Sunday, June 3, 2012


Welcome to my Portfolio Project for my Level 4 Reading and Composition Class at the English Language Center at the University of Denver.

To complete this project, I have written an argument essay where I argue that we should not stop building new dams. The vocabulary section and the summary section may help you to understand this topic.

Below is a video introduction to my portfolio and list of contents.

Enjoy your reading



I. Argument Essay

II. Annotated Bibliography

III. Vocabulary Study

Friday, June 1, 2012

The Great Dams




Dams are the most important water conservancy projects in the world. In the ancient time, with the help of Dams, people are able to adjust the water system to benefit the agriculture. Nowadays dams make the water to produce electricity possible, and power thousands of cities in the world. However, The built of the three gorges dam, the biggest dam in China, is debatable, because of its side effects. People began to aware of the ecological damages casted by Dams, So a notion that human beings should stop building new dams for the sake of protecting the environment is prevailing. Nevertheless, as far as I am concerned, it is unwise to claim not to build new dams.
Dams can bring great benefits to agriculture. For thousand years, the archenemy of agriculture has been extremely drought. But the presence of dams changed the situation. Dams are able to conserve water so that people can irrigate even in extreme dry season. For example, the Aswan high dam, which locate in Egypt. This great construction conserves large quantities of water from Nile River and 80% of the water used as irrigation water. As we all know, water plays an important role in countries like Egypt, where surrounded by desert. Further more It also prevent many cities from floods near the Nile River, which also contribute to the agriculture, because farmers do not need to salvage their agricultural yields when the flood come.

Summary


summary 1
In the article “Effects of Dam Building,” the author illustrates the bad effects caused by Dam building.  He first illustrates the type of Dams such as Diversion dams, Hydroelectric dams, and Flood control dams, and then explains the functions of these dams, in order to tell readers how dams work and let readers know what exactly dams are. To support his idea, the author list all damages that caused by dams, such as Starving the River, Changing Temperatures, and Stopping Fish Migration, that dam building causes. Further more, he finally gives his opinion that although dam building will bring ecological disasters in the long term, the temporary financial benefits keep people building new dams.

Summary2
The article “China’s Three Gorges Dam: a environmental catastrophe” written by Mara Hvistendahl casts a doubt on whether the mass construction of  Three gorges Dam, Is good for this country or not. Just as the article said although The Three gorges Dam powered all the down stream of the Yangzi river, the environment disasters that it brings seems eclipse its benefits. To support his idea, the author used the Dam quake, the water displacement and the disease and drought that caused by the built of the Dam to emphasize the damage of the construction. What’s more as far as the author concerned the government oversight should be blamed to the catastrophe.


Tuesday, May 29, 2012

the great dam vocabulary

Thrive (v) [ thrahyv ] 
Forms: thriving, adj 
Definition:to prosper; be fortunate or successful.
Sentence:  The Hoover dam thrive the little city.

boost (v) [boost]
Forms: boosting, n
Definition: to increase; raise: to boost prices; to boost the horsepower of the car by 20 percent.
Sentence:  Congress is gambling that the JCI findings will boost its political fortunes. 

tourist attraction (n) [toor-ist uh-trak-shuhn]
Forms: 
Definition: a characteristic that attracts tourists
Sentence:  Cambodia's biggest tourist attraction is its annual fish-fry and festival during the second weekend of May
conserve (v) [ kuhn-surv ]
Forms: conserve,n
Definition: to prevent injury, decay, waste, or loss of
Sentence:  Energy is conserved in this process 

ecological (v) [ ek-uh-loj-i-kuhl, ee-kuh- ]
Forms: ecology, n
Definition:  characterized by the interdependence of living organisms in an environment
Sentence:  They also worry that the pipeline could cause an ecological disaster in case of a spill

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Government censorship


In some counties, governments censor their TV programs, broadcasts and internet strictly. For example in China,government setup three agencies to censor media. But in America, the FCC plays the roll in censorship of media only. Why such different way that government manipulate the media exist? Some people may say that a strict censorship will help to protect children from copy cat crime. Others may disagree with a strict censorship on media, because they think that over censoring the media violated the freedom spirit. As far as I am concerted censorship cast both positive and negative effect on society. So we should find out a proper way to balance them.
Before we start to solve this problem, we should know what causes the government to censor the media. As we all know some companies are willing to sacrifice ethical principle for audients rating, because violence programs, sexual speech and sensitive topics of politics, sometimes, are more attractive. Media that contain this elements may cast negative influence on children, adolescents and even adults. Children and teenagers are easily affected, because most of them do not from a complete value. In other words, they do not know what can be done and what can not. They act without a rational mind. What’s more, most of their activities are based on what they like. Is it a cool thing to do or if I do this am I look like a super hero?- A recent research in China shows that the copycat crime rate rose 68% in paste 10 years. It is in recent ten years, media in China developed a lot. So media affect teenagers a lot. It seems that in term of protecting younger age and in this serious circumstance, a strict censorship is badly required.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

The drive-in depicted by Daniel Luna

Last Thursday we went to a gallery where most master pieces of Daniel Luna  are demonstrated. Daniel Luna is a contemporary artist and he likes using contradictive color system to give people a striking impact. Although in many of his paintings, he uses lots of cold colors like blue, dark purple and even black, it is this dark colors that makes the warm colors in the painting more comfortable just like a camp fire in a cold snowy night. What’s more, his colorful works always remind people of comic books which recall all of your childhood memories. Whenever I look at master pieces of Daniel Luna, I can feel the great comfort that his works bring.
Here is my favorite picture the Drive-in. Although drive-ins are disappearing from the world, it was a memory which will never fade away. I think it is a common sight in the world. But it is depicting common scenery in an impressive way that shows the painter’s high level of painting skill. In this picture we can see a quiet drive-in showering in the starry night. Peaceful forest encompasses the tiny drive-in and I can even feel the gentle breeze and the sweet smell of flowers. All these things bring me to a tranquil world in the deepest part of my heart.
On the screen, a monster is destroying the city. It is a old movie named Godzilla, and it is also a cherished memory of my childhood. This movie recalls my hero dreams that I have made when I was a child. There are seven cars in the drive-in, so the drive in seems very large. At the back of a car a couple is sharing romantic moment. Here is all the picture depicted. Warm orange occupy large part of the picture, creating a warm and soft atmosphere, just like the warm light of a sun set and the gentle but dim light of an old antique store which has the ability to bring you to the old time that never fade away.

As the director told, this talented master piece focuses on the word “grow” Near the screen the light is bright and the movie and the toys are symbols of our childhood. When we were children, we were free and pressures were the last thing we had to worry about. Maybe I over romanticized the childhood life, but honestly speaking, childhood is a fantasy land that we can never go back. at the end of the picture the shadows of the cars are very large, and the orange is less bright. These mean that we when we grow up, Pressures will cover our lives. We have to worry about making money, housing expense or building social network. These are lives tired but real. Fortunately even though we are under the pressure of life we still can share sweet moment whit our beloved, just as the couple in the shadow of the car.
I love this picture!  It reminds me of my best memories of childhood and encourages me, when I am in the deep valley of my life.