6. Where There Is a Will, There Is a Way
A famous saying goes that “where there is a will, there is a way”, by which is meant that one can find a way to success as long as he or she has a strong will. With a strong will, one can focus all his energy on one point, which makes success possible. With a strong will, one also can find any chance possible and make the best use of it.
History abounds with examples of strong-willed figures winning success. I can think of no better illustration of this than the deeds of Gou Jian, king of Yue in ancient China. After defeated by Fu Chai, king of Wu, Gou made himself suffer a lot to iron his will. Eventually, with the help of Fan Li and Xi Shi, he managed to rebuild his country and his armies and had Fu Chai taste the bitterness of failure.
Actually, both history and common sense suggest that a strong will is essential for success. One should lose no chance to strength his will and remember, God helps those who help themselves.
7. The Increase in the Number of Students Attending Graduate Entrance Exams
It can be seen from the chart that there have been sharp increases in the number of students attending graduate entrance exams in University X in the past decade. As the chart shows, the year 1999 witnessed only 2,900 students taking part in the exams. In 2004, the number soared to nearly four thousand. In 2009, far more people prepared themselves for graduate study.
A number of factors could account for the change in the chart, but the following might be the critical ones. First, due to the spreading financial crisis and economic recession in the past years, the number of job vacancies has been on a sharp decline. Secondly, as a result of expanded enrollments in many colleges and universities, the number of graduates has rocketed in China, which adds to the fierceness of competition in the job market. Last but not least, relevant state policies and the boom of higher education provide students with more opportunities to go after higher degrees.
Personally, I would not pursue graduate study right upon graduation from college. The main reason is that I have not made up my mind on the field to major in. But I really deem it necessary for me to secure a master degree. So I would set my goal while I am working.
8. Fighting Drug Abuse
It can be seen from the charts that drug abuse has become a grave problem in China. As we can see from the first chart on the left, in 1994, there were only slightly more than 200 thousand drug addicts, while in 2007 the number soared to over 1,000 thousand. The other chart conveys a more shocking message: about 70 percent of the drug addicts in China now are young people aged under 35.
A number of factors could account for this dramatic change, but the following might be the most critical ones. In the first place, as China opens its door to the outside world, its people tend to be influenced by western values and life styles. More or less, the drug addicts in China are imitating their counterparts in the U.S. and other western industrialized countries. For another, with China transforming from a planned economy to a market-oriented one, there has appeared a vacuum in people’s faiths, especially in the youngsters’ faiths. Confronted with increasingly fierce competition in study and work, many of them resort to drug abuse as a way of relaxation.
In view of the seriousness of the situation, effective measures must be taken before things get worse. For one thing, it is imperative that pertinent laws should be worked out and rigidly enforced to crack down on drug dealing, cutting off the supply of drugs. For another, a deep-going and ever-lasting campaign should be launched to help the young establish the right philosophy and world view. Only with these measures taken can we expect a brighter future.
9. A Letter of Invitation
June 20th, 2009
Dear Professor Bush,
I am Li Ming, President of English Club in this university, and I am writing to invite you to work as a judge for an English Speech Contest to be held by the club in Classroom 101 at 9:00 AM on July 5th，2009.
The contest is an important annual activity of English club. It has been held for 5 years running. The purpose of the contest is to create a favorable atmosphere for English study within the university. Experience shows that such contests contribute a lot to the improvement of students’ spoken English. To make sure the contest is a fair and just one, and to obtain more instructions, experienced English teachers are invited to work as judges. That is why I am writing to you.
It is my knowledge that you are an excellent English teacher and are always ready to offer help to English learners. Therefore, I earnestly request you to do us the favor by being present at the contest if you happen to have no other plans on January 5th.
Best wishes.
Yours sincerely
Li Ming
10. College Graduates Work as Village Officials
There is no denying the fact that it is a hotly debated topic today how college graduates should choose their careers. Some time ago, it was reported that some college graduates chose to work as village officials. To this people’s attitudes differ sharply. Some hold the positive view while others are against it. As far as I am concerned, I believe that it is a wise choice.
On the one hand, college graduates can contribute a lot to the development of the countryside. First, they can apply their professional knowledge there. Secondly, they can introduce new concepts to the countryside and speed the development of rural culture. As a result, the gap between the city and the countryside can well be bridged.
On the other hand, these graduates can benefit a lot from working as village officials. While too many college graduates are fighting for the handful of positions in big cities, these graduates can find themselves a wider stage of development and realize their value.
Therefore, it is a win-win choice for college graduates to work as village officials and more graduates should be encouraged to work in the countryside.
