‘I don’t believe giving can ever be as good as receiving.’ Do you think this is true?

Give reasons
and examples to support your view.

I disagree strongly with the idea that giving can never be as satisfying as receiving. While getting
gifts or good luck certainly provides short-term happiness, I firmly believe that giving to others
provides an equally if not far more meaningful and lasting feeling of joy and purpose.

First, giving provides the deeply heartwarming satisfaction of knowing you've positively affected
someone else's life. When you give your time, money, skills or resources to help someone in
need, their resulting happiness and sincere thanks shows that your generosity made a real
difference. Just seeing the smile on someone's face or the spring in their step because of your
gift is an incredibly rewarding feeling. Even small acts of kindness like donating old books,
baking cookies for a shelter, or paying for a stranger's coffee can brighten someone's whole day.
The pure joy you spark through your selfless generosity brings you joy too. Few things are more
gratifying than knowing you improved someone else's life.

Additionally, giving consistently encourages personal growth and cultivates compassion.

Volunteering, donating, or providing emotional support pushes us outside our comfort zones. It
expands our perspectives and forces us to connect with and care for others. Giving opens our
eyes and hearts to new environments and struggles. It allows us to gain wisdom from those we
serve. Giving also reminds us to be grateful for what we have and avoid greed. These lessons
enrich us as people.

Lastly, giving in all its forms contributes to the greater good and plays a part in making the world
a little better. Whether you volunteer at a shelter, donate to disaster relief, or help a grieving
friend, these acts address human needs bigger than ourselves. The positive effects of giving are
powerful. From mentoring youth, to raising money for research, to listening to someone going
through hard times, our selfless gifts can truly help others in meaningful ways. Being a part of
this gives our lives more meaning and purpose. It connects us to our shared humanity.

In summary, while material gains can provide temporary happiness, giving provides a far more
meaningful and lasting fulfillment. By generously lifting others up, we in turn lift our own lives.
The warm glow of selflessness and human connection will always outweigh fleeting material
pleasures.
‘Parents should insist that their children do extra-curricular activities such as attending school
clubs or sports training, even when the children don’t want to.’ How far do you agree with this?
Give reasons and details to support your view.

While extracurricular activities like sports, clubs, and lessons can provide many benefits for
children, I believe parents should encourage but not force participation on unwilling kids.
Though involvement in these activities has merits, mandating children’s participation when they
resist breeds resentment, not reward.

It is reasonable for parents to nudge their children toward trying different activities when young.
This exposes kids to potential interests and hidden talents they may not discover otherwise.
Activities also build valuable skills such as teamwork, dedication, time management, and
self-confidence. However, parents need to notice if after giving it a fair shot, a child remains
miserable in an activity. Forcing them to continue participating against their will only ruins what
could have been an enriching experience.

Likewise, overloaded schedules that crowd out free time and relaxations should be avoided.
While activities provide advantages, children also need room to simply unwind, play freely, or
read for pleasure. Pushing too many obligations can overwhelm kids and negatively impact
mental health. Parents must find balance based on the child’s temperament and interests.
Moderation prevents burnout.

Moreover, allowing flexibility enables kids to pivot over time as passions evolve. A child who
adores dance at age 6 may develop an enthusiasm for student government by age 12. Forcing
one narrow set of activities year after year prevents discovering new interests as they mature
and change. Kids should have the leeway to explore.

Finally, there are many ways to gain skills beyond formal activities. Leadership can be honed
cooperatively planning a birthday party. Communication develops through family conversations
and play. Responsibility emerges via household chores and caring for pets. We must look at
child development holistically.

In closing, while extracurricular activities offer real merit, a child’s willingness and enthusiasm
should drive participation. Requiring certain activities often backfires, turning enriching
experiences into arduous chores. Parents can and should encourage engagement but ultimately
must let kids follow their own developing passions. Nurturing intrinsic motivation fosters
lifelong joy in learning, creating, and contributing.
‘Telling people what they should do only makes them do the opposite.’ Do you agree? Give
reasons and examples to support your view.

The saying that telling people what they "should" do makes them do the opposite is an
oversimplification. In reality, offering suggestions can often be helpful if done judiciously,
whereas heavy-handed demands frequently backfire by provoking resistance. The impact
depends greatly on how the guidance is delivered and the situation. With care and nuance,
recommendations can constructively steer rather than eliciting stubborn rebellion.

