历年
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.
People generally prefer originality to imitation, which is often considered inferior and second-rate. However, we have learned most of what we know by imitating others. Mastering any skill or gaining any knowledge means that we must learn from those who have gone before us. In fact, it is not until we have imitated others and learned from them what is there to know that we can strike out on our own and maybe create something new.
Is it necessary for others to imitate others before they can become original and creative? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience or observations.
1. 题目翻译：
人们总是喜欢原创胜过模仿。人们总认为模范是二流的。然而，我们所知的大部分都是通过模仿他人得来的。熟练掌握某种技能或是获取某些知识意味着我们必须从前人获取经验。实际上，我们只有模仿他们并从中获取知识，才能拥有自己的想法，或是创造新的东西。
题目：人们在能够原创之前模仿他人是必要的吗?
2. 审题关键词：imitate, original
3. 论证分析-各段核心提纲：
正：People are admittedly inclined to imitate others. We become what we are through imitation.
反：But imitation is insufficient. Merely imitating others does not result in originality.
补：Nothing in this world is completely original. They are all somehow product of imitation.
2013.5 美东
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.
People use the word “wisdom” to mean many things. They describe someone as wise if that person is intelligent, well-informed, or capable of making good decisions. These descriptions, however, are not really useful in distinguishing wise people from unwise ones. Happiness is a better measure of wisdom: a wise person is a happy person. Even the most intelligent people should not be called wise if they are not happy.
Is it best to determine how wise people are by how happy they are? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
1. 题目翻译：
人们用“智慧”表示很多东西。人们说聪明、博学、做好决定的人智慧。然而这些因素在区分智慧和不智慧时用处并不太大。幸福才是衡量智慧的更好方式：智慧的人是幸福的。即使是最聪明的人，如果不幸福，也不能被叫做智慧。
题目：以是否幸福来确定人智慧与否是最好的方式吗?
2. 审题关键词：wise, happy
3. 论证分析-各段核心提纲：
正：Being happy show that one can strike a balance in his life, which is a good indicator of wisdom.
反：Happy people sometimes are lazy and easy to become satisfied with their lives, who should not be counted as wise people.
补：Happiness alone cannot measure wisdom. It is lopsided.
2013.10 美东
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.
Most people think that contentment—being happy with the way things are—is the perfect state of affairs. After all, what could be better than being so satisfied with how things are that you don’t want anything else? But contentment has disadvantages: if we are content with the way things are, we are not motivated to change things, to improve ourselves, or to do better. We must therefore always choose between being content and pushing ourselves to do better.
Does being content with the way things are prevent people from improving themselves and doing better? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
1. 题目翻译：
大多数人认为满足感，也就是对现状感到满意，是最佳的状态。毕竟什么能比安于现状、别无他求更好呢?但是满足感也有其劣势：如果我们安于现状，我们就没有动力去改变什么，去提升自己，或者做的更好。因此，我们必须总是在安于现状和追求更好之间做出抉择。
题目：安于现状会阻碍人们提升自己，追求更好吗?
2. 审题关键词：content, improve
3. 论证分析-各段核心提纲：
正：Being content with our lives means that we want nothing more than we already have. So there is no point of striving for more.
反：Being content does not necessarily means that we have everything. It probably means that we have a positive attitude towards life. Thus, we will have more desire to do better.
补：After all, the desire for improving ourselves is the ultimate momentum of contentment.
2013.10 美东
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.
Most people think that contentment—being happy with the way things are—is the perfect state of affairs. After all, what could be better than being so satisfied with how things are that you don’t want anything else? But contentment has disadvantages: if we are content with the way things are, we are not motivated to change things, to improve ourselves, or to do better. We must therefore always choose between being content and pushing ourselves to do better.
Does being content with the way things are prevent people from improving themselves and doing better? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
1. 题目翻译：
大多数人认为满足感，也就是对现状感到满意，是最佳的状态。毕竟什么能比安于现状、别无他求更好呢?但是满足感也有其劣势：如果我们安于现状，我们就没有动力去改变什么，去提升自己，或者做的更好。因此，我们必须总是在安于现状和追求更好之间做出抉择。
题目：安于现状会阻碍人们提升自己，追求更好吗?
2. 审题关键词：content, improve
3. 论证分析-各段核心提纲：
正：Being content with our lives means that we want nothing more than we already have. So there is no point of striving for more.
反：Being content does not necessarily means that we have everything. It probably means that we have a positive attitude towards life. Thus, we will have more desire to do better.
补：After all, the desire for improving ourselves is the ultimate momentum of contentment.
