Quartz 4

cet4_2025_12_2

28 min read

Writing

Directions: Suppose it is proposed that all university students should be required to learn academic writing. You are now to write a response by stating what you think of the proposal. You will have 30 minutes to write the essay. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

I definitely support the proposal that all university students should be required to learn academic writing. Academic writing is especially important for students on campus. This is because it can improve our thinking pattern and the skills to communicate with each other.

Firstly, it allows students to understand the major they chose better. When people write, they get a better understanding of what they learned. For example, for someone who is learning English, finished writing an essay can improve their language skills. If students’ majors are some other aspects, these methods also can be applied. Take computer science for instance. After writing an academic, students can understand their codes more clearly, making significant contributions to the software.

make contributions to academia

In conclusion, academic writing is not only vital for students but also creates dynamic insights to what we do. With the usage of academic writing, we can make progress more effectively.

Simplified Essay

I agree with the proposal that all university students should learn academic writing. This skill is very useful for every student, no matter what their major is.

First, academic writing helps students develop critical thinking. Writing a research paper is not just about typing words; it requires us to collect facts, analyze information, and solve problems logically. For example, science students need to explain their data clearly, while art students need to support their ideas with evidence. These are essential skills for everyone.

Second, good writing skills are very helpful for our future careers. In the workplace, we often need to write professional emails, business reports, or project plans. If we practice academic writing in college, we can communicate more effectively and professionally with others in the future.

In conclusion, academic writing is a necessary tool for college students. It prepares us well for both our studies and our future jobs.

  • 第一段：亮出观点（我同意）。

  • 第二段：理由一（培养逻辑思维）+ 简单举例。

  • 第三段：理由二（对未来工作有好处）。

  • 第四段：总结。

I strongly support the proposal that all university students should be required to learn academic writing. Academic writing is an essential skill for students because it helps them develop critical thinking and communicate ideas effectively.

Firstly, academic writing enables students to gain a deeper understanding of their majors. During the writing process, they need to organize information, analyze evidence, and present their ideas logically. As a result, they can better understand what they have learned. For example, students majoring in English can improve their language proficiency by writing academic essays. Likewise, students in other fields can benefit from academic writing. Take computer science students for instance. When writing research reports or project documentation, they are able to understand their code and projects more clearly, which helps improve the quality of their work.

In conclusion, academic writing is beneficial to all university students. It not only strengthens their academic abilities but also helps them think critically and express ideas clearly. Therefore, learning academic writing should be a required part of university education.

Should All University Students Be Required to Learn Academic Writing?

I fully support the proposal that all university students should take academic writing courses. Academic writing is fundamental to critical thinking, structured communication, and intellectual development.¹

Firstly, it trains students to organize complex ideas logically and support arguments with evidence to express themselves clearly. These abilities are essential not only in research but also in the future workplace. Secondly, learning academic norms—such as proper citation—helps foster academic integrity and respect for intellectual property.²

While some may argue that mandatory courses reduce flexibility, written communication is universally beneficial. Even STEM students must write reports or papers. A well-designed course can adapt to different disciplines, focusing on practical writing skills relevant to various fields.³

In conclusion, equipping students with academic writing skills prepares them for academic and professional success. It is an investment in their ability to think critically and contribute meaningfully to their fields.⁴

It is widely acknowledged that higher education should equip students with the skills for future success. In my view, all university students should learn academic writing. There are three principal reasons for my stance.

Firstly, academic writing trains students in logical and evidence-based thinking——indispensable for success in any field, from engineering to the humanities. Secondly, academic writing trains students to translate complex ideas into clear written text, thereby enhancing their abilities to synthesize knowledge and articulate thoughts. This development better equips them to meet the demands of future academic and professional pursuits. Thirdly, academic writing fosters students’ confidence in scholarly communication, allowing for more active participation in academic discourse.

For these reasons, mandating academic writing is a strategic investment, empowering students intellectually and laying the groundwork for their sustained academic and professional achievement.

