| Teaching Method | Home |

88年度開始連續四年由本校（中正高中）負責台北市英文輔導網的工作，第一年編寫本套輕鬆學作文，為10-16節課所需的一系列作文範例與練習提供給台北市高中英文教師參考。本教材由中正高中財物支援，商請台大講師Mr. Bruce Bagnell執筆，打雜的工作由「真子」負責。沒有版權的問題，請安心使用。

本教材附上磁碟片一張，供教師們便於改編，以適應不同程度的學生使用，例如：53-60可該改為填主題句或結尾句。事實上17-52也都可以改為填寫主題句或結尾句，甚至於改為其他的練習，如：克漏字填充或克漏字選擇。另外若學生的程度較弱也可以把填寫主題句改為選擇主題句的訓練等。

本寫作練習共有七個單元，每個單元各有一個例句加上數個練習題，例句與練習題目總共有60篇文章，每篇文章約有120個字。每個練習題儘量提供各種不同的答案供教師參考。匆忙定稿，若有疏漏之處請來電或e-mail指正，不勝感激之至。
註：e-mail:Pearl38@ms8.hinet.net

本寫作練習共有以下七個章節包含60篇作文

Unit 1: Topic Sentence 1-8 Unit 2: Conclusion 9-16
Unit 3: Stance 17-24 Unit 4: Tenses 25-34
Unit 5: Redundant Sentence 35-42 Unit 6: Conjunctions and Transitional Words 43-52
Unit 7: Supporting Ideas 53-60 Keys (For reference only)

 

Unit 1: Topic Sentence
1 My mother is neither tall nor heavy, but she's the biggest person in my life.
My mother is the biggest person in my life.
My mother is the greatest person in my life.
2 Having a barbecue is the idea way to spend a summer's day.
In summer, having a barbecue is a wonderful idea.
What fun it is to have a barbecue to spend a summer day.
3 The night life in Taipei is second to none.
The night life in Taipei is the best.
Taipei offers more colorful night life than other places.
4 Reference books are often overlooked.
Reference books give us not only information but fun.
Reference books are often neglected as a source of entertainment.
5 Trains are here to stay.
Trains survive among modern means of transportation.
Trains are always popular and timeless.
6 Many people are confused by the terms snack food, junk food, and fast food.
Most people can't distinguish the terms snack food, junk food, and fast food.
Most people have only a vague idea about the terms snack food, junk food, and fast food.
7 Most fads are silly, and the Hello Kitty fad is no exception.
The Hello Kitty fad is silly and will be short-lived.
The Hello Kitty fad is a waste of money, and it will fade finally.
8 There are two sides to argument that high school students should wear uniforms.
There are different opinions about whether high school students should wear uniforms.
People have different opinions about whether high school students should wear uniforms.
Unit 2: Conclusion
9 In these cases, then, teachers should be allowed to use physical force as a punishment.
Under these situations, physical punishment should be allowed.
In these cases, physical punishment should be viewed as suitable action.
10 Thus, "little whit lies" are all right, but lying about important matters is definitely not.
Thus, "little white lies" are acceptable, but not lies about important things.
Lying to hurt others is wrong, but lying to give compliments is all right.
11 Thus, it is easy to see that from birth to maturity, being fat is better than being skinny.
Hence, we can see in our life, being fat is better than being skinny.
It is always/usually better to be fat than skinny.
12 For these reasons, these new phones are more trouble than they are worth.
From the above-mentioned, cellular/cell/mobile phones are more annoying than advantageous.
It is clear that the disadvantages of having cell phones are more than their advantages.
13 From now on, I'm going to wake up and stay up at 6:30!
So, I'm going to get up as early as 6:30.
Therefore, I will do my best to rise each morning at 6:30.
14 My conclusion is that the 20-year-old voting age should not be changed.
I firmly believe that voters need to be mature enough to vote, so 20 is more mature than 18.
Twenty-year-olds are usually mature enough to vote, but 18 year-olds are not.
15 The owner's neighbors would rather enjoy a dog meat dinner!
Dogs are not lovable to most people, so they should be raised for food, not as pets.
Dogs are such a nuisance to people other than their neighbors that they should be raised for food.
16 Taken with the fact that experienced drivers are better drivers, it is easy to see that 16-year-olds should not be allowed to drive on Taiwan's crowded streets.
Sixteen-year-olds are not mature enough to be given the right to drive.
