1999年（下）高自考英語寫作試卷

　　I. Supply the missing conclusion (20 points)

　　Study the following passage carefully and write a conclusion of about 100 words. Make sure that the tone and vocabulary you use are in unity with the passage provided.

　　To some people, the thought of studying in the UK is a fantastic dream. The UK is famous for its excellent education system and is home to the world-renowned universities of Cambridge and Oxford. British universities attract a large number of students from all over the globe every year.

　　Since I came here, I have learned a lot not only in my course work, but also about life. In my opinion, the latter is more important.

　　Firstly, I began to love my country more than ever. The fact is that we know Western countries much better than Westerners know China. We always hold a modest and critical view of our country. Now I can see the prospects for China's future more clearly.

　　Secondly, studying in the UK has provided me with a opportunity to live independently and experience the hardships of life. I belong to the first generation of the one-child policy. Like many other Chinese children, I have become accustomed to living in a comfortable home full of the love of my parents and relatives. Studying in the UK has been the first time I have lived on my own. Since the cost of living is very high, I have come to realize that life would not be easy any more. I began to save money and pay more attention to my studies.

　　Every time I go to the supermarket, I usually compare the prices of goods, and then choose the cheapest ones. Most of us foreign students cook for ourselves. Lots of people say cooking is a subject they have taught themselves in the UK.

　　Thirdly, being a student in the UK has encouraged me to study harder. I think I owe that to the British education system. Every semester has three terms; and therefore, three sets of exams have to be taken in one year.

　　In addition, the final grades include examination results as well as scores from your personal or group reports and presentations. It is a dynamic procedure.

　　II. Write an outline (20 points)

　　Read the following passage carefully and compose a “sentence outline” or“topic outline” for it.

　　Mistakes and Maturity

　　Parents and teachers repeatedly tell us to correct our errors. Meanwhile, our friends laugh at us when we make mistakes. With all these negative messages, most of us have a hard time believing that problems can be positive experiences. But if we take the time to think about what we have learned from various blunders, we will realize all the good that has come from these events. I know making mistakes can have positive results because I recently learned several valuable lessons from one unforgettable experience.

　　While I was travelling on the east coast last summer, I made the mistake of turning west on highway detour in an attempt to reach a coastal summer resort. T