【九一五学社】作文总帖

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29"Public figures such as actors, politicians, and athletes should expect people to be interested in their private lives. When they seek a public role, they should expect that they will lose at least some of their privacy."

Position: Agree with reservation.
1        It is true that people are interested in public people’s private life. (1) People like to find something in common with those public figures for the proof that they are no difference from us. (2) People are curious about their lives. (3) The press always keeps close eyes on these people in the hope of finding some shocking news about them to attract public attention
2        On the one hand, people who seek a public role should anticipate their privacy may be under scrutiny to some degree.
3        While on the other hand, the public should not involve too much in those people’s lives because they just do their job as we do. They have as the same right the constitution entitles them as we do.
4        However, it is helpful to the society in certain aspect because this close scrutiny reveals many hidden problems.
5        And given too much attention to those trivial personal issues, it may distract us from what we should concentrate on.
6        In sum…

14"It is necessary for everyone to read poetry, novels, mythology and other types of imaginative literature.

Position: Agree to some extent.
1        Admittedly, reading imaginative works has merits to some extents. (1) Imaginative literature makes people relaxed and gives people pleasure, and reduce pressure (2) Imaginative works, such as science fiction, confront us with serious social problems people may ignore. Through imagined worlds, alternate societies and scenarios of possible future, such works ask questions that force us to face ourselves. (3) Examine human condition in a way mainstream realism cannot.
2        On the other hand, people should not obsess in imaginative works and escape the reality. (1) Not to be an escapist (2) Unnecessary anxiety and worry, horror, fear. (3)
3        In sum…

49"Imaginative works such as novels, plays, films, fairy tales, and legends present a more accurate and meaningful picture of human experience than do factual accounts. Because the creators of fiction shape and focus reality rather than report on it literally, their creations have a more lasting significance."
(Factual accounts 包括哪些？)
Position: Disagree with reservation.
1        Rather than imaginative works, it is factual accounts, such as history documents, news report, some legal documents, and legal testimonies that provide accurate information on certain events. (1) Factual account include all important elements of an event, including people, time, location, cause, result, and even further impact. (2) Factual accounts report on events literally and objectively (3) Reading those factual accounts may be kind of boring because they always follow the same stereotype, and are usually brief and concise.
2        However, imaginative works provide people with meaningful and vivid human experience in various kinds of stories, and usually are more attractive.
3        They both have lasting significance because they serve different purposes. (1) Factual accounts for research or consult (2) Imaginative works for pleasing or educating.
4        In sum…

96 "Although, critics who write about the arts tend to deny the existence of any objective standards for evaluating works of art, they have a responsibility to establish standards by which works of art can be judged."

Position: Partially agree.
1        Art is a self pursuit and an expression of personal emotion and understanding, and therefore usually there is no fixed criterion of evaluating it.
2        But there do exist certain kind of ways critics often use to assess an art work, and the appreciation and evaluation of art works has something to do with the critic’s personal experience and understanding.
3        Critics should give some advice or guidance rather than fixed standards for the public to judge art works. (1) Fixed standards would restrain the creativity of artists. (2) Restrain appreciators’ imagination, art is abstract, and requires people to feel it with personal experience and understandings but not to just read it out.
4        In sum…

143 "Artists should pay little attention to their critics.* Criticism tends to undermine and constrain the artist's creativity.

*those who evaluate works of art, such as novels, films, music, paintings, etc.

Position: Agree with some reservation.
1        Admittedly, negative comment tends to constrain artist’s creativity. (1) People who are constantly under negative comment or detraction may feel frustrated and are not likely to create good works.
2        Even the comments are positive, artists are easily to fall into the circle the critics delimit and favor, and their works are always confined within the range of critics taste.
3        It is human nature that people cares about how others evaluate their works. But artist should on the one hand listen to the critics to find out whether there is some merits in their critique, and on the other hand remain confident and disregard those detraction that seems unreasonable.
4        Finally, critics’ evaluation has merit to the extent that they explain those vague and unfathomed art works to the public.
5        In sum…

144 "It is the artist, not the critic,* who gives society something of lasting value."

*a person who evaluates works of art, such as novels, films, music, paintings, etc.

Position: (写过的)
观点：both artist and critics contribute to the society.相互促进
1.        artist, as the author has pointed out, gives society valuable treasure. 例如：a.文学方面，莎士比亚，普希金…… b 画家，梵高，毕加索，Van Gogh, Picasso, c. 音乐家 ….
2.        critics也很重要。A. 没有，critics, 有些大众难以理解的艺术作品得不到流传，得不到认识。有些深奥抽象，如许多绘画，一般人不懂欣赏，但是有critics的分析评论，大家就能够认识作品。如果一个作品在critics间引起很大共鸣，或者很大分歧，这都会引起社会和人们多这个艺术作品甚至这个artist的关注，最终导致艺术品流传。B 举例，梵高的话，在他的时代得不到critic的认可，也就没有流传，但是后来的critic又发现价值，所以梵高的作品才有了lasting value,这样说来，是critic 而不是artist gives society most lasting value work. C. 很多artist 同时也是critic, 他们自己创作，同时页评论别人的作品，
3.        in sum, 一些简单的大众能理解的艺术作品，如某些类别的音乐，电影，人们的接受就造就了它的价值，不需要critics的认可；但是一些抽象的，人们不懂得其价值，那么它的lasting value必须得到大多数critics的认可，如果critics不认可，它就失去了value，因为没有人了解它的的价值。

76 "Truly profound thinkers and highly creative artists are always out of step with their time and their society."

Position: Agree with reservation.
1        It is true that many discoveries, theories, or ideas came first as a shock, and were accepted after a long period of time.
2        Yet there are still many ideas that are not completely new, and do not break any traditional ideas. These ideas just rearrange old ideas in a new way.
3        In sum…

131 "The arts (painting, music, literature, etc.) reveal the otherwise hidden ideas and impulses of a society."

Position:
(参考 Men have always been trapped between dichotomy of “what am I” and “what am I supposed to be” and as each decade passes trailing a blaze with some astounding inventions men amble one step more towards latter one.
Men and society together create a camouflage in which true self is clandestine under the cover of projected self. But there is a force within which may not be subjugated every time. When it effuses a mellifluous song comes out of flume, color emanates from the brushes emancipating the captivated feelings on drawing board, a literary work bursts out melting the handcuffs which had made one incapable of holding a pen to pour out the effervescent impulses and then the hidden ideas and impulses are jettisoned.
Let us see the causes which direct these ideas and impulses under cover. The fear that society is not ready to accept the mirror in front of it and one who tries to point out the ugly face may be punished. The ambience where people are engaged in mundane matter never giving a thought to breathe deeply which could refresh them with a fresh and oxygen filled air. The concrete made roads which are easy to ride. The guidance by the veterans which discourages any attempts to follow one’s intuition.
But creativity, imagination, inquisitiveness are as powerful the feelings as avarice, longing for luxuries etc and that’s why art prevails. Art is truth and truth can’t be hidden for years for men themselves are in search of it.)

Position: Agree. (提问，what is art? what is art for? )
1        To some extent, art does reveal some hidden idea of a society. (1) In a non-democratic society, artists use brushes, pens, and music as weapons to express their anger and dissatisfaction toward the authority because art works are usually vague and implicit. (2) People use art to express their anxiety. For example, science fiction concerned environment or energy shortage.
2        And art reflects some kind of impulse of a society sometimes. (1) 文化大革命，Culture revolution in China during the 1960s’ did indicate a blind conformity to their chairman and an irrational devastation of traditional culture. During that time, all art works were required to eulogize the chairman and anything that seemed vague may lead to death. (2) 文艺复兴。 Recanaissance
3        However, there are many art works that deal with personal life, and express individual emotion. And these works have nothing to do with debunking social impulse or something.
4        In sum...

218 "In order for any work of art—whether film, literature, sculpture, or a song—to have merit, it must be understandable to most people."

Position: Disagree with reservation.
1        Art in gerneral is a personal pursuit and should not account too much whether people could understand. (1) Art is a way in which artists express themselves, such as anger, sorrow, hope, and even nothing. (2) Art works that cannot be understood by the public do not necessarily have no merit. (3) To the contrary, when an art is understood by all people, it may not be regarded as an piece of art at all, and tends to be mediocre. Because people think art work that cannot be appreciated by most people has the most value.
2        Truly great artists are always out of step of their time and society
3        However, artists who live on selling their works do have to take into account whether could understand their works.
4        Critics and government have the responsibility to teach people how to appreciate and evaluate an piece of art work.
5        In sum..

88 "Technologies not only influence but actually determine social customs and ethics."
(都有哪些social custom, social ethics)
Position: Disagree with some reservation.
1        Admittedly, on the one hand, with the development of technologies, more and more customs are or being influenced. (1) Email instead of writing letters (2) SMS greetings replaces greeting card, christmas card. (3) Travel during christmas, than stay at home.
2        And on the other hand, some social customs are actually created or determined by technologies. (1) etiquette --- netiquette, ethic on the Internet, be responsible for personal behavior (2) Technologies put challenge on ethics, and determines ethics.
3        In sum....

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114"Humanity has made little real progress over the past century or so. Technological innovations have taken place, but the overall condition of humanity is no better. War, violence, and poverty are still with us. Technology cannot change the condition of humanity."

