Reader's essay from CET-4 test

Here is Professor Xia's version of an essay from a CET-4 test. The CET-4 writing topic is the same as the one to the left.

Before

On the morning of 7th December, 2002, one of my classmates Jiajia, had her right leg injured when she was doing morning exercises on the school pitch. Immediately, she was sent to the school clinic, where she received a minor operation. The doctor suggested Jiajia stay in bed unitl she was able to use crutches. It meant she would be miserablly fixed in bed with plaster and slip all the following classes, for a while. At this, we all volunteered to do her a favour. Some students bought her meals in turn while others washed clothes for her in turn. I kept the notes in detail during the day to help her catch up. When she was depressed, we told her jokes or funny things happened in classes. Whenever she was in need of help, none was beyond of her reach. We even held a party to celebrate her birthday beside her bed in the dormitory, at which we enjoyed ourselves very much.

There, having been able to walk with a pair of crutches, Jiajia came back with us again. As she has claimed, "I've lived the true meaning of 'a friend in need is a friend indeed' once more!"

---------------------------------------

This reader's essay could score 10 points according to the CET marking scheme.



After

On the morning of December 7th, 2002, one of my classmates, Jiajia, broke her right leg when she was doing morning exercises on the sports ground. She was immediately taken to the school clinic, where she had a minor operation. The doctor suggested that Jiajia stay in bed until she was able to use crutches. It meant she would be confined to bed with her right leg in plaster and miss all classes for quite a while. On hearing this, we all volunteered to do her a favour. Some students got meals for her while others washed her clothes. I took detailed notes during class and gave them to her to help her keep up. When she was depressed, we told her jokes or funny things that had happened in class. Whenever she was in need of help, some of us were there to give it. We even held a birthday party for her beside her bed in the dormitory, where we all enjoyed ourselves very much.

Then, when she was able to walk with a pair of crutches, Jiajia resumed her studies in class. She says, "I've come to understand the true meaning of 'a friend in need is a friend indeed' through this experience."