江南大学研究生英语期末考试写作试题库
Sample 1 (156)
No Alcoholic Beverages on Campus
Alcoholic Beverages should be banned from campuses for two reasons. The first reason is that drinking can cause academic failure. If students drink before class or have hangover from drinking too much the night before, they will be unable to concentrate on their school work. They may miss classes, fail exams and miss term-paper deadlines. This behavior could force them to drop out of school. For example, last semester, my friend Dan, who liked to party every night, dropped out of school. He failed organic chemistry twice and barely passed other classes. Therefore, his parents refuse to pay for his education any longer. Out of 90 cases reported, 65 percent dropped out because they had failing grades due to excessive drinking. Therefore, it is true that drinking can interfere with college success.
这篇文章通过举例和数字统计，较充分地说明了校园内应禁酒的原因。
Samples：
Sample 2 (P119) （专四）
People have different views on the environment pollution. What is you view on it ?
My view on Environment Pollution
It’s well known that the world we live in is getting worse and worse because of the increasing environmental destruction. For example, many people are cutting down trees for fuel or sale, but deforestation results in the increase of global temperature and unpleasant change of climate. Besides, human beings are being bothered by water pollution, air pollution and noise pollution.
Governments of most countries have taken some measures to stop the environment from being further damaged. Many people are trying hard to find ways to prevent the pollution from going on. Laws concerning environmental protection have been put into effect and situation in many regions have improved.
However, the problem of environmental protection is far from being solved completely. On the one hand, environmental pollution and destruction are getting worse with the rapid development of science and technology. On the other hand, many people have realized the urgency of solving the problem.
In brief, we have a long way to go before we can make the earth a better peace to live in.
本文所用方法以及关联词：
1.举例法：for example, for instance
2.比较和对比法: On the one hand, On the other hand,
however,
3.表示进一步说明或强调的关联词：Besides, furthermore, in
addition, what is more, in particular
4.表示总结或文章结尾常用的关联词：In brief, in summary,
to summarize, thus, on the whole, in conclusion, to conclude
Sample 3: (P153) （专四）
Generation gap is a common social problem everywhere. What do you think about it and what is your suggestion for it?
On Generation Gap
Generation gap refers to the lack of understanding between generations caused by their different attitudes and experiences. It is a common phenomenon that exists everywhere and has a great influence on the relationship between generations .
People of different generations are likely to have different views and responses on the same issues. Owing to different experiences, the young and the old have much to disagree on. Young people on average favor changes and new ideas, while old people are usually conservative, sticking to traditional principles and old ideas, and looking down on young people’s innovative behaviors and radical ideas. This often causes obstacles between them. They have great difficulty in reaching an agreement while arguing on something. This often occurs in most families. Different opinions between parents and children usually end in quarreling.
Generation gap may result in some negative influence unless we deal with it properly. The young and the old should find
more that they can share, and they should understand each other rather than condemning the weak points. Thus the gap may become narrower and have little effect on their work and relation between generations.
文章首先给出代沟的定义，然后说明代沟的具体表现，最后提出对代沟的态度。
1. 定义法：文章第一句用定义法引出话题，说明代沟的概念，即回答What is generation gap?让读者首先了解代沟的概念。
2. 对比法：采用对比方式说明不同代人的分歧。对比法是很有效的说明方式。本文涉及经历对比，爱好对比，观念对比常用的关联词：whereas, while, however, rather than, on the other hand 等。
Sample 4: 四六级优秀作文点评（P247）
Campus Activities
Campus activities have been organized in many universities and colleges. These activities range from academic to recreational, such as academic reports, social consulting services, speech contests, poet’s club, painting clubs, singing and dancing groups, etc.
These activities provide students with two major advantages. First of all, they play a positive role in improving students’studies. Due to their heavy schedules, students are often busy themselves with textbooks and seldom expose themselves to a colorful life. But the variety of the activities provides opportunities for them to relax themselves and enrich their minds and knowledge. In addition, the activities also serve as a bridge linking students to society. Ordinarily, college students living in the “ivory tower”have little chances to get in touch with society. Now the activities open the door for participants to leave their classrooms and get to know society.
On the whole, all this offers an important means for students to broaden their horizons. They believe with the right kind of guidance and helpful campus activities will continue to grow and flourish.
