1、强化练(二十一)概要写作专练 (一)For the past decade，there have been heated debates about whether our planet is heating up and whose fault it is.Many scientists，politicians，journalists，and famous entertainers are all saying that our planet is in trouble and that human beings are the cause.They say we must act now
2、to reduce our use of fossil fuels，such as coal and oil，before it is too late.In 1997，a group of scientists ideas were used to write the Kyoto Protocol(京都议定书)，an agreement that explained our role in the Earths changing atmosphere and set international limits for gas emissions from 2008 to 2012.Some c
3、ountries have decided to continue these reductions until 2020.At the same time，a few governments and some scientists argue there is no evidence that humans are causing recent changes in climate and weather.These scientists dont think we really need to change our lifestyle；that is，we should continue
4、to drive，fly and live normally.They present evidence that proves that the Earth is going through a normal heating and cooling cycle，as it did throughout its history.So，is there a link between humans and the climate change or not？To reach an educated opinion，it is important to think about the people
5、who make scientific claims and what their purpose may be.For example，some say the scientists who warn about global warming are trying to scare people in order to get attention and money for their research.And some of them get some money from companies that produce these fossil fuels.For example，Exxo
6、nMobil，one of the worlds biggest oil companies，has spent millions of dollars to support the groups that discredit the idea of global warming.Clearly，scientific information can be affected by the interests of individual scientists.When we hear reports on climate change，we must use good judgment and a
7、sk ourselves where the facts are coming from.We must interpret the research，make informed decisions，and most importantly，participate in the debate._参考范文With intense controversy over the origin of global warming，many people attribute it to human activities and appeal for immediate action.(要点1)On the
8、contrary，in view of the lack of concrete proof，objectors deny the link between them and doubt the necessity of changing lifestyle.(要点2)With personal interests disturbing scientific objectivity，scientists motivation strongly influences their academic preference.(要点3)Therefore，to have an objective jud
9、gment，it takes both our critical analysis of the research and active participation in the debate.(要点4)(二)Eightyfive percent of the jobs that todays students will do in 2030 dont exist yet，the Institute for the Future has predicted.That might seem like a high number to reach in only 10 years.But thin
10、k about the nonmainstream careers that did not exist just a handful of years ago: social media manager，app developer and cloud computing engineer，etc.What role should colleges and universities play in preparing students for a workplace that is constantly changing？Educational institutions are trying
11、to answer that question.“We hope they will not only be prepared for whatever the job market looks like in 10，20 or 50 years but be the ones shaping it，”said Jenn Stringer，professor at the University of California，Berkeley.Here are some of the approaches theyre taking.Some experts argue that the four
12、year learning model needs to be rethought in a big way.They say education can no longer be seen as something that stops when a person graduates from college.If students could take a year or two off school，get a job，and then return to school a few years later，the education system would offer true lif
13、elong learning and better adapt to changing technology.Fewer employers are willing to train people on the job than the employers 50 years ago，largely as part of an effort to cut costs.To fill the job skills gap，some courses are offered as an addon to a students main degree.For example，the courses ma
14、y include data analysis，web design and digital marketing.The goal is to offer students，a degree aside，some advantages when they seek jobs or promotions in the future.Other institutions are trying to mimic(模仿)the workplace within the traditional classroom.Several colleges have partnered with private
15、companies，such as the software company Adobe，to integrate their products into the classroom.Professors at schools who partner with the company are encouraged to use the product for assignments.The idea is that students learn how to create a project that can be used in the real world and the “soft sk
16、ills” such as teamwork and creativity._参考范文To help students better suit and reshape the evershifting work landscape，colleges are taking various measures.(要点1)Firstly，lifelong and adaptive learning model is expected to replace the present 4year one.(要点2) Besides，additional training programs beneficia
17、l to acquiring practical job skills are provided for college students.(要点3) Moreover，some colleges cooperate with enterprises to make classrooms more like workplaces and enhance students allaround capabilities.(要点4)(三)Architects have long had the feeling that the places we live in can affect our tho
