近年来大学英语四级作文考试题目、考题讨论(2)

Directions: For this part, you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition on the topic
Numbers and Luck. You should write at least 100 words and you should base your composition on the outline (given in Chinese) below.
1． 有些人认为某些数字会带来好运。
2． 也有些人认为数字和运气无关。
       3．试说明你的看法。
写作标题及汉语提纲将短文定位为论说文。前两段要求考生说明目前社会上对 “数字是否可以带来好运” 这一问题所持的截然相反的两种观点。最后一段要求考生说明自己对这一问题的看法。当然，考生还必须申明自己持这种观点的理由。
第一段：有些人认为某些数字会带来好运。
我们可以从生活中找出很多例子来扩充主题。过去我们有“六六大顺”“十全十美”之说，所以结婚都挑选这样的日子举行婚礼。现代人除了沿用旧有的“黄道吉日”，还发明了许多其他的幸运数字，其中最受青睐的要算“8”了。就因为“8”和“发”的粤语发音相同，有些人就把它奉为至宝，甚至重金求购。
Some people say that some numbers will bring them good luck. Take “8” for example. The Chinese pronunciation of the number “8” has almost the same sound as that of the Chinese character “发”, which means making a fortune. Therefore, many Chinese people spend a lot of money to get their telephone number or car number to include this number “8”. They believe without any doubt that the number will bring them money.   
第二段：也有些人认为数字和运气无关。
我们知道数字是数字，运气是运气，它们是风马牛不相及的两码事。没有任何一个关于成功的公式上写着：成功=勤奋+机会+幸运数字。
However, others don’t believe that numbers have any connection with good luck. They think such an idea is only an ignorant and superstitious belief. A number is one thing, and good luck is another. They will say: How can you ever have any good luck simply because of some lucky numbers, even if you don’t work hard, don’t have good opportunities and don’t get along well with the people around you.
第三段：试说明你的看法。
我的观点和大部分理由在第二段中已经提到一些，在这一段中肯定不能再重复这些理由。根据对大量范文的观察，在所有这类要求在谈了正反两方面观点之后表明“我”的观点的段落中，作者都要先亮明观点（段落主题），后重申理由（发展主题），最后以表决心、提建议、发号召作为全段（实际也是全文）的结论。这样就可以写些 “每个人的命运都掌握在自己的手中”、“只有勤奋才能成功”等来表述自己的决心。
    So far as I am concerned, I agree with the latter. Obviously, such belief is only a kind of superstition. Perhaps it holds true for some cases, but often it does not. Numbers can never bring good luck to a person at all and our fortune is in our own hands. Therefore, everyone can have good fortune only if he tries his best. Let’s always remember “Opportunities are only for the prepared mind” and “No pains, no gains.”

图表作文
    图表作文只出现过两次，即1991年6月的Changes in People’s Diet (人们饮食状况的变化)和2002年6月的Student Use of Computers（学生使用计算机）。图表作文要求用恰当、准确的文字来解释说明图表。其目的是通过对所给数据进行比较分析，从中找出某种规律或得出一个结论。故图表作文实质上是说明文和议论文甚至描述文（需要对图表描述）等体裁的结合体。根据所给提纲条目，第一段需先用描述文的写作方式将图表内的重要数据用语言表达清楚，然后在第二段内分析图表所表现出的观点，即论证该观点。第三段为结尾段，即重申图表所揭示的问题，做出合理可信的预言。