Many parents have to think hard about the gifts that their children should give teachers on Teachers’ Day. But should teachers accept these gifts from parents or their students Read the excerpts carefully and write your response in about 300 words, in which you should: 1. summarize briefly the opinions about this issue; 2. give your comment. Marks will be awarded for content relevance, content sufficiency, organization and language quality. Failure to follow the above instructions may result in a loss of marks. Ave (the UK) I find the concept of Teachers’ Day a bit odd. It is not something that happens in the UK as far as I know. In the UK, acceptance of gifts by teachers is strictly prohibited, especially gifts that have been purchased or giving cash as a gift. Obviously, if a child bestows a gift that he has made by himself to the teacher then that can be considered an act of endearment. To refuse in this case would probably do more harm to the child.Ted (the UK) In my school in England teachers may receive a few small gifts ( usually chocolates) at the very end of a school year, but usually these are given to the most popular female teachers. In no way are they intended as a bribe but an expression of liking, and as a goodbye gift. In China, I was delighted to receive little gifts: sweets and flowers, at this time last year, and gifts and thanks from the school. I must agree that some parents in China hold that they give teachers expensive gifts for the sake of their children. One father sent a van full of boxes of expensive cakes as gifts for all the teachers in one grade. Such gifts do nothing to induce teachers to give more attention to his child, yet are clearly seen as some sort of bribe. The most precious gifts are little things that students have bought or made by themselves as genuine offers of thanks and friendship.Seneca (China) I think gifts given to teachers are not the ideal way of showing a form of deference; it would be much better if teachers were treated with the respect they deserve throughout the whole year. If a Teachers’ Day is needed it should be held in a uniform manner, possibly as a national holiday.Patrick (the US) Instead of buying gifts, why not encourage children to make small gifts, drawing or paper flowers, or even a simple card A small gift of love should be the greatest gift of all to a good teacher. I got one, and nothing could make me happier.Mess (the US) Yes, but not necessarily for special care. When I was in school some parents used to give gifts at the end of the school year. As it was Christmas season, many people exchange gifts and in this case some parents give gifts to teachers to show their appreciation for their efforts. I don’t think giving gifts before the work has been done or completed is a good idea. The teachers should do their job without expecting any monetary benefits from parents. Teaching system should be equal for everybody, and shouldn’t involve special care or extra things.Sivester (the US) In Massachusetts, it’s OK to give a gift to your teacher. However, if the gift costs more than the allowed amount, the teacher cannot accept it. Tammy (Singapore) It is simply a matter of ethics. If teachers show favoritism based on a gift they have received from a student or for any other reasons, then they need to be reprimanded. The school system should have confidence on the teachers. I see nothing wrong with showing appreciation to our teachers for what they have done. Write your response on ANSWER SHEET FOUR.

