Directions: People who read books have developed more imagination and language skills than those who watch TV. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Write on the Answer Sheet a composition of about 400 words. You are to write in three parts. In the first part, state specifically what your idea is. In the second part, provide some reasons to support your idea or describe your idea. In the last part, bring what you have written to a natural conclusion or a summary. Marks will be awarded for content, organization, grammar and appropriateness. Failure to follow the instructions may result in a loss of marks. Don’t forget to write a title.
无Reading Other than Watching TV Facilitates Imagination and Language Skills
How to educate children to be imaginative and to cultivate strong language skills has been one of the most discussed topics of all time. As to this issue, some insist that reading can sharpen one’s language skills and stimulate one’s imagination while others argue that watching TV is more effective. In my opinion, reading is more conducive to the development of one’s imagination and language skills than watching TV.
First and foremost, reading books definitely can stimulate one’s imagination. Unlike watching TV, readers cannot see the vivid pictures on the screen. They can only see the lines on pages of books. They have to associate the words with certain things in their mind, thereby arousing their imagination. For example, if one reads the masterpiece Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, he or she will imagine how Romeo and Juliet look like and the scenes described in lines.
Secondly, one’s language skills can be improved through extensive reading of books, especially one’s reading and writing skills. Different from the words used in TV, the lines in novels or other books are from some classical writers who excel in the choice of words, grammar and figures of speech, which are critical to one’s reading and writing. A reader who has formed the habit of reading books will be quick in understanding and be able to think logically. Readers can learn the usage of words and figures of speech and then apply them in their own writing.
Watching TV is not effective in stimulating imagination. TV does the thinking and imagining for us since the scenes has already been exhibited to audience. What audience should do is simply to watch the faces and follow the plot. TV keeps us informed and entertained without having to think deeply or imagine.
Watching TV also negatively affects an individual’s language development. The more time a person spends in front of the screen, the less he/she participates in meaningful conversation. Moreover, despite the huge amount of information it presents, TV can hardly develop one’s language ability because of relatively simple words and sentences are used by speakers in films, TV dramas and variety shows.
In conclusion, I insist that reading is more helpful in stimulating imagination and improving language skills than watching TV. We can only get pleasure and superficial understanding from watching TV. However, while reading books, we indulge ourselves in contemplating the plots in a logical way and imagining the looks of characters and the scenes described in the lines.