写作常见错误分析

一、语法错误

（一）句子结构错误

1． 主从句叠置

1) There are more and more students who like to use the computer. / More and more students like to use the computer.

2) There are still many problems that should be noted and resolved. / Many problems still should be noted and resolved.

2． 简单句叠置

I like chatting on line very much, so I go to the net bar almost every weekend. / I like chatting on line very much. I go to the net bar almost every weekend.

3． 从句叠置

It is known to all that computers play an important role in many fields of our life. / As is known to all, computers play an important role in many fields of our life.

4． 句子成分缺失

If we work hard, we will surely be successful. /Working hard, we will surely be successful.

5． 语序错误

1)  Why do college students spend more and more time on the computer?

2)  I often wonder where they have got their money.

（二）动词形式错误

1．时态错误

Many people think that the Internet will be more useful in the future. 

2．语态形式错误

1)  I have been excited several days at the news that you will come here.

2)  Most of the students are satisfied with the service in the dining hall.

3．单复数形式错误

1) Wise men seek opportunities rather than wait for them. / A wise man seeks opportunities rather than wait for them.

2) Some people are afraid that computers may control men in the future. 

4．非谓语动词形式错误

1) Let me say “hello” to you on behalf of everyone.

2) Doing exercise in the morning is good for one’s health.

3) Having studied in our school for 3 years, I find that the canteen service has changed a lot.

（三）代词错误

1) We can use computers in doing everything we like.

2) A college student should be able to do his washing on his own.

（四）冠词错误

1) A/The horse is a useful animal.

2) The exam will be held in December, 2004. 

（五）词性错误

1) I wish you can consider my suggestions.

2) If a person wants to succeed, he must learn to endure sufferings and setbacks.

二、用词错误

1) Students must know how to operate a computer. / Students must know how to work on a computer.

2) People can be exposed to many new things on the Internet. / People can learn many new things on the Internet.

3) The purpose of this letter is to express some opinions on the service in the dining hall. / The purpose of this letter is to make some complaints about the service in the dining hall.

三、表达习惯错误

1) What generated so large a change? / Why is there so large a change?

2) Now 6000 yuan is enough for you to buy a P4 computer. / Now you can buy a P4 computer for 6000 yuan.

3) In a room often live 6-8 students. 

4) I think there are three reasons for this great change. 

5) The prices of the food are too high. / The food is too expensive.

6) The reason for this is that some people want to earn plenty of money without working hard. / This is because some people want to earn plenty of money without working hard.

四、标点符号及大小写错误

1) However, every coin has two sides. I think the surroundings in our canteen are the best among all universities.

2) The man was racing down the street because he was late for the class.

3) At last I want to let you know that I love our university very much.

4) My favorite sports are swimming, jogging, mountaineering and playing table tennis.

5) The best English film in my eyes is Forrest Gump.

 

 

五、冠词用法讲练

EXERCISE 1

A. 1. a 2. an

3. an 4. an

5. an 6. an

7. a 8. an

B. 1. a new office building 2. travel agent

3. an American scientist 4. a day’s outing

5. an Indian stamp 6. a heart attack

7. an advanced country 8. an interesting play

EXERCISE 2

1. A (telephone); a 2.x; x; x

3. a; a; an; a 4.a; a; a; an

5. a; a; a; a; a 6.an; a; x; an; x; a; a

7. a; an 8.x

EXERCISE 3

A. 1. a (very bad night); a (wink)

2. an (honesty)

3. a (vision of a new and happier Europe)

4. a (holiday); a (day off); a (month)

5. an (hourly service)

6. a (great honour); a (gathering)

7. a (mountain); a (horror)

8. an (early age)

9. a (word)

10.a (boy)

B. 1. a (big problem); (not too big) a (problem)

2. a (square nose); (so handsome) a (man)

3. (However great) a (disaster)

4. (Many) a (shipwrecked sailor)