Position: Disagree with reservation.
1        Humanity did make great progress over the past century. (1) Civil rights are widely accepted and acknowledged. (2) Charitable organizations recieved enough money to serve the poor. (3) The incidence of war affairs has greatly diminished. (4) More frequent cross culture communication helps to eliminate misunderstandings among different races. (5) People now have strong awareness of protecting the environment.
2        Technology contributes a lot to the humanity progress.
3        However, poverty, war, violence are common issues that appear in every society, and man cannot extinguish them immediately because it takes time. And technology alone could not change humanity. Technology only contribute to economic achievement, and a change of humanity requires a high standard of morality.
4        In sum...

129"Technology is a necessary but not always a positive force in modern life."

Position: Agree.
1        Technology is necessary in our daily life, and it makes our life more colorful and more convenient.
2        However, technology also creates many problems. (1) Environmental issues (2) Challenge ethics and morality (3) Rapid pace of life makes people feel always under pressure and always run after time. (4) Technology has been abused (5) Network security issue.
3        In sum...

135"While most of the environmental problems we face result from the use of technology, society must depend upon technology to find solutions to these problems."

Position: Agree with reservation.
1        Yes, it is true that most of the environment problems are result of use of technology. (1) Air pollution (2) Oxzone hole (3) Global warming (4) Species extinction. (5) Acid rain, flood, mud-stone flow are results of deforestation (6) Magnetic radiation, noise,
2        We may count on technology to resolve these problems caused by technologies, but it may cause new problems.
3        In addition, it may cost a lot to find technological solutions.
4        Finally, sometimes it is not technology that brings up so many environment issues, but people who abuse technology.
5        In sum...

166"Over the past century, the most significant contribution of technology has been to make people's lives more comfortable."
(类似135，也是谈谈科技的利与弊)

196"Technology creates more problems than it solves, and may threaten or damage the quality of life."
（类似135，科技利与弊）

219"Now that computer technology has made possible the rapid accessing of large amounts of factual information, people are less likely than ever to think deeply or originally. They feel unable to compete with—much less contribute to—the quantity of information that is now available electronically."

Position: Disagree.
1        Admittedly, computers do have great ability for storing information. But up to now, they can only store factual accounts, such as history documents, legal testimonies, economical statistics.
2        However, people won’t be free from thinking just because computer are good at memorIzing facts. (1) People still need to reason and analyze the information stored in computers. (2) Engineers still have to design complicate software programs to make life and work easier. This may seem to be done all by computers from the point of ordinary people, actually, ...
3        In addition, people are still far more supreme than machines.
4        In sum...

237"Computers and video technology can make facsimiles of original works such as paintings and historical documents available to everyone. The great advantage of this new technology is that it will enable anyone—not just scholars—to conduct in-depth research without having access to the original works."

Position: Agree with reservation.
1        Technology makes facsimiles of original works accessible to ordinary people and enables them to conduct in-depth research on it. It is helpful to certain extent.
2        However, copied work cannot reflect every details of original works.
3        In addition, in-depth research requires not only original works but also solid background knowledge in certan areas.
4        In sum...

23"Contemporary technology makes available many small pieces of factual information. As a result, people have become so preoccupied with bits of fragmented information that they pay too little attention to the larger issues and overall perspectives."

Position: Agree with reservation.
1        Admittedly, technology makes information available everywhere. Cell phone, radio broadcast, Internet, newspaper.
2        And it seems we are occupied by small and trivial factual informations. (1) Entertaining news (2) Parady (3) Others marriage. Sometimes we are preoccupied with these trivial inforamation because they are simple, short, and funny
3        Unfortunately, we fail to see larger issues such as politics, environment, and education, economy.
4        In sum...

16"Although many people think that the luxuries and conveniences of contemporary life are entirely harmless, in fact, they actually prevent people from developing into truly strong and independent individuals."

Position: Agree with reservation. Both physically weak and mentally weak.
1        Contemporary ease of life brings people many benefit and gives them much free time.
2        Contemporary luxury and convenience makes people physically weak.
3        In addition, technology tends to isolate people rather than get people together. People become mentally fragile and sensitive, and easily hurt.
4        In sum...

7、"The video camera provides such an accurate and convincing record of contemporary life that it has become a more important form of documentation than written records."

Position: Disagree with reservation.
1        Camera and video technology is a great invention of last century, and it records details of life so accurate that even a long time after that we could tast the happiness of that time.
2        In some cases, video camera is more useful than documentation. (1) Live report of a carnival (2) Crime record. (3) Family tour and get together
3        While in other cases, documentation is more formal and more efficient, and more useful. (1) History documentation (2) Philosophy document
4        In sum...They each have their special fit.

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30"The primary goal of technological advancement should be to increase people's efficiency so that everyone has more leisure time."

Position: Agree with reservation.
1        I concede that primary goal of technology should be ... Because (1) (2)
2        And peple do enjoy the convenience brought about by technology. For example ...
3        However, do we have more lesure time? (1) We are busy solving problems that are caused by technology. (2) More rapid pace of life present more demand on poeple, and we feel even pressure.
4        In sum...

66"As people rely more and more on technology to solve problems, the ability of humans to think for themselves will surely deteriorate."

Position: Disagree with reservation.
1        Technology does help us a lot in our daily life and work
2        Do we become weak, or become unable to think? No. Technology free people from dull and work that should be repeated over and over. But people are still supreme than machines and their thinking ability would never deteriorate because of this.
3        However, people do become mentally weak.
4        In sum...

176"The function of science is to reassure; the purpose of art is to upset. Therein lies the value of each."

Position: Partially agree.
1        Function of science is to reassure.
2        Yet, sometimes science may cause confusion when it breaks old ideas and is unable to establish new ones.
3        But the purpose of art is to express emotion rather than to upset although sometimes some art works make people uncomfortable.
4        In sum...

41"Such nonmainstream areas of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits play a vital role in society by satisfying human needs that are not addressed by mainstream science."
(写过)
观点：        such areas of inquiry 有一定作用，但不vital,甚至某些时候有害。
1.        有利的一面。 A.如psychic and paranormal pursuits 可以Provide hope, release pressure, qualms, anxiety, fear. Find peace. B占星术，满足好奇心，给生活添加情趣，科学解释不了的事情，如god, ghost, 给出有趣解释。
2.        过度依赖这些有害。1. 走入极端，邪教，被人利用。2. 空幻想，耽误工作，影像生活。如都靠fortune telling 成天做梦，不努力工作，那么…… 这些pursuits 是比较消极的方法应对压力，如果过多依赖，。。。
3.        总结，。。。。。

6、"The most effective way to understand contemporary culture is to analyze the trends of its youth."

Position: Disagree.
1        The trends of youth show something of contemporary culture.
2        Culture is so complexed that observing the trend of its youth alone is not ecough. (1) Contemporary culture is evolved from old culture. (2) Youth alone is not enough to represent a culture. We should also analyze its advanced people.
3        Ideas of the youth may be capricious, and fickle, and may disappear faster than its emergence.
4        Therefore, the most effective way it to analyze previous culture and trends of both adults and youth to get a clear and full picture of the nation’s culture.
5        In sum...

63"To truly understand your own culture—no matter how you define it—requires personal knowledge of at least one other culture, one that is distinctly different from your own."

Position: Agree with reservation.
1        We can know a lot of our own culture from our personal experience.
2        Yet, personal experience in our own culture may make us ignore many important aspects, and we may take them for granted when we don’t compare it with other cultures. We probably think it is just the case and simply don’t sense their uniqueness.
3        Knowledge of other culture helps us to understand our own culture better, be it a similar culture, or a distinct one. (1) Similar one helps (2) Different one also helps.
4        Do we really need personal knowledge? No, we can know a lot about other culture from books, television, the Internet without going to particular country personally.
5        In sum...

207"Rituals and ceremonies help define a culture. Without them, societies or groups of people have a diminished sense of who they are."
(搜集一下有哪些常见的ritual, ceremony)
Position: Agree with reservation.
1        Rituals and ceremonies act as unique symbols of a culture.
2        Yet, other than rituals, there are still other things we could use to identify ourselves. And some rituals and ceremonies have long disappeared (1) Race (2) Seldom spoken language (3) Skin color. (4) History document (5) Historical site. (6) Antiques.
3        In addition, through communication with people from other cultures we can better understand our culture and identify ourselves.
4        In sum...

243"The true value of a civilization is reflected in its artistic creations rather than in its scientific accomplishments."
Position:  Disagree. Civilization can both be reflected in artistic creations and scientific achievements.
1        What is civilization? Morality, humanity, love, thoughts, ideas, and peace, and as well as technology achievement.
2        Artistic creations are evident symbols of civilization. (1) Full of thoughts, (2) Full of love, hope, charity.
3        However, technology accomplishments are also indicators of civilization. (1) One of the important symbols of civilization that distinguish mankind from animal is the invention of tools and the use of tools. That was an initial but great technology accomplishment in human history. (2) Modernization (3) People do not abuse their power is an indicator of civilization. (4) Science enables human being to understand the world around them, and disillusions any unreal perception.
4        In sum...

91"Most people think that their deeply held values are the result of rational choice, but reason often has little to do with the way people form values."
(难)
Position: Partially agree. People’s deeply held value are either rational choice or influenced by others or by one’s own culture.
1        Admittedly, poeple develop their own value system sometimes on their own rational choice.
2        Yet, most of the time, people’s values are influenced by their own culture or people around them.
3        In sum...

145"A crucial test of character is whether one is able to adapt to changing social conventions without sacrificing one's principles."
（难）(说这个test crucial言下之意是说 这种“随机应变但不放弃原则”的能力很重要)
Position: Agree with some reservation.
1        It is important for everybody to have their own principles and beliefs.
2        People should find ways to adapt to changing convention without abandoning one’s principles. And it is very important.
3        But it is difficult to stick to one’s principles in all situation, and sometimes we do have to make some change to our long held principles. And we should not be too obdurate if we find our long held values or principles are problematic or obsolete.
4        In sum...

