1) Doing an enjoyable activity with a child can develop better skills and more creativity than

reading. To what extent do you agree? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your
answer.

Furthermore, play allows youngsters to mature emotionally, and gain self-confidence. There is no
scientific research which suggests reading at a young age is essential for a child’s development;
moreover, evidence suggests the reverse is true. In Finland, early years’ education focuses on playing.
Reading is only encouraged if a child shows and interest in developing this skill. This self-directed
approach certainly does not result in Finnish school leavers falling behind their foreign counterparts.
In fact, Finland was ranked the sixth best in the world in terms of reading.

Despite being a supporter of this non-reading approach, I strongly recommend incorporating bedtime
stories into a child’s daily routine. However, reading as a regular daytime activity should be swapped
for something which allows the child to develop other skills.

2) Today, the quality of life in large cities is decreasing.  Discuss the causes and solutions.

The global phenomenon of urbanisation from the beginning of industrialisation to the present day has
brought opportunity and prosperity, albeit at a cost in the quality of life. With an increasing city
population, the complexity of the challenges also increases, the causes and solutions for this are
outlined below.

The causes for the decrease in the quality of life are paradoxically the prosperity endowed on such
metropolitan centres. Their growth is largely due to the increase of opportunities on offer, which in
turn increases their attractiveness, essentially they are trapped in a positive self-reinforcing cycle.
However, this eventually leads to a decrease in the quality of life as the city can experience
overcrowding, exorbitant property prices, and increased vulnerability to terrorist attacks. For example
the density of London makes it a more efficient place to attack, when compared to a smaller city such
as Bradford. Therefore, due to continuous growth and prosperity, urban citizens, especially the less
well off, often experience a lower standard of living.

Considering the solutions, greater investment in public transport would ease traffic congestion, as
would bike lanes. In theory this would reduce air pollution, and possibly improve the wellbeing of the
population if they did adopt a more active lifestyle and cycle to work. To counter violent terrorist
attacks, cities could embark on CCTV installations, so as to closely monitor for threats. For example,
it is said, the CCTV in London has foiled many potential attacks, and therefore greatly increased the
security of its citizens.

To conclude, a wealthy city attracts a large population inflow, which then causes pressure on existing
infrastructure and security. Various solutions exist to mitigate such drawbacks; nevertheless an
indefinite solution has yet to be found.

3) Fresh water has always been a limited resource in some parts of the world. Today, however,
growing worldwide demand has made this a global problem.

What are the causes of the increased demand and what measure could governments and individuals
take to respond to this problem?
Since time immemorial, in certain drier parts of the world, fresh water has always been a scarce
natural resource. However, in the present time, due to various reasons, scarcity of fresh water has
become a global issue. This essay will illustrate some factors contributing to this problem and will
also elicit certain steps that can help the national authorities and individuals in controlling this
growing demand for natural salt free water.

Firstly, population explosion is the factor of utmost importance, which has led to the global surge in
potable water requirement. Secondly, increased pollution of natural fresh water reserves due to
urbanisation and industrialization has compounded this demand. Furthermore, in modern times the
growing use of salt free water for activities like recreational swimming, have also catalysed the surge
in global water demand.

National authorities, on the other hand, can control this surge by implementing public education
schemes regarding controlled water usage. Strict national legislations for preventing natural fresh
water reserve pollution are also required. Moreover, government should also enact infrastructures for
purification of seawater into saline free water, which will help in meeting the growing requirement of
fresh water.

Similarly, public can also contribute towards this noble cause by conserving water and also by
limiting their daily household water usage. They should refrain themselves from performing activities
that will pollute natural fresh water reserves.

Thus even though, the scarcity of fresh water is a growing global problem, there are various means
and methods available, by which both the government and individuals can prevent this from
worsening.

Total Words: 253

4) Forests are the lungs of the earth. Destruction of the world’s forests amounts to death of
the world we currently know. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

I am in consummate accord with the statement that, the earth’s natural green reserves purify its
atmosphere and functions synonymously as that of the mammalian lungs. I also advocate the view
that, forest destruction will ruin our present world.

