Since neither of the suggestions can effectively solve the problem of heavy traffic, there is an increased awareness that two solutions may be combined with other possible solutions to produce the best effect.

　　* Is Stress A Bad Thing?

　　“I can’t stand the pressure and competition, ” explained one friend of mine when asked why he decided to quit his high-paid but demanding position in his company recently. My friend may have his own reasons, but I don’t think his decision is wise in reality.

　　Quite a number of men and women have chosen to do something less competitive at the cost of a comfortable life a highly-paid job can obtain. They are afraid that the stresses of work will rob them of happiness, and do them harm physically and mentally. However, stress isn’t the bad thing it is often supposed to be. Unless it gets out of control, a certain amount of stress would be fairly good to us. People under stress tend to express their full range of potential and to actualize their own personal worth --- the very aim of a human life. Stress is also vital to provide motivation and challenge, and to give purpose and significance to an otherwise meaningless idle life. In fact, the choices we make between “flight” and “fight” make the difference between leaders and mediocrities.

　　Since stress is a natural part of everyday life and there is no way to avoid it, what we can do is to develop our adaptive abilities to deal with it rather than to escape from it.

　　* Studying Abroad

　　With the improved living standard and China more open to the world, more and more young people choose to pursue their higher education in foreign countries, such as America, Britain or Australia. Generally speaking, the advantages of studying overseas outweigh its disadvantages.

　　The main benefit of studying abroad is academic one. Obviously in western colleges and universities, the laboratories are more sophisticated, and book resources more up-to-date. More importantly, they have first-rate professors who are aware of all the latest developments in their respective fields. Hence the standard of teaching is much higher. Besides academic benefits, there are other advantages. For example, exposure to foreign culture and contact with students from different countries and different backgrounds will broaden their mind and make them more tolerant. Living alone in the foreign land will also offer greater opportunity to develop their independence, their personalities and many other interpersonal skills.

　　Despite these obvious advantages, we should not overlook negative effects. For example, the overseas students may experience loneliness and homesickness, an experience so overwhelming that many could not endure it. Though overseas study has its drawbacks, the advantages are obvious. Provided that it is financially feasible, an oversea education may do a person more good than harm.

　　* Should Euthanasia Be Legalized?

　　Euthanasia, a quiet and easy death, or “mercy killing” as we call it, recently has made the headlines frequently. Yet opinions about whether euthanasia should be legalized vary from person to person.

　　As is pointed out, to practice euthanasia can benefit both the patient and his family. To a terminally ill person who is suffering unbearable pains day and night or “living like a vegetable”, to be allowed to end his life painlessly is a good release. To his family, given the expense of sustaining his life, it is also a big relief, both financial and mental. However, the legalization of euthanasia may also bring with it problems our society has not previously faced. Is it likely that the patient does not want to die, but just to unload the guilt of remaining alive? Is it possible that euthanasia could be taken advantage of for certain criminal purposes? Still, there is also the matter of mistaken diagnoses, which, though rather rare, do occur.

　　Since the legalization of euthanasia will raise serious moral and social issues, the decision our society makes about it will undoubtedly have tremendous consequences in society.

　　The Advantages and Disadvantages of Air Travel

　　In the last fifty years, traveling by air has become the most popular form of long-distance journeys. However, there are both positive and negative points associated with it.

　　The first advantage of air travel is that it is quick. For instance, we can fly from Beijing to Guangzhou in less than three hours. The second advantage of traveling by air is that it is convenient. After we have checked in, all we have to do is get on and sit down. The friendly air stewardess will look after our every need. The third advantage of traveling by air is that it is now relatively cheap, especially for long distance travel. We can fly from Beijing to Guangzhou for only 1,200 yuan. But on the other hand, traveling by air has its disadvantages. Perhaps the most obvious is the element of danger involved, such as hijackings and crashes. Traveling by air also makes it impossible for us to see many scenic spots on the way to our destination. In addition to the above mentioned, a long distance air travel may make us very tired, both mentally and physically. Many precious days of holiday may be wasted recovering from air-sickness.