Listening

  • 00:00:41 - report 1
  • 00:03:02 - report 2
  • 00:04:53 - report 3
  • 00:07:52 - conv 1
  • 00:09:40 - conv 1 q
  • 00:10:59 - conv 2
  • 00:14:30 - long conversation 1
  • 00:17:31 - long conversation 2
  • 00:20:20 - long conversation 3
  • 00:22:39 - long conversation 3 q 3

2

[3]Net Ease House,a restaurant in America,has been hit with criticism after announcing on their website that children under the age of ten are no longer welcome. Among the reasons given for the decision, the restaurant cited noise levels, lack of space for highchairs, cleaning up crazy messes, and the liability of kids running around the restaurant. They decided that it was time to take control. The decision wasn’t made lightly,but some recent events pushed them to implement this new policy. Responding to the post,one person commented that it is messed up beyond another level. Children’are children. Moms are tired and don’t have time to cook. Not welcoming children under ten is a complete slap in the face to families. He felt so disappointed in the establishment. There are others, however, who showed support for the restaurant’s decision.[4]They said it has the right to implement any rules it wants

What do supporters say in response to the restaurant’s new policy?
A) It is fully aware of frequent customers’ feelings.
B) It caters to the tastes of different customers.
C) It is entitled to adopt any rules it wants.
D) It should announce its decisions online.

3

[5]Security officers were searching a suburb in Australia where an adult snake was believed to be wandering after the discovery of a huge,freshly shed snakeskin.

shed: ~ sth if an animal sheds its skin, or a plant sheds leaves, it loses them naturally 蜕；落

[6]The skin was found at a construction site, and the government wrote to residents to warn them. They were told to observe and, if possible, photograph the animal. If it was moving, watch where it went. It was recommended not to make contact with the animal. The type of snake was determined to be one of the world’s largest snake species. It is not poisonous but can still attack and kill its victims. This type of snake is classified as a threat to humans, especially small children as well as pets. They may carry viruses that are fatal to native snakes, which do not have resistance. If officers found the snake, they would employ a licensed snake catcher to catch it and transport it to a specialist animal doctor, the government said. [7]If caught, the snake could be examined to determine where it came from, how long it had been in the area,what it had been eating, whether it was carrying any diseases of concern,and whether it had produced babies.

Con 1

Why does the woman say she swears it?
A) The man doesn’t agree Hannah is poor. C) The man doesn’t think she can be a millionaire.
B) The man doesn’t believe what she says. D) The man doesn’t consider her to be trustworthy.

Con 2

W: If you have time right now, I think we need to sit down and discuss what exactly we are going to do for Jake’s education next year. I’ve been thinking it over, and I’d like to send him to Westwood Elementary.

M: You mean that boarding school?

boarding: the arrangement by which school students live at their school, going home during the holidays （学生的）寄宿
boarding fees
寄宿费用

I thought we agreed that we would not be sending him away at such a young age. I admit that their academic record is very strong, with many outstanding awards for achievements in Science and Math. [12] But he is just not mature enough to live on his own at this point. What about enrolling him in Lakeview School?

W: They do have a great outdoor campus where he could finally learn all those outdoor sports you have been wanting him to try. With so much greenery and fresh air, I think his current breathing problems would probably disappear. [13] They did just open though, so I don’t think I feel comfortable having our son in the first class of a brand new school.

M: Yeah, the classrooms would probably smell like paint, making the air in the school all stuffy. What about our local school then? [14] They have a wonderful arts program that would really challenge Jake in terms of creativity and imagination. Being practically next door, one of us could take him to school every day before going to work.

W: I don’t know. They have a reputation of being overly strict with the students. Not to mention the overwhelming amount of homework they assign, which would lead to a lot of pressure for Jake and me. [15] What if we send him to the place near your mother’s house?

15.What does the woman suggest at the end of the conversation?

A) Asking Jake which school he himself prefers to enroll in.
B) Thinking twice about what is best for Jake’s education next year.
C) Consulting her mother about which school Jake is to attend.
D) Sending Jake to the school near the biome of the man’s mother.

Long 1

Analytical decision-making is a decision-making approach where a manager makes important business decisions only with solid data. This style contrasts with more instinctive leadership styles where managers make many decisions using instinct or opinion. While analytical decision-makers benefit from a deliberate, thoughtful approach, this style also has some shortcomings.