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行为类
12"People's attitudes are determined more by their immediate situation or surroundings than by any internal characteristic."

Position: Disagree with some reservation.
1        Most of the time, people’s attitudes are determined by their personality and internal characteristic. (1) Attitude towards right or wrong. (2) People who stand firm for democracy. (3) People’s attitude toward war, poverty, discrimination.
2        However, (1) sometimes people have to make choice that contradict their inner priinciples. (2) And sometimes, things are so complicated that people have to make decisions according to the situations.
3        In addition, there are still some time when people are influenced by other people, friends, relatives, families, .etc.
4        In sum...

60"The media—and society in general—mistakenly expect an individual to speak for a particular group, whether or not that individual truly represents the views of the entire group."

Position: Disagree with some reservation.
1        There is always a common goal of a particular group.
2        A leading voice or a speaker for a group is necessary for the common good of that group. (1) Negotiation between different groups can only be done among delegates of each group. (2) Speaker is often a leader of a group. (3) For commercial advertisement, company usually picks up an individual who can best represent their products as their speaker. It is effective. Famous speaker have influence on the public.
3        However, sometimes, the speaker’s ideas may contradict that of the entire group and does not represent the views of that group. In this case, the speaker should be supervised.
4        In sum...

95"People work more productively in teams than individually. Teamwork requires cooperation, which motivates people much more than individual competition does."
(团队合作利弊比较简单)
Position: Agree with reservation.
1        Merit of working in groups.
2        Drawbacks of over-emphasis on team work.
3        In sum...

113"It is primarily through our identification with social groups that we define ourselves."
(自我认知，比较抽象。题目就是讨论“我们如何认识自我”？)
Position: Agree with reservation.
1        Admittedly, identification with social groups helps us define ourselves.
2        But in some cases, we may have misunderstanding of ourselves.
3        In addition, we may get to know ourselves through many other ways. (1) People’s remark on ourselves. (2) Approbation and critique (3) Observation of our own behaviors.
4        In sum, self defining is an extreme complicated job that involves many factors and requires time and efforts. And sometime is not that accurate.

162"One often hears about the need for individuals to take responsibility for their own lives. However, the conditions in which people find themselves have been largely established long before people become aware of them. Thus, the concept of personal responsibility is much more complicated and unrealistic than is often assumed." (题意有点晦涩)

Position: Agree with some reservation.
1        Personal responsibility is necessary and important. (1) For individual (2) For society.
2        Yet personal resonsibility is so broad and complicated that sometimes people are totally unware of it. (1) People are brought up to obey laws and not to break them. This is personal responsibility which people may be unware of. (2) Students are required to attend schools and work hard on their courses which seem to be an academic requirement or parental coersion. And when they grow up, they find that it is their responsibility for themsevles to study hard.
3        And personal responsibility are easily mixed up with morality. (1) Respect for life (2) Politeness.
4        Although this concept is complicated and easily confused, it is absolutely not unrealistic. (1) In people’s early life, when they haven’t develop their own ideas and haven’t form their own value system, they may follow others instruction, but when they are mentally mature enough, personal responsibility is not an coersion any more but a self choice. (2) Developing a sense of personal responsibility at an early age is extremely helpful and beneficial. People would become active and take initiative to plan their life, career.
5        In sum...

175"It is always an individual who is the impetus for innovation; the details may be worked out by a team, but true innovation results from the enterprise and unique perception of an individual."

Position: Agree with some reservation.
1        Admittedly, individual is often the driving force and impetus of innovation. (1) In addition, when people work in group, they tend to compromise to each other, so truly innovation comes from individual.
2        Yet sometimes, individual proposes only a draft idea which then is retouched and improved by a group of people, and in this sense, that individual only start a discussion rather than innovate anything.
3        However, no innovation could be put into practice without group working.
4        In sum...

199"Truly innovative ideas do not arise from groups of people, but from individuals. When groups try to be creative, the members force each other to compromise and, as a result, creative ideas tend to be weakened and made more conventional. Most original ideas arise from individuals working alone."
(类似175)
Position: Disagree with reservation.
1        Admittedly, when working in group, people may have different ideas. (1) Does not mean they will compromise. (2) They can work together to find the best way (3) An individual’s ability is too limited.
2        It is always the case that an individual proposes an idea which then is examined by a group of people and tested and improved, and finally makes great innovation.
3        However, sometimes good ideas do yield to group decision, but in that case, it is certainty rather than creativity that is the top priority.
4        In sum...

209"Progress is best made through discussion among people who have contrasting points of view."
（类似175）
Position: Disagree with reservation.
1        It is common that people who work in a group have different ideas on a certain issue.
2        However, contrasting points of view is not the barrier to progress and it may well lead to success and improvement.
3        But is it the best way to make progress that people hold contradictory ideas through a discussion? No
4        In sum...

77"People today are too individualistic. Instead of pursuing self-centered, separate goals, people need to understand that satisfaction comes from working for the greater good of the family, the community, or society as a whole."

Position: Partially agree.
1        It is no problem of people for being individualistic or pursuing personal interest.
2        Yet being too individualistic, as to become avericious and selfish, is harmful to both individual and society.
3        People feel happy when working not only for oneselves, such as for the greater good of society. (1) Family (2) Work for others (3) Work for society
4        In sum...
93"The concept of 'individual responsibility' is a necessary fiction. Although societies must hold individuals accountable for their own actions, people's behavior is largely determined by forces not of their own making."
(类似162，都是讲个人责任感的;可以照搬)

Position: Agree with some reservation.
1        Personal responsibility is indispensable and essential to both individual and society.
2        Yet the conditions in which people find themselves have been largely established long before they are aware of them. (1) Individual responsibility starts as conformity and obeydence to laws, regulations
3        Individual responsibility is so broad, so complicated that people sometimes totally ingnore it.
4        In addition, personal responsibility usually get mixed with morality, ethics.
5        However, no matter how broad, or how complicated the concept of personal responsibility is, it is real and practical. (1) Early age, older age.
6        In sum...

abstinentUID: 137004

234"Most people prefer restrictions and regulations to absolute freedom of choice, although they would probably deny such a preference."
(有点像students prefer to follow instructions. 注意这里题目是freedom of choice, 而不单单是freedom)

Position: Agree with reservation
1        People have a craving for freedom in nature. (1) Fight for freedom for thousands of years. (2)
2        Yet people worry about order when freedom is not regulated or restricted. In this case, people establish laws, regulations, and morality to restrict freedom. (1) Freedom must be restricted, not license.
3        Admittedly, many people around us are complaining of having no choice, and they are forced to do this or that. They would deny their preference to restriction.
4        What if they are given absolute choice? (1) Students for example, may feel bewildered and confused about what to learn, what to follow. (2) No guidance makes people mentally disordered.
5        In sum...

22"Many people believe that a few individuals or small groups (family, friends, teachers, celebrities, for example) have caused them to think and behave in the way they do. Yet it is always society as a whole that defines us and our attitudes, not a few individuals."

Position: Partially agree. Both small groups of people and society on the whole affet our attitudes.
1        Admittedly, on the one hand, small group of people, like teachers, parents, and as well as our friends affect us a lot.
2        On the other hand, society on the whole has influence on our values also.
3        In the mean time, we also absorb ideas and values from famous history figures from books, television.
4        Finally, we develop our own ideas on the combination of all the above.
5        In sum...

212"If a goal is worthy, then any means taken to attain it is justifiable."

Position: Disagree.
1        Human is an objective-driven specy, and we develop and evolve in the process of continuous pursuit for intermitently emerging goals. We have achieved a lot and at the same time we have lost a lot.
2        If a goal is proposed, we must consider if it is really worthy. The standard is (1) Who will be benefited if the goal is achieved. (2) How much will cost.
3        If it is worthy, we should carefully examine what means should be taken to attain it. (1) Consider environment, ecology (2) Cost and benefit. (3) Short term or long term. (4) Will it cause moral controversy
4        In sum...

126"Society's external rewards are no measure of true success. True success can be measured only in relation to the goals one sets for oneself."

Position: Disagree with some reservation.
1        Success is a vague word that different people have different understanding and definition.
2        For a society, its external rewards and achievements are surely indicator of its success.
3        However, some society may consider success as whether it has attained the goals it sets for itself with no regard how much improvement or progress it has made. This definition may result in two polars. One is that the society is complacent/satisfied/content with even a little progress which its people may not even sense. The other is that a society is too strict with itself and set unrealistic goal for itself.
4        In sum...

118"In any field of endeavor—the sciences, the humanities, the social sciences, industry, etc.—it is not the attainment of a goal that matters, but rather the ideas and discoveries that are encountered on the way to the goal."

Position: Disagree with some reservation.
1        People all like success and like to make great achievement. They feel a sense of accomplishment when they attain a goal.
2        For the field of humanities, social sciences
3        However, for industry field, it the result rather than the process that matters.
4        In addition, for students, they should pay more attention to the process of study rather than the result. Study only to get high marks is no good to the students.
5        In sum...

138"Only through mistakes can there be discovery or progress."
(可以具体化到教育上面的老师鼓励学生犯错)
Position: Disagree.
1        In any field of endeavor, making mistakes is inevitable.
2        Admittedly, (1) many great discoveries came out of large amount of mistakes. (2) Students that are encouraged to make mistakes are more likely to make progress and achieve success.
3        However, it is too hasty as a result to assert that mistake is a prerequisite of making progress.
4        People should frequently stop and think why we make mistakes again and avoid making the same mistakes next time.
5        In sum...

