4. Buying Lottery Tickets

There is no denying the fact that buying lottery tickets is a hotly debated topic in China today. / There is no denying the fact that buying lottery tickets is becoming popular in China today. Some people believe that it is beneficial in many ways. In the first place, it helps raise money for such groups as the poor and the disabled as well as for such causes as sports. In the second place, lottery games provide people with a means of entertainment or pastime.

　　Others, however, hold the opposite view. They say that buying lottery tickets is actually a kind of gambling. People are encouraged to earn money through guessing instead of down-to-earth labor. As a result, some people are tempted to commit crimes. A case in point is the two bank clerks in Heibei who stole millions of money from the bank to buy lottery tickets.

　　Weighing the arguments of both sides, I am inclined to agree with the former. Lottery games can serve as a good means to raise funds. But the ticket buyers should keep in mind the original purpose of such games, that is, to help the underprivileged or to contribute to public welfare. If they happen to win the prizes, its nothing but a return for their kindness.