WRITING STRUCTURE

I. DISCUSSION ESSAY
Topic: Schools should ask students to evaluate teachers. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
Introduction:
Cách 1:
Whether + a clause ( S +V) + is a question of controversy. Some people argue that (a clause- side of
disagreement).Other, however, assert that (a clause-  side of agreement ). I find the latter view more
convincing for following reasons.
Introduction : Whether students should be required to express comments on their teachers is a
question of controversy. Some people argue that students are too immature to carry out such an
important task since poor discipline and disrespect may be caused by this action. Others, however,
assert that this practice may bring a number of benefits for teachers and students. I find the second
view more convincing for the following reasons.
Cách 2:
When the question of noun/ noun phrase/ Ving/ wh- question comes into view, different opinions
can be heard. Some people argue that (a clause- side of disagreement). Other, however, assert that (a
clause-  side of agreement ). I find the latter view more convincing for following reasons.
Body
Topic sentence: The Internet has posed negative effects on the Internet- users in various ways.
Supporting idea 1: the users, especially children pay more attention to numerous applications on the
Internet and ignore their study.
 Supporting sentence 1.1. the young spend the straight hours playing games, watching TV or chatting
with their friends
 Supporting sentence 1.2: their studying result will be worse due the lack of studying time
Supporting idea 2: using the Internet is considered a main cause of serious diseases such as obesity, short-
sightedness, Internet addiction.
 Supporting sentence 2.1: it has been shown that the rate of people who are obese or overweight has been
on the increase in recent years.
Linking words
In the first place, there is no denying that (topic sentence 1). To be more precise, (supporting sentence 1). For example, (supporting sentence
1.2).
In addition to the first argument, it can hardly be denied that (supporting sentence 2). To make this idea much clearer, a compelling
epitome for this might be that (supporting sentence 2.1- give example). Obviously, (supporting sentence 2.2- give more detail).

II. ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

Some people think the main purpose of schools is to turn children into good citizens and workers, rather than to benefit them as individuals.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
 1/ Agree:
People have different views about what the main purpose of schools should be. Personally, I agree
that a school’s role is to prepare children to be productive members of society.
 2/ Disagree:
Many people argue that the main role of schools is to prepare children for their future jobs. However,
I believe that the purpose of education should be to help children to grow as individuals.
 3/ Balanced view or neutral:
To a certain extent I agree that the role of schools is to prepare children to be productive members of
society. However, I also believe that the education process has a positive impact on us as individuals.
Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. To what extent do
you agree or disagree?
In my opinion, men and women should have the same educational opportunities. However, I do not
agree with the idea of accepting equal proportions of each gender in every university subject.
Having the same number of men and women on all degree courses is simply unrealistic. Student
numbers on any course depend on the applications that the institution receives. If a university decided
to fill courses with equal numbers of males and females, it would need enough applicants of each
gender. In reality, many courses are more popular with one gender than the other, and it would not be
practical to aim for equal proportions. For example, nursing courses tend to attract more female
applicants, and it would be difficult to fill these courses if fifty per cent of the places needed to go to
males.
Apart from the practical concerns expressed above, I also believe that it would be unfair to base
admission to university courses on gender. Universities should continue to select the best candidates for
each course according to their qualifications. In this way, both men and women have the same
opportunities, and applicants know that they will be successful if they work hard to achieve good
grades at school. If a female student is the best candidate for a place on a course, it is surely wrong to
reject her in favour of a male student with lower grades or fewer qualifications.
In conclusion, the selection of university students should be based on merit, and it would be both
impractical and unfair to change to a selection procedure based on gender.

Some people think that all teenagers should be required to do unpaid work in their free time to
help the local community. They believe this would benefit both the individual teenager and
society as a whole. Do you agree or disagree?

Many young people work on a volunteer basis, and this can only be beneficial for both the individual
and society as a whole. However, I do not agree that we should therefore force all teenagers to do
unpaid work.
Most young people are already under enough pressure with their studies, without being given the
added responsibility of working in their spare time. School is just as demanding as a full-time job, and
teachers expect their students to do homework and exam revision on top of attending lessons every
day. When young people do have some free time, we should encourage them to enjoy it with their
friends or to spend it doing sports and other leisure activities. They have many years of work ahead of
them when they finish their studies.
At the same time, I do not believe that society has anything to gain from obliging young people to do
unpaid work. In fact, I would argue that it goes against the values of a free and fair society to force a
group of people to do something against their will. Doing this can only lead to resentment amongst
young people, who would feel that they were being used, and parents, who would not want to be told
how to raise their children. Currently, nobody is forced to volunteer, and this is surely the best system.
In conclusion, teenagers may choose to work for free and help others, but in my opinion we should not
make this compulsory.
 WRITING STRUCTURE

III. PROS AND CONS

 Introduction
 Body 1 – Advantage 1 + Advantage 2 + Example.
 Body 1 – Disadvantage 1 + Disadvantage 2 + Example.
 Conclusion
Introduction
…………….. is a controversial issue that attracts numerous reactions from those advocating and those
opposing sides. The issue regarding whether ……………… attracts heated debate. To the latter group of
people, ………………. This piece presents two sides of arguments regarding pros and cons of …………

Body
a. Advantages:
 Synonyms: advantage: benefit, merit, positive aspect, strong point.
 Structures:
+. The first/main/greatest/important advantage of …. is ….
+.  One/another additional advantage …. is ….
+. What makes …important… is …
+. One/Another point in favor of …. is …
b. Disadvantages:
 Synonyms: disadvantage: drawback, negative aspect, weak point.
 Structures:
+. The first/main/greatest/ most serious disadvantage of …. is ….
+. One/another/an additional disadvantage of …. is ….