[16] A key flaw with analytical decision-making is that it takes time. While this approach is beneficial when you have the time and the decision is important, it is problematic when time is crucial. Analytical decision-makers struggle with deadlines and a sense of urgency with decisions. In situations where you need more timely action, decisions based on some information and instinct may work better.

The desire to be right is a major driver of analytical decision-making. Leaders who use this style don’t want to make mistakes. [17] This commitment to one right way of thinking or doing things hinders the manager’s flexibility. Inflexibility causes you to ignore or avoid listening to the thoughts and ideas of others. You only want to utilize hard data or facts.

Despite its restrictions, analytical decision-making does have several key strengths. [18] By relying on facts and data, you minimize your potential for a wrong decision. You also get away from the habit of making guesses or following instincts. Database technology enables business leaders to look to hard evidence in analyzing target markets and promotional strategies rather than making assumptions or guesses on what works.

What does a leader tend to do when they’re committed to analytical decision-making?

  1. A) Depend on digital technology. C) Ignore others’ thoughts and ideas.
    B) Make assumptions and guesses. D) Lay emphasis on thinking flexibly.

What is a key strength of analytical decision-making?
18. A) Maximizing the advantage of available resources. C) Discovering new potential markets.
B) Minimizing the possibility of a wrong decision. D) Perfecting promotional strategies.

Long 2

What is the secret to living past 100? Playing the piano is among the things the world’s oldest person believes

has contributed to her long life. [19] Branyas Morera is now 115 years and 320 days old. That means she’s been alive longer than any other living individual. Branyas was born in the United States on April 4, 1907, but her family moved to Spain, where they were originally from when she was a young child. She has lived there ever since. The 115-year-old is active on social media, regularly sharing aspects of her life. [20] She also shares some of her secrets to living so long. These include playing the piano from a young age. Unfortunately, she had to give up the practice seven years ago at 108. Her other secrets for living a long life? She led an active lifestyle until her later years but has never followed a specific diet.

“Many people ask me what diet I follow to live so many years,” Branyas wrote. “I have always eaten little, but everything, and I have never followed any plan.” But she does eat yogurt every day, which she said has “an infinite number of positive properties” for the body. [21] She has also said that the secret to a long life is “knowing how to choose” what to forget. “Life would be impossible if we remembered everything,” she said.

Long 3

It’s the first day of school, and your teacher tells you to find a seat in the classroom. Where do you sit? Does it matter? Yes! [22] It does matter where you sit in your classroom, so choose and choose carefully! Studies report that where you sit in the classroom can impact your ability to learn and the way your teacher perceives you. Guess what else? Your grade!

Then, what is the best seat in the classroom? In one study, students who sat in the front and center of the classroom received a higher grade average and scored higher on tests than those sitting towards the back of the classroom. Get this! [23] Students sitting in the middle of the classroom also outscored students sitting behind them. This study gathered that students had a clearer vision of the blackboard, and were able to focus more attention on the instructor.

By sitting front and center, students were able to hear better too. [24] The instructors said that they also formed a better connection with the students who sat in front. Perhaps the connection is made because of eye contact and visibility and more interaction. But when you sit in the front row, you may be called on more by your teacher, mainly due to the fact that you are easier to see. [25] So, for students who are not prepared and for those who are extremely shy, the attention could cause some unwanted stress.

READING

Can playing video games help you get a better job?

A) The gaming industry is larger than films and music combined, yet few of us are likely to list our achievements in playing computer games as work experience in our resume. But why not? Businesses are waking up to the skills gamers can bring to the workplace.

B) One start-up is convinced that the skills learned by playing games — hard-won through years of training and battle — can be applied to real-life work situations. And Game Academy reckons its belief is backed up by hard data. Do you enjoy unusual puzzle games like Portal, or tower defence games like Defense Grid? The team has found that IT workers play those more than average. But if you prefer Civilization, Total War, or X-Com, where strategy and resource management are key, then you might have more in common with managers.

