来源：文都网校   作者：康建刚

一．段落的特性

1．单一：Pollution has become a serious problem about which we worry. Wherever we turn we find pollution: polluted air, polluted water, polluted food and polluted environment. As we know, this is threatening the very survival of the human race.

2．连贯：In order to know what the weather will be, special people are hired to provide this information. These people are called weathermen. They work in a weather station every day. Some of them observe the weather; the others analyze weather information; and still others make forecast about the weather. It is known that their work can save thousands of lives and millions of dollars in property damage.

3．过渡：The traditional husband is different form modern husband in certain aspects. First of all, the traditional husband usually made the big decisions about spending money. However, the modern husband shares these decisions with his working wife. In addition, the traditional husband did not help with housework. In contrast, the modern husband helps his working wife at home. He may do some of the household jobs, and it is not unusual for him to cook.

二．段落的构成

1．开头段的表达方法

1）主题句法（use of topic sentence）

Now people become increasingly aware of the importance of acquiring a mastery of a foreign language. To them, the knowledge of a foreign language, say, English, often means a good opportunity for one’s career, even a passport to a prosperous future. Many of them equate success in life with the ability of speaking a foreign language.

2）使用具体详实的数字或数据（use figures or statistics）

In the past 5 years there has been a marked decline in the number of young married couples who want to have children, coupled with a growing trend toward delayed childbearing. According to official statistics, in 2003, about 28 percent of married couples with wives under 35 gave no birth to children, compared with the 1993 level of 8 percent.

3）使用引语（use a quotation）

“Great minds must be ready not only to take the opportunity, but to make them.” Colton, a great writer once remarked. But it still has a profound significance now. To a person, in whose lifetime opportunities are not many, to make opportunities is more essential to his success.

4）给出背景（offer relevant background）

Once in a newspaper I read a crowd of people who remained appallingly indifferent to the plea of a mother. As she failed to offer the required amount of cash as a price to save her drowning son, the woman at last watched her son sink to death. The story is not rare in newspapers and on TV, and the casualness and detachment our people now have developed has aroused nationwide concern.

It was reported in the newspaper that a student killed four of his classmates just because of a trivial matter. It can be easily seen that pressure has become a serious issue we cannot neglect.

5）提出问题（ask a question）

What do you want from your work? Money? Promotions? Interesting challenges? Continual learning? Work-based friendships? The opportunity to develop your own idea and potentials? Though we are all individuals and so our answers will differ, all agree that work provides more than material things.