Firstly, from our basic knowledge of plant physiology, it can be restated that, plants by the process of
photosynthesis convert the harmful carbon-dioxide gas into oxygen, without which life cannot exist.
Thus in a wider perspective, it can be stated that, the earth’s forests purify the atmosphere and thereby
help in sustaining life. Secondly, environmentalists have proven that, the rapid destruction of forests
is also a leading cause of global warming. Hence, destruction of the natural green reserves may lead to
such a surge in the global temperature that agricultural land may become arid, leading to wide spread
famine and deaths. Thirdly, forests also house diverse forms of life and these would become extinct if
we continue to destroy their natural habitats.

Furthermore, scientific research has proven that forest ecosystem act as natural scavengers and by the
process of biodegradation, forest ecology helps in producing crude oil, which fuels our modern world
and its unavailability is unimaginable as this will directly catalyse a global economic crisis. Finally
forests are also source of numerous medicinal plants, from which varieties of modern medicines are
produced; Quinine, an antimalarial drug, produced from the barks of Cinchona trees is the best
possible example. Hence forest destruction will also be a bane for the medical community.

Thus the harmony of the present world will be ruined if our natural green reserves are continuously
destroyed and there is a theoretical possibility that the blue planet might become lifeless if these green
lungs are totally wiped out.
Total Words: 288

5) The most important thing about a job is how much money you earn in that job.

Do you agree or disagree?

A vast majority of our adult life is spent working; hence it is important that we have an
appropriate job that fulfils our aspirations. While financial remuneration is an important
factor that attracts individuals towards a specific work, I disagree that it is the most
significant factor that makes a job ideal.

Firstly, the importance of financial security cannot be undermined in the modern

materialistic world. Since a vast majority of people earn their livelihood from their
workplace, it will be difficult for individuals with single source of income, to make their
ends meet, from underpaying jobs. Thus underpaid employees, because of their
financial burdens, may not be able to offer dedication and commitment at workplace,
which in turn results in under-performance. Secondly, the educated refrain from being
employed in underpaying jobs, as these are less attractive. Hence the remuneration
associated, is an important factor that determines the value of a particular job.

On the other hand, to glorify higher earning as the sole determiner of an ideal job is
incorrect. This is because various other factors like work and life balance; working place
culture and adequate recognition contribute towards satisfaction and contentment in
work. Thus an astronomically higher paying job with a demanding employer, with poor
social life in a tedious work place environment will lead to higher job dissatisfaction,
which in turn will also promote higher attrition.

Henceforth, it can be stated that apart from financial remuneration, which is a major
determiner of a good occupation, job satisfaction is also an equally important
associated factor that determines the value of a specific job.

Total Words: 265

6) Some people believe the aim of university education is to help graduates get
better jobs. Others believe there are much wider benefits of university
education for both individuals and society.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

According to a section of society, the primary goal of tertiary education is to enable

individuals secure coveted jobs. However others strongly believe that goal of higher
education is to achieve greater good; both for individuals and society. I strongly believe
that purpose of university education is far beyond job prospects and in the course of
the essay I will discuss both the viewpoints.

There are specific reasons why people believe that tertiary education is the gateway to a
lucrative job. Firstly market researches in the United States and other developed
countries have shown that post graduates are able to command a considerable higher
salary at workplace when compared to graduates or simple high school diploma
holders. Moreover, the professional world of certain white collared, highly respected
professions, like those of physicians, engineers, scientists can only be pursued, after
graduating from the respective university courses. Furthermore, in certain fields like
management, the credibility of various universities are judged by their ability to
generate glittering well-paid employment offers for their fresh graduates, during their
campus placements. Hence university education is definitely perceived as a means of
better employability.

In this context it is worth mentioning that, apart from generating lucrative jobs for
students, universities also benefit the nation by creating educated societies, containing
an immense pool of forward thinking individuals, who can contribute towards social
development by their respective expertise. Individuals graduating from universities also
additionally benefit from the multicultural environments that promote intercultural
tolerance and brotherhood. The process of tertiary education also promotes teamwork
and collective development amongst individuals. Over and above, numerous long
lasting friendships, business partnerships and courtships also bloom from the
university campus life.

