12.02.04

Some people think young people should follow the traditions of their society. Others think that they should be free to behave as individuals. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

 

到底年轻人（1）是应该遵守传统，（2）还是可以被允许有自由的行为？

 

起--允许年轻人自由取舍传统，视传统为历史的导师，而不是未来的狱警。
承--（舍其劣）年轻人自由抗拒不好的传统束缚，如此社会才能进化。
转--（取其优）全力保卫优良的传统价值，如此相传社会的文化遗产。
合--年轻人在行为上分辨理性的活传统与非理性的死传统。

 

1.

Every generation, young and old, should be allowed freedom to deal with the breaking down of certain patterns and standards being handed down from the past. As individuals, young people are particularly keen to the need to end whatever tradition they think is unreasonable for the society. All rebellious minds think alike--tradition is a guide for the past but not a jailer for the future.

 

Too often young men and women are enthusiastic about the evolution of beliefs and practices of their society, and their behaviors tend to challenge a number of elements of tradition. For that matter, mental independence is required because without an amount of freedom, tradition would be only an explanation for acting in conformity without thinking independently. Accordingly, young people ought not to be forced to express their new feelings in a mummified form, otherwise the evolution in tradition could not happen. The point is that not just because something is traditional, so there is reason enough to do it. It is good, however, for young people to continue a worthwhile tradition, and it is also good not to be captive of an unreasonable tradition which is not worth having. Although social bondage persists, it makes a difference if young people are permitted to think and act in such a way as different from that of a conservative mind in which the word 'tradition' means a shortcut to thinking or an excuse for acting.

 

Probably a society can only successfully function with traditional values--diverse customs, thoughts, lifestyles, religion, music, dance, arts and languages, among other things of culture. Young people had better learn that modern traditions are built on the past just as the past was built on the times that went before it. Traditions bring continuity to one's existence in a society, even though this sort of continuity is precisely what has been increasingly lost through modernity. Thus, it behooves young individuals to preserve their traditions of value by safeguarding against the negative influence from various factors such as industrialization, globalization, and assimilation or marginalization of special cultural groups. It certainly makes patriotic sense that young people's love for traditions worth continuing always strengthens the well-being of the society and never weakens all that is meant to identify themselves with their country. Good tradition being a good guide, young people, however rebellious, should not be entirely negative about the past with all its enduring heritages and necessary evils.

 

In conclusion, since a modern society is not supposed to be a dead community, young people may behave freely in treating tradition as the living faith of the dead and not as the dead faith of the living. They should not believe in traditions simply because many beliefs and practices have been handed down for many generations, but should instead observe and analyze anything that agrees with reason and is conductive to the good and benefit of the society. It takes a lot of history to make a tradition, so the best of which must be accepted and lived up to, from generation to generation.  

 

2.

Young people’s values and beliefs remain a subject of discussion, considering that their beliefs have a direct impact on their behaviour. There has been anxiety about whether young people should comply with traditional values or behave in line with their own values. In an ever-changing world, where no golden rule can be followed permanently, young people should be given more freedom.

 

It is first due to the fact that some traditions are increasingly obsolete in modern society. The traditional workplace, for example, focused on the interaction between people, regarding this as the key to their cooperation and cohesion. This has however been challenged by web-based technology, which has allowed for working at home, a contemporary, individualised way of working. Likewise, higher education was conventionally considered as the precursor of one’s career achievement, because of which young people strove to enter a reputable university. This traditional mind-set should nevertheless be remoulded, in view of the success of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and other self-made billionaires, who hardly link their success with formal education. In view of these, it is not appropriate to impose those traditional ideas, many of which are entrenched but dysfunctional, on young people.

 

While calling for a reassessment of age-old traditions, young people should not overrule all of these traditions.  Some social norms mirror those principles that ensure that the society functions properly. For instance, the values of giving away should be restated among today’s young people, who are prone to act for their personal interests, instead of considering other people’s welfare. It is giving away that enhances social cohesion. There have been numerous examples that illustrate how important it is to emphasise interpersonal relationships, respect, loyalty and honesty. Some famous, young bankers went bankrupt in 2008 due to their aggressive investment decisions, indicating that traditions can make one’s success more sustainable.

 

To summarise, some traditional beliefs and practices can retard young people’s development considering the changes that have occurred in society. Young people who exercise personal choices should not devalue some conventional principles, which predict their long-term achievement.

 

3.

As a result of rapid social development, the role of traditions seems to have declined significantly and there is a debate as to whether young people should follow these traditions or not.