5. (Such) an (urgent need)

6. (So urgent) a (need)

7. (as lovely)a (picture)

8. (what) a (serious crisis)

9. (many) a (greater man)

10. (How serious) a (crime)

EXERCISE 4

1. the; x 2. x; The(forests)

3. x; The(nature) 4. The (education); x

7. x; the 8. the; x

EXERCISE 5

A. 1.x; a; the 2. The (steam-engine); the

3. The (bat); a 4. x; the; x; a

5. the 6. a; the; x; x

7. The(prison);a 8. The (youngest); x; the; x

B. 1.The (horse); a (noble animal); a (faithful servant)

2. a (game)

3. the (school); the (behaviour);the (pupils)

4. The (dinner); the (speeches)

5. the (setting of goals)

6. the (hospital); (at) the (end of)t he (week)

7. the (radio)

8. The (flute)

9. (have) a; the (city center); (get) a; (on) the (bus)

10. the (ground); the (wood)

EXERCISE 6

A. 1.The; the; the 2. The; the

3. The; the 4. The (wool); the

5. x; the; x 6. the; the; the; x

7. the; the 8. x; x; x

9. the; the 10. x

B. 1. the British Museum 2. the Suez Canal

3. the difference between 4. the Wilsons

 these two words

5. in the first row 6. the year 1949

EXERCISE 7

(The) People everywhere … When (the) strangers … (The) Good manners … in (the) different parts … accepting (the) gifts … shows (the) bad manners … even (the) rudeness … with (the) good manners accept (the) important things with (the) both hands …to accept (the) important things shows not only (the) discourtesy … In (the) Europe and (the) North America, however, (the) people…

六、标点符号用法讲练

EXERCISE 1

1. The…identity: Lt, Henry Bedell, Company D, 11th Vermont Volunteers…old.

2. It…that Dad…already－farming 80 acres…job.

3. Now I’m…point－but what …there?

4. Rain, snow, sleet, fog…world.

5. During…tourists; during the winter…beach.

6. To…extent, mankind…earth.

7. Like…wild life,…reproduce, grow…fall.

8. The…Jim Thorpe, the greatest American…times.

9. The…enormous, juicy…appetizing.

10. I…kids－educated…the West…movies－would be disappointed.

11. I…statue. Its soul, so to speak, is…beauty.

12. The…students, teachers, doctors, businessmen, factory workers－people…life.

13. Is…underground－in new…caves?

14. I…－by correspondence－that I…her at Beijing Hotel…Thursday.

15. Passengers…beverages: coffee, tea, milk or soda.

16. Present…Mr. Ho, Chairman…English Department; Mr. Brown, a visiting…Denmark; and…us.

17. The…patients; it…of “defensive medicine”.

18. His…with them－he had…once made…help.

EXERCISE 2

1….work, for…

2….down; as a result, we…

3….note; it…

4….watch, yet…

5…..tired, so…

6. …booming; consequently, the company…

7. …in it, and it was…

8. … looking; the food, however, is…

9….compulsory; the students… choice, therefore

10…coffee; others…

11…costly; nevertheless, we…

12…weightlessness; moreover, they…

EXERCISE 3

1. … death; …

2. …sunlight. We…/…sunlight; we…

3. …May, yet/but snow…

4. …years; for example, …

5. …quiet; …

6. …night; I…/….night, and/so I…

7. …punished; in fact…/…punished. In fact…

8. …food, and so…./food; therefore, I….

9. …very; what…./…vary. What…

10. …TV; Marie…/…TV, and Marie…

EXERCISE 4

1. “On Friday,” the teacher announced, “we’ll take up a new lesson.”

2. “ What,” he asked, “do we have to prepare for the camping trip?”

3. C

4. He greets everyone with “Hi!”

5. “You may think I have a lot of garbage in these bags,” one shopping-bag lady volunteered in a church soup kitchen, “but it’s everything I need.”

