Some people think success in life comes from hard work and determination.

Others think
money and appearance are more important.

Opinions are divided as to whether money and appearance or diligence and determination
are key to success. Although I recognise the importance of money and good looks, I
maintain that without working hard and making a determined effort, it is impossible to
succeed in anything.
Admittedly, money and appearance have a role to play in achieving success. Firstly, we
need to study to become successful. Without financial support, it is impossible to receive a
good education. For example, people in Uzbekistan have to take expensive courses to learn
English, as it is almost impossible to master a foreign language in public school. Those who
cannot afford such courses will eventually lose out in the competitive world of work and
education; they cannot study at any prestigious universities and as a result, may not be
able to land a well-paid job which is essential for success. More than a good education, to
find a decent job, people should look nice as well. A candidate is highly likely to be rejected
from a position if they appear in the job interview with unkempt hair and creased shirts.

However, lack of money does not necessarily prevent one from receiving higher education
as there are scholarships available for brilliant students, and appearance problems can also
be solved with a little care. What gets in the way of success is laziness and a lack of
determination. Willingness to study hard is definitely more important than money to learn
new skills, such as a foreign language. Also, as good things take time, it is also necessary to
be determined in order not to give up in the middle. After a few setbacks, it is easy to
decide to stop pursuing a goal unless there is the determination to persevere. Therefore,
factors central to one’s success, I believe, are hard work and determination.

In conclusion, while money and appearance have a part in achieving success, the
determining factor, in my opinion, is working tirelessly towards goals with determination.

(331 words)
An increasingly large number of people in certain countries are trying to collect as much
historical information about their properties as possible. They have valid grounds for doing
so and this information can be obtained in several ways.

People might be keen to learn about the past of their dwellings for two main reasons. First,
they may want to determine the true value of the house or flat they own. People now
realise that certain facts about the history of a house may help it sell at a higher price. For
example, if a house was inhabited by a famous individual in the past, potential buyers of
the house may offer a higher bid in an auction. People could also be interested in the
history of their residences out of concern for safety. Recent successive earthquakes hitting
Turkey and Syria have made people even more curious about the construction history of
their own buildings. They often seek reassurance that buildings they are living in were built
strictly following safety procedures and materials used were not of poor quality.

However, getting hold of this sort of information may not be an easy task. One way is, I
think, to contact an elderly member of the community and ask them to tell everything they
know about one’s home. Another option would be to refer to the archives or old city
directories. These sources may also offer a few clues to the stories behind some buildings.
For instance, through consulting old directories, it is possible to discover who the previous
occupants of a house were. People can also find out the period in which their homes were
built if they are living in a really old dwelling by comparing the style of architecture with
other similar buildings with more definite historical records.