Driving is dangerous and serious, so 16-year-olds should not be given this adult responsibility.
Unit 3: Stance ( 17-24, the correct answers are in the parentheses.)
17 One of the many modern fads today is the dying of one's hair. Many teenagers and other young adults enjoy adding unnatural color to their hair. You (They) can do this yourself (themselves), or you (they) can go to an expensive beauty salon or hair stylist to have it done. This craze may upset parents, educators, and other middle-aged people, but, actually, no harm is done. The chemicals added to the hair are not health-threatening. In other words, you (they) can't get sick from dying your (their) hair. Young people enjoy the extra color and the extra attention. Dying one's hair is not for everyone, to be sure, but for those who want to, go ahead (they should feel free to do so)!
18 Libraries remain the treasure houses they always were. Those who use the Internet on a daily basis cannot imagine why anyone would want to go to a library, but there are many reasons why you (they) should still go there. Not only do libraries contain books old and new (many of these older books are not on-line), but they also contain a large selection of magazines and newspapers, both current and used. You (They) can even use computers these days in the library in order to find information in the library faster. Librarians are professionals who can help the visitor find books and help with research questions in the library. Librarians are not on the Internet, however. A visit to a library today is as useful as it always was.
19 Dreams have great power although they are nothing. According to scientists, everyone dreams several times every night. Most people, however, do not remember all their dreams; indeed, you (they) seldom remember any of them. When a dream is remembered, it may have no influence or a great affect on us (them) depending on the nature of the dream. Some people are inspired by their dreams to create great works of art; others may solve scientific or mathematics problems which bothered them for a long time. Others may feel fear, amusement, or confusion. Although a dream may seem like nothing at all, it can sometimes really be a significant event in our (their) lives.
20 Why do people keep pets? As there are so many animals living freely in nature, why do so many people keep one or more pets in their own homes? Perhaps the origin of pets is as old as that of keeping animals for food or work. Though no one knows when animals were first controlled by mankind, it is likely that the dog was among the first. Dogs are intelligent and loyal; they are good hunters; and they make you (them) feel safe and loved. Later, after other larger animals were controlled for their food, skin and fur, and work, perhaps small cats, caged birds, and even fish in small ponds were kept not for any practical reason but for companionship. Whatever the origins of keeping pets, you (they) can be sure they are here to stay.
21 Is graffiti art or vandalism? Some people consider graffiti a sign that young artistic talent cannot be controlled. It truly overflows from the artist to his environment. Most others, however, are not amused by the choice of "canvas" that graffiti artists choose. These opponents say that painting should be confined to private, not public property. It is fine to draw on paper or canvas, or even on one's own walls in your (his) house, but it is quite another matter to spray paint the walls of museums, libraries, and even subway cars. "There is a time and a place for everything," and most people feel this is especially true of graffiti artists. I couldn't agree more with them. (Everyone should agree with them. / Who can disagree with them?)
22 "Just say no!" is easier said than done. When Mrs. Ronald Reagan, the First Lady of the United States during most of the 1980s, first used this phrase, many parents, teachers, and organizations repeated it and used it in their anti-drug education. The phrase is simple and easy to understand, but, unfortunately, it has little effect. The voices of the drug pushers and the youth who are already taking drugs speak much louder than this simple but ineffective saying. Much more needs to be said before you (they) will be convinced that taking drugs is like taking poison. It seems most of us (them) do not take this or any other well-meant advice easily; otherwise, there would be far fewer problems in the world.
23 Should teenagers work part-time after their high school classes? Some parents and educators feel that the primary responsibility of students is to study. Classes in Taiwan require a great deal of preparation and homework, these adults say, so teenagers should use their time wisely and study. Others, including many young people, insist that working part-time is an excellent education in itself. Students who work part-time are taught how to manage their time and money better; they learn important business and social skills on the job; and you (they) might even meet friends or "that special someone" at work. We can see how working is good for students.
  (#24 is hopelessly mixed up! Your students should adopt either a first/second person stance or a third person stance.)
24 (A) Should high school students have to wear uniforms? That depends on whom you ask. Our parents and teachers think that we need to wear a uniform in school to show our pride, but I think there are other, better ways to show our high school pride. Those people say that teenagers should be studying, not showing off how much money we have by buying fashionable clothing. My friends and I think, however, that learning to dress properly for society is very important. We teenagers will become young adults after we graduate and enter the workforce. We have to learn how to dress ourselves to fit in with others around us. For this reason alone, high school students should not have to wear high school uniforms.
