2012年12月英语四级作文真题:Education pays

Judging from the table, we can see that people's income increases along with their education levels. Above all，the average college graduates earn much more than the typical high-school graduates. The fact revealed by these data is obvious: a degree does bring distinctive financial benefits to its holders. But is it true that a degree alone can ensure a bright future? I don't think so because, on the one hand, the financial value of high education depends heavily on what skills graduates can gain from it instead of the degree itself. After all, an employer only pays for your ability and performance, not for your certificate. On the other hand, the most valuable bless high education brings to graduates is the ability to learn quickly and efficiently. People received more education tend to keep lifelong learning habits after their graduation, which would help them gain more opportunities in their career path. In conclusion, what accounts for education pays is not the degree alone, but the graduate's ability and learning habit.