C) Game Academy’s idea is simple: analyse gamers’ habits from their online gaming profile, and offer courses in valuable skills that reflect their aptitudes — skills they can practise and refine in-game. And there is already a growing acceptance that gaming skills are transferable.

D Even the military is hiring gamers. “The ability to absorb information, react swiftly and coordinate actions whilst remaining calm under pressure are often attributes of people that are good at gaming,” according to a Royal Air Force spokesperson. Those skills are part of what the Royal Air Force is looking for “in a variety of roles”. “Skills acquired through gaming can be very relevant to certain areas.”

E “There are plenty of soft skills that gamers can utilise in a professional setting, such as teamwork, problem solving and strategic planning,” says Ryan Gardner, a regional director with Hays recruitment. But does that really mean your top 100 ranking in Overwatch should go down in your resume? “It’s about how you either make it relevant to the job you are applying for, or how it makes you more interesting as a potential employee,” Mr. Gardner says.

F Two years ago, a Glasgow University study made headlines for suggesting gaming could make students more successful. But “the research hasn’t really changed minds, at least not yet,” says one of the authors of the study, Dr. Matthew Barr. He’s now writing a book on the topic. “For now, I think the negative reputation around games means that telling someone you’re a determined gamer is more likely to harm your chances of getting a job. But if someone can explain how they’ve led a team in an online game, for example, they may be able to persuade an employer that this is useful,” says Dr Barr.

G Playing games casually is unlikely to help your career prospects. But part of Game Academy’s suggestion is to transform casual gamers into “conscious” ones, applying critical thinking to developing their skills. “We see gameplay as a resource of talent,” says co-founder David Barrie. “Why can’t we put in our resume our gaming victories and achievements?” he asks. “If they say they want leadership — why can’t I point to my years of leading World of Warcraft raids?”

H There are already plenty of gamers out there who know that their hobby has made them who they are. Earlier this year, Matthew Ricci told gaming site Kotaku: “If you’re playing EVE Online you basically already have an MBA.” Often made fun of in gaming circles as a “spreadsheet simulator (电子表格模拟器)”, the economy of the fictional EVE universe is driven by real market principles. If you want to build a new spaceship, the raw material has to be mined by another player. Manufacturing costs come into effect, and commodities fluctuate in price based on demand and the distance to haul the commodity.

I Mr. Ricci, who had always dreamed of being the boss of his own company, ran an in-game corporation comprising hundreds of players. Eventually, he realised he could transfer his skills to real-life business — instead of doing it for free. He restructured Zentech, once a taxation vehicle for his father’s business, and it is now in its fourth year helping international brands enter the Canadian market. EVE teaches skills like creativity, leadership, organisation, and conflict resolution, he maintains. He credits his success to his family, his strong desire to run his own business- and “a damn good company in Iceland that made a damn good game”.

J Digital entrepreneur and business consultant Mia Bennett says: “In more traditional settings, gaming is still imagined to be the pursuit of teenage boys — a waste of time.” But there are some links to skills like “decision-making, the ability to anticipate and future planning,” she says. “It also helps with meta-skills — learning how to learn, experimentation, and creative thinking.”

K Twelve years into his career, Mark Long, a radiotherapy physicist with the NHS in Surrey, doesn’t get as much gaming time as he used to. “I would love to say that my gaming skills allow me to destroy cancer using linear accelerators like photon (光子) blasters, but that’s not quite the reality.” Instead, he credits old-school games like Palace of Magic with exposing him to computers. Every new gaming upgrade improved his knowledge of how they worked. Gaming also encouraged a competitive spirit — and that, he believes, translates. “When creating treatment plans, the aim is to optimise the radiation dose to the tumour and restrict it as much as possible to healthy surrounding tissues and organs,” he says. It’s about “repeating the process, but each time doing something slightly different to improve the result”. Not unlike achieving a high score or a perfect run. “Most videogames are essentially puzzles to solve,” he says. “And problem-solving is a big part of my job.”