6. C

7. “It pains me,” I said, “to find that you both have been panhandling so long that it no longer embarrasses you.”

8. Retirement often brings many problems surrounding the “What do I do with myself?” question, even though there may be no financial worries.

EXERCISE 5

1. At one o’clock on September 2, 1666, the Great Fire of London started inside a baker’s shop in Pudding Lane. It lasted five days, and nearly 80% of all the buildings within the London Wall were razed. According to the official report, 13,200 houses, 87 parish churches, over 400 streets, and the enormous old St. Paul’s Cathedral－one of the wonders of the medieval world－were in ruins. Out of London’s 450 acres, only 75 remained untouched.

Robert Hubert, a French watchmaker from Rouen, was accused of the fire. The sentence said he “had deliberately started the fire”. After he was hanged, it was conclusively proved that he had not even arrived in London until two days after the fire broke out.

2. Mr. Jones was very fond of climbing mountains, so one year he went to Switzerland for his holidays. After he had climbed some easy mountains, he decided one day to climb a more difficult one; but he did not want to go up it alone, so he found a good Swiss guide, who had often climbed that mountain.

At first it was not a difficult climb, but then they came to a place which was not so easy. The guide stopped, turned round and warned Mr Jones. “Be careful here,”he said “This is a dangerous place. You can easily fall, and if you do, you will fall straight down a very long way.” “But,”he continued calmly, “if you do fall here, don’t forget to look to the right while you are going down. There is a quite extraordinarily beautiful view there－much more beautiful than the one you can see from here.”

3. It is the simple things that really matter. If a man delights in his wife and children, has success in work, and finds pleasure in the alternation of day and night, spring and autumn, he will be happy whatever his philosophy may be. If, on the other hand, he finds his wife hateful, his children’s noise unendurable, and the office a nightmare, if in the daytime he longs for night, and at night he sighs for the light of day－then what he needs is not a new philosophy but a new pattern of life－a different diet, or more exercise. Man is an animal, and his happiness depends on his physiology more than he likes to think. Unhappy business men, I am convinced, would increase their happiness more by walking six miles every day than by any conceivable change of philosophy.

七、句型写作练习

（一）并列句

1) It was a cold snowy day and he had no money left for food.

2) Hurry up or you’ll be late.

3) It rained heavily last night but I went to the show anyway.

4) I enjoy classical music, so does she.

5) He must be ill, for he is absent today.

6) Some people waste food while others haven’t enough.

7) She is fat whereas her husband is thin. 

8) She cannot read, neither can she write.

（二）复合句

1．

1) It is quite obvious that they need more help in English.

2) It is good news that she is still alive.

3) It doesn’t seem likely that she will come here.

4) What the children like the best in the zoo are the pandas. 

5) What we are badly in need of is raw material.

2．

1) It’s a pity that he did not come earlier.

2) It is a well-known fact that smoking can cause lung cancer.

3) It is true that I encouraged him, but I didn’t actually help him.

4) It didn’t seem likely that they would ever keep their promise.

5) It was hard to understand why Prof. Hardy had singled out Mary for criticism.

3．

1) Can you tell me what kind of show they are putting on?

2) I’m wondering if the letter is overweight.

3) I am thinking how we can improve our study habits.

4) We are still uncertain whether Henry is the right person for the job.

5) Peter has always been in good health except that he has a slight headache sometimes.

6) He suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to take his notebook with him.

4.  

1) I always took it for granted that I was far more intelligent than he was. 

2) We all thought it a pity that you were unable to attend our meeting.

3) We consider it important that you should mind your manners.

4) He didn't want it known that he was too ill to go on working.

5) I regard it important that every one of you should finish your homework on time.

6) He took it for granted that his father would come to his help if he got into trouble.

7) We thought it highly probable that he might change his mind at the last minute.

8) I think it likely that the train will be delayed by the dense fog.

