英语四级写作提分技巧

英语四级写作提分技巧

好的写作，首先而且至关重要的一点就是简洁。繁冗的写作堆砌了许多无用的词藻，反而减弱表述的清晰度。当然，也不能仅仅因为简短就认为短句一定优于长句。只要一个单词确实能起到一定的作用，它就应该留在句中。一般来说，只有在进行强调或修饰、美化句子时，才能使用重复的单词、语音和短语。修改文章，就是要删繁就简。比较下面这对句子，注意体会二者的差别及效果。

1) Dr. Sun Yat-sen went to Japan by means of a big boat. 2) Dr. Sun Yat-sen went to Japan by boat.

斜体字部分较啰嗦，因为\"by\"就是\"by means of boat\"。 请看下列例句

Wordy: It makes me feel painful to think that she has to work 12 hours a day and seven days a week. Better: It pains me to think that she has to work 12 hours a day and seven days a week.

Wordy: It will be our aim to ensure proper health care for each and every one of the Chinese people. Better: Our aim is to ensure proper health care for all Chinese.

Wordy: This book will help you master the basic elements of good writing. Better: This book will help you master the basics of good writing. Wordy: The search of the forest that they conducted was entirely complete. Better: The search of the forest was complete. 或They conducted a complete search of the forest.

第二个句子合乎汉语表达习惯，即他们对森林进行了彻底的搜查。

Wordy: He has no sense of principles, whether he is in public or in private. Better: He has no principles, public or private.

Wordy: Whenever anyone telephoned her to ask her for help with their homework she always obliged right away.

Better: She immediately obliged anyone who telephoned for help with homework. Wordy: In a cautious manner the car went around the corner. Better: The car negotiated the corner.

Wordy: If the government agency finds that an individual has received a payment to which the individual was not entitled, whether or not the payment was due to the individual’s fault or misrepresentation, the individual shall be liable to repay to the government the total sum of the payment to which the individual was not entitled.

Better: If the government agency finds that you received a payment that you weren’t entitled to, you must pay the entire sum back.

Wordy: Another important aspect is good health. It is one of our great blessings. It may be achieved through proper diet and exercise. Rest is also desirable.

Better: The great blessing of good health may be had through proper diet, exercise, and rest. 词语简化的一些技巧

2 策略之一：用介词短语替代从句。 例:

Wordy: While they were playing tennis, she started an argument that lasted all morning. Better: During tennis she started an argument that lasted all morning. Wordy: When you come to the second traffic light, turn right. Better: At the second traffic light turn left.

2 策略之二：删除诸如\"who is”或\"that is\"之类的关系代词，变从句为短语。 例:

Wordy: The novel, which is written in three parts, told a story that took place in the Middle Ages. Better: The three-part novel told a story set in the Middle Ages.

注：把句中的”three parts”改用形容词来表达，节省了四个不必要的单词”which is written in”。我们经常可以将关系代词如”that”去掉，这只会引起最少的变动。 2 策略之三：剔除你不需要的单词

\"Two joint partners will present their views over a long-distance telephone call. \" 写完这样的句子后，你自己再读一遍，挑出单词”joint”和”telephone”，注意删去不必要的词。

2 策略之四：表达否定意义时，尽量避免使用否定词。英语中很多词不用 \"no’s\" 或者\"not’s\"也能表达否定含义的词汇，你尽可以采取更为委婉的表达方式。 例：

Thus college students who do not have sufficient financial backing , 也就是 college students who lacks sufficient financial backing。 如果你不想使用太多的否定词，就应该尽量避免使用它们。 平行结构，一起来看一下。

相似的思想应用相似的形式表达出来。句子的成份相近，则也应以相似的形式出现。请注意以下标有\"NO\"的句子是不规范的。

No: The school bus skidded, turned sideways, then comes to a stop. Yes: The school bus skidded, turned sideways, and came to a stop. (并列时态)

No: I don’t know why I married someone who is miserly, sloppy and a bore. Yes: I don’t know why I married someone who is miserly, sloppy and boring. (形容词平行结构)

No: In the wreck the circus lost a panda and elephant. Yes: In the wreck the circus lost a panda and an elephant. (不定冠词的平行结构)

No: I debated whether I should give the beggar money or to offer him food. Yes: I debated whether to give the beggar money or to offer him food. (不定式的平行结构)

