今昔對比類英語寫作指導

今昔對比類作文往往會用表格或圖畫的形式來表述，因此高考中此類寫作常用“少量文字+表格或圖畫”的形式來命題。

寫作時，第一句開門見山地交待什么事情在什么時候發生了什么樣的變化，接著以具體的事例進行對比，最后闡述結論或提出個人觀點或對解決該問題提出建議。

今昔對比類作文尤應注意時態的正確使用。一般說來，描述過去的情況應用一般過去式或過去范疇的時態；而描述現在的情況則應用一般現在時或現在進行時等現在范疇的時態。

一、常用套語

1. 總述何時何地發生了變化。

開門見山指出某個地方、某個方面，或某種情況在某個時候發生了變化。多以changes作主語，謂語用take place的現在完成時態。

Great changes have taken place in my hometown in the last five year. 近五年來，我的家鄉發生了巨變。

Quite a few changes have taken place in my school since you left China. 在你離開中國后，我校有了不少的改變。

Over the past twenty years or so， great changes have taken place in our life. 在過去的約20年里，我們的生活發生了巨變。

Things have begun to improve since schools were called on to reduce learning load. 自從號召學校減負以來，情況有了好轉。

2. 通過今昔對比描述具體變化。

以具體的事例闡述今昔變化。表示對比的常用套語有：

(1)...used to...， but now.........曾經......，但現在......

(2)...in the past， but now...過去......，但現在......

(3)Once...， but now...曾經......，但現在......

(4)Things are different now. 現在情況不同了。

(5)But now， everything has changed. 但現在，一切都改變了。

請看高考范文中出現的句子：

(1)Where the playground used to be now stands another new building—our library. 以前的操場現在是另一棟新建筑，我們的圖書館。(順便說說，這是個倒裝句。Where...to be是地點狀語從句)

(2)I used to have to work even at weekends doing endless homework and attending classes as well but now I have more free time. 我以前周末也要上課并完成不計其數的作業，但現在我有更多的自由支配的時間。

(3)My parents contacted others mainly by sending them letters in the past， but now we make long distance calls at home. 過去我的父母主要通過寫信與他人保持聯系，但現在我們在家就可以打長途電話。

(4)Once my parents listened to the radio for news and other information， but now we watch the news and other programs on TV. 從前我的父母聽收音機了解時事資訊，但現在我們看電視新聞和其他節目。

(5)When they got married about twenty years ago， my parents lived in a small room crowded with furniture， but now we have moved into a big new three-room apartment. 大約20年前我父母結婚時，他們居住在一間擠滿家具的小房間里，但現在我們已搬進了一個新的三房的大公寓里。

有時在指出變化的同時，還需簡單分析變化原因。如：

The reasons for these changes are that people’s living standard has been improved greatly and they prefer a high-quality and colorful life. 這些改變的原因是人們的生活水平大幅提高，而且人們追求多彩的高質量的生活。

3. 結尾常用句型。

最后，總結變化結果，或對不利的變化結果提出解決建議。如：

(1)In short， changes in our life in the past twenty years have brought us comfort and convenience. 總之，過去20年里我們生活的變化給我們帶來了便利和舒適。

(2)In a word， people now have an easier life today. 總之，人們今天的生活比以前便利了。

(3)I suggest the government take immediate measures to solve the problem of pollution and improve the environment. 我建議政府馬上采取措施解決污染問題，改善環境。

語篇模板

描述今昔通訊方式的變化，以及這些變化給人們生活帶來的影響。

[總述變化]Great changes have taken place in the way of communication in people’s life in recent years. [今昔對比]In the past， people kept in touch with each other mainly by writing letters or using the public telephone， which was inconvenient and took much time. But now with the development of science and technology， mobile phones are widely used and people can get in touch with each other whenever and wherever. What’s more，people have easy access to the Internet， which enables them to send and receive e-mails whenever they like. [變化結果的影響]With these changes， people’s pace of life has been quickened and people’s work has been made more efficient.

三、原創模擬

在建設社會主義新農村（construction of new socialist countryside）后，城鄉差距開始縮小。下面是新農村建設前后你的家鄉，某山村的變化：

[寫作內容]

請描述新農村建設前后你家鄉的變化。

[寫作要求]

只能使用五個句子。開頭已給出，不計入總句數。

Great changes have taken place in our village ever since the government launched the construction of new socialist countryside. ...

參考范文：

Great changes have taken place in our village ever since the government launched the construction of new socialist countryside. In the past， villagers mostly lived in shabby houses without access to clean drinking water and it was hard for people to get to cities as there was no highway connected with cities. What was worse， people earned so little that they were unable to afford their children’s schooling or to see a doctor. But now， with highways connected to cities， villagers can visit cities whenever they like. Besides， earning more， most villagers have moved into new houses and their children can attend primary and junior high schools free. Most importantly， like those living in cities， they not only have access to running water but also enjoy medical insurance.

(作者單位：清遠市華僑中學)

責任編校蔣小青

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