WRITING TASK 2: Band 9

Some people believe that hobbies need to be difficult to be enjoyable. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Some hobbies are relatively easy, while others resent more o! a "hallen#e$ %ersonally, I believe that both ty es o! hobby "an be !&n, and I there!ore disa#ree with the statement that hobbies need to be di!!i"&lt in order to be en'oyable$ (n the one hand, many eo le en'oy easy hobbies$ (ne e)am le o! an a"tivity that is easy !or most eo le is swimmin#$ This hobby re*&ires very little e*&i ment, it is sim le to learn, and it is ine) ensive$ I remember learnin# to swim at my lo"al swimmin# ool when I was a "hild, and it never !elt li+e a demandin# or "hallen#in# e) erien"e$ Another hobby that I !ind easy and !&n is hoto#ra hy$ In my o inion, anyone "an ta+e interestin# i"t&res witho&t +nowin# too m&"h abo&t the te"hni"alities o! o eratin# a "amera$ ,es ite bein# strai#ht!orward, ta+in# hotos is a satis!yin# a"tivity$ (n the other hand, di!!i"&lt hobbies "an sometimes be more e)"itin#$ I! an a"tivity is more "hallen#in#, we mi#ht !eel a #reater sense o! satis!a"tion when we mana#e to do it s&""ess!&lly$ -or e)am le, !ilm editin# is a hobby that re*&ires a hi#h level o! +nowled#e and e) ertise$ In my "ase, it too+ me aro&nd two years be!ore I be"ame "om etent at this a"tivity, b&t now I en'oy it m&"h more than I did when I started$ I believe that many hobbies #ive &s more leas&re when we rea"h a hi#her level o! er!orman"e be"a&se the res&lts are better and the !eelin# o! a"hievement is #reater$ In "on"l&sion, sim le hobbies "an be !&n and rela)in#, b&t di!!i"&lt hobbies "an be e*&ally leas&rable !or di!!erent reasons$

Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree? In my o inion, men and women sho&ld have the same ed&"ational o ort&nities$ .owever, I do not a#ree with the idea o! a""e tin# e*&al ro ortions o! ea"h #ender in every &niversity s&b'e"t$ .avin# the same n&mber o! men and women on all de#ree "o&rses is sim ly &nrealisti"$ St&dent n&mbers on any "o&rse de end on the a li"ations that the instit&tion re"eives$ I! a &niversity de"ided to !ill "o&rses with e*&al n&mbers o! males and !emales, it wo&ld need eno&#h a li"ants o! ea"h #ender$ In reality, many "o&rses are more o &lar with one #ender than the other, and it wo&ld not be ra"ti"al to aim !or e*&al ro ortions$ -or e)am le, n&rsin# "o&rses tend to attra"t more !emale a li"ants, and it wo&ld be di!!i"&lt to !ill these "o&rses i! !i!ty er "ent o! the la"es needed to #o to males$ A art !rom the ra"ti"al "on"erns e) ressed above, I also believe that it wo&ld be &n!air to base admission to &niversity "o&rses on #ender$ /niversities sho&ld "ontin&e to sele"t the best "andidates !or ea"h "o&rse a""ordin# to their *&ali!i"ations$ In this way, both men and women have the same o ort&nities, and a li"ants +now that they will be s&""ess!&l i! they wor+ hard to a"hieve #ood #rades at s"hool$ I! a !emale st&dent is the best "andidate !or a la"e on a "o&rse, it wo&ld be wron# to re'e"t her in !avo&r o! a male st&dent with lower #rades or !ewer *&ali!i"ations$ In "on"l&sion, the sele"tion o! &niversity st&dents sho&ld be based on merit, and it wo&ld be both im ra"ti"al and &n!air to "han#e to a sele"tion ro"ed&re based on #ender$ 0212 words, band 93