Framework of the writing:
I. Introduction:
TS: Campus activities have been organized in many universities and colleges. (组织校园活动)
DS: These activities range from …etc.（举例说明活动内容）II. Body:
TS: These activities provide students with two major advantages.
( 校园活动给学生带来益处)
DS: 1. First of all… knowledge. （用关联词说明益处之一）
2. In addition… know society. （用关联词说明益处之二）III. Conclusion
TS: On the whole, all this offers an important means for students to broaden their horizons. （开阔视野）
DS: They believe with the right kind of guidance and helpful campus activities will continue to grow and flourish.（首尾句：坚信未来）
Sample 5: 四六级优秀作文点评（P259）
Losing Weight
There are many people in this world who want to gain weight and there are even more people who want to lose weight. The latter greatly outnumber the former, especially in the developed countries and some of the developing countries like China.
Why do people want to lose weight? The reasons vary. For some people, they feel they are already overweight. They are simply setting things right. Some other people, for instance, young ladies, they are not really getting rid of extra fat, but rather, trying to be thinner and thinner. For them, the thinner the better. They take thinness as a symbol of beauty. The last group includes those who suffer from one kind or another of illness related to overweight. (e.g. Obesity, diabetes)
They adopted various methods of losing weight. Some prefer exercising, namely, physical training. Others like to go on diet. And still others, they depend on certain medicine or special food and beverage. In a word, people like to keep fit both physically and psychologically.
Framework of the writing:
1.Introduction:（减肥的人数众多）
There are many people in this world who want to gain weight and there are even more people who want to lose weight. The latter greatly outnumber the former.
2.Body:（减肥的原因）
TS: Why do people want to lose weight? (用设问句引出原因)
DS: 1. For some people… things right. （原因1）
2. Some other people… of beauty. （原因2）
3. The last group… to overweight. （原因3）
III. Conclusion.（采取的方法）
TS. They adopt … losing weight. （采取多种方法）
DS: 1. Some prefer…physical training. （体育锻炼）
2. Others like… go on a diet. （节食）
3. And still others… beverage. （依赖药物）
4. In a word…both physically and psychologically.
（段落总结）
Practice 1 :
Economic Development And Environmental Protection Framework:
I: Introduction:
TS: Some people think that the urgent task is to develop economy on a large scale.
DS: (1)…(2)…(3)… (reasons: supporting details)
II: Body:
TS: On the other hand, many people insist that environmental protection is a top priority.
DS: (1)…(2)…(3)… (reasons: supporting details)
III: Conclusion:
TS: In my opinion,…
DS: (1)…(2)…(3)… (4)…(5) (detailed suggestion)
Sample 6: 四六级优秀作文点评（P264）
Telecommunication Brings Convenience to Modern Life
Modern life would be unimaginable without telecommunications. Telephone, fax, and TV are already household words. New terms like mobile phone and E-mail are entering our daily life at a rapid pace. Telecommunications have penetrated nearly every aspect of modern life and are fast changing the way we live.
It is no exaggeration to say that telecommunications bring huge profits and great convenience to our daily life. For instance, the telephone makes it possible for people in different places to talk to one another. Mobiles phone enables us to make a phone call regardless of time and place. Compared with ordinary mail delivery, or even with express airmail delivery, electronic mail delivers mails much faster and at a surprisingly cheap price, no matter where the receiver is. Surfing the internet is also a by-product of telecommunication, which provides us with easy access to a wealth of information. Furthermore, thanks to the rapid growth of telecommunications, business corporations can manage business affairs far more efficiently through phone, fax, an on-line computer.
However, there are disadvantages brought about by telecommunications, such as phone bills for unnecessary talks, the disturbance of unwanted or wrong calls, and the attraction of hot-line services, etc. Yet by and large, telecommunications bring more benefits than harm to our life. By shortening distance, telecommunications enhance efficiency in our commercial activities, save time and money in promoting interpersonal relations as well as in acquiring knowledge and accumulating information. Telecommunications have changed and will change our way of life.
