GRE作文范文 Issue-48

“Although innovations such as video, computers, and the Internet seem to offer schools improved methods for instructing students, these technologies all too often distract from real learning.”

嘉文博译Sample Essay

What is meant by the term “real learning” could be debated by academics for centuries. Regardless of its true meaning, there is no question that technology has led to advances that have greatly improved the learning process, rather than distracting students from truly learning knowledge.

First of all, the statement “real learning” would seem to indicate that there is something called “unreal” or “fake” learning – truly an absurd statement. Rather than focusing on what is meant by this statement, it is far better to focus on the process of learning itself. Learning is accomplished at different stages of life, in different ways for different people. In the past, students learned primarily through communicating with their teachers and studying textbooks while sitting in a normal classroom situation with twenty or thirty other students. The successful education of millions of students in this manner points out that this has been a proper method for students in a learning situation. But as technology has developed, it would be foolish not to use those advances to enhance and improve the educational process.

Developments in technology should allow students to move forward with the rest of the world in the ways that they learn. Today’s students are growing up with computers in the home – they are computer literate from the time that they are old enough to sit at a computer keyboard. “Real learning” must certainly incorporate computer technology in the students’ education, as the use of a computer is an absolute must in today’s business environment. Failing to learn how to use a computer would sentence a student to a life of underachievement. The simple fact is that computers are an integral part of society - as important to people alive today as a pencil and paper were to students fifty years ago. It is hardly a distraction to teach children how to use a computer and the Internet - it is an absolute necessity.

Secondly, as technology develops, students must learn to master that technology, and what better place to learn this mastery than at school. There is not some type of division between what the student learns in school and what the student learns outside of the classroom. Schools and society are unavoidably and irreversibly intertwined. What is going on in society must be addressed inside the classroom to make children better able to deal with their lives when they are finished with school. Video, computers and the Internet simply give educators more tools to work with to teach students. Certainly there must be a balance found between normal classroom instruction and the use of these technologies, but when they are used properly they can tremendously enhance the educational process.

Finally, it should be noted that although video, computers and the Internet are unquestionably valuable tools in a student’s education, as with any tool, they must be used properly. Video programs must be chosen carefully, based on their educational value. Computer programs should be chosen equally carefully to ensure a proper education and not just used as a babysitter by the teachers. Use of the Internet should be supervised to make sure that students are using it properly for educational purposes. Technology is no substitute for good teachers and a proper learning environment, but video, computers and the Internet have so permeated society that it would be malpractice to leave them out of the educational system. The potential for distraction is certainly there, but “real learning” is undoubtedly enhanced through the use of technology.

参考译文

尽管诸如录像、计算机和网络一类的创新表面上看起来给学校提供了教育学生的新方法，但是这些技术过于频繁地将学生的注意力从真正的学习上分散开来。

　　“真正意义上的学习”这一术语到底是什么意思，可以在学术界争论几百年。不管它的本质意义是什么，毫无疑问技术已经导致了学习过程的改善和进步，而并非分散学生学习真正知识的注意力。

　　首先，“真正意义上的学习”这一短语似乎暗示仍然存在着某种“不真的”或者“假的”学习——这真是一个荒寥的说法。我们且不论该术语的意思是什么，我们只须考察一下学习过程本身。学习是在一生中不同阶段完成的，不同的人用不同的方法来完成这一过程。过去，学生的学习基本上是坐在一个通常有二、三十人的教室里通过与老师的交流和通过研读教科书来完成的。数以百万计的学生的成功教育证明这种方法对于处在学习阶段的学生来说是行之有效的。但是，随着科学技术的发展，拒绝利用这些科技进步来提高和改善我们的学习过程无疑是愚蠢的。

　　科技的进步，可以使学生在他们的学习方法上与时俱进。今天的学生是伴随着家里的计算机成长起来的——他们自从能坐在计算机键盘旁边时就已经是精通计算机了。“真正意义上的学习”必然要把计算机技术融入学生的教育当中，正如计算机的使用是今天商务活动中的绝对必需品那样。学不会使用计算机将宣判学生一生无所成就。一个简单的实事就是，计算机已成为社会不可分割的一部分——它对于今天人们的重要性犹如铅笔和纸张对于50年前的人们那么重要。教会学生使用计算机和网络不是什么分散注意力——它是绝对必要的。