No: They would lie on the battlefield for hours and sometimes days. Yes: They would lie on the battlefield for hours and sometimes for days. (介词平行结构)

No: Michael’s vacuum cleaner squealed loudly, shook violently, and dust filled the air. Yes: Michael’s vacuum cleaner squealed loudly, shook violently, and filled the air with dust. (并列谓语)

No: The mechanic explained the problem, method, and the tools that he was going to use. Yes: The mechanic explained the problem, method, and tools that he was going to use. (并列带有定冠词\"the\"的名词)

No: He retired respected by his associates, admired by his friends, and his employees loved him. Yes: He retired respected by his associates, admired by his friends, and loved by his employees. (并列被动语态)

No: As a young man he had been to Shanghai, fighting in the Anti-Japanese War, and following the Nationalist Party to Chongking.

Yes: As a young man he had been to Shanghai, had fought in the Anti-Japanese War and had followed the Nationalist Party to Chongking. (并列过去完成时)

No: Jane is pretty, with brown hair, and has a graceful manner. Yes: Jane is pretty, brown-haired, and graceful. (形容词平行结构)

No: He left the city because of his lack of success in business, the departure of his friends and because his health deteriorated rapidly.

Yes: He left the city because of his lack of success in business, the departure of his friends and his rapidly failing health. (作宾语的名词平行结构)

No: They bought the house for location and affordability.

Yes: They bought the house because of its location and its affordability. (并列名词;注意代词的所有格)

No: Why did you make Xiao Zhang feel useless and as if he was unimportant? Yes: Why did you make Xiao Zhang feel useless and unimportant? (形容词的平行结构)

No: This could be a problem for both the winners and for those who lose. Yes: This could be a problem for both the winners and losers. (名词平行结构)

No: The prisoner was not only found guilty of bribery but also adultery. Yes: The prisoner was found guilty not only of bribery but also of adultery. (并列介词短语)

为使平行结构清楚明了，随时都可以重复介词、冠词、助动词、不定词标志，或者长的短语或句子的介绍词。 Awkward: I admire Tennyson for the ideals in his poems but not his style. Improved: I admire Tennyson for the ideals in his poems but not for his style.

Awkward: The sentences are difficult to understand, not because they are long but they are obscure. Improved: The sentences are difficult to understand, not because they are long but because they are obscure.

Awkward: He explained that the advertising campaign had been successful, business had increased more than forty per cent, and additional capital was sorely needed.

Improved: He explained that the advertising campaign had been successful, that business had increased more than forty per cent, and that additional capital was sorely needed.

在商业和正式文件写作中，越来越多的用到圆点散句。除了更易读之外，它们更能从视觉上引起人们注意。作者需要决定在圆点之后用什么形式来写，是用名词，动词，形容词，副词，还是介词短语，定语从句甚至完整的句子。应该记住的是它们相互间应该保持一致。平行结构较多用。 Examples:

Our recommendations for improving computer-user comfort are as follows: · Anti-radiation screens should be available for computer monitors.

· Wrist supports should be used to help maintain proper wrist position during computer use and possibly reduce the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.

· Employees need adjustable chairs with a stronger back support. (主谓一致结构)

What makes me different from other job applicants?

· Ability to converse in English, Japanese in addition to my native Mandarin · Completion of two-month customer satisfaction training · Impeccable medical report card

· Outgoing personality and eager desire to help (名词平行结构)

Awkward: At Yi Xin Associates, we have 15 years of combined legal experience in all types of injury cases one can think of. Other areas we handle are wrongful death, automobile accidents and medical malpractice. If you slip and fall in a public building, we can represent you in filing a law suit against the owner. Also, our clients come to seek our help in handicap discrimination and denial of insurance claim cases. Better: At Yi Xin Associates, we have 15 years of combined legal experience in: · All injury cases · Wrongful death · Automobile accidents · Medical malpractice · Slip and fall

· Handicap discrimination · Denial of insurance claims

Incorrect: The duties of the Executive Secretary of the Administrative Committee are: · To take minutes of all meetings (不定式短语)

· The Executive Secretary answers all the correspondence; and (句子) · Writing of month reports. (话题)

Correct: The duties of the Executive Secretary of the Administrative Committee are: · To take minutes of all meetings; · To answer all the correspondence; and · To write monthly reports. 精典范例:

Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe1 alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

So let us begin anew, remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and that sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. Now the trumpet summons us again - not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need2; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are3; but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, a year in and year out \"rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation,\" a struggle4 against the common enemies of man: 5 tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.