Framework of the Essay
I.Introduction
DS: 1. Modern life…telecommunications.（电信在现代生活中的重要性）
2. Telephone…rapid pace.（列举电信产品）
TS: Telecommunications have penetrated nearly every aspect of modern life and are fast changing the way
we live. （进一步阐述段落主题）
II.Body
TS: It is no exaggeration to say that telecommunications bring huge profits and great convenience to our daily life. （电信给日常生活带来便利）DS: 1. It is …daily life. （便利之一）
2. Mobile phone…place. （便利之二）
3. Compared with…the receiver is. （便利之三）
4. Surfing the Internet…information.（便利之四）
5. Furthermore…online computer. （便利之五）III. Conclusion.
DS: However,… services, etc（电信带来的不利因素）TS: Yet by and large, telecommunications bring more benefits than harm to our life. （扣题：肯定电信
的重要性）
DS: 1. By shortening…information. （总结电信的便利）
2. Telecommunications have changed and will
change our way of life. （同首段落呼应）
Practice 2 :
It is generally believed that a job interview has advantages for job seekers and those who need employees. What advantages can you think of right now?
On the Advantages of a Job Interview
Outline:
I.Introduction
In recent years,…A job interview is good for both job
seekers and employers.
II.Body
TS1: For an interviewee, in the interview, he can get the chance to show…
DS:…(reasons for the advantages on the side of the interviewees)
TS2. The advantages for an interviewer are, first of all, he may have a chance to…
DS: (reasons for the advantages on the side of the interviewers)
Conclusion.
Therefore, a job interview is…(summary)
江南大学大学英语测试 题及答案 集团档案编码：[YTTR-YTPT28-YTNTL98-UYTYNN08]
大学英语（三）第一阶段a 交卷时间：2017-10-27 07:53:31 一、词汇与结构 1. (5分) These games allow gamers to_____________?with each other and play with o r against other gamers. ?A.?interact ?B.?influence ?C.?fight ?D.?meet 得分：?5 2. (5分)Unlike desktops, smartphones and tablets offer limited space and m ay ________to a customer being less thorough about exploring the menu. ?A.?explain ?B.?tell ?C.?contribute ?D.?cause 得分：?5 3.
(5分)So why do we order with more reckless __________when we're using o ur smartphones and laptops ?A.?food ?B.?drinks ?C.?snacks ?D.?abandon 得分：?5 4. (5分)So, social media is just any Internet _________that can be used to share information with others. ?A.?tool ?B.?way ?C.?medium ?D.?trick 得分：?5 5. (5分)According to Wikipedia, social media has been defined to be “a gr oup of Internet-based __________________. ?A.?facilities ?B.?applications ?C.?systems
英语写作试题（一） I. Supply the missing paragraph (20 points) The following passage is incomplete with one body paragraph missing. Study the passage carefully and write the missing paragraph in about 100 words. Make sure that your tone and diction are in unity with the passage provided. Attaining Success in College Succeeding in college is not only important to getting and education, but also crucial in this day and age to success in the work place. To me, the three most important things for attaining a successful college experience are having smart classroom conduct, taking advantage of campus resources, and making college the first priority. _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Making good use of campus resources is also of great importance to college success. The school library has many resources for the growth of the students’ mind. With computers and copy-machines for individual use, computer labs and writing labs are there not just for learning purposes but also for actual help with writing papers. The “office hours” will help the students build a close relationship with their professors and give them access to the professors’ mind. From the professors the students can acquire possible extra information that may put them ahead of their study. All these resources are free, since they are funded by student tuitions. So taking good advantage of the resources can only make the students’ education more attainable. Finally, any students who want to assure success must establish school as the top priority. Personally I have watched some students slowly loosen up; I have seen a pattern of partying and a lack of motivation. Many of the freshmen have no idea why they are in college, and their “eyes” often tell it all. This world is so rich in distractions that it is hard to keep a strong focus, especially if one is just starting his or her academic career. It is said that the first semester is often the most “unsuccessful” one. This certainly rings true for me. I made mistakes in this regard and eventually learned that, to achieve success, school must always be placed above other things. In my college experience, I have observed and learned how to achieve success. I wish someone had told me earlier the importance of having that smart classroom conduct, of fully utilizing the school resources, and of making college my top priority. Then, my college beginnings would not have been so rocky and tough. II. Write an outline (20 points) Read the following passage carefully and compose a “topic outline” for it. Smell Smell, as a means of nonverbal communication, is important. Odor communicates not only when we are face to face with another person, but also when the other personis not present. People from different cultures may have different attitudes toward body odors. Most people in the West respond negatively to what they consider bad odors such as body odor, breath odor, or
交卷时间：2017-10-27 07:53:31 一、词汇与结构 1. (5分) These games allow gamers to_____________?with each other and play wit h or against other gamers. ??A.?interact ??B.?influence ??C.?fight ??D.?meet 纠错 得分：?5 2. (5分)Unlike desktops, smartphones and tablets offer limited space and may ________to a customer being less thorough about exploring the me nu. ??A.?explain ??B.?tell ??C.?contribute ??D.?cause 纠错
得分：?5 3. (5分)So why do we order with more reckless __________when we're usin g our smartphones and laptops? ??A.?food ??B.?drinks ??C.?snacks ??D.?abandon 纠错 得分：?5 4. (5分)So, social media is just any Internet _________that can be used to s hare information with others. ??A.?tool ??B.?way ??C.?medium ??D.?trick 纠错 得分：?5 5.
