山西大学2006写作(一)考试题_A

Test Paper of Writing for Postgraduates

A (January 9th, 2005)

1.Identify the topic sentences in each of the following paragraphs and write them on the

answer sheet.(2×3)

1. Our friendship was the source of much happiness and many memories.We danced and

popped our fingers simultaneously to the soul tunes of the Jacksons and Stevie Wonder. We sweated together in the sweltering summer sun, trying to win the championship for our softball team. I recall the taste of pepperoni and sausage pizza as we discussed the highlights of our team’s victory. Once we even became attracted to the same young man, but luckily were able to share his friendship.

2.To settlers in early New England, clothes were often a measure of person’s wealth, and people

were supposed to dress according to their station in life. The wealthy dressed themselves in expensive clothes imported from London, while poorer people wore clothes made from rough home-spun. Dressing above one’s station was actually against the law. In 1676, 68 young people were fined for wearing silken clothes. In a strange new world, settlers tried to hold fast laws and customs that made their society feel orderly.

3.My parents have gone out for the evening. Just as I settle down to read or watch TV, my little

brother demands that I play with him. If I get a telephone call, he screams in the background or knocks something over. I always have to hang up to find what’s wrong with him.

Baby-sitting my brother is no fun. He refuses to let me eat a snack in peace. Usually he wants half of whatever I have to eat. Then, when he finally grows tired, it takes about an hour for him to fall asleep.

2. The following paragraph lacks unity. Identify the topic sentence in the paragraph and

revise it by deleting any sentences that distract from the controlling idea that should be direct the paragraph. Write the number of the topic sentence and the sentences should be deleted on the answer sheet.(4 points)

1.①If a person feels guilty about something, the obvious thing to do is to get that guilt out in

the open. ②But many people take a different approach—one that only makes matters worse.

③They try to stifle their bad feelings with stimulants or depressants such as alcohol,

methedrine, or marijuana. ④A friend of mine, for example, feeling guilty about her low grades, tried to stay high nearly all the time. ⑤The result was that she got even worse grades, felt guilty still, smoked even more dope, and eventually dropped out of school. ⑥I had tried to talk to her about her problems, but she was already too depressed to allow anyone to get through to her. ⑦Later, I lost touch with her, and I never did learn whether she straightened herself out. ⑧I think that person li ke her deserve a lot of pity, because if she hadn’t been so sensitive in the first place, she wouldn’t have had the guilty feelings that sent her into a tailspin.⑨Her supposed remedy had become a major part of her problem.

3. The following paragraph lacks coherence. Change the order of the sentences to make it

coherent and write the correct order of the sentences on the answer sheet.(5 points)

1.①I had a terrible morning today. ②In the middle of a class, I discovered I had left my

physics assignments in my locker. ③On my way to my political science class, I tripped over

a cur

b and tore my raincoat. ④At the end of the class, the professor would not let me go for

lunch on time. ⑤I slept so late that I did not have time to eat my breakfast. ⑥I had not turned in my assignments, and wanted to talk over this problem with me.

4.Identify the methods of development used in the following paragraphs and write them

on the answer sheet.(3×3)

1.The residents in Venice fall into two groups: those who work and those who don’t. The latter

includes senior citizens, drifters, drug addicts, would-be movie-makers, and aging hippies and surfers who have made a cult of idleness and pleasure. The other group includes lawyers, dentists, real estate brokers, accountants. Many are workaholics, attached to their jobs as they are to nothing else. They work nights and weekends, eat fast food while driving to and from their work, and live alone, longing, in the silence before falling asleep, for connection.

2.We have surely all cheated at least one time in our lives. People cheat in dozens of ways,

ranging from small-scale things like writing notes on their hands for test to the monumental deception of having an affair. We cheat when we pass the speed limit. Powerful families and corporations cheat their way out of legal binds with the help of highly paid lawyers.

Businesspeople record activities, such as dining out, as business-related so they will not have to pay for the expenses personally. Dieters are always cheating, and if you really think about it, people cheat when they use make-up or fashion to cover up or disguise features they find unattractive. Even my grandma cheats by taking shortcuts in her prescribed daily walks.

3.Many American women are more active in sports now than ever before. This is the result of

the development in sports and in modern society. It is also the result of the women’s liberation movement in the United States. In particular, three groups of women are active in sports.

Some women are sports professionals. These are women who participate in sports to earn money. College women are a second group who are active in sports. Some of these women take a sport as part of their academic program. Most women who are active in sports in the United States are amateurs. Women in this third group are those who play a game of sport because they like it. They may not be especially good at sport, but they have fun playing.

