新东方托福写作语料库：高中生是否应该经历间隔年
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【教育类】
Students should spend at least one year working or traveling before they go to university? Do you agree or disagree? 高中生应该在上大学之前至少工作或者旅行一年，是否认同?( 2016年3月13日)
【背景介绍】
The gap year = the Grand Tour “间隔年”，也叫“壮游年”或者“断档年”。是指从前英国贵族子女的遍游欧洲大陆的教育旅行。
【头脑风暴】
有谁愿躲在避风的港口，宁愿波涛汹涌的自由。我的心不在这里，我的心在高原上。风景在别处，他乡是故乡。人生若可以完美，我愿意20而立，30而富，35岁退休，从此云游天下，做一个旅行美食作家。
一个男人要走多少路，才能真正被称作是男人? 一只白鸽要翱翔多少海洋，才能安息在沙滩上? 一个人，要读万卷书，行万里路，阅人无数，才能处乱不惊，见多不怪，你才有成长的底蕴。
青春容易令人迷茫和浮躁，青春同样应该勇闯天涯。年轻人，在应该头破血流的年纪，就应该不念过去，不畏将来，志在千里，足行天下。
【作家立场】
成长中的年轻人应该被鼓励去经历间隔年，这是最佳的方式让他们拓宽视野，性格成长，尽管我们不能忽视其潜在弊端。
【思路拓展】
【间隔年之利好】
① 兼职工作可以帮助年轻人积累工作经验，获得自我成就感，使他们对于社会有了更加深刻的洞察，为未来的择业打下坚实基础。
② 旅行可以开拓视野、丰富知识、结交新友，锻炼独立性，这些对于未来的发展是有利好的。
③ 工作和旅行提高了人的社会意识，丰富了人生的阅历，成熟了人的心态。
【间隔年之弊端】
① 很多孩子可能沉迷工作和旅行不再回归校园，如果这样，间隔年就失去了它的初衷。
② 青春期是人的求知欲望最强，也是学习能力和记忆力最强的宝贵时期，高中生不应该耽误一年的时间远离校园而去打工或是闲逛，否则，学业就会被耽误。
③ 高中生没有形成核心竞争力，很难找到工作。即使是找到，也很容易被欺骗和剥削。
【范文赏析】
【首段】背景介绍 + 争议焦点 + 作家立场
Such is human nature to explore the unknown and see the outside word，that is why a great many high school graduates are keen on traveling or working for a period of time before attending dream universities. Conflicting ideas clash in determining whether or not it is a wise idea to inspire high school leavers to experience the Grand Tour. As I see it, the merits of experiencing the gap year outshine its potential demerits.
【二段】 间隔年之利好
The most important educational benefit of taking a year off before starting university life is that traveling exposes young adults to stunning places and exotic cultures. It is one thing for teenagers to read about distant countries, but it is even better to enrich the experience of the world on one’s own. What one learns by associating with strangers and absorbing diverse cultures is something he or she could never acquire in the classrooms. For example，I made many congenial friends by self-travel to Tibet after finishing my schooling. This fantastic journey not only expanded my mind but also alleviated my stress triggered by tight academic study. Feasting my eyes on the stunning landscape really sweetened my life and lifted my spirit.
【三段】间隔年之利好
Virtually, youngsters can also become the beneficiaries of working as part-timers too. By that I mean, earning a living has a key role to play in helping one accumulate relevant working experience, train one’s crisis-solving abilities and deepen one’s insight into the society, which will lay a solid foundation for one’s future career ladder. To illustrate, via embarking on part-time jobs, I knew that money doesn’t grow on trees. Then, I studied even harder when coming back to campus.
【四段】 间隔年之弊端
Notwithstanding all that, we can never ignore the potential downsides caused by experiencing the gap year. First, the study might be delayed. Some school graduates are too immature to draw on their gap year, so they just waste time during that period and harvest nothing. Even worse, it is highly possible that some youngsters might end up never returning to campus. However，since academic qualification is extremely indispensable to every individual，my concern might seldom happen.
【尾段】再次亮明观点 + 总结理由
In closing, my stand is that to inspire young adults to take a year off before going to college is a two-edged sword. Yet youngsters should be encouraged to challenge themselves. This is one of the best ways to mature their thoughts and chasten their characters.
【经典语料】
1. go to university = start university life = attend university 上大学
2. earn a living = work as part-timers 谋生
3. do some sightseeing = to be well-traveled = to travel on one’s own 自己旅行
4. Such is human nature to explore the unknown 探索未知是人之本性。
5. The merits of experiencing the gap year outshine its potential demerits 经历间隔年的利大于弊。
6. to experience the gap year 体验间隔年
7. take a year off to work and travel before attending dream university 升入理想大学之前，用一年的时间去工作或旅行
8. feasting my eyes on the stunning landscape 尽情欣赏迷人景色
9. really sweetened my life and lifted my spirit 使我快乐，精神振奋
10. add spice to the dull routine of everyday life 增加枯燥生活之情趣
11. lay a solid foundation for one’s future career ladder 为未来事业打下坚实基础
12. money doesn’t grow on trees 赚钱很辛苦
13. notwithstanding all that 尽管如此
14. end up doing sth 以……为结局
15. be led astray 被引入迷途
16. Since academic qualification is extremely indispensable to every individual，my concern might seldom happen. 因为学历对于每一人都很重要，我的担忧很少会发生。
17. …… is a two-edged sword ……是一把双刃刀
18. This is one of the best ways to mature their thoughts and chasten their characters. 这是成熟他们的思想，磨练他们的性格的最佳方式之一。
Tip：百度图片：小鹏哥在路上(可以分享小鹏哥之旅行日志)
〖作者简介〗
薛鹏：(新浪微博：雅思小鹏哥)，14岁发表作品，20岁出版作品集《选择坚强》 。吉林大学外国语言学及应用语言学硕士，前长春新东方功勋教师，长春市作家协会会员，、托福频道专栏作家。2006年获得“外研社/朗文杯”新概念背诵大赛吉林省赛区大学成人组冠军，全国总决赛大学成人组亚军。现独创小鹏哥英语工作室。