Foreign visitors should pay more than local visitors for cultural and historical attractions. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? It is sometimes ar#&ed that to&rists !rom overseas sho&ld be "har#ed more than lo"al residents to visit im ortant sites and mon&ments$ I "om letely disa#ree with this idea$ The ar#&ment in !avo&r o! hi#her ri"es !or !orei#n to&rists wo&ld be that "&lt&ral or histori"al attra"tions o!ten de end on state s&bsidies to +ee them #oin#, whi"h means that the resident o &lation already ays money to these sites thro&#h the ta) system$ .owever, I believe this to be a very shortsi#hted view$ -orei#n to&rists "ontrib&te to the e"onomy o! the host "o&ntry with the money they s end on a wide ran#e o! #oods and servi"es, in"l&din# !ood, so&venirs, a""ommodation and travel$ The #overnments and inhabitants o! every "o&ntry sho&ld be ha y to s&bsidise im ortant to&rist sites and en"o&ra#e eo le !rom the rest o! the world to visit them$ I! travellers realised that they wo&ld have to ay more to visit histori"al and "&lt&ral attra"tions in a arti"&lar nation, they wo&ld erha s de"ide not to #o to that "o&ntry on holiday$ To ta+e the /K as an e)am le, the to&rism ind&stry and many related 'obs rely on visitors "omin# to the "o&ntry to see la"es li+e Windsor 4astle or Saint %a&l5s 4athedral$ These two sites "har#e the same ri"e re#ardless o! nationality, and this hel s to romote the nation5s "&lt&ral herita#e$ I! overseas to&rists sto ed "omin# d&e to hi#her ri"es, there wo&ld be a ris+ o! ins&!!i"ient !&ndin# !or the maintenan"e o! these im ortant b&ildin#s$ In "on"l&sion, I believe that every e!!ort sho&ld be made to attra"t to&rists !rom overseas, and it wo&ld be "o&nter rod&"tive to ma+e them ay more than lo"al residents$ 0219 words, band 93

e cannot help everyone in the world that needs help! so we should only be concerned with our own communities and countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Some eo le believe that we sho&ld not hel eo le in other "o&ntries as lon# as there are roblems in o&r own so"iety$ I disa#ree with this view be"a&se I believe that we sho&ld try to hel as many eo le as ossible$ (n the one hand, I a""e t that it is im ortant to hel o&r nei#hbo&rs and !ellow "iti8ens$ In most "omm&nities there are eo le who are im overished or disadvanta#ed in some way$ It is ossible to !ind homeless eo le, !or e)am le, in even the wealthiest o! "ities, and !or those who are "on"erned abo&t this roblem, there are &s&ally o ort&nities to vol&nteer time or #ive money to s& ort these eo le$ In the /K, eo le "an hel in a variety o! ways, !rom donatin# "lothin# to servin# !ree !ood in a so& +it"hen$ As the roblems are on o&r doorste , and there are obvio&s ways to hel , I "an &nderstand why some eo le !eel that we sho&ld rioritise lo"al "harity$ At the same time, I believe that we have an obli#ation to hel those who live beyond o&r national borders$ In some "o&ntries the roblems that eo le !a"e are m&"h more serio&s than those in o&r own "omm&nities, and it is o!ten even easier to hel $ -or e)am le, when "hildren are dyin# !rom "&rable diseases in A!ri"an "o&ntries, #overnments and individ&als in ri"her "o&ntries "an save lives sim ly by ayin# !or va""ines that already e)ist$ A small donation to an international "harity mi#ht have a m&"h #reater im a"t than hel in# in o&r lo"al area$ In "on"l&sion, it is tr&e that we "annot hel everyone, b&t in my o inion national bo&ndaries sho&ld not sto &s !rom hel in# those who are in need$

