Expository Essay

1. NUCLEAR ENERGY :

Write about the pros and cons of using nuclear energy as a energy source.

Nuclear fission or the splitting of the nucleus of an atom releases great amounts of energy,
much more than any other conventional energy source. Nuclear energy has enormous potential
as an energy source. There is almost limitless supply of energy. However, radioactive by-
products and waste post serious health and environmental risks.

The atomic or nuclear bomb is the uncontrolled release of nuclear energy. The tremendous
power and deadliness of this is evident when Hiroshima and Nagasaki was destroyed by atomic
bombs at the end of World War II in 1945. The devastation was enormous, nothing like what
human beings had seen before. it is not something to be repeated. Even so, the major powers
of the world now possess enough atomic bombs to wipe out the entire population of the world.
It is a chilling thought that human beings are now able to wipe themselves out. We can only
hope that they have the sense not to.

In a nuclear reactor, the release of nuclear energy is controlled. This energy is used for various
purposes such as for generating electricity and driving submarines. However, the reactor has to
be maintained carefully. An accident is potentially disastrous. The leakage of radioactive
substances can cause death to living things and pollution of the environment, such as that
which occurred at Chernobyl.

As it is now, nuclear energy bolds enormous potential as an energy source but it is not totally
safe to use. Perhaps one day, with more research and knowledge, human beings will learn how
to harness nuclear energy safely.

Argumentative Essay

1. "MATERIAL PROGRESS IS MEANINGLESS IF IT DOES NOT GO HAND IN HAND WITH

MORAL AND SPIRITUAL PROGRESS." COMMENT.

The word 'progress' generally unfolds before our mind's eye worldly achievements in terms of
money, prosperity, physical comforts and amenities. Worldly achievements constitute our
material progress. Usually every one of us aims at material progress - economic prosperity,
professional success and more money accruing from it, etc. But is it enough that we achieve
only material progress? Has material progress any meaning if it is not accompanied by our
moral and spiritual progress?
Most of us crave for progress and work for it. But the kind of progress that we work for is only
material progress and worldly success. We are over-enthusiastic about repeating spiritual
slogans and doctrines, but are not keen on practicing them. We pray to God, not for spiritual
regeneration, but for worldly success. We are like Claudius in Hamlet; our souls remain below;
our words go up. Our feet are on the rungs of the ladder of worldly success with our eyes
turned upwards and with our mouths watering for the bunch of ripe grapes. Actually, our
religious protestations, prayers and practices are only a means to an end; we seek God's
intervention to help us in our worldly success - in our material progress. We do not pray for the
betterment of our souls. We are down- right hypocrites even when we pray. We do not pause
even for a moment and ask ourselves: "What does it matter if we gain the whole world but lose
our souls?"

Material progress alone is not enough; it should go hand in hand with spiritual progress. Then
only can we become developed, well-integrated individuals. As Carl Jung says: "Out of the
fullness of life shall you bring forth your religion: only then will you be blessed."

It is not that material progress is not at all necessary; it is not that we should take to asceticism,
austerity and poverty, and live like sages. We should achieve material progress; we should
enjoy the fruits of science; affluence and prosperity should be achieved, and we should work for
prosperity. But prosperity should not blind us to 'the fruit of the spirit'. Our prosperity should
help us evolve ourselves into spiritually mature persons.

'The fruit of the spirit' is a phrase used by St. Paul in his Epistle to the Galatians. By 'the fruit of
the spirit' he means 'love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness
and chastity'. The qualities listed by Paul are observable human qualities. He gives us another
list of qualities which make us less than human. These qualities may be called 'the fruit of the
flesh' and these are envy, hatred, idolatry, sexual immorality, selfishness and so on.

A spiritually evolved person is also a spiritually mature person and he shows authenticity,
compassion, responsibility, discipline, self-respect, realistic sense of guilt, and co-operative as
well as creative approaches to human relationships. He is a man of compassion, integrity and
truth. Spirituality should not be confused with other-worldliness. It is, as the Bahai faith says,
enlightenment, which is the result of knowledge, faith, steadfastness, truthfulness, uprightness,
fidelity and humility. It is the same as the Buddha's way which is to do good, avoid evil, and
purify one's own heart; it is the same as the five constant virtues of Confucian- ism:
benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and sincerity.