• To add more points to the same topic:

in addition (to this), furthermore, moreover, besides, apart from, what is more, as well as, not to
mention (the fact) that, also, not only … but also/as well, both … and, There is another side to the
issue/question/argument of…
• To make contrasting points:
on the other hand, however, still, yet, but, nonetheless, nevertheless, even so,
it may be said/argued/claimed that,…
others/many people oppose this viewpoint/strongly disagree…, claim/feel/believe this argument is
incorrect/misguided

Conclusion:
In conclusion, it is evident that …………... However, both proponents and opponents argue to
support their stands respectively.

Endings….
To sum up, it is true to say that advertising does provide some benefits. However, do you not agree that the drawbacks of a
greedy, materialistic society far outweigh the advantages, and we need to be careful that we do not lose sight of what is most
important - a spirit of co-operation rather than competition?
People now have the freedom to work and live anywhere in the world due to the development of
communication technology and transportation.
Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
These days many people choose to live or work in other countries, which has been made possible
because of the convenience of air travel and modern communications. I believe that this has more
benefits than drawbacks.
The disadvantage of this development is the distance that is put between family members. If a
person moves away it is true that air travel and devices such as skype mean that communication and
contact can be maintained. However, it is likely that a person will only be able to return one or two
times a year during holidays, and speaking on skype or via email is not the same as face-to-face
contact.
Despite this, there are significant advantages it can bring to people’s lives. Firstly, it means that
people have the opportunity to see other parts of the world and the way people live. For example,
people from the West often go to work in Asia or the Middle East and visa-versa. This enriches
many people’s lives as they get to learn about other languages, traditions, cultures and different
ways of working from their own country.
In addition to this, on a wider level it may also benefit other countries. If someone moves abroad for
work, it is usually because their skill is required there. To illustrate, nurses and Doctors often move
to work in hospitals in other countries when there is a shortage, so this is very valuable to the place
they move to.
I would therefore argue that although there are disadvantages of the current trend to live and work
abroad, they are outweighed by the advantages. It can enrich people’s lives and lives of the people
in the countries that they move to.
 WRITING STRUCTURE

IV. PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS

Paragraph 1- Introduction
Paragraph 2- Problems
Paragraph 3- Solutions
Paragraph 4- Conclusion
SAMPLE OUTLINE PROBLEMS – SOLUTIONS ESSAY TRONG WRITING TASK 2
INTRODUCTION
It  is  true  that  ——-topic——-.  Although  there  will  undoubtedly  be  some  negative consequences
of this trend, societies can take steps to mitigate these potential problems.
PROBLEMS
.
Several related problems can be anticipated when —-TOPI C—–
The main issue is
Explanation/example
that——— problem 1——– .  Further pressures will include –
——–
——–problem 2——–Explanation/example——-. —Topic—- can also result in —–problem 3——–
Explanation/example—

SOLUTIONS
There are several actions that governments could take to solve the problems described above. Firstly, a
simple solution would be to —–solution 1——–Explanation/example–——. A second measure would
be —–solution 2 ——– Explanation/example——– .Finally, —- solution 3 ——–Explanation/example
——–.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, various measures can be taken to tackle the problems that are certain to
arise as——-topic——–.
TOPIC: Causes and solutions of the unemployment

OUTLINE

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SAMPLE

In recent years, the issue of unemployment is a suffer for the majority of countries in the
world. However, I believe that there are several measurements to address this problem. This
essay will discuss problems related to unemployment and measures that can be taken to
address these problems.

In my opinion, the unemployment rate is rising for some particular reasons. One of the most
obvious problems is due to the development of technology. Machines are gradually replacing
people to work on the production lines. Gradated students don’t have enough necessary skills
to control modern machines. Another worrying trend is economic recession. The economic
downturn leads many companies to go bankrupt and downsize. So, lots of companies are
mass layoffs and fewer vacancies. The last serious effect is environmental pollution.
Environmental pollution leads to depletion of resources, the jobs related to resource
exploitation is affected. For example, sea pollution leads to unemployed fishermen. For
instance, in polluted lands, farmer can’t grow crops. In short, technological development,
economic downturn and environmental pollution are three major causes of unemployment.

In terms of solutions, to tackle these problem, I believe that innovation in education to train
highly skilled workers need to be implemented. Education has to focus more on teaching
practical skills and practicum programs. In addition, it is necessary to revise training programs
to keep up with the technological development. Another good idea is that the goverment must
have the policy of sustainable economic development. Finally, I suppose that the goverment
must impose strict pollution laws and harsh fines or penalties on factories which break
pollution laws to protect the environment.