0267 words, band 93

"any people decide on a career path early in their lives and #eep to it. This! they argue! leads to a more satisfying wor#ing life. To what extent do you agree with this view? hat other things can people do in order to have a satisfying wor#ing life? It is tr&e that some eo le +now !rom an early a#e what "areer they want to &rs&e, and they are ha y to s end the rest o! their lives in the same ro!ession$ While I a""e t that this may s&it many eo le, I believe that others en'oy "han#in# "areers or see+in# 'ob satis!a"tion in di!!erent ways$ (n the one hand, havin# a de!ined "areer ath "an "ertainly lead to a satis!yin# wor+in# li!e$ 9any eo le de"ide as yo&n# "hildren what they want to do as ad&lts, and it #ives them a #reat sense o! satis!a"tion to wor+ towards their #oals and #rad&ally a"hieve them$ -or e)am le, many "hildren dream o! be"omin# do"tors, b&t to realise this ambition they need to #ain the relevant *&ali!i"ations and &nderta+e years o! trainin#$ In my e) erien"e, very !ew eo le who have *&ali!ied as do"tors "hoose to "han#e "areer be"a&se they !ind their wor+ so rewardin#, and be"a&se they have invested so m&"h time and e!!ort to rea"h their #oal$ (n the other hand, eo le !ind ha iness in their wor+in# lives in di!!erent ways$ -irstly, not everyone dreams o! doin# a arti"&lar 'ob, and it "an be e*&ally rewardin# to try a variety o! ro!essions: startin# o&t on a "om letely new "areer ath "an be a reinvi#oratin# e) erien"e$ Se"ondly, some eo le see their 'obs as sim ly a means o! earnin# money, and they are ha y i! their salary is hi#h eno&#h to allow them to en'oy li!e o&tside wor+$ -inally, 'ob satis!a"tion is o!ten the res&lt o! wor+in# "onditions, rather than the "areer itsel!$ -or e)am le, a ositive wor+in# atmos here, enth&siasti" "ollea#&es, and an ins irational boss "an ma+e wor+in# li!e m&"h more satis!yin#, re#ardless o! the ro!ession$ In "on"l&sion, it "an "ertainly be satis!yin# to &rs&e a arti"&lar "areer !or the whole o! one5s li!e, b&t this is by no means the only ro&te to !&l!ilment$ 0;<7 words3

Some people thin# that all teenagers should be required to do unpaid wor# in their free time to help the local community. They believe this would benefit both the individual teenager and society as a whole. $o you agree or disagree? 9any yo&n# eo le wor+ on a vol&nteer basis, and this "an only be bene!i"ial !or both the individ&al and so"iety as a whole$ .owever, I do not a#ree that we sho&ld there!ore !or"e all teena#ers to do &n aid wor+$ 9ost yo&n# eo le are already &nder eno&#h ress&re with their st&dies, witho&t bein# #iven the added res onsibility o! wor+in# in their s are time$ S"hool is '&st as demandin# as a !&ll=time 'ob, and tea"hers e) e"t their st&dents to do homewor+ and e)am revision on to o! attendin# lessons every day$ When yo&n# eo le do have some !ree time, we sho&ld en"o&ra#e them to en'oy it with their !riends or to s end it doin# s orts and other leis&re a"tivities$ They have many years o! wor+ ahead o! them when they !inish their st&dies$ At the same time, I do not believe that so"iety has anythin# to #ain !rom obli#in# yo&n# eo le to do &n aid wor+$ In !a"t, I wo&ld ar#&e that it #oes a#ainst the val&es o! a !ree and !air so"iety to !or"e a #ro& o! eo le to do somethin# a#ainst their will$ ,oin# this "an only lead to resentment amon#st yo&n# eo le, who wo&ld !eel that they were bein# &sed, and arents, who wo&ld not want to be told how to raise their "hildren$ 4&rrently, nobody is !or"ed to vol&nteer, and this is s&rely the best system$ In "on"l&sion, teena#ers may "hoose to wor+ !or !ree and hel others, b&t in my o inion we sho&ld not ma+e this "om &lsory$ 0227 words, band 93

%owadays animal experiments are widely used to develop new medicines and to test the safety of other products. Some people argue that these experiments should be banned because it is morally wrong to cause animals to suffer! while others are in favour of them because of their benefits to humanity. $iscuss both views and give your own opinion. It is tr&e that medi"ines and other rod&"ts are ro&tinely tested on animals be!ore they are "leared !or h&man &se$ While I tend towards the view oint that animal testin# is morally wron#, I wo&ld have to s& ort a limited amo&nt o! animal e) erimentation !or the develo ment o! medi"ines$ (n the one hand, there are "lear ethi"al ar#&ments a#ainst animal e) erimentation$ To &se a "ommon e)am le o! this ra"ti"e, laboratory mi"e may be #iven an illness so that the e!!e"tiveness o! a new dr&# "an be meas&red$ ( onents o! s&"h resear"h ar#&e that h&mans have no ri#ht to s&b'e"t animals to this +ind o! tra&ma, and that the lives o! all "reat&res sho&ld be res e"ted$ They believe that the bene!its to h&mans do not '&sti!y the s&!!erin# "a&sed, and that s"ientists sho&ld &se alternative methods o! resear"h$ (n the other hand, reliable alternatives to animal e) erimentation may not always be available$ S& orters o! the &se o! animals in medi"al resear"h believe that a "ertain amo&nt o! s&!!erin# on the art o! mi"e or rats "an be '&sti!ied i! h&man lives are saved$ They ar#&e that o onents o! s&"h resear"h mi#ht !eel di!!erently i! a member o! their own !amilies needed a medi"al treatment that had been develo ed thro&#h the &se o! animal e) erimentation$ %ersonally, I a#ree with the bannin# o! animal testin# !or non=medi"al rod&"ts, b&t I !eel that it may be a ne"essary evil where new dr&#s and medi"al ro"ed&res are "on"erned$ In "on"l&sion, it seems to me that it wo&ld be wron# to ban testin# on animals !or vital medi"al resear"h &ntil e*&ally e!!e"tive alternatives have been develo ed$ 02>7 words, band 93

