上海理工大学外语学院 贾从永

Directions:

For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay based on the picture below. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then comment on this kind of modern life. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

2015年6月大学英语四级考试的作文再次考漫画作文。四级考试的漫画一般内容简单，寓意明显。例如，在本题的漫画中，我们可以看到一个男子工作时对着电脑，在家里对着电脑，娱乐时还对着电脑，甚至在睡梦中还想着电脑。可以看出，这组漫画用夸张的手法反映了一个日益严重的社会问题：过度使用电脑。

这篇漫画作文宜写成三个段落。第一段指出漫画的寓意 --- 过度使用电脑，然后简要地描述漫画。第二段分析过度使用电脑所造成的种种危害，这一段是文章的重心所在，宜充分展开，详细论述。比如，考生可以指出过度使用电脑会危害健康、影响工作、损害人际关系。这三个方面都要略作展开。第三段可以先指出虽然电脑有用，但过度使用电脑也会造成一些问题，然后向读者提出建议：鉴于过度使用电脑的负面影响，人们应当关闭电脑，留点时间给自己的朋友和亲人。请看范文：

Computer addiction is becoming a growing problem in contemporary society. As the pictures above show, a man depends so heavily on his computer that he uses it when at work, at home, at play or even in his dreams. But is it the modern life he deserves?

Absolutely not. Actually, excessive computer use interferes with people’s health, work and relationships.  First, people’s social life will suffer if they spend too much time before the computer screen. This is because indulgence in the gadget will inevitably lead to their neglecting family and friends. In addition, computer addiction adversely affects people’s work performance, for the magic device distracts them from their work. Worst of all, some young people are so preoccupied with their computer that they forget to eat, sleep or shower, resulting in their poor health.

As useful as it is, the computer creates problems of its own. Considering the negative effects of its overuse, it is high time people switched their computer off and spared some time for their friends and loved ones. (173 words)

语言亮点借鉴：

1. Computer addiction is becoming a growing problem in contemporary society. 电脑上瘾正在成为当代社会的一个日益严重的问题。a growing problem，一个日益严重的问题。

2. As the pictures above show, --- 正如上面的图画所显示的，---。这是开始描述图画的一个常用句型。

3. be at work，在工作；be at play，在玩。

4. Absolutely not. 绝不是。上段问，下段答，这是加强段际联系的一种有效手段。

5. Actually, excessive computer use interferes with people’s health, work and relationships.  实际上，过度使用电脑影响人们的健康、工作和人际关系。interfere with，干扰，妨碍。

6. First, people’s social life will suffer if they spend too much time before the computer screen. 首先，如果人们在电脑屏幕前花太多的时间，他们的社交生活将受到损害。suffer 这个词用作不及物动词时，意思是变糟，变差（become worse）。

7. In addition, computer addiction adversely affects people’s work performance, for the magic device distracts them from their work. 此外，电脑上瘾对人们的工作产生不利的影响，因为电脑会使他们从工作中分心。the magic device，这个奇妙设备，这里指电脑。英语写作讲究求雅替换，所以在同一篇文章里应尽量用不同的词或短语表达同一个意思。

8. As useful as it is, the computer creates problems of its own. 尽管电脑有用，但也造成了自己的问题。As useful as it is是一个倒装形式的让步状语从句，意思相当于Although it is useful。

9. Considering the negative effects of its overuse, it is high time people switched their computer off and spared some time for their friends and loved ones. 鉴于过度使用电脑的负面影响，人们应当关上电脑，留点时间给他们的朋友和亲人。it is high time (that) --- 是一个提建议的常用句型。这个结构后面的从句使用虚拟语气（用一般过去时表达现在的动作）。