Directions: Some people believe that private cars should be encouraged in China. Others argue that private cars should be discouraged in China. There has been a controversy² recently on the issue in a newspaper in China. Write a letter to the newspaper’s editor to

  1. state the present situation of private cars in China

  2. offer reasons for or against owning private cars

  3. give your own opinion on the issue

Write a letter of about 200 words within 40 minutes. Your letter must be written neatly³ on ANSWER SHEET 2.

尊敬的先生/女士：

　我现在给您写信以表示我愿意参加私家车问题的争论并提出我的看法。

　随着生活水平的迅速提高，越来越多的中国人拥有自己的汽车。统计数字表明，仅北京就有162万辆汽车，其中私家车达到56万辆。汽车数量的增加产生了一系列问题，如空气污染、噪音和交通堵塞。这样就引起了一场争论：中国是否应该鼓励私家车？人们对这个问题有不同的想法。

许多人反对拥有汽车。在他们看来，中国必须限止私家车。原因很明显。首先，汽车加剧了空气污染。中国的许多大城市空气严重污染。如果人们都要拥有私家车，已经污染的大气将变得更脏。其次，私家车可能对中国业已拥护的交通状况是一个可怕的威胁。如果更多的汽车开上繁华的街道，交通堵塞将会更严重。这对我们大家来说是公害。最后，汽车消耗大量燃料。虽然中国拥有丰富的石油资源，但是它们日趋减少。所有这些事实只能有一种解决办法：限止日益增长的汽车数量。

我的看法是中国不应该鼓励私家车。为把清洁的空气、宽阔安全的道路和富饶的石油资源留给子孙后代，我们对私家车只能说“不”。至于对交通工具的巨大需求，我们可以发展公交系统来代替私家车。总而言之，中国不需要私家车。

如果您需要对这个问题的进一步评论，请速电告。我家的电话号码是66661818。谢谢！

　　　　　　　　　　顺致

敬意　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　王华

Dear Sir or Madam,

  I’m writing to you to express my willingness to take part in the controversy on private cars and advance my views.

  With the living standards rising rapidly, more and more Chinese people have cars of their own. Statistics⁴ show that in Beijing alone, there are 1620,000 cars, among which private cars add up to (=number) 560,000. the increase in the number of cars brings about a lot of problems, such as air pollution, noise and traffic congestion⁵. Then a controversy arises: whether private cars should be encouraged in China? People differ in their ideas about it.

   Many people are against owning cars. According to them, private cars have to be limited in China. The reasons for it are obvious. To begin with, cars contribute to air pollution. A lot of big cities in China are now plagued by serious air pollution. If people are to have cars of their own, the already contaminated⁶ atmosphere will get even dirtier. Secondly⁷, private cars can be a dire¹ threat to the already terrible traffic in China. If more cars are allowed onto busy streets, more traffic jams will happen, which is really a public hazard⁸ to all of us. Finally, cars consume a large amount of fuel. Though China is rich in its oil resources, they are running out rapidly. All these facts allow of only one solution: to limit the ever growing number of cars.

  In my opinion, private cars should be discouraged in China. To leave clean air, wide and safe roads and abundant energy resources to our descendants⁹, we have to say “No” to private cars. As far as the great demand for means of transport is concerned, we can develop mass transit¹⁰ to take the place of private cars. In short, China does not need private cars.

  If you require any further comment on the issue, please don’t hesitate to call me up. My home number is 66661818.

Thanks.

                                                      Yours sincerely,

                                                      Wang Hua