　　其次，随着科技的发展，学生应该学习掌握科学技术。那么，有什么地方比在学校学习科学技术更好的呢？学生在学校所学和在教室之外所学并没有什么分割。学校和社会不可避免且不可分割地交织在一起。在社会中所发生的一切，必须在教室里讲授，以便让孩子们在从学校毕业之际能更好地应付生活。录像、计算机和网络只不过给教育者提供了更多的教育学生的工具。当然，正常的课堂教育和这类技术的使用应该保持平衡，但是当它们被恰当地使用时，它们会极大地改进教育过程。

　　最后，应该注意到，录像、计算机和网络尽管在学生的教育过程中是宝贵的工具，但是与其它工具一样，必须适当地使用。录像节目应该根据其教育意义细心地挑选。计算机程序也应同样地进行选择以保证展开适当的教学，而不是仅仅被老师用作保姆。网络的使用应该被置于监督之下，以保证学生将其用于学习。技术并不能取代优秀的教师和适宜的学习环境。然而，录像、计算机和网络已经渗透到社会的各个层面。如果束之高阁，将它摈弃于教育体系之外，即就成了一种渎职行为。

 

GRE作文范文 Argument-48

The following appeared in a memorandum from the owner of Armchair Video, a chain of video rental stores.

嘉文博译Sample Essay

"Because of declining profits, we must reduce operating expenses at Armchair Video's ten video rental stores. Raising prices is not a good option, since we are famous for our special bargains. Instead, we should reduce our operating hours. Last month our store in downtown Marston reduced its hours by closing at 6:00 P.M. rather than 9:00 P.M. and reduced its overall inventory by no longer stocking any film released more than two years ago. Since we have received very few customer complaints about these new policies, we should now adopt them at all other Armchair Video stores as our best strategies for improving profits."

In this argument, the owner of Armchair Video states that the company’s ten video rental stores must reduce operating expenses because of declining profits. As support for the argument, the owner states that the company is famous for its “special bargains”; therefore raising prices is not a good option. The owner states that stores’ hours and overall inventories should be reduced instead, based on one downtown stores results. For further justification, the owner states that few customers have complained about the new policies, thereby indicating that all Armchair Video stores should adopt them as the best strategies for improving profits. The owner’s argument is based on problematic reasoning. Without further direct evidence supporting his or her conclusions, it should be rejected.

One of the main problems with the owner’s argument is that no other possibilities to resolve the problem of declining profits are discussed. Rather than cutting operating expenses by reducing inventories and store hours, other possibilities remain unexamined in the argument. For example, the company could aim at increasing revenues and therefore profits rather than trying to simply reduce expenses. Furthermore, the support that is given for the weak anecdotal evidence that is provided is not convincing for several reasons. First of all, the owner states that raising prices is not a good option because the company is famous for its “special bargains”. Merely raising prices does not mean eliminating all “special bargains”; there could still be special pricing and deals for the customers even if prices are raised on the majority of items in the stores. By failing to address other possibilities for reversing declining profits and equating raising prices with the loss of “special bargains”, the owner has greatly weakened the argument.

Furthermore, the owner bases his or her weak argument on the results from one downtown store in only the previous month. The owner states that the downtown store reduced its operating hours by closing at 6:00 P.M. rather than 9:00 P.M. and that it also reduced its inventory by no longer stocking any film released more than two years prior. The owner then states that because very few customer complaints have been received, all of the company’s stores should adopt those strategies as the best method for improving profits. This is where the argument is fatally weakened. Firstly, the “downtown” store is likely different than the others, perhaps having few customers after 6:00 P.M. anyway due to its downtown location and the fact that few people live downtown with those that work there going home before 6:00 P.M. All other Armchair Video stores likely have different types of customers that may actually demand the ability to shop until 9:00 P.M. Secondly, with only one month of experience with the reduced inventory, perhaps few customers have noticed that there are no movies more than two years old – yet. One month is too short of a time to determine a pattern for success, even assuming that all of the stores have approximately the same type of customer base. Finally, the owner cites the fact that very few customer complaints have been received. Customers may be doing their complaining by simply shopping somewhere else, rather than taking the time to formally complain to the stores themselves. It is the height of foolhardiness to assume that these are the best strategies solely because few people are complaining.

In summary, the owner has provided scant anecdotal evidence that does not support his or her argument. To strengthen the argument, direct evidence should be provided that expenses have been reduced and that profits have correspondingly increased. Additionally, direct evidence should be presented that shows that these are truly the best strategies for achieving these objectives, and that the company’s customers are still happy shopping at Armchair Video.

