11. Choosing an Occupation

Every one faces the problem of choosing an occupation after graduation from college or university, which plays a vital role in his life. An appropriate occupation makes a man work with zest(热情) and vigor, as well as contribute to his country. To make a wise choice, two important things should be taken into consideration. One is the interest, the other, the demands of people and society. Only if the two aspects are connected, can a man show his talent and ability to the best advantage. If the two conflict, the former should be under the latter, for the people's interests are more important than the individual's. In regard to my choice in the future, I am fond of learning foreign languages; what is more, with the implementation of the Open-Door Policy, exchange between home and abroad in economy and culture has been growing significantly, thus I'm determined to be a qualified interpreter.

12. The Brain and the Computer

Some recent developments in the computer industry make scientists predict that the gap between human beings and machines will be closed about the year 20000. To understand the significance of this prediction let us compare the human brain with existing computers. The brain consumes electrical energy at the rate of 25 watts and occupies a volume of one tenth of a cubic foot. The brain houses between 10 billion and 100 billion items of information. Every brain cell is directly connected to many other cells. As a result, the cells in which information is stored can communicate with thousands of other cells. However, the computer consumes 1000,000 watts of electrical power and occupies hundreds of cubic feet of space. Its million items of immediately accessible information. In contrast, the computer memory is like a cell of pigeonholes, with no thinking capacity and no connections elsewhere. In a word, the electronic brains are hopelessly inadequate in comparison with the human brains.

13. Health and Life

As the saying goes, you don’t know what happiness is until you lose it’ you don’t know what health is until you are ill. “Health is of vital importance to life” sounds like a cliche to everyone, but it is absolutely true. The negligence of the delicate balance of your body and soul, the harmful habits such as smoking, excessive drinking and burning mid-night oil will catch up with you someday. How many big plans are interrupted by bad health! Even a normal life is unimaginable without the guarantee of health. How to keep fit is an eternal topic of diversity and controversy. Regardless of all the different suggestions poured from all kinds of sources, one should do at least two things for him/herself. First, hold an active and optimistic attitude toward life and maintain a mental well-being. Second, live a regular life and keep a balanced diet. Anyway, a healthy life is within reach when you begin to adjust your mind and body.

14. Energy Resources

China is rich in various energy resources. Coal and petroleum, for instance, are two major ones. They are essential in developing the country's industry, science and technology. China has done a great deal in the past few decades to raise its output of coal and petroleum. Three energy resources are being used up rapidly, With the building of four modernization, new industrial and science projects are springing up like bamboo shoots after rain. They are all big consumers of energy resources. Besides there has been considerable waste in the utilization of these resources. To avoid an energy crisis in the future, the government must take certain measures. First, it should let people know the importance of saving energy. Second, efforts should be made to develop new energy resources, such as solar energy, geothermal(地热) energy and so on. We have reason to be optimistic in this respect.

15. Competition

Competition makes people original and creative. It very necessary to compete if human society wants to advance. (Even animals compete for survival.) Without it, we would become lazy and nobody would rake any responsibility. When three monks live together, there will be no drinking water. This Chinese proverb vividly describes why China's productivity was so low before Mr Deng came to power. At that time, we had the so-called planned economy. There was no competition at all. So neither farmers nor workers worked hard. China was on the edge of collapse. Competition can stimulate people to try their best to do anything. For example, in 100-meter race, each sportsman runs as quickly as possible, trying to win the champion. The same things happen in our society and in our daily life. If a company wants to surpass others, it must compete with them. It must raise its efficiency. All the companies doing this will no doubt benefit the whole society and the whole human race. Being a student, I must compete with other students in our studies. I must study hard in all the fields so that I can be a useful man when I enter the society after graduation.

16.Students’ Part-time jobs

There are many advantages for a student to have a part time job. For instance, it helps him to realize that no success comes from nothing. It enables him to be independent and builds up his self-confidence. Therefore, part-time jobs can get the students out of the ivory tower and give them the opportunity to know more of himself and of his personal value in society. As everything has two sides, the disadvantages can’t be ignored. Part-time jobs cut into students’ study time; some even become so preoccupied with making money that they ca ‘t focus their attention on studying. In the end, the students may fall behind or fail in their studies. In my opinion, students can choose to take up a job according to their own situation. The most important thing is for him to keep a good balance, put his study on top of the list and assign an adequate amount of time to it.