In sum, the histories behind some homes usually interest their occupants for financial or
safety reasons and sources to obtain such information range from old city directories and
archives to elderly neighbours.
(331 words)
Manufacturers are now trying to draw attention to the novelties in their products while
advertising them. This trend has grown out of public interest in innovation and the belief
that novelties can give products a strong competitive edge. Although this approach to
advertising is not an entirely favourable change, I tend to see it in a rather positive light.
Advertisers are focusing on new features of products for two main reasons. Firstly, people
are now highly interested in innovation and new things, and drawing attention to novelties
in products can therefore increase their sales. Besides, products with new features can sell
at a higher price even though their production cost is much lower. iPhone devices are a
good case in point. Every time the company launches a new product, it adds a few new
functions to it and highlights these in its advertising campaign. Although these new
features do not cost the manufacturer much to add, prospective customers are prepared to
pay significantly more for these new products than the products of the previous
generation. Thus, it is worth mentioning fresh aspects of products in their advertisements
as they serve to boost the sales and increase the profit margin.
Using innovations in products as a selling point can be disliked as it promotes novelty
obsession among people. When the actor in a commercial enthuses about new features of
the product, the viewers start to see innovation as a good thing without considering the
product on its own merits. This may lead to people buying products that are poor value.
However, this is a minor downside of this method of advertising compared to its benefits.
It should be recognised that adding new features to products is not an easy task at all.
Manufacturers and product designers take great pains to keep introducing new features in
order to satisfy consumers’ perpetual desire for novelty. This pressure requires them to
think up ingenious ideas all the time, creating a culture where creativity and ingenuity are
highly prized. Also, adding new features to a product step by step results in a complete
transformation of it after a while. To understand this, we should simply compare today’s
mobile phones with their counterparts from two decades ago.
In conclusion, advertisers tout new features in a certain product, knowing this can easily
persuade people to purchase it at a high price, although it is not value for money, which is
decidedly unfair. Nonetheless, this excessive focus on innovation is justified since it
promotes inventiveness and brings novel products that can change our lives for the better.
(429 words)
The amount of sugar contained in processed food products is raising grave health
concerns. It is suggested that hiking the prices of such products would reduce their
consumption. However, I believe this would be too simplistic an approach.
When consumed excessively, sugar definitely poses a threat to our health. A growing
body of scientific evidence shows clear links between sugar and various health
problems, including diabetes and obesity. Realising the need to discourage people
from eating and drinking sugary products, some people call for price increases. The
reasoning behind this proposal is not difficult to understand; when customers are
charged exorbitantly for a bottle of Coke or a packet of biscuits, for example, they may
decide to forego it for a cheaper, yet healthier snack, such as some organic juice and
fruit.
Nevertheless, I have reservations about the efficacy of this approach. In my view,
simply increasing prices is not enough to dissuade people from buying these harmful
products. This is because sugar is such an addictive product that people do not simply
want it, but rather crave it. Higher prices would, therefore, only lead to them skimping
on other essential expenses, such as clothes and utilities, to be able to buy sweet
beverages and foods, which cannot be done without detriment to the quality of life.
In order to avoid these repercussions, better-thought-out measures must be
implemented. One, probably the most successful, would be to organise nationwide
awareness campaigns to help people realise the dangers of excessive sugar intake.
Another measure is that the government should impose restrictions on the marketing
of such products, as one reason for the over-consumption of sugary food and drinks is
their widespread advertisement and availability.
In conclusion, due to the well-established health hazards of sugary products, their
consumption must be minimised. In my opinion, raising the prices fails to achieve this,
and thus, other more effective measures have to be taken.
(318 words)
We are going towards a future where all motor vehicles will be completely
autonomous. Although this development comes with its drawbacks, I believe the
advantages are more significant.
Admittedly, a large-scale introduction of driverless cars may cause some
problems. An obvious one is increased unemployment. This is because people
who drive for a living will be laid off once autonomous cars conquer roads. Also, I
do not think it is feasible to repurpose or retrofit all current vehicles to operate
autonomously, so they will have to be scrapped. Unless disposed of responsibly,
this huge amount of waste will damage the environment severely. Therefore, it is
likely that the arrival of self-driving vehicles will be accompanied by mass
joblessness and environmental damage.
However, the benefits driverless vehicles bring to our lives far outweigh the
above disadvantages. Firstly, road fares will drop significantly as these vehicles
are controlled by a program which costs nowhere near as expensive as a human
driver’s service. Joblessness resulting from dispensing with the service of human
drivers is only temporary; people can re-train and find a job in other industries
after a while. Another good point about autonomous vehicles is that they are
capable of operating more safely since they are not prone to such typical human
errors as lapses in concentration or dozing off on a motorway.
In conclusion, while there are some potential problems surrounding autonomous
vehicles, the benefits will easily outweigh any drawbacks. Vehicles capable of
operating independently of a human driver can provide safer and cheaper
journeys.
(254 words)
People have to take risks in every aspect of their lives from time to time. Although risks do
cause some problems, I believe we should embrace them for the advantages they offer.
Admittedly, there are a number of drawbacks to taking a risk. Firstly, risks have a
psychological impact on the taker. once taking a course of action with an unpredictable
outcome, a person usually suffers from a sense of unease that nags them until the results
are visible. The higher the stakes are, the more stressful the wait will be. Also, risks are
addictive just like gambling; with every success, the person becomes more confident and
starts to take bigger risks. This may sometimes have destructive consequences. Examples of
this can be found in stock markets. After seeing their investments yield high returns, traders
go on to buy more expensive shares in the hope of making a fortune out of them, but when
the prices crash, the loss might be unbearable for them. Therefore, it is worth being aware
of these problems associated with risks and acting as rationally as possible.
However, the above disadvantages do not mean avoiding risks altogether as there are also
advantages which are more significant. Risks are key to achieving success in both our
professional and personal life. This is simply because we can rarely be totally safe as there
are too many factors beyond our control, and if we wait for that risk-free moment to come,
we may never be able to embark on a journey to achieving our goals. For example, a school
leaver will never be able to achieve his goal of becoming a lawyer unless he takes a risk and
applies to the law school despite the rumours that this profession might be supplanted by
artificial intelligence in the future. Moreover, occasional failures as a result of taking risks do
not have to be seen in a completely negative light, since they can always be put down to
experience, and next time when taking a risk, we can prepare for more eventualities and
thereby becoming better at managing risks.
In sum, the fact that taking a risk does not necessarily produce intended outcomes often
makes risk-takers anxious. However, taking a risk can help people achieve their goals and
gain valuable experience as long as people engage in it consciously.
(389 words)
It is true that many children today own a smartphone and spend long periods of
time on it. Several factors are driving this trend, and although some children
might be using their smartphones for legitimate purposes, I tend to see this level
of attachment as mostly harmful.
There are a number of reasons why children are so glued to their mobile devices.
First and foremost, this is the result of parental negligence. Busy parents today
leave for work early in the morning and return in the evening with little
knowledge of what their children have been busy with in the meantime. As a
result, bored children turn to their smartphones and kill time playing video games
or switching between social media websites. Moreover, because of the increased
crime rates in most countries, parents are denying their children playing outside
out of fears that their children might be abducted by organ traffickers or other
nasty criminals. Consequently, cooped up in their bedrooms, children cannot find
anything more interesting than playing with their phones.
While I acknowledge some potential benefits of smartphones, I believe that these
are insignificant compared to the problems they create. Children may increase
their general knowledge by watching some documentaries or learn some new
skills from tutorials on YouTube, or even social networking platforms may help
them learn foreign languages by facilitating interactions with native speakers of
their target language. However, children using their devices for these purposes
are few and far between, whereas most children are tempted into rather
frivolous pleasures. In addition, playing with phones for prolonged periods
means doing little physical activity. This leads to them growing up weak with
various health problems such as obesity. Lack of activity also affects sleep quality
and poor sleep, in turn, affects children’s academic performance at school.
In sum, parents who leave their children unoccupied while at work and their fears
of crime cause children to be engrossed with smartphones. I believe this
development is doing children more harm than good. (334 words)
People have different views as to whether university graduates should be obliged to
work in their country of education or be allowed to move to another country. Although
both sides of the argument seem to have valid grounds, in my view, no one should be
kept in any place forever.
The only reason justifying confining a professional within the country where they did
their degree is that higher education in most countries is subsidised by the
government, and students can benefit from preferential treatment on certain
occasions. For instance, university students are usually provided with accommodation
in the hall of residence instead of renting a flat, which would cost significantly more.
Also, students often enjoy some exclusive discounts, such as on public transport
passes. Therefore, understandably, after graduating, university students are expected
to contribute to the community they are living and studying in.
On the other hand, holding professional workers against their will in the country that
provided training seems unfair. This is simply because every human being must be free
to choose where to live and work, and limiting this freedom in any way is seen as a
violation of basic human rights. Depriving people of their basic rights on educational
grounds may discourage them from pursuing higher education, which may eventually
lead to a scarcity of professionals such as doctors and engineers.
In my opinion, a reasonable approach would be to require only those who studied
without paying any tuition fees to work in their country of training for as many years as
they studied, not for life. In this way, neither the state financing their higher education
nor the individuals studying free of charge would be wronged. Those who
compensated for the state spending by paying tuition, on the other hand, should
always be able to take a job in any country of their choice.
In conclusion, students should be given the choice either to study for free and then
work for the country for a while or to pay tuition fees and leave for another country
any time they want. (343 words)
Talent shows have become one of the most common TV programmes worldwide.
Although for most people, they mean little more than entertainment, I believe
they act as one of the best ways to discover people with extraordinary flairs.
It is true that the main reason for organizing talent shows is to entertain the
viewers, and probably to make money out of them. These shows are broadcast
on television and most people watch them with great enjoyment. This is because
the performances given in these shows are extremely exciting. For example,
some participants appearing on talent shows display acrobatic movements, such
as somersaults, that are more thrilling than the ones we see in circuses. Knowing
how entertaining these shows are and how big an audience watches them, the
organisers may make a profit by airing commercials during these shows.
While acknowledging their entertaining roles, I believe these shows can help
bring the truly talented to public attention. These shows have got a huge
audience and therefore, it is possible that a gifted individual watches one episode
and becomes interested in participating in the next. In fact, most participants in
these shows turn out to be former viewers. Also, these shows are organised in
the form of competition and performers are assessed by several judges, which
helps to select the most gifted individuals. Thus, talent shows are essential to
recognise people with unique faculties and encourage them to develop their
skills.
In sum, I do accept that talent shows are organised for mainly entertainment
purposes. However, in my view, they can also be the optimal approach to finding
people with a gift. (269 words)
These days more and more people are choosing alternative therapies in preference to
mainstream medical approaches. Although alternative medicine can be effective in certain
cases, in my view, abandoning science-based procedures and seeking cures from other
sources is not a change for the better.
It is true that alternative medicine is not entirely ineffective. Actually, there are many
instances where traditional methods of treating certain ailments worked. Acupuncture is a
good case in point. This Chinese therapy has become popular in its own right and is widely
applied to treat patients with chronic pain around the world today. Also, unlike synthetic
medications, alternative treatments do not usually trigger side effects as their practitioners
treat patients using herbs and roots with medicinal properties. For example, chemical
antibiotics are known to create antibiotic resistance, but garlic which is commonly used as a
viable alternative to them does not cause such a problem.
However, choosing alternative medicine over modern science is not a good decision. Most
practitioners of alternative medicine do not have any qualifications and it is not uncommon
that people claiming to be able to cure patients through unusual methods turn out to be
fraudsters. Thus, people looking to alternative medicine for a cure run the risk of falling
victim to such swindlers. Qualified doctors, on the other hand, use medications that have
been proven to be effective after undergoing many rigorous laboratory tests and clinical
trials. What is more, any known efficacious traditional therapy has already been
incorporated into modern medicine. I have recently seen a reputable qualified doctor from
my country recommend lemon juice to solve indigestion on social media, for instance.
Similarly, it has become normal for a therapist to prescribe acupuncture for pain relief or
garlic as an antibiotic alongside modern drugs. Therefore, there is no need for people to
become involved in risky ways of treatment, if potentially effective.
In conclusion, whilst alternative medicine can do good on certain occasions, the growing
popularity of it is highly concerning as such therapists are not necessarily reliable. I believe
people should turn to science-based medicine regarding any health issues. (351 words)
Hotels are now facing competition from people who provide
accommodation in their house or apartment to tourists.
What might be the reasons for this development?
Is this a positive or a negative development?
It has been common for tourists to board with local people during their trips
instead of staying in a hotel. A few factors contribute to this trend, which I
generally view in a positive light.
There are two primary reasons why some tourists opt to stay with local
families instead of booking hotel rooms. Firstly, hotel rooms in most places
are often too costly for the average tourist, which is creating a demand for
more affordable options. Seizing this opportunity, locals are inviting tourists
into their homes in exchange for money. Besides this monetary reason,
tourists are also eager to interact with locals and experience their culture
more closely, the best way of which is to live with them under the same
roof. Therefore, tourists are choosing to be paying guests in locals’ homes
in preference to a hotel room.
In my view, this trend should be seen as a change for the better,
notwithstanding the potential problem of tax evasion. While it's true that
individuals providing paid accommodation to tourists in their own homes
might evade taxes, which poses a disadvantage to the state budget, it also
fosters competition between locals and hotels. This competition leads to
improvements in the hospitality industry, prompting hotels to offer better
services at competitive rates. In addition, this trend facilitates genuine
interactions between travellers and local families, enriching both sides’
understanding of different cultures. This growing cultural awareness is
bound to contribute to international harmony.
In conclusion, cost-related and cultural factors are driving the trend
towards tourists dispensing with hotel services and staying with a family in
the area they visit. Despite the downside of potential tax avoidance, this
development, I believe, should prove favourable for everyone involved.
(285 words)
Women make up around half the global population, yet fewer than half of them are
in paind work.
What do you think might be the reason for this?
To what extent do you think this is a problem?
Although there are roughly as many women as men in the world, most workplaces are
male-dominated. Various factors can explain why the majority of women are
unemployed, and in my view, this should be seen as a problem that needs to be
addressed.
There are several reasons why women are excluded from paid work. A significant
factor is the influence of traditional gender roles, where women are expected to
manage household responsibilities while men are seen as the primary breadwinners.
This prevalent mindset often leads parents to prioritize their sons’ education over their
daughters’, limiting opportunities for girls to pursue higher education and careers.
Moreover, many workplaces are unfavourable for female workers in a variety of ways.
For example, female workers often report being constantly harassed by male
colleagues, or the possibility of maternity leave often precludes them from being
promoted. As a result, women feel less motivated to pursue employment.
The under-representation of women in the workforce is indeed concerning. if a woman
does not work, completely relying on her husband for her provision, this may leave her
susceptible to potential abuse and violence by her husband. There are broader
implications, too. For cultural reasons, certain jobs, such as those in maternity
hospitals or beauty salons, should ideally be done by women. Since these places serve
females, male workers are likely to cause to discomfort for the visitors. However, for
lack of female professionals, it is becoming increasingly common to hear of a male
beautician or maternity nurse. Therefore, to reverse this unpleasant trend, it is
important to increase female participation in the workforce.
In conclusion, women stay away from paid employment for reasons connected with
cultural biases against them and inequities in workplaces. In my opinion, more women
should be encouraged to join the workforce, as this is beneficial for themselves and
society as a whole.
(308 words)
The most important aim of science should be to improve people’s lives.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
I agree that the primary goal of science must be to create a better life for everybody.
However, not all scientists prioritise this, with many using their knowledge as a means
to pursue their own divergent ends.
The things that motivate people to engage in scientific research are not the same.
Some, for example, are driven by a desire to achieve fame and fortune by winning
different awards, such as the Nobel Prize, promised to scientists who have made
ground-breaking discoveries. Others carry out different experiments only to satiate
their unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and care little whether the resulting
discovery will be of any benefit to anyone. There are also individuals who use scientific
knowledge as a means to their far-from-noble ends. A good case in point would be the
North Korean ruler, who employs scientists to create different weapons, such as
nuclear missiles, with the sole aim of maintaining its oppressive regime.
However, I believe scientific research should prioritise enhancing human life and, by
extension, the life on earth. This is especially important now, when the world is facing
potentially catastrophic problems, such as climate change and pollution.
Unfortunately, these problems are only growing in severity with time, and unless
thorough, scientific solutions are devised, our planet may soon become uninhabitable.
Although some efforts are being made – such as the gradual shift from fossil fuels to
renewable energy sources or the development of biodegradable materials to replace
plastic – these seem insufficient, and thus, more research is needed to achieve scalable
solutions. Clearly, science remains what everyone is pinning their hopes on.
In sum, although not every individual in the realm of science may work towards a
universal objective, my view is that the ultimate goal of any scientific work must be to
create a better life for everyone. This is particularly crucial in the light of all the global
issues threatening to destabilise life on Earth.
(318 words)
Some university students want to learn about other subjects in addition to their main
subjects. Others believe it is more important to give all their time and attention to studying
for a qualification.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Opinions are divided as to whether undergraduates should only focus on their main subjects
or explore other disciplines as well. While studying other subjects has some undeniable
benefits, I believe it is best for students to prioritize their specializations and avoid spending
time on any unrelated areas.
Understandably, studying a diverse set of subjects seem attractive to some students. This
approach to higher education allows students to learn a little about every area of knowledge,
and thus, develop into sophisticated individuals. With this broad understanding of the world,
they can achieve success in numerous aspects of life, such as health, self-care and
relationships. In addition, students with a varied curriculum can also educate their own
children in the future, through home-schooling or at least helping with the homework. For
example, if a history student dabbles in mathematics, this familiarity with the subject may
enable them to assist their children with maths homework.
However, despite these advantages, students in higher education should primarily be
concerned to master their special disciplines. Attempting too many subjects can lead to
students graduating from university with a patchy knowledge of their own specialisation,
hindering career progression. Moreover, studying different subjects means spending more
years studying at university before qualifying as professionals, as well as paying more for
tuition. As a result, pursuing a degree becomes a luxury only accessible to those with
sufficient time and financial resources. If higher education is avoided due to cost and time
constraints, the workforce will eventually face a severe shortage of professional workers,
such as doctors or lawyers. Therefore, university education should not be made challenging
by adding non-essential subjects.
In conclusion, although studying subjects outside of one’s speciality is not entirely without
merit, I firmly believe university students should mainly focus on one subject area and try to
become an expert in it. This approach not only saves them time and money but also
encourages a greater number of individuals to pursue higher education.
(326 words)
One of the consequences of improved medical care is that people are living
longer and life expectancy is increasing.
Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Thanks to the advancements in medicine, people are now expecting to live
longer. Although the idea of a long life sounds attractive, in my view, this change
creates more significant challenges than benefits.
Undoubtedly, longer lifespans are offering some advantages both on a personal
and societal level. The gains of living longer for individuals are quite obvious.
Most people in the past could not reap the benefits of years of hard work after
retiring, with only a few lucky individuals living reasonably beyond the retirement
age. Now, living to a ripe old age is allowing people to enjoy life after retirement
to the full. For example, elderly tourists travelling around the world on their
pensions or savings have become a common sight in recent decades. Society can
also benefit from the people who have lived a long life. Since with age come
wisdom and experience, these people can help their children and grandchildren
to make wise decisions regarding all aspects of life, offering their invaluable
insights.
However, lengthy life expectancy can give rise to some significant issues. The
main one is the increase in the human population, which leads to shortages of
vital resources, such as housing and food. Additionally, unless ‘healthspans’ do
not catch up with lifespans, people’s health will keep deteriorating with age. As a
result, the elderly population require more care as they age, placing a burden on
the healthcare system. Even if older individuals maintain good health, it creates
another problem; they may choose to continue working instead of retiring and
vacating their posts for young generations. This, in turn, contributes to youth
unemployment.
In sum, although longer lifespans allow individuals to savour life after retirement
and share their wisdom with others, these advantages pale into insignificance
compared to the potential issues. My concern is that an elongated human
lifespan may exacerbate problems like homelessness, hunger and joblessness.
(312 words)
Many people think that modern communication technology is having a negative
effect on social relationships.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The way people communicate is changing due to technological advancements.
While these changes are widely seen in a negative light, it is also important to
acknowledge the benefits of modern communication technologies.
Admittedly, innovations like mobile devices and online platforms are causing
relationships to weaken by transforming the ways people interact with each
other. Before the rise of modern communication tools, the most common, if not
the only, way for people to maintain contact with family and friends was through
frequent in-person visits. Although this meant people talking less often compared
to the present, the quality of those face-to-face interactions was far superior to
that of today’s online or on-the-phone ones. Thus, as communication
technologies proliferate and become more accessible, the bonds between friends
and relatives seem to become more superficial.
On the other hand, this development is enabling people to maintain a wider
social circle. People today often move from city to city in search of better
employment and life. Despite changing their locations so frequently, they are
now able to stay in contact even with their primary school friends and distant
relatives by exchanging messages on social networking platforms like ‘Facebook’
or ‘Telegram', or by having video calls via ‘Skype’ or ‘WhatsApp’. Clearly, if it were
not for these modern technologies, we would already have lost most of our
current contacts for good.
In sum, the potential negative impact of communication technologies on the
depth of social relationships is undeniable as most people are now inclined to
rely on mobile devices and the internet as a substitute for in-person meetings.
However, when used wisely, these technological tools can benefit people by
enabling them to stay connected with those who would otherwise be completely
out of touch.
(288 words)
Full-time university students spend a lot of time studying. Some say they
should do other activities too.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is argued that despite the need to study long hours, university students studying full-time
should also spare time for other activities. Although it can be challenging for full-time
students to incorporate extracurricular activities into their already packed schedules, I
believe doing so does them a great deal of good.
Undeniably, full-time students are supposed to spend the best part of their time on
university work. This is due to the demanding nature of their schedules, which are filled with
assignments and exam preparations. If they fall behind with these tasks and fail exams, as a
result, they cannot earn enough credits to complete the course on time. Besides finishing
university behind schedule, such students will also have to spend more money on tuition
fees, potentially burdening themselves with more student loans. Thus, failure to allocate
sufficient time to studies can have undesirable consequences for university students.
However, it is equally important for students to engage in activities outside their university
studies. While academic work is essential to gain qualifications and expertise, these activities
help them to acquire other necessary skills. For instance, playing football can teach them
how to act as part of a team to achieve a common goal, and this realisation of the power of
cooperation helps them to succeed in the workplace later in life.
The gains of extracurricular activities extend beyond these practical skills. Due to long hours
of studying, students often experience mental and physical fatigue, leading to a drop in
productivity. At this point, participating in leisurely, non-academic activities, such as
watching a movie with friends, helps students recharge their batteries and return to their
studies feeling refreshed. Therefore, it is crucial for university students to include time for
relaxation in their busy schedules to maintain a high level of productivity.
In sum, while acknowledging the importance of studying as much as possible for full-time
students, I firmly believe they should also make time for other activities. Taking frequent
breaks from studies not only helps them gain skills that will come in useful in their future
careers but also prevents burnout and a decline in productivity.
(353 words)
People of all ages must find time to do at least one hour of physical exercise
every day to improve their overall health.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
It is argued that people, irrespective of their ages, have to exercise no less than
an hour each day. While making a deliberate attempt to stay active has never
been more important, I do not think setting one hour as the bare minimum for all
is the best approach.
The role of exercise in achieving and maintaining good health cannot be
exaggerated, especially in today’s society, where sedentary lifestyles have been
the norm. Most adults nowadays do desk jobs, spending the bulk of their waking
hours just sitting on a chair. Similarly, children’s outdoor games have been
replaced by digital games played indoors, and as a result, children are also
spending a great deal of time hunching in front of a screen. These lifestyle
changes are often implicated as the root cause of many health problems and to
counter their negative impact on our health, it is recommended that people
incorporate regular exercise into their daily routines.
However, duration should not be viewed as the only factor determining the
effectiveness of an exercise. In fact, the intensity of a workout is often a stronger
predictor of its outcome; the more vigorous an exercise is, the more quickly the
body responds to it, with a faster heartbeat and sweating. The benefits of an
hour of jogging, for example, can be delivered through a couple of minutes of
sprinting. Also, individual differences should not be overlooked. Some people can
continue exercising tirelessly for hours on end, while a minute’s aerobic activity
can be enough to send others panting. Thus, everyone must adopt an exercise
regimen that suits them the best.
In sum, I recognise the importance of exercise in enhancing our health conditions
worsened by prevailing sedentary lifestyles. However, recommending everyone
to exercise at least an hour daily does not seem a reasonable approach, not least
because it ignores the influence of intensity and other individual factors.
(315 words)
Some people believe technology has made our lives too complex and the
solution is to lead a simpler life without technology.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is sometimes complained that our lives have become unnecessarily
complicated due to modern technologies. While some, therefore, suggest
abandoning technology altogether, I believe this causes even more problems
than it solves.
There is no denying that technology is making life more difficult for some people.
In certain cases, lack of understanding of a specific technology leaves its users
vulnerable to harm. Plastic card users, for example, must understand how to use
them safely and be aware of basic cyber security rules, otherwise, they can easily
have their money stolen. Besides this security risk, technology is also altering
workplaces in ways that employees are finding it challenging to adapt. I can see
this happen with my mother, who works as a school teacher. She laments that in
the past, she simply recorded student grades in a paper journal, but now has to
input the date onto an online platform, which is not straightforward enough for
users.
However, I do not think opting against technology is a good idea, as this only
makes life even more challenging. The reason for this is that technology has
become so interconnected in our lives that removing it is almost impossible.
Smartphones are an example of a technology without which we can no longer
lead a normal existence. We depend on them to perform a wide range of
essential tasks such as making appointments or finding our way in an unfamiliar
area. Therefore, we should keep adapting to technological changes instead of
considering returning to old ways of life.
In conclusion, although I acknowledge the challenges technology is posing to
certain individuals, this should not mean completely rejecting it. This is because
our lives have become too reliant on technology to cope successfully without it.
(290 words)
In many countries, more and more people are buying imported food rather
than food produced locally.
Why do people buy imported food?
What could be done to encourage people to buy local food?
A growing number of people worldwide are choosing imported food products in
preference to domestic alternatives. Two main reasons can explain this trend, and
there are a few effective ways to persuade people to shift to local foods.
People buy foods brought from overseas because these offer better quality compared
to ones grown within the country, or because local alternatives do not sometimes even
exist. A type of crop grown in another country can be better on account of a
favourable climate in that particular country. For example, wheat produced in
Kazakhstan is known to be of higher quality than that of Uzbekistan. As a result, Uzbek
consumers prefer Kazak flour to local sorts. Another reason for the existence of
demand for a certain type of foreign food is that it is sometimes impossible to produce
that item of food domestically. The banana is a good case in point; this fruit cannot be
grown in Central Asia, so the people in this region have to rely on overseas suppliers.
However, there are a number of measures to reduce reliance on foreign foodstuffs.
Firstly, scientists should try to develop crop varieties that are well-suited to the climate
of a particular country so that foods of competitive quality can be produced. In
addition, governments should subsidise the domestic agriculture industry and impose
heavy taxes on imported produce, making domestic produce seem better value for
money. Finally, in order to curb people’s appetite for exotic food, they should be
educated and made aware of the environmental impact of transporting it over long
distances.
In sum, the demand for foreign food is rising due to its superiority in terms of quality
or to the absence of domestic alternatives. To incentivise people to opt for locally-
sourced foods, the quality should be improved through science and the prices must be
reduced with the help of government subsidies. Also, making people more
environmentally conscious can make a difference.
(321 words)
In many countries, people increasingly talk about money such as how much
they earn or how much they pay for things in their daily conversations.
Why is this the case?
Is this a positive or negative development?
It is becoming more and more common to hear people discussing personal
finances. Two reasons can explain this trend, and although it might be fine to talk
about money in a manner of speaking, I see this change in a rather negative light.
There are two main reasons why people are talking about money more than ever.
First, success and social status are now being measured based on the size of
one’s salary; the more money an individual makes, the more respect they will be
shown. The other reason concerns self-assessment. A person may ask others
questions about personal finances so that he or she can compare and evaluate
their own financial situation and try to change it accordingly. For example, if they
find others earning more, they will also work harder and try not to fall behind the
curve. Similarly, If they discover that their spendings far exceed others’, they may
consider switching to an economy drive.
Although talking about money is acceptable in certain cases, I believe its negative
consequences are more significant. Discussing money is good when people
become curious about others’ monetary matters in order to fix their own, such as
by improving their productivity to earn more, or by limiting expenses after
realising their extravagance with money. However, money being the central topic
in most conversations creates a society where people are overly obsessed with it.
When people develop materialistic tendencies, putting cash above everything
else, more important values lose their significance. In a money-oriented
community, an individual’s knowledge or honesty, for instance, may not be
appreciated unless these qualities are accompanied by wealth.
In sum, people sometimes discuss monetary matters with the intention of
adjusting their incomings and outgoings, which is all right. However, this trend is
largely concerning as it usually indicates a growing obsession with money,
eventually leading to its prioritisation over everything else. (312 words)
Some people think that the values that we learn from our parents and family
have a greater influence on our future success than the knowledge and skills
we learn at school.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is sometimes argued that what children learn within the family is a
stronger predictor of their future success compared to school education. In
my opinion, both factors are equally important in achieving success.
Indeed, family life equips us with qualities that are necessary to become
successful individuals. Observing individuals noted for their outstanding
success reveals that they all seem to possess such attributes as honesty,
assiduity and conscience, which people usually pick up at home, rather
than at school. Those with such qualities can easily earn the respect and
trust of others, and, as a result, achieve success in almost every aspect of
life. A child can also grow up to be an open-minded and respectful
individual due to the influence of the environment at home. These people
have the potential to become great leaders since they value and consider
others' opinions, thus often making wise decisions.
While school education may not focus on developing such qualities in
students, it provides skills and knowledge that are no less important for
success. At school, we begin with acquiring basic literacy and numeracy
skills and proceed to master foreign languages and complex subject
matters. Armed with these skills and knowledge, we can pursue higher
education and obtain the qualifications needed to build a successful career
in our dream profession. It is impossible to become a reputable doctor or a
lawyer, for example, solely with the moral principles learnt at home; a
relevant degree and a thorough understanding of these fields are also
essential. Therefore, education also contributes significantly to future
success.
In sum, although the role of values learnt at home is indispensable in
creating a successful future, I believe knowledge and skills obtained at
school are also important in equal measure. Thus, parents, caregivers and
teachers alike must ensure the right conditions for the children they are in
charge of, if they are to raise truly successful individuals.
(318 words)
The only way to improve safety on our roads is to give stricter punishment for
driving offences.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Growing numbers of cars in many countries have brought the issue of road safety to
the top of the agenda, with some proposing toughening punishment for traffic
offences. While imposing stricter penalties definitely contributes to safer roads, I
believe addressing other aspects of the problem is equally important.
There is no denying that by making punishment for traffic offences stricter,
governments can reduce traffic violations. In many countries, the usual punishment
for breaking a traffic rule is simply a fine, which some individuals find very easy to
pay. For example, in Uzbekistan, the only consequence a driver will face if caught
speeding or driving through a red light is merely a thirty-dollar ticket. As a result, it is
quite common to see affluent individuals with a predilection for velocity driving past at
breakneck speed. Clearly, the punishment for this offence is too soft to deter those
who can afford to break the rule. When the authorities take a tough line on such
potentially dangerous offences, such as by implementing compulsory community
service or even imprisonment, reckless driving will be significantly reduced, thereby
making roads safer.
However, unsafe roads do not only result from dangerous driving; there are other
contributing factors. One reason for traffic accidents is due unsatisfactory road
conditions. While navigating a poorly maintained road, drivers may need to frequently
swerve to avoid potholes, increasing the risk of colliding with oncoming traffic,
especially on narrow roads. Car accidents may also occur because of a malfunction
in the brake or other mechanisms. Therefore, motorists must be required to have their
cars regularly serviced, and car manufacturers should also be held to stricter
standards.
In conclusion, I acknowledge that roads would be safer if offenders were punished
more severely. However, efforts to improve road safety should not be limited only to
this. There are other areas that need to be addressed, including road conditions and
technical standards for cars.

