Should standardized tests carry significant weight in the college admissions process, or are they just another number? The following are the supporters’ and opponents’ opinions. Read carefully the opinions from both sides and write your response in about 200 words, in which you should first summarize briefly the opinions from both sides and give your view on the issue.
YES The SAT is the most widely used and most NO The SAT was originally conceived as an heavily researched college admissions test in the objective measure to even the differences in country. In combination with other data, such as a curriculum and grading across the country. But student’s grade-point average, college application objectivity has eroded, while the perceived essays, and letters of recommendation, the SAT has importance of the test has grown. proven to be a valid, fair, and reliable data tool for At Wake Forest University, we saw more college admissions. All of the available research costs than benefits to standardized tests. We supports this point. wanted to signal to prospective students what we The great majority of our nation’s colleges and really care about: four years of high school universities accept the SAT as an integral part of the success in the most rigorous available curriculum, admissions process, and most that require the applied creativity and imagination, and hunger for submission of the SAT do so because they know the opportunity of a Wake Forest education. After they can make better admissions decisions if they careful thought, we made test scores optional---- have as many data as possible about every student and hoped to enroll students with a broader range applicant. of talents, backgrounds, and abilities. Standardized Tests Work!
It is believed that standardized tests such as SAT in America have lost their objectivity while their importance has increased in college admission. This has been proven in Wake Forest University. On the other hand, many colleges and universities accept the grades of standardized tests. It is argued that standardized tests can be properly used as an objective means of recruiting new students and greatly help colleges and universities make decisions about college readiness.
In my opinion, the best way of college admissions is to rely on both standardized tests and other criteria at an appropriate proportion. A broad range of criteria should be considered: personal interviews, reflective essays, letters of recommendation, and a thorough examination of high school curriculum and grades, which reveal more about intellectual ability and curiosity than the score on a test.
In the meanwhile, when standardized tests are administered validly and effectively, they can be a significant tool of enrolling new students into colleges and universities. Especially when grade inflation
has made it difficult to weigh the real value of the GPA of a student, those tests offer a fair and just playing field in the college admissions. Research has clearly shown that SAT is not biased against any ethnic or racial group. Therefore, the availability of accurate test results can greatly aid decision making.
In all, when standardized tests are widely used, other criteria should be proposed to be considered, such as high school records and the pursuit of knowledge. Only in this way, can we make better admissions decisions. （256 words）
练习二：
Education has always been a popular topic in the society. The role of teachers, in particular, is debated widely. The following are two different opinions. Read carefully the opinions from both sides and write your response in about 200 words, in which you should first summarize briefly the opinions from both sides and give your view on the issue.
A “The school teacher has the power to shape the B To teach all students according to today’s values and qualities of the next generation of 21st standards, teachers need to understand subject century citizens. One way the 21st century teacher can matter deeply and flexibly so they can help do this is by facilitating discussions on academic, social students create useful cognitive maps, relate and political issues. By doing this not only are the one idea to another, and address students becoming educated on important topics but misconceptions. Teachers need to see how they are becoming informed, competent ideas connect across fields and to everyday communicators. To encourage this learning it is life. This kind of understanding provides a essential that the teacher models the desired behavior. foundation for pedagogical(教学的，教师的) To be a lifelong learner and teach the students as such, content knowledge that enables teachers to is a characteristic these students will imitate and take make ideas accessible to others. with them out into the wider community.” Teachers’ Roles
Some people believe that teaching subjects well is the only duty for teachers at school, while others believe that teachers should also teach students except for academic lessons. Teachers should use valid teaching methods and try to be the learning models for the students. Only in this way, can the teachers obtain the ability to shape the right moral values and qualities of the students. In my opinion, both aspects are important and schools should not neglect either of them.
It is believed that teachers should do good teaching. It means that teachers have to be professional in
their own teaching fields to give academic lessons to their students. Obviously, academic ability is of great importance to one’s future career and their life as a whole. For example, literacy skills are the basic skill in people’s work, and science subjects can develop students’ logical thinking ability.
On the other hand, I believe that the responsibility of teaching students to tell right from wrong lies with teachers at school. As a lesson giver as well as a role model, it is important for teachers to educate students to become members of the society, which means that moral integrity and other abilities are also of great importance. Sometimes students at school are too young to judge what is right and what is wrong, so teachers could use stories or their own cases to help students understand what is right.
In conclusion, although academic subjects are important at school, it seems to me that good social behaviors should also be taught so as to prepare students to be members of society with both academic proficiency and moral integrity. (280 words)
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练习三：
The tourist industry has been expanding in some countries. Is this beneficial or harmful to these
countries? The following are two different opinions. Read carefully the opinions from both sides and write your response in about 200 words, in which you should first summarize briefly the opinions from both sides and give your view on the issue.
A CANBERRA, June 4 (Xinhua) ---- Austrilia tourism has B Visitor behaviors can have experienced significant growth across a number of Asian markets with a detrimental effect on the China remaining Australia’s biggest market outside of New Zealand, quality of life of the host the latest International Visitor Survey (IVS) showed. community. For example, Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb on Wednesday crowding and congestion, drugs welcomed the results, saying tourism industry is vital in providing and jobs for the Australians. alcohol problems, prostitution and increased crime “Tourism is Australia’s largest services export. The job of over levels can occur. Tourism can 929,000 Australians are linked to tourism and the Coalition even infringe on human rights, Government is committed to supporting tourism as a key job creation with locals being displaced industry,” Robb said. from their land to make way for “These latest figures show that China is still Australia’s largest new hotels or barred from market, outside of New Zealand, with Chinese visitors increasing beaches. Interaction with their expenditure in the Australian economy to 5.1 billion AU dollars tourists can also lead to an (4.73 billion U.S. dollars), while we also remain very competitive in erosion of traditional cultures the challenging United States tourism market,” he said. and values. International Tourism Still Benefits!
The improvement of people’s living standard has made tourism industry prosperous at an astounding rate. Some countries have reaped great benefits from international tourism. As Robb indicates, over 929,000 jobs have been created when numerous Chinese tourists visit the country and spend 5.1 billion AU dollars to eat, live and tour. However, some people argue that international tourism brings lots of social, cultural and environmental problems to the locals.
As far as I am concerned, I figure that with the development of the international traveling, not only does it stimulate the local economic growth, but more importantly, it can also raise people’s awareness to protect culture heritage so that more historical sites can be preserved. In order to appeal to travelers, some ancient monuments must be restored. For example, since the world-famous tourist attraction Angkor Wot becoming increasingly popular these years, more and more temples are being renovated by different institutions all over the world. It not only benefits the tourists, but also can be an effective means for the