1) In most schools and colleges examinations are commonly used as a chief means of deciding whether a student succeeds or fails in mastering a particular subject. Although it does the job efficiently, its side effects are also enormous.(引出考试主题,尽管有作用,但副作用也不小)

2) The most undesirable effect is that examinations encourage bad study habits.(主题句)As what really counts to them is the examination score, students tend to lay emphasis on the content which will be tested. They are encouraged to memorize mechanically rather than to think creatively. Examinations do not motivate a student to seek more knowledge, but to restrict his reading, they do not enable him to study consistently throughout the whole term, but induce cramming during the exam week.(第一个不良影响是使学生养成坏习惯)

3) Worse still, examinations produce constant anxiety and pressure. (主题句)That is because so much depends on them. Your success or failure in a certain course, your chance to be admitted to a university for further studies, your opportunity to get a well-paid job, and even your whole future may be decided in a single examination. How can one give of his best when he is under extreme pressure? And can we be surprised at the high suicide rate among students? (第二个不良影响是对学生施加的压力,乃至引起自杀)

4) Examinations lower the standards of teaching as well.(主题句) For they deprive the teacher of freedom. Since teachers themselves are often judged by examination results, they have to confine themselves to what is rigidly laid down by a syllabus, and are even reduced to training students in exam techniques instead of teaching their subjects.(第三个影响是对教学的不利,教师轻素质教学，重测试练习)

5) Few of us admit that examinations can contribute anything really important to the students' academic development. There are many stories that drop-outs turn out to be great scientists or successful entrepreneurs later on. If that's the case, why can't we make a change and devise something more efficient and reliable than examinations?(最后总结,提出建议)

闪光点:

1.文章最后用间句形式提出改进的建议,意味深长,令人深思。

2.修辞设问:第三段中两个设问How can one give of his best when he is under extreme pressure? And can we be surprised at the high suicide rate among students?起到了增强语气,加深印象的作用。

3.平行句:to memorize mechanically rather than to think creatively, not motivate a student to seek more knowledge, but to restrict his reading ...

4.用词变化:encourage--motivate, depend on-decide by-judge by, restrict--confine, examination score-examination result, the content which will be tested--what is rigidly laid down by a syllabus

5.词汇亮点:deprive sb. of sth,, give of one's best; contribute sth. to, lay emphasis on, be under pressure, be reduced to doing ...

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