(318 words)
Children brought up in families with less money are better prepared for life than
those from wealthy families.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The environment in which children grow up definitely affects their life in adulthood.
Some argue that insufficient financial resources at home better prepare children for
life compared to when they are abundant. I agree with this perspective as wealth
usually diminishes children’s capacity to deal with real-life challenges, while financial
difficulties have the opposite effect.
Children of well-to-do parents can be at a disadvantage in two major ways. First, such
parents are often at work, busy making money, which means there is no one to
ensure that the children are doing something meaningful in their spare time. As a
result, these children grow up to be individuals who do not value time and waste it in
senseless ways, such as playing video games or roaming on social media. Second,
due to their unrestricted access to money, children from affluent families may not
develop proper money management skills, as they do not need to worry about saving
or using money wisely. Clearly, children with spendthrift tendencies who constantly
idle away their time are bound to have a hard time as adults.
Children of less prosperous parents, on the other hand, can learn to cope with
challenges of life much more successfully because of their early exposure to them.
For example, the occasional availability of pocket money while at school requires
these impecunious children to spend it carefully, helping them develop money
management skills, even if subconsciously. Additionally, the aspiration to climb up the
social ladder motivates these children to assist their parents with their work so that
they can maximise the family income and start to live a comfortable life one day. For
instance, a carpenter’s children may learn the craft at a young age and spend their
free time helping in the workshop. This helps them not only acquire practical skills but
also to recognise the value of time, and thus, rarely waste it.
In conclusion, children from disadvantaged families usually outperform their wealthy
counterparts when faced with real-life problems. This is because the environment in
these families facilitates the development of essential skills such as frugality and
productivity, which are difficult to acquire in the lap of luxury.
(359 words)
Consumers are nowadays more influenced by customer product reviews on
social media than by traditional advertising methods.
Is this a positive or negative development?
Advertisements have traditionally influenced consumers’ decisions as to which
products to buy. However, in recent years, online product reviews have proven even
more influential in this respect. I generally view this shift in a positive light.
Customer reviews of products help potential buyers to discover the objective truth
about those products, enabling them to make informed decisions. Reviews are
usually provided by individuals who have no motivation to tout a product, thus
highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses, and assessing its value for money.
Some product reviewers go even further and carry out comparisons between different
brands. Plenty of examples of this can be found on platforms like YouTube where
vloggers upload videos comparing, say, two mobile phones; one is made by
Samsung, and the other by Apple.
Advertisements, on the other hand, are exclusively designed to persuade people to
make a purchase, often resorting to exaggerated or even false claims. As a result
consumers tend to trust product reviews more than conventional ways of marketing,
such as TV commercials or celebrity endorsements. However, customers are not sole
beneficiaries of social media reviews; in fact, businesses can also exploit them as a
reliable source of feedback on their products from their ultimate users.
While many reviews provide valuable insights, we must acknowledge the existence of
some positive reviews coming from individuals who are directly affiliated with the
manufacturers. Similarly, some companies may organise dishonest campaigns in a
deliberate attempt to taint the image of their rivals, and produce copious negative
reviews of the rival products on various platforms. The average consumer might be
unable to see through these schemes and end up buying the wrong product.
Nonetheless, this does not seem to be a problem, as superb products often garner so
many positive reviews that any malicious reviews spread by mean players are usually
overshadowed. The same can be said of false positive reviews.
In conclusion, social media have empowered consumers by offering platforms where
they can express their unbiased opinions of the products they have bought and used.
These reviews not only aid prospective buyers in making informed decisions but also
serve as valuable feedback for manufacturers to improve their products. Therefore, I
believe product reviews gaining greater influence over traditional advertising methods
is a change for the better.
Art classes, such as painting and drawing, are important for a child's
development as other subjects, so they should be compulsory in schools.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people believe that it is best to accept a bad situation, such as an
unsatisfactory job or shortage of money. Others argue that it is better to try and
improve such situations.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
International tourism has brought enormous benefits 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?
International tourism is one of the booming industries. However, it is having a mixed
impact on destination countries. Although I acknowledge the benefits it delivers, in my
opinion, the resultant problems are more significant.
Admittedly, tourists from abroad benefit the country welcoming them. Tourists see
their travels as a period of indulgence and do not allow a lack of money to take away
from the enjoyment of the experience. Thus, they usually make sure they take an
ample amount of money before setting off. As a result, there will be an increase in the
flow of cash into the host country. In addition, as tourists usually spend more
generously than local people, demand for products and services offered by the
hospitality industry rises significantly. To meet this heightened demand, businesses
will have to employ more people, thereby reducing unemployment in the countries
where they operate. Thus, it is not surprising that countries that are popular with
tourists from around the world can boast a better economy.
However, these benefits pale in comparison to the negative consequences of
international tourism. The main problem stemming from it is air pollution. This is due
to the fact that the typical mode of transport overseas travellers use is the plane,
which is among the top polluters. Another issue is that tourists with much greater
purchasing powers compared to local inhabitants, although unintentionally, cause the
cost of living in the host country to rise. For example, tourists are often prepared to
rent a flat at a higher rate because they normally stay for a short time and thus it will
not be a big expense for them, but a local inhabitant, who needs a permanent place
of residence, has to bear the brunt of this risen rate.
In conclusion, in spite of its economic benefits, I tend to see international tourism in a
rather negative light. The long-haul flights that travellers take damage the
environment, and their extravagant spending habits contribute to price rises in the
host country. (309 words)
More and more tasks we do at home and at work these days are done by
robots.
Is this a positive or negative development?
Robots are increasingly becoming an integral part of our lives, taking on a
growing number of tasks in both our homes and workplaces. While this
trend can have certain drawbacks, I believe it ultimately brings about
positive changes.
Admittedly, using robots could cause certain issues. Having robots perform
daily domestic chores, such as vacuuming or doing the laundry, can make
people less physically active if they use the saved time for sedentary
activities like watching TV or surfing the Web. This can lead to weight gain
or even obesity and resultant health issues. Similarly, the introduction of
robots in workplaces may mean dispensing with human labour, thereby
increasing unemployment rates.
However, there are clear benefits to incorporating robots into our lives. By
allowing robots to handle domestic tasks, people can have more free time
for pursuing hobbies or socialising with family and friends. This helps them
to lead a more satisfying life. As for the health concerns associated with
robot use, they can be avoided by taking regular exercise. Using robots at
work also results in positive outcomes. This is because mundane,
repetitive tasks can be delegated to robots, while human workers occupy
themselves with more varied and meaningful responsibilities. This will
definitely enhance their job satisfaction. With regard to employment
concerns, the jobs initially lost to automation are likely to be made up for in
the long run as the industries adapt and create new vacancies over time.
In conclusion, delegation of tasks to robots allows people to enjoy more
leisure time. However, it is important to remain mindful of the potential
consequences of a sedentary lifestyle. While automation certainly makes
some workers redundant temporarily, the increased variety in job roles due
to routine tasks being performed by robots can lead to greater job
satisfaction. (296 words)

More and more people are migrating to cities in search of a better life, but city
life can be extremely difficult.
Explain some of the difficulties of living in a city.
How can governments make urban life better for everyone?
In recent decades, cities have seen an influx of people arriving from
villages in the hope of finding a better life. However, living in the city can
be far from easy, with the onus on governments to make city life less of a
struggle.
City life comes with its long-standing difficulties. The main issue is the
higher cost of living compared to living in villages. This is in large part
because most of the produce consumed in cities is transported from rural
areas where they are farmed. This means every item of food in city
supermarkets represents the cost of transportation, too. Another factor
contributing to a higher cost of living in cities is the shortage of housing. As
cities are more populous than the country, the demand for homes there is
higher, so is the cost of buying or renting one. Besides these financial
challenges, city dwellers also have to deal with dangerous levels of air
pollution. Due to the high volume of traffic on city roads, the air in the city is
polluted with exhaust fumes. This is compounded by the emissions from
factories, many of which also operate in urban areas.
Addressing these issues requires governmental intervention. Firstly, the
cost of living needs to be reduced. Firstly, reducing the cost of living can
be achieved by promoting urban agriculture, such as using rooftops for
growing vegetables and other food plants. Additionally, large-scale,
subsidized housing development programs can help alleviate the dearth of
affordable homes. To improve the poor air quality, urban areas must have
more trees, since they act as air filters by absorbing carbon gases and
producing oxygen. Implementing these measures, however, requires
massive investment and thus, lack of financial support can be a major
obstacle to providing a better life for urbanites in the near future.
In conclusion, city life presents a number of major challenges, including
bigger expenses and air pollution. Although solutions exist, without
sufficient funding, their implementation can take years or even decades.
(331 words)
Today more people are putting their private information (address,
telephone and plastic card numbers) online to do their daily activities
(banking, shopping, socializing).
Is it a positive or negative development?
Opinions are divided as to whether sharing personal information online in
order to carry out tasks is a positive or negative development. Although
there are some well-known concerns associated with this behaviour, I view
it as an opportunity to make progress.
I acknowledge the threats people face when they share their personal
details online. We often hear incidents where people have their digital
money stolen after sharing their card number in order to purchase a
product from a fraud posing as an online dealer. Another familiar story
involves hackers gaining unauthorized access to someone's website
account, stealing confidential information, and demanding ransom for not
leaking that information to those who are not supposed to have it. These
incidents highlight the problematic consequences of sharing information
online.
However, I have a different perspective. People often fall victim to online
criminals not solely because they share their information, but because they
lack an understanding of cybersecurity principles. It is entirely possible to
stay safe from cyber crimes. For example, one day I found that a hacker
logged on my Telegram account. After eliminating that invader I did some
research and discovered that enabling the 'two-step verification' feature
could help prevent similar attacks. Therefore, putting private information
online is a positive development as it is urging us to deepen our
understanding of cyber security.
In conclusion, while it is true that people leave themselves somewhat
vulnerable by sharing their private information online, I believe this effects
progress towards a better understanding of cyber security. (251 words)