Finally, to sum up, it can be confidently stated that apart from generating respectable
employment, there are numerous associated positive aspects of university education,
which are of great social and individual significance.

Total Words: 277

7) International tourism has brought enormous benefit to many places. At the

same time, there is concern about its impact on local inhabitants and the
environment.

Do the disadvantages of international tourism outweigh the advantages?

Travel industry has experienced a major boom in the later part of the 20th century and
has been a boon in disguise, which has helped some weaker nations to uplift their
failing economies. While questions have been raised regarding the negative impacts
that accompany the growth in the travel sector, these definitely do not outweigh the
associated benefits.

The economic boost that accompanies a successful travel industry is quite well
recognised and Thailand is the best example. The entire Thai economy revolves around
tourism and the country had been able to uplift its socio economic status through its
flourishing hospitality sector.  Egypt is another nation that is heavily dependent on its
hospitality sector. The growth in the number of incoming tourists leads to innumerable
prospects in terms of local entrepreneurship & employment generation. This is also
associated with international investments and infrastructure development. The national
authorities, in order to ensure safety of the international visitors provide better law and
order enforcement, improved transportation and healthcare facilities, which in turn
benefit the local population.

On the other hand, the rising influx of holidaymakers is associated with increased
incidences of crimes, prostitution and antisocial activities like drugs, human trafficking
and gambling, which affect the values of the indigenous society. The local population
are also affected by the growth in property value indices. Environmentalists are also
concerned regarding environmental remodelling, that is associated with increased
tourist activities in natural reserves. In this context, it is worth mentioning that, by
enforcing stern law and order and implementing strict legislations, governments can
control most of these negative impacts of tourism.

Henceforth, it can be confidently conveyed that, even though the growth in travel
industry has accompanying negative social impacts, these do not outweigh the
contributions made by this sector towards social development.

Total Words: 296

8) In the modern world, the image (photograph or film) is becoming a more

powerful way of communicating than the written word.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In modern society, with the advent of advanced telecommunication and photographic

technologies, visual expression in mediums such as television, photography and films
are increasingly becoming popular as powerful means of expression when compared to
the simple mundane printed medium.

The increasing preference and use of visual resources over written communication is an
undeniable fact and the growing utilisation of video based learning in modern schools
over text book based knowledge transfer is the best possible example. In the present
evidence-seeking world, visual communication is a powerful tool as it provides
recognisable facts. Meticulously crafted images, like political cartoons and television
documentaries readily deliver the concerned messages to the onlookers and are mostly
beneficial in conveying thoughts to the busy and uneducated sections of the society.
The television is also being bombarded with numerous catchy advertisements, by which
manufacturers try to communicate with the masses regarding their products.

On the other hand, the appeal of the printed media as means of mass communication,
is declining as the younger generation considers it to be relatively old fashioned and
boring. Moreover, in the fast paced modern city life, less number of people can afford to
dedicate time for reading the daily morning newsprints, instead, most of the city
dwellers follow daily-televised news. Despite this decreased appeal for mass
communication, value of the written form still stands tall in the field of interpersonal
and formal communication. Written words, as a form of official documentation, can
never be superseded by any other means.
Thus, visual communication is definitely a popular, powerful and better tool for mass
communication but written form of expression still has equal importance for official,
formal and interpersonal purposes.

Total Words: 277

9) In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year

between finishing high school and starting university studies. 

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do this.

In certain countries, it is preferred that students should take a year off from studies
after completing high school, prior to joining universities and during this period they are
encouraged to work or to travel. Even though this seems to be a noble concept, it has its
own merits and demerits and some of these will be illustrated in this essay.

