The speaker claims that the responsibility for protecting the environment ultimately belongs to each individual rather than government. The issue involves various aspects of environmental protection and government regulations. In my view, while it is true that ordinary people are ultimately responsible for protecting the environment, the government is also obliged to join the efforts, for the reason that only government has the necessary regulatory power and financial support to coordinate such efforts.

I concede that individuals are ultimately responsible for the environmental protection. After all, government, by nature, is only a regulatory body that consists of ordinary people. Futhermore, the financial support gained by governments are from tax-payers and the regulatory power is also endowed by the people to some degree. For example, the government's decision to foster environmental protection is effective only when it is supported by tax money. Therefore, individuals are the ones that are responsible for protecting the environment.

However, even though individuals have the duty to proctect environment, it is no excuse for government to escape such duties. First, only government possesses the regulatory power to enforce environmental protection laws. The central reason why the efforts have been less than successful in some places is that they are always in conflict with the interests of certain groups of people. As a result, measures have to be taken in a forceful manner to some extent.

Second, environmental protection is so huge a project that it requires mobilization of many resources including human resources, economic resources, technological resources and etc. As a consequence, only government can assist and coordinate the efforts in an effective and efficient manner. For example, governments can set planning and provide funding for necessary scientific research that will decrease green house gas emissions but no individual has the power and resources to achieve this end.

In summation, the assertion made by the speaker is too extreme to be objective. While it is the duty of each individual to preserve and protect the environment, it is also the responsibility of the government to assist and coordinate such efforts.

The speaker claims that businesses sell low-quality products using high-quality advertisements and that schools should provide students with extensive training on how to make wise choices in purchasing. The issue involves both commercial advertising and the responsibility assumed by schools. In my view, both claims made by the speaker are untenable.

Regarding the first argument raised by the speaker, empirical evidence and common sense indicate otherwise. Generally speaking, most advertisements, whether put on TV or printed media, are to some extent reliable. Thanks to regulatory efforts by the government. In modern society, it is a felony to deceive customers using false or highly exaggerated advertisements and few corporations will dare breach that line. Although it is true that certain advertisements exaggerate or even invent “facts”, the statement that all businesses use high-quality advertisements to sell low-quality products is unfounded.

With respect to the second issue, which claims that schools should assume the responsibility, schools are simply not meant to train smart shoppers. Rather, it is built to prepare students for higher education and their later career in various fields. Actually, virtually all courses in the primary or middle school curriculum are devised to achieve that goal. For example, mathematics is included because a broad range of subjects and disciplines require algebra and geometry as a necessary basis. Even if a student does not major in mathematical sciences, such introductory courses as linear algebra and calculus are still essential for most technology-related majors. Admittedly, advertising is perfectly appropriate for university students majoring in sociology, psychology or marketing. Nevertheless, schools, especially primary schools should not be used to give children a distorted view of business world. According to psychoanalysis developed by Freud, childhood can exert a profound impact on one’s later life. Therefore, it is highly likely that the children who formed the negative impression on advertising develop a false cynicism against the modern society.

In summation, the premise that high quality advertisements tout low-quality products is specious at best. In most cases, for schools to provide training in consumerism is to assign them an inappropriate role and to foster in childhood mind a distorted and biased view of the modern world.

The speaker claims that education fails to teach us to see the human community as a whole. The issue at hand involves various aspects concerning education. In my view, education should not only teach us to view the human society as separated nations or groups but also give us new perspectives that regard human community as one. Therefore, I generally agree with the speaker's assertion.

I'm not denying the fact that when addressing certain problems, human society should be viewed as separate (though related) groups. This point of view is especially effective when dealing with conflicts. Most social problems, such as poverty, violence and crime, can be traced back to the clash of interests of different groups of individuals. For example, poverty means an unfair distribution of wealth in a certain area; Crime refers to the action taken by a criminal who always puts his own self-interest before the well-being of others. When conflicts are to be reconciled in an effective manner, it is necessary to carefully consider the distinctive interests that different groups represent and, hence, view human beings as separate groups rather than one single community.