Some people think that we should invent a new language for

international communication.
Will the benefits of this outweigh the problems associated with it?
It is argued that there is a need for a new language for nations to
communicate. While everyone might benefit from a brand new language, I
anticipate it creating more problems than it solves.
There can be some advantages to inventing a new global language. The
main one would be improved communication between nations. If everyone
spoke the same language, international talks would be carried out more
smoothly, tensions would be avoided, and as a result, the world would be a
more peaceful place. In addition, languages are often seen as part of
national identity, which means having everyone use a universal language
could help root out nationalism among people.
However, the drawbacks of introducing a new universal language should
not be overlooked. Firstly, a language is a complex system and evolves
over many years, not overnight. A language created, rather than evolved,
within a short space of time is likely to be full of flaws and thus fail to
facilitate effective conversations. Another problem would arise when we
attempt to teach that language to others. We normally learn languages as
much from exposure to the use of native speakers as from textbooks. As
there would be no native speakers of a newly invented language, it would
be hard for everyone to master it. Due to the inadequate grasp of that
languages, people would frequently miscommunicate using it.
Some think that Interviews are not a reliable way of hiring employees.
It is important to apply other methods for this.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Most companies interview candidates in order to select them for jobs.
However, it is debatable whether this is an effective approach, and I
believe that alternative methods should be employed to ensure the hiring
of the best employees.
First, it is important to understand the reasoning behind organising
interviews with potential employees. These conversations aim to assess
candidates’ potential for doing the job successfully, cooperating with other
workers amicably, as well as contributing to the company’s growth. During
the interview, candidates are asked a range of questions about their
educational backgrounds, social skills, character traits, and long-term
plans. If the responses are perceived to be in alignment with the
company’s values and objectives, then the candidate will be offered the
post.
Nonetheless, I am sceptical about the reliability of a single conversation as
a strong predictor of a candidate's future job performance. It is easy for
applicants to make exaggerated claims during interviews to secure
desirable positions. Therefore, in order for companies to hire top-flight
professionals in their fields, alternative evaluation techniques should be
adopted. Firstly, rigorous scrutiny of applicants' credentials is essential.
Additionally, contacting former employers for references can provide
valuable insights. In cases where candidates lack prior experience, a
probation period could be offered. These methods allow employers to see
what a candidate is actually capable of doing before offering permanent
employment.
In conclusion, job interviews are limited in their effectiveness as far as
recruiting the right people goes. Instead, comprehensive selection
procedures that emphasize practical skills and qualifications, rather than
relying solely on verbal claims, should be established. (261 words)

An increasing number of people are choosing to have cosmetic

surgery in order to improve their appearance.
Why are some people choosing to have an operation to change the
way they look?
Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
More and more people are now trying to enhance their outer appearances through
cosmetic surgeries. A number of factors can be attributed to this trend and despite
some benefits, I generally see it in a negative light.
There are two main reasons for the proliferation of such operations. One is their
widespread availability. In the past, changing one’s physical appearance was almost
inconceivable, as cosmetic surgery was not as developed as it is today. With recent
advances in the field, surgeons have started to offer solutions for cosmetic problems,
and those desperate to fix their appearance flaws have seize the opportunity,
resulting in a sudden surge in such operations. Another factor influencing people’s
decisions to alter their facial features surgically is their unrealistic expectations about
how to look, created by exposure to fake appearances on social media. As most
photos and videos posted on social media are enhanced through various tools, those
viewing them are made to think that they are not attractive enough, seeing cosmetic
surgery as a solution.
For all the advantages of cosmetic operations, I believe this tendency is largely
undesirable. It is true that these procedures are bringing happiness and joy to certain
individuals’ lives, by enabling them to have severe facial asymmetries corrected, for
example. However, this trend is also contributing to the sorrow of most people. Firstly,
as with any surgical procedure, such operations carry inherent risks and
complications. One high-profile incident involving a well-known blogger in my country
is a case in point. He went under the knife with the hope of fixing his crooked nose,
only to lose his life to the general anaesthesia to which his body responded fatally. In
addition, since these operations are rather expensive, those who cannot afford them
tend to feel hopeless and lose self-esteem due to their perceived appearance
problems instead of embracing how they look.
In conclusion, two factors, the increased prevalence of cosmetic surgery and
dissatisfaction with one’s appearance stemming from exposure to unreal images on
the internet, are driving the trend towards more plastic operations. While I
acknowledge that some people are benefiting, in my opinion, the problems caused by
the trend are far more significant, making it an overall negative change.

It is believed that secondary school children should study

international news as one of their school subjects. Others think that
this is a waste of valuable school time.
Discuss both views and give your opinions.
Opinions are divided as to whether or not children at secondary schools
should study international news as part of their curriculum. While some see
this as an inefficient use of time, I believe the ability to fathom global
events helps the children in many ways.
It is true that today’s children are too busy. The demands of school are
now far higher than they used to be due to the increased competition in
every area of life. Upon their graduation, school leavers now have to
compete for university seats and then for jobs. In order not to lag behind,
children start working hard from an early age. Thus, adding seemingly non-
essential subjects like ‘international news’ to their already busy curriculum
puts extra strain on those children, which may result in issues such as
burnout or apathy towards education.
However, I would argue it is worth studying a subject teaching current
affairs. Simply being exposed to world news would help children broaden
their worldviews. When they discuss these global affairs with others in
class, they learn to develop a persuasive argument and defend their
position with evidence from If children can make sense of the world and
what is happening in it, they will develop a profound political knowledge
More people today are choosing to change their profession several times
during their working lives.
What are the reasons for this?
Is it a positive or negative development?
Few people today stay in the same career throughout their whole life, with many
switching between jobs. A number of factors can explain this phenomenon and
despite the risk of going back to square one after every career change, I see it in a
positive light overall.
One reason why people are making frequent career changes is the volatility of pay
rates. It has been only a matter of time before a line of work changes from being the
most lucrative to the worst-paid. This change is, in turn, influencing people’s career
plans, prompting many to leave their job for a better-paid one. For example, a decade
ago farming was seen as one of the most profitable jobs in my country, encouraging
countless young people to study agriculture only to find this occupation among the
least-paying by the time they are farmers. As a result, more and more farmers are
abandoning this profession to do something more profitable for a living instead.
Another reason is the increased accessibility of vocational training courses. With the
rise of the Internet, online courses have proliferated such that anyone with Internet
access can now earn a qualification without leaving the comforts of their homes. This
allowed those dissatisfied with their current jobs to switch to another quickly.
Frequently changing jobs has one downside. When someone embarks on a new
career, their years spent in the previous will be automatically nullified, meaning they
have to start as a novice again. This may prevent them from achieving the senior
level in their final career. They may also earn less than before until they gain some
experience and are promoted to higher roles.
However, making career changes is helping people to discover their true vocation,
which is more important than anything else. Some people end up in the wrong
profession for various reasons, such as due to misguided advice or the desire to
please their parents. Having realised they are not meant for that job, they decide to
make a career change and find their true calling in a different profession.
In conclusion, people are trying their hands at different professions as the pay rates
are changing with time and re-training for new jobs has become easier. Apart from
the disadvantage of starting from the grassroots level, making a career change is a
worthwhile course of action since this affords people an opportunity to find the right
job for them.

Some people say that to prevent illness and disease, governments should
focus more on reducing environmental pollution and housing problems.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
More and more people are becoming ill with different diseases. Some suggest in
order to reduce the incidence of illnesses, efforts should be directed at alleviating
pollution and housing issues. Lack of adequate housing and living in a polluted
environment are only part of the problem, and I believe there are other areas that
need more attention if illnesses and diseases are to be prevented.
It is true that people are now facing health problems due to pollution and living in poor
conditions. Cities frequently face air and water pollution, exposing individuals to
particulate matter that can lead to cardiovascular and respiratory issues when
ingested or inhaled. Similarly, people without proper accommodation to live in cannot
take good care of themselves. For example, people who live in shelters for the
homeless cannot take a shower or cook meals as often as needed, which may
contribute to an impaired immune system leaving them vulnerable to different
diseases.
However, there are mother areas that need to be addressed first. People are now
easily becoming ill as their defence mechanism, which is their immune system, is not
strong enough. Two main factors are weakening our immune systems: poor diet and
lack of exercise. Our diets today mostly consist of unhealthy, ultra-processed foods,
which are high in sugar and artificial additives instead of essential nutrients. As a
result, malnutrition is becoming a common problem. The problem is compounded by
a lack of physical activity in our daily lives. With the advent of technology, our lives
have become more sedentary; children’s outdoor games have been replaced by
video games played indoors, whereas increasingly more adults now have desk jobs.
This type of life is giving rise to obesity as a global issue. People who are
malnourished and obese cannot usually fight or avoid illnesses.
In conclusion, while our living conditions and the environment do have an impact on
our capacity to avoid or fight diseases, what we eat and how physically active we are
are more important factors. Thus these two aspects of our lives should be given
precedence over anything else to achieve better health outcomes.
(352 words)

It is often argued by many that historical objects SHOULD be brought back to

their country of origin.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Museums today are full of interesting historical items. However, not all of them come
from the country they are being kept in, prompting the argument that these objects
should be returned to the country of origin. While counterarguments can be made, I
firmly support the idea of repatriating these artefacts.
I can understand why some people believe that museum artefacts should remain
where they are, regardless of their origins. This is because museums have been
investing in the safety and maintenance of their exhibits. Thus, they might feel entitled
to keep them, even if they were acquired from other countries in the past.
Additionally, there is no guarantee that if these artefacts had been left in their original
places, they would have been tended properly so as to survive until today. History
has shown that cuntless objects of historical importance have been destroyed or lost
as a result of natural disasters, such as floods or fires, or by invaders like ancient
Mongols, underscoring the challenges of preservation.
Nonetheless, I believe every historical artefact must be returned to its country of
origin. Although museums may have been spending on the upkeep of the items
brought from other countries, they have also been making a profit off them by
attracting visitors from around the world. It is important to note that these objects were
not given to those museums by their owner countries as gifts, but rather they were
often obtained through illegal means such as thefts or invasions. The British Museum,
for instance, holds numerous items brought from England’s former colonies who
could not put up much opposition to the appropriation of them by the colonisers.
Therefore, unless historical artefacts are displayed in their original place, bringing
revenues to their actual owners, justice will not prevail.
In conclusion, objects of historical interest should be kept in the museums of the
nations who initially owned them, although their current museums have invested in
keeping these objects safe and pristine, as through their public exhibition, they have
already earned more than what they have spent. Repatriation allows justice to be
served and enables the revenue generated by these artefacts to benefit the nations to
which they rightfully belong. (365 words)

Some people think parents should read or tell stories to their children. Others think
parents needn't do that as children can read books or watch TV, or movies by themselves.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Children love stories. With sources like books, TV programmes and movies for children
becoming increasingly available, opinions have divided as to whether parents should or
needn’t read or tell their children stories. In my view, children should learn stories both
independently of their parents and with them, as both methods have their own benefits.
When children study stories on their own through books and other sources, not only they
themselves, but their parents can benefit. This approach allows parents to have more free
time. As most parents today work and have only a little free time for themselves, spending
time reading or telling stories to their children might deprive them of any opportunity to
socialise with friends or pursue hobbies, which is essential for their well-being. Regarding the
advantages for children, if they read stories themselves, their reading comprehension skills
will be improved. Similarly, listening to them on TV or radio programmes allows children to
master different styles of language, whereas their parents tend to speak in the same
conversational style even during story-telling.
On the other hand, there are also benefits to parents reading or telling stories. It has been
scientifically proven that reading allows the mind to relax and relieves stress. Thus, reading
for their children enables parents to unwind after a hard day at work. In addition, this
approach encourages human-to-human interaction between the parent and child as they
discuss different parts of the story or the entire plot together, which may help the young
child develop interpersonal skills. By contrast, children left to understand the story on their
own without the involvement of an adult are inclined to misinterpret the underlying message
or arrive at wrongheaded conclusions due to their immaturity.
In conclusion, one approach affords parents more leisure time and better well-being while
contributing to the development of their children’s language skills, whereas the other helps
parents relax and children foster people skills and prevents misunderstandings. Therefore, it
is crucial to strike a balance between these two methods. (333 words)

Many people argue that restaurants should be required to disclose the nutritional
information of the dishes they serve.

Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

It is suggested that restaurant menus should show information about the nutritional content
of each dish. While some problems may arise from this initiative, I believe it will bring more
benefits.
The implementation of this idea may present a few challenges. Firstly, restaurants would
need to hire additional staff to create nutritional information for their dishes, which would
contribute to increased costs and potentially lead to higher food prices. This cost increase
could discourage people from eating out frequently. Additionally, there may be concerns
about the accuracy and reliability of information provided by restaurants. Thus, there may be
a need for the establishment of a regulatory body to oversee restaurants. To support the
operation of this organisation, restaurants may have to pay additional taxes, which, again,
will be represented in food prices.
Despite these challenges, the inclusion of nutritional information in restaurant menus offers
significant benefits. First and foremost, this would allow people to eat healthy, balanced
meals, since they can easily track the amount of protein, fat, and carbohydrates they are
eating. They would also be able to keep the number of calories they consume in check,
preventing obesity. For instance, if customers are aware that a dish is high in calories, they
can choose to consume a smaller portion. One additional benefit of this development could
be less food waste. When detailed information about dishes is made available to customers,
they only order what, and as much as, they can eat and leave the table with almost no food
to be thrown away.
In conclusion, while implementing the idea may mean more work for restaurants and
authorities and higher prices of dishes for customers, the advantages are much greater. The
gains range from lower rates of obesity to less waste from leftovers. (294 words)

Doctors recommend that older people exercise regularly. However, many of them do not
get enough exercise.
What are the reasons for this?
What can be done to encourage them to exercise more?
Extended human lifespans have made healthy ageing a prime concern in many societies, with
recommendations for the elderly to engage in regular exercise. However, few elderly
individuals follow this advice. Several explanations can be offered for their reluctance to
exercise, but there are ways to persuade them otherwise.
Elderly people do not want to exercise for a number of reasons. The main one is connected
to the diet. The foods we eat today do not provide the body with the necessary energy to
stay physically active. As a result, we often feel lethargic throughout the day, taking the lift,
instead of stairs, to even the second floor, much less participating in a full session of
workout. This effect is even more pronounced on the elderly whose fitness levels have
already started to decline due to their age. Another reason for the lack of exercise among
older people is the availability of more interesting pastimes, such as browsing social media,
watching videos, and engaging in online chatrooms. Old people tend to find these activities
more appealing due to their more leisurely nature compared to exercising.
However, older people can be incentivised to take part in exercise through a couple of ways.
Firstly, the focus should be directed at their diet. Highly processed, sugar-laden products
must be replaced with fresh, natural produce and animal proteins, which help them to feel
more energetic and eager to exercise. Next, exercising needs to be made more attractive for
the elderly so that they will not be lured by other sedentary activities. This can be achieved
by organising elderly sports clubs, for instance, where they not only can exercise but also
have an opportunity to socialise with their peers.
In conclusion, elderly people often shy away from exercise due to diet-induced lethargy and
the availability of more absorbing and less physically demanding activities. Thus, overhauling
their diet and making exercising more appealing can go a long way towards solving the issue.
(325 words)

Schools should use films, computers and games instead of books.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is often suggested that textbooks in schools should be replaced with modern
teaching tools such as videos, computers, and games. Although these can be more
effective than books in some respects, in my view, books still play a significant role in
the realm of education.
Modern educational technologies are undeniably helpful in certain cases. One
advantage is that they are more engaging than books, and thus, can keep students
focused for longer than ordinary textbooks, which is especially important with
scientists finding signs of a shortened attention span among children. In addition,
some subjects require more visual explanation to be understood well, and multimedia
materials can be especially helpful to teach such subjects. For example, an animation
can help children understand a law of physics better than a textual explanation in a
book.
However, this does not mean we do not need school books anymore. Firstly, books
are necessary for assigning homework. This is due to the fact that not all children
have access to technology at home, and even those who do can easily be tempted to
use it for other, unintended purposes without adult supervision. For instance, instead
of watching and educational video, a child might play a game on their computer or
tablet which they are supposed to use for studying. Also, although modern tools may
excel at teaching subjects that require fertile imagination, there are also subjects that
aim to cultivate imagination in students, and involvement of technology as a visual aid
in these subjects, may defeat the purpose of them. Literature is an example of such a
subject, and books are indispensable in teaching it.
In conclusion, while I acknowledge the benefits of multimedia resources, particularly
for holding students’ attention for longer and teaching some complex subject matters,
I believe books are indispensable in education. Therefore, to achieve the best
outcomes, these two types of educational materials must be cleverly integrated.
(317 words)

Today, many people do not know their neighbours.

Why is this?
What can be done about this?
Neighbourliness is becoming increasingly foreign to modern societies, with more and
more people having barely a nodding acquaintance with their neighbours. A number
of factors driving this trend, and I believe neighbours should be closer to and more
familiar with each other.
There are a couple of reasons why neighbourly closeness is disappearing. The main
one is a lack permanent residence, with people constantly moving around from one
area to another. This is because many people do not have their own home today, but
instead, most people now live in rented accommodation. Once their rental contract
ends, they have to relocate, which usually happens too soon for them to make a
closer acquaintance of their neighbours. Another reason is that people today are too
busy, leaving for work early in the morning and returning in the evening. As a result,
they do not have much time to go out and socialise with neighbours.
However, in my view, it is important to establish a close relationship with neighbours,
and there are a few ways to achieve this. Firstly, there should be more opportunities
for people to meet and interact with their neighbours. To that end, every
neighbourhood must create its own park with different attractions, such as fountains
and playgrounds, so that people can gather there and socialise with others in the
area. Also, municipalities need to organise frequent social events, encouraging
people to take part and interact with each other. Nonetheless, unless employers do
not play their part by allowing their workers more free time, all the efforts may be of
little avail. Thus, for a positive change to happen, the cooperation of everyone is
required.
In conclusion, frequent relocations and hectic lifestyles are two main reasons for the
declining familiarity between people living near each other, and to address the
situation, people should be given more opportunities to socialise, as well as more
time off work.
(317 words)

Some people argue that parents should attend parenting classes to learn how
to bring up their children well.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
It is sometimes suggested that parents should take special courses to acquire
essential parenting skills. While some may disapprove of this suggestion, I believe
such courses are necessary in today's complex parenting landscape.
It is understandable why some people may be against the idea of parents attending
such classes. They could argue that in the past, people were able to bring up nice,
well-behaved and healthy children without the need for formal training. This was
possible because parents spent more time with their children, imparting moral
teachings and values. Also, they did not have to care much about their children’s
health as almost anything available to eat was healthy, and children had a physical
active life, playing outdoors and helping their parents on a farm or at home daily. In
this favourable environment for child-rearing, children mostly grew up well without
much parental attention or care.
However, modern lifestyles have made bringing up a child a complex endeavour.
Todays’ world is full of threats that can significantly impact a child's upbringing and
neglectful parenting can leave children vulnerable to these threats. For example, if a
child is allowed to browse the internet freely without any parental supervision, they
may consume some inappropriate content and experience negative behavioural
changes. Additionally, today supermarkets are full of harmful products heavily
marketed at children and some ill-informed parents are letting their children eat or
drink whatever they desire, which is severely damaging their health, as evidenced by
the increasing incidence of child obesity. All of these means that child-rearing is no
longer as simple a task as it used to be, and thus, parent-training courses should be
introduced if societies are to continue to bring up mentally and physically healthy
children.
In conclusion, although humanity has raised children successfully so far, the global
environment is not safe for children any more. Therefore, parents must go through
special training for the good of their children, and society at large.
(324 words)

Today, most people get married and give birth in their thirties rather than when
they are younger.
Is this a positive or negative development?
Recent decades have seen a dramatic rise in the average age of marriage, with
increasingly more people starting a family in their thirties, as opposed to twenties in
the past. Although there may be some negative consequences of this trend, I see it in
a largely positive light.
The downsides of late marriage are connected to human biology. It is widely
recognized that if a healthy woman postpones pregnancy and childbirth, she may
begin to experience certain health issues related to her reproductive organs, such as
ovarian cysts. Also, as people get older, their fertility declines, meaning that they may
not be able to have a baby if they are not young enough. This may lead to ageing
populations, and ensuing economic turmoil.
However, these problems pale into insignificance when the benefits of marrying after
thirty are considered. Firstly, most people are already financially independent by this
age, with some even owning their own homes and cars. This financial stability allows
them to have additional resources available to invest in child-rearing. As a result,
children born to financially secure parents often receive better care and education,
and thus, become far more beneficial members of their society compared to their
counterparts born to much younger, financially-challenged parents.
Furthermore, older couples tend to be more mature, which allows them to bring up
more cultured and socialised offspring. Starting a family at a young age, on the other
hand, may require to make sacrifices, such as putting the career on hold, or giving up
education in favour of work to support the family, which may prevent the attainment of
high levels of maturity.
In conclusion, while delaying marriage can pose certain challenges related to health
and fertility, the advantages easily outshine these drawbacks. Older parents are more
likely to rear children that can outperform their peers from young parents in many
respects.
(309 words)

A growing number of people are taking out loans to buy non-essential things, but
struggling to pay back. This essay will explore the reasons behind this trend and
suggest some ways to reverse it.
This problem can be attributed to three primary reasons. The main one is excessive
advertisement. Businesses are incessantly putting advertisements literally
everywhere so much so that people are unable to avoid being exposed to them nor
resist the temptation to buy the advertised products. That is even though they do not
have enough money. Another reason is the increased use of social media where
people see celebrities flaunting their riches ranging from fancy cars to shiny
accessories. As a result, the general public feel pressured to purchase the same
things, which is normally impossible for them without breaking the bank. Last but not
the least, certain items have become status symbols, such as iPhone 14 in my
country, due to their stiff price tags, and by having these things in their possession,
some people aspire to be regarded as an individual of a high socio-economic status,
although they are actually not.
Nonetheless, this trend can be mitigated through a number of measures. Firstly,
public exposure to such non-essential, yet very expensive, items needs to be
minimised. This necessitates implementing stricter controls over the advertising
industry, as well as regulating the behaviour of celebrities when in the public eye. For
example, advertisers could only target affluent audiences, such as by only advertising
in upmarket settings, and ostentatious displays of luxury items to the general public
must be made punishable. Also, the procedure of taking out a loan must be
toughened. If people were required to put collateral, for instance, many would not be
able to obtain a loan, thereby avoiding getting into debt.
In conclusion, running up debts is becoming a common problem as people are being
influenced by the proliferation of advertising and the allure celebrity lifestyles. To
address this problem, measures should be taken to limit public exposure to these
influences, and acquiring a loan should be made less simple.
(345 words)

Online currencies have become more common in recent years.

Why is this?
Is this a positive or negative development?
Recent years have seen a surge in the use of cryptocurrencies, with a number of factors
driving this trend. While online currencies are offering some convenience, I see them in a
negative light.
Two main factors can explain why online currencies are prevailing. First, they have somewhat
streamlined online shopping by providing an additional payment method. Many are finding
them much more convenient traditional bank transactions, as they are faster and often have
lower or no commission fees. Secondly, people are seeing converting their real money to a
virtual type as a form of investment. This is because online currencies are extremely volatile,
meaning people can buy when they are cheapest and sell when they have the highest value,
thereby generating significant profits.
While the proliferation of virtual currencies can be seen as a positive trend in a manner of
speaking, in my view, its negative aspects are more significant. By allowing people to make
payments with low commission fees, virtual currencies have created a competition with
banks and other organizations offering transaction services. As a result of this competition,
the sector is expected to experience development, making online trade even more
straightforward and accessible. However, on a negative note, their use is rather limited, since
not all online shops accept them as an alternative to traditional money. This is due in large
part to its volatile nature. Although some people can take advantage of this volatility, others
fear that they may incur significant losses if the value plummets unpredictably, which is
entirely possible. Additionally, unlike traditional currencies, online currencies lack an
accountable organization or governing entity, leaving individuals without recourse if issues
arise.
In conclusion, online currencies are proliferating due to their convenience of use and
volatility of value. While they are not entirely without merit, I believe this is a negative trend
as people are likely to lose their investments altogether.
(313 words)

In some countries, children are becoming overweight and unhealthy. Some

people think that it is the responsibility of governments to solve the problem.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Children in different parts of the world are gaining excess weight and developing a
range of health issues. While some look to the government for a solution, in my
opinion, parents and schools should also play their parts.
It is true that improving children’s health is in government’s interest, and they have
enough leverage achieve this. For the government, the negative impact of children
with poor health is twofold: firstly, such children place extra strain on the health care
system, and secondly, they cannot make much contribution to the prosperity of the
nation. Thus, it is reasonable to expect governments to strive for solutions. As most
children are putting on undue weight due to excessive consumption of unhealthy,
sugar-laden products, the government should regulate the marketing of such
products. If the sales of these products were restricted or banned altogether, children
would turn to healthier alternatives for snacks, thereby avoiding weight gain.
However, that does not relieve parents or schools of any responsibility. Parents can
also make a difference by ensuring that their children’s diet is free from fattening
foods and drinks, such as fast food and soda. They should also limit their children’s
screen time and encourage them to participate in sports or other outdoor activities
more frequently. Likewise, schools can also contribute to improving children’s health,
simply by adding more physical education classes to their curricula and providing
more education on healthy lifestyles.
In conclusion, admittedly, children’s health is important for the government and they
have the capacity to make a difference, which involves taking a tough line on the
advertisement and sales of fat-inducing, sugary products. However, parents could
also control what their children consume and how physically active they are to keep
children in shape and healthy. In addition, attending more PE classes at school goes
some way to solving the problem. Therefore, addressing this issue successfully
necessitates a collective effort from all stakeholders.
(318 words)

In some countries the government promotes public transport as the primary

means of transportation, and discourages private vehicle ownership.
Do the advantages of this policy outweigh the disadvantages?
In some parts of the world people are being encouraged not to own a car, but instead
use the public transport. While this policy may give rise to some problems, I generally
view it in a positive light.
Admittedly, there are some challenges to moving away from private cars in favour of
public transport. Firstly, an increase in the number of public transport users may
strain the system in places where public transport is not well-developed, resulting in
overcrowded busses and trains, and resentful passengers. Secondly, since public
transport is not as reliable as private cars, being late for work and appointments can
become a commonplace if people have to use public transport. Finally, the lack of
private transport in the event of an emergency might have undesirable, or even fatal,
consequences. For instance, when someone needs immediate medical attention,
such as during childbirth or in the case of a stroke, a private car is necessary to
quickly transport them to hospital, and waiting for an ambulance in these cases can
be life-threatening.
However, the benefits of switching from private to public transport use on a mass
scale far outweigh the above drawbacks. One immediate advantage of this change
would be less air pollution from traffic. This change is especially urgent in big cities
where people today are suffering poor air quality and developing respiratory illnesses
due to smog inhalation. In addition, road accidents, which have become a leading
cause of premature death in many countries, could be minimized with decreased car
usage, as such accidents usually occur with private transport. One additional benefit
would be improved public health because using public transport often involves a
certain amount of walking; busses and trains usually do not take people right next to
their final destination, but instead put them off at the nearest stop.
In conclusion, while abandoning private cars and embracing public transport may lead
to problems ranging from packed buses and trains to the creation of a tardiness
culture, I believe these pale in comparison to the gains, such as better public health
and fewer traffic-related fatalities.
(348 words)

Group or team activities can teach more important skills for life than those
activities which are done alone.
Do you agree or disagree?