9) The doctor thinks it advisable that you should stop smoking.

5.  

1) Could you show me what you have written?

2) This is what we should always keep in mind.

3) What they saw in China made a deep impression on them.

4) We must not put off till tomorrow what we can do today.

6. 

1) Nothing could hide the fact that he is growing old. 

2) The fact that he works hard does not necessarily mean that he is a competent leader.

3) I have a complacent feeling that I’m highly intelligent. 

4) The explanation that he didn’t see the notice is unsatisfactory./ The explanation is unsatisfactory that he didn’t see the notice.

5) Most of us don’t agree with his view that there is no advantage in introducing the new method.

6) The news soon spread throughout the country that he won the first gold medal at the 23rd Olympic Games.

7) His suggestion that intelligence is a relative matter is not universally accepted./His suggestion is not universally accepted that intelligence is a relative matter.

8) He seconded my motion that the vote be postponed.

9) The fear that he might not be able to finish the work disturbed him greatly./ The fear disturbed him greatly that he might not be able to finish the work.

10) We expressed a hope that Mr. and Mrs. Morrison would come and visit China again. 

11) I’ve come from Mr. Lin with a message that he won’t be able to see you this afternoon. 

12) There can be no doubt that Suzy is the right person for the job.

定语从句

1) I went to visit the American author who wrote a number of books about China.

2) I ate the soup my aunt prepared.

3) I have an arrangement with my bank, by which they let me use their money and repay them next month.

4) He sent her a letter, in which he said that he was sorry for what he had done to her. 

5) Mr. Brown, who just came from Britain yesterday, will teach us accounting this term.

6) She is going to spend the winter holidays in Hainan, where she has some relatives.

7) The United States is known for its supermarkets, where huge quantities of all kinds of food and household articles are sold.

8) The story happened in late 19th century, when China is suffering from the invasion of western powers. 

状语从句

1) Now that you’ve bought a new car, what are you going to do with the old one?

2) We’d better take the telescope with us in case it is needed.

3) We must hurry off, lest we should miss the bus. 

4) The problem so very complicated that it took us nearly two weeks to solve it. 

5) The aircraft was flying at such a high altitude that we could hardly see it. 

6) I’ll lend you my computer on condition that you keep it in good shape. 

7) You can go out as long as you promise to be back before 11 at night. 

8) I remember the whole thing as if it happened yesterday. 

9) However hard he tried, he could not do the job satisfactorily. 

10) Whether it takes an hour or even a whole day, I shall find out the answer. 

（三）复杂的简单句

1.

1) They looked both ways before they crossing the street.

2) I made my decision after talking to Sir Francis.

3) Despite/In spite of his illness, he was determined to carry out his plan. 

4) Despite/In spite of their intelligence, they aren’t doing well in school. 

5) Despite/In spite of his richness/wealth, he isn’t very happy. 

6) Despite/In spite of his height, he isn’t a very good basketball player.

7) Without your support, we might succeed in performing our task.

8) Even with air and water, plants still couldn’t grow on the moon.

9) Without hard work, you will accomplish nothing.

10) But for their assistance, he would have found himself in trouble.

2. 1) They wear layers of clothes even in summer time, with newspapers stuffed between the layers as further protection against bad weather.

2) With more people helping them, they probably will be able to accomplish the task ahead of time.

3) With all his savings gone, he started to look for a job.

4) In the corner there is a table, with one of its legs shorter than the others.

5) With the job finished, we went to the seaside for a holiday.

6) With the pace of change quickening, more and more scientists find it hard to keep up with the latest developments even in their own disciplines.

7) She looked in my face with tears streaming down her cheeks.

3. 1) She won’t go home until after (taking) the exam.

2) Because of his bad leg, he couldn’t walk as fast as the others. 

3) We are full aware of the seriousness of the situation.

4) She hurried back to school for fear of missing too many lessons.

