历年专八作文真题及范文.doc

2011年
Should famous Chinese sites of historical interest charge higher fees during peak travel seasons?
Nowadays，with the rapid development of tourism industry, it has become popular for quite some people to travel at vacation after a long period of heavy load of working. They come to some historical sites to relax themselves. At the same time, holiday is the busiest travel times of the year. Generally speaking, the famous Chinese sites of historical interest will charge higher fees during the time. Recently, a controversial viewpoint towards historic sites' higher charge that whether such action will hurt citizen's sentiment. My opinion is that it's worth charging higher fees.
First of all, I firmly believe that it is necessary to charge higher fees. People could understand the meaning of life and the permanent value from these measures, then they will change their thinking style of study and work. Historical sites let people realize death is not far away and we should not waste our life.
Moreover, when parents take their children to the historic interest, the children can learn knowledge of history rather than just playing there. At the same time they receive education. In fact，I think it is meaningful to go to Chinese sites of historical interest than to the playground.
Last but not least, historical sites' complete preservation needs a large amount of money. In order to make our historical sites exist forever, we should pay higher fees.
To sum up, it's no doubt that historical sites charge higher fees
in tourism season. We should undertake the responsibility of protecting historical sites and our environment, meanwhile we should be aware that the meaning of life is not from birth to death but making contribution to society.

2009：Are dialects just as acceptable in public places?
　　范文一
　　China’s State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT) recently issued a notice banning domestic radio and TV stations from translating foreign radio and TV programmes into any local dialect. The notice said that such dialect translation contradicts the national initiative to promote Putonghua, or Mandarin, around the country. Foreign programmes that have been translated into dialects must be removed from television and radio immediately. The notice evoked a mixed response from experts and audio and video producers, as well as the general public. Many voiced their concerns that local dialects would be fornidden in public places. Mandarian, which means "common language", is the country’s predominant language and is widely used by more than 70 percent of the population. However, local dialects still enjoy popularity for relatively less-educated people in some occasions. The dialects do make unique role and should be tolerated for existence in public places.
　　Though promoted widely in public places, dialects are acceptable in public places. First, it is more than a mere tool for communication. It is, most importantly, the messenger of its respective culture. If the dialect was eliminated from daily use, the culture will be broken. Second, Mandarian can absorb the elite part of local dialect to enrich its vocabulary and usage. This is the perfection of Mandartian from thousands of years blend and contact. The dialects can also be popular in the public. Along with the famous short play by comic actors in NE China, the local dialect came into the spotlight, and enjoyed more popularity throughout China. Such a cultural phenomenon represents the audience an attitude to local dialects which cater to the taste of the majority. Third, dialect is the only mean of communication to some undereducated local people. If local dialects are forbidden in the public places, they can not communicate.
　　To sum up, local dialects should be tolerated in public places for its unique role which Mandarian can not substitute. We should guartee its survival because dialects stand for our spiritual land. From a long-term perspective, dialects should not and would not be wiped out. There is no need for any purposeful and deliberate attempt to protect dialects. Just let dialects take their natural course. The best way to protect a dialect is to use it in daily life and pass it down from generation to generation.

08：What I Have Learned From My Years at University
       The development of an individual human existence can be divided into several important stages. But no period can be more influential upon the later course of our life than the years we have experienced in college. Here is the cradle of intelligentsia with vision, mission and passion. And now, as I am ready to leave campus and face the real world, I dare say that no other place can teach me more.
        I am very proud that in university I have learnt how important it is for one to have vision, that ability to see ahead of time and possibly others. College has raised me up, so that I could enjoy a broader view of the world. University Library, the sanctuary of mind always keeps me in a close touch with the great thoughts of giants, Shakespeare, Russell, Churchill, Roosevelt, to name only a few. All these overwhelmingly famous names have turned familiar and friendly here. These great minds teach me how to live a meaningful life. They warn me that the last but greatest enemy for mankind is human existence itself. Their words of wisdom shall guide and guard me to overcome all the obstacles beset in the course of my life. In the light of this statement, I have to say that college years have brightened up my vision.
        It is at university that I have acquired an added understanding of the meaning of mission i.e. man should have shoulders strong enough to take more responsibilities of the time. College has enriched me, so that I, to some extent, have discovered the truth to live by. When I was a sophomore, I was chosen a volunteer for the Red Cross Institution. My job, then, was to assist the doctor with the blood collecting in a blood donation car on the street. Those days bestowed me with a moving but a little bit singular picture, in which the painful injection and hearty smile are perfectly and beautifully combined. Every parcel of blood means a piece of hope, through which I see that the possession of life lies in sharing. This is how college years have defined my mission.
         It is after some years at university that I have better apprehended Toynbee when he said, “Glory belongs to those who are actually in the arena, fighting passionately whilst showing every now and then mistakes or shortcomings.” I have understood the spirit of transcending myself, sometimes even in a crazy way. If youth is the freshness of the deep springs of life, then college must be the fountain of passion. It cheers in the chaos of gym; it hides in the silence of lab. During the college years, I never stopped pursuing my own dream, because I never fail to be inspired by the flowing current of young passion.
         Lawrence H. Summers, former President of Harvard said in his farewell speech, “College graduates, capable of deep reflections are what the world needs.” Living in a world of madding crowd, a group, or even a small group of people are expected to remain transcendental and sober. If any can live up to so high a standard of existence, college graduates can. And I am fortunate in being among them at this moment and having spared little time cultivating my vision, mission and passion in the past four years. With these, I have better courage to change myself and most probably better preparation for my future.
07： Financial Disparity: Not a Barrier for Friendship
With the development of market economy in China arise the income gaps between people working in different fields: some earn good money; some make ends meet; some others live on narrow means. On top of many social problems this financial disparity may cause there is a claim that it affects friendship. The assumption seems reasonable but we may find it does not really hold water by taking a close look into the subject.
First of all true and lasting friendship is built on common values pursuits or hobbies rather than similar incomes. Friends are those who agree with your life views and stick to the some principles those who encourage you when you lack confidence in meeting challenges and pursuing your dream or those who share your interests and appreciate your tastes. Indeed what strengthens these emotional bonds between you and your pals is not the same amount of wealth but spiritual commonalities. Of course with similar financial backgrounds you will probable know better about each other's life style but the difference in this aspect will not matter if you are mutually appreciated needed and trusted. The friendship between Marx and Engels--the two German revolutionists--is a case in point. The former was often in debt while the latter was well-off; yet the same socialist dream drew them together and made them forever friends.
Moreover financial disparity between friends does not cause trouble because each of them usually lives a self-reliant life. Different from a married couple who have common properties budget and spend their income together even very close friends live on their own finances. For instance though we exchange ideas with and confide secrets to our friends we will never rely on them for a comfortable life no matter how rich they are. Admittedly there are times when we may go out for fun or to dinner together with friends; however whether they are richer or poorer than us we can definitely find a place suitable for all rather than one beyond somebody's means.
It is claimed that people with different financial backgrounds have different social contacts and accordingly as friends will get estranged sooner or later. It is true in some cases but bosom friends are not those who you get in touch with every day instead they are those who lend their hands to you when you fall into trouble just as the old saying goes a friend in need is a friend indeed. Hence despite their distinct material life the richer and the poorer can retain their friendship as long as they still care about each other understand and support each other.
To sum up financial disparity will not affect friendship when people have common spiritual pursuits lead an independent life and stand by each other for better or worse. It might be quite safe to say that money is not the barrier but the touchstone of real friendship.

