13567 Fashion
TOEFL Independent Writing Task
Essay Topic: External Appearances
Sample Writing by Jeenn Lee Hsieh
ielts360toefl@hotmail.com 谢振礼
TOEFL Writing Topic:
>Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? One should never judge a person by external experiences. Use specific reasons and details (from your knowledge or experience) to support your answer.
Example Essay: Jeenn Lee Hsieh
When it comes to knowing people, you cannot tell who is what in a short period of time. Sometimes external appearances are so misleading that your eyes look but do not see and your ears listen but do not hear. Good judgment requires prudence to prevent yourself from being fooled by the false reflections in sight and sound.
As often as not, the reflection in sight may not what it looks like. When prudence is off guard, it is probable that you mistake a wolf for a sheep, so to speak. The famous fable about a wolf in a sheep's skin refers of course to those cheaters who are playing a role contrary to their characters. External appearances of this kind are considered dangerous, and you just cannot be too careful with such cunning 'wolves'. The lesson is that you should not always trust your eyes when judging a person at first sight, no more than you can tell exactly the real thing inside a gift package by simply looking at the wrapping paper outside. This means that a person's real character may not always reveal itself in outlook.
Furthermore, you should try not to be cheated by the reflection of your own ears because flattery in speech and gesture may also be a risk under disguise. For example, an ill-minded cheater may be praising you on all occasions, which could cause your vanity to replace your prudence. Thus, your judgment on external appearances is moved to the wrong side. Under circumstances like this, you might just be an easy prey because most people like to listen to words of honey and take what is said for granted. Unfortunately, words sound too sweet to be real, but also too nice not to be believed. In short, it is possible that the sound may turn out to be as misleading as sight.
On the whole, prudence should be the rule when judging people by sight and sound that can cheat. In a certain manner, judging a person by external appearances is not very unlike looking at a back-looking mirror near the driver's seat. Just as the objects that appear in the mirror are closer than you see them, so the danger of you being fooled is closer than you think. (Essay creared by Jeenn Lee Hsieh 谢振礼 ielts360toefl@hotmail.com pigai zuowen)
