2016年9月托福独立写作作文真题（四）

　　Students should spend at least one year workingor travelling before they go to the university.

　　【题目大意】：中学生是否应该在上大学之前拿出至少一年去工作或旅行。主观点可以同意，因为一让学生放松，二可以让学生学到新的技能。

　　Under the educational system of many westerncountries, taking a gap year, a period of time whenstudents can take a break from formal education, hasbecome quite common. When it comes to the pros and cons of spending at least one yearworking or travelling before attending university, people’ preference may vary from one toanother. As for me, it is advisable for high schoolers to have a year off to work or travel, in orderto relax themselves and gain new skills.

　　In the first place, spending a year travelling will provide high school students a good chanceto escape the daily grind. As is common sense, the life of high schooler are filled withcountless assignments, various quiz and exams, which nearly drive them to be stressed out. Obviously, what they need most is the vent for releasing all the tensions and pressures accuringin the rapid rhythm campus life. Consequently, taking a break from educaion and going awayfor while can fulfill this function well. During the gap year, students can surf in Hawaii, wakeboarding in Italy, go bungee jumping in New Zealand and enjoy the sunbath on the seashore ofMiami. Such a short escape from the daily bustle and hustle will be conducive to their mentaland physical wellbeing. Not only this, but travelling during a gap year can provide a renewedvigor for stuy and a more focused approach to learning.

　　In the second place, taking a year off to do some internship can help high school studentsacquire more new pratical skills and thus adapt to the university life more smoothly. Manygap year students choose to do voluntary work. This could include teaching in the mountainsin Nepal, a conservation project in Madagascar, an expedition in Costa Rica or an internshipin Japan. All these experiences of taking voluntary jobs during a gap year will provide you withmuch more than any classroom setting ever can. We can learn a lot in the classroom, but itisn't until we put it into practice in the real world that we really understand what's going on. To be specific, throughout school we are surrounded by the same folks at similar ages. However, while working in a company, we are bound to discover others, make new friends, andinteract with people from all walks of life, which will defnitely hone our social skills. It isundoubted that people with strong interpersonal competence can enjoy great popularityamong classmates and teachers.

　　In a nutshell, it is a wise move to spend at least one year travelling or working for the sakeof taking a break from daily routine and acquire new skills.