Fast Food (212 words)

　　Fast food, such as hamburgers, fried chicken, is as much a part of modern life as the automobile and the computer. It is rapidly becoming popular al over the world. Nowadays, time is money. More and more people find it difficult to afford time to sit in restaurants enjoying long, leisurely lunches, or at home waiting for a breakfast or a meal to be prepared. So nobody would deny the fact that fast food is a blessing for busy people, as it helps them make more efficient use of time.

　　On the other hand, there are still those who complain that fast food has little nutritional value. They worry that if people get used to living on fast food, their health will suffer. In addition, the opponents of fast food even worry about the decline in traditional cuisine the fast food industry will bring about. They say that the traditional cuisine will disappear if the trend toward fast food continues.

　　So far as I am concerned, I would like to take a more balanced position. For one thing, few people eat fast food all the time. For another thing, comparing our traditional food with western fast food, we do realize that our traditional cooking is really very appetizing, though a bit time-consuming.

　　Pets (230 words)

　　In the West, many families like to keep a pet. We may be surprised at the amount of money they pay in terms of pets’ food or medical treatment, etc. Keeping a pet, indeed, has many advantages.

　　I have two main reasons for my argument. First of all, pets can be good companions, which is especially important for those who live alone and the old who can not get out much. What they get from the pets is not only hours of amusement but also loyalty. Some pets can even protect the house from thieves. Secondly, taking care of a pet also helps children to be responsible and caring members of the society. A child who learns to be very sensitive to the feelings of a pet can be expected to have positive attitudes to other people and life.

　　However, some others would argue that pets are dirty or dangerous. But I believe it is not that pets themselves are to blame, but their owners. If the owners train their pets properly and take very good care of them, they are unlikely to get dirty or become aggressive.

　　To sump up, there are surely more advantages than disadvantages to keeping a pet, especially for those lonely and young. Money spent on the special food for pets or the high fees paid for pets’ medical treatment is not a waste.