In conclusion, the unemployment is a major problem for many countries. I believe that with
the above analysic of causes and solutions, we will take the right steps to overcome
unemployment.

SAMPLE 2:

The problem of unemployment is a world-wide reality; the developed countries as well as the
developing countries suffer from it.

Causes:
-Firstly, the increased population which leads to higher unemployment rates. As the number of people
who are looking for jobs is increasing, it is more difficult to arrange jobs for all these huge numbers of
workers. In this situation the demand for work will be more than the available occupations.

- There is a global rapid technological change which plays a big role in the increased unemployment
problem. Many jobs which were handled by hands are being done by different machines and
technology nowadays. The new advanced technology replaced the low skilled or unskilled workers in
different factories. This made production faster and more accurate, but it resulted in more unemployed
people. For example; when personal computers replaced typewriters, typewriter become unemployed
and had to find other industries to be employed in. 

- The third cause of unemployment is lack of education or skills for employment. This happens when the
qualifications of a person are not sufficient to meet his job responsibilities. If the education was not
directed towards the labour market then a mismatch occurs thus leading to structural unemployment.

- Unemployment can be due to the rising cost. The rising cost makes it hard for the companies to pay
the usual optimum salary for the employees or even the minimum wage in some cases. Hence, the
employees reject low wage jobs and leave the companies. 

The top causes are increased population, rapid technological change, lack of education or skills and
rising cost. Unemployment has become a major problem which affects our life, health, economy and
community. So countries should build more companies and factories in order to provide more
opportunities and positions to respond to the need of the increased population. Moreover, there should
be unemployment insurance to help unemployed individuals in their financial problems till they find a
job. It is important also to utilize the vocational education along with other skills courses’ in order to
prompt the education and skills of the workers to meet the labour market need.
The internet has transformed the way information is shared and consumed, but it has also created
problems that did not exist before.
What are the most serious problems associated with the internet and what solutions can you
suggest?
The enormous growth in the use of the internet over the last decade has led to radical changes to the way that
people consume and share information. Although serious problems have arisen as a result of this, there are
solutions.
One of the first problems of the internet is the ease with which children can access potentially dangerous sites. For
example, pornography sites are easily accessible to them because they can register with a site and claim to be an
adult. There is no doubt that this affects their thoughts and development, which is a negative impact for the
children and for society. Another major problem is the growth of online fraud and hacking. These days, there are
constant news stories about government and company websites that have been hacked, resulting in sensitive
information falling into the hands of criminals.
It is important that action is taken to combat these problems. Governments should ensure that adequate legislation
and controls are in place that will prevent young people from accessing dangerous sites, such as requiring more
than simply confirming that you are an adult to view a site. Parents also have a part to play. They need to closely
monitor the activities of their children and restrict their access to certain sites, which can now be done through
various computer programs. Companies must also improve their onsite IT security systems to make fraud and
hacking much more difficult by undertaking thorough reviews of their current systems for weaknesses.
To conclude, the internet is an amazing technological innovation that has transformed people’s lives, but not
without negative impacts. However, with the right action by individuals, governments and businesses, it can be
made a safe place for everyone.
(285 words)

V. VOCABULARY
OPINION
From my point of view..... (Not 'In my point of view')From my perspective.....To my way of
thinking.....
2nd paragraph
It is true that.....Initially.....To begin with.....
To begin, houses that are being constructed by those in the lower income groups do look at the most
cost effective option. In the process they invariably explore cheaper options that include a
compromise on material and construction quality.
 3rd, 4th ...... paragraph
In addition.....Consequently.....What’s more.....Furthermore.....Moreover.....Other people think
that.....Other people believe that.....On the other hand.....Apart from that.....
 Apart from that, computers would become more powerful and they will have superior artificial
intelligence. We will have robots to do the hazardous works like mining and outer space research.
Surprisingly, e-commerce would be in more convenient form and most of the people will purchase
online rather than going to shops in person.
Comparison
In the same way.....Likewise.....Similarly.....Like the previous point.....Similar to....
Similarly, all the companies and offices are becoming automated and using computers, internet and
other technologies vastly than any other time in history....... 
Contrast:
On the other hand.....On the contrary.....However.....But.....Nonetheless/ Nevertheless.....
Oppositely.....Alternatively.....Unlike.....While.....Whilst.....
On the contrary, poor countries suffer from the lack of sufficient budgets to ensure some very basic
needs of people like health, education, medicines etc. Then again, those countries don't have a
chance to spend a lot of money to initiate a superficial project........
Example: In particular.....Namely.....To show an example.....As an evidence.....To illustrate.....
To paraphrase...
 For example, if a public bus gets busted in the middle of a road, the passenger can easily leave it a
look for another one.
Consequence, effects or result: As a result.....Consequently.....As an effect.....
 Conclusion
On the whole.....To draw the conclusion....In a nut Shell.....To elucidate...

To sum up, if the population explosion continues, many more people will die of starvation in poor countries, and life in the
cities, even in affluent nations, will become increasingly difficult.

Useful Phrase 1 – best for introductions

“This essay will analyse this issue using the examples from…” “to demonstrate points and support
arguments.”

It is undeniable that ___(insert problem from question)___ is one of the most challenging issues in the
western world.

