综合写作：
Writing | Question 1 of 2
Some historians claim that the first people to sail around Africa were Phoenicians. Phoenicia was an ancient nation well – known for its seafaring achievements. The historians base their theory on some ancient sources indicating that a group of Phoenician sailors were hired to sail around Africa by an Egyptian king, Necho II, who reigned from 610 to 595 B.C.E.
However, many other historians find that theory unconvincing and point to a number of reasons why.
First
it is highly unlikely that the Phoenician sailors possessed the necessary technology to sail around Africa as early as 600 B.C.E. The ships they built were small and held together only with crude wooden pegs. Also, the ships had only one simple square – shaped sail. While such technology might have been suitable to sail on the Mediterranean Sea near Phoenicia, it would not have been suitable for the long voyage in the open ocean around Africa.
Second
it also goes against what we know about Egyptian rulers of the time to suggest that Necho II ordered the expedition and hired the Phoenicians. Ancient Egyptians are understood to have been generally uninterested in exploring the world beyond their kingdom and the lands immediately surrounding it. Necho II would have had no reason to hire Phoenician sailors.
Third
it is possible that the account of a journey around Africa recorded in the ancient sources was just a story invented by sailors that later spread. It was not uncommon for people of the ancient world to make up stories and pass them off as truths, particularly when it had to do with the ocean. Stories of sea monsters and magical islands were also popular at the time, so in the same way, a story about a voyage around Africa could have been invented as well.
学术写作：
Instructions
Your professor is teaching a class on sociology. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.
In your response you should:
- Express and support your opinion.
- Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Dr. Achebe
More and more, online shopping is becoming the primary way that many people obtain everyday goods. But what are the ramifications for the society in which we live? On the one hand, online shopping has advantages – for example, I can make a purchase without ever leaving my home. However, with fewer people shopping at local shops, in some places, these establishments are having a hard time competing. Do you think that online shopping is, on the whole, affecting society?
Andrew
I think that online shopping has had negative impacts on society. In my city, many local stores have shelves filled with various products that you can find in online stores. This has forced some of them to close down, which not only affects the amount of tax revenue generated in our local community but also impacts the number of job opportunities available to the community members.
Kelly
It’s unfortunate that some local stores are forced to close down, but that’s the nature of competition. As consumers, we benefit greatly from online shopping due to lower prices. Even if I find a physical store that can compete with online sellers in terms of pricing, I am still likely to make the purchase online because it means I don’t have to spend money on transportation to the store.