(B) Should high schools students have to wear uniforms? That depends on whom one asks. Parents and teachers think that students need to wear uniforms in school to show their pride, but many students say that there are other, better ways to show pride in their high school. Other people say that teenagers should be studying, not showing off how much money they have by buying fashionable clothing. Some young people think, however, that learning to dress properly for society is very important. They say that teenagers will become young adults after they graduate and enter the workforce. They have to learn how to dress themselves to fit in with others around them. For this reason alone, high school students should not have to wear high school uniforms.
Unit 4: Tenses ( The correct or better answers are in bold. )
25. Recently there was a story in the newspaper about the caning of a young man in Singapore. Singapore is famous for its strict policies, both from the government and its schools. These policies always punish the guilty severely. In the case reported in the newspaper, a teenager was found guilty of painting public buildings in the downtown area. He was punished by caning, which means he was beaten with a kind of long, hard stick. Many people think this kind of punishment is too strict, but I think that it is good. If more young people realize that the government is not afraid to punish them, they will behave better.
26. Last summer I attended a bushiban in Taichung. I went there to improve my English. I'm not sure, though, that it was worth it. First of all, my teacher, though a foreigner from Canada, was not a good teacher. Of course he knew English fluently, but he could not teach us very well. Whenever we asked him questions about grammar, he said that he didn't know the answers. He wasn't much help. The classrooms were too crowded, too. There were almost 30 of us in one small classroom. The lighting was not good enough, either. My eyes hurt after each class from reading in that poor light. I don't think the bushiban is a good place to study anything.
27. My dream finally came true! Anthony Jones, the most handsome boy in our class, asked me out to dinner and a movie this weekend. I can hardly believe it! He was so cute when he asked me. During our ten-minute break between classes, Anthony came up behind me and gave me a bunch of flowers, just like in the movies! Then he looked a little embarrassed and asked me out. At first I didn't know what to say, but finally, of course, I said "Yes!" Ooh! My best friend Patty Ann helped me choose a dress for the big occasion. Do you think it's too soon if I suggest to him that we get married?
28. Last night we had a big thunderstorm in our town. The evening had been quiet, so nobody really expected any severe weather. However, while my family and I were watching TV, the electricity in the house went off. My younger brother got out a flashlight, and my mother started to light candles, one for each room. I noticed that other houses in our neighborhood were also without power. Then all of a sudden, the sky turned black as night, and it started to rain cats and dogs. Lightning and thunder filled the sky, and frankly, we were a little afraid. An hour later, though, the storm stopped as suddenly as it had begun. Though thunderstorms are a little exciting, I can live without them!
29. Do you believe in ghosts? Let me tell you a story that really happened to me. Last winter vacation I visited my friend in his country home in the deep mountains of central Taiwan. There was only one road into and out of his town, and the country bus did not go all the way into his town. As there was no telephone at the bus stop either, I had to walk into the town alone towards my friend's house. Although it was only 4:00, it would be dark soon, and I started to feel a little frightened. As I looked across one rice field, I saw a shadow move very quickly from one end to the other, and I heard a very high sound, like a scream! I almost screamed, too, and ran all the way to my friend's house in town.
30. Last weekend my friends and I had a big party. We invited many of our classmates and neighbors to my house. We cooked a lot of food and bought a lot of snack food, like pizza, fried chicken, and potato chips. Because we wanted to dance, too, we moved a lot of furniture to make enough room. We played music all night. One of the guests played his guitar, and several others sang songs. Everybody had a good time. At the end of the party, we made plans to have another one next month. I love parties. I can not wait for the next one!
31. In the United States there is Disneyland in California and Disneyworld in Florida. Both of these amusement parks are wonderful places to visit. Last summer I took my wife and two children to visit Disneyworld. While we were there, we took many rides. It was very exciting and a lot of fun. We also visited the Epcot Center, a place where everyone can study science and technology, but it is (was) as interesting as it is (was) educational. We all had a great time there. I advise you to visit Disneyworld, too, the next time you visit the United States.