Some people thin# that governments should give financial support to creative artists such as painters and musicians. &thers believe that creative artists should be funded by alternative sources. $iscuss both views and give your own opinion. %eo le have di!!erent views abo&t the !&ndin# o! "reative artists$ While some eo le disa#ree with the idea o! #overnment s& ort !or artists, I believe that money !or art ro'e"ts sho&ld "ome !rom both #overnments and other so&r"es$ Some art ro'e"ts de!initely re*&ire hel !rom the state$ In the /K, there are many wor+s o! art in &bli" s a"es, s&"h as streets or s*&ares in "ity "entres$ In ?iver ool, !or e)am le, there are several new stat&es and s"&l t&res in the do"+s area o! the "ity, whi"h has been redevelo ed re"ently$ These artwor+s re resent "&lt&re, herita#e and history$ They serve to ed&"ate eo le abo&t the "ity, and a"t as landmar+s or tal+in# oints !or visitors and to&rists$ Governments and lo"al "o&n"ils sho&ld ay "reative artists to rod&"e this +ind o! art, be"a&se witho&t their !&ndin# o&r "ities wo&ld be m&"h less interestin# and attra"tive$ (n the other hand, I "an &nderstand the ar#&ments a#ainst #overnment !&ndin# !or art$ The main reason !or this view is that #overnments have more im ortant "on"erns$ -or e)am le, state b&d#ets need to be s ent on ed&"ation, health"are, in!rastr&"t&re and se"&rity, amon# other areas$ These &bli" servi"es are vital !or a "o&ntry to !&n"tion ro erly, whereas the wor+ o! "reative artists, even in &bli" la"es, is a l&)&ry$ Another reason !or this o inion is that artists do a 'ob li+e any other ro!essional, and they sho&ld there!ore earn their own money by sellin# their wor+$ In "on"l&sion, there are #ood reasons why artists sho&ld rely on alternative so&r"es o! !inan"ial s& ort, b&t in my o inion #overnment hel is sometimes ne"essary$

Several languages are in danger of extinction because they are spo#en by very small numbers of people. Some people say that governments should spend public money on saving these languages! while others believe that would be a waste of money. $iscuss both these views and give your opinion. It is tr&e that some minority lan#&a#es may disa ear in the near !&t&re$ Altho&#h it "an be ar#&ed that #overnments "o&ld save money by allowin# this to ha en, I believe that these lan#&a#es sho&ld be rote"ted and reserved$ There are several reasons why savin# minority lan#&a#es "o&ld be seen as a waste o! money$ -irstly, i! a lan#&a#e is only s o+en by a small n&mber o! eo le, e) ensive ed&"ation ro#rammes will be needed to ma+e s&re that more eo le learn it, and the state will have to ay !or !a"ilities, tea"hers and mar+etin#$ This money mi#ht be better s ent on other &bli" servi"es$ Se"ondly, it wo&ld be m&"h "hea er and more e!!i"ient !or "o&ntries to have '&st one lan#&a#e$ Governments "o&ld "&t all +inds o! "osts related to "omm&ni"atin# with ea"h minority #ro& $ ,es ite the above ar#&ments, I believe that #overnments sho&ld try to reserve lan#&a#es that are less widely s o+en$ A lan#&a#e is m&"h more than sim ly a means o! "omm&ni"ation: it has a vital "onne"tion with the "&lt&ral identity o! the eo le who s ea+ it$ I! a lan#&a#e disa ears, a whole way o! li!e will disa ear with it, and we will lose the ri"h "&lt&ral diversity that ma+es so"ieties more interestin#$ By s endin# money to rote"t minority lan#&a#es, #overnments "an also reserve traditions, "&stoms and behavio&rs that are art o! a "o&ntry5s history$ In "on"l&sion, it may save money in the short term i! we allow minority lan#&a#es to disa ear, b&t in the lon# term this wo&ld have an e)tremely ne#ative im a"t on o&r "&lt&ral herita#e$ 0226 words3