It is argued that individuals who take part in group activities acquire more important
life skills than when they are alone. Although the latter do offer opportunities to
develop certain essential qualities, I believe group activities are indeed superior in this
respect.
Admittedly, there are benefits to engaging in solitary activities. The absence of other
team members means working harder to achieve goals without relying on external
help. As a result, the participants become more independent. In addition, while
overcoming different hurdles and facing challenges alone help people build resilience
and courage, finding solutions to various problems single-handedly makes them more
creative and resourceful. Furthermore, as individuals accomplish tasks by
themselves, they build confidence in their abilities. These gains might be missed in
group activities.
However, the skills developed through participation in group activities are of more
real-life relevance. First and foremost, individuals acting in groups acquire
communicative and team-working skills as they try to build constructive dialogues and
coordinate with teammates. These interpersonal skills are highly important in real life,
as people have to interact and communicate with others on a daily basis. Also, group
activities help participants better understand the importance of cooperation and
collaboration. Experiencing the synergy created by combining efforts make them
realize that working with others yields better results than acting individually. This
realization encourages the participants to team up with others in order to achieve
shared objectives in real life, which might be unattainable when pursued alone.
In conclusion, while engaging in solitary endeavours cultivate a range of qualities,
including self-confidence, resilience, and independence, I believe team activities
afford participants better opportunities to develop skills that are crucial to thrive in
different aspects of life.
(281 words)

It is a natural process for animal species to become extinct (e.g. Dinosaur, dodos …)
There is no reason why people should try to prevent this from happening.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people argued that species of animals die out naturally as has happened throughout
the history, hinting at the extinction of dinosaurs and dodos. While there is some truth to this
argument, I believe humans should actively intervene and try to save species form
disappearing.
It is true that in the past certain animals died out for reasons that had nothing to do with
human activity. For example, dinosaurs were eradicated by an asteroid that struck the
planet millions of years ago. Similarly, some animal species were wiped out by changes in
their climates or by a scarcity of food. These extinctions had happened long before humans
could exert any noticeable influence on the existence of other creatures. Comparing todays
endangered species to those disappeared in the distant past, some people still believe that
extinction events occur regardless of human intervention, and that efforts and resources to
prevent them would be wasted.
However, I completely disagree with that point of view. Unlike the past extinct animals,
today’s endangered species are brought on the brink of extinction by human activity, or to
be blunt, as a result of the human exploitation of nature. We have been recklessly
destructing habitats home to countless species to create cities to live in or farmlands to grow
food. As a result, deprived of their natural habitats, many animals are being threatened with
extinction. Not only that, emissions from fossil fuels burnt by humans for different purposes
are causing climate change, which further exacerbates the struggle for survival faced by
numerous species. This problem is compounded by air and water pollution, which is also
caused by humans. Thus, it is our moral responsibility to strive to protect and preserve all
the animals.
Apart from that, we should save animals for our own good. Our existence is interconnected
to that of other species. For instance, bees and other insects play a vital role in pollinating
our crops, whereas fish provide us with essential nutrients. If the populations of these
species dwindle, it will have a noticeable impact on humans. In addition, each species holds
a unique genetic code, studying which can unlock a range of secretes that may contribute to
the advancement of science. Therefore, no species should be regarded as too insignificant
to receive attention.
In conclusion, while the past extinction events happened without human involvement or
control, the way humans exploit the environment today has threatened the survival of
numerous species. For this reason, it is only fair that we make genuine efforts to ensure the
security of other species on the planet.
(428 words)

Population in cities is growing rapidly.

What are the effects of it?
What solutions can you give to maintain a good quality of life in urban areas?
Urban populations around the world are increasing at an alarming rate. This growth
can make life in cities less enjoyable and more challenging, and there are a number
of ways to address the issue.
Population growth in cities poses a few challenges. Firstly, as more people flock in
cities, the demand for housing rises, and so does property prices. As a result, some
people cannot afford proper accommodation and are forced to live in inhumane
conditions, which not only affects their physical health, but also takes a toll on their
mental well-being. Additionally, the increased population leads to higher energy
consumption for transportation and domestic use, resulting in elevated emissions and
pollution, particularly in areas heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Another less obvious
effect of increasing population in cities is the development of a workaholic culture.
This is because city dwellers outnumber the available jobs there, intensifying
competition in the job market. Consequently, to avoid unemployment and its
undesirable consequences, people have to work harder and longer. This, in turn,
hurts their work-life balance, and lowers their quality of life.
To improve the quality of life for city residents, it is necessary to take measures to
address these problems. First and foremost, cost of housing should be reduced
through providing state subsidies for the housing industry. This ensures people do not
have to spend the bulk of their earnings on accommodation, and can instead satisfy
their other basic needs, such as health care and food, more comprehensively. Next
step should be focused on solving the problem of pollution, as poor air quality leads to
a range of health issues. Urban air quality can be improved by shifting from fossil
fuels and to renewable sources of energy to power cities, and by planting more trees,
which act as natural air filters. Finally, everyone must have a secure job that does not
encroach on their personal life. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for
the overall well-being of the city’s population.
In conclusion, overpopulation is becoming a major problem in cities, diminishing the
quality of life for people living there. To redress the situation, efforts should be
focused on creating affordable housing, clear air, and secure jobs.
(366 words)

The leaders of most organizations tend to be older people. However, some

argue that younger people make better bosses.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
While the majority of executive roles tend to be filled by older professionals, there is
an argument that young people do the job more successfully. Despite their merits, I
believe elderly managers are outperformed by their younger counterparts, who
exclusively possess some traits essential for managerial positions.
Admittedly, older managers are superior to young professionals as far as experience
is concerned. Having worked in executive roles for many years, they have had the
opportunity to deepen their expertise in their respective fields. This better
understanding of the sphere allows them to tackle problems that crop up along the
way more successfully. For example, when workers decide to go on strike, an elderly
HR manager is likely to have delt with such a problem before, and by virtue of this
prior familiarity with the issue, they can carry out a more effective negotiation with the
resentful staff and persuade them back to work.
However, I believe the common youthful attributes put young executives at a clear
advantage. Firstly, young people are predisposed to be more sociable, which helps
them to better communicate and establish a strong rapport with employees. As a
result, they can create a cohesive community within the company, which prevents the
emergence of the above-mentioned problem in the first place. Additionally, studies
suggest that people become more resistant to change as they age, meaning young
people are generally more open-minded and pragmatic compared to the elderly. This
trait enables them to listen to others and take better decisions, as well as making
innovations, which is the demand of today’s rapidly changing world. Although elderly
managers may be more experienced, their aversion to risk prevent them implement
novel, innovative ideas.
In conclusion, I accept that older executives possess more expertise in their particular
fields, and can therefore deal with some common problems more successfully.
Nonetheless, younger bosses are more gregarious and open to innovations, which
are more important traits than experience alone.
(323 words)

Many cities are now turning parks and farmland into new housing
developments.
Is this a positive or negative development?
In many parts of the world, urban areas are being expanded with residential buildings
replacing farmlands and parks. Although this may go some way to alleviating the
housing shortage in cities, I believe the negative consequences for public health are
much more significant.
Construction of more residential buildings is certainly a favourable initiative. Lack of
affordable housing in cities is now a widespread problem. People living in streets or
wagons have been a common sight even in the wealthiest of cities, such us London
and Paris. If there were more housing available, prices would drop so that the
homeless would afford their own homes.
However, the fact that these new homes are built in place of farmlands and parks
raises concerns. It is widely known that parks, with their lush vegetation, act as
natural air filters; they absorb toxic gasses form city traffic and factories and produce
oxygen, in return. If their areas shrink, the quality of air in cities is bound to
deteriorate, which may contribute to the prevalence of respiratory illnesses.
Furthermore, converting farmlands into residential areas causes a reduction in food
production, resulting in increases in prices. Unable to afford healthy produce, people
might turn to cheaper alternatives, such as synthetic foods. They may, as a result,
develop various nutritional deficiencies. Thus, destroying parks and farming land
leads to undesirable health outcomes for the people who rely on them for fresh air
and food.
In conclusion, while creating more housing developments can address the problem of
homelessness, destroying parks and agricultural fields for these projects results in
polluted air and food insecurity in cities, ultimately causing poor public health.
Therefore, I see this trend in a negative light.
(281 words)

With growing populations in cities, many people are living in small homes that
don't have outdoor spaces.
Is this a positive or negative development?
As populations in cities grow, living in homes without any outdoor areas is becoming
more and more common. Although this trend may have some undesirable
consequences, I generally see it in a positive light due to its benefits for the
environment and people’s well-being.
One potential drawback of living in a home without access to outdoor space is the
negative impact on people's health. This is because the free time pursuits of the
individuals living in such dwellings could mostly consist of indoor activities, such as
board or video games. As these activities require little physical movement, people
may gain surplus weight over time, ultimately becoming obese. Also, living in a home
without a garden or yard means little exposure to sunlight, causing vitamin D
deficiency, which is essential for maintaining healthy bones and a robust immune
system. Thus, living in homes without a garden of any sort may put occupants’ health
at risk unless they make a conscious effort to go outside regularly.
However, these health threats are outweighed the benefits of such homes. One major
advantage is the reduced amount of time required for upkeep. Without the need for
gardening tasks like pruning trees or watering flowers, residents can enjoy more free
time. Although some may be tempted to spend this leisure time indoors in a
sedentary fashion, health-conscious individuals can always go for a walk in the local
park and socialise with others there, which is highly beneficial for their mental and
physical well-being. Another advantage of these homes is their efficient use of urban
space, preventing urban sprawl into the surrounding countryside. Apparently, homes
with no outdoor areas both preserve nature and allow residents to spend more time in
nature.
In conclusion, while homes without any outdoor spaces might cause some individuals
to adopt a sedentary lifestyle, others can experience benefits in the form of increased
leisure time. Homes in this style can also minimise habitat destruction as a result of
urban expansion. Therefore, I believe this is a positive trend.
(335 words)

The tendency that news reposts in media to focus on problems and

emergencies rather than on positive developments is harmful to individuals
and society.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is argued that constantly reporting negative stories in the media can have unwanted
consequences for individuals and society alike. While it is important to raise
awareness about negative developments, I believe that too much exposure to such
news is undesirable.
I acknowledge the benefits of sharing bad news. Negative stories usually highlight the
problems that exist in the world or certain communities. Therefore, bad news, if
upsetting, help make the public aware of the problems that need to be addressed
urgently. This increased awareness prompts people into action to solve these
problems, which will be much easier with everybody’s collective efforts. For example,
hardly anyone in my country makes an effort to reduce their environmental footprint,
because problems like global warming and pollution rarely get a mention in the
national media. If people realised the true severity of these problems, they would
have already been solved or at least greatly mitigated. Thus, it is important for news
companies to report negative news.
However, overexposure to reports of negative developments may have some
repercussions. Firstly, constantly receiving negative news can affect people’s mood,
leading to feelings of sadness and unhappiness. This effect becomes even more
pronounced if someone learns about the sufferings of others but feels helpless to
change the situation. While the immediate impact of being in a negative frame of mind
can manifest as a decline in concentration and productivity, in the long term, this may
impair overall health and well-being. Furthermore, constant exposure to reports of
problems in society carries the danger of desensitisation, where people start
accepting these problems as normal, perpetuating them rather than actively seeking
solutions.
In conclusion, while it is necessary to report problems and negative developments in
order to encourage people to seek solutions, incessant bombardment of negativity
can breed hopelessness and despair, damaging recipients’ health. Even worse,
excessive negative news reporting can insidiously desensitise the public to problems
instead of making for solutions. Therefore, it is crucial for news outlets to strike a
delicate balance between reporting good and bad news.
(340 words)

In many societies, there is a growing emphasis on sustainable living and

reducing environmental impact.
What are the challenges of adopting a sustainable lifestyle?
What practical actions can individuals take to contribute to sustainability?
People in many parts of the world are increasingly waking up to evironmental issues,
such as plastic pollution and global warming, and are therefore attempting to reduce
their imapct on nature. Although starting to live sustainably is proving challenging in
some ways, there are certain steps that everybody should take to help this cause.
There are bound to be some obstacles to shifting from an unsutainable lifestyle to a
sustainable one. Firstly, individuals face huge initial expenses if they decide to
become carbon neutral. For exmaple, the majority of electricity in many countries is
still obtained through buring fossil fuels. Thus, sustainable living in those countries
means living off the grid, generating your own electircity by installing solar panels or
other necessary equipment which are now prohibitively expensive for the averagae
citezen. Apart from these financial impedements, people who are trying to minimise
their consumption in order to reduce their environmental footprint might also be
labelled as misers by some ignorant members of their community. The fear of this
social stigma can also prevent individauls from striving for sustainability.
Nevertheless, there are a few positive steps that can everyone can take in favour
sustainabilty. Initially, people who are cognisant of the environmental issues need to
try to raise awareness by taliking about them to their friends and relatives. This
eliminaties the fear of stigmatisation of economising, promting everyone to take
collective action instead. Furthermore, although it is true that generating one’s own
electircity is too costly for most people, these less affluent indivudals can always
lower their environmental impact through opting for energy-efficent appliances. Also,

In the past, many male leaders had led our society to conflicts and violence.
The world would be better governed and more peaceful if it were ruled by
women.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many conflicts and acts of violence have arisen under the leadership of men, which
has led some to believing that women would make better leaders. While I agree that
women are generally not as aggressive as men, male leaders possess certain
qualities that female leaders lack.
Admittedly, women are less likely to resort to violence. Due to the lower levels of the
hormone called testosterone in their bodies, women tend to be less aggressive
compared to men. As a result, female leaders are predisposed to compromise instead
of violence when disagreement arises. Males, on the other hand, prefer dominance
and refuse to relent in the face of opposition, jeopardising the peace of the community
under their leadership. The current Russian president, Vladimir Putin, is a good case
in point. Despite the global opposition, this male leader is unwilling to negotiate, and
is persistently continuing his war in Ukraine. Therefore, it is understandable why
some people want the world to be ruled by females.
However, leadership is a complex process that takes much more than feminine soft-
heartedness. While it is true that females are usually more averse to violence and
more open to negotiations, they are also more likely to be overcome by emotions
when toughness and detachment are needed. This loss may glaringly show when
fighting against crime. If penalties are not appropriately strict, which is most likely to
be the case in female-headed countries, felonies are bound to go rampant.
Government’s inability to control criminals may prompt civilians to take matters into
their own hands, leading to civil unrest. Thus, sometimes, the masses have to be
controlled and led with harshness, which is characteristic of male leaders.
In conclusion, it is true that male leaders are more inclined towards violence than
compromise, as opposed to their female counterparts. Nonetheless, female
sentimentality can sometimes prevent successful leadership. Therefore, I believe the
optimal governance is achieved through the inclusion of both genders around the
table.
(324 words)

Some people encourage young children to leave their parents’ house as soon
as they become adults while others say children should stay at their parents’
house as long as possible.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Opinions are divided as to whether children have to leave their parental home sooner
or later. Although both approaches have pros and cons, I believe people should stay
with their parents until they are able to live separately without much difficulty.
Some people advocate for leaving home in early adulthood. It is argued that doing so
helps those individuals concerned to become more industrious, as living away from
their parents requires them to fend for themselves; they now have to pay the utility
bills and do the grocery shopping themselves. If they do not work harder and earn
more, they may quickly run up debts. In addition to fostering industry, living separately
from parents makes people more independent and responsible for their own life.
When children live with their parents, they are often supervised and told what to do all
the time. While this may be helpful for young children, people need to learn to make
reasonable choices independently as they approach adulthood. Living away from
parents facilitates the development of this behaviour.
However, not everyone has to depart from their parents’ house in order to develop
such qualities. Some individuals may already possess these traits and could benefit
from staying with their parents for a longer period. Given the current high cost of living
worldwide, moving out of parents’ home too early is likely to present severe financial
challenges. As a result, people living separately may not be able to continue their
education, focusing all their attention on making ends meet and keeping up with
mortgage payments. Those who live with their parents, on the other hand, have the
opportunity to complete their higher education, improving their career prospects, and
can even save up for their own home before they move out on their own. Therefore,
staying with parents longer improves people’s chances of moving up the social
ladder.
In conclusion, admittedly, leaving home early help people to mature sooner,
developing attributes like industry and responsibility. However, these characters can
also be achieved without leaving home. In my view, young adults should stay with
their parents as long as needed, since this increases their chances of future
prosperity.
(359 words)

