文章献给准备过英语专业四级的同学，给同学一些写作素材，希望大家考试成功。
1. While the inclination to procrastinate is common, one must fully consider the detrimental impact of unnecessary delays.
虽然拖延的倾向是普遍的，但是人们应该充分考虑到不必要的延误造成的有害影响。
2. The tendency to take things for granted is understandable, but the need for one to rationally evaluate the circumstances of any situation is absolutely essential.
想当然的倾向是可以理解的，但是，理智地估计任何情形的情况是完全必需的。
3. Most people are under the illusion that a college degree guarantees success. There is no such guarantee without hard work.
许多人错误地认为大学学位能保证成功。不努力工作就没有这样的保证。
4. some stubbornly hold to the correctness of traditional practices, but in so doing they seem to totally ignore the fact that progress depends on change.
一些人固执地坚持传统做法的正确性，但是，他们这么做，似乎完全忽视了进步依靠变化的事实。
5. Generally speaking, previous parliamentary policy debates ignored the relevance of transparency.
总的来说，以前议会中针对政策的辩论忽视了透明度的重要性。
6. A precise definition of poverty is actually very difficult to determine. Where does one draw the line between those who are poor and those who are not?
对贫困的精确定义实际上是很难的。如何在贫穷和非贫穷的人之间划一条界限呢?
7. Admittedly, bribery and corruption are endemic to our political and economic systems, but it doesn't necessarily follow that all politicians and business people resort to illicit behavior.
诚然，贿赂和腐败在我们的政治和经济系统中很流行，但这并不是说所有的政府官员和商界人士都采取违法行为。
8. There's little doubt that a third World War is avoidable, but it is highly unlikely that regional conflicts will disappear in the foreseeable future.
毫无疑问，第三次世界大战是可以避免的，但是，在可预见的将来地区冲突消失是非常不可能的。
9. Some people assume that investing in stock is a safe pursuit, but their assumption fails to hold water when considering the substantial risk involved.
有的人想当然地认为投资股票是有把握的事情，但是，考虑到涉及的巨大风险，他们的想当然就说不通了。
10. Some people have called for accelerated across-the-board changes. Their approach quite frankly ignores the need for gradual but effective changes.
一些人要求更快速的全盘改变。他们的做法的确忽略了渐进而有效的改变的必要性。