TOPIC: "We can usually learn much more from people whose views we share than from people whose views contradict our own; disagreement can cause stress and inhibit learning."
WORDS: 377 TIME: 00:42:00 DATE: 2008-4-3 9:39:42

When it comes to the problem whether we can learn more from people holding similar views with us or from those supporting opposite views, I will definitely choose to learn from people with contradict opinions without any hesitate. For one thing, those maintaining different views can aid to point out the flaws and weak points on us; for another, debating with them can help to exploit the truth hidden behind; even more, it is various debations among people holding thoroughly different statements that push the humanity civilization forward in history. While only working with analogous views will enclose our vision, slow down the pregress for human beings.

First of all, those maintaining different views can aid to point out the flaws and weak points on us. Looking back to our growth path ever since we were born, we will easily find out a fact that being more mature actually consists of the accumulations of others critiques when we did something wrong. Imagine a world without any rejecting voices, without anyone else pointing out our weak points, we will never be aware of what we did wrong, what we did right.

For another, debating with them can motivate us to exploit the truth hidden behind. Debation is actually a communication method for us to express our opinions, especially with thoroughly contradict views; during this course, everyone can contribute his very little value to the whole team, therefore a comprehensive conclusion is made.

Even more, it is various debations among people holding thoroughly different statements that push the humanity civilization forward in history. Similarily to individuals, human progress is an accu

However, not only can working with analogous views enclose our vision, but also it will slow down the progress for human beings. Bruno, who published his sun-center theory by accurate calculations and violated the common perception of earth-center, was sentenced to death by the authoroties because of his opposite statement on the center of universe. What would it be like if the authoroties at that time had not enclosed their opinion in earth-center but had accepted the contradict opinion? Maybe Newton would have find gravity from earth earlier, sapce exploration had taken place decades ago, and possibly the general level of human science would have been enhanced more.


TOPIC: The Mozart School of Music should obviously be the first choice of any music student aware of its reputation. First of all, the Mozart School stresses intensive practice and training, so that students typically begin their training at a very young age. Second, the school has ample facilities and up-to-date professional equipment, and its faculty includes some of the most distinguished music teachers in the world. Finally, many Mozart graduates have gone on to be the best known and most highly paid musicians in the nation.
WORDS: 310 TIME: 00:27:00 DATE: 2008-4-3 9:39:42

The author claims that the Mozart School of Music (MSM) should be the first priority when selecting a school for music students aware of its reputation. To support his claim, he points out the three advantages of MSM: (1) MSM students typically begin their training at a very young age because of its intensive practice and training; (2) MSM owns affluent facilities and up-to-date professional equipment, and hires some teachers of high reputation in the world; (3) Many MSM graduates have become the best known and most highly paid musicians in the nation. However, this argument suffers from the following flaws, unconvincing as it stands.

First of all, the early start of training for a student can only apply to young music learners but not adult. The argument implies that MSM's extensive practice and training from a student's beginning days lead to a mature master of basic and advanced music skills, then lead to success. However, for those adolescent at an elder age or even adults, can they get ample practice and training of such kind? It is quite dubious.

Secondly, the author fails to illustrate the learning atmosphere in MSM. Though facilities, equipment and faculty play a significant role for a student's comprehensive improvement of music skills, yet learning atmosphere is also essential for a student's growth. It is possible that most of students in MSM cannot get access to such up-to-date equipment due to various reasons, which is very common in many higher institutions. Perhaps students in MSM severely lack communications with each other therefore little progress can be made.

In the final analysis, not everyone aims at high reputation or imcomes. It is entirely possible that some students just learn music for the sake of their own interests. Or perhaps they just want to master an additional skill to enhance their competition when hunting for a job.