2015年6月四級寫作呈現出“新瓶裝舊酒”的趨勢,即寫作話題與之前考過的真題有較大的重合度,但以不同的命題形式出現。本文將結合這次考試以及近幾年的四級寫作真題來分析四級寫作的命題趨勢,并為考生詳細解析這次考試的真題,最后為參加12月份四級考試的考生提供一些備考建議。
命題趨勢分析
2015年1月,四、六級考委會順利完成換屆工作,本次考試成為新一屆考委會暨命題委員會成立后的首考,具有風向標般的指導意義。綜合本次三套真題,我們可以看出四級作文的命題表現出兩大特點:一是上面提到的“新瓶裝舊酒”,二是“反押題”。
“新瓶裝舊酒”這一點將在下面的“真題解析”部分詳述,這里首先說說“反押題”的趨勢。2012年6月之前的四級作文大部分以“英文提示+漢語提綱”的組合形式出現;2012年12月四級作文出人意料地考查全英文形式的圖表作文;2013年6月和12月兩次考查全英文形式的圖畫作文;2014年6月和12月兩次考查全英文形式的情景作文;2015年6月再次出現全英文形式的圖畫作文。可以說,自2012年6月起,四級作文的命題形式一直在變,具有強烈的“反押題”趨勢。
真題解析

以往的考試中也曾出現過與本次考試類似的寫作話題,只是本次考試的形式和要求有所改變,也就是所謂的“新瓶裝舊酒”。具體分析如下。
真題一
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and comment on parents’ role in their children’s growth. You should write at least 120 but no more than 180 words.
簡析:這道題的寫作話題與2010年12月四級寫作的話題“How Should Parents Help Kids to Be Independent?”十分類似,都是關于家長在孩子成長中扮演的角色問題。不過2010年12月的考題給了三個漢語提綱,本次考試則沒有給出提綱,且整道題以全英文的形式出現。
考生首先要注意審題,全英文形式的作文審題應關注三個方面:①體裁—essay (議論文);②話題—parents’ role in their children’s growth (父母在孩子成長中扮演的角色);③內容要求—a brief description of the picture and comment (對圖片進行簡單描述并評論)。值得一提的是,本次考試的題目不要求寫作文標題,因此考生沒寫標題也不會被扣分。針對“父母在孩子成長中的作用”這個話題,考生需要結合圖畫的信息來做出正面或負面的評論。
筆者在閱卷過程中發現不少考生出現偏題、跑題的現象,這說明這些考生的寫作思路比較混亂。筆者建議考生圍繞“主題—相關人/物—社會群體—素質意識”這條線展開寫作,確保所寫的內容切題。以這道真題為例,在首段進行圖畫描述時,考生應寫到主題涉及的相關人,即“父母”與“孩子”,然后寫到相關物,具體可為“消息內容”“母女心態”等;在第二、三兩段進行評論時,考生則可以根據圖畫的內容聯系現實,寫社會群體中存在此類現象并論述其利或弊,最后再指出培養孩子獨立性這一素質或意識的重要性并提出相應的建議。
范文:This is a simple but enlightening cartoon: A youngster informs her mother of a good piece of news, “Good news mom! I was accepted by the college of your choice.” Apparently, the girl’s mother is exceedingly delighted to hear this piece of news.
Though parents can offer support to their kids for their success, it is not advisable for parents to be overprotective. In contemporary society, it has become a trend for a host of young people to excessively depend on their parents. Meanwhile, an increasing number of teenagers find it quite comfortable to be indulged by their parents. A case in point is the girl in the picture. However, it is the parents’ protection that does not enable kids to build up adequate independence and competence to face society on their own.
As a college student, I am convinced that it is of great necessity for youngsters to grow by learning to make choices independently. Do bear this in mind: Parents cannot make choices for kids for the rest of their lives.
點評:范文的首段首句摒棄閱卷中多數考生所寫的“As is vividly described/depicted … ”或“From the picture, we can see … ”這兩種結構,以簡單清晰的介紹開篇,然后再結合圖畫內容進行描述。第二段首句則直接點明主題,指出父母不應該過分保護自己的孩子;第二至四句則重在從描述現象、孩子對這種保護的反應以及舉例等角度來進一步將圖畫與現實結合;第五句則使用強調句式指出這種現象的危害。而尾段則聯系自身提出建議并發起號召。