188"Success, whether academic or professional, involves an ability to survive in a new environment and, eventually, to change it."

Position: Agree with reservation.
1        Everybody want success.
2        Survival is the prerequisite of success. (1) In the professional field. (2) In the academic field. (3) Simply put...
3        To survive is not enough to gurantee a success. (1) When there is a chance, should do something creative and innovative. (2) Changing the situation may require one to take risk.
4        Finally, one may not succeed in one time, and has to keep trying and moving. Once defeated, one has to find ways to survive, and wait for another opportunity to attain success.
5        In sum...

192"Success in any realm of life comes more often from taking chances or risks than from careful and cautious planning."
(抽象题目具体化)
Position: Disagree with reservation.
1        Everybody want to be successful.
2        Taking risks can lead to success. (1) Break old rules and establish new ones (2) Question and skepticism
3        However, careful planning can also lead to success too. For example, in the sports world, athletes have to practice hard and carefully plan their training schedule in order to achieve the best condition.
4        In sum...

64"Many people know how to attain success, but few know how to make the best use of it."

Position: Agree with reservation.
1        Everybody has a craving for success.
2        Many poeple do know how to attain success. (1) In the bussiness world for example. (2) In the academic field
3        What to do next after success? Is it a termination or a fresh start? Few people know how to make use of success. (1) They squander all money they earn. (2) They become pretentious and supercilious, and do not want to share with others their experience of success. (3) They do not know one success is just a step stone to the next success.
4        In sum...

36"The greatness of individuals can be decided only by those who live after them, not by their contemporaries."
(写过)

观点：同代人，后人都可以评价。关键在于采取什么标准，和价值观
1.        contemporaries 可以评价。有些成就，和greatness, 在当代就被认同，而且后来页不被推翻。例如，爱迪生（不好意思，又是爱迪生），爱因斯坦，福特，贝多芬。
2.        后人可以评价。有一些人，当代不被认可，因为过于超前。如果梵高，哥白尼（俗套），等。
3.        又有些人，当时认可，现在看来不好。那到底伟大不伟大呢？如政治家的决策，当时可能很好，解决了一时的问题，但是后来却造成灾难。这就要把
4.        总结，人物的判定既可以由。。。又可以由。。。每个时代的人判定人物往往都是将人物的事迹与当代需求联系起来，所以人物的判断要放在特定的历史环境中，不能一概而论。

abstinentUID: 137004

27"No one can possibly achieve success in the world by conforming to conventional practices and conventional ways of thinking."

Position: Disagree with reservation.
1        Everybody wants success.
2        Conformity to conventional to some extent provides backgroud for anyone who wants to be successful. (1) Convention practice and way of thinks are precious experience and legacy from our predecesors. To learn it saves our time. (2) Having a good examination on conventional practice always enables us to find something new.
3        Yet blind conformity to convention will do us harm.
4        One has to on the one hand examine the conventional practice and on the other hand develop his own ideas and way of thinking. One needs to challenge convention if necessary.
5        In sum...

99"In any realm of life—whether academic, social, business, or political—the only way to succeed is to take a practical, rather than an idealistic, point of view. Pragmatic behavior guarantees survival, whereas idealistic views tend to be superceded by simpler, more immediate options."
(又是一类，to be practical or idealistic?) 具体举例到每个realm of life.

Position: Partially agree.
1        It is essential to take a practical point of view. (1) Gurantee survival, what most important is the thing right in front of you (2) Practical needs are always short term goals, people are easily to concentrate, won’t feel frustrated. (3) Practical need is the step stone to achieve idealistic goal.
2        However, being too pragmatic may do people harm in the future.  
3        In fact, people should also have an ideal in the long run.
4        Similarly, people should avoid getting too idealistic.
5        In sum...

148"Many people admire idealism, but it usually leads to disappointment or trouble."
(类似99)

186"Practicality is now our great idol, which all powers and talents must serve. Anything that is not obviously practical has little value in today's world."
（类似99）

35"No matter what the situation, it is more harmful to compromise one's beliefs than to adhere to them."

Position: Disagree. It depends whether to stick to one’s beliefs
1        It is essential for people to have beliefs and to stick to them. (1) Spiritual guidance and provide hope (2) Feel lost if we do not stick to them.
2        However, in certain cases, we may have to compromise. (1) We found our beliefs are problematic (2) When working in a team, one has to obey to group decision and give up personal beliefs.
3        In sum...

146"People who are the most deeply committed to an idea or policy are the most critical of it."

Position: Partially agree.
1        Admittely, some people are critical of ideas or policies that they are deeply committed to. (1) Ideas. They search for truth and critical of their own ideas (2) Policy. They struggle for common good, not personal fame or authority, and they are under constant search for better policy and are critical of their own policies.
2        However, still some people may deliberate to defend their ideas although they are aware of its deficiency. (1) Ideas. People who want fame and who wants to remain authorative.  (2) Policy. For example, Bush administration’s Iraq policy is questioned by its opponent and the public, but they have to defend their policy to maintain their governance.
3        In sum...

165"In any given field, the leading voices come from people who are motivated not by conviction but by the desire to present opinions and ideas that differ from those held by the majority."

Position: Disagree with reservation. Leading voice comes from people who think on their own and have the courage to challenge traditions
1        One should rely on his own judgement whether it is a conviction of conventional ideas or a challenge against traditions.
2        Conviction of what one thinks right is essential. (1) Any improvement is made on the basis of established convention. (2) Conviction prevents confusion. Without convicition, there is challenge.
3        One also should have the courage to present ideas that are different from the majority and even the idea one once believed.
4        However, one who is always trying to do someting different without careful and cautious consideration may fail. He may be a show-off, he just wants to make himself seemingly distinct.
5        In sum...

235"Most people are taught that loyalty is a virtue. But loyalty—whether to one's friends, to one's school or place of employment, or to any institution—is all too often a destructive rather than a positive force."
(Fraternity, bros before whores)

Position: Partially agree.
1        Loyalty is a virtue people have long admired and it is helpful to both individual and society on the whole.
2        However, bland loyalty may do harm. (1) To friends (2) To one’s company,
3        As a matter of fact, people have to judge on their own whether their behavior is helping their friends or company.
4        In sum...

86"Young people should be encouraged to pursue long-term, realistic goals rather than seek immediate fame and recognition."

Position: Partially agree.
1        Pursuing personal fame and immediate recognition in the beginning is human nature. (1) It acts as a great driving force in young people’s endeavor. (2) It is human nature and understandable for young people first struggle for personal necessity. (3) When they step into the mid-term of their career, when they get married, they will have developed a strong sense of responsibility. And they would naturally pursue long-term and realistic goals.
2        Yet being too obsessed with fame may really do harm to their growth.
3        As a matter of fact, young people should have long-term goals and divide it into many short-term targets, and attain them respectively step by step,
4        In sum...

206"People are too quick to take action; instead they should stop to think of the possible consequences of what they might do."

Position: Partially agree.
1        The ever increasing pace of life makes people tend to form hasty decision (1) Email, cell phone, and television. (2) We have so many things to deal with, and we are too quick to take actions.
2        Being aware of the consequences of our actions is important and could avoid disaster. (1) For companies, when propagating certain products, it has to make full market research to see whether there is a demand , otherwise (2) Criminal, if they stop and think what would follow if they commit the crime, they are unlikely to do that indeed. (3) Making government policy is complicated and should account for many many factors.
3        However, sometimes we are not allowed too much time of consideration, we have to make decision right away.
4        In sum....

tannieUID: 2338758

114. "Humanity has made little real progress over the past century or so. Technological innovations have taken place, but the overall condition of humanity is no better. War, violence, and poverty are still with us. Technology cannot change the condition of humanity."

position: concession’ view
1   Although I agree that technology cannot ultimately prevent us from harming one another, the statement fails to account for the significant positive impact that the modern industrial and computer revolutions have had on the quality life—at least in the developed world.
2   I agree with the statement that there is no technological solution to the enduring problems of war, poverty, and violence, for the reason that they stem from certain aspects of human nature—such as aggression and greed.
3   For every technological innovation helping to reduce human suffering is another that has served primarily to add it.
4   Notwithstanding technology’s limitations in preventing war, poverty, and violence, 20th century technological innovation has enhanced the overall standard of living and comfort level of developed nations.


129. "Technology is a necessary but not always a positive force in modern life."

position: agree
1   Undoubtedly, technology is the prerequisite for modern society.
2   Admittedly, some people use technology for negative or even evil purposes.
3   In that case, it is humanity rather than technology itself that should be the culprit.

135. "While most of the environmental problems we face result from the use of technology, society must depend upon technology to find solutions to these problems."

position: concession’s view
1   Depending upon technology to tackle environmental problems is an important but not sufficient solution.
2   Technology will help us solve environmental problems.
3    The use of technology should be largely responsible for the environmental problems.
4    However, if human beings do not change their attitude towards nature, technology alone will not be able to save us.

166. "Over the past century, the most significant contribution of technology has been to make people's lives more comfortable."
position: concession’s view
1   Everybody benefits from the contribution of the technology to facilitate his or her private lives and works.
2   Many preeminent innovations of technology over the past century have greatly improved the development of society and industry.
3   Admittedly, with the development of technology, some problems arises—green house effect, nuclear threats, environmental pollutions, etc. However, such drawbacks of technology do not surpass the benefit it brings about.

196. "Technology creates more problems than it solves, and may threaten or damage the quality of life."

position: concession’s view
1   Technology improves human life.
2   at the same time, the problems which are created by technology may threat the quality of life.
3   We should find out methods to diminish the threaten.


