Military Training
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic: Military Training. You should write at least 120 words, and your composition should be based on the following information:
现在，绝大多数大学的新生在入校后就要进行为期两周左右的军训，想必你也有过此种经历。请你就此发展一些个人的意见。
【范文】
Military Training
Military training is one of the most arduous① and memorable experiences of my life.
During the two weeks of the military training, everyone of us has experienced great changes, both in outward appearances and in our emotions. The sharp contrast between untrained men and trainees was what the latter were so dark. It seemed as if we had been to Africa. Wearing uniforms all the time, we dared to sit anywhere, no matter how dirty the ground might be, and little chance was left for us to pay attention to our clothes, even though most of the girls wanted very much to look their best②. When daily training was finished, some of the so-called soldiers would transform themselves into another form; their caps were worn askew③, their uniforms swung in the wind, and their belts were swung casually in their hands. On these occasions, they were no longer soldiers, but bandits④! However, this kind of contrast can not be seen any longer — a loss to the scenery of the campus, to some extent.
There is no doubt that spiritual changes played a more important role in our military training in that it helped us know more about perseverance, bravery and obedience to orders. Although arduous, standing at attention is an effective way to gain these virtues. When standing, we would neither move, talk, nor make any facial expressions. We had to stand up straight, look straight ahead, and put our hands straight on the seams⑤ of our trousers. Sweat trickled down slowly from our foreheads like snakes crawling over our faces. But none of us complained. We endured it, and withstood all these uncomfortable things as much as possible. So, after two weeks of training, we changed a lot. We became totally different from what we used to be. We learned how to endure more and complain less.
【注释】
①arduous：费力的；艰难的
②look one’s best：显得最好看
③askew：歪；斜
④bandit：强盗；土匪
⑤seam：缝；接缝；链接处
【点评】
本文是一篇根据情景提示展开的描写性议论文，其中心思想是写军训既艰苦又令人难忘，不仅对大学生的外貌乃至思想和人格都有所改变和提高、磨练。第一段是总论，第二段写军训对大学生outward appearance的影响。第三段，也是军训对大学生受益最大的一方面——锻炼意志，服从命令，培养吃苦耐劳的品质；最后两句话起概括全文的作用。
作者刻画非常细致， 对军训学生的脸、汗水、装着及心理都有很独到的准确描写，有时，还用上几个比喻，给读者身临其境的感觉。
参考文献：英语作文高分必背丛书：大学英语四级写作/李华田主编，武汉大学出版社，2005