Some people thin# that museums should be enjoyable places to entertain people! while others believe that the purpose of museums is to educate. $iscuss both views and give you own opinion. %eo le have di!!erent views abo&t the role and !&n"tion o! m&se&ms$ In my o inion, m&se&ms "an and sho&ld be both entertainin# and ed&"ational$ (n the one hand, it "an be ar#&ed that the main role o! a m&se&m is to entertain$ 9&se&ms are to&rist attra"tions, and their aim is to e)hibit a "olle"tion o! interestin# ob'e"ts that many eo le will want to see$ The avera#e visitor may be"ome bored i! he or she has to read or listen to too m&"h ed&"ational "ontent, so m&se&ms o!ten &t more o! an em hasis on en'oyment rather than learnin#$ This ty e o! m&se&m is desi#ned to be vis&ally s e"ta"&lar, and may have intera"tive a"tivities or even #ames as art o! its e)hibitions$ (n the other hand, some eo le ar#&e that m&se&ms sho&ld !o"&s on ed&"ation$ The aim o! any e)hibition sho&ld be to tea"h visitors somethin# that they did not revio&sly +now$ /s&ally this means that the history behind the m&se&m5s e)hibits needs to be e) lained, and this "an be done in vario&s ways$ Some m&se&ms em loy ro!essional #&ides to tal+ to their visitors, while other m&se&ms o!!er headsets so that visitors "an listen to detailed "ommentary abo&t the e)hibition$ In this way, m&se&ms "an lay an im ortant role in tea"hin# eo le abo&t history, "&lt&re, s"ien"e and many other as e"ts o! li!e$ In "on"l&sion, it seems to me that a #ood m&se&m sho&ld be able to o!!er an interestin#, en'oyable and ed&"ational e) erien"e so that eo le "an have !&n and learn somethin# at the same time$ 022; words, band 93

There are many different types of music in the world today. hy do we need music? 's the traditional music of a country more important than the international music that is heard everywhere nowadays? It is tr&e that a ri"h variety o! m&si"al styles "an be !o&nd aro&nd the world$ 9&si" is a vital art o! all h&man "&lt&res !or a ran#e o! reasons, and I wo&ld ar#&e that traditional m&si" is more im ortant than modern, international m&si"$ 9&si" is somethin# that a""om anies all o! &s thro&#ho&t o&r lives$ As "hildren, we are ta&#ht son#s by o&r arents and tea"hers as a means o! learnin# lan#&a#e, or sim ly as a !orm o! en'oyment$ 4hildren deli#ht in sin#in# with others, and it wo&ld a ear that the a"t o! sin#in# in a #ro& "reates a "onne"tion between arti"i ants, re#ardless o! their a#e$ ?ater in li!e, eo le5s m&si"al re!eren"es develo , and we "ome to see o&r !avo&rite son#s as art o! o&r li!e stories$ 9&si" both e) resses and aro&ses emotions in a way that words alone "annot$ In short, it is di!!i"&lt to ima#ine li!e witho&t it$ In my o inion, traditional m&si" sho&ld be val&ed over the international m&si" that has be"ome so o &lar$ International o m&si" is o!ten "at"hy and !&n, b&t it is essentially a "ommer"ial rod&"t that is mar+eted and sold by b&siness eo le$ Traditional m&si", by "ontrast, e) resses the "&lt&re, "&stoms and history o! a "o&ntry$ Traditional styles, s&"h as $$$0e)am le3$$$, "onne"t &s to the ast and !orm art o! o&r "&lt&ral identity$ It wo&ld be a real ity i! o m&si" be"ame so redominant that these national styles disa eared$ In "on"l&sion, m&si" is a ne"essary art o! h&man e)isten"e, and I believe that traditional m&si" sho&ld be #iven more im ortan"e than international m&si"$ 021< words, band 93