5) Instead of criticizing Susan for what she has done, we ought to praise her for it.

6) Instead of going straight home after school, Helen went to work as a waitress in a restaurant.

7) Instead of going to send the book to Allan by post, I am going to take it to him myself.

8) Instead of going to New York yesterday to attend his daughter’s wedding, Dr. Wilson flew to Florida for an emergency case.

4. 1) I love intelligent girls. 

2) At the party, I got to know a professor in his thirties. 

3) I hate to see letters written in pencil.

4) The substance discovered almost by accident has revolutionized medicine.

5) Among those taking part in the work, he is probably the most active.

5. 1) Every one of us left the meeting convinced that the project was feasible.

2) Peter got home from the three-month-long journey to the Antarctic, looking tired out.

3) They went hunting for hours, but they returned empty-handed.

4) He entered the office, still annoyed by the way she spoke to him.

5) Pressured by school work and encouraged by their peers, teenagers resort to smoking.

6) Primarily interested in grades and economic success, college students now cheat on exams more frequently.

6. 1) He sat in front of them, his dusty face masking his age.

2) Hearing a continual strange noise coming from the next room, her heart beat fast.

3) The old beggar sat at the corner, tears welling up in his eyes.

4) Jim continued on his way, the dog jumping about in front of him.

5) The girl in the snapshot wore a broad smile, her long hair flowing in the breeze.

7.

1) This is Mr. Black, director of our hospital.

2) “Leave it to me,” said Peter, the man on duty.

3) Qinghai Lake, the largest inland body of salt water in China, lies 3195 meters above sea level.

4) The whole plan was completed within three months, half the usual time.

5) He read all kinds of books, ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign.

6) Formerly a worker himself, he is now an engineer.

7) A mother of three children, she has now entered a college again for further education.

（四）倒装句

1．1) Never have I been to Europe.

2) Hardly had he eaten anything when the dinner was over.

3) Scarcely had she fallen asleep when a knock at the door awakened her. 

4) No sooner had Anne arrived than she fell ill.

5) Little does she care about what others say about her. 

2． 

1) Richard can speak Japanese. So can his sister.

2) Copper is a good conductor. So are many other metals.

3) Paul could not dance. Nor could he sing.

4) The husband was not hospitable to the visitor. Nor was the wife.

3． 1) So excited was he that he could not go to sleep.

2) So forcefully did he speak at the meeting that everyone present was convinced.

3) So hard did he work that he obtained his Ph. D. degree one year ahead of schedule.

4． 1) Only once did his father call his name.

2) Only then did the doctor realize that his patient needed surgery.

3) Only when you adjust down your price can we conclude the business.

5． 1) Sitting in front of the counter was the young father who wished to purchase a life insurance policy and agreed to pay a sum of $200 per year for 40 years.

2) More important is the question of how to face the possibilities of illness, injury, death and financial loss.

3) Among them are the writing of a dictionary involves a number of tasks. The reading of literature, the copying of words on cards, the sorting of the cards and the writing of definitions.

（五）被动句

1) Joe’s father was seen to return after dark.

2) You are not allowed to smoke in the laboratory. 

3) Effective measures should be taken to stop various forms of pollution.

4) When she was in Shanghai, the actress was heard to say she had long thought of the city as her second home.

5) The young man was seen to enter the building next to the bank.

6) After the minister of education had finished speaking at the press conference, he was made to answer all sorts of questions.

7) I don’t think Tom can be made to do what he dislikes.

8) The wind was heard to roar through the trees.

9) What should be done in a case like this?

（六）强调句

1) It was Jefferson who wrote the Declaration of Independence.

2) It is with genuine feeling that the author praises all that is progressive.

3) It was because the water had risen that we could not cross the river.

4) It was Jim, a heartless fellow, who was heard shouting at his mother in the dead of night.

5) It was not until I told her that Mrs. Williams knew anything about it.

