¡¡¡¡Section ¢ó Writing

¡¡¡¡Part A

¡¡¡¡51.

¡¡¡¡Direction:You have bought a brand-new computer in a store. But much to your disappointment, it could not be properly operated when you got it back. Write a letter to the manager,

¡¡¡¡1) giving complaints,

¡¡¡¡2) describing the problems,

¡¡¡¡3) and asking for some compensations.

¡¡¡¡Part B

¡¡¡¡52.

¡¡¡¡Direction:

¡¡¡¡A cry for Nature Conservation

¡¡¡¡A. Study the following cartoon carefully and write an essay in no less than 200 words.

¡¡¡¡B. Your essay must be written clearly on ANSWER SHEET 2.

¡¡¡¡C. Your essay should meet the requirements below:

¡¡¡¡1) describe the cartoon

¡¡¡¡2) interpret the message conveyed in the picture

¡¡¡¡3) and give your suggestions to remedy the situation

¡¡¡¡Part B (Ò»)

¡¡¡¡Sample One

¡¡¡¡Directions:In the following text, some sentences have been removed. For questions 41-45, choose the most suitable one from the list A-G to fit into each of the numbered blank. There are two extra choices, which do not fit in any of the gaps. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. (10 points)

¡¡¡¡Many of the philosophers we have been reading in class seem to me to be hopelessly dated. Of course, it¡¯s easy to become trapped in writing only for the period a person lives in, and a philosophy is necessarily dependent on the historical situation and the extent of man¡¯s knowledge. (41).

¡¡¡¡However, Victor Hugo said that if he were writing for his own time only, he would have to break his pen and throw it away. (42) . And it seems to me that the most frequent objections to modern and preª²modern philosophers come from the incompatibility of their philosophies with what is considered to be established scientific fact. For instance, Plato¡¯s theory of forms does not, to me, seem to jibe with modern physics and cosmology. And although I can only vaguely glimpse the psychology which underlies Kant, it seems to be highly questionable.

¡¡¡¡(43) .

¡¡¡¡(44) . History is, of course, necessary to any understanding of a philosophy: how it came about, what people did with it, etc. Sartre, although he developed some of his ideas from Nietzsche and Kierkegaard, probably could not have expounded those same ideas of existentialism in their times; Nietzsche, who popularized the idea that ¡°God is dead¡±, could not have written in the time of Descartes; and Descartes could not have expressed his radically individualist ideas during the time of Plato.

¡¡¡¡I suppose that my point, which I am being exceedingly longª²winded about, is that philosophy does not (and should not, and must not) stand apart from the rest of the sciences. (45) . Although the other sciences can provide us with data, observations, and theories, only philosophy can integrate those into a coherent whole, tell us what to do with them, or provide a meaningful context for using these facts in our daily lives.

¡¡¡¡[A] In my view, application of Kant¡¯s epistemology and metaphysics could never produce an artificial intelligence capable of passing a Turing test.

¡¡¡¡[B] Rather, philosophy should be integrated with the rest of the sciences through a method of rational judgment. Rather than sailing behind, or next to but away from, the rest of the sciences, Philosophy should be the flagship of the group.

¡¡¡¡[C] And many of the philosophers who have existed over the course of the centuries have necessarily had to worry about governmental, church, or societal disapproval, censorship, or punishment.

¡¡¡¡[D] After all, physics can give us insights into metaphysics, since both seek different ways to do the same thing; psychology, sociology, anthropology, and archeology can give us insights into epistemology; various ¡°soft¡± sciences dealing with comparative cultures can provide food for thought in ethnics, and so on.

¡¡¡¡[E] Although some philosophical people are not necessarily considered as philosophers today£¬whose work was influential and instrumental in developing one of the social sciences ( psychology, sociology, political science, education) or in advancing theoretical science (what is now called philosophy of science).

¡¡¡¡[F] And so, it seems to me, the best way that a philosopher can keep from being dated is to be aware of scientific knowledge, and integrate it into philosophy. Of course, this necessitates an independent evaluation of the merits and drawbacks of a given scientific idea, which necessitates, in turn, a thorough knowledge of that theory.

