大学英语写作writing 1 (the_hazards_of_moviegoing) 下载本文

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Find out the point and support in the following paragraph and essay.

The Hazards of Movie-going

Although I love movies, I’ve found that there are drawbacks to movie-going. One problem is just the inconvenience of it all. To get to the theater, I have to drive for at least thirty minutes or more if traffic is bad. It can take forever to find a parking spot, and then I have to walk across a huge parking lot to the theater. There I encounter long lines, sold-out shows, and ever-increasing prices. And I hate sitting with my feet sticking to the floor because of other people’s spilled snacks. Another problem is my lack of self-control at the theater. I often stuff myself with unhealthy calorie-laden snacks. My choices might include a bucket of popcorn, a box of Milk Duds, a giant soda, or all three. The worst problem is some of the other moviegoers. Kids run up and down the aisle. Teenagers laugh and shout at the screen. People of all ages drop soda cups and popcorn tubs, cough and burp (打嗝), and talk to one another. All in all, I would rather stay home and wait to see the latest movie hits on cable TV in the comfort of my own living room.

The Hazards of Movie-going

I am a movie fanatic. My friends count on me to know movie trivia and to remember every big Oscar awarded since I was in grade school. My friends, though, have stopped asking me if I want to go out to the movies. While I love movies as much as ever, the inconvenience of going out, the temptations of the theater, and the behavior of some patrons are reasons for me to wait and rent the video.

To begin with, I just don’t enjoy the general hassle (trouble) of the evening. Since small local movie theaters are a thing of the past, I have to drive for thirty minutes to get to the nearest multiplex. The parking lot is shared with several restaurants and a supermarket, so it’s always jammed. I have to drive around at a snail’s pace (像蜗牛般爬行) until I spot another driver backing out. Then it’s time to stand in an endless line, with the constant threat that tickets for the show I want will sell out. If we do get tickets, the theater will be so crowded that I won’t be able to sit with my friends, or we’ll have to sit in a front row gaping up at a giant screen. I have to shell out (pay) a ridiculous amount of money ―up to $8 ―for a ticket. That entitles me to sit while my shoes seal themselves to a sticky floor coated with spilled soda, bubble gum, and crushed Raisinets. Second, the theater offers tempting snacks that I really don’t need. Like most of us, I have to battle an expanding waistline. At home I do pretty well by simply not buying stuff that is bad for me. I can make do with (设法/勉强应付) snacks like celery (芹菜) and carrot sticks because there is no ice cream in the freezer. Going to the theater, however, is like spending my evening in a Seven-Eleven that’s been equipped with a movie screen and comfortable seats. As I try to persuade myself to just have a diet Coke, the smell of fresh popcorn dripping with butter soon overcomes me. Chocolate bars, the size of small automobiles, seem to jump into my hands. I risk pulling out my fillings (补牙用填料) as I chew enormous mouthfuls of Milk Duds. By the time I leave the theater, I feel disgusted with myself.

Many of the other patrons are even more of a problem than the concession stand (影院里的贩卖处). Little kids race up and down the aisles, usually in giggling packs. Teenagers try to impress their friends by talking back to (反驳/回嘴) the screen, whistling, and making what they consider to be hilarious (欢闹的) noises. Adults act as if they were at home in their own living room. They comment loudly on the ages of the stars and reveal plot twists that are supposed to be a secret until the film’s end. And people of all ages create distractions. They crinkle (弄皱) candy wrappers, stick gum on their seats, and drop popcorn tubs or cups of crushed ice and soda on the floor. They also cough and burp, squirm (蠕动) endlessly in their seats, file out (鱼贯而出) for repeated trips to the rest rooms or concession stands, and elbow me out of the armrest on either side of my seat.

After arriving home from the movies one night, I decided that I was not going to be a moviegoer anymore. I was tired of the problems involved in getting to the theater, resisting unhealthy snacks, and dealing with the patrons. The next day, I arranged to have premium (额外花费) movie channels installed as part of my cable TV service, and I also got a membership at my local video store. I may now see movies a bit later

than other people, but I’ll be more relaxed watching box office hits in the comfort of my own living room.