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GRE北美范文对备考GRE写作有一定的指导作用,下面为大家整理了最完整版的GRE北美范文,主要是关于GRE ISSUE作文范文,供大家应用。
"Creating an appealing image has become more important in contemporary society than is the reality or truth behind that image."Has creating an image become more important in our society than the reality or truth behind the image? I agree that image has become a more central concern, at least where short-term business or political success is at stake. Nevertheless, I think that in the longer term image ultimately yields to substance and fact.
The important role of image is particularly evident in the business world. Consider, for example, today's automobile2 industry. American cars are becoming essentially3 identical to competing Japanese cars in nearly every mechanical and structural4 respect, as well as in price. Thus to compete effectively auto1 companies must now differentiate5 their products largely through image advertising6, by conjuring7 up certain illusory benefits--such as machismo, status, sensibility, or fun. The increasing focus on image is also evident in the book-publishing business. Publishers are relying more and more on the power of their brands rather than the content of their books. Today mass-market books are supplanted8 within a year with products that are essential the same---except with fresh faces, rifles, and other promotional angles. I find quite telling the fact that today more and more book publishers are being acquired by large media companies. And the increasing importance of image is especially evident in the music industry, where originality9, artistic10 interpretation11, and technical proficiency12 have yielded almost entirely13 to sex appeal.
The growing significance of image is also evident in the political realm, particularly when it comes to presidential politics. Admittedly, by its very nature politicking14 has always emphasized rhetoric15 and appearances above substance and fact. Yet since the invention of the camera presidential politicians have become increasingly concerned about their image. For example, Teddy Roosevelt was very careful never to be photographed wearing a tennis outfit16, for fear that such photographs would serve to undermine his rough-rider image that won him his only term in office. With the advent17 of television, image became even more central in presidential politics. After all, it was television that elected J.F.K. over Nixon. And our only two-term presidents in the television age were elected based largely on their image. Query18 whether Presidents Lincoln, Taft, or even F.D.R. would be elected today if pitted against the handsome leading man Reagan, or the suave19 and poliricaUy correct Clinton. After all, Lincoln was homely20, Taft was obese21, and F.D.R. was crippled.
In the long term, however, the significance of image wanes22 considerably23. The image of the Marlboro man ultimately gave way to the truth about the health hazards of cigarette smoking. Popular musical acts with nothing truly innovative24 to offer musically eventually disappear from the music scene. And anyone who frequents yard sales knows that today's best-selling books often become tomorrow's pulp25. Even in politics, I think history has a knack26 for peeling away image to focus on real accomplishments27. I think history will remember Teddy Roosevelt, for example, primarily for building the Panama Canal and for establishing our National Park System--and not for his rough-and-ready wardrobe.
In the final analysis, it seems that in every endeavor where success depends to some degree on persuasion28, marketing29, or salesmanship, image has indeed become the central concern of those who seek to persuade. And as our lives become busier, our attention spans briefer, and our choices among products and services greater, I expect this trend to continue unabated--for better or worse.
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1 auto | |
n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车 | |
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2 automobile | |
n.汽车,机动车 | |
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3 essentially | |
adv.本质上,实质上,基本上 | |
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4 structural | |
adj.构造的,组织的,建筑(用)的 | |
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5 differentiate | |
vi.(between)区分;vt.区别;使不同 | |
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6 advertising | |
n.广告业;广告活动 a.广告的;广告业务的 | |
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7 conjuring | |
n.魔术 | |
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8 supplanted | |
把…排挤掉,取代( supplant的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9 originality | |
n.创造力,独创性;新颖 | |
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10 artistic | |
adj.艺术(家)的,美术(家)的;善于艺术创作的 | |
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11 interpretation | |
n.解释,说明,描述;艺术处理 | |
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12 proficiency | |
n.精通,熟练,精练 | |
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13 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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14 politicking | |
n.政治活动,竞选活动v.从政( politic的现在分词 ) | |
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15 rhetoric | |
n.修辞学,浮夸之言语 | |
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16 outfit | |
n.(为特殊用途的)全套装备,全套服装 | |
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17 advent | |
n.(重要事件等的)到来,来临 | |
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18 query | |
n.疑问,问号,质问;vt.询问,表示怀疑 | |
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19 suave | |
adj.温和的;柔和的;文雅的 | |
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20 homely | |
adj.家常的,简朴的;不漂亮的 | |
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21 obese | |
adj.过度肥胖的,肥大的 | |
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22 wanes | |
v.衰落( wane的第三人称单数 );(月)亏;变小;变暗淡 | |
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23 considerably | |
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上 | |
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24 innovative | |
adj.革新的,新颖的,富有革新精神的 | |
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25 pulp | |
n.果肉,纸浆;v.化成纸浆,除去...果肉,制成纸浆 | |
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26 knack | |
n.诀窍,做事情的灵巧的,便利的方法 | |
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27 accomplishments | |
n.造诣;完成( accomplishment的名词复数 );技能;成绩;成就 | |
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28 persuasion | |
n.劝说;说服;持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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29 marketing | |
n.行销,在市场的买卖,买东西 | |
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