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. $iscuss both views and give your opinion. When they !inish s"hool, teena#ers !a"e the dilemma o! whether to #et a 'ob or "ontin&e their ed&"ation$ While there are some bene!its to #ettin# a 'ob strai#ht a!ter s"hool, I wo&ld ar#&e that it is better to #o to "olle#e or &niversity$ The o tion to start wor+ strai#ht a!ter s"hool is attra"tive !or several reasons$ 9any yo&n# eo le want to start earnin# money as soon as ossible$ In this way, they "an be"ome inde endent, and they will be able to a!!ord their own ho&se or start a !amily$ In terms o! their "areer, yo&n# eo le who de"ide to !ind wor+, rather than "ontin&e their st&dies, may ro#ress more *&i"+ly$ They will have the "han"e to #ain real e) erien"e and learn ra"ti"al s+ills related to their "hosen ro!ession$ This may lead to romotions and a s&""ess!&l "areer$ (n the other hand, I believe that it is more bene!i"ial !or st&dents to "ontin&e their st&dies$ -irstly, a"ademi" *&ali!i"ations are re*&ired in many ro!essions$ -or e)am le, it is im ossible to be"ome a do"tor, tea"her or lawyer witho&t havin# the relevant de#ree$ As a res&lt, &niversity #rad&ates have a""ess to more and better 'ob o ort&nities, and they tend to earn hi#her salaries than those with !ewer *&ali!i"ations$ Se"ondly, the 'ob mar+et is be"omin# in"reasin#ly "om etitive, and sometimes there are h&ndreds o! a li"ants !or one osition in a "om any$ @o&n# eo le who do not have *&ali!i"ations !rom a &niversity or "olle#e will not be able to "om ete$ -or the reasons mentioned above, it seems to me that st&dents are more li+ely to be s&""ess!&l in their "areers i! they "ontin&e their st&dies beyond s"hool level$ 02>< words, band 93 0IA?TS Simon3

%owadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology. 'n what ways has technology affected the types of relationships that people ma#e? (as this been a positive or negative development? It is tr&e that new te"hnolo#ies have had an in!l&en"e on "omm&ni"ation between eo le$ Te"hnolo#y has a!!e"ted relationshi s in vario&s ways, and in my o inion there are both ositive and ne#ative e!!e"ts$ Te"hnolo#y has had an im a"t on relationshi s in b&siness, ed&"ation and so"ial li!e$ -irstly, tele hones and the Internet allow b&siness eo le in di!!erent "o&ntries to intera"t witho&t ever meetin# ea"h other$ Se"ondly, servi"es li+e S+y e "reate new ossibilities !or relationshi s between st&dents and tea"hers$ -or e)am le, a st&dent "an now ta+e video lessons with a tea"her in a di!!erent "ity or "o&ntry$ -inally, many eo le &se so"ial networ+s, li+e -a"eboo+, to ma+e new !riends and !ind eo le who share "ommon interests, and they intera"t thro&#h their "om &ters rather than !a"e to !a"e$ (n the one hand, these develo ments "an be e)tremely ositive$ 4oo eration between eo le in di!!erent "o&ntries was m&"h more di!!i"&lt when "omm&ni"ation was limited to written letters or tele#rams$ Nowadays, intera"tions by email, hone or video are almost as #ood as !a"e=to=!a"e meetin#s, and many o! &s bene!it !rom these intera"tions, either in wor+ or so"ial "onte)ts$ (n the other hand, the availability o! new "omm&ni"ation te"hnolo#ies "an also have the res&lt o! isolatin# eo le and dis"o&ra#in# real intera"tion$ -or e)am le, many yo&n# eo le "hoose to ma+e !riends online rather than mi)in# with their eers in the real world, and these Bvirt&al5 relationshi s are a oor s&bstit&te !or real !riendshi s$ In "on"l&sion, te"hnolo#y has "ertainly revol&tionised "omm&ni"ation between eo le, b&t not all o! the o&t"omes o! this revol&tion have been ositive$