And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you6; ask what you can do for your country.

--美国前总统John F. Kennedy 注意：

(1)划线部分为平行结构

(2)例 1.头韵;例2&3. \"We need arms\"和 \"We are embattled\"为倒装结构;例4.同位语;例5.见冒号的用法。 在句中使用 \"and\" 或\"on\"时, 须连接结构相同的部分。总的原则是：词与词相配, 短语和短语相配,从句和从句相

配 ,句子则和句子放在一起。所有这些搭配必须是平行结构，它们应采用相同的形式。

No: My parents went to Tibet, to Mongolia, and they even saw Hong Kong and Macau. Yes: My parents went to Tibet, to Mongolia, and even to Hong Kong and Macau.

No: Jonathan noticed the way Stephanie talked and how she kept fidgeting with her fingers. Yes: Jonathan noticed how Stephanie talked and how she kept fidgeting with her fingers. 一些连词，如 both/and, either/or, neither/nor,和not only/but also.常用于连接平行结构。 No: That conference was both helpful and contained a lot of information. Yes: That conference was both helpful and informative. No: Here we either turn left or right, but I forget which. Yes: Here we turn either left or right, but I forget which.

No: Fu Chong, the pianist, was heavily influenced both by his mentor and his parents. Yes: Fu Chong, the pianist, was heavily influenced by both his mentor and his parents. No: Elizabeth’s overcoat is at either the theater or her dormitory. Yes: Elizabeth’s overcoat is either at the theater or in her dormitory. 从句的禁忌，一起来看一下。 关于\"but\"的用法

中国人喜欢使用\"but\"从句：同中文一样，在英文中这也是连接两个短句的简单方法。要避免单一的\"but\"从句，可以考虑采用以下这些变化形式：

Plain: The children at school were familiar with many games, but Li Hua had never even heard of them. Interesting: The children at school were familiar with games Li Hua had never even heard of. Plain: The room was silent, but suddenly there was a clap of thunder outside. Interesting: The silence of the room was broken by a sudden clap of thunder outside. Plain: They were passionate lovers not only onstage but also off stage. Better: They were passionate lovers onstage and off.

Plain: Outside the cinema, she lit a cigarette, not necessarily because she had a desire to smoke, but because she felt the need for warmth.

Better: Outside the cinema, she lit a cigarette, as much from the need for warmth as from any desire to smoke.

Plain: It was meant to be a brief kiss, but it turned into a long, lingering one. Interesting: What was meant to be a brief kiss turned into a long, lingering one. Plain: Music lightens life, but literature deepens it. Interesting: Music lightens life; literature deepens it.

Plain: The film \"Chariots of Fire\" is about some young runners, but it is more than just that. Interesting: The film \"Chariots of Fire\" is much more than just a story of young runners. Plain: It is not his height but his weight that prevented him from competing in the race. Interesting: His weight, not his height, prevented him from competing in the race.

Plain: Susan seemed unsuitable for the part, but she turned out to be the best actress in the production. Interesting: Susan seemed unsuitable for the part, yet she turned out to be the best actress in the production.

Plain: Old Wang is often described as a happy-go-lucky person, but the last half hour of the hike home he was interested in nothing but a bath and a bed.

Interesting: Old Wang, an otherwise happy-go-lucky person, thought of only two things the last half hour of the hike home: a bath and a bed. 关于\"if...then\"和\"if\"从句

除了\"but\"从句，很多学英语的人还会过多使用\"if … then\"或是\"if\"从句。这些从句本身并不是不好。但我们这里讨论的是多样性及其必要性。看看下例：

Before: If you fail to pass the drug test, we will have to dismiss you from your job. After: Failure to pass the drug test will result in job dismissal.

修改后的句子语气显得稍强一些。同时因为句中省掉了\"you\"，使句子在语气上减少了对抗性。这个解题对策适用于每种人称，不单单指\"you\"。

Plain: If one imitates, one cannot expect to be great. Interesting: No person ever yet became great by imitation. Plain: If we want to end a war quickly, we must lose it. Interesting: The quickest way to end a war is to lose it.