219. "Now that computer technology has made possible the rapid accessing of large amounts of factual information, people are less likely than ever to think deeply or originally. They feel unable to compete with--much less contribute to--the quantity of information that is now available electronically."

position: disagree
1   The availability of large amounts of factual information through the Internet does not necessarily hinder people from thinking deeply or originally.
2   No one would doubt that computer technology has led us into an age of information, putting us on an unprecedented advantageous position to access and use the boundless sea of information.
3   And there is no denying the possibility that we suffer from a new problem—information overload.
4   However, we should be clear that the task of human beings today is not to compete with computer technology in terms of the quantity of information we can produce.
5   We should and we can make full use of the large amounts of information available electronically for research purposes and make original contributions.

237. "Computers and video technology can make facsimiles of original works such as paintings and historical documents available to everyone. The great advantage of this new technology is that it will enable anyone--not just scholars--to conduct in-depth research without having access to the original works."

position: disagree
1   the speaker exaggerates the power of computers and video technology in academic research.
2   Undoubtedly, the new technology can make paintings and historical documents available to more people, thus contributing to academic research.
3   However, not anyone can conduct in-depth research once research sources are available.
4   Besides, the facsimiles made by the new technology—no matter how accurate they are—can never replace the original works.
23. "Contemporary technology makes available many small pieces of factual information. As a result, people have become so preoccupied with bits of fragmented information that they pay too little attention to the larger issues and overall perspectives."
  
position: concession’s view
1   Access to great deal of information help people get a winder view of an issue, thus help them prevent being limited in thoughts.
2   Technology helps us pay more attention to the larger issues and overall perspectives.
3   To prevent preoccupation by fragmented information, people should hold right view on information, not to assimilate all, but to percolate relevant ones from those needing only a glance.

16. "Although many people think that the luxuries and conveniences of contemporary life are entirely harmless, in fact, they actually prevent people from developing into truly strong and independent individuals."

position: agree
1  Consider first the effect of the automobile on our independence as individuals. In some respects the automobile serves to enhance such independence.
2  However, we have become slaves to the automobile.
3  Consider next the overall impact of the automobile on our strength as individuals, by which I mean strength of character, or mettle.
4  In contrast, there is a certain strength of character that comes with eschewing modern conveniences such as cars, and with the knowledge that one is contributing to a cleaner and quieter environment, a safer neighborhood, and arguably a more genteel society.

7. "The video camera provides such an accurate and convincing record of contemporary life that it has become a more important form of documentation than written records."

position: concession’s view
1    Although I agree that a video provides a more objective and accurate record of an event’s spatial aspects, there is far more to document in life than what we see and hear. Thus the speaker overstates the comparative significance of video as a documentary tool.
2    For the purpose of documenting temporal, spatial events and experiences, I agree that video record is usually more accurate and more convincing than a written record.
3    Nonetheless, for certain other purposes written records are more advantageous and more appropriate than video records.
4    Finally, a video record is of not use in documenting statistical or quantitative information.

tannieUID: 2338758

30. "The primary goal of technological advancement should be to increase people's efficiency so that everyone has more leisure time."

position: disagree
1   Admittedly, technological advancement does increase people’s efficiency sometimes.
2   With technological advancement coming diminished leisure time.
3   Meanwhile, the suggestion that technology’s chief goal should be to facilitate leisure is simply wrongheaded. There are far more ital concerns that technology can and should address.

66. "As people rely more and more on technology to solve problems, the ability of humans to think for themselves will surely deteriorate."

position: concession’s view
1    Technology brings both positive and negative effects to human being.
2    Technology may save people’s time and energy so that they could devote themselves t more creative and meaningful work.
3    On the other hand, it is possible that people may become the slaves of technology.
4    Moreover, technology provides people with effective instruments for intellectual work.

176. "The function of science is to reassure; the purpose of art is to upset. Therein lies the value of each."

position: disagree
1    In many cases artists set about to reassure, not to upset.
2    In other cases, artists set about to upset.
3    Science comes with reassurance as well as upset.

41. "Such non-mainstream areas of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits play a vital role in society by satisfying human needs that are not addressed by mainstream science."

position: disagree
1     Admittedly, these non-mainstream areas of inquiry address certain human needs, which mainstream science and other areas of intellectual inquiry inherently cannot.
2     However, because these pursuits are not rooted in reason.
3     Furthermore, without any sure way to evaluate the legitimacy of these avenues of inquiry, participants become vulnerable to self-deception, false hopes, fantastic ideas and even delusions.

6. "The most effective way to understand contemporary culture is to analyze the trends of its youth."
  
position: concession’ view
1     It is more or less true to say that contemporary culture is to analyze the trends of its youth.
2     We live in an age when old people are marginalized in society.
3     What we call mass culture produced by the mass media is, as a matter of fact, a reflection of the trends among the youth.
4     There is urgent need for the younger generation and the older generation to fill the gap between them and to build a more balanced contemporary culture.

63. "To truly understand your own culture--no matter how you define it--requires personal knowledge of at least one other culture, one that is distinctly different from your own."

position: agree
1    Staying within one culture makes one take for granted everything that the culture provides.
2     Knowledge of another different culture provides one with an opportunity to compare alternative ways of life and make choices.
3     In an age of globalization, one should learn to tolerate cultural differences.

207. "Rituals and ceremonies help define a culture. Without them, societies or groups of people have a diminished sense of who they are."
  
position: agree
1    Ritual and ceremony in today’s world is to preserve cultural identity.
2    Nevertheless, preserving cultural identity cannot be the only purpose of ritual and ceremony.
3    Nor are ritual and ceremony the only means of preserving cultural identity.

243. "The true value of a civilization is reflected in its artistic creations rather than in its scientific accomplishments."
  
position: disagree
1    We praise a civilization both for its artistic creations and for its scientific accomplishments.
2    Western civilization serves as a typical example of a balanced development of arts and science. On one hand, arts…
3    On the other hand, science…
4    A dynamic civilization should aim a promoting the prosperity of both the arts and science.

91. "Most people think that their deeply held values are the result of rational choice, but reason often has little to do with the way people form values."

position: concession’s view
1    Individual’s deeply held values are usually not the result of rational choice, but the result of socialization.
2    It is the culture in which we live that provides us with the values.
3    Most people simply adopt the values instilled by their culture.
4    It is necessary to question the established values within a certain society.
5    We should establish our own value system.

145. "A crucial test of character is whether one is able to adapt to changing social conventions without sacrificing one's principles."

position: agree
1    How to confront changing social conventions is a crucial challenge to one’s character.
2    Those who can adapt to the changing social conventions such as economic climate without sacrificing their principles are more likely to succeed.
3    However, an even more praiseworthy character is one who is willing to change his principles to adapt to the changing situations when those principles are out of date.

tannieUID: 2338758

12. "People's attitudes are determined more by their immediate situation or surroundings than by any internal characteristic."

position: concession’s view
1   Social environment does play a more important role in forming a person’s attitudes. The internal characteristic is also important.
2    Admittedly, people’s inborn temperament does play an important role in their attitudes.
3    However, more often than not, people’s attitudes are largely influenced by their immediate situation or surroundings.
4    It should also be noted that external factors not only influence people’s attitudes, but also shape their characters.

60. "The media--and society in general--mistakenly expect an individual to speak for a particular group, whether or not that individual truly represents the views of the entire group."

position: concession’s view
1    There is high risk that the media and society may place unrealistically high expectation on an individual’s ability to represent a particular group.
2    The interviewees, usually chosen by chance to present through the media, cannot represent either the whole public of a particular group.
3    Even in a so-called democratic country, the representative

95. "People work more productively in teams than individually. Teamwork requires cooperation, which motivates people much more than individual competition does."

position: agree with concession
1    Competition and cooperation are both useful. On balance, however, my view is that cooperation is more crucial for an organization’s long-term productivity than individual competition.
2    In some jobs productivity clearly depends on the ability of coworkers to cooperate as members of a team.
3    In other types of jobs individual competition. tenacity and ambition are keys to productivity.
   
113. "It is primarily through our identification with social groups that we define ourselves."

position: agree
1     I strongly agree that we define ourselves primarily through our identification with social groups, as the speaker asserts.
2     Any development psychologist would agree that socialization with other children plays a critical role in any child’s understanding an psychological development of self.
3     As children progress to the social world of the playground and other after-school venues, their earlier recognition that they relate more closely to some people than to others evolves into a desire to form well-defined social groups, and to set these groups apart form others.
4     As adults take on more responsibilities and play more roles in society, their identities are more relative to social relationships.

162. "One often hears about the need for individuals to take responsibility for their own lives. However, the conditions in which people find themselves have been largely established long before people become aware of them. Thus, the concept of personal responsibility is much more complicated and unrealistic than is often assumed."

position: concession’s view
1    The statement can help us understand better the concept of personal responsibility.
2    We all live in conditions that have been largely established by others.
3    The environment in which we act, often uncontrollable, exerts unforeseeable influence on our behavior.
4    Therefore, it is necessary to take into account the objective conditions when we require a person to assume responsibility.
5    However, we could not say the responsibility taken by us is unrealistic.

175. "It is always an individual who is the impetus for innovation; the details may be worked out by a team, but true innovation results from the enterprise and unique perception of an individual."

position: concession’s view
1     Teamwork and individual efforts are not necessarily inconsistent, as the speaker would have us believe.
2     It is true in certain realms and circumstances that the efforts of individuals and teams can be separated. e.g. business innovation, writing
3     Teamwork and individual efforts should be combined together to achieve success.

