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. Perhaps it is time to reexamine the idea that college degrees are a guarantee of intelligence.
也许现在是应该重新考虑大学为是智力的保证这种想法的时候了。
2. A growing number of people are beginning to realize that wealth is not the sole prerequisite for happiness.
越来越多的人开始意识到财富不是幸福的惟一先决条件。
3. In spite of the extraordinary progress made in science and technology, problems remain in terms of guaranteeing that achievements benefit the greatest number of people.
尽管科学技术取得了非凡的进步，但是在保证进步成果使尽可能多的人受益这方面还存在一些问题。
4. A famous thinker once wrote that “the greatest threat to mankind is mankind itself!” If this is indeed the case, then the current situation should make us ponder our future existence.
一位著名的思想家曾经写道：“对人类最大的威胁是人类自身!”如果事实确实如此，那么，现状应该促使我们对我们未来的生存进行思索了。
5. U.S. President Harry Truman once remarked: “The buck stops here!” His view has been confirmed by numerous world leaders who have assumed full responsibility for their actions.
美国总统杜鲁门曾经说过：“责任止于此!”(意为勿再把责任往别处推，这是杜鲁门办公室桌上的座右铭)他的观点得到了很多对自己的行动承担完全责任的世界领袖的肯定。
6. Large families were once seen as a blessing. Today, however, things are changing and an increasing number of Chinese parents realize that fewer are better.
大家庭曾经被看做是一种福气。然而，今天，情况改变了，越来越多的中国家长意识到家庭成员越少越 好。
7. People used to place total reliance on the government. The so-called “iron rice bowl” prevailed in the past, but things are quite different today.
过去，人们习惯完全依靠政府。以前盛行所谓的“铁饭碗”，但今天的情况有很大的不同。
8. several years ago, Chinese streets were filled with people wearing identical drab clothing. Today, however, things are quite different and the streets are awash with people wearing fashionable bright colored outfits. Why has the change taken place?
许多年前，中国大街上的人都穿一样的灰褐色衣服。然而，今天的情况大不一样了，街上满是一个个身穿色彩艳丽的时髦衣服的人。出现这种变化的原因是什么呢?
9. Years of observing human behavior have enabled me to conclude that the major difference between mediocrity and success lies solely with the individual concerned. Successful individuals consistently seek advancement, while their less industrious contemporaries are merely content with the status quo.
对人们行为的多年观察使我能够得出这样的结论：平庸和成功的主要区别仅仅在于相关的个人。成功的个人不断寻求进步，而他们比较懒惰的同时代人仅仅满足于现状。
10. Traditional way of thinking has changed dramatically. The pendulum has swung and people are exhibiting greater open-mindedness and a burning desire to determine their own destiny.
传统的思维方式有了显著的变化。舆论发生了剧变，人们表现出更开放的思想以及决定他们自己命运的强烈愿望。