推荐：大学英语六级考试短文写作教材（四）(8)

16. Student Use of Computer
Students tend to use computers more and more frequently nowadays. Reading this chart, we can find that the average number of hours a student spends on the computer per week has increased sharply. In 1990, it was less than 2 hours; and in 1995, it increased to almost 4 hours, and in 2000, the number soared to 20 hours.
Obviously computers are becoming increasingly popular. There are several reasons for this change. First, computers facilitate us in more aspects of life. Also, the fast development of the Internet enlarges our demands for using computers. We can easily contact with friends in remote places through the Internet. Besides, the prices of computers are getting lower and lower, which enables more students to purchase them.
However, there still exist some problems, such as poor quality, out-of-date designs and so on. And how to balance the time between using computers and studying is also a serious problem. Anyhow, we will benefit a lot from computers as long as we use them properly.

17. Health Gains in Developing Countries
It can be seen from the chart that there have been dramatic changes in life expectancy and infant mortality in developing countries in the past decades. As the chart shows, people’s life expectancy soared from 40 years old to 60 years old from 1960 to 1990. Meanwhile, infant mortality declined from 200 to 150 deaths per thousand births.
 The change in the chart may be attributed to a number of factors, but the following are the most critical ones. First, developing countries’ economy has been developing at a considerably high speed in the past decades. Therefore, people have more extra money to improve their health. Secondly, the advances in medical sciences and boom of medical industry provide citizens with more opportunities to cure their diseases. Last but not least, people have attached greater importance to their quality of life, thus they have spent more money and time to build up their bodies.
 In a word, this chart is a perfect indicator of developing nations’ fast expanding economy and people’s rising standard of life. Although a series of problems have arisen in the process, it is reasonable for us to believe that they can be solved in the near future with effective measures taken by both the government and the public.
(或If this trend continues, developing countries will soon approach the developed countries in terms of health care. People will live longer and healthier lives. The result of this will be happier and more productive populations.)
18. Film Is Giving Way to TV
(a)
The latest statistics show that the number of people attending cinemas is getting steadily smaller. At the same time, the number of television viewers is growing at almost the same rate.
Experts say that these two trends are connected in three ways. First, over the past few decades television sets have appeared in almost every home. Second, films very quickly become available on video, and can be shown on the TV screen. Third, it is becoming more expensive to make films, and so the prices of cinema seats are rising.