2017.10.21 Academic Task 2 Sample Essay

People spend a lot more money on their appearance because they want to look younger. Why does this happen? Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Numerous individuals invest profusely on their appearance to look younger. There are many reasons behind this contemporary trend and in my opinion, this is a positive development.

[词汇]

• profusely: adv. 十分慷慨的，充沛的，过多的

e.g.: One of the rhinos was found dead, while the other was found bleeding profusely.

The motivation behind people’s increasing expenditures on their appearance can be explained by the spreading of health awareness. Modern society thinks that looking younger would mean looking more beautiful and healthy, and thus it spends a lot more money on health products, gyms and fitness regimes to retain their youth. Moreover, the mere availability of more advanced products that enable people to enhance their physical attributes has created a peak in the demand for such products. For example, there are not only cosmetic creams but also many vitamin capsules and body masks that can maintain the freshness of skin to keep it young.

[词汇]

• expenditure: n. 支出，花费

e.g.: My expenditure is conditioned by my income.

• retain youth:

retain: Vt. 保持，保留

e.g.: Limestone is known to retain moisture.

youth: n. 青年，青少年时期

e.g.:  Many of these people had used drugs in their youth.

在这里要强调一下这个词的读音，读成: [ju: θ], 类似于 ‘u-th’ 这样的发音。千万不要因为 ‘young’ 这个词的关系读成 ‘young-th’哦！

• mere: adj. 仅仅的，只不过的

e.g.: It can’t be a mere coincidence that they left at the same time.

Furthermore, this phenomenon of increased expenses on appearance is a positive one as it results in a healthier community.  People who spend money on themselves and their appearance to look younger are able to invest time and effort on themselves which can boost their physical and emotional state. For instance, an older person who does not look old, wouldn’t feel too old either, and thus would be motivated to stay up and about and continue work and other activities. As a result, this trend is resulting in the society to stay fit as well as active in order to sustain their youth which in turn helps retain a healthy and vigorous workforce of an economy.

[词汇]

• sustain: Vt. 维持，支撑，使持续

e.g.: She found it difficult to sustain the children’s interest.

• in turn: 反过来，转而，依次

e.g.: The medical students in turn have to figure out how to treat the patient.

• vigorous: adj. 有力的，精力充沛的

e.g.: Despite more vigorous policing, the number of people caught trying to cross has declined markedly.

In conclusion, people spend a great deal of money on their physical aspects to look young due to more health consciousness and availability of beauty and health products. This trend is a positive one as it brings emotional and physical benefits to individuals and creates a robust society.

[词汇]

• a great deal of: 大量

e.g.: There is a great deal of instability in our country and volatility in the American electorate.

• consciousness: n. 意识，知觉，觉悟

e.g.: The painful memories eventually faded from her consciousness.

• robust: adj. 强健的，健壮的，[系统、组织等]强大的，稳固的

e.g.: The formerly robust economy has begun to weaken.