II.Write an outline. (20 points)
Readthe following passage carefully and compose a "Topic Outline" for it.
When to Get Married
Over the past thirty-five years, we havebeen waiting longer before settling down. A study shows that men are gettingmarried for the first time seven years later and women six years later. Thismeans that the average man is aged 32 when he asks "Will you marryme?" and the average woman is 29 when she says "Yes." But isthis trend towards the thirty-something marriage making us happier andmore satisfied? My answer is: The earlier the marriage commitment is, thegreater the chances of a long, happy partnership are .
My past conversations with people whomarried in their twenties show that they often report tough times in theearly stage: living with in-laws, managing financial problems or movingaround the country as one partner gets promoted. Also, couples who marryrelatively early can grow apart, especially when one partner has beensuccessful at work.
However, the greatest threat to thetwenty-something marriage is wondering if they could meet a better personwhen reaching 40. This is particularly dangerous when someone who marriedhis or her first love starts dreaming about what he or she has missed. Theydon't know who they are and what they need from a relationship.
Yet, when faced with forty-somethingcouples in crisis, I always feel more optimistic about the outcome forthose who married in their twenties than those who married in their thirties.Why should this be? If you marry later, you are more likely to bring oldbaggage into your relationship. In some cases, help couples understand theinfluence of a partner from two or three relationships back. For example,to those who once had suspicious partner forever questioning them abouttheir movements an innocent inquiry such as "What time will you beback?" can sound aggressive.
People marrying later may expect more from the relationship. This is becauseone of the best ways of recovering from a failed relationship and startingto look again is to tell oneself: "I deserve better, or "Nexttime I'll meet Mr or Miss Right." There is nothing wrong with thisstrategy. But unfortunately, if the next relationship does not deliver, thebitterness becomes a bit greater and the desire for perfection a bitstronger.
The final issue about getting married atthirty-something is the need to start a family almost immediately. Many coupleshave no time to get to know each other properly or putdown solid rootstogether. If a relationship has been built on long weekend lie-ins and late breakfasts,the demands of small children can be a shock. The couple may, to a largeextent, be deprived of social life. This sense of isolation is worse if thegrandparents are correspondingly older, too, and not fit enough to help.
Although the ultimate decidingfactor in the success of a relationship is the character, determination andgenerosity of each partner(and that is not determined by age), my advice is alwaysto seize the day and commit.
II. Write an outline. (20 points)
Read the following passage carefully and compose a "Topic Outline" for it.
【正确答案】：
Topic Outline
I. Introduction(Paragraph 1)
A. Trend of late marriage
B. Thesis: The earlier the marriage commitment is, the greater the chances of a long,happy partnership are.
Ⅱ. Common problems of twenty-something marriage(Paragraphs 2-3)
A. Family difficulties in the beginning
B. Mid-life fantasies about a better partner
Ⅲ. Drawbacks of thirty-something marriage (Paragraphs 4-6)
A. Shadows from previous relationships
B. Unrealistic expectations
C. Hastiness in starting a family
IV. Conclusion: To get married early(Paragraph 7)
【评分参考】
1.本部分满分20分,按四个档次给分其中12分为及格分,需要慎重把握。
2.考生只能按题型要求写出“Topic Outline”,如用“Sentence Outline”或两种混用,则降档处理。如写成“Summary”或其它形式,则按0分处理。其中“Thesis”可置于“Introduction”之前。
3.提供的答案仅供参考。如果考生的回答在层次划分上与参考答案不一致,但条理清晰、合理,概括完整,应按正确答案给分。
4.拼写错误每四个扣1分,但不重复扣分。
5.分值不得出现0.5分。