八、段落写作练习

（一）段落的展开

Exercise W1

Two examples are given for each item. The controlling idea is underlined Your controlling ideas may be different.

1. Owning a car has many advantages.

The disadvantages of owning a car are many.

2. The reason a person lives in a remote area may be one of the following.

A person who lives in a remote area may face many problems.

3. Before applying to a foreign university, one should consider the disadvantages of studying abroad.

The advantages of studying abroad outweigh the disadvantages.

4. Car accidents can be avoided or minimized if the driver takes certain    precautions.

Although a person thinks it is safe at home, many different kinds of accidents occur there.

5. An international airport is divided into different sections.

There are several kinds of airports.

6. Teachers can list many reasons why students are absent from their     classes.

Absenteeism causes the employer many problems.

7. Taking exams is required of all students, and to do their best, students 

  should use the following methods to prepare themselves.

  One should follow these procedures when taking an exam.

8. Computers have brought many changes to our way of life.   Many educational games can be played on computers.

9. Rice can be prepared in many ways.

  Rice can be put to many uses.

10. Preparing to go camping is easy when you organize your trip using  

   these steps.

   Camping has changed in many ways.

Exercise W2

The following topic sentences are only examples. Your sentences may be different.

1. This is a strong topic sentence.

2. This is a weak topic sentence because the rest of the paragraph   

describes what the writer does when he or she goes to the beach. A better topic sentence would be: “Whenever I have the opportunity to go to the beach, I always follow the same routine.”

3. This is a weak topic sentence because the rest of the paragraph describes the various ways students can get to class. A better topic sentence would be: “For the many students who cannot afford a car, there are several alternative ways of getting to class.”

Exercise W3

These are only examples. Your topic sentences may be different.

1. A dormitory room is cold and impersonal until several changes have been made to make it more inviting.

2. American telephone books are divided into several sections.

3. The fast-food restaurant has become popular for various reasons.

Exercise W4

1. D 2. B 3. D

4. A 5. C

Exercise W5

1. Students who need extra money can hold down a fulltime temporary job during their summer vacation.

2. A person can also meet other people by going to parties.

3. In my opinion, people should write clearly.

Note: The possible correct answers for Exercises W6-W7 are so varied that you might wish to discuss your answers with a fluent English speaker.

Exercise W6

These supporting ideas are based on the examples given in the Answer Key for Exercise W1. Yours may be different.

1. Ⅰ. disadvantages of owning a car

A. expensive to buy

B. expensive to maintain

C. difficult to park

D. causing air pollution and traffic jams

2. Ⅰ. reasons for living in a remote area

A. get away from city noise

B. live in unpolluted area

C. remaining where one has been born

D. be closer to nature

3. Ⅰ. disadvantages of studying abroad

A. far from family and friends

B. difficulty in understanding a foreign language

C. more expensive

D. hard to get home in an emergency

4. Ⅰ. kinds of home accidents

A. falls

B. poisoning

C. burns

D. cuts

5. Ⅰ. kinds of airports

A. international

B. national

C. rural

D. private

6. Ⅰ. problems caused by absenteeism

A. lost production

B. missed deadlines

C. mistakes made by substitutes

D. expenses for training substitutes

7. Ⅰ. methods to prepare for taking exams

A. study on a regular basis

B. review appropriate material

C. anticipate questions

D. get good night's sleep the night before

8. Ⅰ. changes brought by computers

A. better telephone services

B. information easier to obtain

C. easier inventory procedures in businesses

D. helpful in education

9.Ⅰ. ways to prepare rice

A. rice with vegetables

B. fried rice

C. curried rice

D. rice salad

10. I. steps to organize a camping trip

A. make a list of necessary items to take

B. get maps of area

C. have car in good condition

D. check weather report

Exercise W7

These are only a few examples. Your paragraphs will be different. Have a fluent English speaker check your paragraphs.