Part 1 1. Our host entertained us with many interesting stories of adventure, he had been a member of an exploration team working in the Arctic. Our host entertained us with many interesting stories of adventure, who had been a member of an exploration team working in the Arctic. 2. When I woke up I saw him asleep in bed, I had not heard him when he came back. Because I had been sleeping soundly. When I woke up I saw him asleep in bed, I did not hear him when he came back. Because I had been sleeping soundly. 3. Liu always did his work a little better than his fellow workers, that was why he got higher pay than others. Liu always did his work a little better than his fellow workers, which was why he got higher pay than others. 4. No student could answer that question, even Xiao Yao, who was usually quick in answering questions, was silent. No student could answer that question, even Xiao Yao who was usually quick in answering questions was silent. 5. Lin looks like Li, however, they are not related. Lin looks like Li, but they are not related. 6. The old man hunched forward. His head tilted at an angle. His eyes half closed, looking very sleepy. The old man hunched forward. His head tilted at an angle. His eyes half closed, looks very sleepy. 7. The work was well planned, everybody worked with great enthusiasm, thus, they over fulfilled their quota. The work was well planned, everybody worked with great enthusiasm, so they over fulfilled their quota. 8. Mark Twain, a well-known American writer, whose experience as a pilot on a steamboat was no doubt an important factor that helped him to become a famous writer. Mark Twain is a well-known American writer, whose experience as a pilot on a steamboat was no doubt an important factor that helped him to become a famous writer. Part2 1. Xu comes from a working-class family. He enrolled in college last fall. Xu who comes from a working-class family enrolled in college last fall. 2. The dean issued a bulletin. It said the library would remain open on weekends. The dean issued a bulletinwhich said the library would remain open on weekends. 3. Last night was a windy night. The thunder roared. The wind blew a gale. The rain fell in torrents. Last night was a windy night, the thunder roaring, the wind blowing a gale. the rain falling in torrents. 4. There are icicles on the trees. The temperature must have fallen considerably during the night. The temperature must have fallen considerably during the night for there are icicles on the trees. 5. He returned to his hometown. He had been away for twelve years. He looked in vain for the
期末考试英语作文 导读：Yesterday, I took the final exam of this term. I worked hard to prepare for it, but I was still nervous. I was afraid that I couldn’t do it well. I had three exams, Chinese, math and English. In the morning, it was the Chinese. It was not so difficult for me that I was sure I could be good in it. Then, it was math in the afternoon. It’s the part I was afraid of most. Not surprised, I met some troubles in math exam. But I still hope they wouldn’t be serious. I am good at English, so I didn’t worry about it. I knew I can do well in it. In short, the final exam was not so hard for me and I am quite sure the scores will be perfect. 昨天，我参加了这学期的期末考试。虽然我很努力备考，但是考前我依然很紧张，我怕自己考不好。有三门考试，分别是语文、数学和英语。第一天早上考语文，这对我来说不算难，我相信自己能考好。下午考数学，这是我最怕的一科。不出意料，考试的时候果然碰到难题了，但我希望不会错得太离谱。英语是我的`强项，所以我没有担心英语科目，我知道我会有优异的表现。总的来说，期考对于我来说并不算太难，我相信自己能考出好成绩。 【期末考试英语作文】 1.期末考试的英语日记 2.2015高一英语作文:期末考试话题作文
大学英语（三）第三阶段 一、完形填空 1. Interviewing, though by no means the only technique for judging the personalities of prospective employees, remains the most widely used. Pencil and paper tests __1__ for many years, but no written technique has gained as wide an acceptance among employers __2__ the traditional dialogue which aims __3__ forecast future behavior by obtaining information about past and __4__. An interview usually __5__ a conversation, which may take __6__ different forms. At one end of the scale is the directed conversation __7__ on topics selected __8__ by the interviewer. At the other __9__ is the undirected at which the person being __10__ goes on about himself __11__ interruption, making his own choice of __12__. In between, and most common, lies the friendly conversation __13__ the interviewer moves at random from one subject to __14__. The carefully phrased questions of the directed conversation invariably yield the precise information the __15__ is looking for. __16__, the friendly conversation __17__ turns out to be less __18__ since the interviewer often __19__ dominating the exchange. And only in very skilled hands __20__ be an outcome of the uninterrupted talk. 纠错 (1) )分(1． A. have existed ? B. existed ? C. exist ? D. existing ?得分：1