Useful Phrase 2 – best for body paragraphs (opinions)

2.) When injecting an opposing thought, instead of using only “However,” you can use:

“However, it should not be forgotten (that)…” and add the opposing point.

Useful Phrase 3 – best for body paragraphs (examples)

Cite examples from research or studies made, using the phrase,

“For example, a recent study by _________ showed…”

Useful Phrase 5 – best for supporting sentences

Instead of saying “There is proof that…” you can say, instead:

“There is ample evidence to suggest that…”

“Numerous studies have consistently found that …”

 To enable/help/ allow sb to do sth

Eg: Doing regular exercise helps people to keep fit
Eg: Reading books frequently allows children to develop their imagination.
2. To bring huge advantages to sb/ to bring sb huge advantages
Eg: Mobile electronic devices bring huge advantages to users when they travel or work outside the
office. These equipments enable people to telecommute and stay in touch with their family or
colleagues.
3. To provide sb with enormous benefits/ To provide enormous benefits for sb
Eg: Globalization provides enormous benefits for developing countries. This process has helped to not
only create more jobs for local people in the host country but also stimulate domestic economic
development.
4. To mostly benefit sb
Eg: Providing more public sports facilities mostly benefits local residents who wish to keep fit or take
part in some low-cost sports activities.
5. To gain from sth
Eg: Both schools and learners gain much from the process of applying technological advances in class.
In fact, the use of modern equipments such as computers, smart boards or projectors has helped
teachers to better illustrate their lessons using videos, images or sounds and students to create more
captivating presentations as well as stimulate their creativity.
 WRITING SAMPLES

Some people think that schools should select students according to their academic abilities, while
others believe that it is better to have students with different abilities studying together. Discuss
both views and state your own opinion.

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Some people contend that mixed ability classes are more beneficial for children’s development than
streaming them on the basis of judgment about their academic abilities. However, from my perspective,
I disagree with this contention.

Admittedly, mixed ability classes provide a better environment for children’s all-round development. In
such classes, children with different abilities study together and in turn they can learn from one
another. From example, a student, who is good at academic study but weak in dancing or painting, can
learn how to dance or paint form his peers. In this sense, mixed ability classes allow students to develop
their abilities in different subjects instead of only academic abilities.

Despite the argument above, I believe streaming students brings more benefits to teachers and students.
As for teachers, separating children with better academic abilities from others facilitates effective
teaching. This practice helps teachers to control their students more conveniently and easily. Compared
with mixed ability in which teacher should consider students’ differences when they are using teaching
methodologies, streaming makes this situation simpler. To be more specific, students are at the same
level of academic ability in a class, and in turn teachers can use the same methodologies for them all. In
this way, the narrower the spread of ability in the class, the more convenient the teaching can be.

On top of this, steaming enables students to learn in an effective way. According to students’ different

abilities, they are taught in different ways that are more suitable for them. In the top streams, students
use more difficult materials, therefore, they can learn more. In sharp contrast, teachers can explain the
material more slowly to those in bottom streams. Under this circumstance, students with different
academic abilities can study effectively and efficiently.

In the final analysis, mixed ability classes are beneficial for students’ versatile development, but in my
opinion, segregating students based on different academic ability is better for both teachers and
students.
 WRITING SAMPLES

Some people think it is better for children to grown up in the city, while others think that life in the
countryside is more suitable for them. What are the advantages and disadvantages of both places?
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Living in the rural area is thought as the best option for children by a group of people, while others
believe that cities offer more opportunities. In my opinion, if the city offers security and green areas, I
agree it is a better place to raise the next generation enjoying some advantages from both sides.
Firstly, the countryside let children be in touch with nature, taking care of animals and helping with the
gardening. Because of that, they learn how to protect the environment and to live without any
technological equipment. Besides that, they have more freedom to play outside the house without any
security worries, whereas in the city they are kept at home using smartphones and computers for this
reason. On the other hand, schools usually have lower quality and it is hard to find extracurricular
classes. Therefore, children have difficulties trying to develop their abilities besides the school
curriculum.
However, schools at metropolitan areas tend to have better quality and offer all kinds of activities. Even
if there is a sport or an art course that the institution does not offer, it is possible to look for it in another
place around the city. As a result, all children’s talents and passions can be easier to develop. On the
other hand, security, pollution and low contact with nature are issues that we have to worry about. The
better option would be a city with an excellent quality of life where children could play in parks and
gardens.
To sum up, growing up in the countryside can be very positive for someone’s childhood, but the city
will usually offer better opportunities for their talents’ development.
 ENVIRONMENT

Nowadays environmental problems are too big to be managed by individual persons or individual
countries. In other words, it is an international problem. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

An essential problem of the 21st century is world pollution. Currently the environment is so
contaminated that urgent measures should be taken. A single individual cannot be blamed for the
world pollution, however every person should take care of his or her habitat. In addition, it is vital that
environmental issues are treated internationally.

Lately, many presentations, conferences and international summits are held to deal with waste
treatment, recycling, and soil and water contamination. For sure joint efforts and consolidation can only
help in the mutual war towards the ongoing environmental disaster. For instance, governments should
offer support to companies and organizations, involved in manufacturing, industry or agriculture in
order to find environment-friendly approaches. These could be special law regulations, recycling
programs, helping courses in order to implement ISO certificates and many more.

