二、短文写作

　　Directions:

　　Study the following drawing carefully and write an essay in which you should

　　1) describe the drawing,

　　2) explain its intended meaning, and then

　　3) give your comments.

　　You should write 160-200 words neatly on the ANSWER SHEET. (20 points)

　　模版范文

　　The animated cartoon reminds its audience about the significance of the Earth hour. On the lastSaturday of March, it is advisable that lights should be turned off for an hour with a view to protecting the Earth. It seems that the Earth would feel better with all lights off.

　　The implied meaning of the drawing is that waste and extravagance are not difficult to find wherever we go. We can often encounter a scene where papers, bottles and cans are thrown away after use. Food is wasted just because of poor taste, and clothes are discarded simply due to their old fashion. Not only do we squander things and money, but also we lose our environmental awareness.

　　It is high time to call for an end to the unpleasant situation. First and foremost, education to build up thrift habits should be prompted by relevant government departments at different levels. Besides, we, as college students, must learn to make wise use of natural resources. Only in this way can we protect the health of the Earth.

　　Directions:

　　For this part, you are expected to write a composition of no less than 150 words on Changes in People's Daily Expenses in XX City. Study the following chart carefully and your composition must be based on the outline and the information in the chart.

　　1) Changes in people's daily expenses in the past five years.

　　2) Give possible reasons for the changes.

　　3) Draw your own conclusions. (15 points)

　　In the past five years, there have been great changes in people's daily expenses in XX city. According to the figures given in the table, the amount of money spent on food decreased gradually, accounting for 35 percent in 2014. In addition, the table shows an upward tendency in recreation expenses. The same was the case with other expenses.

　　What caused these remarkable changes? In my opinion, there are at least three good reasons. To begin with, with the rapid development of agriculture in China, the output of grain, fruit, vegetables and milk has sharply increased, which contributesto the decline in their prices. Secondly, the family incomes of people both in the city and in the countryside have greatly risen so that people now can afford expensive clothing and some of them even want to dress in the latest fashion. Finally, as the living condition improves, the demand for a variety of recreation is growing steadily, too.

　　In short, with the incomes rising continuously, people no longer reconciled themselves to living a simple, monotonous life. They are eager to make their life interesting and exciting. Therefore, I am sure that people will spend more money on clothing and recreation.

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（编辑：何莹莹）