L Over at Game Academy, Mr. Barrie is aware they still have a mountain to climb. “The employer community will need the science,” he says, but confesses he only became a true believer when he started asking players about their biggest in-game achievements. “The scale and scope of their answers were amazing,” he says. “But ask them the same about their work, and they don’t know.” “The engagement and powerful skills that people get playing a game — why can’t work be like that?” he asks.

Junk food is now a staple of many Americans’ diets. Advertising campaigns from the snack food companies, often featuring sports stars, send the message that we can neutralize any negative effects of consuming their products simply by getting more physical exercise. But recent studies show a lack of exercise is not to blame for rising obesity rates. Bad diets are.

be to blame (for sth)
to be responsible for sth bad 对（坏事）负有责任
If anyone’s to blame, it’s me.
如果有人该承担责任，那就是我。
Which driver was to blame for the accident?
哪个司机是此次事故的肇事者？

Interventions (干预) to help reduce junk food consumption are especially important for children and teenagers. Prevention is better than cure because obesity is so difficult to treat. Unfortunately, while health education has shown some success among young children, teens have been harder to reach.

Now a large-scale study has tried an innovative approach to change teenagers’ attitudes towards healthy eating, and the results are promising. The researchers argued that previous interventions have probably been unsuccessful because of a major flaw: they focused on a future, healthier you and assumed that this would be enough motivation for teenagers. In contrast, the new intervention cleverly exploits teenagers’ instinct for rebelliousness and autonomy, and the value they place on social justice.

To do this, researchers had students read an article on the food industry. It revealed a secret about the manipulative and deceptive strategies used to make junk food more addictive and characterize the products as healthy. The article also explained how advertising campaigns specifically target very young and poor people, causing harm for these vulnerable groups. Afterwards, the participants read a fictional survey of teens who wanted to “fight back against the companies by buying and eating less processed food”.

After the intervention, participants associated healthy eating with autonomy and social justice. The teenagers also rated healthy eating as being more appealing. Importantly, there were also some promising effects of the new intervention on actual behavior. A day later the students were offered a choice of snacks and drinks in a seemingly unrelated context. The teens chose healthy snacks and drinks (such as fruit or water) more often over unhealthy options (like biscuits and soda). Apparently associating a healthy diet with teenagers’ own values seems to be a promising avenue to prevent obesity.

In what way is the new intervention innovative?
A) It emphasizes people’s sense of social responsibility.
B) It cleverly exploits teenagers’ personal weaknesses.
C) It takes advantage of teenagers’ natural inclination.
D) It promises immediate rather than future benefit

Adults dream during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and infants have loads of REM. So, it might be fair to assume that babies have tons of dreams.

[sing.] (also loads [pl.] ) ~ (of sth)(informal) a large number or amount of sb/sth; plenty 大量；许多
She’s got loads of friends.
她有很多朋友。
There’s loads to do today.
今天有好多的事要做。
He wrote loads and loads of letters to people.
他给人们写了很多很多的信。
Uncle Jim brought a whole load of presents for the kids.
吉姆大叔给孩子们带来了一大堆礼物。

But scientists believe REM serves a completely different purpose for newborns and infants than dreaming. When babies are in REM, it allows their brain to develop pathways, connections, and eventually, learn languages.

Since your baby doesn’t dream at this stage of brain development, it’s safe to assume babies do not have nightmares, either. Nightmares stem from exposure to trauma (创伤), an overactive imagination, and the normal stresses of everyday life.

Are you wondering, what do babies dream about? Good question, but the answer is nothing!

So, when do babies start dreaming? The general consensus is that they start dreaming around the age of two. Psychologist David Foulkes studies children (from very small kids to teens) to bring the secrets of their dreams to the light of day. In his lab, he lets kids fall asleep and then wakes them 3 times a night and asks them to describe what they recall.

Foulkes’ findings are unsurprising. Basically, little kids have little dreams. But exactly what kids see while dreaming depends on their age. As children develop and grow, their dreams do too.