However, the influence of individuals over environment should not be ignored. If we do

not confess that our planet is our home, we will never be able to take adequately care of it. We have to
contribute every day to the preservation of nature and environment. For example, always remember to
save energy by switching off lamps, computers and everything that we do not use. Our next obligation
is to separate waste and throw bulk only in the designated areas. Driving vehicles can also be
environment friendly. For example, we have to avoid accelerating the engines too rapidly or using the
air conditioning in the country, where it would be better to save energy and simply open the windows.

To sum up, environmental problems should be handled by local and international authorities as well as
individuals. Every single person should take care of the environment; moreover we have to bring up
our children to be conscious citizens of a clean and preserved planet.

COMPUTERS
As computers are being used more and more in education, there will be soon no role for teachers in
the classroom.

There is no doubt that education and the learning process has changed since the introduction of
computers: The search for information has become easier and amusing, and connectivity has expedited
the data availability. Though experts systems have made computers more intelligent, they have not yet
become a substitute of the human interaction in the learning process. In my opinion what can be
expected is a change of the teachers’ role, but not their disappearance from the classroom.

Nobody can argue that the acquisition of knowledge is more fun and easier with computers. The mere
activity of touching and exploring this device constitutes an enjoyable task for a child. This,
accompanied by the relaxing attitude and software interactivity, usually contributes to a better grasping
of new knowledge. At a higher educational level the availability of digital books, simulators and other
academic materials provide the student with an ever accessible source of information, that otherwise
would not be at hand.

But, besides the increasing complexity and behavior of intelligent software, which is usually embedded
in the academic digital material, the need for human interaction in the learning process will always be
present, at least in the foreseeable future. There is the necessity for a human being to be able to
determine what the specifics needs of each individual are. The expertise of a teacher in how to explain
and adapt complex concepts to different individuals can hardly be mimicked by a computer, no matter
how sophisticated its software is.

As computers are becoming a common tool for teaching, teachers should be more aware of their role as
guides in the acquisition of knowledge rather than transmitters of facts. They have to be open minded
to the changes that are taking places, keep updated and serve as problem solvers in the learning
process, thus allowing students to discover the fact for themselves.

To summarize, in my personal view, teachers play and will continue to play an important role in the
classroom, especially at the primary level. No matter how complex computers become, there will be no
replacement for the human interaction, but in the way haw this interaction takes place.

VOLUNTARY WORK

Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school
programs (for example working for a charity, improving the neighborhood or teaching sports to
younger children). To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is argued that voluntary services like charity, cleaning the neighborhood, imparting knowledge to the
underprivileged, etc.should be made mandatory in the high school curriculum. I strongly agree to
this as it not only helps in students becoming socially responsible adults but also in shaping their
character.

Firstly, community service inculcates a sense of responsibility towards the society, something that is
needed to shape a good society. For instance, the introduction of Swatch Bharath scheme in my school,
The Hyderabad Public School, ten years ago taught me not only to keep the surroundings of the school
clean but also to never litter wherever I go. Hence, now I feel responsible to maintain cleanliness
everywhere. Such services are needed to develop a better society in the future.

Secondly, voluntary services cater to the overall character development of an individual. It inculcates a
feeling of empathy in children which is needed to build a better character. For example, an alumnus of
Montessori High School, who indulged in petty law-breaking activities during school confessed that it
was the charity service that he did in high school; which engraved deep ideas and thoughts in his
mind; helped him in becoming a better person for his family and refrained him from committing
socially irresponsible acts. Thus, such voluntary activities teach us to value what we have and in
turn contributes to our personality development.

That being said, we cannot deny the fact that many students misuse the time allocated for these services
by considering it as an excursion to enjoy with friends rather than a learning experience.

In conclusion, although compulsory voluntary community service has its drawbacks, it is still useful in
shaping a child as a socially responsible citizen and also in their overall personality development.
Therefore, pupils should be encouraged to involve themselves in such activities.

SPORTS

Popular events like the Football World Cup and other international sporting occasions are essential
in easing international tension and releasing patriotic emotions in a safe way.

Every four years, the whole world stops to watch international sporting events such as the Olympics
and the Football World Cup in which athletes show their best performance to make their country
proud. These sporting occasions have proved to be helpful in easing international tension in difficult
times when powerful leaders were trying to control the world’s economy and other governments were
fighting over the land.

The Olympic Games are one of the best examples which prove how sporting events can bring nations
together, at least temporarily. From the ancient History, when Greeks and Romans would interrupt
battles to participate in the games, to the more recent international disputes, when athletes from
Palestine and Israel would forget their differences, compete peacefully and even embrace each other
after an event. Moreover, these popular events have called the world’s attention to the terrible
consequences of wars; thus some leaders have tried to reach agreements to end their disputes and live
peacefully.

