真题回放：Some people think that a university should prepare students for employment, while others disagree and believe it has other functions. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
点评：本题类似于2007年01月13日的考题：Some people think universities should provide graduates with the knowledge and skills needed in the workplace in the future. Others think the true function of the university is to give access to knowledge for the own sake. What do you think are the main functions of a university? 这两次考题都是关于学校教育的目的及大学职能问题。本考题可以采用平衡等分的结构布局，采用双边讨论折中的方法来加以论证，讨论双方观点之后再给出自己的观点。下面就本题提供参考思路。
第一段：随着大学毕业生就业压力的增加，有人认为大学应该以学生将来的工作为导向（career-oriented）,应根据就业教授学生实际知识和培养他们的实际技能（practical knowledge and skills），而有些人不同意这种看法，他们认为大学教育还有其他职能。我认为大学教育除了要教学生知识和实际知识和技能之外，还有其他的职能和目的。大学教育应该培养学生的综合能力（cultivating students’ overall abilities）。
第二段：一方面大学教育应该教学生工作中需要实际知识和技能，这样可以使学生在工作初期具备优势，很快熟悉工作并进入工作状态。
It is an indisputable fact that graduates who have received career education i.e. practical knowledge and skills can take a more dominant position in the early days of employment than those general education receivers.
第三段：有了实际知识和技能，学生也不一定就会有份好工作，好事业。全面发展的学生(overall-developed students)才能有更好的就业和发展前景。因此除了教授实际知识和技能外，大学教育还有其他的职能，培养学生的综合能力。
A good command of practical knowledge and skills in the students’ field of study doesn’t necessarily guarantee a better future career.
（1）教授理论知识和其他方面有利于促进学生全面发展的知识比如艺术、文学、哲学等。
Statistics show that only one-third of the most successful enterprisers majored in business and commercial science. Many of them spent their precious college years learning art, literature and philosophy, subjects which are unrelated to their current career and identity.
（2）大学的职能还包括培养学生的综合能力。
Universities should aim at cultivating students’ overall abilities. Students with a healthy body, a healthy mentality, good communication skills, team-work spirit, creative, innovative ability or the ability for implementation can have a better future.
第四段：Conclusion:大学除了要教授学生专业知识和技能外，还应该把教授理论知识及其他有利于促进学生全面发展的知识作为职能的一部分，同时致力于培养学生的综合能力。