1. The disadvantages of owning a car are many. First, they are much more expensive to buy than bikes or motorcycles. After having purchased a car, the owner is then faced with the expense of maintaining it. Also, it is frequently hard to find a parking place for a car. Last but not least, the increasing number of cars will lead to more serious air pollution and traffic jams, especially in large cities. 

2. The reasons a person lives in a remote area may be one of the following. Cities are usually very noisy, and a person may want to get away from the noise. Another attraction of a remote area might be that it is unpolluted. If a person was born and raised in a remote area, he or she may want to remain in the place that is best known. Finally, some people like to be closer to nature, and this is easier away from a city.

3. Before applying to a foreign university, one should consider these disadvantages of studying abroad. First, a student may feel alone by being far from family and friends. Also, difficulty in understanding a foreign language can be very frustrating and can affect the student's grades. It can be very expensive to pay the costs of travel and housing in a different country. Finally, if here is an emergency at home, it is hard to get home in a hurry.

4. Although a person thinks it is safe at home, many different kinds of accidents occur there. Falls are perhaps the most common accident among both young children and older adults. Poisoning is a danger, especially if an adult leaves medicines or cleaning chemicals within the reach of a small child. Burns frequently occur in the kitchen area during meal preparation. Finally, people cut themselves when using kitchen knives, trimming equipment in the yard, and power tools in the workshop or garage.

5. There are several kinds of airports. From an international airport, flights go to other countries as well as to cities in the same country. A national airport usually only serves the cities within its nation. Rural airports usually link a town with a nearby national airport. Private airports are those on a military base or a hospital. Individuals and companies can own their own private airports.

（二）段落的衔接

1. 1) First, Second, Instead, Third, In contrast, Fourth, Consequently, Finally, But

2) Although, First of all, Furthermore, Once, Second, Sometimes, At other times, Finally, Then

2.  for, so, but, and, and, and, however, but, and

3.  Television was invented by John Logie Baird. When he was young he built an aeroplane. He tried to fly in it, but it crashed down below. However, Baird was fortunate not to be killed. It did not discourage him. Instead, when he was older he tried to make diamonds from coal. The only result was an enormous explosion. Yet he was not injured. Then, he became a businessman. When his business failed, he thought of working at television. His family advised him not to, but he did not listen to them. He rented an attic, bought the apparatus he needed and started working. Although he worked for a long time, he was not successful. One day he saw a picture on his screen. So he rushed out to get someone he could “televise”. He found an office boy and took him back to his room. However, no image of the boy appeared on his screen. The boy, terrified, had put his head down. When he put it up again, his picture appeared on the screen. That’s how television had been discovered.

4.  In the United Stated there is a belief that people are rewarded for working, producing, and achieving. Many people believe that there is equality of opportunity that allows anyone to become successful. This belief is illustrated by stories written by a nineteenth-century American novelist, Horatio Alger, who wrote about the “American Dream”. In his stories he described poor people who became rich because of their hard work, honesty, and luck. The stories reinforced the idea that all individuals, no matter how poor, were capable of becoming wealthy as long as they were honest and hard-working. For many Americans, however, Horatio Alger’s “rags-to-riches” stories do not represent the reality of opportunity. Many poor immigrants who came to the United States in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries were able to become rich. Today, however, the poor generally do not rise to the middle and upper classes. That is why the “American Dream” is now described as a myth.

5.  There were once a dog and a cat sitting by a kitchen door when the cook came out and threw several pieces of meat to them. They both sprang to get the meat, but the dog was the stronger. He ate it all himself. This was selfishness, by which I mean that the dog cared only for himself. Was this wrong? No, the dog knew no better. But men are different from dogs and follow a different rule of conduct. How miserable we should all be if every person were to care only for himself! We ought to be thankful that we have a higher nature than that of beasts and are able to see and feel the duty of being kind and affectionate to one another. And as we can see and feel this duty, we ought to be very careful always to observe it.