问答题It is commonly believed that one needs higher education in order to succeed, but is college education really necessary Is a university degree a prerequisite to success Read the excerpts carefully and write your response in about 300 words, in which you should: 1. summarize briefly the different opinions; 2. give your comment. Marks will be awarded for content relevance, content sufficiency, organization and language quality. Failure to follow the above instructions may result in a loss of marks.Linda (China) I am in college but find the information I am being taught pretty much useless in the real world. Attending college is necessary to get a job in today’s world but the actual information learned is a waste of time, and it is getting tough to land a good job even with a bachelor’s degree.Kaplooie (Canada) Does a college degree guarantee someone is necessarily better Absolutely not. But put yourself in the place of the hiring manager. If you have the choice of two people you don’t really know, are you going to hire the one with the college degree or the one without If you can afford it, get the college degree. Even if you never use it, it will forever prevent someone from questioning your educational background.Vivienne (France) I think college education is essential in life but it is not a must. Four years’ study in college is a precious experience since we spend our best and most productive years in college. I have noticed that a college degree may offer opportunities. However, wages you will get in the future depend on many other factors such as your personality, competence and in some cases, good luck.Kerrie(the US) Attending college is a worthwhile endeavor. In the modern American job market it has become nearly impossible to pursue a lifelong career that pays well and offers stability and the possibility of promotion without a college degree. This means even those who struggle with student loans, but complete degrees, are still better off in the long run than their peers who did not attend college.Anderson (Germany) I think college education is worthy. At university, people should be taught how to think, how to analyze, how to solve problems, increase interaction between lecturers and students, more than just listen. Students can learn to follow their dreams by investing time, effort and money on their goals at university.Msacks(theUS) College is for some people; it’s not for all. We’ve been brainwashed that the only way to be successful is to go to college, and that degrees translate into success. If you want to be a doctor, lawyer, or other fields that require degrees, go for it. My first 2. 5 years of work experience helped me 1,000 times more than my 5 years of college getting my bachelor’s and master’s degree. But if you really are a self-motivated, self-directed worker, college can be a hindrance rather than a help.Weld (the UK) There are many paths. We should not push every kid into college. Some should go to college, others to high tech vocational training, and others, maybe straight into business. Write your response on ANSWER SHEET FOUR.

问答题Could introducing disincentives to fat consumption curb the obesity epidemic Should a flat tax on food items high ( in excess of 20% of the daily requirements) on saturated fats, salt and sugar be implemented The following are opinions from different sides. Read the excerpts carefully and write your response in about 300 words, in which you should: 1. summarize briefly the different opinions; 2. give your comment. Marks will be awarded for content relevance, content sufficiency, organization and language quality. Failure to follow the above instructions may result in a loss of marks.Finlesh The obesity epidemic is taking an enormous toll on global medical costs. In the US, alone the health care costs attributable to either direct or indirect consequences of obesity have been estimated at $ 147bn. Put into context, this amounts to roughly 9% of the health spending in the US. Thus, it becomes increasingly clear that due to the substantial cost obesity presents to the society, individual choices that might lead to excessive weight gain, can no longer be considered as solely individual in nature. Therefore, the government makes its action legal by introducing a form of a flat tax in order to dissuade the population from becoming obese and cover the increasing societal costs that the obese individuals are responsible for.Tiffin Other than the economic reasons for such behavior, it could be argued that it is also a thing of habit and culture: fast fatty food is quick, accessible and tasty. Thus while a tax might be useful in reducing things such as the use of cigarettes—which are at heart an unnecessary luxury and thus more easily affected by the price—eating food, whether junk or not, is necessary. It also seems that the kind of fast fatty food is fulfilling a specific need, a need for a quick, tasty and filling meal, something people consider worth paying good money for.Altman There is ample precedent in the form of other sin taxes. A sin tax refers to fees tacked on to popular vices like drinking, gambling and smoking. Given the success achieved with uprooting this societal vice, which on a number of counts is similar to the unhealthy food one, we should employ this tried and true strategy to combat the obesity epidemic.Wilkinson A flat tax infringes on individual choice. Protecting the individual should go no further than the protection against the actions of a third person. For instance, we can all agree that the government should put measures in place to protect us from thieves. But should it also protect us from frivolous spending Limit us in the number of credit cards we can own Tell us how we can invest our moneyBurns A flat tax levels out the playing field for healthier food. An important reason why people continuously turn to unhealthy fat, sugar and salt laden food, is the simple fact that it’s often cheaper than a more wholesome meal comprised at least in part of fresh produce. Thus it is only reasonable to levy a tax against unhealthy, fatty food in order to give healthy food a fighting chance.Stracansky It hits the most vulnerable part of the society hardest. The practical consequence of an additional tax on what the government considers fatty unhealthy food will disproportionately affect the poorest part of the population, who often turn to such food due to economic constraints. People keep turning to junk food simply because they are poor and cannot afford the more expensive fresh produce. Write your response on ANSWER SHEET FOUR.