32. Do you like to ride motorcycles? I do, but everyone should remember that motorcycles are not toys. They can be dangerous. Last week I rode my motorcycle to the market to buy some fruit and vegetables. While I was driving, a big city bus came too close to my motorcycle, and I fell off it. I hurt myself and had to see a doctor. It wasn't my fault, but I still had to pay the doctor myself. We should always be careful when riding motorcycles, or we could be hurt very badly. The next time you are riding (ride) your motorcycle, remember to wear your helmet and drive as carefully as you can.
33. Did you hear about the airplane crash in Hong Kong in August? A jet was trying to land at the Hong Kong airport during a typhoon. The pilot was a very experienced one, but the wind was too strong and dangerous. Unfortunately, he could not land the plane safely. Instead, the airliner crashed and even turned over and burned. A very brave policeman on the airplane helped many other passengers get off safely. Due to his and the crew's efforts, only three people were killed. That was really a miracle. One of my friends saw the whole accident at the airport because he was sitting in another jet plane waiting to take off. What a terrifying experience that must have been for him!
34. I hate computers! I have to admit that they are convenient, but sometimes they drive me crazy. Also, sometimes I think that they waste as much time as they save. Has your computer ever gone down? I'm sure it has; everyone's has. When this happens, if you are lucky, you will lose only the file or document that you are working on. If you are more unlucky, you will lose everything in your computer! Sometimes the printer doesn't work well, either. Or sometimes we lose a floppy disk or forget a file name we need. Computers can be useful--sometimes!
Unit 5: Redundant Sentence(The sentences in bold in the parentheses are redundant. They need to be taken out.)
35. Do you like taking exams? Of course not! Who does? Only crazy people like taking exams. Exams are not only difficult, but they take a lot of our time. We have to prepare for them, sometimes for days or even weeks. We also must suffer that time in the exam room, afraid to breathe normally and glancing nervously at the clock or our watches. (I don't like to take exams.) Unfortunately, many educators agree that taking tests is the fairest and most convenient way to check on a student's ability and progress. I'm afraid that tests are here to stay. (I really don't like to take exams.)
36. Let me tell you about a class picnic we had not long ago. In the fall, the weather in Taipei is the best of the year. This is the perfect time to take a picnic, because it is neither hot nor cold, and it usually doesn't rain then, either. Our class decided to go to Yangmingshan in October to have our picnic. We prepared for a whole week, deciding who would be responsible to prepare what food or activity. Our picnic was a great success. (The temperature was just right, and the sky was sunny. It wasn't cold or hot, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The weather was perfect. We didn't need our sweaters.) We ate a lot of well-cooked food, played games, and sang many songs. I hope we'll go on another picnic soon.
37. Are you ready for the Y2K problem? "Y2K" refers to the Year 2000 ("y" for "year," "2" for the 2 in 2000, and "K" for "kilo" meaning "1000" of something). On the first day of 2000, many computers will not be able to tell the difference between the year 2000 and the year 1900, so many scientists, government officials, business leaders, and computer technicians are warning people about the Y2K problem. (This problem will occur not in 1999 but in the year 2000.) People should be prepared for these computer problems. (The year 2000 will give us many problems because of the computer.) Today, computers help us do almost everything: they help us in schools, in stores, in government offices, and in hospitals. The people of the world may suffer many problems if they do not pay attention to the Y2K problem! (The year 2000 will be the year of Y2K.)
38. What is a juvenile delinquent? The word juvenile refers to a young person, and a delinquent is a person who behaves in an anti-social way. Together, these two words as a phrase refer to any young person, usually one between the ages of about 10-19, who destroys public property or hurts others physically for fun. This is a serious problem. Young people should be preparing for their future by studying and practicing worthwhile skills and hobbies, not breaking things or hurting others. (Juvenile delinquency is a very important matter which needs to be solved.) Parents, teachers, and government officials need to pay more attention to these youths so their and society's future will be better. (This problem needs our attention because it is a very serious one.)
39. Why should we participate in sports? I can think of three good reasons. First, of course, playing sports makes us healthier and strong. (We will be sick less often and we will have more strength. It's good to be healthy and strong.) Another reason to join in sports is to learn to cooperate with others. Most sports are played with partners, so we can learn how to get along better with others. The third and perhaps most important reason is that by playing sports, we can learn to control our behavior better. Learning how to win and lose are important lessons in life. We cannot always win, nor do we always lose. Sports can teach us how to work hard for victory and how to accept defeat graciously. (We must learn how to win and lose in our lives. Winning and losing are important lessons in our lives.) For these reasons, everyone should continue playing their favorite sport or pick up a new one.