199. "Truly innovative ideas do not arise from groups of people, but from individuals. When groups try to be creative, the members force each other to compromise and, as a result, creative ideas tend to be weakened and made more conventional. Most original ideas arise from individuals working alone."

position: concession’s view
1    Original ideas may arise from individuals working alone as well as from groups of people working together.
2    It is true that individual thinkers or scientists working alone formulated many original ideas in history.
3    However, one should see that those great individuals actually benefited a lot from the work either of his contemporaries or of the people before their time.
4    While members of a group might force each other to compromise, it is also true that they may inspire and enlighten each other.

209. "Progress is best made through discussion among people who have contrasting points of view."

position: agree with concession
1     In all realms of human endeavor, including the behavior and natural sciences as well as government and law, debate and disagreement form the foundation for progress.
2     Regarding all realms of human life, debate and disagreement are key issues for the progress. e.g. physical sciences, government
3     The nature-nurture debate will continue to serve as a catalyst for progress across the entire social spectrum.
4     History informs us of the chilling effect suppression of free discourse and debate can have on progress.

77. "People today are too individualistic. Instead of pursuing self-centered, separate goals, people need to understand that satisfaction comes from working for the greater good of the family, the community, or society as a whole."

position: agree
1    Extreme individualism has become a serious threat to the social fabric and the welfare of all members of society.
2    Some people may claim that the greater good of the family, the community or society lies in the good of the individuals, which justifies the pursuit of self-interests.
3    The problem daunting contemporary society is that egoism as run wild.
4    Today there is every need for the society to encourage individuals to work for the interests of others.

93. "The concept of 'individual responsibility' is a necessary fiction. Although societies must hold individuals accountable for their own actions, people's behavior is largely determined by forces not of their own making." (同162)

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34. "Instead of requiring students to take courses in a variety of disciplines--that is, courses ranging from the arts and the humanities to the physical and biological sciences--colleges and universities should allow students to enroll only in those courses that will help prepare them for jobs in their chosen fields. Such concentration is necessary in today's increasingly work-oriented society."
  
position: concession’s view
1     To begin with, schools should attach enough importance to courses that can help students prepare for jobs in their chosen fields.
2     However, work-oriented course is never incompatible with other courses such as arts, humanities and the like, which also play an important role in one career success.
3    Inter-disciplinary study is crucial for the improvement of either discipline.
4    Though course of a wide range of disciplines should be made compulsory, sufficient freedom should be granted to students.

234. "Most people prefer restrictions and regulations to absolute freedom of choice, although they would probably deny such a preference."

position: concession’s view
1    History informs us that attempts to quell basic individual freedoms—of expression, of opinion and belief, and to come and go as we please—invariably fail;
2    However, reasonable constraints on freedom are needed to protect freedom—and to prevent a society from devolving into a state of anarchy where life is short and brutish.
3    Our preference for constraining our own freedom of choice is evident on societal level as well as on individual level.

22. "Many people believe that a few individuals or small groups (family, friends, teachers, celebrities, for example) have caused them to think and behave in the way they do. Yet it is always society as a whole that defines us and our attitudes, not a few individuals." (同12)

212. "If a goal is worthy, then any means taken to attain it is justifiable."

position: concession’s view
1    Although the idealist way is to achieve the noblest goal through the noblest means, in reality we sometimes have to resort to low means in order to attain high goals.
2    Theoretically, the means taken should be consistent with the ends in view.
3    However, in order to restore peace and social order, individual states or the international community has repeatedly used force in history.
4    We should be alert to the possibility that individuals, organizations or government tend to plead a worthy goal in excuse of their contemptible means and private interests.

126. "Society's external rewards are no measure of true success. True success can be measured only in relation to the goals one sets for oneself."
position: concession’s view
1     Success should be gauged on a personal base.
2     Society’s external rewards can only be regarded as society’s recognition of one’s contribution to society.
3     For an individual person, a correct attitude is to gauge success in relation to the goals one sets for oneself.
4     Overemphasizing the social criterion of success tends to belittle the worth of an individual.

118. "In any field of endeavor-the sciences, the humanities, the social sciences, industry, etc.-it is not the attainment of a goal that matters, but rather the ideas and discoveries that are encountered on the way to the goal."

position: concession’s view
1     In some cases, the statement makes sense; in other cases, it does not.
2     In academic studies, the goal of a project is but a general direction; what matters are the unexpected concrete findings on the way to the goal.
3     However, in industry and business, what is crucial is the attainment of a specific goal rather than the process toward that goal.
4    In politics, failing to achieve a promised goal might mean a calamity for a politician.

138. "Only through mistakes can there be discovery or progress."

position: agree
1     To begin with, the contention accords with our everyday experience as humans from early childhood through adulthood.
2     This same principle also applies on a societal level. Consider, however, how we progress in our scientific knowledge.
3     The value of trial-and-error is not limited to the sciences. In government and politics, progress usually comes about through dissension and challenge—that is, when people point out the mistake of those in power.

188. "Success, whether academic or professional, involves an ability to survive in a new environment and, eventually, to change it."
  
position: concession’s view
1    Regarding academic success, the speaker overstates the significance of environment.
2    Turning next to professional success, and considering the two traditional professions of law and medicine, the speaker’s claim unfairly overrates the ability to change one’s professional environment as a key ingredient of professional success.
3    In contrast, when it comes to certain other professions, such as business and scientific research, the speaker’s claim is far more compelling.

192. "Success in any realm of life comes more often from taking chances or risks than from careful and cautious planning."

position: concession’s view
1    Careful and cautious planning is just as important as taking chances or risks.
2    Whatever goal we intend to accomplish, the first thing to do is planning.
3    Chance favors only the prepared minds.
4    Taking risks without any planning is nothing but rashness.

64. "Many people know how to attain success, but few know how to make the best use of it."

position:  concession’s view
1    A common characteristic of contemporary society is that people everywhere are concerned about how to attain success.
2    Success is commonly understood as material gains.
3    However, success does not ensure happiness.
4    “Successful” people often ignore the interests and needs of other people, which renders their “success” meaningless.

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36. "The greatness of individuals can be decided only by those who live after them, not by their contemporaries."

position: concession’s view
The greatness of individuals should be decided by both their contemporaries and descendants.
1. The greatness of individuals always cannot be recognized by their contemporaries due to their outstanding talent and transcendental intelligence which surpass the common cognition of general public and their peers. e.g Copernicus Nicholas, Vincent Van Gogh, Amadeus Mozart.
2. It is difficult for contemporaries to acknowledge great individuals’ achievements, for they can not know the historical situation at that time. They do not have the insight to see the historical value of great individuals.
3. There are lots of people whose talent is recognized by their contemporaries. Such as, Bill Gates, John F. Nash, Madame Curie.
4. In a democratic society, individuals have full free to express their ideas and show their unique talents. Their great gifts will be accepted more and more quickly in modern society because of the increasing development of technology.

27. "No one can possibly achieve success in the world by conforming to conventional practices and conventional ways of thinking."

position: agree with concession
1    Traditional ways of thinking are treasures which will prevent us from wasting time and energy on trial things.
2    However, we can create nothing if we are only confined to the conventional experience.

99. "In any realm of life--whether academic, social, business, or political—the only way to succeed is to take a practical, rather than an idealistic, point of view. Pragmatic behavior guarantees survival, whereas idealistic views tend to be superceded by simpler, more immediate options."

position: disagree
1    Idealism is just as crucial—if not more so—for long-term success in any endeavor, whether it is in academics, business, or political and social reform.
2    When it comes to academics, although the idealist-student might sacrifice a high overall grade average, the depth of knowledge, academic discipline, and sense of purpose the students gains will serve that student well later in life.
3    Considering the business world, without a dream or vision—that is, without strong idealist leadership—a firm can easily be cast about in the sea of commerce without clear direction, threatening not only the firm’s bottom line but also its very survival.
4    Finally, when it comes to the political arena, it is idealists—not pragmatists—who sway the masses, incite revolutions, and make political ideology reality.

148. "Many people admire idealism, but it usually leads to disappointment or trouble."
  
position: concession’s view
1    Idealism does more harm than good to society as well as individuals.
2    An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup.
3    Political idealism such as communism brought catastrophes to former socialist countries.
4    Individually, idealism, if it were not balanced by pragmatism, would lead to personal failure.
5    Guided by practical plans, however, idealism can lead to hope and enthusiasm.

186. "Practicality is now our great idol, which all powers and talents must serve. Anything that is not obviously practical has little value in today's world." (同99)

35. "No matter what the situation, it is more harmful to compromise one's beliefs than to adhere to them."

position: disagree
1    Having a belief is a good thing for an individual in a certain degree in the form of spiritual support.
2    However, if the belief goes too extreme and even influences people’s life and family negatively, it is best to reconsider whether the belief worth so much persistence.
3    Choosing to compromise does not mean that we have to give up our original belief.
4    On the contrary, we are finding a better way to perfect our belief.

146. "People who are the most deeply committed to an idea or policy are the most critical of it."

position: concession’s view
1    The statement over-generalized the relationship between deeply committed person and critical person.
2    Admittedly, individuals most firmly committed to an idea or policy are who pay most attention to the idea or policy. Therefore, they are in the best position to understand and appreciate the problems with the idea or policy.
3    In the face of historical examples supporting the speaker’s claim are innumerable influential individuals who were zealously committed to certain ideas and policies but who were not critical of them, at least not outwardly.

