Generation Gap
　　Though many aspects of our social life have been improved, the generation gap between the youths and the elders remains and even grows wider.
　　In my opinion, because of the influence of individualism from western civilization, the youths do not blindly follow what the elders say, which causes the gap. The young are creative and revolutionary and always go along with the trend and like changing. While the old, accustomed to everything of the past, they are hostile to change. Also with more and more different beliefs and philosophical ideas, it is naturally the young who hold different opinions from the old.
　　I think in order to narrow the gap, both parts should try to understand and respect each other, instead of trying to change others as they wish. Diversity doesn't mean conflict so long as they hold the right attitude towards the problems.                  (144 words)

aspect  n. 方面，方位
influence  n./v. 影响
individualism  n. 个人主义
civilization  n. 文明
blindly  adv. 盲目地, 轻率地
revolutionary  adj. 革命的 
accustomed to  习惯于
be hostile to  对......有敌意
philosophical ideas  哲学思想
narrow  v. 使变窄，缩小
diversity  n. 差异，多样性
so long as  只要



What is learned in the cradle is carried to the grave. 
孩提时代学到的东西，至死也不会忘却。
-- Bacon  培根

代 沟
　　虽然我们社会生活的诸多方面，已经得到了改善，但年青人与老年人之间的代沟仍然存在，甚至在扩大。
　　依我看来，因为受西方个人主义的影响，年青人不再盲目跟随老人们的说法，而这导致了差距。年轻人富有创造性和革新的力量，始终顺应潮流，喜欢变化。而老人们则习惯了过去的一切，不喜欢改变。同时也有越来越多的不同信仰和哲学思想，这自然造成了年青人与老年人持有不同意见。
　　我认为，想要缩小差距，两方应尽量相互理解和尊重，而不是以他们自己的意愿来试图改变别人。只要他们持有应对问题的正确态度，多元化并不意味着冲突。

1. Though many aspects of our social life have been improved, the generation gap between the youths and the elders remains and even grows wider. 虽然我们社会生活的诸多方面，已经得到了改善，但年青人与老年人之间的代沟仍然存在，甚至在扩大。
2. The young are creative and revolutionary and always go along with the trend and like changing. While the old, accustomed to everything of the past, they are hostile to change. 年轻人富有创造性和革新的力量，始终顺应潮流，喜欢变化。而老人们则习惯了过去的一切，不喜欢改变。
3. I think in order to narrow the gap, both parts should try to understand and respect each other, instead of trying to change others as they wish. 我认为，想要缩小差距，两方应尽量相互理解和尊重，而不是以他们自己的意愿来试图改变别人。