As well as making money, businesses also have social responsibilities.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is argued that businesses should not solely focus on maximising profit, but also try
to benefit the public. While I understand the importance of money for businesses, I
also recognise the need for them to fulfil their responsibilities.
Money is the backbone of any business, and without generating profit, a business
cannot sustain itself. any commercial enterprise aims to make a profit right from the
outset. This is not only because the owners are motivated by financial gain, but also
because there are regular expenses to keep up with. These outgoings include the
utility bills, employee wages and maintenance costs of the buildings and equipment.
Falling behind on these expenses may disturb the smooth operation of the company,
eventually leading to its bankruptcy. Therefore, profitability is crucial for the survival of
a business.
On the other hand, a commercial organisation is accountable to the public, which
means they should also act in the interests of society, even if this means generating
less profit. One important social responsibility of businesses is to treat their
employees fairly. This includes creating safe working conditions and providing fair
compensation. Furthermore, businesses are expected to minimize any negative
impact they may have on the surrounding community. For example, factories that
pollute the air or create excessive noise are not acting responsibly and are prioritizing
profit over the well-being of the public. Thus, if companies avoid investing in these
aspects of their businesses for fears of reduced profits, they may find themselves
having to deal with industrial actions by their workers or public opposition against their
operation.
In conclusion, it is justifiable for businesses to seek profit as they have ongoing
expenses to cover. However, this should not prevent them fulfilling their social
responsibilities, ranging from just employee treatment to minimising their negative
impact on the environment and communities.
(304 words)

Some people say that, with suitable training, anyone can become a good
teacher. Others say that some of the qualities a good teacher needs cannot be
learned on a training course.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Opinions are divided as to whether or not outstanding teachers can be made through
training, with some believing a true teacher must have some inborn traits. However, I
believe that training courses are indeed helpful and sufficient to produce great
teachers.
It is true that effective teaching requires some qualities that only a few people natural
possess. These include charisma, and the ability to empathise with others, who are
students in the case of teachers. Charismatic individuals can easily capture the
attention of their audience when they speak, and as students’ concentration plays a
key role in understanding the lesson, teachers with this quality can deliver classes far
more effectively than their colleagues lacking in it. Likewise, empathetic teachers can
understand and address the struggles of their students and focus on the particular
parts of the subject matter that need more explanation. Since such flairs naturally
occur in some individuals, it is understandably tempting to think that a person cannot
be conditioned to be an empathetic and charismatic teacher if they are already not
innately.
However, taking pedagogical courses are indispensable to be a teacher. This is
because these courses equip the aspiring teachers with all the necessary tools to
build a successful career in this field. One of them is an extensive knowledge of their
subject. Without a firm grasp of mathematics, for example, it is unreasonable to
expect to be an excellent maths teacher, and no amount of charisma or empathy can
fill this gap. Another important tool that students of pedagogy acquire by doing a
course is various teaching methods that each can be employed based on the unique
needs of the classroom, who might consist of adults or children. As not everyone
learns in the same way, adjusting the teaching method is also crucial for the success
of a lesson. While I acknowledge the role of innate traits like charisma and empathy,
they are not superhuman powers, meaning others can also develop them through
training and hard work.
In conclusion, teaching is a complex process and a range of factors determine its
success. Although some are gifted with attributes that can improve their chances of
becoming top-flight educators, others can develop them through deliberate effort.
Therefore, I am convinced that training courses can help everyone to become a
successful teacher.
(384 words)
In some cities, public parks and open spaces are being changed into gardens
where local residents can grow their own fruit and vegetables.
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Every city has its own parks and open spaces that are available for public use.
However, these facilities are now being converted into gardens for local residents to
grow fruit and vegetables. In my view, doing so is largely advantageous, despite the
downsides.
Converting city parks and public spaces into horticultural gardens can cause two main
issues. Firstly, this change may affect the lives of those who use these places for
recreational purposes, such as for unwinding after a hard day at work by taking a
leisurely stroll, or for socialising with others in the neighbourhood in their free time.
Thus, if these places disappear, people’s well-being might suffer. Another problem is
connected with animals. City parks, with their luxuriant vegetation, are often home to
a variety of creatures, such as squirrels and hedgehogs, and destroying their habitat
may mean the demise of these animals, which is ethically unacceptable.
Nonetheless, the advantages of this trend seem to be more significant. The main
benefit would be improved access to fresh produce. If city residents can grow their
own food, they will not have to buy older fruit and vegetables brought from distant
villages several days or even weeks ago. This also reduces food waste, as people
can only pick the vegetables and fruit when they need, preventing them from rotting in
the fridge or pantry. Furthermore, working in a garden offers health improvements.
Since most people in the city work in offices doing desk jobs, their day-to-day life
involves little physical activity, which is said to be one of the main causes of obesity
and poor health among city dwellers. Community gardens offer such individuals the
opportunity to do some physical labour, which may include carrying buckets of water
or pruning trees.
In conclusion, converting public parks and open spaces into community gardens
might be an unwelcome change for those who use these places for recreational
purposes, and it may affect the urban fauna negatively, too. However, these problems
pale in comparison to the gains, which include the availability of fresh produce, the
prevention of food waste, and probably the most importantly, improved health of the
urban dwellers due to doing physical work.
(362 words)

Some people say that too much attention and too many resources are
given to protect wild animals and birds.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Humans share the planet with animals and birds that are its equally rightful
residents. However, some people begrudge the resources being spent of
their protection. While I can understand those people’s resentment, I do
not think what is being spent on conservation projects is too much.
Some understandably dislike the idea of expending efforts on animal
protection. Their main argument is that there are more pressing problems
that need to be prioritised. One of them is famine that has been plaguing
most African countries as well as Yemen. A lack of access to clean water,
or even any water in some places, is another problem that humans have
been enduring for a long time. It is also worth acknowledging that in some
parts of the world children are dying from preventable diseases merely
because vaccines are unavailable for them. As long as our fellow human
beings are experiencing such sufferings, it may seem irrational to think
about animal protection.
However, despite the above arguments, I firmly believe we should actively
strive to protect animals and birds. The main reason for this is that animals
are now dying because of human activity. For example, we are destroying
their habitats in order to obtain more land for housing developments or
framing. Similarly, climate change, which has also been confirmed to be a
result of human activity, is causing many animals to become extinct, while
bringing many more to the brink of extinction. Therefore, it is our moral
duty to invest in the protection of animals. Furthermore, conservation
projects are usually less costly than solving famine or epidemic. For
instance, erecting fences around a wildlife sanctuary is financially easier
than building a desalination plant.
In conclusion, although there are humanitarian crises awaiting their
solutions, these should not prevent us from thinking about animal
protection. Protecting animals is our moral obligation, and not too
challenging for us.
(313 words)

Fewer and fewer people today write by hand using a pen, pencil or brush.
What are the reasons? Is this a positive or a negative development?
There is an ongoing shift away from writing by hand and towards typing. Several
factors can explain this phenomenon, and although typing offers clear advantages
over writing by hand, I believe the latter must not be abandoned.
There are a number of reasons why people are moving away from writing with pen or
pencil. The main one is the widespread use of technology. Today, almost everyone
owns at least one electronic device such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. These
are used to text to friends and family, compile emails, or write assignments, all of
which necessitate typing, making handwriting less and less useful. Also, with the rise
of the internet, people can now apply for jobs and universities online, or even work
and study from home online. To take advantage of all these opportunities, people
must be able to use a keyboard, rather than a pen or pencil. For these reasons,
handwriting is being increasingly irrelevant in the modern world.
I acknowledge the benefits of typing. It is less time-consuming compared to writing by
hand, which is especially important in today’s fast-paced society, with growing
emphasis on efficiency and productivity. In addition, unlike handwritten documents,
digital ones can easily be edited, multiplied, and shared with as many people as
necessary and regardless of the distance. However, in my opinion, handwriting is an
essential skill that needs to be preserved. It is another way to communicate our
thoughts and emotions, and having one fewer tool in our communicational repertoire
makes us less powerful as a human being. Furthermore, writing with a pen, pencil or
brush is seen as an art form, and therefore, the loss of it should, by no means, be
viewed positively.
In conclusion, the rise of technology in the last century has been the main driving
factor behind the trend to write less and type more. Despite the speed and
convenience of typing, the declining attention to handwriting is a negative
development. In my view, we should strike a balance between embracing the
keyboard and preserving the art of handwriting.
(343 words)

The government should lower the budget on the arts in order to allocate more
money to education.
To what extent do you agree?
There is a growing need to provide more funding for education in many countries,
prompting some to suggest reducing the budget on the arts. However, in my view,
both areas deserve more support from the government.
I fully recognise the importance of education. Its quality determines the future
prosperity of a nation, since the progress of all domains hinge on education. For
example, for medicine to progress, universities should produce great medical
graduates who have a firm grasp of the subject. This necessitates providing the
students with access to all the necessary resources, such as well-equipped
laboratories, and without adequate funding, it is impossible to do so. Furthermore, the
world is facing an unprecedented array of problems, and to tackle them successfully,
we need to promote science and, by extension, education. One such problem is
plastic pollution, and it is highly educated scientists that we rely on for solutions.
Thus, channelling more money towards education is always justifiable.
However, this should not happen at the expense of the arts. While education
promotes knowledge, the arts further creativity, both of which is essential to make
scientific breakthroughs. Therefore, it is not a wise decision to divert money from one
to another, but rather both need to be generously financed to achieve the best
outcome. If there is a budget deficit and it is impossible to provide more resources to
education without reducing the spending on another area, it should be the military. I
believe, the world is spending an obscene amount of public money on arms race. In
contrast to education and the arts, the military prevents progress by encouraging
countries to declare war on each other. Therefore, this sector must receive less
funding in order our civilisation to keep marching forward.
In conclusion, education is definitely a vital sphere, meaning allocating more money
to it is important. However, this money should not be diverted from the arts. Instead,
the government need to cut its military spending and increase the budget on both
education and the arts for the world to prosper.
(341 words)

Some people think that earlier technological developments brought

more benefits and changed the lives of ordinary people more than
recent developments ever will.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The world is changing and evolving with new scientific inventions and
discoveries emerging constantly. However, it is sometimes argued that
earlier technological advancements were more beneficial and
transformative than the later ones. I agree with this point of view, because
the former laid the foundation for the latter.
Technological inventions made in the past certainly brought enormous
benefits, changing the lives of ordinary people dramatically. Take the
electricity and telephone as examples. Before electricity was invented,
people had to live in total darkness after sunset, whereas things like
watching TV with family in the evening, preserving food in the fridge for
weeks were simply inconceivable in the absence of this invention.
Similarly, the telephone transformed the way people communicate,
enabling them to deliver important messages over long distances within
seconds as well as staying in contact with family and friends living far
away. Thus, the impact of initial technologies on people’s lives was
arguably unrivalled.
Although the recent developments have contributed to the improvement of
lives, they have built upon what had been invented prior to them. The
internet, for example, is the improved version of telecommunication, and
therefore, owes its current success to the telephone. Likewise, it would not
be possible to harness renewable energy sources, such as the sun and
wind, if someone had not invented electricity earlier. Thus, it is justifiable to
argue that past technological developments had a greater impact on the
lives of people, not least because they served as an inspiration for later
ones.
In conclusion, I believe technologies invented in the past were more
impactful. This because not only did they revolutionise the way people
lived but also acted as a foundation for future developments.
(282 words)
In some countries, it is illegal for companies to reject job applicants for their
age.
Is this a positive or negative development?
Nowadays, it is common to see people of all ages applying for jobs. In some
countries, laws prohibit companies from rejecting applicants because of their
ages. Although this is a well-meaning policy, it may also have some repercussions.
I recognise that this law is designed to address a real issue in society. It is not
uncommon for people to face injustices due to their ages in the job market. For
example, some companies intentionally avoid employing people nearing
retirement, fearing that they will soon need to be replaced. Furthermore, older
workers are often perceived as less energetic and productive compared to their
younger colleagues, which also causes companies to shun them. Conversely,
some employers are also reluctant to hire young graduates, stereotyping them as
too naïve and inexperienced. Thus, with the intention of protecting job-seekers
from such age-related mistreatment, some governments demand companies
base their recruitment procedures on merit and qualifications, instead of age.
Nonetheless, there might be instances where this policy backfires. If companies
are required to neglect the age while recruiting, they may see this as an
opportunity to hire teenagers to do unskilled labour. This idea is attractive to
most employers mainly because teenagers are prepared to work for much lower
rates than adults, who, unlike teenagers, usually have a family to support. This is
detrimental for both groups; if young people choose to work rather than study,
their future prospects may be compromised, whereas adults will suffer from
unfair competition from teenagers. Therefore, such potential loopholes must be
taken into consideration before this law is passed.
In conclusion, I understand that outlawing rejection on age grounds aims to
eliminate age-related discrimination that is prevalent in many societies, and
therefore, I believe it is a positive change. However, the governments adopting
such a policy also need to ensure that companies do not use it as a chance to
exploit under-age individuals.
(314 words)
Nowadays, some parents put a lot of pressure on children to succeed.
What are the reasons for doing this?
Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
Today’s children are under immense parental pressure to become successful in
various areas of life. There are a number of reasons for the rise of this trend, and
although pressuring children may indeed spur them to work harder, I see this style of
parenting in a negative light.
The increased competition in every domain is the main reason why children are being
pressurised to work harder and achieve success. Children today have to participate in
numerous academic and sports competitions. Parents of victorious children are
celebrated for raising such wonderful offspring, whereas losers’ parents feel
ashamed. As a result, parents make their children prepare harder for those events.
This culture of competition persists into their teen years as they strive for a seat in
prestigious universities, and even into adulthood, when they vie for the plummest jobs
in reputable companies. Fully aware of this intense rivalry in life, parents incessantly
push their children to really apply themselves.
Another reason is the proliferation of distractions. Today, there are countless things
that can distract children from their studies. These include smartphones, computers
and other devices, which provide access to video games and a range of social media
platforms. These games and platforms usually do the users more harm than good,
not least because of their addictive nature. In order to counterbalance the negative
effect of these temptations, parents try to be stricter and force their children to focus
on their studies.
Having strict and demanding parents can certainly yield positive outcomes for a child,
since without adequate parental supervision and pressure to act responsibly, most
children may easily be tempted to waste their time on frivolous pastimes. However, it
is important to note that the extent of pressure parents exerting on their children today
is too overwhelming. Consequently, what is intended to have a positive impact is
proving counterproductive, with those on the receiving end, children, experiencing
stress, exhaustion, and an eventual loss of motivation to continue learning and
developing.
In conclusion, the intensifying competition in all aspects of life and the prevalence of
harmful leisure activities are the two main reasons for the growing parental pressure
on children. Despite being well-intentioned, parents are taking this to extremes, and
instead of helping, they are inadvertently hindering their children’s progress.
Therefore, I consider this trend to be a negative development overall.
(388 words)
Some people say that it is important to give children the chance to act
independently and make their own decisions from an early age.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is sometimes argued that children should be given autonomy from a young
age. While there are indeed benefits to doing so, I believe complete
independence does a child more harm than good.
I acknowledge the advantages of affording children autonomy. Firstly, such
children may develop a sense of responsibilty for their actions form an early
age, as, unlike prohibitve parents, their parents are not in charge of every
aspects of their life, and leve them alone to explore the world freely. This will
undoubtedly make children realise the importace of being responsible. In
addition, autonomous children often have to grapple with difficult problems by
themseles, without parental intervention, as a result, they can develop better
critical-thinking and decesion-making skills.
Nonetheless, in my opinion, the world is too complex for children to navigate it
successfully alone; they must be guided and supervised continuously. Children
today are surronded by distractions, including smartphones, laptops, and other
devices facilitating playing video games or watching meaningles or even
harmful content on social media. Hardly can a child resist these temptations if
they are not supervised by their elders. Furthermore, although giving children
freedom to make their own decisions may help them to become better decision-
makers, they are still immature, and therefore, high-stake decisions, such as
which school to study at or which sport to take up, should be taken with the
guidance of parents, who have more lived experience, and thus understand the
world better.
In conclusion, there are undeniable benefits to making children act
independently and make decision. While doing so may foster responsibility and
independent-thinking in children, it also risks children getting into bad habits or
making unwise decisions. For this reason, I do not support the idea of giving a
child full autonomy.