It's basic human nature to resent absolute edicts about what you must or must not do.
Directives phrased as inflexible pronouncements like “you should,” “you have to,” or “you’d
better” inherently feel limiting to our intrinsic need for autonomy and choice. When people
perceive advice as arrogant commands rather than supportive suggestions, their instinctive
reaction is to assert their freedom by defiantly resisting or ignoring the so-called “shoulds” –
even if doing so goes against their own self-interest or well-being. We’ve all witnessed how
teens are notorious for rejecting parents’ demands and rules by digging in their heels, simply
because they resent the controlling tone.

However, gentle suggestions framed as options rather than orders can sometimes effectively
get through when arrogantly delivered commands fail. For instance, a supervisor may point out,
“This report would be stronger if it highlighted key metrics upfront. I suggest organizing it to
showcase the data first.” By framing the recommendation as constructive input rather than a
top-down order, it feels more like supportive guidance than presumptive judgment. Or doctors
may advise, “Losing weight gradually by adopting healthier eating habits can significantly
improve your long-term health. I’d recommend considering small, sustainable dietary changes
as the first step.” Explaining advice as a kind recommendation is generally received better than a
finger-wagging lecture on what someone should or shouldn’t do.

That said, when people explicitly ask for advice, direct “shoulds” are more welcome. If a friend
seeks guidance regarding a broken appliance, they may appreciate hearing, “I think you should
call the manufacturer since that two-year warranty may still cover this.” In this context of
requested counsel, the “should” suggestion provides clarity.

In summary, thoughtfully offered suggestions tend to guide constructively, while unsolicited

imperatives often trigger the “do the opposite” resistance. By avoiding demands in favor of
compassionate listening and gently framed recommendations, advice can be a gift rather than a
wedge. With care, empathy and nuance, “shoulds” need not be show-stoppers after all.
‘The world now depends far too much on technology. We are losing the ability to think for
ourselves.’ What is your opinion? Give reasons and examples to support your view.

It is certainly true that we rely heavily on technology in our modern world for nearly everything
we do, from work and school to socializing and entertainment. However, despite how
omnipresent technology has become, I do not agree that this dependence is eroding our ability
to think critically and independently. Technology, when used judiciously, can expand our abilities
tremendously without replacing them. The key is maintaining balance and self-awareness.

There is no denying that our lives are permeated with technology from morning to night.
Smartphones provide instant access to a limitless wealth of information that previously would
have required extensive trips to libraries and archives. Sophisticated computer programs and AI
algorithms can perform complex mathematical, analytical and organizational tasks in the mere
blink of an eye that would have taken even experts weeks or months to complete manually.
Social media, texting, video chat and other digital communication platforms have become
primary avenues for how we interact with friends, family, colleagues and the world. Modern
technology has granted us truly astounding convenience, productivity and connectivity.
However, with such reliance does come risks that demand vigilance.

The concern that excessive dependence on technology could compromise our independent
thinking skills is valid. However, using these tools thoughtfully does not inherently mean
sacrificing our mental capacities – rather, technology can free up our minds for higher-level
thinking and more impactful work. Calculators and math apps enable students to focus
cognitive efforts on analyzing problems and processes rather than getting bogged down in
tedious computations. Search engines grant instant access to a wealth of knowledge, resources
and perspectives for researching concepts in ways that were simply not possible before. Fitness
trackers monitor progress toward goals while exercisers devote their energy to the physical
exertion and technique. When used judiciously and not as a crutch, technology enhances our
abilities without replacing them.

That said, overreliance on technology can be problematic if left unchecked. Passively absorbing
information online without verifying sources or considering nuance undermines critical analysis
skills. Endless social media scrolling can distort self-image and erode genuine human
connection. Prioritizing mindless digital entertainment and stimulation dulls our own creativity.
The solution is not to reject technology altogether, but to use it selectively and strategically to
supplement – not substitute – independent thought, curiosity and effort.

Maintaining our brain’s natural resilience in an age of high technology requires intention and
effort. Taking periodic digital detox days keeps tech use in healthier perspective. Reading print
books exercises imagination and vocabulary in ways scrolling cannot. Pursuing creative hobbies
unrelated to tech fosters innovation. When technology handles tasks that save us time and
mental energy, we must channel those freed-up resources towards higher-value thinking and
goals. Achieving balance enables us to thrive.

In conclusion, technology offers extraordinary information, efficiency and connectivity that can
expand what is humanly possible. But it should complement – not cripple – our independent
thinking and metacognition. With self-awareness, self-discipline and strategy, we can absolutely
harness technology’s remarkable benefits while avoiding any tendency toward overdependence
or diminishing our cognition. Thoughtfully integrating modern digital tools alongside timeless
critical thinking and persistence leads to success.

