2013年12月大学英语四级写作训练5

　　Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the topic Studying Abroad. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below:

　　1)目前很多中国学生出国留学，

　　2)出国留学的好处，

　　3)我的看法。

　　Sample

　　Nowadays, going abroad for studies is enjoying a striking popularity among adolescents. Importance should be attached to studying abroad.

　　There are a great many advantages of studying overseas. First and foremost, living and studying abroad offers students a different world. On a university campus, international students are likely to encounter their counterparts from various countries and areas and are exposed to diverse ideas and values. What is more, overseas experience is the best opportunity for the real-life use of foreign languages. There is no better opportunity to improve second-language skills than living in the country in which it is spoken.

　　Generally peaking, it is my view that although going abroad is expensive and perhaps painful, the payoff is worthwhile. In the first place, in addition to knowledge, overseas students can gain precious experiences that those who stay at home will never have. Furthermore, overseas experience, frustrating and painful as it may be, is conducive to the growth of adolescents.

　　Invitation Letter 　　邀请函

　　January 15, 1981

　　Dear Tien- Tien (Sweet-Sweet),

　　How are you? Have you made any plans for The winter vacation yet? I have been thinking of Going to the east coast and staying in Hualien for two days. How about joining me? We could Make it an around-the-island tour. If time is Short, we could fly down to Hualien and then Take the train back along the eastern coast. There Will be lots of beautiful scenic spots for pictures! Give me a call or write me a note as soon as you decide.

　　Yours affectionately

　　My Great- Grand father

　　曾祖父

　　I have two great-grandfathers, one from my mother's side. My father's grandfather is now97 years old and lives. In Toufen Although his eyesight and hearing is poor, his mind Is still sharp and clear. He always asks each visitor many pertinent questions and shares his ideas and opinions. He often talks with a loud voice and with much enthusiasm and energy. He can remember all He can remember all the names of his relatives and friends. In his youth he was trained to be a medical doctor; through his life he was an avid reader.

　　My Grandmother's First Trip on the Freeway

　　奶奶初走高速公路

　　Usually my grandmother comes to Taipei on a slow train three or four times a year. She is eighty-three years old and still very healthy and active. Her eyes and mind are still as clear and fast as her small great-grandchildren. One day we agreed to go home with my grandmother by car on the freeway. She was very excited and kept talking about everything she saw and heard. She talked about the flowers on the small bushes we passed and how smooth the car ride was. She commented about the toll charge and that the freeway was the best road she had traveled on in her life. By the time she got home she was still talking about how fast she got home.

　　My Friend Hsiao-mei

　　我的朋友小梅

　　Whenever I have a party, Hsiao-mei is always the first person I invite. She is such fun. I know that she will be able to make my other guests laugh. She does not get upset if somebody tries to tease or make fun of her, either. Hsiao-mei can also be very serious and can discuss almost anything you can think of. If it gets late before the party ends, I can always depend on Hsiao-mei to clean up the house. She never says no, even if she is very tired and would rather go straight home to bed.

　　The Fox and the Grapes

　　狐狸和葡萄

　　Some of the stories we know and like are many hundreds of years old. Among them are Aesop's fables. A fable is a short story made up to teach a lesson. Most fables are about animals. In them animals talk. Many of our common sayings come from fables. “Sour Grapes” is one of them. It comes from the fable “The Fox and the Grapes.” In the story a fox saw a bunch of grapes hanging from a vine. They looked ripe and good to eat. But they were rather high. He jumped and jumped, but he could not reach them. At last he gave up. As he went away he said. “Those grapes were sour anyway.” Now we say, “Sour Grapes!” when someone pretends he does not want something he tried to get but couldn't.