Firstly, a year off, after completing years of continuous school education is a welcome
break for students and is well deserved too. This period also serves as well-earned
family time for those pupils who grew up within the closed boundaries of boarding
schools. Secondly, this period provides ample opportunities to young people, to
experience the realities of the modern world. Those students who prefer a break, can
experiment with various forms of employment and thereby decide their career goals
and directions depending upon their experiences. The holidaymakers, on the other
hand can familiarise with the customs and cultures of various countries, which in turn
will widen their outlook and will also promote cultural tolerance. Thus, in a wider
perspective, such breaks help the young minds in preparing for the much demanding
university life.

In contrast, certain disadvantages are definitely associated with this concept and are
worth mentioning. Firstly, scholars are of the opinion that, such breaks from studies,
during the learning phase of life, affects further education. According to them, such
activities should not be encouraged as there are higher chances that the young minds
might loose interest in learning or may get demotivated due to various reasons and
might ultimately refrain from pursuing university education. Secondly, the employed
youth, due to a sudden increase in their purchasing power, might also get attracted to
various social evils like drugs, gambling and alcoholism.

Thus to sum up, it will be wise to comment that such policies even though are noble
practices, should not be made mandatory in a national scale, as these activities are also
associated with considerable negative outcome.

Total Words: 331

10) Many museums charge for admission while others are free.
Do you think the advantages of charging people for admission to museums
outweigh the disadvantages?

Lots of museums charge a fee while others do not. This essay thinks that the benefits of
charging do not outweigh the drawbacks because open access to relics and art is more
important than generating money that the government should supply in any event.

The main disadvantage is that high fees exclude a large proportion of the population,
especially in less developed countries. Many people in poorer countries have just
enough money for food and shelter. Exhibits are one of the few cultural activities they
can enjoy free of charge. For example, Egypt has millions of people living in poverty, but
also a rich and ancient culture and it is therefore important that everyone gets to
experience these artefacts. Another big negative is that students and children who are
learning about the world may not be able to visit. It would be a huge shame if art
students could not see their favourite painters or sculptor’s work in real life because
their finances could not cover the cost.

Despite this, there are some who say that museums are unsustainable without the
money they might get from ticket sales. They say that this allows the building to remain
open and it is better that some people get to experience it, rather than none at all. To
this I would say that the government should step in and cover the cost because culture
is as important as anything else it spends money on. For instance, in the UK there have
been huge government spending cuts over the last few years, but the museums have
not had their funding reduced because of their importance to the country’s cultural
heritage.

In conclusion, although some might say that places of culture should be run like a
business, the cost to the education and heritage of the country is too great and they
should remain free to all.

Total Words: 312

11) Advertising discourages people from being different individuals by making

us want to be and to look the same. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?

An often debated topic is whether advertising has a major influence on the growing
similarity of people’s lifestyle in the modern world. Personally, I partly agree with this
opinion for a number of reasons.

On the one hand, the power of advertising is undeniable. The growth of the advertising
industry has resulted in many people buying products of the same manufacture, which
can be seen in the case of consumer goods. Today, the advertising campaigns of
multinational companies such as Unilever have been so successful that their products
almost dominate the market. Smaller enterprises tend not to be able to compete with
these giant market leaders due to their disadvantages of capital poured into advertising
programs. Thus, customers are often swayed to buy products of famous brands rather
than those made by less well-known companies.

On the other hand, it is also true that people have the tendency to copy others’ lifestyles
without being affected by advertising. For example, it is valid to argue that many young
people are trying to emulate the fashion styles of their idols. Many manage to purchase
the same clothes, dye their hair and wear the same perfume as their stars do. People
can also turn to their social relations for advice when they need to buy something. For
instance, junior citizens usually ask their friends before they come to a final decision on
buying a smart phone.

In conclusion, it is true that advertising has bridged the gap between each individual’s
lifestyle in modern society. However, I believe that it is not the sole factor that
contributes to the trend.

(268 words)

12) Some people claim that not enough of the waste from homes is recycled.
They say that the only way to increase recycling is for governments to
make it a legal requirement.
To what extent do you think laws are needed to make people recycle more
of their waste?