 

Some people, particularly some elderly citizens, preserve the old way of life and hold some conventional customs. The believe that young people ought to practice the time-honored traditions as these traditions can help to enhance the cohesion of families as well as solidarity of the country. For instance, on some festivals, young people are expected to return home to reunite with their family members, no matter how busy they are. By showing respect for family and for their parents, young people learn to be considerate, social and responsible. Also, there is a wide concern that some traditions may die out in several decades if young people show little interest in them. Therefore, some people consider it important for young people to inherit and preserve the traditional culture.

 

However, some other people argue that young people should be allowed to act in their own way as they live in a world different from that of their parents and grandparents. It is unrealistic to require young people to follow all traditions, some of which are outdated and of little value. Living in a fast changing society, young people, creative and innovative, tend to adapt to the new environment and embrace the new lifestyle. So we should let them make their own choice rather than force them to accept a tradition.

 

Personally, I do not agree that young people should follow traditions in every aspect of social life. The survival of a tradition depends on how it accommodates the need of people. However, for some endangered traditional culture, it is the duty of the government to take measures to protect it and raising the awareness among young people can be an effective way.

 

12.02.09

The spread of multinational companies and resulting increase of globalization produces positive effects for everyone. Do you agree or disagree?

 

In the past few decades, globalization has advanced at a high speed and affected people's life in all aspects. In my point of view, globalization is a double-edged sword, bringing about enormous benefits as well as drawbacks.

 

There is no doubt that the trend of globalization gives a boost to the world economy. For instance, international trade, which is beneficial for all parties involved, allows a country to focus on some certain industries, and then to exchange their products with other countries. As a result, the productivity is enhanced significantly. Trade also promotes the employment of developing countries and makes it possible for people in developed countries to buy high quality goods at a fairly reasonable price. Another exmaple is the spread of multinational companies, which helps to provide fund, technology and managerial experience for developing countries.

 

On the other hand, globalization also causes problems and if not handled properly, these problems would lead to serious consequences. In developing countries, a large number of local companies closed down, as they were defeated in the competition with their transnational counterparts. In rich countries, we also see demonstration against globalization held by those who lost their jobs as a result of international free trade. Moreover, globalization has a negative impact on the environment in many countries, particularly those underdeveloped regions. International tourism introduced modern lifestyle and technology to local people, but meanwhile, it disturbs the peace of their life and causes severe pollution.

 

In conclusion, globalization has become an irreversible trend due to the increasing communication and cooperation of all countries. In the process of promoting globalization, we should also guard against the negative impact of this trend.

 

12.02.18

Some people think the developments of technology make people’s life more complex, so we should make the life simpler without using technology. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

 

1. 

The advancement of modern technology is making people's life more comfortable and at the same time less human. To those who enjoy the benefits of technology, there is no better time to be alive than now, but to others life has been increasingly complex and stressful. The issue is whether such new technological machines as computers and the Internet would be our servants forever or eventually could become our masters.

 

All kinds of inventions made possible by technology are designed to be the slaves of human beings, if human beings are not to be slaved by machines. Once upon a time, we were plain people, but that was before we began having relationships with technological systems. By getting involved with computerized machines, we could not help changing the way we live and the way we work, for better or for worse It can be realized that life is more complex because much of modern technology is not born to meet primary human needs, and many "unnecessary" inventions are producing negative effects on a living style that used to be relatively simple. Thus, there is an overwhelming feeling of complexity in the sense that machines act like humans and humans act like machines. Now that "intelligent" machines such as robots are widely applied to take the place of human beings because they are capable of doing many useful jobs, although making many people jobless. Those who cannot work with computers are disadvantaged and therefore helpless while the traditional skills and simple ways of life are fading away, never to return again.

 

Technology has turned this world into a different one full of wonders, some of them being too good to be true. For example, mobile phone is playing an important role in our social and professional lives, whereas the Internet has connected people at every corner on the planet and beyond. As a consequence, telecommuting may soon become a more common way of working as more people are doing part of their jobs from home. And so what? Actually people are no closer to feeling happy in various respects because such technological developments are destroying many basic values of simple and easy lifestyles. Computers in particular have made life less emotional since the more time people use the Internet, the less time they spend with human beings.

 

In sum, there are reasons to be worried about what will become of mankind as a whole facing an increasingly complex world in which they may enjoy all the conveniences of life and yet they do not feel any happier or wiser. Who knows that over-dependence on modern technology could not mean the beginning of the end of human sparks of creativity, spirit, compassion, love and understanding and other good things about a simple and easy life. In making people's lives more enjoyable but more complex, technology seems as if sending plenty of blessings from heaven as well as sending plenty of evils from hell.

 

2.

Over the past century, science and technology has developed unprecedentedly and changed every aspect of people’s life. Some people suggest a simple lifestyle without using modern technology. In my point of view, technology brings about higher efficiency and greater convenience, even though it causes confusion and disorder in certain circumstances.

