writing 4

1.What makes a better source of news, television or newspapers? State your opinion and explainit in details.For most of us today, television has become our main source of daily news. This is unfortunate, however, because for several reasons newspapers should be regarded as a better source.It is true that television news can vividly bring into our living rooms dramatic events of singular importance, such as space launching, natural disasters, wars and so on, but it cannot cover important stories in the depth they may deserve because of its time limitation. On the contrary, print news excels in its ability to devote as much space to a story as it sees fit, though it can not compete with television visually. Besides, television is essentially a passive medium. Whether we like a particular piece of news or not, all we have to do is sit in front of the tube and “let it happen”. But a newspaper reader can select what he is interested in, skip what he thinks boring or irrelevant and read it any time he likes to. Most importantly, if all of us get news and information exclusively from television, there will be a decline in general literacy. By contrast, although to follow and absorb a newspaper article is a little bit hard as it requires a high level of mental involvement, it helps to develop one’s intellectual skills.When we consider television versus newspaper on the basis of nature, format and coverage, shouldn’t we think the latter is a better source of our daily news?2.Which mode of travel do you like, package tours/traveling with a companion or traveling onyour own? And why?(1)With the general standard of living improving and the working week becoming shorter, more and more people are able to make a holiday trip to places of interest. While many like to join package tours for convenience, I prefer to travel on my own.I like traveling on my own not only because it costs much less but because it gives agreat degree of independence and freedom. Traveling on my own, I’m my own boss; and can decide when to start on my way, where to linger a little longer and which spot can be skipped over to save energy or time for another spot. I can always adjust my plan. However, things would be totally different if I were in a package tour. I would be deprived of as much freedom as in a military base. At the sound of the whistle, I had to jump up from a sound sleep and, with heavy-lidded eyes, hurry to the gathering place to board a coach. At the sight of the little flag waving, I must immediately take myself away from the scenes I was marveling at and follow the guide whose sole interest was to cover all spots according to his strict schedule, regardless of the weather or my health condition.True, I may encounter inconveniences if I travel individually, for instance, getting accommodations for the night and finding a place for meals. But nothing can be compared with the freedom which is vital to a person who takes a holiday trip mainly to escape from constraints of his routine life.(2)When it comes to a traveling way, different people will offer different opinions. Some people like to travel alone, while others prefer to travel with a companion. Of course every one has different considerations for his preference.Traveling alone one can enjoy more freedom. The traveler can arrange his tour as he wishes wthout the trouble of compromising with others. Morever, traveling alone tends to bring the traveler unexpected surprises, such as making a new friend and enjoying different scenery.Compared with traveling alone, traveling with a companion has also its advantages. For one thing, the group members can help and look after each other on the journey. For another, traveling with others who have the same interest, one can share experiences and pleasure with them.As for me, I prefer to travel with a companion. Firstly, we can together deal with the possible problems and difficulties on the journey. Secondly, I like to share the experience of traveling with others. In summary, both traveling alone and traveling with a companion have their own attractions and one can enjoy the pleasure of traveling from either of them.3.In the future, students may have the choice of studying at home by using technology such ascomputers or television or of studying at traditional schools. Which would you prefer? Use reasons and specific details to explain your choice.(1)The technology industry is growing at a faster rate as each year passes by. With a relatively inexpensive computer and a web camera, it is now possible for one to have a videoconference with one’s friends and colleagues. Students will soon be presented with the opportunity to study from home. However, I believe that attending a traditional school is greatly preferable to learning in a virtual classroom. The reasons are as follows.First of all, traditional schools allow students to socialize. Many people admit that they met their best friends while attending high school. Their friendships were solidified over spending hours and hours in the same classroom, and working together on group projects.Such bonds cannot be replaced by some acquaintances that they meet online. Besides, we can have more access to teachers in schools, from whom we can not only get direct guidance over the courses of study, but also obtain many precious life experiences and inspirations, helping to build up our own characters. Apparently, a virtual teacher will have far less influence.Lastly, traditional schools also have the advantage of training students for “the real world”.By attending a school club or reporting his work to teacher, for example, a student will come to realize what it means to work in a team environment or respect authority. The way that schools operate forces students to develop these important skills.In conclusion, I think it would be much more beneficial for all students to attend traditional schools rather than study at home. School education helps them to grasp the necessary social skills to survive in today’s fast-pace world.(2)Over the past few decades, students have had the opportunity to access diverse information in their fields of study by using media such as television, computers, the Internet, etc. This fact has caused very deep concerns among the public as to whether it is better for young people to study at home than at traditional schools. While I wouldn’t rule out the significant role of technology, I hold the view that it is better to study at traditional schools.In the first place, schools not only play an important role in teaching, but also conditionstudents for their future life. To put it more simply, students become familiar with other students, especially those of the same age, and they learn the most significant value in their social interactions with other people at school. They learn how to be sociable and fulfil their social needs. If students had not learned to communicate with others, they would have had reasonable problems in the course of time.Furthermore, students learn better at school with teachers and by making use of different utilities. To put the discussion in a wider context, consider a person who learns at home. He doesn’t have the possibility to use practical instruments in some courses like physic s and biology. Moreover, no one can ever deny that media has a wide range of information, but not all the information students need. Students may face critical problems in their studies. At school, they can ask teachers, and solve their problems.To sum up, technology has changed the world, and gives the chance to students to learn wherever they are and whenever they want, but it can never replace traditional schools, in which students learn valuable things.4. Some people prefer to work for themselves, while others prefer to work for an employer. What is your choice? Use specific reasons to explain it.There are many options to pursue a career. Some may choose to have their own business whereas others prefer to work for a company or institution. As discussed below, in my opinion, either way is good as long as the work one has chosen can make him happy.Being an owner of a business can be very satisfactory. As a business owner, one has opportunities to meet different people and do different types of work in the business. Besides, he is able to choose whatever time he likes to work, thus his schedule is much more flexible compared with people working for companies. Most importantly, self-employees usually earn more money than those who work for companies.In comparison, people working for a company have more benefits for training, health insurance and travelling. For example, companies nowadays usually provide formal training for a person who has little experience when he or she enters a field. Furthermore, company or government employees worry little about their insurance because the issue will be taken care of by their employers. Big companies will usually also allow them to travel to other places free for work.However, both business owners and employees of companies or institutions have their own problems. For instance, business owners have to deal with lots of trivial tasks and sacrifice their personal life for work, while employees of companies or institutions may complain about their little pays at times.To conclude, if the purpose is to pursue happiness, people should choose the work they like, whether working for their own or for others. It is difficult to simply tell one type of work is superior to the other because it all depends on one’s goal in his or her life.。