¡¡¡¡[G] And so, it seems to me that, in order for a philosopher to be relevant for the future as well as the present, he must take into account all of the objections to his philosophy which can be anticipated at the present time.

¡¡¡¡Sample Two

¡¡¡¡Directions:The following paragraphs are given in a wrong order. For Questions 41-45, you are required to reorganize these paragraphs into a coherent article by choosing from the list A-G to fill in each numbered box. The first and the last paragraphs have been placed for you in Boxes. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. (10 points)

¡¡¡¡[A] Is that what the American viewing public is getting? Perhaps 10% of primeª²time network programming is a happy combination of entertainment and enrichment. There used to be television movies rich in human values, but they have now become an endangered species. I find television too much concerned with what people have and too little concerned with who they are, very concerned with taking care of No. 1 and not at all concerned with sharing themselves with other people. All too often it tells us the half truth we want to hear rather than the whole truth we need to hear.

¡¡¡¡[B] Why is television not more fully realizing its humanizing potential? Is the creative community at fault? Partially. But not primarily. I have lived and worked in that community for 32 years, as both priest and producer. As a group, these people have values. In fact, in Hollywood in recent months, audience enrichment has become the in thing. A coalition of media companies has endowed the Humanitas Prize so that it can recognize and celebrate those who accomplish it.

¡¡¡¡[C] Every good story will not only captivate its viewers but also give them some insight into what it means to be a human being. By so doing, it can help them grow into the deeply centered, sovereignly free, joyously loving human being God made them to be. Meaning, freedom and loveª²the supreme human values. And this is the kind of human enrichment the American viewing public has a right to expect from those who make its entertainment.

¡¡¡¡[D] The problem with American TV is not the lack of storytellers of conscience but the commercial system within which they have to operate. Television in the U.S. is a business. In the past, the business side has been balanced by a commitment to public service. But in recent years the fragmentation of the mass audience, huge interest payments and skyrocketing production costs have combined with the FCC¡¯s abdication of its responsibility to protect the common good to produce an almost total preoccupation with the bottom line. The networks are struggling to survive. And that, the statistics seem to indicate, is mindless, heartless, escapist fare. If we are dissatisfied with the moral content of what we are invited to watch, I think we should begin by examining our own consciences. When we tune in, are we ready to plunge into reality, so as to extract its meaning, or are we hoping to escape into a sedated world of illusion? And if church leaders want to elevate the quality of the country¡¯s entertainment, they should forget about boycotts, production codes and censorship. They should work at educating their people in media literacy and at mobilizing them to support quality shows in huge numbers.

¡¡¡¡[E] It is not a question of entertainment or enrichment. These are complementary concerns and presuppose each other. The story that entertains without enriching is superficial and escapist. The story that enriches without entertaining is simply dull. The story that does both is a delight.

¡¡¡¡[F] That is the only sure way to improve the moral content of America¡¯s entertainment.

¡¡¡¡[G] Despite questions of the motivation behind them, the attacks by the President and the Vice President on the moral content of television entertainment have found an echo in the chambers of the American soul. Many who reject the messengers still accept the message. They do not like the moral tone of American TV. In our society only the human family surpasses television in its capacity to communicate values, provide role models, form consciences and motivate human behavior. Few educator, church leaders or politicians possess the moral influence of those who create the nation¡¯s entertainment.

¡¡¡¡Order:

¡¡¡¡G 41 42 43 44 45 F

¡¡¡¡Sample Three

¡¡¡¡Direction:You are going to read a text about New Rules for Landing a Job, followed by a list of examples. Choose the best example from the list A-F for each numbered subheading (41-45). There is one extra example which you do not need to use. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. (10 points)

¡¡¡¡When Nick A. Corcodilos started out in the headhunting business 20 years ago, he had a keen eye for tracking talent. From his base in Silicon Valley he would send all-star performers to blue-chip companies like Xerox, IBM and General Electric. But while he would succeed in his part of the hunt, the job-seekers he located would often fail in theirs. They were striking out before, during or after the interview.