Similarly, international sporting events show benefits in some developing countries which live in a
daily internal civil war. For example, Brazil has a high rate of unemployment, lack of education, hunger,
crime, poverty and corruption which leads to an immense embarrassment of being Brazilian and a low
self-esteem. However, when the Football World Cup starts, the Brazilian squad, which is considered the
best team in the world, provokes an amazing feeling of pride in their country. Most people seem to
forget all their problems and even the criminal activity decreases. They paint roads with the national
colors, wear the Brazilian team shirts and buy national flags. Moreover, the competition brings families
and neighbors together and even rival gangs watch the games and celebrate peacefully.
In conclusion, popular sporting events play an important role in decreasing international tensions and
liberating patriotic feelings as history has shown.

RICH & POOR COUNTRIES

Improvements in health, education and trade are essential for the development of poorer nations.
However, the governments of richer nations should take more responsibility for helping the poorer
nations in such areas.

Today’s world has been divided into developing and industrialised countries which the main difference
between them is the amount of money that governments apply in important sectors such as education,
health and commerce. Most of the poorer nations are buried in debts as a result of their unbalanced
finances which are reflect in a failed health care, an unstructured education system and a weak
international trade. This vicious cycle will continue indefinitely unless wealthier nations show interest
in minimizing the worldwide economic differences, as well as taking more responsibility for assisting
less fortunate countries.

Most of the African countries live in sub-human conditions because of the extreme poverty, upheaval,
hunger, disease, unemployment, lack of education and both inexperienced and corrupt administrations.
The devastating consequences of the AIDS epidemic in those countries could improve if the infected
population were to receive free drugs to control the disease, have access to health professionals and get
information on how to prevent its spread. But this can only be achieved through international help
programs in which leaders of the world’s richest countries donate medicine and also send doctors and
nurses to treat and educate those in need.

Moreover, most of the poor countries rely on selling agricultural products and raw materials to rich
nations and buying industrialized products from them resulting in a huge financial deficit.
Consequently, they borrow a significant amount of money from the World Bank to try to improve their
broken economies, but sometimes the money disappears with no significant changes and they cannot
even pay the interest to the bank. Regarding this issue, last year the G8, which is comprised of leaders of
the eight richest nations, decided to forgive billions of dollars worth of debt owed by the world’s
poorest nations. In addition, they developed adequate loan programs to financially assist those
countries.

In conclusion, leaders of the industrialised countries play an indispensable role in assisting developing

nations in dealing with essential areas such as health, education and trade. Also, their aid is the key to
breaking the vicious cycle, which results in poverty and death.

GLOBALIZATION

Even though globalization affects the world’s economies in a very positive way, its negative side
should not be forgotten. Discuss.

Globalization is such a commonly used term in the twentieth century. It simply means that the world
has become integrated economically, socially, politically and culturally through the advances of
technology, transportation and communication. It is undeniable that globalization has resulted in both
positive and negative effects which must be addressed accordingly.
To begin with, globalization has contributed to the world’s economies in many beneficial ways. The
advances in science and technology have allowed businesses to easily cross over territorial boundary
lines. Consequently, companies tend to become more productive and competitive thereby raising the
quality of goods, services and the world’s living standard.

Secondly, several companies from the more developed countries have already ventured to establish
foreign operations or branches to take advantage of the low cost of labor in the poorer countries. This
kind of business activity will provide more influx of cash or investment funds into the less developed
countries.

However, one cannot deny the negative effects which have derived from globalization. One crucial
social aspect is the risk and danger of epidemic diseases which can easily be spread as the
transportation becomes easier and faster in today’s advanced society. This is evidenced in the recent
birds flu disease which has infected most Asian countries over a short period of time.

As large corporations invest or take over many offshore businesses, a modern form of colonization will
also evolve which may pose certain power pressure on the local governments of the less developed
countries. Unemployment rates in the more developed regions such as Europe may also escalate as
corporations choose to outsource to the cheaper work force from Asian countries.

In conclusion. I like to reiterate that globalization is inevitable and we must urge individuals,
companies and governments to use a more balanced approach by taking the appropriate steps to deal
with matters relating to the financial or economical gains verses the social, political or ecological
concerns of the world.

OBESITY

Modern children are suffering from the diseases that were once considered to be meant for adults
only. Obesity is a major disease prevalent among children. What are its causes and what solutions
can be offered?

Nowadays, the increasing rate of overweight children and adults is a worldwide health issue. Obesity is
a major problem which is increasing day by day in school going children. There are various reasons
behind it. This essay will discuss the causes of obesity and offer some solutions.

The first cause of obesity is junk food. It is often seen that mostly children are fond of burgers, pizzas,
noodles and coke. These types of foods are easily available to them in school canteens. Children love to
purchase chips, chocholates, - ice-cream for lunch. Moreover, in this modern era, parents are working
and they do not have time to cook at home. Parents often buy dinner for their children instead of
preparing food at home. This calorie-rich diet is making children obese. This problem can be solved by
teaching children to cook healthy foods for themselves and banning junk foods and fizzy drinks in
schools. This diet can be replaced by milk, juice and fruits for lunch.

The second cause of obesity is sedentry life style. It is true that the use of computers and television is
increasing in children. They spend most of their time watching television or playing video games on a
computer. This technological advancement has reduced the level of physical activity in this specific age
group. This issue can be resolved by encouraging children to do physical exercises. Parents can take
their children to park to encourage playing with friends. Furthermore, schools can add sports in their
curriculum to maintain physical fitness in their students.