40. Some people prefer living in an apartment, but I would rather live in a house. Apartments can sometimes provide us a view which a house cannot. Apartment buildings can be skyscrapers, while houses cannot. (By living in an apartment high up in a tall building, you can look down on the world below. It's like living like a bird in a tall tree.) Apartments are often also cheaper than houses because they are usually smaller, and they don't have much land. However, for me, a house is the place to be. A house always has a ground floor, and I enjoy having my feet on the ground. I am not afraid of heights, but I prefer living next to Mother Earth. Houses usually have yards large or small, and, again, I like being close to the earth. You can grow a lawn, or some trees, or flowers, or fruits and vegetables, whatever you like. (Having a yard lets you grow things. I really like flowers, fruit trees, and a vegetable garden.) Houses also likely have neighbors. People who live in apartments usually do not know their neighbors very well, but those of us who live in houses frequently do. For these reasons, I hope I can always live in a house.
41. You probably won't believe this, but I never watch TV. "How can that be?" you might ask. ("How can a person in the modern world not watch television?" you might wonder.) Actually, I don't miss watching TV at all. Although today we can watch more than 50 channels (if you have cable TV), there are actually very few good programs. That's why people "channel surf"; they have to flip through a dozen channels before they can find even one they might want to watch. (They have to go through a lot of programs to find one they like.) TV programs take a lot of our time to watch, too. I have better things to do with my time like exercising, socializing, and playing sports with my friends, for example. I can keep my family members company, too. (Or I can take exercise or play sports with my friends.) Active people do not have time for television. (If you are a busy person, you probably don't watch much TV.) For these reasons, why watch TV?
42. When I was a little boy, I used to go fishing and swimming in a river not far from my home. All the boys and girls would play in the river almost every day. (We could fish and swim all day long. I have been fishing since I was a kid.) We could take small boats out, too. Today, my children do not go near the river. Why? It is too polluted to use anymore. It is really dirty. Dead fish can be found everywhere along its shores. The bad smell keeps people away from it. This water pollution is a serious problem. The government and industry should clean the river up so we people can use the river again. (We could go fishing or go swimming in it if we did. We could take small boats out into it, too.) We could drink from the river once again. Everyone should do his best to keep nature clean.
Unit 6: Conjunctions and Transitional Words
(Words or expressions in bold are the answers.)
43. Do you like movies? Nearly everyone does these days. Movies have become one of the most popular forms of entertainment. One reason for this is that there are so many different kinds of movies. One popular kind of movie--for girls, anyway--is romantic movies. Movies like Titanic make girls feel tender and make them cry. Another popular type of movie is the horror film. These scary movies bring boys and girls closer together--literally! A third kind of popular movie is the action movie. Movies with stars like Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwartzenegger always attract large audiences because they are so exciting. Finally, war movies still appeal to many people. Their stories show us the strongest human emotions. What sort of movie do you like best?
44. Some older people think that boys should not wear earrings, but I disagree. I think a man wearing one earring is really cool. One day last week, I decided to buy a gold earring and have my girlfriend put it into my ear for me. About noon I took the bus downtown to a department store. They had a large selection of earrings there, and I chose one that was neither small nor large. Then I went to my girlfriend's house. She knew I was coming so she was ready. She has a lot of experience piercing ears so I trusted her. After she finished piercing my ear, she put in my earring, and, Wow! Now I'm a really cool guy. Maybe in the future, you can get your ear pierced, too!
45. Why do people who read novels have better language skills? I think that the answer to this question is easy to understand. Being in the habit of reading exposes us to new words every day. As a result of reading, we not only learn new words, but we also review many others. Reading novels is interesting and educational, and we often share what we learn from them with our friends and family. Because we discuss what we read with them, we understand the story and the words in the novels better, too. Is there an easier way to learn new vocabulary? I doubt it. Owing to the reading of novels, people can enjoy their lives and improve their language skills.
46. Should the government prohibit the use of young women to sell betel nuts in roadside stands? There are many reasons to support this prohibition. First, these girls are not only beautiful but also sexy; they wear sexy clothing and a lot of makeup. This is a kind of visual pollution for most people, if not for taxi drivers and truck drivers. Second, this is not a real occupation. These poor girls can learn nothing from their jobs except how low class men can be in our society. Third, in some cases, these women are actually prostitutes who can help spread sexual diseases throughout our society. Finally, a betel nut itself is a cancer-causing agricultural product which should be banned, not sold. From the above reasons, it is clear that the government should prohibit the use of young women to sell betel nuts in public.
