大学英语四级考试的作文在上个世纪曾以议论文为主，从2000年起命题思路开始变化，题目花样也不断翻新，令考生应接不暇。如2002年6月是图表分析大学生使用电脑的情况；2003年6月是目击事故的描述；2004年6月考导游词；2005年1月考学生会主席的竞选演说；2006年6月，招募志愿者；2007年6月，加入俱乐部的欢迎词；2009年6月，关于博物馆的免费开放等等。
如果说其他的题目还都和社会及校园生活密切相连，那么导游词则和大学生稍微有一点点距离。无怪乎许多考生拿到题目，脑子里一片空白：导游词，怎么写？
旅游是人类社会的一项积极而健康的交往活动。伴随着高科技和经济全球化的迅猛发展，各国间的交往日益频繁，现代旅游作为连接各国人民的无形纽带，越来越引起广泛的关注。大学生来自全国各地，家乡和就读城市都会有一些著名景点，因而每个大学生都可以成为外国游客的导游。
应该清楚的是，四级作文考试，注重考查语言基本功和综合实力。只要不偏题，基本考点都包括进去，语言表达无误就可以了。但是21世纪的大学生应该做到知识面广、多才多艺，所以还是需要了解一些导游词的基本常识。
一、导游词简介
导游词是一种比较特殊的文体，是导游人员引导游客观光游览时的讲解词。作为导游同游客交流思想、向游客传播景点文化的途径，它可以包括对名胜古迹的介绍、对文物陈列的解说、对展览标本的说明，以及对名特产品的推荐等等。
二、导游词的结构
一篇完整的导游词，其结构一般包括习惯用语、概括介绍、重点讲解三个部分。
1. 习惯用语
习惯用语又分为两个部分——见面时的开头语和离别时的告别语。
开头语包括问候语、欢迎语、介绍语、游览注意事项等，放在导游词的最前面。告别语在导游词的最后，通常对游客表达良好的祝愿。
2. 概括介绍
即用概述法来简单介绍，帮助旅游者对景点先有个总体了解，引起游览兴趣。概括介绍应根据时间和游客情况，可长可短，可详可略。
3. 重点讲解
这是导游词最重要的组成部分。从景点成因、历史传说、文化背景、审美功能等方面进行详细的介绍，使旅游者对旅游目的地有一个全面、正确的了解。
三、导游词的写作要求
一篇优秀的导游词除符合结构严谨、层次清晰、主次分明、文字流畅等对一般好文章的要求外，还必须注意下述几个方面：
1. 知识性
导游词必须有丰富的内容来吸引旅游者的注意力，满足他们的求知欲，但切不可传递错误信息，误导游客。
2. 口语化
导游语言是一种具有丰富表达力的口头语言，要用词精准、语法正确、简洁流畅、亲切自然。
3. 趣味性
导游词最好能有故事情节，并尽量做到生动形象、幽默诙谐。
四、真题分析
2004年6月的四级考试的作文题目要求学生以导游的身份写一篇导游词，包含欢迎词、行程安排以及对景点的介绍。从题材到具体内容都有一定的难度。
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition entitled “A Brief Introduction to a Tourist Attraction”. You should write at least 120 words according to the following guidelines:
Your role: a tour guide; Your audience: a group of foreign tourists
Your introduction should include: some welcoming words; the schedule for the day; a description of the place the tourists will be visiting (e.g. a scenic spot or a historical site, etc.). You should make the introduction interesting and the arrangements for the day clear to everybody.
首先要明确你的身份是导游，面对游客应该有一个简单的自我介绍，可以放在欢迎词里面。这个作文的开头和结尾部分其实就相当于正式导游词里的“习惯用语”。例如：
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Beijing. First of all, I’d like to introduce myself: I am the tourist guide from China Travel Service and it’s a great honor to be here with all of you for a whole day. I hope all of you enjoy yourselves during this trip.
接下来是一天的行程安排。写这部分要特别注意条理清楚。可以用in the morning和in the afternoon划分层次；如果安排的活动比较多，还可以在每层里再排序：first, next, then, last等等，这样才能做到提纲里要求的 “clear”。例如：
During the day, we’ll visit three scenic spots. First, the Great Wall; second, the Ming Tombs; third, the Summer Palace. In the evening, we’ll have Beijing Roast Duck at Quan Ju De Restaurant, and watch Beijing Opera at Chang’An Opera House.
最后要写的是景点的介绍，这对考生的素质和综合驾驭语言的能力是一个考验。第一，要如实介绍，可选择自己比较熟悉和较为确定的信息。第二，注意趣味性，也就是要求中的“interesting”。第三，语法正确，表达顺畅。最后祝游客们玩得愉快、尽兴就可以了。例如：
Now we are at the foot of the Great Wall, one of the greatest wonders of the world. It was built in ancient times and used to defend against the invasion of neighboring ethnic groups. Like a huge dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands and mountains. There is an old Chinese saying: “He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man.” So enjoy the experience of being a true man!
Try out
Imagine yourself as a tour guide, and you are introducing a tourist attraction to a group of foreign tourists. Your introduction should include a self-introduction and some welcoming words as well as a description of the place the tourists are visiting.
参考范文：
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Beijing and thank you for using the China International Travel Service. I am your local guide during your stay in Beijing. My name is Li Ming. I’ll be with you for most of the time.
Now we are visiting the Grand View Garden（大观园）, a construction based on a very famous classical Chinese novel The Dream of the Red Chamber. It is listed as one of the most popular scenic spots in Beijing.
According to the novel, the Grand View Garden was the residence of the wealthy Jia family. Here we are at the Bamboo Lodge（潇湘馆）. Lin Daiyu, the hostess of the Bamboo Lodge, was one of the leading characters in the novel. She was very beautiful and intelligent, but she took in more medicine than food. The next yard is the Happy Red House（怡红院）. It was the residence of another leading character, Jia Baoyu. He lived among many sweet and charming ladies.
We are going to visit many other places in the garden. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions or if there is anything that I can do for you.
