2014年1月25日香港SAT寫作考試題目:Should we hold on to the old ones when we have certain innovations, or just move forward?

　　解析：此題屬于主流的創新類題目。總體來說比較簡單。至少每個學生看到這道題都不愁沒有話說。但越是簡單的題，越需要考生能寫出彩，越能真正考出寫作實力。

　　如要展現critical thinking ability，需要想想自己準備的例子庫。是不是所有新的方法都值得嘗試并推廣?是不是所有古老的做事方法都需要被拋棄?顯然不是。筆者在范文中給出了塑料袋的例子和匈牙利醫生賽買爾維斯的例子，分別論述了新事物--塑料袋的不好，與新思想--洗手的好。從這兩個例子，我們得出結論：傳統的做事方式不一定是不好，新思想也不一定都好。只有給大眾帶來真正福利的東西才值得我們推崇。

　　全文共415字，25分鐘寫完。這個長度對大多數學生來說是非常合適的。

　　As society develops, an increasing number of people are attaching greater importance to innovation, believing that we should always use novel ways to tackle problems. However, is it really a reasonable idea to move forward and be innovative? Opinions vary. As far as I am concerned, it is superficial to say that new ways are superior to old ones and vice versa.

　　第一段引出話題，表達觀點：說新思想優于舊思想或者說舊思想優于新思想都是膚淺的。

　　A perfect case that can be used to illustrate the negative effects of moving forward is the invention of plastic bags. While it is true that this new container signifies the development of chemistry, I still believe that it is a devastating move for people to substitute plastic bags for cloth bags and paper bags. The main problem associated with plastic bags is that they are not biodegradable, which means that abandoned plastic bags will stay with us for hundreds of years. This can be disastrous for both the environment and the wild animals. Because the break down rate is so slow the chance that the bag will harmlessly go away are extremely slim. Throughout the world plastic bags are responsible for suffocation deaths of animals as well as inhibiting soil nutrients.This is the reason why I firmly believe that sometimes it is not a good idea to move forward. I would be happy to see the whole world ban the use of plastic bags and use baskets or cloth bags.

　　第二段用人們接受塑料袋的例子來說明新鮮事物(塑料袋)也會帶來不好的影響(環境污染，野生動物遭殃)不如老方法好(籃子或者布袋子)。

　　However, despite some undesirable changes that innovations may bring, we should not show fear and resentment to all progress. Some changes are imperative and breed happiness for people all over the world. One such example is the introduction of “hands-washing” theory by a Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis. In the 19th century, many women died from childbed fever. Childbed fever was common in mid-19th-century hospitals and often fatal, with mortality at 10%-35%. Through months of observation and research, Semmelweis discovered that the incidence of childbed fever could be drastically cut by the use of hand disinfection in obstetrical clinics. So he proposed the practice of washing hand with chlorinated lime solutions. In spite of the fact that Semmelweis proved the effectiveness of hand-washing, many doctors still held on to the established scientific and medical opinions, refusing to accept his innovative ways. Thus, many women died needlessly.

　　第三段用however引出相反的例子。即，新思想的好。這個例子(賽買爾維斯提倡給產婦接受要洗手)除了可以用在創新的話題，還能用在挑戰權威話題。同學們最好熟練掌握，以達到運用自如。

　　From the above discussion, we can draw the conclusion that blindly embracing or spurning innovations will both result in dire consequences. Only those methods which breed wellbeing for the common good deserve our respect and approval.

　　結尾重申觀點：盲目接受新思想或者抵觸新思想都會帶來可怕的后果。只有那些能給大眾帶來福利的方法，才值得我們推崇。