47. Should kidnappers be given the death penalty? I am one of many who support this use of the death penalty for the following reasons. Children are shocked very badly when they are kidnapped. People often think about the kidnapper who will die, but they forget about the child who will never forget this experience throughout his lifetime. Moreover, kidnappers often harm their victims physically, not only psychologically. It is unfair for adults to abuse children in this way, even when the children are their own. Additionally, no family will live a normal life after a kidnapping, whether successful or not. Not only the child and the kidnapper are affected, but the parents, other relatives, and the whole society. Besides, kidnapping is nothing more than a kind of slavery (the sale of people). Again, I believe that kidnappers should be put to death.
48. Many of my friends tell me that I should buy a car. Presently, I take public transportation, like the bus, the MRT, and taxis. However, my friends tell me that I should buy a car. On the one hand, I can see their point of view. If I had my own car, I would be free to go wherever and whenever I wanted. I would not have to wait any longer for a bus, MRT train, or a taxi. On the other hand, I save a lot of money by taking public transportation. A car needs gas and oil, and you have to pay for your license, parking fees, and car checkups. Cars can also be inconvenient. Have you ever heard of a traffic jam? There is no traffic jam on the MRT. All in all, I think I will continue to take public transportation.
49. Why are vacations so important for modern people? In the past, most people worked as farmers or small businessmen. They worked and lived in the same place. Life was simpler then, but in some ways more difficult, too. Bad weather would influence everyone, from the farmer to the businessman. Everyone worked six full days a week or even longer then, too. Today, although our work week is shorter and society produces more, we have much more stress. Accordingly, vacations are important to help us relax. People do not exercise today as much as they did before, either; therefore, vacations allow us the time to enjoy sports and outings. As a result of vacations, people truly live better today than in the past.
50. Have you taken a ride yet on Taipei's new MRT? The only thing wrong with the MRT is that it is not yet finished. Once it is completed, many more people will be able to travel in and around Taipei city quickly, cheaply, and easily. They will not need to drive their cars or take a bus into town or back home, so there should be less traffic. Because the MRT is faster even than a taxi, and cheaper too, people will feel more relaxed at home and at work. While an MRT station cannot be built in front of everyone's home or office, many city buses go near these stations so that most people can take advantage of this new type of transportation. I have only one complaint: why didn't the government build the MRT system sooner?
51. "Does he love me, or does he not?" This question is asked by countless girls when they grow up. They are attracted to a boy, but they don't know whether the boy likes them or not. "On the one hand," a girl may say, "he spoke to me in the classroom, but on the other hand," she continues, "he speaks to all the girls." Then we might hear this same girl say, "Although he smiled at me, he didn't call me up." Girls usually watch boys very carefully, but boys often ignore them and prefer the company of other boys. "Though she's pretty," a boy might say, "I don't want to spend so much time and money on her." Girls and boys are so different!
52. Do you know how to bake chocolate cookies? It's easy! Just listen
to this. First, get everything you need for baking ready. You'll need two bowls, a couple of spoons, a cup to measure with, and a cookie sheet. Next, turn your oven on and set it to the proper temperature. You'll need two eggs, some flour, sugar, a little salt, one stick of butter, some baking powder, and some chocolate. Now, break the eggs into one bowl and mix with the sugar and butter until it is very smooth. Then, in the other bowl mix your flour, salt, and baking powder. Finally, combine the two bowls and add the chocolate. Now you can add a little oil to your cookie sheets, and add the cookie mixture in small drops. Put into the oven and just wait a few minutes!
Unit 7: Supporting Ideas (The supporting ideas/evidence is in bold.)
53. Writing a good composition in English is no different from writing a good composition in Chinese. Both require good control of the topic. Before starting to write in either language, however, one should have a strong thesis or main point as well as a careful outline. The thesis keeps one's mind on the topic while an outline guides the writer through each important major point. An introduction which informs the reader of the thesis is important, too. An introduction should not only introduce the topic statement but also catch the reader's attention. Finally, every well-written composition ends with a strong concluding paragraph. This paragraph reviews the major ideas and explains why the topic is important. If a writer follows these few simple steps, a successful composition is sure to result.