However, in dealing with most problems such as environmental protection, it is necessary and even crucial to regard the human community as one. Pollution, in the modern times, is global in nature, calling for correspondingly global sollutions. Preserving and protecting the natural environmnet shared by all human beings serves the common interests of every nation in the long run, although, economic self-interests of some countries might be temporarily sacrificed. In addition, protecting the environment is such a huge project that collective efforts by every single country is urgently required. Economic, financial, technological and human resources have to be mobilized on a massive scale. Hence, a full understanding of environmental protection requires a new global horizon that regards human community as one. Similarly, other such problems of a global nature also necessitates this new perspective.

To put all into a nutshell, education is largely responsible for giving learners multiple perspectives on ourselves. On one hand, we should look at human society as separate groups when dealing with conflicts. On the other hand, under most circumstances, human species should be considered as a unified whole.

The speaker asserts that the ability to make decisions is the most important quality of a leader. In modern society, requirements for an outstanding leader may vary from time to time, but decision-making is always a must for successful leaders in various fields for several reasons.

In the first place, what is crucial to making decisions is also essential to the leader and the team as a whole. In a business, quick and wise decision depends on experience and knowledge. It is true that a leader may wait a long while for a sufficient amount of information, then analyze it, and make a decision afterwards. However, fierce competition in the market waits for no such slow process. In practice, decisions are almost always made under the circumstance of incomplete information. And, according to a recent study, senior managers rarely make decisions through a time-consuming analysis procedure. Rather, they do so by extracting information concerning similar situations in the past and make “informed” guesses. Such a process necessitates vast amount of past experience and knowledge as well as courage. In addition, the “guess” I’m talking about is not some kind of random or wild speculation, but a rational estimate based on figures and facts. Indeed, no other member of a team can possibly accomplish the task of decision-making without the necessary knowledge and experience mentioned above.

In the second place, decisiveness, or the ability to make quick and wise decisions and the courage to follow it through, also constitutes the most difficult and, thus, most significant part of the work for a leader. In the era of global competition, it is becoming more and more difficult to grab a share in a market. Situations may change rapidly and corporation strategies must also change correspondingly. One step behind, then a competitor may just quit the game. Therefore, decisiveness is more and more valued in the decision-making process. Furthermore, great nerve and courage is required to follow through such decisions. That is why making a decision is nearly always the most demanding job for a leader.

Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning that leaders still have to assume other responsibilities, such as coordination of subordinates or assimilate different points of view. I’m not intending to say that these jobs are not significant, (in fact they are also the basis of a efficient working team) but that decision making is, in my view, by far the most demanding part of a leader’s jobs.

In summation, I strongly agree with the speaker’s conclusion. Although a leader’s job involves various tasks such as decision-making, coordination and etc, it is almost always the most difficult part for a leader to make decisions, especially always with incomplete information, and follow them through.

While it is obvious that architectures shape the character of our buildings, the statement that our buildings in turn shape us seems open to doubt. Indeed, the issue involves various aspects concerning culture, psychology and even socialization. In my view, our buildings truly exert a profound influence on our way of thinking.

In the first place, we subject to the influence of our building structure without knowing it most of the time. Identical at first glance, different buildings employ markedly distinctive structures that can significantly affect our way of thinking. For example, western style windows tend to be straight-forward, simple-structured and economical. In stark contrast, oriental style windows can be more convoluted, consisting of panes and other complicated structures that may not be of much use, but of only aesthetic value. Moreover, architecture can even represent the distinctiveness of a culture. The characters of a building can be regarded as a lively part of the culture in question. For example, significant distinction can be perceived between westernized and oriental buildings. The Effel Tower, which bears with itself the connotation of human exploration into nature, is typical of western architecture, whereas traditional Chinese buildings tend to be low and self-containing.

In the second place, our buildings also affect our way of life. For example, employees working in a comfortable setting may work in a better mood and, thus, more efficiently. In comparison, according to a social psychological study, workers in a windowless workshop are especially reluctant to work in a cooperative and effective manner. Also, most people like to stay in a room where they can get a view of the natural scenery outside. Positive environment, generally speaking, leads to a positive mind and a lively spirit.