Material progress becomes meaningful only when it goes hand in hand with moral and spiritual
progress. A poet says that it is not in renunciation that we attain spirituality, but in involvement:

Deliverance is not for me in renunciation, I feel

the embrace of freedom in a thousand bonds of delight.

Thou ever purest for me the fresh draught of thy

Wine of various colors and fragrance, filling this

Earthen vessel to the brim.

My world will light its hundred different lamps with

thy flame and place them before the altar of thy

temple. No, I will never shut the door of my senses.

The delights of sight and hearing and touch will

bear thy delight.

Yes, all my illusions will burn into illumination of

joy, and all my desires ripen into fruits of love.

The poem says that we need not 'crucify the flesh' in order to become spiritually mature. What
is important is to combine our passions with 'the fruit of the spirit'. If we kill our passions, we
will be sterile in more ways than one and that is not conducive to healthy spiritual life.

The dynamic factors of mature spirituality - courage, love, and wisdom - are intimately
interconnected. Courage is acting on the basis of love and wisdom and taking reasonable risks.
Love is nurturing oneself and others with courage and wisdom. And wisdom is a healthy
balance of reason and intuition, and is always open-minded.

The achievement of material progress should not be at the expense of our spiritual
development. Healthy spirituality is an ongoing process; it' helps us develop an integrated
personality. A mind that is obsessed with material progress forgets human values. We become
less than human. We should become well-integrated individuals by cultivating spirituality in the
midst of our preoccupation with the pursuit of material progress.

1. 'SCHOOL CHILDREN SHOULD NOT HAVE LONG HOLIDAYS'. DO YOU AGREE?

R-i-i-i-ng! The bell signaled the beginning of the six week long school holidays. The pupils burst
into a loud cheer, thinking of the break they would have from dreary school lessons.
"Freedom!" they shouted. The teachers heaved a soft sigh of relief. They would also be glad for
the freedom that the holidays will bring.
Teachers have a very stressful job, keeping a classroom of children in the seats for a whole
school day. Some of these children may be hyperactive; some may be badly behaved or
uncontrollable. Their own parents may be unable to cope with just one of them, yet teachers
have to deal with as many as forty children at a time. Furthermore, a teacher's job is tedious
and monotonous. They have to prepare lessons day in and day out, standing in front of one
class after another. The long holidays will give them a chance to relax and recharge their
batteries. Furthermore, teachers can attend courses during the long holidays. These courses will
give them more ideas, skills and inspiration.

Long holidays also give a break to the children, who active by nature, are cooped up for hours in
a stuffy classroom. Then, after school, they are faced with piles of homework. On top of that,
some children have to attend extra tuition in subjects they are weak in, or extra lessons in
piano, violin, or guitar, ballet, or martial arts.

With so many structured activities, some children have no time to choose their own leisure
pursuits. They have no time to "stand and stare". They also lack the time to bond with their
family members, and relatives. The long holidays would give them the opportunity to go on
holidays with the family; perhaps they can even spend time with relatives who live far away.
They can also take part in other enriching activities, such as educational trips to a foreign
country, or attend youth camps, such as Outward Bound, which will help in character
development.

Yet, we have to take a realistic view at the other side of the argument. How many families can
afford to send their children on overseas field trips or courses like the Outward Bound? In fact,
in many families, the parents will be out working all day, and the children will be left
unsupervised. This may be dangerous for younger children. As for older children, they may be
drawn to undesirable and anti-social activities, like theft, gangsterism, gambling and drugs.
Furthermore, for some children, school provides their only exposure to academic learning.
Thus, the long period away from their studies may cause some children to regress badly in their
academic skills.

So, in conclusion, long holidays are beneficial for some people and not so good for others. The
teachers, who need a break from a stressful and tedious routine, will definitely welcome the
break. Long holidays will also give opportunities to children from privileged homes to take part
in enriching out-of-school activities. However, long school holidays may be detrimental for
children from less privileged homes. In my opinion, for the good of the general public, schools
should not have very long holidays. Or, if long holidays are to remain a part of the school year,
certain activities or services should be provided for less privileged children to keep them
occupied in a safe and useful way.