2017年的雅思考试，在千呼万唤中终于浮出水面。值得惊喜的是，首场考试的写作题并没有给考生带来什么惊喜。相反，仍然是考生们熟悉的领域。换言之，还是那熟悉的味道。熟悉题库的考生不难发现，本题在2014年12月20日与大家见过面。几乎没有任何改动，又再次出现在考场之中。

原题如下：

Art classes like painting and drawing are important to students’ development, and they should be compulsory in high school. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 20170107

审题之后不难发现，其实本题还是略微有些陷阱，值得考生们小心。题干中给出两个观点。观点一是艺术课程对于学生发展很重要。观点二是艺术课程应该是高中必修课的一部分。说到此处，肯定有考生疑惑，为什么是两个观点。难道本题不是只需要讨论究竟是否应该设定艺术课程为必修课，仅此而已吗？请参考下面修改之后的题干：

Art classes like painting and drawing are important to students’ development. Therefore, some people think they should be compulsory in high school. To what extent do you agree or disagree? （此题并非真实考题，只是衍生出的例子）

本题由于是同事的考场回忆，可能会略微有些瑕疵。就回忆出的题干而言。本题干中的确是两个信息需要考生论述。

Currently, most of high schools are neglecting art classes by setting them as optional courses or cancelling them completely. With a great number of parents and educators becoming aware of the significance of art education, a controversy emerges over the public whether art classes should be set as a part of curriculum that every student has to take in high schools or not.

很常规的开头段，从背景入手，再引出题目。在开头段并未明确表达笔者立场。

On one hand, there is no gainsaying that art classes are as essential as academic subjects to students’ development. Initially, aesthetic judgment is the first gain that students can enjoy from learning art. It tremendously helps them to find beautiful things in their daily life in order to elevate their satisfaction of life. Additionally, having learned art, students are able to appreciate works of art, by which they can gain much mental enjoyment. Both mental enjoyment and aesthetic judgment are keys for people to improve their life quality mentally, and hereby the significance of art education ought to be affirmed.

本段着重讨论题干中的第一观点。通过论述肯定了艺术课程的重要性，即赞同了题干的观点。

On the other hand, by no means is introducing art classes as compulsory subjects in high schools a rational decision. No matter how important art education is for students’ future, students who will not choose majors related to art in college are not supposed to be pushed to learn art classes. Doing so is widely thought to be meaningless for them and a waste of time and energy. The main purpose of high school education is making students qualified for winning limited high-level educational resource. Obviously, art classes contribute nothing to their university entrance examination. Consequently, high school is not the right time for students to learn art in spite of sufficient meaning of art education to one’s life.

本段重点讨论题干的第二观点。通过论述，将其否定。

To sum up, although no one is able to deny how necessary art education is for people, it is fairly unreasonable that every high school student must spend their precious time on art study.

结尾段，通过一个让步状语从句的方式，将笔者对于题干中两个观点的立场清晰阐述。

之前文章，各位读者反馈句子冗长，日后必定改正。行文仓促，必有不足。望各位海涵，待大家斧正。