Dreams of very small kids are usually just snapshots (快照), looking much more like a slideshow than a movie, when compared to the dreams of adults. They heavily feature animals and other familiar sights, like images of people eating. According to Foulkes, “Children’s dream life…seems to be similar to their waking imagination and narration.” Kids ages 5 — 9 begin seeing moving images and characters in action. Dreams now include multiple events strung together, one after the other. They also start developing greater ability to remember dreams. Still, that’s not always the case: When roused during REM sleep, 25% of the kids in Foulkes’ studies had no recollection of dreaming, a trend that continues through age 9.

So, if your baby seems to be in a stressful state while sleeping or is upset upon waking, there may be other factors at play.

upon = on: immediately after sth
On arriving home I discovered they had gone.

Please report to reception on arrival.

There was a letter waiting for him on his return.

  1. What can we infer about nightmares from the passage?
    A) They occur often in people with an active imagination.
    B) They occur in people suffering from emotional stress.
    C) They vary in different stages of brain development.
    D) They appear in the sleep of both adults and infants.

  2. What is the aim of psychologist David Foulkes’ study?
    A) To reveal the secrets of children’s dreams.
    B) To see if children start dreaming at age two.
    C) To solve the mystery of dreaming and brain growth.
    D) To confirm the general consensus on when kids dream.

Translation

近年来，“城市漫步(city walk)”在中国的年轻人中悄然兴起，已成为一种旅游新潮流。与传统旅游不同，城市漫 步不追求在短时间内游览尽可能多的景点，而是随意行走或按照主题路线漫步在城市的大街小巷。漫步者品尝地道 小吃，欣赏特色建筑，了解当地生活方式。他们还用相机或手机记录城市的风景和人物。这种旅游方式能让城市漫 步者更深入了解城市的历史与文化。

In recent years, Chinese young people choose to prefer to city walk, which has became a new trend of tourism. Unlike the traditional tourism, people do not pursue to visit as many sites as possible quickly during city walk. Instead, they just walk around and wonder along the routes about their themes in all the different street in the city. Wonders taste local food, enjoying the style of some buildings to better understand local’s life style. In addition, they capture the scenes and people in the city. This manner of visiting can enable wonders to get a deep insight to the history and culture of the city.

In recent years, Chinese young people prefer to city walk, which has become a new trend of tourism. Unlike the traditional tourism, people do not seek to visit to visit as many sites as possible quickly during city walk. Instead, they just walk around and wander along the routes about their themes in all the different street in the city. Wanders taste local food, enjoying the style of some buildings to better understand local’s life style. In addition, they capture the scenes and people in the city. This manner of visiting can enable wonders to get a deeper insight into the history and culture of the city.

In recent years, city walk has quietly become popular among young people in China and has developed into a new trend in tourism. Different from traditional traveling, city walk does not focus on visiting as many tourist attractions as possible within a limited time. Instead, people walk freely through the streets and alleys of a city or follow themed routes at a relaxed pace.

During a city walk, travelers enjoy authentic local snacks, admire unique architecture, and learn about the local lifestyle. At the same time, many of them use cameras or smartphones to record the scenery and the people they meet along the way. Compared with traditional forms of tourism, city walk allows people to slow down and truly experience the charm of a city.

More importantly, this way of traveling helps city walkers gain a deeper understanding of a city’s history and culture. Therefore, city walk has become increasingly popular among Chinese young people in recent years.

In recent years, “City Walk” has quietly risen among young people in China and become a new trend in tourism. Unlike traditional tourism, City Walk does not pursue visiting as many attractions as possible within a short period of time. Instead, participants stroll through the streets and alleys of a city either leisurely or according to themed routes. Walkers taste authentic local snacks, admire distinctive/characteristic architecture, and learn about the local lifestyle. They also use cameras or mobile phones to record the city’s scenery and people. This way of traveling allows city walkers to gain a deeper understanding of the city’s history and culture.

In recent years, “city walk” has quietly emerged among young people in China, becoming a new travel trend Unlike traditional tourism, city walk does not aim to visit as many attractions as possible in a short period. Instead,it involves strolling casually or following themed routes through the streets and alleys of a city. Walkers sample local snacks, admire distinctive architecture, and learn about the local way of life. They also capture the city’s scenery and people with cameras or smartphones. This form of travel allows city walkers to gain a deeper understanding of the city’s history and culture.

Graph View