Plain: If we were directed from government bureaucracy when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread.

Interesting: Were we directed from government bureaucracy when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread.

Plain: Several staff members have checked the manuscript to see if it is accurate and easy to use. Interesting: Several staff members have checked the manuscript for accuracy and ease of use. Plain: If words are taken out of context, they are not very likely to mean the same as they do when they are in context.

Interesting: Words taken out of context do not always mean what they do in context.

另一个被广为使用的从句是\"even though\"或\"although\"。请注意在此谈论的并不是句子的错误，我们强调的是文体风格问题。

Plain: Although they were very important in California, laundries were even more significant in other parts of the United States, for laundering was one of the four \"pioneer\" occupations that enabled Chinese to move eastward across the continent.

Interesting: Important as they were in California, laundries were even more significant in other parts of the United States, for laundering was one of the four \"pioneer\" occupations that enabled Chinese to move eastward across the continent.

Plain: Even though the summer of 1889 was the warmest on record, the winter of the same year was cold. Interesting: The summer of 1889 was the warmest on record, followed by a cold winter. 巧用倒装，一起来看一下。 巧用倒装

To be or not to be: that is the question. --William Shakespear

Never before have we had so little time to do so much. --美国前总统 Franklin D. Roosevelt

Plain: We sat on the cliffs by the sea, watching the sunset. Interesting: On the cliffs by the sea we sat, watching the sunset. (介词短语-主语-谓语-分词) Normal: The professor walked in. Reversed: In walked the professor. (谓语-主语)

Normal: Jeremy scorned honest men. Reversed: Honest men Jeremy scorned. (宾语-主语谓语)

Normal: Although I am fond of my children, I hope they won’t grow up spoilt. Reversed: Fond as I am of my children, I hope they won’t grow up spoilt

Normal: He never gave up certain habits of his youth, and one of them was that he liked to inspect his clothes thoroughly for wrinkles before he stepped out of the door.

Reversed: Certain habits of his youth he never gave up, and one of them was that he liked to inspect his clothes thoroughly for wrinkles before he stepped out of the door. Normal: Stephen was a bungler then. Reversed: A bungler Stephen was then. (补语-主语-谓语)

Normal: We shall never feel secure.

Reversed/Interesting: Secure we shall never feel. (补语-主语-谓语)

Normal: This is a lost generation. Reversed: This is a generation lost.

Plain: The immense expanse of the Gobi Desert stretches before us. Interesting: Before us stretched the immense expanse of the Gobi Desert. (介词短语-谓语-名词)

Plain: He wasn’t cut out to be a peacetime officer. He wanted glory, he wanted the excitement of war. No one, except possibly himself, has ever doubted his physical courage (or any other kind of courage). Interesting: He wasn’t cut out to be a peacetime officer. He wanted glory, he wanted the excitement of war. His physical courage (or any other kind of courage) no one, except possibly himself, has ever doubted. Normal: Nobody knows why lands sink under the sea and rise again. Reversed: Why lands sink under the sea and rise again nobody knows. Normal: I dare not trust her. Emphatic: Trust her I dare not.

Normal: I never thought he would return alive. Emphatic: Never did I think he would return alive.

Loose: History has proved amply that mere numbers may be defeated by smaller forces who are superior in arms, organization, and morale.

Better: That mere numbers may be defeated by smaller forces who are superior in arms, organization, and morale history has amply proved.

Plain: I hate taxes and tax collectors equally. Interesting: Taxes and tax collectors, I hate equally. (宾语- 主语- 谓语)

Normal: This is more noticeable in Kaohsiung than anywhere else in Taiwan. Emphatic: Nowhere in Taiwan is this so noticeable as in Kaohsiung. Normal: Like most Irishmen, Samuel was quick-tempered. Reversed: Samuel was quick-tempered, as are most Irishmen. Normal: A man lay beside the road, waiting hopelessly for help. Reversed: Waiting hopelessly for help, a man lay beside the road.

Plain: In the President’s office, there was a pale, thin, sandy-haired man in his early thirties with the President. He was wearing a rumpled suit and looking completely out of place.

Better: In the office with the President was a pale, thin, sandy-haired man in his early thirties, wearing a rumpled suit and looking completely out of place.

