The Value of Time
Nobody knows what time is like, for we cannot see it, nor can we touch it. Time is abstract, which we can only imagine in our mind.
But we do know that time passes very quickly. Some students, however, do not know the value of time, nor do they know how to make the best use of it, for they waste it in going to films, playing games and doing other useless things. Why do we go to school early in the morning? Why do trains run so fast? Why do most people prefer taking buses instead of walking? The answer is very simple: we wish to save time because time is precious.
Today we are living in the twentieth century. We know that time is life. When a person dies, his time has ended. Since life is short, we must devote our time and energy to our studies so that we may be able to serve our country and the people. But since time is invisible, we often neglect it. Lazinss. is the thief of time, for lasiness not only brings us a lot of harm, it also brings us failure. If it is necessary for us to do some work today, let us do it today and not leave it until tomorrow. Remember that time is more valuable than money.
[点评]
作者强调了时间的珍贵性，并劝告每个人应尽可能多地利用时间多做些事情，不要养成懒惰的习惯。论点虽然有些道理，但不够全面，将看电影等娱乐放松活动当做无用的浪费时间之事，似乎有些偏激。
[参考译文]
时间的价值
谁也不知道时间是什么样子，因为我们既看不见它，也摸不着它。时间是抽象的东西，我们只能凭脑子去想像它。
但是我们的确知道时间流逝得很快。然而，有些学生却不知道时间的价值，也不知道如何充分利用时间，他们把时间浪费在看电影、玩游戏和其他一些无聊的事情上。我们为什么一大早要去上学呢?火车为什么跑得那么快?为什么大多数人愿乘汽车而不愿步行办事呢?答案非常简单：我们想节约时间，因为时间非常宝贵。
如今我们生活在20世纪，我们知道时间就是生命。当一个人去世的时候，他所有的时间便用完了。既然生命短暂，我们必须把时间和精力用于学习，以便为祖国和人民服务；但由于时间是看不见的，我们经常忽视它。懒惰是时间的盗贼，它不但给我们带来许多危害，也会使我们失败。如果今天我们有什么要做的工作，让我们就把它做完，不要拖到明天。记住时间比金钱更宝贵。