165. "In any given field, the leading voices come from people who are motivated not by conviction but by the desire to present opinions and ideas that differ from those held by the majority."

position: concession’s view
1    When it comes to political power, I would admit that a deep-seated psychological need to be noticed or to be different sometimes lies at the heart of a person’s drive to political power and fame.
2    Nevertheless, for every leading political voice driven to new ideas by a desire to be noticed or to be different, one can cite many other political leaders clearly driven instead by the courage of their convictions.
3    Turning to the arts, creative urges are born not of ego but rather of some intensely personal commitment to an aesthetic ideal.
4    As fro the physical science, innovation and progress can only result from challenging conventional theories—that is, the statues quo.

235. "Most people are taught that loyalty is a virtue. But loyalty--whether to one's friends, to one's school or place of employment, or to any institution--is all too often a destructive rather than a positive force."

position: concession’s view
1    First consider the ways in which loyalty, if exercised in proper measure and direction, can be a positive force.
2    On the other hand, if misguided or overextended loyalty can amount to divisive and destructive force.

86. "Young people should be encouraged to pursue long-term, realistic goals rather than seek immediate fame and recognition."
  
position: agree
1   Seeking immediate fame and recognition would turn out to be counterproductive.
2   Unfortunately, today’s education and society seem to attach more importance to immediate success.
3   In the long run, pursuing long-term goals not only benefit young people themselves but also the whole society.

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206. "People are too quick to take action; instead they should stop to think of the possible consequences of what they might do."

position: concession’s view
1    It is always wise to think twice before you act.
2    More haste, less speed.
3    It might not be too difficult to persuade people to consider the possible impacts of their actions on themselves.
4    People should also think of the impacts of their actions on other people.

163. "Most people live, whether physically or morally, in a very restricted circle. They make use of a very limited portion of the resources available to them until they face a great problem or crisis."

position: concession’s view
1     Many people are confined by the physical deficiencies or moral regulations in their way of living. They have to obey them to procure their reputation, fame, success, and so on.
2     However, when confronted with crisis and the like, people will use resources of others or of the community or even the whole society.

164. "Sometimes imagination is a more valuable asset than experience. People who lack experience are free to imagine what is possible and thus can approach a task without constraints of established habits and attitudes."

position: concession’s view
1     I fundamentally agree with the speaker’s assertion; however, as the speaker implies, it is impossible not to overstate the comparative value of imagination.
2     One need only observe young children as they go about their daily lives to appreciate the role that pure imagination can play as an aid to accomplishing tasks.
3     The speaker’s contention also finds ample empirical support in certain forms of artistic accomplishment and scientific invention.
4     Of course, there are many notable exceptions to the rule that imagination unfettered by experience breeds remarkable insights and accomplishments.
5     On the other hand, it is important not to take this assertion about artistic and scientific accomplishment too far.

65. "People have been so encouraged by society to focus on apparent differences that they fail to see meaningful similarities among ideas, individuals, and groups."

position: concession’s view
1     People in different cultural environments would respond differently to this statement.
2     On the one hand, western cultures tend to focus on differences among ideas, individuals and groups.
3     The danger of traditional societies, on the other hand, is to ignore differences forcing individuals and groups to conform to one authority.
4     A healthy attitude is to be sensitive to both differences and similarities.

225. "People often look for similarities, even between very different things, and even when it is unhelpful or harmful to do so. Instead, a thing should be considered on its own terms; we should avoid the tendency to compare it to something else."

position: concession’s view
1    I agree with the speaker that insisting on find similarities between things can result in unfair, and sometimes harmful, comparison.
2    We should be especially careful when looking for similarities between people.
3    The speaker goes too far—by overlooking a fundamental, even philosophical, reason why we should always look for similarities between things.

71. "Spending time alone makes one a better companion to others."

position: agree
1    Admittedly, habitually isolating oneself from others does not automatically make one a better companion.
2    However, people who think and work independently will be able to bring new ideas and new perspectives to others.
3    One’s loneliness makes one crave for and cherish the opportunity to stay with others.

15. "The stability of a society depends on how it responds to the extremes of human behavior."

position: concession’s view
1    It is true that how a society copes with the extremes of human behavior largely determines the society’s stability.
2    The extremes of human behavior—such as violence or strikes—usually dictate grave social troubles.
3    One solution to these social problems is suppressing, which proves effective in the short run and counterproductive in the long run.
4    The most effective way of responding to such problems is constructive communication and sometimes compromise.

58. "The increasingly rapid pace of life today causes more problems than it solves."

position: agree
1    The rapid pace of life has resulted in health problems in unprecedented large numbers.
2    Although people today have more leisure time, they are not in a better position than their ancestors to enjoy themselves.
3    More unfortunately, people seem to have become addicted to the rapid pace of modern life.

124. "Instant foods, instant communication, faster transportation-all of these recent developments are designed to save time. Ironically, though, instead of making more leisure time available, these developments have contributed to a pace of human affairs that is more rushed and more frantic than ever before."

position: agree
1    While I agree that leisure time is declining as a result of efficiencies which technology has brought about, whether the irony to which the speaker refers is real or imagined depends on what one considers to be the chief aim of technology.
2    Few would disagree that technology has enhanced the speed and efficiency with which we travel, prepare our food, plan and coordinate projects, and communicate with one another.
3    What explains the irony—this decline in leisure despite increase in efficiency that new technologies have brought about? I agree that technology itself is the culprit. We use the additional free time that technology affords us not for leisure but rather for work.
4    Yet there are far more vital concerns which technology seeks to address; therefore, the above-mentioned irony does not seem so ironic after all.

149. "The most practical and effective way to protect wilderness areas is to attract more tourists to these areas through environmentally sensitive projects."

position: disagree
1   It will be counterproductive for us to attract more tourists to wilderness areas.
2   Tourists swarming to visit the environmentally sensitive projects may pose a serious threat to the wildness areas.
3   The most practical and effective way to protect wilderness areas is to leave those places to take care of themselves.

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185. "Scandals--whether in politics, academia, or other areas--can be useful. They focus our attention on problems in ways that no speaker or reformer ever could."

position: concession’s view
1    On the one hand, scandals can sometimes serve to call our attention to pervasive social or political problems that we would otherwise neglect.
2    On the other hand, scandals can sometimes chiefly to distract us from more pressing community or societal problems.

186. "Practicality is now our great idol, which all powers and talents must serve. Anything that is not obviously practical has little value in today's world."

position: concession’s view
1   Practicality seems clearly to be the litmus test for education today.
2   Practicality also dictates what sort of art is produced today.
3   Practicality is also the overriding concern in contemporary politics.
4   On the other hand, the claim amounts to an overstatement when it comes to today’s scientific endeavors.

190. "As long as people in a society are hungry or out of work or lack the basic skills needed to survive, the use of public resources to support the arts is inappropriate--and, perhaps, even cruel--when one considers all the potential uses of such money."

position: concession’s view
1     The implicit rationale(基本理由) behind the speaker’s statement seems to be that cultural enrichment pales in importance compared to food, clothing, and shelter.
2     It might also be tempting to agree with the speaker on the basis that arts patronage(资助) is neither an appropriate nor a necessary function of government.
3     On the other hand are compelling arguments that public support for the art is desirable, whether or not unemployment and hunger have been eliminated. One such argument is that by allocating public resources to the arts, we actually help those
4     A second argument against the speaker’s position has to do with the function and ultimate objectives of art.

121. "At various times in the geological(地质学的) past, many species have become extinct as a result of natural, rather than human, processes. Thus, there is no justification for society to make extraordinary efforts, especially at a great cost in money and jobs, to save endangered species."

position: concession’s view
1    The statement raises a variety of issues about morality, conscience, self-preservation, and economics. On balance, however, I fundamentally agree with the notion that humans need not make “extraordinary” efforts—at the expense of money and jobs—to ensure the preservation of any endangered species.
2     There are three fundamental arguments for imposing on ourselves at least some responsibility to preserve endangered species, which are culpability(有罪), capability, and self-preservation.
3      On the other hand are two compelling arguments against placing a duty on humans to protect endangered species. The fist is essentially the Darwinian argument that extinction results from the inexorable process of so-called “natural selection” in which stronger species survive while weaker ones do not.
4      Secondly, many animal extinctions are due to natural forces which are far beyond our ability. The more money and jobs it would cost to save a certain species. the lower priority we should place on doing so.

242. "Societies should try to save every plant and animal species, regardless of the expense to humans in effort, time, and financial well-being." (同121)

47. "Society does not place enough emphasis on the intellect--that is, on reasoning and other cognitive skills."

position: concession’s view
1     While the speaker might overlook the benefits of nurturing certain emotions and feelings, on balance I agree that it is by way of our heads rather than our hearts that we can best ensure the well-being of our society.
2     I concede that undue emphasis on cultivating the intellect at the expense of healthy emotions can harm the individual psychologically.
3     In many other respects, however, emphasizing emotions and de-emphasizing intellect can carry negative, even dangerous, consequences for any society.
4     The dangers of a de-emphasis on intellect are all too evident in contemporary America.

61. "High-profile awards such as the Nobel Prize are actually damaging to society because they suggest that only a few people deserve such recognition."
  
position: concession’s view
1    The fact that only a few people deserve high-profile awards is insufficient evidence to suggest that such awards are damaging to society.
2    Undoubtedly, high-profile awards suggest that only a few people deserve such recognition.
3    What is significant is that high-profile awards point out the right directions in which all individuals in particular fields should make efforts.
4    To make sure that high-profile awards serve the right purpose of society, it is imperative that the rules of the awards be fair and strictly adhered to.