倒装结构中的常见短语： Strange as it may sound… Little did I know...

To your right...; and to your left ... as in \"To my right is a large a lake, partially hidden behind the hill. Off we go...

Down with ... as in \"Down with the Gang of Four.\" Happy will be the day... Reverse the sequence for effect 妙用倒装

如果你行文平淡，那就枯燥无味。你需要不时地改变一下你的行文规则，把简单的东西紧缩，放在一起写，有时你得打破你叙述事情的惯用模式。达到语言变化自如的途径之一是颠倒句子的正常顺序。倒装使文章清新，出人意料,富于创造性。

打破词或句子的自然顺序可获得强调的效果，但注意：如果过分使用倒装会使文章矫揉造作，有明显的雕琢痕迹。同时句子次序的变化不应该造成歧义。

例 Wrong: Those who teach rarely get rich.

这个句子含义模糊，分辨不出是 \"teach rarely\" 还是 \"rarely get rich?\" Reversed/ Correct:Rarely do those who teach get rich. Reversed/Correct:Rarely do people get rich by teaching.

优秀作家一般在句子的一半处引出主语。可是很多学生几乎不用这种写法。应该变换这种主语开头的写法。 松散句，一起来看一下。 \"and\"和松散句

松散句在文章中随处可见，难以消亡。松散句在语法上并没错误，它只是太长，且干扰读者对文章的理解，不幸的是，犯有此类毛病的作者往往屡见不鲜。对此可遵循一条好的原则：如果发现一个句子长及两到三行，则仔细考虑两遍，它很可能要彻底改动。

Rambling: The plane was ready to take off; having never traveled by plane before he suddenly felt nervous as the sky ominously turned from gray to black, and threatening bolts of lightning shot across the sky, and thunder echoed in the distance.

Better: The plane was ready to take off. He had never traveled by plane and suddenly felt nervous as the sky turned ominously from gray to black. Threatening bolts of lightening shot across the sky, and thunder echoed in the distance.

Rambling: We regret to inform you that inclement weather conditions in our area have caused us to reschedule all deliveries for the month of February so that we must also reschedule shipment of your order to February 16.

Better: I’m sorry to let you know that a winter storm will delay shipment of your order until February 16.

松散句经常有很多\"and\"。在口语中，尚可多用几个\"and\" 但若过多地出现在书面英语中，则令人难以接受。取代\"and\"的方法是改用逗号或从属结构，或者干脆省略。

Plain: The Governor of Hong Kong descended the long and winding staircase. Interesting: The Governor of Hong Kong descended the long, winding staircase.

Plain: My grandparents spent long summer hours under the old, tall and shady tree in the courtyard. Interesting: My grandparents spent long summer hours under the old, tall, shady tree in the courtyard. Plain: By attending this workshop, you will learn just which cosmetic essentials you need and which formulas are just your style.

Interesting: By attending this workshop, you will learn just which cosmetic essentials you need, which formulas are just your style.

Plain: To a man harassed by a nagging wife and undisciplined children, work away from home can be a great blessing, and a welcome escape.

Interesting: To a man harassed by a nagging wife and undisciplined children, work away from home can be a great blessing, a welcome escape.

Ineffective: The Yangtze River is one of the longest rivers in the world, and in the springtime it occasionally overflows its banks, and many people are endangered.

Improved: The Yangtze River, one of the longest rivers in the world, occasionally endangers many people during the springtime by overflowing its banks.

Ineffective: The village had a population of seven thousand, and a typhoon struck it, and it was practically demolished.

Improved: The village, with its seven thousand people, was struck by a typhoon and practically demolished. Ineffective: He was the mayor of the town, and he was a genial fellow, and he invited the four young boys into his study.

Improved: The mayor of the town, a genial fellow, invited the four young boys into his study. Ineffective: The central plain holds Switzerland’s major manufacturing facilities and many of them specialize in high-quality and precision products.

Improved: The central plain holds Switzerland’s major manufacturing facilities, many of them specializing in high-quality, precision products.

Plain: I had always wanted to go to college, and I had always wished to become an engineer, and so I enrolled at Dalian University of Science and Technology

Interesting: Because I had always wanted to enter college and prepare myself to become an engineer, I enrolled at Dalian University of Science and Technology. Or Better:

I enrolled at Dalian University of Science and Technology to achieve my double purpose of attending college and becoming an engineer.