 

The benefits of modern technology are multiple. Nobody would deny the fact that computer technology has significantly improved the productivity of the society. Automation is widely used in the assembly line, which sets free millions of people from the arduous and repetitive word in factories. Thank to the widespread use of internet, people have more access to information than ever before. Instead of going to the library to look up reference books, people can acquire the information they need via on-line database. Moreover, emails and mobile phones enable people to keep in touch with their business partners and friends more conveniently and efficiently, compared with the old way of going to the post office or visiting people in person.

 

However, some people show their concern that technology leads to more complexity and inconvenience. For instance, a huge amount of information on the internet if false or misleading, as the source of the information is not identified. People waste plenty of time every day in surfing the internet, chatting on the web and deleting junk mails. Another example is genetically modified food, which poses a risk to people’s health due to the uncertainty of its security.

 

Despite the voice against the application of technology, I am confident that a better future of mankind lies with the future development of science and technology. It is important to be aware of the negative impact of technology, but returning to simple life without technology is by no means a solution. 

 

10篇和这次作文题目类似的雅思以及托福作文：

IELTS Related Topics
Writing Task 2

1. Modern technology is transforming the way we work and is of benefit to our society. How far you think our social lives influenced by modern technology?
2.'Telecommuting' refers to workers doing their jobs from home for part of each week and communicating with their office using computer technology. Telecommuting is growing in many countries and is expected to be common for most office workers in the coming decades. How do you think society will be affected by the growth of telecommuting?
3. Technology is making communication easier in today's world, but at the expense of personal contact as many people choose to work at home in front of a computer screen. What dangers are there for a society which depends on computer screens rather than face-to-face contact for its main means of communication?
4. The Internet is becoming more central to our lives as it provides more information, acts as interactive entertainment and a means of voting. These functions have obvious benefits, but there are dangers involved in the control of the Internet over our lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
5. Advances in technology and the Internet have transformed the way we live as well as postponing the day we die. There is no better time to be alive than now. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

TOEFL: Related Topics
Test of Written English

1. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The invention of the Internet has had negative effects on your civilization. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
2. Some people say that computers have made life more complex and stressful. What is your opinion? Used specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
3. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Technology had made the world a better place to live. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
4. Some people say that the Internet provides people with a lot of valuable information. Others think that access to so much information creates problems. Which view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
5. The 21st century has begun. What changes do you think this new century will bring? Use examples and details in your answer.

 

12.02.25

Full-time university students need to spend a lot of time on studying, but it is essential to get involved in other activities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

 

On college campuses, extracurricular involvement is a key tool to develop the "whole student." It is appropriate to say that full-time university students should not only spend a lot of time on studying but also interact with their peers in social activities, thus improving their social skills. While time spent on studying can enhance academic achievement, time spent on getting involved in out-of-the-classroom activities will help students mature socially on the individual student level and the professional level.

 

The development of the well-rounded individual is a principle goal of extracurricular activities during college years. A variety of personal experiences that these activities provide could positively impact students' emotional development. When working together with other individuals, students learn to communicate and gain more self-confidence, autonomy and appreciation for others' similarities and differences. Further, by identifying a peer group, that group may influence one's affective and cognitive development as well as one's personal behavior. In addition, taking part in activities outside the classroom enables one, among other things, to learn to negotiate, manage conflict and cooperate with fellow students. And last but not least, almost any type of extracurricular activities may help students understand the importance of critical thinking skills.

 

Students can also upgrade their social skills specific to their career paths and imperative for future job successes in different fields. Extracurricular involvement allows students to associate academic knowledge with practical experience, thereby leading to a better awareness of of their abilities, talents and career goals. Nowadays, good social skills are nearly as important as good academic qualifications since future employers seek exactly these remarkable skill standards. This is understandable, considering that participation in extracurricular activities is positively linked to attainment of one's first job and managerial potential. The campus is a place where students can work together, discuss pertinent ideas and issues, and accomplish common objectives. It is nothing less than an environment for students to feel socially connected with others and the university as their community.

 

To sum up, for young people, attending higher education is meant to advance academically and to mature socially. University students ought to be encouraged to get involved in activities ranging from students' government to athletics to professional organizations to multicultural events and to volunteer service-related projects. Such activities exist to more fully complement the university's academic curriculum and augment the student's social experience.

 

历年雅思相关考题：

1. Some people believe that some unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programmes (e.g. working in a charity, improving the relationship of neighbourhood or teaching sports to children). To what extent do you agree or disagree? (060923, 070512)

2. Some school leavers travel or work for a period of time instead of going directly to university. What are the advantages and disadvantages? (030308, 050514, 090926)

3. Some students do part-time jobs during studying. Do you think it has more advantages or disadvantages? (090905，G类)

4. Schools should concentrate on teaching children academic subjects which are useful in their future careers. Subjects like music and sports are not important. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? (041023)

 

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