此外,這個范文多處選用書面表達來替換口頭表達或考生作文中反復用到的陳舊表達。比如,用it is not advisable for parents to替換parents should not,用an increasing number of替換more and more,用a case in point替換for example,用I am convinced that替換I think that,用it is of great necessity替換it is very necessary等。
真題二
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay based on the picture. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and comment on this kind of modern life. You should write at least 120 but no more than 180 words.
簡析:圖片描述的是人們“工作、生活、娛樂都玩電腦,連睡覺時都夢到電腦”的現象,考生應該主要從計算機對生活的消極影響這個角度展開寫作。2013年12月四級考到過“手機、網絡對人們交流方式的影響”,與本次考試的這個話題十分相似。
這篇作文的圖畫主題比較明確,然而筆者在閱卷時仍然發現部分考生的作文跑題,原因是考生在審題時沒有注意到四個場景中均有計算機,因而只寫了“現代生活的單調”。閱卷組認為,作文要是沒有寫到“計算機的消極影響”這個大方向,就是跑題,其得分不會超過總分的30%。大量跑題作文警示考生,審題時務必關注細節。這道題的寫作依然可以按照“主題—相關人/物—社會群體—素質意識”的思路展開。
范文:This is a simple but thought-provoking cartoon: A man uses his computer during work time, at home and when he plays; what’s more, when he is sleeping, he even dreams that he is sitting in front of the computer.
This picture can be naturally associated with people’s addiction to this invention. In contemporary society, it has become a trend for a host of people to spend most of their time on PCs and tablets, either in life, at work or study hours. A case in point is the person in the picture. On the one hand, an increasing number of individuals find it convenient to work, entertain or kill time with computers. On the other hand, large numbers of intelligent people have come to realize the negative impacts of this trend—some people have become slaves to computers. It is computers that do not enable people to spend adequate time caring for friends, family members and other significant issues.
Do bear this in mind: Computers are just our tools. Thus, we should remind our classmates and friends to be sensible when using computers.
點評:比較真題一與真題二的范文,考生會發現里面有很多重復的句型和表達,這說明考生在寫作其他話題時可以靈活使用這些句型和表達。就寫作思路而言,這篇作文與真題一的寫作如出一轍,僅在二、三段略有調整,使用了on the one hand和on the other hand的邏輯關系來比較計算機的利弊,然后使用“it is … that”強調句式的否定形式指出具體危害。第三段首句提出號召,隨后提出建議。

真題三
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay based on the picture. You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and comment on kids’ understanding of going to school. You should write at least 120 but no more than 180 words.
簡析:2013年12月四級作文考到了話題為“網絡對教育的影響”的圖畫作文,本次考試這道真題的話題與那道題類似。筆者閱卷時發現,在三道考題中,這道題的跑題率最高,原因依然是考生審題不周。不少考生只寫了手機對學生的影響,但忽略了Directions對話題的限定,即kids’ understanding of going to school (孩子對上學的理解),考生應圍繞孩子對教育意義的片面看法展開討論。就寫作思路而言,考生仍然可以延續前兩個范文的思路來展開寫作。
范文:This is a simple and funny but enlightening cartoon, in which a mother is telling her son to go to school. To her surprise, however, the youngster responds, “Why am I going to school if my phone knows everything?”
Apparently, this picture can be naturally associated with kids’ incorrect understanding of going to school. Many teenagers are convinced that it is of no value to them to go to school, because it has become a trend for a host of students to acquire useful information using cell phones or computers. Furthermore, an increasing number of teenagers find it convenient and efficient to learn with the help of phones. A case in point is the kid in the picture. But, it is also cell phones that do not enable many students to understand the essence of education.
If youngsters intend to acquire talents, it is advisable for them to not only acquire knowledge, but also cultivate their own spirits of cooperation and diligence as well as communication skills. Thus, parents and teachers should educate and encourage their kids to cultivate these qualities. Do bear this in mind: Education does not merely mean “knowing everything.”
點評:這篇范文的語言表達和寫作思路與前兩篇范文大同小異,在這里不再點評贅述。
綜上所述,三道真題命題形式相同,話題類似,考生均可以從描述現象、分析原因和利弊以及提出建議的思路展開寫作。
備考建議
四級寫作“新瓶裝舊酒”的命題趨勢表明,真題復習十分重要。筆者建議考生從“實戰”“背寫”和“翻譯”三個角度來復習真題。
第一,“實戰”指的是限時訓練。基礎稍差的考生應開始加強備考,按照考試要求在30分鐘內完成寫作,以此提前適應考場寫作。練習完之后,考生一定要找老師或英語基礎扎實的同學修改作文,以完善自己的表達。當然考生也可以將自己的作文與范文進行比較,找到差距并想辦法提升。
第二,“背寫”指的是背誦和仿寫范文。首先,考生應背誦范文中優美的表達、經典的句式和地道的用詞等,然后再找來類似的話題作文題目,利用自己從范文中積累的表達來寫作,達到仿寫范文的效果。
第三,“翻譯”指的是選取好的四級范文,按照“英譯漢—漢譯英—對比—背誦”的步驟進行練習。首先,考生將范文翻譯成漢語,以加深對英文的理解。其次,考生將漢語回譯成英文,并將自己的翻譯與范文進行對比,找出自己表達的錯誤及表達不地道的地方。然后,考生再針對自己的弱點背誦相關表達。