Most people would agree that buildings represent a valuable record of any
society s past, but controversy arises when old buildings stand on ground
that modern planners feel could be better used for modern purposes.
In your opinion, which is more important-preserving historic buildings or
encouraging modern development? Explain your position, using reasons and
examples based on your own experiences, observations, or reading. （新与
旧）

The issue of whether to raze an old, historic building to make way for
progress is a complex one, since it involves a conflict between our
interest in preserving our culture, tradition, and history and a legitimate
need to create practical facilities that serve current utilitarian
purposes. In my view, the final judgment should depend on a case-by-case
analysis of two key factors.
One key factor is the historic value of the building. An older building may
be worth saving because it uniquely represents some bygone era. On the
other hand, if several older buildings represent the era just as
effectively, then the historic value of one building might be negligible.
If the building figured centrally into the city s history as a municipal
structure, the home of a founding family or other significant historical
figure, or the location of important events, then its historic value would
be greater than if its history was an unremarkable one.
The other key factor involves the specific utilitarian needs of the
community and the relative costs and benefits of each alternative in light
of those needs. For example, if the need is mainly for more office space,
then an architecturally appropriate add-on or annex might serve just as
well as a new building. On the other hand, an expensive retrofit may not be
worthwhile if no amount of retrofitting would permit it to serve the
desired function- Moreover, retrofitting might undermine the historic value
of the old building by altering its aesthetic or architectural integrity.
In sum, neither modernization for its own sake nor indiscriminate
preservation of old buildings should guide decisions in the controversies
at issue. Instead, decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis)
considering historic value, community need, and the comparative costs and
benefits of each alternative