¡¡¡¡So instead of simply accounting for talent, Corcodilos began advising job candidates as well. He helped improve their success ratio by teaching them to pursue fewer companies, make the right contacts and deliver what companies are looking for in an interview. In his myth-busting book, Ask the Headhunter (Plume, 1997), Corcodilos has reinvented the rules of the job search, from preparation to interview techniques. Here are his six new principles for successful job hunting:

¡¡¡¡(41) Your resume is meaningless.

¡¡¡¡Headhunters know a resume rarely gets you inside a company. All it does is outline your past-largely irrelevant since it doesn¡¯t demonstrate that you can do the work the hiring manager needs done.

¡¡¡¡(42) Don¡¯t get lost in HR.

¡¡¡¡Headhunters try to get around the humanª²resources department whenever possible.

¡¡¡¡(43) The real matchmaking takes place before the interview.

¡¡¡¡A headhunter sends a candidate into an interview only if he or she is clearly qualified for the position. In your own job hunt, make the same effort to ensure a good fit. Know the parameters of the job when you walk into the interview. Research the company, finding out about its culture, goals, competitors.

¡¡¡¡Remember, the employer wants to hire you.

¡¡¡¡¡°A company holds interviews so it can find the best person for the job,¡± Corcodilos says. The manager will be ecstatic if that person turns out to be youª²because then he or she can stop interviewing and get back to work.

¡¡¡¡(44) Pretend the interview is your first day at work.

¡¡¡¡Most people treat an interview as if it were an interrogation. The employer asks questions, and the candidate gives answers. Headhunters go out of their way to avoid that scenario.

¡¡¡¡(45) Got an offer? Interview the company.

¡¡¡¡When an employer makes an offer, he does more than deliver a title and a compensation packageª²he also cedes part of his control over the hiring process.

¡¡¡¡Once you get that offer, ¡°You have the power,¡± says Corcodilos, to decide whether, and on what terms, you want to hire that company.

¡¡¡¡[A] Consider how Corcodilos coached Gerry Zagorski of Edison, N.J., who was pursuing an opening at AT & T. Zagorski walked over to the vice president¡¯s marker board and outlined the company¡¯s challenges and the steps he would take to increase its profits. Fifteen minutes later, as Zagorski wrote down his estimate of what he would add to the bottom line, he looked up at his interviewer.

¡¡¡¡[B] One of the best ways to learn about a company is to talk to people who work there. Kenton Green of Ann Arbor, Mich., used this technique while completing a doctoral program in electrical engineering and optics at the University of Rochester: ¡°I would find an article published by someone in my field who worked at a company I was interested in. Then I¡¯d call that person and ask to talk, mention my employability and discuss the company¡¯s needs. One of two things happened: I¡¯d either get an interview or learn we weren¡¯t a good match after all.¡±

¡¡¡¡[C] ¡°Most HR departments create an infrastructure that primarily involves processing paper,¡± Corcodilos says. ¡°They package, organize, file and sort you. Then, if you haven¡¯t gotten lost in the shuffle, they might pass you on to a manager who actually knows what the work is all about. While the typical candidate is waiting to be interviewed by HR, the headhunter is on the phone, using a back channel to get to the hiring manager.¡±

¡¡¡¡[D] ¡°At the outset of the interview, the employer controls the offer and the power that comes with it,¡± Corcodilos says. ¡°But upon making an offer, he transfers that power to the candidate. This is a power few people in that situation realize they have. It¡¯s the time for you to explore changing the offer to suit your goals and fully interview the company.¡±

¡¡¡¡[E] ¡°The guy¡¯s jaw was on the floor,¡± Corcodilos says. ¡°He told Zagorski that finishing the interview wouldn¡¯t be necessary. Instead, the VP brought in the rest of his team, and the meeting lasted for two hours.¡±

¡¡¡¡[F] ¡°A resume leaves it up to employers to figure out how you can help their organization,¡± Corcodilos says. ¡°That¡¯s no way to sell yourself.¡±

¡¡¡¡Sample Four

¡¡¡¡Directions:You are going to read a list of headings and a text about Backlogs of History. Choose the most suitable heading from the list A-F for each numbered paragraph (41-45). The first and last paragraphs of the text are not numbered. There is one extra heading which you do not need to use. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. (10 points)

¡¡¡¡[A] Passion for personal and familial archival collection.