06：Ambition
Ambition is the decision one makes and the resolution with which he carries out that decision.
　　It provides us with the required driving force to accomplish any undertakings in our life. Just as Joseph Epstein, a famous American writer put it,” And as we decide and choose, so are our lives formed.” Indeed, once we make up our minds to choose to do something, then our life becomes meaningful and specifically orientated. This notion of life, as far as I observe, is closest to truth and does apply to almost all aspects of life.
　　First things first, ambition renders us a sense of mission. No matter what decision you make you have to be responsible for your choice. Your choice procures you a sense of orientation, or more specially a sense of mission. And only a strong mission may enable one to accomplish greatness. Caesar of the ancient Roman Empire was urged by his ambition “I came, I saw, I conquered.” And became an unrivaled empire builder in the history of Rome. John Milton, stimulated always by his ambition that aimed at writing some “mighty lines” which England would unwillingly forget, had in due time secured his position as the second Shakespeare in the history of English literature. In the second place, ambition can bring one’s potentials to the full. Ambition may well serve as a catalyst activating one’s dormant potentials. Without ambition one’s potentials will remain slumbering like a dormant volcano.
　　A case in point is Ms Zhang Heidi, a Chinese Helen Keller. It was her ambition to be a useful person has turned the almost paralyzed Zhang Heidi into a well-accomplished figure whose achievements would dwarf those of some normal people aim at the sun, though, at worst, they may probably land on the moon. Influential as it is upon us, however, ambition must be channeled in the right direction. If wrongly directed, one’s ambition may bring havoc on him and others. Hitler, whose ambition was to conquer Europe by whatever evil means, finally turned him into a demon. It was this demon that almost cast Europe into an unfathomable abyss of anguish and suffering.
　　Another case is Macbeth whose ambition was to become the king of Scotland. However, his ambition was materialized by the murder of King Duncan. Consequently, unbearable guilt and psychological agony drove him to his tragic doom. To sum up, ambition can benefit us tremendously if wisely and correctly channeled, otherwise it may ruin others and ourselves. A poet says: life can be bad. Life can be good. Life can be dirty. Life can be sad. Life can even be painful. In my mind’s eye, a person can make his life beautiful, meaningful and rewarding and stand out as a respectable personage if he is motivated by a well-orientated ambition.
05: Interview An Effective Way to Recruit Employees
Nowadays, interview is frequently used by employers as one of the preferable means to recruit prospective employees. As a result, there have been many arguments for or against it as a selection procedure. Some people regard it as a good way to select employees in a short time while others think it not proper to decide on a person just by the simple means of interview. Both of them have some truth. But in my opinion, it is an efficient way to recruit a prospective employee.
First of all, interview serves as an efficient way to examine if a person has the qualities that are needed for modern competition or for a certain company. In interview, one needs to present the best part of oneself to the interviewers. If the interviewee is well prepared and has a knowledgeable mind, he or she should show it plainly to the interviewers. The key point for the interviewee on this occasion is to be quick-minded and resourceful. Certainly one will come across some tough questions from the interviewers. What the latter expects is a witty even humorous answer. What is more, in an interview, facing a group of interviewers, who will make a decision on the interviewee' fate, the interviewee has to remain calm which is an essential quality for modern competition.
Secondly, interview embodies fairness--the principle of modern society. During an interview, all interviewees will face the same conditions, such as the same place, the same time; they will face the same interviewers and questions of similar difficulties. The outstanding candidate has to surpass all the other interviewees in answering ail sorts of questions and it mainly depends on his