18、ughts，feelings and behaviors.But now scientists are giving this feeling an empirical(实证的)basis.They are discovering how to design spaces that promote creativity，keep people focused and lead to relaxation.Researches show that aspects of the physical environment can influence creativity.In 2007，Joan M
19、eyersLevy at the University of Minnesota，reported that the height of a rooms ceiling affects how people think.Her research indicates that higher ceilings encourage people to think more freely，which may lead them to make more abstract connections.Low ceilings，on the other hand，may inspire a more deta
20、iled outlook.In addition to ceiling height，the view afforded by a building may influence a persons ability to concentrate.Nancy Wells and her colleagues at Cornell University found in their study that kids who experienced the greatest increase in greenness as a result of a family move made the most
21、gains on a standard test of attention.According to another study at the University of Georgia，using nature to improve focus of attention seems to pay off academically.It found that students in classrooms with unblocked view of at least 50 feet outside the window had higher scores on tests of vocabul
22、ary，language arts and maths than did students whose classrooms primarily overlooked roads and parking lots.A recent study on room lighting design suggests that dim(暗淡的)light helps people to loosen up.If that is true generally，keeping the light low during dinner or at parties could increase relaxatio
23、n.Researchers of Harvard Medical School also discovered that furniture with rounded edges could help visitors relax.So far scientists have focused mainly on public buildings.“We have a very limited number of studies，so were almost looking at the problem through a straw，” architect David Allison says
24、.“How do you take answers to very specific questions and make broad，generalized use of them？Thats what were all struggling with.”_参考范文Scientists are studying how to design the living places to benefit us.(要点1)Researches show that the physical environment，like the height of ceilings，can affect people
25、s creativity.(要点2)More greenness or broader vision can improve ones attention span，and then academic performance.(要点3)Dim light and roundedged furniture bring people relaxation.(要点4)But so far，similar studies have been limited to a small scale.(要点5)(四)US psychotherapist(精神治疗师)Virginia Satir(19161988
26、)once said，“We need four hugs a day for survival.We need eight hugs a day for maintenance.We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” She believed that hugging was necessary and important.Researchers have found scientific evidence that backs up her beliefs.According to a recent study published in the journal
27、 Psychological Science，receiving a hug can reduce stress and help protect us from illness.In the study，researchers from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)in the US invited 404 healthy adults to participate in interviews about how often they experienced conflicts in their daily lives，as well as how man
28、y hugs they received within a period of two weeks.These participants were intentionally exposed to cold viruses during the interview.According to the research，people who received hugs on the same days when they experienced conflicts tended to report fewer negative feelings during the following days.
29、They have also found that people who received hugs were less stressed out.The physical contact that we get through hugging，especially from loved ones，is a “marker of intimacy(亲密)and helps generate the feeling that others are there to help in the face of adversity(困境)”，according to Scientific America
30、n.People feel more comfortable and relaxed after hugging.The researchers have also found that the more hugs people get，the less likely they are to catch colds，Science Daily noted.When people receive hugs，they release more oxytocin(后叶催产素)，which is also known as the “love hormone”According to the rese
31、archers，this hormone can decrease ones heart rate and lower blood pressure.This can put people into a state of emotional wellbeing.When people are in this state，their immune systems become stronger.Of course，hugging is not the only way to comfort others.But physical contact like hugging can comfort
32、people without “making any judgments(about right or wrong)”，Michael Murphy from CMU told Time._参考范文The necessity and significance of hugging is confirmed by a recent study.(要点1)In the study，participants were asked about their conflict experience and the hugs they received with exposure to cold viruses at the same time.(要点2)The study shows hugs help avoid negative feelings and relieve stress.(要点3)The study also finds hugging can strengthen peoples immune systems，reducing the possibility to develop illnesses.(要点4)Surely hugging is an ideal way to give us comfort.(要点5)