江南大学大学英语三第三阶段 词汇 1、There are both playboys and ________men in the “Affluent Second Generation.”---B. loyal 2、Americans are more __________ to choose “love” as a reason for marriage than any other factor.--C.inclined 3、The new engine must be thoroughly _____ before being out on the market.---A. tried out 4、What t he story wants to tell us is that it will be difficult to ________to principles if their differences only lie in quantity rather than quality.----- C. adhere 5、You’d better _____ the warm weather by going for a walk this afternoon.--C. take advantage of 6、I must _____ my lawyer before I make my final decisions.--- B. contact 7、According to ___________ values, true love is a precondition for good marriages.--- C. mainstream 8、Avoid buying junk food - Resist the _________of buying junk food while shopping or going outside.--- B. temptation 9、Fruits and dry nuts would ________ your hunger away and keep you from binging on junk food.—不选DA 10、If children are taught to eat healthy and_________food from an early age, they would grow up to be strong---A. nutritious 11、We tried to _____ him _____climbing the mountain without a guide.--- A. discourage…from 12、We will not have the picnic unless more people _____.---D. signed up 13、The two cars were broken into pieces in the _____.---A. collision 14、Americans believe that love is the main ___________of marriage.--- C. requirement 15、We are _____ to John for bringing the books.--- A. grateful 16、If a girl just wanted to marry a rich man regardless of his character or true feelings, her “good marriage”would just be _____________.---D. self-deception 17、The ship _____ South America.--- A. is bound for 18、Many parents are at fault for their children to be obese at such a young age as they failed to___________their eating habits.---C 19、Jean _____ own a car but I don’t believe her.--- A. claims 20、The lifeboat went out to rescue a ship in _____.---D. distress 阅读理解 One day a few years ago a very funny thing happened to a neighbour of mine. 1、Who wrote the story?---D. The teacher’s neighbor. 2、Why did the teacher put a skeleton in his suitcase?---B. He needed
英语写作手册考试题目 一、填空。 1.The words that are often used may be divided, from a stylistic point of view, into three types: formal, common, and informal. 2.The meaning of a word has two aspects: denotative and connotative. 3. A grammatically complete sentence is one that contains at least a subject and a predicate (or finite) verb; if the verb is transitive, there must be an object; if the verb is a link-verb, there must be a predicative or complement. 4.According to their use, sentences are declarative, interrogative, imperative, or exclamatory. (P37) 5. A loose sentence puts the main idea before all supplementary information; in other words, it puts first things first, and lets the readers know what it is mainly about when they have read the first few words. The reverse arrangement makes a periodic sentence: the main idea is expressed at or near the end of it, and it is not grammatically complete until the end is reached. (松散句，圆周句P39) 6. A paragraph is like a mini-essay; it should be unified, coherent and well developed. (P64) 7.Inductive reasoning: when you use induction, you start with facts and proceed from facts to a general conclusion. In other words, you move from specific examples to a general statement. Deductive reasoning: The process is just the opposite of inductive reasoning—it moves from a general statement to s specific conclusion. I t works on the model of syllogism—a three-part argument in which there are two statements, known as the major premise and the minor premise, and a conclusion. 8.The process of writing a research paper is generally divided into five steps or stages: ●Choosing a topic; ●Collecting information; ●Analyzing the information, organizing ideas, and working out and outline; ●Writing the first draft; ●Revising the draft and finalizing the paper. 