To sum up, it is clear that main causes of obesity are unhealthy eating and not enough physical
activities. This ailment can be prevented and treated by healthy eating habbits and physical exercises.

SCHOOL

Some people think that schools should select students according to their academic abilities, while
others believe that it is better to have students with different abilities studying together. Discuss
both views and state your own opinion.

Some people contend that mixed ability classes are more beneficial for children’s development than
streaming them on the basis of judgement about their academic abilities. However, from my
perspective, I disagree with this contention.

Admittedly, mixed ability classes provide a better environment for children’s all-round development. In
such classes, children with different abilities study together and in turn they can learn from one
another. From example, a student, who is good at academic study but weak in dancing or painting, can
learn how to dance or paint form his peers. In this sense, mixed ability classes allow students to develop
their abilities in different subjects instead of only academic abilities.

Despite the argument above, I believe streaming students brings more benefits to teachers and students.
As for teachers, separating children with better academic abilities from others facilitates effective
teaching. This practice helps teachers to control their students more conveniently and easily. Compared
with mixed ability in which teacher should consider students’ differences when they are using teaching
methodologies, streaming makes this situation simpler. To be more specific, students are at the same
level of academic ability in a class, and in turn teachers can use the same methodologies for them all. In
this way, the narrower the spread of ability in the class, the more convenient the teaching can be.

On top of this, steaming enables students to learn in an effective way. According to students’ different

abilities, they are taught in different ways that are more suitable for them. In the top streams, students
use more difficult materials, therefore, they can learn more. In sharp contrast, teachers can explain the
material more slowly to those in bottom streams. Under this circumstance, students with different
academic abilities can study effectively and efficiently.

In the final analysis, mixed ability classes are beneficial for students’ versatile development, but in my
opinion, segregating students based on different academic ability is better for both teachers and
students.

TECHNOLOGY

When a country develops its technology, the traditional skills and ways of life die out. It is pointless
to try and keep them alive. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Nowadays, technological advances and their rapid and wide applications are having a significant
impact on a nation’s traditional skills and ways of life. Some argue that such impact is so extraordinary
that it would make conventional skills and life stylesobsolete. However, I believe they would continue
to thrive by providing alternatives to modern ways of life, and innovative ideas for modern
technologies.

First of all, traditional skills and ways of life are becoming an alternative solution to the problems
caused by “mainstreamed” ways of life which are greatly influenced by modern technologies. For
instance, a cozy restaurant where traditional, home-brewed beer is served, offers another experience to
people who are bored with branded beers that have the same flavor and come out of mass production
with new technologies. It is in such a venue where traditional skills are preserved, people become
relaxed and educated. Providing diversity and thus enriching modern ways of life, such traditional
skills and ways of life would continue to have their place.

Furthermore, conventional skills provide innovative ideas to the development of modern technologies.
For example, sparkled by how the word “Love” is traditionally knitted into a sweater by some ethnic
minority women in some parts of Asia, some business managers from textile industry have developed
some production lines by applying the traditional skills to Computer-Aided Designs (CAD). The
products have boosted the companies’ sales which in turn have increased their investment in
preserving traditional skills for further developing their technologies.

To conclude, traditional skills and life styles are increasingly becoming a useful alternative to the
homogeneity brought by global applications of modern technologies. However, the evolution of
technologies is a selection process, whereby some would become obsolete, but there is no doubt that
some would thrive when their roles are appreciated.

MEDIA

For many people, news is a regular pan of life. An issue in dispute is whether the massive influence of
the news media on people’s daily lives denotes a negative development. It is my view that news media
does more good than harm to the society.

The news media provides people with much of the information they need on a timely basis, although
there are claims that it reports on issues and events purposely (only selecting those events that interest
the audience). Anecdotal evidence shows that people from all walks of life have the habit of collecting
information regularly from the news media, including print, broadcast and Internet-based media.
Information assists people in decision making. For example, the Free Trade Agreement reached by the
Chinese government and its New Zealand counterpart might open up many opportunities to both
countries. For any business person, either in New Zealand or in China, failing to recognise
and capitalise on this impending change would cause a costly loss.

Meanwhile it should be recognised that the news media can sometimes save lives and
reduce casualties. There is a lot of uncertainty about the surroundings, and people are susceptible to the
damage caused by accidents, crimes and natural calamity. The news media conveys
the firsthand information to concerned audiences and enable them to take correspondingactions right
away. The authority can declare a state of emergency when it is necessary, organise evacuation and
distribute aid to the needy areas. All these efforts count on the news media as the messenger.
 Despite their significant and ongoing contribution to the society, the news media might sometimes be
harmful to society. It is a convention that the news media exaggerates the magnitude of the real threat
(for example, the potential of a terrorist attack), in order to draw the attention of the desired audiences
and in pursuit of high audience ratings. It ends up with causing panic among the population.
Meanwhile, the news media tends to emphasize some issues or events, which virtually have little
relevance to people’s daily lives, such as an occasional multiple vehicle accident, an affair that a
celebrity is involved with, and the like. It distracts the audience from something that is much more
noteworthy, for instance, poverty, environmental problems, to name but a few.