(292 words)

In many countries, the number of animals and plants is declining.

Why do you think this is happening?
How can this issue be solved?
Many parts of the world are experiencing a marked decline in their flora and fauna.
This trend can be attributed to a number of factors, for all of which humans are
responsible, and therefore, the solution lies with humans changing the way they
interact with nature.
Factors that are causing biodiversity to dwindle range from habitat loss to climate
change and pollution. Cities around the world are incessantly expanding into
surrounding wildernesses, destroying the habitats of countless plant and animal
species. In addition, with the growing global population, larger and larger forest areas
are being cleared to obtain more land for crop cultivation, which is another form of
habitat destruction. This problem is being compounded by global warming and
pollution. While the former driving the species unable to adapt quickly towards
extinction, the latter, polluted water and air, is only sparing those that are hardy
enough, wiping out delicate ones.
As has been obvious from the discussion above, to prevent the world’s biodiversity
from further diminishing, or potentially to reverse the trend, we, humans, should alter
our behaviour. Firstly, urban expansion in any part of the world must be halted.
Although it can be argued that we need more developments in order to accommodate
the ever-growing human population, this can be achieved through expanding our
cities vertically, rather than horizontally. In other words, old low-rise buildings should
be replaced with high-rise appartement and office blocks. To stop deforestation,
urban rooftops can also be used for growing food. With regard to global warming and
pollution, everybody and every nation must try to minimise their environmental impact
and prioritise sustainable living, such as by shifting from fossil fuels to renewable
sources of energy. Apparently, the solution is not straightforward and requires the
united effort of the world.
In conclusion, habitat destruction and climate change, along with pollution, are the
root causes of declining biodiversity. Since all of these factors are connected with
human activity, countries and individuals must act collectively to address these
issues.
(332 words)

Some people believe that studying at university or college is the best route to a
successful career, while others believe that it is better to get a job straight after
school.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Some people believe that individual efforts to protect the environment are
insignificant, while others argue that individuals can indeed make a difference.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Many people today have an unhealthy diet compared to people in the past.
What are the reasons for this?
What is the best way to improve people’s diet?

Some people belive that our happiness depends on how much money we
earn. Others say that money cannot buy happiness.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Alternative energy sources that use the natural power of the wind, waves and
sun are too expensive and complicated to replace the coal, oil and gas that we
use to power our cities and transport.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this?

Some people think that it will be one of the best ways to solve the
environmental problems to increase the cost of fuel for cars and other vehicles.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Scientists agree that many people eat too much junk food and it is damaging
their health. Some people think that this problem can be solved by educating
people, while others believe that education will not work.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people say History is one of the most important school subjects. Other
people think that, in today’s world, subjects like Science and Technology are
more important than History.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause
serious social problems, as well as practical problems.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
At the present time, the population of some countries includes a relatively large
number of young adults, compared with the number of older people.
Do the advantages of this situation outweigh the disadvantages?

It is true that economic growth is often seen as the ultimate measure of a

nation’s progress. However, there are also people who think advances in other
areas are equaly important.
Countries are becoming more and more similar because people are able to buy
the same products anywhere in the world.
Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Every year several languages die out. Some people think that is not important
because life will be easier if there are fewer languages in the world.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Some people believe that achieving goals is mostly a matter of luck.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Is achieving goals mostly a matter of luck?

Luck has role but is not the main factor.

what is the role of luck what are the other important factors

sometimes impossible to succeed if effort the main important factor

not in the right circumstances, e.g. many stories of from rags to riches.
living in the city offers better With enough effort, perseverance
opportunities than living in a remote and determination most individuals
village in terms of education and are able to realise their ambitions.
employment. So child dreaming For example, Despite being born in a
about a legal career, less likely to remote village, the owner of
fulfil. ‘Alibaba’, online shop, Jack Ma
managed to fulfil his dream of
in rare cases, some people achieve becoming one the richest men of the
their goals by stroke of sheer luck, world.
such as lottery winner, They have
done nothing to deserve the jackpot
they just a lot luckier than the
millions of the other players who
couldn’t win
Some people think that competition at work, at school and in daily life is a good
thing. Others believe that we should try to cooperate more, rather than
competing against each other.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
It is often debated whether competition or cooperation should be given precedence.
Admittedly, the former may sometimes breed hostility whereas the latter nurtures
friendship. However, I believe the absence of competition makes life monotonous
and relying solely on cooperation is insufficient for achieving progress.
It must be acknowledged that progress in nearly all aspects of life depends on
competition. Rivalry in schools, for instance, encourages students to excel in
subjects, or at least avoid lagging behind their peers, resulting in high-achieving
students. Likewise, in the workplace, employees strive to outperform their
colleagues to earn promotions, which in turn boosts productivity. Thus, both
individuals and society benefit from competition.
However, as with anything taken to extremes, excessive competition can cause
problems. The relentless pursuit of victory and the fear of failure can create a
highly stressful life. This is especially true when average individuals are pitted
against exceptionally talented ones, as seen in schools. It is well-known that
some children are much abler than others, and expecting the same level performance
from everyone is, therefore, unfair to those who are less competent, making them feel
helpless and stressed. Unfair competition can also damage the self-esteem of the
wronged and cause them to harbour grudges against their high-performing peers.
Cooperation, on the other hand, promotes friendship. It can also expedite the
accomplishment of tasks, making overcoming obstacles easier when people act
together in a team. For example, university tutors often team several students up to
complete projects together, as this allows students to divide tasks, such as carrying
out online research, consulting library materials, and preparing slides. This
cooperative approach prevents students from being overburdened.
In my opinion, to maximise benefits, both approaches should be used wisely. A
competitive environment is conducive to progress and helps people reach their full
potential, but too much competition can be counterproductive. Sometimes, the best
way to achieve shared goals quickly is to cooperate, rather than compete. Therefore,
it is important to balance them appropriately.

(329 words)
In many countries nowadays, consumers can go to a supermarket and buy
food produced all over the world.
Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Supermarkets today offer food items sourced from all parts of the world. While this
development has some positive aspects, the consideration of the associated
problems helps to understand why it may not be entirely favourable.

There are undeniable benefits to the availability of foreign foods in supermarkets.

Firstly, access to a variety of foods can contribute to better health. Since a human
body needs many different nutrients to stay healthy, it is often recommended to eat as
many different types of food as possible. By providing access to exotic foods,
supermarkets help people to eat a more varied diet, potentially improving their overall
health. Additionally, the presence of foreign foods in stores is an indication of friendly
relations between nations, as countries which are on hostile terms would rarely export
any products from each other.

Despite the positive aspects highlighted above, I believe the proliferation of foreign
foods in supermarkets is largely a negative development. The main issue with this
type of food is its substantial carbon footprint resulting from long-haul transit. Bringing
food from remote locations necessarily involves the use of vehicles with combustion
engines such as trucks, ships, and airplanes, which are notorious greenhouse gas
emitters.

In addition to the environmental impact, such food can also be hazardous to health.
Although accessing food from all over the world enables people to diversify their
diets, the perceived health benefits are questionable due to the heavy chemical
treatments these products undergo for preservation. Such ultra-processed foods have
been liked to various health issues, including cancer and diabetes.

In conclusion, while the widespread availability of foreign foods promotes international

trade, leading to better relations between nations, and enriches diets, the
environmental cost of transporting such food and concerns over its safety outweigh
these advantages. Therefore, I believe this is predominantly a negative development.

(302 words)
Many people believe that it is easier to have a healthy lifestyle in the
countryside. Others say there are more health benefits to living in cities.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Maintaining good health is a priority for many. Some argue living in the countryside is
more conducive to good health, while others believe city life offers more benefits.
Although both environments have their advantages and disadvantages, I am inclined
to agree with those who favour rural living.

City life has undeniable advantages in terms of health. The main one is the
availability of facilities for improving health, ranging from sports clubs to specialised
clinics. City dwellers can participate in virtually any sport of their interest to stay fit, or
they can access professional medical services for any health complaints. Apart from
these facilities, people in cities are often better educated and, thus, more informed
about healthy lifestyles, including proper diet and sleep. As a result, urban residents
are expected to be healthier than their rural counterparts.

Despite all these advantages of city life, I believe that people in the countryside tend
to be healthier overall. The most significant factor is the environment; villages
typically do not suffer from air pollution because there is far less traffic compared to
cities. Moreover, companies often build their factories closer to urban areas to reduce
transport costs, leading to greater pollution in cities.

Clean air is far from the only benefit rural life offers; it also provides easier access to
fresh, organic produce, whereas city supermarkets are normally supplied by
commercial farmers who focuses on maximising crop yields using chemical fertilisers
and pesticides. Although rural areas may lack the extensive sports facilities found in
cities, the daily activities associated with rural living, such as subsistence farming,
collecting and cutting firewood, and gardening, naturally incorporates a significant
amount of physical exercise.

In conclusion, although cities boast more medical and sports facilities and the
residents are generally more health-conscious, the cleaner environment, active
lifestyle, and access to fresh food in the countryside contribute to better overall health
for those living there.

(315 words)
Some people think that the best way to improve road safety is to increase the
minimum legal age for driving a car or motorbike.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Road accidents are on the rise in most countries. Some people suggest raising the
minimum age for drivers to make roads safer. In my opinion, this is not the best
approach, if effective at all.

The call for a higher driving age does not seem to be based on thorough reasoning.
This approach assumes that most people have accidents because they are not old
enough to steer a motor vehicle. However, in reality, as many middle-aged or elderly
people crash their cars as young people, showing that poor vehicle control is not
solely a matter of age. Although young people tend to have a predilection for speed,
which is admittedly a cause of numerous accidents, other factors such as lapses in
concentration also contribute significantly to road incidents. Interestingly, because of
their greater work and family responsibilities, older people are more prone to thoughts
that can distract their attention while they are at the wheel.

Since there are so many factors affecting road safety, a more holistic approach needs
to be devised, rather than simply mandating a higher driving age. Firstly, the
penalties for drunk-driving should be toughened up as countless road incidents are
caused by driving under the influence. The realisation that sitting at the wheel
intoxicated is a serious crime will deter drivers from doing so. In addition, poor road
conditions, such as potholes, also negatively affect drivers’ concentration and control,
affecting their ability to steer safely. Ensuring roads are well-maintained would allow
motorists to focus better, without worrying about dodging holes or bumps. Clearly,
road safety is influenced by multiple factors, not just age.

In conclusion, I disagree with the proposal to increase the minimum driving age, as,
often, drivers of all ages are involved in road incidents. I believe authorities should
thoroughly investigate all the factors influencing road safety and develop a more
comprehensive solution.

(309 words)
Some people think that group or team activities can teach children more
important skills for life than activities which are done alone.

Do you agree or disagree?

Children learn various skills by doing different activities. Some argue that activities
done as part of a team teach more than the ones done alone. I completely agree with
this opinion as we live in communities interacting with other fellow human beings,
rather than in isolation.

Since humans are social creatures, the importance of social skills cannot be
overstated. These skills are best acquired in an environment where we can interact
with others. In other word, in order to learn how to behave appropriately and succeed
in society, we should engage in different group activities. In this way, we can
understand other people’s characters better, thereby avoiding conflicts with them and
co-operating more easily.
Some people think that people commit crime because of poverty and
social problems, while others think it is because of their bad nature.

Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

Opinions vary on the reasons behind criminal behaviour. Some believe

criminals are inherently immoral, whereas others argue they end up
breaking the law due to problems such as poverty. Although both sides
have valid arguments, I believe that difficult circumstances should not be
seen as an excuse for committing crimes.

Some people may find themselves in situations where crime seems like an
only option. Jobless people in some countries are a relevant case in point.
Not all countries can provide its citizens with adequate employment
opportunities or unemployment benefits. As a result, some resort to theft
as a means of survival. Beyond financial difficulties, many other factors
such as depression, harassment and abuse can also foster criminal
behaviour, pushing affected individuals towards unlawful acts.

However, not all crimes stem from external hardships; some individuals
appear predisposed to crime regardless of their circumstances. This is
evidenced by cases where wealthy individuals, free from financial or social
struggles, still end up committing crimes, suggesting that for some, crime
may be an inherent tendency rather than a consequence of external
pressures.

In conclusion, while life sometimes turns too difficult for some individuals to
live a law-abiding life, pushing them into the world of crime, I believe that a
rational approach to challenges can help people to avoid crime. Moreover,
the existence of people who perpetrate unlawful acts for no apparent
reason backs the notion that some people are innately prone to crime.
Many museums and historical sites are mainly visited by
tourists but not local people.
Why is this the case?
What can be done to attract more local people to these
places?
A visit to a museum or a historical site can be an informative and
educational experience. However, these places are mostly
popular with tourists, with few local people showing an interest in
them. The relative absence of locals from these places can be
explained by a number of factors, including lack of time, and to
attract them to such establishments, these factors should be
addressed.
The lack of interest in museums and other historical places among
local residents can be attributed to their lifestyles.