Integrated Writing

Discuss the reason why the number of bison declined

Reading: Present three reasons

1. New settlers (European Americans) took bison asfood supply.

2. Cattle and horses brought out by settlerscompeted with bison for food, and there was less grass for bison to feed on.

3. The advancement of new technology, especially therepeating guns, improved the efficiency of hunting.

Listening: Challenge these reasons

1. There should have been fewer bison in the west aspeople settled there first. In fact, the decline of bison happened mainly inthe east.

2. Bison lived in the extremely cold and harsh areaswhere cattle and horses could not survive; therefore, they could not competewith bison for food.

3. Hundreds of years ago, early hunters were skilledenough to use guns to make quick shoots. But at that time the number did notdecrease.

Independent Writing

Do you agree or disagree with the followingstatement?

High-schoolgraduates should have at least one year to travel or to work before enteringthe universities.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

题目分析

高中毕业生在上大学之前是否应该花至少一年时间旅行或者工作。该考题属于常规考题，属于教育、就业类重合话题，重复20081101 CN、20101204 CN。该话题写支持比较好写，主要分析这一段时间的休息调整对之后的学习生活带来的好处，可以从身心两方面切入。

思路分析

文章比较建议采用五段式的写法。

1. 背景介绍，话题引入，摆正立场（高中毕业生需要至少一年时间进行休整）。

2. 主体段：高中毕业生可以通过旅行或工作从高中繁重的学业中解脱出来(relieve oneself of the burden of academic study)，好好休息调整，为大学的入学积聚力量(refresh oneself and physically get prepared for future study)。

3. 主体段：通过这一年学生可以积累经验(enrich one’s experience)，拓展视野(expand one’s outlook)，从而为之后大学学习做长远的规划(makelong-term plan)。

4. 让步段：事实上，在上大学之前先工作或旅游会带来一些弊端，如使大学学习知识和高中学习的知识不连贯(inconsistency)，即高中知识可能遗忘，从而不利于大学知识的学习。但是，如果先旅游或工作可以促进学生的心理成熟(psychological maturity)，更利于激发学习主观能动性，提高学习效率。(motivate students to learn spontaneously and enhance efficiency ofstudy)

5. 结尾段，重申观点。