the information provided and meet the requirements below:
(1) interpret the following graphs.
(2) possible reasons for the phenomenon.
(3) your comments.
C. Your essay must be written neatly on the ANSWER SHEET. (20 points)
范文：
Nowadays, there is a tendency that more Chinese females, especially in some big cities, are choosing the single life. Just as the graphs depict in Beijing, there were more than 1 million singles on record in 2002, up from 200,000 in 1990. Meanwhile, in Shanghai, the number of new couples registering went from 120,000 in 1990, to below 100,000 in 2002.
The growing number of single women in the big cities lies in the following reasons. For one thing, the rapid social development poses both greater challenges and greater opportunities for females. For fear of missing out on career opportunities, many women choose the single life. For another, Chinese women are becoming more aware of a sense of freedom and independence. Some even have greater professional skills, ability, knowledge, or wealth than men. Besides, many men feel threatened by a highlyeducated woman and hesitated to marry such a lady.
Being one of the highlyeducated women, I strongly call for the equality to both the male and the female. On the one hand, women should respect and understand men, no matter at home or at work; on the other hand, men should get rid of the traditional concept that males shouldnt marry a female who is “more capable” than they are. In a word, both men and women should reestimate their respective role in forming a family.
［分析讲解］
(1) 开始段先采用间接法指明大城市中单身女子越来越多的现象具有普遍性，然后描述图表。
(2) 中间段分析产生这一普遍现象的原因。
(3) 结束段提出自己的看法： 未婚男女都应重新审视各自在家庭中扮演的角色。
Useful Expressions:
(1) Nowadays, there is a tendency that more Chinese females, especially in some big cities, are choosing the single life.
(2) Just as the graphs depict in Beijing,...Meanwhile, in Shanghai,...
(3) There were more than 1 million singles on record in 2002, up from 200,000 in 1990.
(4) The number of new couples registering went from 120,000 in 1990, to below 100,000 in 2002.
(5) The growing number of single women in the big cities lies in the following reasons.
(6) The rapid social development poses both greater challenges and greater opportunities for females.
(7) for fear of missing out on career opportunities
(8) are becoming more aware of a sense of freedom and independence
(9) Many men feel threatened by a highlyeducated woman.
(10) Being one of the highlyeducated women, I strongly call for...
(11) On the one hand, women...; on the other hand,...
(12) In a word, both men and women should reestimate their respective role in forming a family.
Practice 22
Directions:
A. Study the following graph carefully and write an essay in about 200 words.
B. Your essay should cover all the information provided and meet the requirements below:
(1) interpret the following graph.
(2) possible reasons for the phenomenon.
(3) your comments.
C. Your essay must be written neatly on the ANSWER SHEET. (20 points)
范文：
Chinas Divorce Rate
In recent years, China has experienced a dramatic increase in divorce rate. As is shown in the chart, during the last decade, the divorce rate has increased by as much as it had in the previous thirty years. For instance, about 9% of people got divorced in 1996, compared with 3% in 1976.
There may be several possible reasons for the increasing divorce rate in Chinese society. First of all, with the improvement of living standard, young people put a higher demand on marriage. They want to have much in common with their lifelong companions. Once they find their passion is over, their marriage is over. Of course, this is an irresponsible attitude toward marriage. Second, legal changes have simplified divorce procedures, and removed barriers to divorce. More and more people, both young and old, are now benefiting from, or even taking the advantage of the new law which for the first time allows a couple to get divorced merely for the absence of love. In addition, the change in personal economic status also facilitates divorce.
Whatever changes lead to the increase of divorce rate in China, the fact and the statistics reflect the change in peoples traditional view of marriage and family life.
［分析讲解］
(1) 开始段采用先得出结论点明中心论点，然后再描述图表的方式。也可反过来，即先描述图表，再得出结论。
(2) 中间段通过列举法解释离婚率上升的原因。
(3) 结束段是对全文的总结。也可提出建议，如怎样对待婚姻中的问题。
Useful Expressions:
(1) a dramatic increase in
(2) As is shown in the chart that...
(3) compare with
(4) First of all,...
(5) with the improvement of
(6) living standard
(7) put a higher demand on
(8) have much in common
(9) benefit from
(10) take the advantage of
(11) for the absence of love