Advantages of Collecting

　　收集的好处

　　Some small things are collected deliberately in the home in an attempt to avoid waste. Among these I would list string and brown paper, kept by thrifty people when a parcel has been opened, to save buying these two requisites. However, collecting as a serious hobby is quite different and has many advantages.

　　Firstly, it provides relaxation for leisure hours, just as looking at one's treasure is always a pleasure. One does not have to go outside for amusement, since the collection is housed at home. Whatever it consists of, stamps, records, pictures, model cars, stuffed birds, toy animals, there is always something to do in connection with it, from finding the right place for the latest addition to verifying facts in reference books. Consequently, one's knowledge expands.

　　Secondly, this hobby educates one not only in the chosen subject, but also in general matters which have some bearing on it, for instance, to meet like-minded collectors, to get advice, to compare notes, to show off the latest find, and so on. In this way, one's circle of friends grows.

　　Thirdly, the hobby soon leads to travel, perhaps to a meeting in another town, possibly a trip abroad in search of rare specimen (for collectors are not confined to one country). Over the years one may well become an authority on one's hobby and will very probably be asked to give informal talks to little gatherings and then, if successful, to larger audience. In so doing self-confidence grows, first from mastering a subject, then from being able to talk about it.

　　In conclusion, collecting, by occupying spare time so constructively, makes a person contented, with no time for boredom.

　　作文结构分析：

　　·收藏是一种爱好, 不同于存放日常用品

　　·收藏的好处

　　* Relaxation and pleasure

　　* Enlarge one's circle of friends

　　* Travel and meet more people

　　·结论

　　* Use time constructively

　　* No boredom

　　作文内容分析：

　　本文是一篇议论文。第一段是引子, 说明人们常常存放一些日常使用的小东西以备不时之需, 但这不是收藏。收藏是一种爱好, 甚至是一种终生爱好。以下三段分列收藏的好处, 紧扣主题, 而每一段的最后一句都写出了结果, 用了consequently ,in this way , in so doing 三个过渡词语。最后一段是一个简单的概括。学习本文应注意模仿使用不同的句式。

　　单词词组：

　　deliberately ad. 故意

　　in an attempt to + v. 为了, 企图

　　string n. 线

　　brown paper 牛皮纸

　　thrifty people 节俭的人们

　　requisite n. 必需品

　　relaxation n. 休息, 放松

　　amusement n. 娱乐

　　be housed at home 藏在家中

　　stuffed birds 填鸟

　　toy animals 玩具动物

　　in connection with... 与……有关

　　the latest addition 最新的收藏品

　　verifying facts in reference books 在参考书中查证事实

　　have some bearing on it 与……有关

　　like-minded collectors 想法相同的收藏者