科技类话题写作：学习过去是有用的吗？

英语写作中经常会对过去和未来提出问题要求学生就此提出观点或者展开论述。科技一般是顺着时间发展而不进步创新的，因而过去、未来等时间点常常是科技类话题写作的常考点。

Is learning about the past useful?

Sample 1

It is often argued that spending much time on studying history is unreasonable, since the information people obtain lacks the practical implementation. However, after careful thought, I have come to disagree with it. I believe that history provides valuable sources for understanding different people and societies, predicting future trends and building a person's identity.

History generates past experiences and formulates the steps of development. It provides us with numerous examples of “cause-effct" events, which help to understand different social mechanisms.

Everything that is happening today stems fom the past and will have direct effect on the future. Being aware of our history helps to avoid old mistakes and make right decisions. The majority of all the political conflicts have a long history, for instance the Middle East or Russia- Chechnya tensions. A closer study of their deeper reasons and the measures taken beforehand can prove to be in- valuable in finding the right solution today. It can save thousands of lives.

At the same time, studying history of our own country or region builds up our identity, gives us a feeling of belonging to a certain group of people. Therefore, if we face a problem of communicating with a person of other culture, the basic knowledge of his history can prove absolutely necessary for a successful and productive interaction.

To sum up, I strongly believe that it is highly beneficial for modem people to posses a good knowledge of the his- tory,because it assures a profound understanding of social mechanisms, helps to avoid many mistakes and pro- motes a better communication between different nations.

Sample 2

Every country, every nation, even every person has its own past, present and future. Events fom our past reflect on our present. Events from our present will reflect on our future. The time-line is unbreakable. Therefore, no one should live only for today isolated from the past or without any connections to the future.

Every one of us is a member of the society. Living without learning about our history is the same as building a house without foundations. Furthermore, everyone is strongly connected with his past even when he does not comprehend it thoroughly sometimes. Our life is a result of a series of events from our past. Our success today is a consequence of hard work or some victory in the past. Our present failure is maybe a result of not taking our chances in time or not making a proper decision in the past. I truly believe that everyone makes his own destiny and fate has nothing to do with it.

In my opinion, learning about the past is of great importance to all of us. Even if we are completely devoured by our present existence we should look back to the past as carefully as we can. Thus we can avoid our previous mistakes or to find an easier way to success. In this case history is our best teacher. And if we learn the lessons of the past we will make progress much faster in the present.

We have made our history step-by-step and day-by-day. Those of us who live only in the present and only for today are like trees without roots-so easily 'fragile' in a stormy day. The past is the base on which countries; nations and communities build their present. That is why I think learning about the past has really no value because leaming about our history is invaluable.

So let us take a look back to learn a little more about ourselves.