72. "One can best understand the most important characteristics of a society by studying its major cities."
  
position: disagree with concession
1    It is no longer true the major cities are characteristic of a society.
2    Major cities used to be the cultural centers of a society.
3    Nowadays, however, due to the influence of globalization, major cities throughout the world look more or less the same.
4    By contrast, the rural areas of a society maintain more of its cultural tradition.

140. "What society has thought to be its greatest social, political, and individual achievements have often resulted in the greatest discontent."

position: agree with concession
1    With respect to individual achievements, great achievers are by nature ambitious people and therefore tend to be dissatisfied and discontent with their accomplishments—no matter how great.
2    Individual achievements can often result in discontent on a societal level.
3    Turning from individual achievements to societal, including political, achievements, the extent to which great achievement have caused discontent often depends on one’s perspective.

244. "Most societies do not take their greatest thinkers seriously, even when they claim to admire them."

position: agree
1   Great thinkers are often wronged or ignored in many societies.
2   Confucius is regarded as a great thinker in China, but today few people pay much attention to what he actually said.
3   John Dewey was one of the greatest thinkers in American history, but few Americans including scholars know much about him.
4   In ancient Greece, the great thinker Socrates was sentenced to death.

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139. "Every new generation needs to redefine 'right' and 'wrong' in its own terms and according to the conditions of its own time."

position: concession’s view
1     We should define some new items for better understanding of the development of techniques and enhancing the quality of our life.
2     We should redefine some concepts with the development of civilization. such as understanding of the bible.
3      However, rashness of redefining the terms may cause detrimental effects to our society. Such as the sex liberty, which will lead to dramatic rise in juvenile delinquency(少年犯罪).
4      Meanwhile, we should give no doubt to axioms(公理).

203. "The best way to understand the character of a society is to examine the character of the men and women that the society chooses as its heroes or its heroines."

position: concession’s view
1    First consider the sports hero, whom in my observation society chooses not merely by virtue of athletic prowess.
2    Next consider the military hero, who gains heroic stature by way of courage in battle, or by otherwise facing certain defeat and emerging victorious.
3    On the other hand, consider a third type of hero: the champion of social causes who inspires and incites society to meaningful political and social change.

208. "The way people look, dress, and act reveals their attitudes and interests. You can tell much about a society's ideas and values by observing the appearance and behavior of its people."
  
position: agree with concession
1    Turning first to the way people look and dress, certain aspects of the outward appearance of a culture’s people do inform us of their ideas, attitudes and values.
2    The habits, rituals and lifestyles of a culture often do provide accurate signals about its values.
3    Finally, the statement overlooks a crucial distinction between free societies and oppressed ones.

135. "While most of the environmental problems we face result from the use of technology, society must depend upon technology to find solutions to these problems."

position: agree with concession
1    Depending upon technology to tackle environmental problems is an important but not sufficient solution.
2    The use of technology should be largely responsible for the environmental problems.
3   It is true that technology will help us solve many environmental problems.
4   However, if human beings do not change their attitude toward nature, technology alone will not be able to save us.

33. "Creating an appealing image has become more important in contemporary society than is the reality or truth behind that image."
  
position: concession’s view
1    I agree that image has become a more central concern, at least where short-term business or political success is at stake(在危急关头).
2    The important role of image is particularly evident in the business world.
3    The growing significant of image is also evident in the political realm, particularly when it comes to presidential politics.
4    In the long terms, however, the significance of image wanes considerably.

133. "The problems of modern society have led many people to complain: 'We live in terrible times.' Yet, given the choice, no one today would prefer to live in any other time."

position: agree with concession
1   We live in the best of history.
2   Firstly, our living conditions today are superior to those of any past generation.
3   Secondly, technologies have made it possible for men to work under much more comfortable working conditions today than before.
4   Most of the problems troubling us today have been troubling human beings for a long time.
5   Some problems in contemporary did not exist in ancient time. such as environment pollution, nuclear weapons

137. "What we call progress is a matter of exchanging one problem for another."

position: agree with concession
1    Industrialization, a great historical progress which has dramatically saved the limited labor force, has brought about environmental problems.
2    Urbanization, another breakthrough in human history, has witness a rise in crime rates and disintegration of communities.
3    However, there is no need to be pessimistic about progress.

211. "Any decision-whether made by government, by a corporation, or by an individual person-must take into account future conditions more than present conditions."

position: concession’s view
1    We should take into account both future and present conditions when we make a decision.
2    Any decision that does not take into account future conditions will become obsolete as time goes by.
3    We should know that fact that nobody can foretell exactly what will happen in the future.
4    Meanwhile, if we ignore the present conditions, our decision will not work at all.

226. "People are mistaken when they assume that the problems they confront are more complex and challenging than the problems faced by their predecessors. This illusion is eventually dispelled with increased knowledge and experience."

position: concession’s view
1    The speaker overlooks certain societal problems unique to today’s world, which are complex and challenging in ways unlike any problems that earlier societies ever faced.
2    However, humans face certain universal and timeless problems, which are neither more nor less complex, challenging for any generation than for preceding ones.

2. "Competition is ultimately more beneficial than detrimental to society."

position: agree
1    Generally speaking, competition contributes to progress in society.
2    In democratic countries, when parties and candidates compete for power, the public benefits.
3    Admittedly, when competition gets out of the control of mores and laws, society will suffer.

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37. "In most societies, competition generally has more of a negative than a positive effect." (同2)

26. "Most people would agree that buildings represent a valuable record of any society's past, but controversy arises when old buildings stand on ground that modern planners feel could be better used for modern purposes. In such situations, modern development should be given precedence over the preservation of historic buildings so that contemporary needs can be served."

position: concession’s view
1    Which interest should take precedence ought to be determined on a case-by-case basis. It should account not only for practical and historic considerations, but aesthetic ones.
2    In determining whether to raze(拆毁) an older building, planners should of course consider the community’s current and anticipated utilitarian(实利的) needs.
3    Competing with a community’s utilitarian needs is an interest preserving the historical record, the weight of which should also be determined on a case-by-case basic.
4    Also competing with a community’s utilitarian needs is the aesthetic and architectural value of the building itself—apart from historical events with which it might be associated.

110. "When we concern ourselves with the study of history, we become storytellers. Because we can never know the past directly but must construct it by interpreting evidence, exploring history is more of a creative enterprise than it is an objective pursuit. All historians are storytellers."

position: concession’s view
1     I agree that it is the proper and necessary role of historians to “construct” history by interpreting evidence. Nevertheless, the speaker’s characterization of this role as “storytelling” carries certain unfair implication, which should be addressed.
2     Unless we grant to the historian a license to “construct” history by interpreting evidence, we relegate(把。。。归类) the historian to the role of mere archivist(档案保管员) or journalists.
3    The inexorable(无法改变的) result of disagreement, debate, and divergent interpretations among historians is a fuller and more incisive（敏锐的） understanding of history.
4    However, we should be careful not to confuse this license to interpret history, which is needed for any historian to contribute meaningfully to our understanding of it, with artistic license, which should be reserved for dramatists, novelists and poets.

147. "Tradition and modernization are incompatible. One must choose between them."

position: concession’s view
1   I agree that in certain cases the two are mutually exclusive. For the most part, however, modernization does not reject tradition; in fact, in many cases the former can and does embrace the latter.
2   In the first place, oftentimes so-called “modernization” is actually an extension or new iteration(重复) of tradition, or a variation on it. This is especially true in language and in law.
3     In other areas modernization departs from tradition in some respects, while embracing it in others.
4     Admittedly, in certain instances, tradition must yield entirely to the utilitarian needs of modern life. This is true especially when it comes to architectural artifacts.

54. "History teaches us only one thing: knowing about the past cannot help people to make important decisions today."

position: disagree
1    It is a common misconception that what happened in the past has nothing to do with present society.
2    To begin with, learning about great human achievements of the past provides inspiration. Individually, men can learn from the experience of great figures in history. In business, case studies enable business people to confront their every day challenges.
3    In addition, mistakes of the past can teach us as a society how to avoid repeating those mistakes.
4    Studying human history can also help us understand and appreciate the mores, values, and ideals of past cultures. Appreciating history can serve to elevate our everyday chores to richer, more interesting, and more enjoyable experience.
5    Admittedly, there are entirely new problems that we have to cope with on our own without any precedent in history to refer to.

103. "The study of history has value only to the extent that it is relevant to our daily lives." (同54)

120. "So much is new and complex today that looking back for an understanding of the past provides little guidance for living in the present." (同上两个)

125. "The past is no predictor of the future."

position: concession’s view
1    Nobody can foretell the future exactly.
2    However, knowledge of the past can provide us a rough idea about what might happen in the future.
3    Wisdom of the past provides necessary resources to help us confront the old or new problems of the future.

189. "If people disregard the great works of the past, it is because these works no longer answer the needs of the present."

position: concession’s view
1   In general, it would appear that art is more likely motivated by an interest in keeping pace with science and technology than by a desire to break from it.
2    Admittedly, some works of art would appear to reject, or at least provide a respite from, science and technology.
3    Moreover, the speaker’s concern for whether art’s function is to embrace or oppose science and technology begs the question, for the final objective of art lies instead in its ability to convey a society’s values, ideals, and concerns.

84. "In any field of endeavor, it is impossible to make a significant contribution without first being strongly influenced by past achievements within that field."

position: agree
1   Progress in any field is based on past achievements within that field.
2   In social sciences, the past achievements of a field are the rich sources of inspirations for formulating new theories in that fields.
3   In natural sciences, scientists use the existing methods and equipments—the achievements of the past—to make new discoveries or inventions.
4   Even in creative fields such as arts and literature, mastering the achievements of the past is a precondition of creating new works.