2004年8月2日 The Influence of Television and Movies
There is no doubt that watching television and movies can influence the way that people behave. Moreover，it seems that people are spending more and more time watching some sort of visual entertainment，whether it is television，a video tape or a DVD. Therefore，the effects of visual media cannot be ignored.
One obvious effect of the these media is that watching them induces people to buy certain products. television advertising is widespread and，nowadays，even movie theaters permit advertisements. Another way TV and the movies affect people is that they give people either a broader view of the world or a distorted one，depending on what type of program they watch. Those who watch news and educational program can learn many new things while those who watch primarily entertainment shows may come to believe that most people in the world possess great wealth and good looks. It may make them become dissatisfied with their own lives. Finally，perhaps the most susceptible viewers are children，who may be unable to tell fact from fiction and may try to imitate acts that they see on TV or in the movies.
With the every-increasing popularity of video entertainment，society must pay attention to these effects. Television and movies，while entertaining and informative，cannot take the place of real experience.
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电视和电影的影响
电视和电影无疑会影响人们的行为举止。此外，人们似乎在花越来越多的时间去观看一些视觉娱乐节目，无论是电视、录像带，或是DVD.因此，视觉每体的影响是不容忽视的。
这些每体所造成的最明显的影响是，人们在观看之后会被诱使去购买某些产品。现在电视广告非常普遍，即使是电影院，也允许播放广告。另外一个电视及电影会影响人们的方式是，它们能使人们对世界有更广阔的见解或是扭曲的看法，而这取决于人们所观看的是什么样的节目。凡是观看新闻性及教育性节目的人可以学习许多新事物，而主要观看娱乐节目的观众可能就会认为，世界上大多数的人都很有钱，而且长得都很好看，这可能会使他们对自己的生活感到不满意。最后，儿童可能是最容易受影响的观众。他们可能无法分辨真实与虚构，而且可能会试着模仿在电视或电影中所看到的行为。
由于视觉娱乐越来越普遍，所以社会大众必须注意其可能造成的影响。尽管电视及电影兼具娱乐性和知识性，但还是无法取代实际的经验。
2004年8月3日 Living Longer
In the past it was not uncommon for a man to die at forty，having lived a full life. But now we consider a lifespan of forty years to be very short. It is not unusual for people to live into their eighties and nineties，and some even reach 100. What‘s more，people are living long，healthy lives and are active well into theirgolden years。
Mankind‘s longevity is due mainly to advances in science and technology. Medical breakthroughs have eradicated many fatal diseases that were once common. Perhaps more importantly，better general health means that people are less likely to contract infections in the first place. Better health also helps people prevent slowly debilitating conditions，such as heart disease，which can take their lives at an early age. And as civilization has advanced，our living environment and sources of food have become more sanitary. Furthermore，work is now safer and not as taxing on the human body. We do not wear out after just a few years of very hard work.
There are many reasons why people are now living longer than ever before. But what is more important is that they are living better as they live longer. It is my opinion that we have scientific and technological development to thank for this progress.
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活得更久
以前的人活到40岁就过完一生而死亡是很平常的。但是现在，我们认为40岁的寿命很短。人们活到八十几岁、九十几岁，有些甚至到100岁，是很平常的。而且，人们还能活得久而且又健康，精力充沛地迈入他们的黄金时代（退休期）。
人类会长寿主要是因为科学及科技的进步。医学上的重大突破已经根除了以前十分普遍的致命疾病。而更重要的也许是，大众健康的改善首先意味着人们不大可能得传染病。人们变得更健康也有助于预防罹患一些会使身体状况日益衰弱的疾病，例如心脏病。这些疾病常会夺走年轻的生命。又因为文明的进步，我们的生活环境以及食物来源已经变得比较卫生。此外，现在的工作比较安全，且对人体而言没有那么繁重。我们不会因为只辛苦工作几年就变得疲惫不堪。
现代人比以前长寿的原因有很多，但更重要的是，人们活得更久，而且也活得更好。我的看法是，我们进提那的进步得益于科学和科技的发展。
2004年8月4日 The Media and Famous People
In almost every form of media，including television，newspapers and magazines，a great deal of attention is paid to the personal lives of celebrities. It seems that the public cannot get enough of this kind of news. However，I believe that the media have a responsibility to present a balanced view of the world，as well as respect the lives of public figures. Therefore，I believe that the media pay too much attention to the personal lives of famous people.