17.Wealth and Happiness

Everybody wants to get wealth. In today’s material world, making money or becoming wealthy symbolizes a person’s success and capability. Many people just make every effort, pay any price to attain greater wealth. With money, they can but nice, large apartments in nice neighborhood; with money, they can own stately luxury cars. Wealth seems with money, they can own stately luxury cars. Wealth seems to bring all happiness in life. In my opinion, people cannot do anything without money, but money is not everything. What money will bring you depends on your personal belief and goal in life. If you are kind enough to help others, especially the poor, money is a good thing to you. With it, you can do much more for the benefit of people and your country, and it will and to your own happiness. If you want money just for your own needs, you’ll never be satisfied or happy. In a word, you should have money spent for more people, only then can money be the source of your happiness.

18.Ideals

Everyone has his ideals. A businessman wishes to make greater profit; a farmer expects bumper harvests; a student tries to learn more and better. And everyone strives, with more or less effort, to realize his ideal. One should be sensible about whether his ideal is well founded or not. If it is, one has to plan and work hard for its realization. Effort, skill and persistence are all necessary. And very often, one has to get help from others, including advice and support in one form or another. My ideal is to become a doctor, It is said that the field of medicine is a well-paid profession, but I take it as a lofty profession entrusted with saving people’s lives. To realize my ideal I have concentrated on laboratory work to develop the analytical skills necessary to become a qualified doctor. I am sure I will realize my ideal if I persevere in this pursuit.

19.Popular Sports in China

Sports are flourishing in china now. More and more people are willing to take part in sports of different kinds, such as table-tennis, football, volleyball, and so on. Every year there are many matches played on the city, provincial or national level. Sports are no longer limited to a few professional players. Early in the morning people may be seen doing exercise. Martial arts (like Chinese boxing or swordplay) which formerly were cultivated for self-defense, now have become a form of physical exercise and are practiced in parks, streets, gardens, or on campuses. In addition young and old people are also often seen running in order to build up their bodies. China promotes sports to enhance the physical condition of its people; she is formulating policies to provide encouragement of this activity. She awards prizes to the excellent players for the best records both in china and the world. In the world the Chinese have become a strong people instead of “the weaklings of East Asia”.

20.Is Failure a Bad Thing?

Failure is what often happens. It is everywhere in our life. Students may fail in exams, scientists may fail in their research work, and athletes may fail in competitions. Although failure happens to everyone, attitudes towards failure are various. Some people don’t think their failure is a very important thing at all. So they pay no attention to it. As a result, they will have the same failure a period later. Some people think themselves are fools and lose their hearts in everything after they get a failure. Consequently, they spend their time and energy on useless things and they may really be fools as they have thought. Other people are quite different from the two kinds of people mentioned above. Instead of being distressed and lost, they draw a lesson from every failure and become more experienced. After hard work, they will be successful in the end. It is said that failure is the mother of success. Success will be gained after times of failures so long as we are good at drawing lesson from our failures. In my opinion, failure is not a bad thing, the really bad thing is taking a failure as failure or even lose our heart after failure.

21.Modernization of Family Life

With the rapid development of the society, family life is becoming modernized. Years ago, people considered owing radios, sewing machines, watches and bicycles as being modernized. But in recent years, almost all families have TV sets, refrigerators and washing machines. It is very common to see people ride motorcycles or even drive private cars and more and more families have telephones, computers and air-conditioners. The modernization of family life brings us convenience and comfort. One may enjoy TV or radio programs, communicate with his friends through telephone or work with his computer while his washing machine, refrigerator and air-conditioners are running. And by car or motorcycle one can quickly reach wherever he wants to go. In spite of this, these modern facilities also bring us disadvantages. For example, radiation from TV sets and computers is harmful to our health; improper driving of cars and motorcycles becomes the major cause of traffic accidents. The quietness of a family is often disturbed by a false dialing or unwelcome phone call. But it is believed that these disadvantages will be disposed of with the improvement of modernization and our life will be more healthy and more comfortable.