‘I no longer believe that individuals can make any difference in saving the environment.’ Do you
agree? Give reasons and examples to support your view.

It is very easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless when facing such massive environmental
crises as climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, and more. The sheer global scale of
these urgent issues can seem far too enormous and complex for any one individual to make any
measurable positive impact through their personal actions and choices. However, despite the
understandable temptation to surrender to pessimism, I firmly believe every single person truly
can still make a meaningful difference. When small, sustainable actions are aggregated across
many individuals over time, the collective effect adds up to genuine, transformative change.

Giving up due to feeling insignificant as an individual only risks compounding the very dire
environmental problems we care deeply about. Maintaining a hopeless or helpless attitude risks
becoming a tragic self-fulfilling prophecy, whereby we don’t even attempt to be part of the
solution, however small our contribution may seem. While the challenges ahead are profoundly
daunting, surrendering entirely solves nothing and helps no one. However, shifting our mindsets
to recognize that our personal daily choices and voices jointly have momentous impact when
combined can empower us to drive real progress.

In truth, when many people consistently take small actions in their individual lives, the
aggregated impact is massive. One single person diligently recycling properly may seem
negligible alone, but multiplied across whole communities collectively doing the same, the net
positive result for reducing waste is truly monumental. One customer opting to use reusable
grocery bags rather than plastic may appear inconsequential on its own, but the immense
accrued benefits globally are staggering when such habits are widely adopted by millions. We
often forget that even the most challenging environmental crises that seem impossibly
overwhelming at a macro level ultimately depend completely on the behaviors of countless
individuals like you and me.

Moreover, thoughtfully adjusting our own mindsets, habits, and lifestyles positively impacts our
families, friends, colleagues, and communities who observe and learn from our model. Even
basic conversations about environmental ethics or cutting food waste plant seeds that
incrementally reshape social norms over time. No man or woman is an island – we all inhabit an
interconnected web in which our individual actions, behaviors, and beliefs create ripples that
touch many. We inevitably impact shared spaces and systems either positively or negatively, not
just through our personal consumption choices, but also through our influence on those around
us.

While massive systemic change at the highest levels of politics, business, and society remain
absolutely essential to the equation, individual initiative and responsibility provides the very
foundation upon which all broader change is ultimately built, one small step at a time. Before
surrendering to apathy and defeatism, we must remember how sharing knowledge, speaking
out, volunteering, consuming conscientiously, and living sustainably in our own everyday lives
inevitably reverberates across communities and beyond. Enduring progress begins when
ordinary people collectively commit to the empowering belief that even small individual actions
can make a big difference when combined.

People try too hard to be like other people. It is much better to concentrate on being yourself.’
How far do you think this is true? Give reasons and examples to support your view.

While it's completely normal to feel pressure to fit in with others, I strongly believe focusing on
being your true self is way more important and fulfilling than chasing conformity. Developing
self-awareness and having the courage to honor your own values and uniqueness lets you live a
meaningfully. However, some conformity helps unite people, so totally ignoring others' influence
has disadvantages too. The ideal approach is taking in outside perspectives on your own terms.

Trying hard to imitate others often leads us away from our real inner needs and purpose. Teens
exhaust themselves projecting false perfection on social media, rather than nurturing their real
talents and relationships. This often leaves them feeling empty. Professionals contort their
personalities at work to copy superiors, wasting energy better spent improving actual job skills.
Basing life decisions on others' superficial models of success rather than looking inward leaves
people dissatisfied.

However, rejecting all social conformity has disadvantages too. Traditions and norms evolved as
social glue binding communities. Ignoring them thoughtlessly isolates us from groups we need
for belonging. Also, peers and mentors can positively inspire our growth. Blocking out all outside
perspectives traps us in narrow thinking. Balance is essential.

Therefore, the ideal is integrating others' input through the lens of self-knowledge. Knowing your
core values allows selectively adopting behaviors and advice aligning with your spirit. A
confident artist still gains from critiques filtered through their vision. A novice musician learns
faster imitating masters while staying true to their unique style. We integrate influences syncing
with, not undermining, our essence.

This balance of inner conviction and outward wisdom lets our character shine through borrowed
behaviors and ideas, molded on our terms. We steer our ship through the wider sea rather than
drifting on pressures. This self-directed growth fosters fulfillment.

In summary, the happiest lives balance appreciating individuality with recognizing how others
constructively impact us. Mindless conformity often misleads, yet we thrive incorporating
outside perspectives filtered through self-knowledge. Harmonizing these truths, we nurture our
gifts while embracing some social unity norms. With balance, we become our best selves.