試題一：
人們通常喜歡聽好聽的話，一聽到拂耳之言就容易產生不悅甚至慍怒。一個人特別是身居要職的人要能夠心悅誠服地傾聽逆耳之良言並從中獲得智慧，就需要一種容忍和大度的雅量，而這往往依賴於人們的心性修養和對人性缺陷的剋制;否則，就會給那些善於運用花言巧語和投其所好的人提供可乘之機，並傷害那些直言不諱的忠誠之人。
在理智上，人們大概願意接受“兼聽則明，偏信則闇”、“忠言逆耳利於行”等一類古老的真理，或者樂於信服老子說的“美言不信，信言不美”的哲理。但在行爲上，人們又時常背離這些古訓，不願意聽或聽不進“逆耳”之言，”最終犯下嚴重的過失。
【參考譯文】
We tend to hear words pleasant to the ear but have displeasure and resentment at words harsh to the ear. A man, especially one occupying an important position, needs tolerance and magnanimity to lend an ear to truthful yet offensive words with heartfelt admiration so as to gain wisdom from them, and those qualities can be only cultivated through the nurturing of the soul and the restraint in human weaknesses. Otherwise, opportunities are exploited to the advantage of those with sweet words on the lips to tickle the ear of others, only to hurt those loyal people outspoken in their remarks.
Intellectually, we are probably willing to believe in the ancient truths that we’ ll be enlightened if we listen to both sides and we will be benighted if we heed only one side, that honest advice, though unpleasant to the ear, benefits conduct. Also, we are delightfully convinced of Laotzi’s philosophy that true words are not embellished and the embellished words are not true. However, in our behaviours, we tend to depart from those estabilished maxims, reluctant to accept and follow those uncomfortable truths until eventually grave errors are committed.
試題二：
中國古代聖人孔子曾說過：“勞心者治人，勞力者治於人。”這句話反映了中國傳統文化中人的地位等級的劃分，也直接影響了人們對職業的選擇。現代意義上的“白領階層”是讓人羨慕的對象，而“藍領階層”即使工資較高，仍有被人看不起的壓力。
在中國，還有另外一句流傳甚廣的.話，叫做“無商不奸”，認爲商人“唯利是圖”，與君子重義輕利的追求背道而馳，所以在傳統文化中經商是被人看不起的職業，但是，隨着社會主義市場經濟的發展，從商“下海”已經變成許多年輕人擇業時的第一選擇。現代年輕人選擇職業時，已較少傳統的觀念，更具有現代意識。
【參考譯文】
Confucius, an ancient Chinese sage, said: “He who uses his brain will govern; he who uses his strength will be governed.” It is a reflection of the demarcation of status in traditional Chinese culture and a direct determiner of career-choosing in China. White collar workers, in modern sense for those using their brains, are the envy of the society while blue collar workers, working by using their strength, are under pressure of inferiority despite their high wages.
In China, there goes another saying that all merchants are liars. It is generally believed that business is a despised profession in traditional culture as businessmen are profit-oriented, which runs counter to what men of complete virtues should pursue, valuing justice above material gains. However, going into business has become the primary choice for youth in choosing a career, who have shed the shackles of tradition towards modern consciousness.