In summation, the assertion that our buildings shape us is generally true. Buildings cannot be merely considered as a tool, but a vivid reflection of our way of thinking and life style. Therefore, they can influence us in a way more profound than is previous assumed.

The issue at hand is whether or not the advent of automobile has ultimately benefited human lives. Analysis of the issue is complicated because it involves various aspects of both the advantages and drawback of the great invention. In my view, while it is true that automobiles have caused a host of trouble including pollution, global warming, traffic problems and etc, it still is the single most significant invention of modern times, due not only to the convenience and efficiency we have enjoyed since the last century, but also to the magnificent era of industrialization and advances in modern technology it has brought about.

I concede that, to a certain degree, automobiles are harmful to human beings and the planet as a whole. For one thing, cars are a major contributor to green house gas emissions and climate change, since most of them still burn fossil fuel. In addition, really serious health problems may result from excessive use of automobiles. In the past, without such efficient transportation tools as cars, men have to walk long distances for business and travelling. Ever since the last century,after cars came into being, men have been increasingly depending on cars, instead of on feet, for travelling. Therefore, such diseases as obesity result accordingly. Indeed, vehicles have many fairly obvious disadvantages and have negatively affected our way of life to some extent.

Still, automobiles contribute a lot to the well-being of a nation. For example, without them, metropolis and concentration of business at a larger scale are inconceivable. For each day, millions of people ride in private cars and buses to go to work. On holidays, automobile is a major transportation tool. Technologically speaking, automobiles revolutionize the way people and businesses work and transform the world into a more efficient workplace.

Furthermore, apart from the efficiency and convenience brought about by automobiles, the invention of cars also ushered in a new era called the Industrialization Age. The one hundred years between 1850 and 1950 have witnessed the rise of machinery and mass production. The soaring GDP and the affluent society during this era can largely be attributed to the advent of automobiles. Without the invention, the pace of economic growth may just remain at the level of 1850s and the upcoming Information Age would just be an illusion. In short, none of the affluence that has been achieved today will ever be conceived of or realized had there been no automobiles.

In summation, despite the fact that automobiles have brought about some difficult problems, it still greatly contributed to the development of modern society. Human beings would surely be worse off if automobiles had not come into being.

The issue at hand is whether the most important quality for a leader is the ability to plan, to organize and to solve problems or the ability to communicate and inspire his subordinates. Being an outstanding leader requires a multitude of qualities, among which are experience, knowledge and the ability to coordinate and make informed decisions. In my view, the statement by the speaker is too extreme to be justified, since both qualities are essential to successful leadership.

I concede that a successful leader should be able to inspire his workers to work toward the goal of the organization. After all, no leader can possibly complete every task single-handedly, without assistance from others. Therefore, it is crucial for him or her to decide the assignment given to subordinates and ensure the morale of the whole team.

However, it is hardly convincing to assert that the ability to communicate and to inspire is the most important quality of all, because there are certain qualities that can not be ignored. First, experience is a commmonality of many successful leaders. Without past experience, it is almost impossible for an individual to familiarize him/herself with the common practice in a specific corporation. Furthermore, nor does he/her have a decent understanding of the generally accepted rules in an industry, or, put in a more colloquial way, how things work.

Second, the ability to plan and to make decisions is also necessary. Making quick and informed decisions is almost always the most difficult task on the part of a leader. In practice, sufficient information for a perfect decision is always out of reach. In consequence, leaders may have to "guess" with reference to their past experience. Immediately after the decision-making process, they will make a feasible plan or schedule and distribute separate tasks to individual workers. It is the leader who is ultimately responsible for meeting the deadline of a task. So the ability to plan and organize stands out as a significant and indispensable quality of a leader.

In summation, the issue involves various aspects of leadership and qualities of leaders. From my standpoint, an outstanding leader should be able to communicate, to inspire, and, at the same time, to plan and to solve problems.