Plain: Near the center of the campus of our university a new building has been erected, and it is constructed of red brick.

Better: A red-brick building has been erected near the center of our university campus. 或Near the center of our university campus is the brand new red-brick building. 独立主格结构，一起来看一下。 独立主格结构

独立主格结构指带主语的动词分词、介词、或副词词组。 何谓独立主格结构?

它是指与主语之间无任何语法关系的名词或代词加上一个分词的结构。它不修饰单个的词，而修饰整个句子。独立主格结构可位于句子的任何部位。它构成一个单独实体，并具有如下两种功能：(1) 解释原因或情景 (2) 提供主句中重点部分的相关细节。

例 Freud distinguished three kinds of anxiety, each arising from a different source of perceived danger. \"each\" 是独立主格结构，\"arising from\"是动词短语。注意这个独立主格结构是一个\"干巴巴\"的句子。通过改变动词形式，它的面貌可焕然一新：Each arises from a different source of perceived danger. 再看以下例句

Before: His nose was running and his hands were shaking. He left the theater like that. Interesting: His nose running and his hands shaking, he left the theater. Before: He is known for his bad temper, so I fear the encounter.

Interesting: I fear the encounter, his temper being what it is.

Plain: If the weather is favorable tomorrow, we will spend the entire day climbing Huang Shan. Good: Weather permitting, we will spend the entire day tomorrow climbing Huang Shan. Plain: Let’s pray that the Southeast Asian economy will soon return to normal. Good: The Southeast Asian economy, God willing, will soon return to normal.

Plain: Early radio reports exaggerated the success of the raid on the Embassy. Some even indicated that the Vietcong had occupied several floors of the building.

Better: Early radio reports exaggerated the success of the raid on the Embassy, some even indicating that the Vietcong had occupied several floors of the building.

Plain: Even though the drug controversy was still festering around him, in the end, defending Australian Open champion Petr Korda walked away with a salute to a cheering crowd.

Better: In the end, defending Australian Open champion Petr Korda, the drug controversy around him still festering, walked away with a salute to a cheering crowd.

有些短语在语法上可与它所在句中的其它成分分离。这种结构不修饰句子的任何一个词，而修饰句子的整体意思。 分词连同它所修饰的名词或代词可构成独立主格结构。同位语和插入语有时也被认为是独立主格结构 有用句型

During the early years of the Cultural Revolution, dried mushrooms on dinner tables were an unheard-of luxury, and pork chops unthinkable.

We see Van Gogh in the role of prophet in \"Self Portrait,\" his emaciated, luminous head with its burning eyes set off against a whirlpool of darkness.

Professor Wang’s handwriting was precise, fussy, spidery, his notepad pale mauve. 使用同位结构，一起来看一下。 同位结构

同位语指用于再定义相邻的名词(或词组)的名词(或词组)。

例 Nature was addressed for the first time in a universal and international language, the precise and quantitative idiom of mathematics, a tongue which every man and woman, irrespective of color, creed or race, can use and master if given the proper training.

注: \"the precise and quantitative idiom of mathematics\" 和 \"a tongue which every man and woman can use and master\" 是同位语。

Awkward: Today, transistors and other solid state devices, such as personal computers, cellular telephones, and precision controls, to name a few, are the foundation of industries unknown a few decades ago. Better: Today, transistors and other solid state devices are the foundation of industries unknown a few decades ago - personal computers, cellular telephones, and precision controls, to name a few.

(注意: industries unknown a few decades ago = personal computers, cellular telephones, and precision controls)

Awkward: Coolidge was a taciturn, morose New England farmer who did not seem to have apparent talents, but, he appeared to the country to symbolize such old American virtues as frugality, honesty, hard work and religious faith.

Better: A taciturn, morose New England farmer of no apparent talents, Coolidge nevertheless appeared to the country as a symbol of old American virtues: frugality, honesty, hard work, and religious faith. Loose: Biotechnology is defined as the use of a natural biological system to produce a product or to achieve an end desired by human beings. The subject is not new.

Better: Biotechnology, the use of a natural biological system to produce a product or to achieve an end desired by human beings, is not new.