　　To conclude, although air travel involved inconvenience and slight risk, I would say that the advantages mentioned above weigh much more than the disadvantages.

　　The Best Way to Reduce Stress

　　While modern life offers us many conveniences, it also requires us to deal with pressure and frustration in daily life. It is important for all of us to find a way to relieve the stress in order to live happy and healthy lives. Some people prefer to engage in physical exercise, and some feel more relaxed after watching TV or even sleeping. As for me, I find that the best way to reduce stress is to spend time with family and friends.

　　One reason I prefer to spend time with others is that their company is a pleasant distraction. When under stress, if I spend time alone, I may continue to dwell on my problems. However, sharing good times with family or friends helps me to forget my worries. Another reason is that I have an opportunity to discuss my problems. Their advice is often helpful because they can see my situation more objectively than I can. Furthermore, simply talking about my problems often makes me feel better. Finally, spending time with others reminds me of what is important in life and helps me to keep things in perspective.

　　For all of these reasons, I believe that the best way to reduce stress is to spend time with others. But no matter what method we choose, it is important to find an appropriate way to relieve pressure. Only in this way can we lead well-balanced lives.

　　My Views on Examinations

　　In most schools and college, the examination is used as a chief means of deciding whether a student succeeds or fails in mastering a particular subject. Although it does the job quite efficiently, its side effects are also enormous.

　　The most undesirable effect is that examinations encourage bad study habits. As the examination score is the only criterion for his academic performance, a student is driven to memorize mechanically rather than to think creatively. Examinations do not motivate a student to obtain more knowledge, but to restrict his reading; they do not enable him to study consistently throughout the semester, but to induce cramming during exam week. Examinations also lower the standards of teaching. Since teachers themselves are often judged by examination results, they are reduced to training their students in exam techniques. And no subjects can be taught successfully merely for the purpose of passing examinations.

　　Personally, I don’t think that examinations can contribute anything really important to the students’ academic development. My suggestion is that educational authorities should devise more efficient and reliable measures to evaluate students’ ability of analyzing and solving problems.

　　My Idea of Internet

　　Internet is now very popular in our country. Surfing on the net has become a daily topic among many people. But every coin has two sides. We have to identify its impacts on us, good and bad.

　　Internet plays an important role in our life. It makes the world smaller and people closer to each other. Internet is also the most convenient and efficient access to information. Moreover, for modern people who suffer much pressure of work and life, the net has also become their private repose. However useful Internet is to us, it has its own problems. First, some people are so enthusiastic about the net that they lose themselves in the world invented by the net. Second, the net sometimes offers information of larger quantity and wider range than it is expected. Therefore, it takes more and more time to seek the real useful information. Last and the most important, Internet has become a new lieu of crimes. For example, officials find their secret documents become open mails on the web because it is difficult to prevent their computer from being invaded by the criminals.

　　In fact, nothing is flawless in the world. Since Internet has contributed and will contribute greatly to our life, we should make full use of it while minimizing its negative effects. With a stricter administration of the net and the improvement of vague morality, Internet will better the world for all of us.

　　My View on the Development of a Private Car

　　With the increase in the general standard of living, some Chinese families can now afford a car. Yet opinions of the development of a private car vary from person to person. In my opinion, private cars should be developed in China.

　　There are many advantages in possessing a car. It gives a much greater degree of comfort and mobility. The owner of a car is no longer forced to rely on public transport, and hence no irritation caused by waiting for buses or taxies. With a car he can go where he likes and when he wants, he can enjoy his leisure time by making trips to the country or seaside on the weekends. What’s more, the growth of automobile industry can lead to the boom of other important industries such as iron and steel production, energy and technological application. However, others strongly object to developing private cars. They maintain that as more and more cars are produced and run in the street, a large volume of poisonous gas will be given off, polluting the environment and causing actual harm to the health of people. Besides, private cars contribute to traffic jams so greatly that the advantages gained in comfort and freedom are often cancelled by the frustration caused by heavy traffic.