Perhaps the largest number of women who have recently become active in sports are in this amateur group. Many of these women may have learned the sport in college, also.

5.Essay analysis: Read the following essay and answer the questions concerning it. Then

put your answers on the answer sheet.(16 points)

Japan and the United States

The culture of a country is an integral part of its society whether it is a remote Indian village in Brazil or a highly industrialized city in Western Europe. Basically, culture is reflected in a country’s language, literature, art, music, and dance. However, culture also includes the patterned ways in which people conduct themselves in their relationships with others. Japan and United States are two highly industrialized nations in the world. Although their cultures have a few similarities, there are greater differences between these nations of the East and West.

First of all, Japan and the United States have several similarities. The United States is a

democracy and Japan is, too. The United State’s Constitution is the supreme law of the land, just as the Japanese Constitu tion is in Japan. Also, Japan’s Diet is similar to the U.S. Congress. ①, both Japan and the United Stated share a mutually enriching exchange of cuisine. There are Japanese restaurants in America where diners can enjoy food like sashimi (raw-fish), tempura (fried vegetables and prawns), and noodles. ②, Japanese enjoy American fast food like McDonald’s hamburgers and French fries, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Mrs.Field’s cookies. ③, the western sport of baseball is popular not only in the United States but also in Japan. The Japanese have their leagues as the Americans do, and they have their version of the World Series games. Baseball heroes are important to Japanese spectators, ④they are to American fans.

Despite these differences, the United States and Japan have some very significant cultural differences.

One important difference is the people. Japan is a homogeneous society of one nationality and a few underrepresented minority groups like Chinese and Koreans. As a result, all areas of government and society are controlled by the Japanese majority. ⑤, although the United States is a country with European roots originally, its liberal immigration policy has resulted in its becoming a heterogeneous society of many nationalities—European, Africans, Asians, and Hispanics. They are represented in all facets of American society, including business, education, and politics.

Another difference is in the two countries’ use of transportation. Japan and United States have modern transportation system, which use the latest technology. ⑥, the means of transportation used by the masses in Japan is different from that used by the masses in the United States. The majority of Japanese use an efficient network of public transportation for pleasure and for commuting from the outlying areas to cities or from city to city. Thus, the train and subway systems are extremely overcrowded during peak hour. ⑦, Americans rely less on public transportation and prefer instead to drive their own cars or to ride in carpools. Although the average Japanese family owns one car, the typical American family owns at least two cars or more, depending on the number of children of legal driving age. Finally, a common sight in Japanese cities is neatly dressed women on motorized scooters riding on busy streets to do their bikes mostly for exercise or pleasure.

The final and most important difference is that in modern Japan, traditional customs are still largely observed. In fact, surprisingly, many young people still prefer an arranged marriage in which a couple meet through the combined efforts of parents and friends of relatives. By comparison, young American people seek their own marriage partners. In addition, married Japanese couples have more clearly defined roles than their American counterparts. A Japanese wife has greater control over the household and family decision than an American wife. For example, a Japanese wi fe decides on the family’s residence, major expenditures, and the children’s schools. The strong role of a Japanese wife is understandable since the husband, as primary bread owner, is a very busy man. His loyalty is first to his workplace, and he must expend all of his energy and waking time on his career or job. Thus, he may not arrive home until late at night, so his wife must discipline the children and make important decisions to keep the household running smoothly. ⑧, an American couple, who more or less maintain a 50-50 relationship, generally have a more democratic approach and make decisions together.

It is clear that although there are some important similarities between Japan and United States, there are significant differences as well. The extent to which Japan has accepted some

aspects of western culture reveals the country’s desire to absorb new customs. Indeed, the cultural exchanges of Japan and the United States have benefited both nations dramatically and will continue to do so in the future.

1) What’s the topic statement of this essay and the topic sentences of the body paragraphs?(5 points)

2) What’s the method of development used in this essay? (2 points)

Comparison and contrast

3) Which paragraph discusses similarities?2 Which paragraphs discuss differences?(4 points)4-6

4) What’s the function of paragraph 3?(1 points)

Transitional pragraph

5) Fill the blanks in the essay with the appropriate structure words from the following box.(4 points)

6.Essay writing: choose two from the following three topics and write at least 300 words

for each of them. (30×2=60 points)

1. If you could study a subject that you have never had the opportunity to study, what would you choose? Explain your choice, using specific reasons and details. (If/What)

2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Grades (marks) encourage students to learn. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. (Agree/Disagree)

3. If you could ask a famous person one question, what would you ask? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer. (If/What)