For people who are fascinated with the lives of public figures there are some forms of media devoted exclusively to this topic. They can satisfy their curiosity by buying fan magazines and watching TV shows devoted to entertainment news. The general media should present all types of information because people have different interests. Furthermore，the practice of dwelling on the private lives of celebrities can lead people to pay more attention to these matters than they otherwise would. Perhaps most importantly，the media should respect the privacy of every individual，including public figures. They may have chosen to be in the public eye，but that does not give the public the right to know everything about them. Moreover，many stories about celebrities are untrue；they are only gossip reported to increase sales of magazines and other media. They are unfair to the famous and mislead the public.
For all of these reasons，I believe that the media should pay more attention to matters other than the private lives of public figures. In this way，they can appeal to a wider audience and encourage people to develop other interests. In my opinion，the media currently pay too much attention to the private lives of public figures.
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媒体与名人
几乎每一种媒体，包括电视、报纸和杂志，都把许多焦点放在名人的私生活上。一般大众似乎对这种新闻一直很感兴趣。然而，我认为媒体有责任以公正无偏袒的观点报导时事，以及尊重公众人物的生活。因此，我认为媒体的确过度关注名人的私生活。
因为有些人对于公众人物的私生活十分着迷，所以有些媒体就专做这个主题。通过购买针对歌迷或影迷所发行的杂志和观看电视节目的娱乐新闻，就能满足这些歌迷和影迷的好奇心。一般媒体应该提供所有类型的资讯，因为人们的兴趣各不相同。此外，老是强调名人的私生活，会使人们比平常更注意这些事情。或许最重要的是，媒体应该尊重个人的隐私，包括公众人物的隐私。他们可能选择公开露面或上传播媒体，但那并不表示大众有权知道他们的一切。此外，许多关于名人的报导并不真实；那些报导只不过是被用来增加杂志销售量以及其他媒体业绩的八卦传闻。那些不实的报导不仅对名人不公平，也会误导大众。
基于这些理由，我认为媒体应该多注意公众人物私生活以外的事情。如此一来，媒体就能吸引更广大的受众群，并且鼓励人们培养其他的兴趣。依我之见，目前的媒体的确过度关注公众人物及他们的私生活。
2004年8月5日 Human Activity and the Earth
There is no doubt that human activity has an effect on the planet. We see the evidence of mankind‘s endeavors all around us. While some of man’s accomplishments，such as the building of transportation systems and the consistent supply of potable water，have made Earth a better place for people to live，they have not come without cost. Overall，it seems that human activity harms the Earth more than it benefits it.
For example，the transportation systems that benefit mankind also create pollution and use up valuable energy resources. While we cannot do without transportation these days，we cannot ignore the fact that it has an adverse effect on the planet. Furthermore，those advances that benefit people do not benefit al the life on Earth. Deforestation endangers many animals，and mankind‘s great thirst for water and other resources leads to the extinction of many plant forms. In addition，accomplishments such as the supply of potable water to a community are only response to problems that mankind created in the past. It was man that made the water unfit to drink in the first place. Finally，the damage that human activity causes will eventually have a negative effect on people. They will also suffer the effects of pollution and diminishing natural resources.
In conclusion，it seems apparent that man‘s activity benefits primarily himself，not the Earth. Moreover，those benefits are only short-term advantages，and man will also suffer the negative effects of his activity in the future. The Earth does not have an inexhaustible supply of resources，so every effort should be made to conserve resources and limit the impact of human activity on the planet.
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人类活动与地球
人类活动无疑会对地球造成影响。我们周围随处可见人类活动的迹象。虽然人类某些成就，如运输系统的建立以及饮用水持续的供应等，使得地球成为一个更适合的人类居住的地方，但这些成就的取得也付出了代价。总体上，对地球而言，人类的活动似乎弊多于利。
例如，运输系统对人类有利，却会制造污染，并用尽珍贵的能源。现在我们虽然不能没有运输工具，却也不能忽视运输工具对地球有不良影响的事实。此外，使人类获益的这些进步不一定能使地球上所有生物都获益。砍伐森林危及许多动物，而人类对水和其他资源的需求极大，因而导致许多植物绝种。再者，像供应社区饮水的这类成就，就只是人类在为过去所制造的问题做出回应而已。是人类自己首先使水变得不适合饮用的。最后，人类活动所导致的损害终究会对人类本身产生负面的影响。污染及日益减少的天然资源所造成的影响也会使人类受害。
总之，人类的活动显然主要仅对人类自己有利，但却对地球不利。而且，那些益处是短暂的，将来人类还是会因自己的行为所造成的负面影响而受害。地球上的资源并不是取之不尽、用之不竭的，所以我们应该尽全力保存资源，限制人类活动对地球的冲击