参考译文
下述文字摘自Armchair Video——一家音像制品出租连锁店——店主的备忘录。

　　“由于利润下降，我们必须减少Armchair Video　10家音像品出租商店的营业开支。提高价格显然不是一种可行的选择，因为我们所赖以闻名遐迩的正是我们的特廉价格。相反，我们应该缩短我们的营业时间。上个月，我们在 Marston闹市区的那家商店缩短了它的营业时间，在晚上6点而不是在晚上9点打烊，并压缩了所售音像制品的总目录，对2年前发行的电影不再进货。既然我们几乎没有收到顾客对这两项新措施提出的抱怨，我们应该现在就在Armchair Video的所有其他商店采用这些措施，作为我们提高利润的最佳策略。”

　　在本项论述中，Armchair Video店主称，该公司10家音像制品出租店由于利润下降而必须减少营业成本。为了支持这一论点，该店主称，公司以其“特廉价格”而著称；因此加价显然不是一个好主意。相反，该店主称，依据一家位于闹市区的商店的经营结果，商店的营业时间和商品总目录应加以缩减。作为进一步的理据，店主称几乎没有任何顾客对这两项新措施有什么抱怨，从而表明所有Armchair Video连锁店均应采用这两项措施，作为提高利润的最佳策略。店主的论点基于问题重重的逻辑推理，如没有进一步的直接证据来支持其结论，则应予以摈弃。

　　 店主论点的一个主要问题是没有去探讨解决盈利下降这一问题的其他可能性。除了通过缩减商品总目录和营业时间来减少营业支出这两项措施外，论述中始终没有剖析其他的可能性。例如，公司可以瞄准提高收益，从而增加利润，而不是仅仅试图去缩减开支。此外，由于若干种原因，店主为所提供的那些趣闻轶事性质的、甚为薄弱的证据所给出的佐证不能令人信服。首先，店主称，提价不是一种明智的选择，因为该公司素以“特廉价格”而著称。然则，提价本身并不意味着取消所有的“特廉价格”。即使商店中大多数商品实行提价，对顾客来说仍可保留某些特惠的价格和交易。由于没能探讨其他可资利用的手段来扭转利润的下滑，也由于将提价与“特廉价格”的消失混为一谈，店主大大地削弱了自己的论点。

　　除此之外，店主将其缺乏力度的论点仅基于上一个月一家座落在闹市区的分店的营业状况。店主说，这家闹市区的分店将打烊的时间定在下午6:00而非9:00，从而缩短了营业时间；此外由于对两年前发行的影片不再进行进货，从而也压缩了其商品目录。这位店主接着指出，由于几乎没有收到过任何顾客的抱怨，该公司的所有商店都应该采用这些策略，作为提高盈利水平的最佳途径。恰恰是在这里，店主的论点出现了致命的缺陷。首先，位于“闹市区”的商店可能全然不同于其他商店，因为其闹市区这一地理位置的缘故，下午6:00之后顾客寥寥无几，一方面是由于几乎没人在闹市区居住，另一方面是在闹市区工作的人将不得不在下午6:00之前打道回府。

　　Armchair Video 公司的所有其他商店可能面向不同类型的顾客，这些顾客可能会在实际上要求商店坚持营业到晚上9:00。其次，由于商品目录的压缩仅进行了一个月，或许还没有任何顾客注意到发行两年以上的影片已不再有售。即使我们假定所有商店的客户基础类型大致相同，但为期一个月的时间过于短暂，不足以来判定某一模式成功与否。最后，店主援引了这样一个事实，即几乎没有收到过任何顾客的抱怨。但顾客们的抱怨可能已经以另一种形式体现了出来——他们已转往其他商店去购物，而不是花费时间向原来的商店本身进行正式的投拆。如果只是因为几乎没有任何人提出正式投诉便认定那些措施可构成最佳的策略，这无疑愚蠢至极。

　　总而言之，店主所提供的仅是微不足道的和趣闻轶事性质的证据，无法来支持其论点。若要强化其论点的逻辑力度，店主必须提供直接的证据来证明已减少开支，并且利润已经相应上升。此外，还应该列举出直接证据，来证明那些措施确实是实现既定目标的最佳策略，并证明该公司的客户仍乐于在Armchair Video连锁店内购物。

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