¡¡¡¡[B] Reception of a hospital delivery bill.

¡¡¡¡[C] Overabundance of trivial personal documents.

¡¡¡¡[D] Explosion of public documents.

¡¡¡¡[E] It is imperative to put archival policies into perspective.

¡¡¡¡[F] What tactics should be adopted in document-saving?

¡¡¡¡One morning a few years ago an envelope arrived from my parents containing the bill from New Rochelle Hospital for my delivery, in 1952. The contents of a basement or attic were being culled, and the bill had turned up in one of the many cardboard reliquaries that have long lent a kind of ballast to my childhood home. The hospital¡¯s total charge for a five-day stay including drugs and phone calls, came to $187.86. I was amazed at the cost, to be sure. But I was also struck by something else: that among all those decades¡¯ worth of family documents my parents had looked through, the delivery bill was the only thing they thought of sufficient interest to pass along.

¡¡¡¡41

¡¡¡¡At some point most of us realize that having a personal archival strategy is an inescapable aspect of modern life: one has to draw the line somewhere. What should the policy be toward children¡¯s drawings and report cards? Toward personal letters and magazine clippings? People work out answers to such questions, usually erring, I suspect, on the side of overª²accrual of rubbish documents. Almost everyone seems to save ¡ª or ¡°curate,¡± as archaeologist says ¡ª issues of National Geographic. That is why in garbage landfills copies of that magazine are rarely found in isolation; rather, they are found in herds, when an entire collection has been discarded after an owner has died or moved.

¡¡¡¡42

¡¡¡¡I happen to be an admirer of the archiving impulse and an inveterate archivist at the household level. Though not quite one of those people whom public-health authorities seem to run across every few years, with a house in which neatly bundled stacks of newspaper occupy all but narrow aisles, I do tend to save almost everything that is personal and familial, and even to supplement this private hoard with oddities of a more public nature ¡ª a calling card of Thomas Nast¡¯s, for instance, and Kim Philby copy of the Joy of Cooking.

¡¡¡¡43

¡¡¡¡I cannot help wondering, though, whether as a nation we are compiling archives at a rate that will exceed anyone¡¯s ability ever to make sense of them. A number of observers have cited the problem of ¡°information overload¡± as if it were a recent development, largely the consequence of computers. In truth, the archive backlog has been a problem for millennia. Historians obviously have problems when information is scarce, but it¡¯s not hard to see a very different problem emerging as source material becomes spectacularly overabundant.

¡¡¡¡44

¡¡¡¡Leave aside the task of assessing an entire epoch and consider what is required in purely physical terms to preserve even a single prominent person¡¯s lifetime documentary output. Benjamin Disraeli¡¯s correspondence survived down to the level of what today would be an Eª²mail message: ¡°My darling, I shall be home for dinner at 1/2 pt 7. In haste, Your, Dis.¡± Woodrow Wilson left so much behind that the historian Arthur S. Link spent his entire career at Princeton University annotating and publishing Wilson¡¯s personal papers, in sixtyª²nine volumes.

¡¡¡¡45

¡¡¡¡Is it preposterous to begin thinking of some of our archives as the new tels? Tels are the mounds that layer upon layer of former cities make; they are everywhere in the Middle East, harboring the archaeological record of thousands of years of human history. But there are too many of them for more than a few ever to be excavated systematically and understanding what¡¯s in even those few takes decades if not centuries.

¡¡¡¡Don¡¯t get me wrong: I am not proposing that we discard any thing at all. One rarely knows in advance what will turn out to be of interest or importance and what should have gone directly into the oubliette. It is always delightful when something is discovered. But information does have its natural predators, and it may be that sometimes natural processes work out for the best.