In many countries, more and more people can buy a wide range of household goods like television, microwave oven and rice cooker. Is it a positive or negative development? Discuss both views and give your opinion.

新年考，复现的是2013年12月12日的原题。

家用电器的好处自不必说，可以为我们带来方便，节约我们的时间，节约下来的时间我们可以用来学习工作，或者享受人生。

但是家用电器越来越多也会带来坏处，首先是我们为之花的钱也会越来越多，从而挤压了我们的预算空间，另外，处理废旧的家用电器也会给环境带来污染。

把以上几点表达清楚，外加一个开头引入段和一个总结段，内容足够丰富了。参加本次考试的烤鸭，你是这样来展开的吗？

引言开头 household appliances: more positive than negative （引入及总论）

主体A段 the advantages of household appliances （好处）

主体B段 the disadvantages of household appliances （坏处）

结论结尾 household appliances: more positive than negative （结论）

老师笔记

01

In a world of consumerism, home electrical and electronic appliances have become so integral to modern life that, in many ways, they are what distinguish today’s society from yesterday’s.  Household goods like television, microwave oven and rice cooker make your life so much easier and more enjoyable, but there are some disadvantages. As a whole, this kind of household goods, when properly used, can bring you more benefits than drawbacks.

在一个消费主义的世界里，家用电器和电子电器已经成为现代生活不可或缺的组成部分，在许多方面，它们区分了当今社会与昨天社会。像电视、微波炉和电饭煲这样的家用产品使你的生活变得更轻松愉快，但也有一些缺点。总的来说，这种家庭用品，当正确使用时，给你带来的好处多于缺点。

解析

（1）段引入话题，提出自己的总观点。

（2）integral 不可缺少的

（3）distinguish 区分

02

Generally speaking, buying over a dozen household equipment intended for daily use may be beneficial to you at home, from cooking to entertainment. Your microwave oven, for instance, allows you to cook rapidly with the turn of a dial, and this convenience provides more options in your daily life than in the past.Likewise, your rice cooker can simplify the cooking process by reducing the number of steps between you and your meal at the table. Thus, the more free time you save due to having appliances, the more other things you are capable of doing at your will, including just watching television in the comfort of home after a heavy day from work.

一般来说，购买十几种日常用途的家用设备对你来说是有益的，从烹饪到娱乐。例如，你的微波炉可以让你转动表盘就能很快做饭，这种便利在日常生活中比过去提供了更多选择。同样，你的电饭煲可以减少饭菜上桌的步骤，从而简化烹饪过程。因此，你因为有电器而节省的时间越多，你就能按自己意愿做更多的事情，包括辛苦工作一天后，在舒适的家里看电视。

解析

（1）第二段支持主题，说好的一面。句话是topic sentence。

（2）option 选择

（3）likewise 同样（=similarly）

（4）be capable of... 能够做......

03

However, the development of consumerism in many countries is not entirely positive. To begin with, it costs money to buy consumer equipment. Of course, cost is a disadvantage if you buy too many household gadgets and use themexcessively in what is called the “throw-away” society. No doubt, the modern consumerism is also likely to have an en environmental impact, either from the production processes or the disposal of the devices ranging from kitchen devices to television sets. That is to say, the dramatic increase in the number of household goods means the problem of greater carbon dioxide emissions, apart from the problem of rising energy demands and expenses.

然而，在许多国家，消费主义的发展并不完全是积极的。首先，购买消费设备是要花钱的。当然，在所谓的“抛弃”社会里，如果你买太多家用小玩意，而且过度使用它们，成本的确是一个不利因素。毫无疑问，现代消费主义也有可能对环境产生影响，无论是产品的生产过程还是处置从厨房设备到电视机的各种设备。也就是说，家庭用品数量的急剧增加意味着碳排放量增加，还有能源需求和消耗不断增加的问题。

解析

（1）第三段支持主题，说不好的一面。句话是 topic sentence。

（2）consumerism 消费主义

（3）gadget 小电器设备

（4）excessively 过分地

（5）disposal 处理

（6）dramatic 剧烈的

（7）emission 排放

04

On balance, the development of having useful appliances at your home is more positive than negative. Despite some bad effects typical of modern consumerism, life has become so much more full of pleasure due to these devices available from the kitchen to the bedroom. Now, ask yourself if you would rather live in today’s society or yesterday’s.

总的来说，在家里拥有有用电器的是件好事，而不是坏事。尽管现代消费主义总是有一些负面影响，但因为拥有这些从厨房到卧室的设备，生活会变得更加充满乐趣。现在，问问自己，你是想活在今天的社会里还是昨天的社会里。

解析

（1）第四段重申主题，利大于弊，二合为一。结论后有一句延伸的话。

（2）on balance 总体来说

本场考试范文

In a world of consumerism, home electrical and electronic appliances have become so integral to modern life that, in many ways, they are what distinguish today’s society from yesterday’s.  Household goods like television, microwave oven and rice cooker make your life so much easier and more enjoyable, but there are some disadvantages. As a whole, this kind of household goods, when properly used, can bring you more benefits than drawbacks.

Generally speaking, buying over a dozen household equipment intended for daily use may be beneficial to you at home, from cooking to entertainment. Your microwave oven, for instance, allows you to cook rapidly with the turn of a dial, and this convenience provides more options in your daily life than in the past. Likewise, your rice cooker can simplify the cooking process by reducing the number of steps between you and your meal at the table. Thus, the more free time you save due to having appliances, the more other things you are capable of doing at your will, including just watching television in the comfort of home after a heavy day from work. 

However, the development of consumerism in many countries is not entirely positive. To begin with, it costs money to buy consumer equipment. Of course, cost is a disadvantage if you buy too many household gadgets and use them excessively in what is called the “throw-away” society. No doubt, the modern consumerism is also likely to have an en environmental impact, either from the production processes or the disposal of the devices ranging from kitchen devices to television sets. That is to say, the dramatic increase in the number of household goods means the problem of greater carbon dioxide emissions, apart from the problem of rising energy demands and expenses.

On balance, the development of having useful appliances at your home is more positive than negative. Despite some bad effects typical of modern consumerism, life has become so much more full of pleasure due to these devices available from the kitchen to the bedroom. Now, ask yourself if you would rather live in today’s society or yesterday’s.