二．修辞辨别。 Name the figures of speech used in each of the following sentences:( p21-22) 1.Her rich relative rained birthday presents on her only son. (隐喻：metaphor) 2.Wrong ideas many harm man just like diseases. (明喻：simile) 3.Some words may be defaced by careless usage. (拟人：personification) 4.The leaves are trembling in the cold wind. (拟人：personification) 5.The storm was so angry that it wanted to destroy everything in its way. (personification) 6.Many people bowed before Force, but eventually Force would surrender to Reason. (Personification) 7.Selfless people are like cows, which eat straw but produce milk. (simile) 8.“what do you think of the roast duck?”“Not bad.” (Understatement) 9.His friends praised his daughter’s performances to the skies. (Overstatement)
初中英语期末考试写作40个常考加分句型 1、主语+ cannot emphasize the importance of … too much.(再怎么强调……的重要性也不为过。) 例如：We cannot emphasize the importance of protecting our eyes too much. 我们再怎么强调保护眼睛的重要性都不为过。 2、 There is no need for sb to do sth. / for sth.(某人没有必要做……) 例如：There is no need for you to bring more food. 不需你拿来更多的食物了。 3、 By +doing…，主语+can …. (借着……，……能够……) 例如：By taking exercise， we can always stay healthy. 借着做运动，我们能够始终保持健康。 4、… enable + sb.+ to + do…. (……使……能够……) 例如：Listening to music enables us to feel relaxed. 听音乐使我们能够感觉轻松。 5、 On no account can we + do…. (我们绝对不能……)。 例如：On no account can we ignore the value of knowledge. 我们绝对不能忽略知识的价值。 6、 What will happen to sb.？(某人将会怎样？) 例如：What will happen to the orphan？ 那个孤儿将会怎样？ 7、 For the past + 时间，主语 + 现在完成式/现在完成进行时…. (过去……时间来，……一直……) 例如：For the past two years，I have been busy preparing for the examination. 过去两年来，我一直忙着准备考试。
一、阅读理解 1. Chess must be one of the oldest games in the world. An Arab traveller in India in the year 900 wrote that it was played 'long, long ago.' Chess was probably invented in India, and it has been played everywhere from Japan to Europe since 1400. The name 'chess' is interesting. When one player is attacking the other's king, he says in English, 'check'. When the king has been caught and cannot move anywhere, he says 'check mate'. These words come from Persian 'Shah mat' means 'the king is dead'. That is when the game is over, and one player has won. 答：A B A B B 2. Herman had worked for the bank of Ruritania for ten years and was still only a clerk. He was not satisfied with the position and wanted to find something better. Yet he did not want to lose his position in bank before he had got another one, so he prepared a letter about himself, with the words "HELP! I AM A PRISONER OF THE BANK OF RURITANIA!" in big letters across the top. Then he sent it to several other banks, asking them for a job. 答：B A A B A 1. In 1801, Thomas Jefferson was the first president to take the oath of office in the nation's permanent capital, Washington D.C. Although
江南大学现代远程教育 2012年下半年第三阶段测试卷考试科目:《大学英语（三）》（总分100分） 时间：90分钟 学习中心（教学点）批次：层次： 专业：学号：身份证号： 姓名：得分： 一、交际英语（10％） 1、- What are you majoring in? - _________ A：In a university. B：Very hard. C：Mathematics.D：At nine in the morning. 2、- Are you going on holiday for a long time? - _________ A：It was a long time. B：Two weeks ago. C：No. Only a couple of days. D：Not long time ago. 3、- Can you help me? - _________ A：No, I don't know. B：Sure. What is it? C：Don't mention it. D：That's it. 4、- Do you think this is a nice place? - _________ A：That's all right. B：You're well. C：No, it's not here. D：Yes, I think so. 5、- How's your mother doing? - _________ A：She is very kind. B：She is very well. C：She is not very old. D：She is doing shopping now. 二、阅读理解（30％） 1、People often say that the Englishman's home is his castle. They mean that the home is very important and personal. Most people in Britain live in houses rather than flats, and many people own their homes. This means that they can make them personal, and change them in any way they like. Most houses have a garden, even if it is a small one, and the garden is usually loved. The house and the garden are the private space of a person. In a crowded city a person knows that he or she has a private space which is only for himself or herself and for invited friends. People usually like to mark their space. If you are on the beach you may have spread your towels around you; in the rain you may have put your coat or small bag on the seat beside you; in a library you may spread your books around you.