Firecrackers are synonymous with China’s Spring Festival celebrations, yet this time-honored tradition is in grave danger of bidding farewell to the Chinese New Year celebration. Some people believe that fireworks should be banned for safety and environmental concerns. Write a composition of about 400 words on the following topic;

　　In the first part of your essay you should state clearly your main argument, and in the second part you should support your argument with appropriate details. In the last part you should bring what you have written to a natural conclusion or make a summary.

　　You should supply an appropriate title for your essay.

　　Marks will be awarded for content, organization, grammar and appropriateness. Failure to follow the above instructions may result in a loss of marks.

　　Should Fireworks Be Allowed for Spring Festival Celebrations?

　　Sample1

　　Fireworks Shouldn’t Be Allowed for Spring Festival Celebrations

　　During the Spring Festival, Chinese people festoon their houses with paper scrolls and let off firecrackers to greet the arrival of the new year. Some Chinese believe Spring Festival would never be the same without fireworks. However, I agree with those who hold the opposite view. Fireworks should be banned for safety and environmental reasons. The cost of human life far outweighs maintaining festival tradition. The ways to celebrate traditional festivals can also be modernized and updated along with the rapid development of high technology.

　　On the one hand, lighting of firecrackers has caused serious injuries and air pollution, which casts shadow over the joyous ambiance. Statistics show that from October 2003 to February 2004, the injury and death toll caused by Spring Festival fireworks in Beijing hit 307 and four respectively. Illegal fireworks, shoddy fireworks and fireworks falling short of environment-friendly standards were respectively 147 percent, 120 percent and 100 percent up over the quantity of the previous year. According to a doctor, every year hospitals see a surge of two kinds of emergency cases when Spring Festival arrives. One is indigestion caused by overeating while the other is firework-related eye injuries. Various forms of fireworks-related pollution, including noise, smoke, dust pollution, and paper wrapping pollution, all pose potential danger to people’s health.

　　On the other hand, our adoption of traditional culture should be based on a critical approach. Although letting off firecrackers is part of Chinese tradition, it is haphazard and perilous with many disadvantages, such as wasting resources, pollution and safety risks. In fact, the effects of a ban on fireworks are quite obvious. We do want joviality for the celebration, but do we also want clean air for our health and safety guarantee for thousands of families? Gradually, the public will recognize the benefits of the ban and develop some clean and pollution-free ways of celebration.

　　The importance of safety and clean air is definitely greater than observation of a festival tradition. Therefore, a long-term ban should be under way for the well being of the general public. We will have a greater time for Spring Festival with safety and clean air instead of fireworks.