Some people say that modern children’s games do not contribute to their development (of a wide range of skills) as much as traditional games do. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

老师笔记

01

It looks like that modern-day children are in danger of missing out some of the finest games played by their grandparents. Relatively, children growing up in the world of today would rather stay inside and play video games than go outside and play traditional games. Typically, those modern games do not contribute so much to children’s development of many life skills as those traditional games. 

看上去，现代的孩子们可能会错过祖父母玩的一些最精彩的游戏。相对而言，在当今世界长大的孩子宁愿待在家里玩电子游戏，而不是出门玩传统游戏。通常，这些现代游戏对孩子许多生活技能发展所起的作用不如那些传统游戏。

解析

(1) 本段前两句提出现象，第三句给出自己的观点。在句式上，第二句和第三句都使用了副词置句首的写法。

(2) in danger of 有......的危险

(3) relatively 相对说来

(4) typically 通常说来

02

Most adults’ happiest childhood memories probably revolve around simple pleasures from playing such games as hide and seek, kicking the can, building sandcastles, flying kite, skipping rope, and climbing tree. A number of ‘folk’ games which have been passed from generation to generation have many positive effects, including physical skills and socializing skills. What is more, since traditional games are usually played with minimal technology and maximum freedom, children can learn by example from other children without any pre-programed rules. Children need to play traditional games as a physical and mental necessity in the open air, instead of just playing computer games like a little nerd in front of the screen.

大多数成年人最快乐的童年记忆可能围绕着玩捉迷藏、踢罐、建沙堡、放风筝、跳绳和爬树等简单的乐趣。许多代代相传的“民间”游戏具有积极的作用，包括身体技能和社交技能。更重要的是，由于玩传统游戏通常几乎不需要任何技术，并有的自由，孩子们可以言传身教，而没有任何预先编程的规则。孩子们需要在户外玩传统游戏作为一种生理和精神需求，而不仅仅像一个小书呆子在屏幕前玩电脑游戏。

解析

(1) 本段分析传统游戏的优势：身体和社交技能；自由的创造精神。

(2) revolve around 围绕着......

(3) pass from generation to generation 代代相传

(4) minimal 极少的

(5) maximum 最多的

(6) in the open air 在户外

(7) nerd 迷；呆子

03

As long as children enjoy playing, there is nothing wrong with modern games, if they are not played excessively. However, it must be pointed out that modern electronic gadgets are likely to affect negatively children’s wellbeing. There are even fears that technology is creating a generation of lonely children who struggle to make friends. Lack of exercise is also a key factor behind soaring levels of obesity, with the average youngster spending long hours daily playing video games, and little time doing outdoor exercise. Therefore, whereas digital games have their share of cognitive benefits ranging from improved problem solving skills to spatial navigation abilities, they nevertheless tend to isolate children from the real world and real people.

只要孩子们喜欢玩，现代游戏就没有什么问题，如果不玩得太多的话。然而，必须指出的是，现代电子产品很可能对孩子们的幸福产生消极影响。人们甚至担心，科技正在造就一代孤独的孩子，他们很难交到朋友。缺乏锻炼也是导致肥胖水平飞升的一个关键因素，因为普通青少年每天花很长时间玩电子游戏，很少做户外运动。因此，尽管数字游戏拥有认知优势（从提高问题解决技能到空间导航能力），这些游戏却容易将孩子们与现实世界和现实中的人隔离开来。

解析

(1) 本段论述当代电子游戏的问题所在：让孩子们孤独；肥胖；与现实隔离。

(2) as long as 只要

(3) excessively 过多地

(4) electronic gadget 电子产品

(5) soaring 飞升的

(6) cognitive 认知的

(7) navigation 巡航

(8) isolate 使......隔离

04

In terms of children’s physical and mental development, traditional games do much better than modern games. Today’s children should be allowed to play modern games with limited screen time, but it is always advisable not to forget altogether those traditional games. After all, playing traditional games is probably the best way to remember the happy childhood.

就孩子的身心发展而言，传统游戏比现代游戏做得好得多。今天的孩子们应该被允许在有限的屏幕时间内玩现代游戏，但是永远不要忘记那些传统游戏。毕竟，玩传统游戏可能是记住快乐童年的方式。

解析

(1) 本段是结论，重申自己的观点。

(2) in terms of 就......而言；在......方面

(3) advisable 值得建议的；应该的

(4) after all 毕竟

本范文中可背诵的句子

1. Relatively, children growing up in the world of today would rather stay inside and play video games than go outside and play traditional games.

相对而言，在当今世界长大的孩子宁愿待在家里玩电子游戏，而不是出门玩传统游戏。

2. A number of ‘folk’ games which have been passed from generation to generation have many positive effects, including physical skills and socializing skills.

许多代代相传的“民间”游戏具有积极的作用，包括身体技能和社交技能。

3. Lack of exercise is also a key factor behind soaring levels of obesity, with the average youngster spending long hours daily playing video games, and little time doing outdoor exercise.

缺乏锻炼也是导致肥胖水平飞升的一个关键因素，因为普通青少年每天花很长时间玩电子游戏，很少做户外运动。

4. Today’s children should be allowed to play modern games with limited screen time, but it is always advisable not to forget altogether those traditional games.

今天的孩子们应该被允许在有限的屏幕时间内玩现代游戏，但是永远不要忘记那些传统游戏。

7分范文

It looks like that modern-day children are in danger of missing out some of the finest games played by their grandparents. Relatively, children growing up in the world of today would rather stay inside and play video games than go outside and play traditional games. Typically, those modern games do not contribute so much to children’s development of many life skills as those traditional games.

Most adults’ happiest childhood memories probably revolve around simple pleasures from playing such games as hide and seek, kicking the can, building sandcastles, flying kite, skipping rope, and climbing tree. A number of ‘folk’ games which have been passed from generation to generation have many positive effects, including physical skills and socializing skills. What is more, since traditional games are usually played with minimal technology and maximum freedom, children can learn by example from other children without any pre-programed rules. Children need to play traditional games as a physical and mental necessity in the open air, instead of just playing computer games like a little nerd in front of the screen.

As long as children enjoy playing, there is nothing wrong with modern games, if they are not played excessively. However, it must be pointed out that modern electronic gadgets are likely to affect negatively children’s wellbeing. There are even fears that technology is creating a generation of lonely children who struggle to make friends. Lack of exercise is also a key factor behind soaring levels of obesity, with the average youngster spending long hours daily playing video games, and little time doing outdoor exercise. Therefore, whereas digital games have their share of cognitive benefits ranging from improved problem solving skills to spatial navigation abilities, they nevertheless tend to isolate children from the real world and real people.

In terms of children’s physical and mental development, traditional games do much better than modern games. Today’s children should be allowed to play modern games with limited screen time, but it is always advisable not to forget altogether those traditional games. After all, playing traditional games is probably the best way to remember the happy childhood.

（360 words)