It is true that we do not recycle enough of our household waste. Although I accept that
new legislation to force people to recycle could help this situation, I do not agree that a
recycling law is the only measure that governments should take.

In my view, a new recycling law would be just one possible way to tackle the waste
problem. Governments could make it a legal obligation for householders to separate all
waste into different bins. There could be punishments for people who fail to adhere to
this law, ranging from a small fine to community service, or even perhaps prison
sentences for repeat offenders. These measures would act as a deterrent and
encourage people to obey the recycling law. As a result, the improved behaviour of
homeowners could lead to a clean, waste-free environment for everyone.

However, I believe that governments should do more than simply introduce a recycling
law. It might be more effective if politicians put education, rather than punishment, at
the centre of a recycling campaign. For example, children could be taught about
recycling in schools, and homeowners could be informed about the environmental
impact of household waste. Another tactic that governments could use would be to
create stricter regulations for the companies that produce the packaging for household
products. Finally, money could also be spent to improve recycling facilities and systems,
so that waste is processed more effectively, regardless of whether or not people
separate it correctly in the home.

In conclusion, perhaps we do need to make recycling a legal requirement, but this

would certainly not be the only way to encourage people to dispose of their waste more
responsibly.

(279 words)

13) In many cities the use of video cameras in public places is being increased
in order to reduce crime, but some people believe that these measures
restrict our individual freedom.
Do the benefits of increased security outweigh the drawbacks?

It is true that video surveillance has become commonplace in many cities in recent
years. While I understand that critics may see this as an invasion of privacy, I believe
that the benefits do outweigh the drawbacks.

There are two main reasons why people might disapprove of the use of video cameras
in public places. The first objection is that these cameras invade our privacy, in the
sense that we are constantly being watched by the authorities or by private security
firms. Many people find this intrusive and feel that the recording of their movements is
a form of state control that curtails their individual freedom. The second argument
against the proliferation of CCTV cameras is that they are being used as an alternative
to police officers patrolling the streets. If this is indeed happening, then it is unlikely that
members of the public will feel safer.

In spite of the drawbacks mentioned above, I believe that the use of video cameras to
monitor public areas is a positive measure. The key objective of video surveillance is to
deter criminals and to prevent crime. For example, petty criminals like shoplifters and
pickpockets are less likely to operate in parts of cities where they know that they are
being watched. At the same time, when crimes are committed, the police can use video
evidence to catch and prosecute offenders. Therefore, in my view, video cameras offer
valuable support to police officers, and they make cities safer for inhabitants, workers
and visitors alike.

In conclusion, it seems to me that we gain more than we lose from the enhanced
security that CCTV cameras bring to our cities.

(275 words)
 14) Some parents buy their children whatever they ask for, and allow their
children to do whatever they want. Is this a good way to raise children? What
consequences could this style of parenting have for children as they get older?

It is true that some parents are overly permissive and tend to spoil their children. In my
opinion, this is not a good parenting style, and it can have a range of negative long-term
consequences.

If parents want to raise respectful and well-behaved children, I believe that a certain
amount of discipline is necessary. Having worked with children myself, I have learnt that
clear expectations and boundaries are necessary, and it is important to be able to say
‘no’ to children when they misbehave or try to push against these boundaries. This is
the only way to help young people to regulate their desires and develop self-control. In
my view, parents who do the opposite and constantly give in to their children’s
demands, are actually doing more harm than good. They are failing their children rather
than being kind to them.

The children of indulgent or lenient parents are likely to grow up with several negative
personality traits. The first and most obvious danger is that these children will become
self-centred adults who show little consideration for the feelings or needs of others.
One consequence of such an attitude could be that these adults are unable to work
successfully in teams with other colleagues. A second negative trait in such people could
be impulsiveness. A person who has never lived with any boundaries is likely to lack the
patience to carefully consider options before making decisions. This may lead, for
example, to compulsive shopping, unwise financial decisions, or even criminal activity.

In conclusion, parents should help their children to develop self-control and respect for
others, and I do not believe that the permissive parenting style supports this objective.

(283 words)