54. Should KTVs be off-limits to junior and senior high school students? Many parents and educators think so. They claim that these businesses are unhealthy and even dangerous. They are unhealthy because they are dark, not well air-conditioned (for fresh air), and serve junk food. They can be dangerous because they sometimes burn down and are sometimes the meeting place for gangsters. However, these cases are few in number. KTVs are actually a good place for students. They are an inexpensive source of entertainment for students. They allow students to socialize in positive group activities like singing and dancing. They are also a good place for teachers to relax with their own students. Since the usual benefits are more important than the occasional disadvantages, I do not think KTVs should be off-limits to students.
55. Many people are confused by the names of different storms.
Actually, they are easy to learn. The terms typhoon, hurricane, and cyclone all refer to the same large storm which forms over oceans and causes wind and water damage over a large area. The only difference is that the term typhoon is used for these storms which occur in the western Pacific Ocean, the term hurricane for the same storm which occurs in either ocean surrounding North America, and the term cyclone for these storms in the Indian Ocean. The above storms are different from tornadoes, which are much smaller but actually far stronger. These rapidly turning clouds form over land and destroy anything in their way. They are rarely, however, more than one kilometer wide, whereas the other storms are often hundreds of kilometers wide. As all of them can be dangerous, one should take special care when they are near.
56. Whether senior high school students should be allowed to drive their motorcycles to school has been a hot topic in Taiwan. Most students and some parents and teachers support this idea. They think that senior high school students, who are always busy, can save a lot of time and energy by riding their own motorcycles to school rather than taking public transportation. They think that these students are old enough to drive carefully. Others, however, have a different opinion. They include some parents, teachers, and policemen, and even a few students. They say that most motorcycle accidents happen to teenagers. They are also afraid that more than one teenager will be injured when riders carry their friends with them on their motorcycles. "Better safe than sorry," they say. Which side do you support?
57. First-time travelers often wonder how to prepare for their long-distance trips. Here are some tips. First, always make your plans early. Never wait until the last minute to prepare for your trip, or you may not be able to reserve your flights and hotels. Next, travel light. Most people buy at least some of the things they need while overseas, so it is not necessary to pack so many things for the trip. Clothes can be worn more than once, and personal bath items are available around the world. Finally, make sure you take all your important travel papers with you to the airport or train station. What could be worse than forgetting your ticket or passport? Those who follow these three pieces of advice or much more likely to enjoy their trip than those who do not.
58. Moving is never fun, but it does not have to be a nightmare. Most people do not plan their move carefully and end up confused, tired, and angry. A few simple guidelines can make the difference between an effort-free move and a disaster. First, prepare all the materials you will need for the move, such as boxes, rope, newspaper, a marking pen, and tape. Keep a record of how many boxes you have in each room, and label them. Next, think beforehand where the boxes will be moved to in your new apartment. Make sure that the first boxes out of the truck will go to the room furthest from the front door. Unusually large or heavy boxes or pieces of furniture should be moved last, along with breakable or perishable items, like glasses or food from the refrigerator. These few easy ideas will make your move much smoother.
59. Many students confuse the terms entertainment and recreation. Basically, entertainment is passive, but recreation is active. When we refer to entertainment, we often think of a viewer or an audience. We watch entertainment, whether at home as with TV or in public as at a movie theater or a concert. We don't have to do anything to enjoy entertainment. Recreation, however, involves our active participation. Water sports such as swimming, fishing, and boating are all forms of recreation. Camping and hiking are, too. Outdoor sports like bicycling or jogging and indoor sports like table tennis and badminton are also considered types of recreation. We need both to live healthy lives. Entertainment helps us relax from our busy, stressful lives, while recreation keeps us strong and healthy. Make sure you engage in both at least once a week.
60. "Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink." This famous line from an old poem was written by a sailor who was dying in his boat because he did not have any water to drink. How strange to be surrounded by ocean water that we cannot drink! In fact we can find fresh water in many forms around the world. Water from lakes and rivers is the water we usually think of when we think of fresh water. This water comes from rainfall on mountains. Snow and ice are also forms of fresh water. Mountains and glaciers or "ice rivers" contain water in frozen form. Finally, there are clouds. Though we cannot drink clouds, we can drink the rain that falls from them. Despite the many kinds of fresh water, more than 98% of all water on Earth is salt water in our oceans. We should appreciate our fresh water and keep it clean and conserve it.