In summary, the role of news media as an information provider should be acknowledged. In case of
emergency, it acts as a lifesaver. However, it is not to say that the news media can give people an
overall view of the problems in society all the time.

1. denote = indicate = symbolise = represent = signify

2. capitalise on = take advantage of = make the best of
3. impending = imminent = forthcoming = coming = approaching
4. casualty = fatality = victim
5. surroundings = environs
6. calamity = misfortune = catastrophe = disaster
7. firsthand = immediate
8. corresponding = relevant
9. messenger = courier
10. magnitude = scale = enormity = level
Write an essay giving reasons for your point of view on the following statement.

PEOPLE ARE BECOMING LESS SOCIAL BECAUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

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Today, it’s not hard to see how big of a role social media plays in many people’s lives. From the time we
wake up to when we go to bed, we share, like, comment, and browse all on these online platforms. Like
little virtual worlds, people tend to obsess over their own online presence, creating a separation between
their real life social ties and their online ones.

- Communication through social media prevent us from conveying a face to face

conversation, depriving us of the opportunities to express human emotions with depth,
variety
- Instead of going out with friends and enjoying your time with family, people just use
these sites.
- we are too reliant on our phones, yes for important things such as research and staying in
contact with long distanced friends but now also for absolutely pointless things such as
being reminded of things because of Facebook. Our grandparents could remember things
without social media so we can too. There's no point being lazy and pinning it on social
media and the advancement of technology.
 
Teenagers today are too much into social media and texting that it seems like the only 'cool' thing to do.
Gone are the days when we used to play outside, hang out with friends, go skating and all outdoor
things. People, especially teenagers just have their eyes glued to their phone or iPod with only their
fingers moving.  Teenagers text and chat all day that they miss the wonderful opportunities nature
offers. For example: climbing trees, chilling in a tree house, skateboarding, taking a walk on a beautiful
morning. They just stay inside and text, text, chat, chat, post, post. And one day when they grow up,
they will for sure regret it.

- Be obsessed with, be addicted to, spend much time on

Friends and family that are countries apart now feel closer to each other. Long-distance relationships
are now a reality. Sitting in the UK, we can instantly get news from America to Syria. All this was
not possible during the days when it took a month or more for letters to reach one place to another,
when newspapers took a day or two to report the happenings of another country.

As for more closer loved ones, we may choose to keep in touch with them through aloof manners
like posting on their Facebook wall or texting them rather than visiting them when they live just
down the street. But we cannot blame technology for this. If we choose to face them digitally rather
than personally, it is our own fault for being too busy or tired (or worse, lazy). There are people
using social media to plan old friend reunions and family get-togethers. It's because they used
technology to their advantage.

For these reasons, it is not social media that has made us less social -- it is we ourselves who have
created distances and barriers.

PROS AND CONS: CELEBRATIONS

Festivals are cultural celebrations that take place all around the world. People from different ethnic groups
celebrate with traditional food and amusements. Popular festivals such as sport, music and food are common for
fun loving people and many festivals are international festivals are a good thing as they bring people together from
different places to enjoy common interests. They do have some cons however as, crimes like theft and issues like
noise pollution and missing children do maniple themselves.

One of the major concerns regarding festivals and fairs are the disruption to the local area. Disruption such as
noise pollution litter, car lights which beam into people housing windows and even graffiti on peoples walls. This
causes a great disruption on the neighbours. A local resident named John Taylor said “I can’t even sleep at night
because of the flashing lights and noise coming from the fair”. Another neighbour also complained that there was
graffiti sprayed on his or hers property.

Additionally, another issue which is a common problem is overcrowding. Festivals nd fairs attract thousands of
people who all gather around to watch or play in these events. Overcrowding can lead to serious injuries such as
people being crushed over or suffocated. An ambulance driver named Nick Jones reported that this type of chaos
was very common and had an affect on many people such as getting trotted on or suffocated. Also overcrowding
can lead to litter, theft and hygiene issue as well as many more dangerous things. People love eating and sharing
food but when it comes down to a festival, some don’t realise if the food is hygienic or unhygienic. Consider the
toilets people go to there, do their business and leave it untidy . This is very unsafe for children and adults who run
the risk of getting disease from it.

In reality, festivals and fairs are good thing; they provide good clean food as well as good service of security. It is
a safe place to enjoy yourself with some crimes but often dealed with. Neighbourhood won’t raise a have no
problem of the situation of that event. The festival and fairs are one of the most popular carnivals around the world
as known today. Many in which people love to get job as there is plenty of space provided for people who are
seeking for it. In my opinion I believe that festivals and fairs are a good programme for family or friends to enjoy
themselves and for other to have fun. Here are list of pros:

1.Increase the relations among the people

2. Create an opportunity to the people of community to share their feeling and exchange their ideas and thoughts.
Additional help to discuss their problems also.
3.If we consider the families , they gather together and have some fun with all the relatives which is a great mental
relaxation and enrich family relations.
TOPIC: Food-safety violations, including fertilizers and toxic chemicals to produce foods, are increasing at an
alarming rate. What suggestions would you give to solve these problems?
Write a composition about 250 words. (20 points)
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