0< words, band 93

Some people regard video games as harmless fun! or even as a useful educational tool. &thers! however! believe that videos games are having an adverse effect on the people who play them. 'n your opinion! do the drawbac#s of video games outweigh the benefits? 9any eo le, and "hildren in arti"&lar, en'oy layin# "om &ter #ames$ While I a""e t that these #ames "an sometimes have a ositive e!!e"t on the &ser, I believe that they are more li+ely to have a harm!&l im a"t$ (n the one hand, video #ames "an be both entertainin# and ed&"ational$ /sers, or #amers, are trans orted into virt&al worlds whi"h are o!ten more e)"itin# and en#a#in# than real=li!e astimes$ -rom an ed&"ational ers e"tive, these #ames en"o&ra#e ima#ination and "reativity, as well as "on"entration, lo#i"al thin+in# and roblem solvin#, all o! whi"h are &se!&l s+ills o&tside the #amin# "onte)t$ -&rthermore, it has been shown that "om &ter sim&lation #ames "an im rove &sers5 motor s+ills and hel to re are them !or real=world tas+s, s&"h as !lyin# a lane$ .owever, I wo&ld ar#&e that these bene!its are o&twei#hed by the drawba"+s$ Gamin# "an be hi#hly addi"tive be"a&se &sers are "onstantly #iven s"ores, new tar#ets and !re*&ent rewards to +ee them layin#$ 9any "hildren now s end ho&rs ea"h day tryin# to ro#ress thro&#h the levels o! a #ame or to #et a hi#her s"ore than their !riends$ This ty e o! addi"tion "an have e!!e"ts ran#in# !rom la"+ o! slee to roblems at s"hool, when homewor+ is sa"ri!i"ed !or a !ew more ho&rs on the "om &ter or "onsole$ The rise in obesity in re"ent years has also been lin+ed in art to the sedentary li!estyle and la"+ o! e)er"ise that o!ten a""om any #amin# addi"tion$ In "on"l&sion, it seems to me that the otential dan#ers o! video #ames are more si#ni!i"ant than the ossible bene!its$

02 words, band 93

'n the developed world! average life expectancy is increasing. hat problems will this cause for individuals and society? Suggest some measures that could be ta#en to reduce the impact of ageing populations. It is tr&e that eo le in ind&strialised nations "an e) e"t to live lon#er than ever be!ore$ Altho&#h there will &ndo&btedly be some ne#ative "onse*&en"es o! this trend, so"ieties "an ta+e ste s to miti#ate these otential roblems$ As eo le live lon#er and the o &lations o! develo ed "o&ntries #row older, several related roblems "an be anti"i ated$ The main iss&e is that there will obvio&sly be more eo le o! retirement a#e who will be eli#ible to re"eive a ension$ The ro ortion o! yo&n#er, wor+in# ad&lts will be smaller, and #overnments will there!ore re"eive less money in ta)es in relation to the si8e o! the o &lation$ In other words, an a#ein# o &lation will mean a #reater ta) b&rden !or wor+in# ad&lts$ -&rther ress&res will in"l&de a rise in the demand !or health"are, and the !a"t yo&n# ad&lts will in"reasin#ly have to loo+ a!ter their elderly relatives$ There are several a"tions that #overnments "o&ld ta+e to solve the roblems des"ribed above$ -irstly, a sim le sol&tion wo&ld be to in"rease the retirement a#e !or wor+in# ad&lts, erha s !rom 12 to >7$ Nowadays, eo le o! this a#e tend to be healthy eno&#h to "ontin&e a rod&"tive wor+in# li!e$ A se"ond meas&re wo&ld be !or #overnments to en"o&ra#e immi#ration in order to in"rease the n&mber o! wor+in# ad&lts who ay ta)es$ -inally, money !rom national b&d#ets will need to be ta+en !rom other areas and s ent on vital health"are, a""ommodation and trans ort !a"ilities !or the risin# n&mbers o! older "iti8ens$ In "on"l&sion, vario&s meas&res "an be ta+en to ta"+le the roblems that are "ertain to arise as the o &lations o! "o&ntries #row older$ 0212 words, band 93

)xplain some of the ways in which humans are damaging the environment. hat can governments do to address these problems? hat can individual people do? .&mans are res onsible !or a variety o! environmental roblems, b&t we "an also ta+e ste s to red&"e the dama#e that we are "a&sin# to the lanet$ This essay will dis"&ss environmental roblems and the meas&res that #overnments and individ&als "an ta+e to address these roblems$ Two o! the bi##est threats to the environment are air oll&tion and waste$ Gas emissions !rom !a"tories and e)ha&st !&mes !rom vehi"les lead to #lobal warmin#, whi"h may have a devastatin# e!!e"t on the lanet in the !&t&re$ As the h&man o &lation in"reases, we are also rod&"in# ever #reater *&antities o! waste, whi"h "ontaminates the earth and oll&tes rivers and o"eans$ Governments "o&ld "ertainly ma+e more e!!ort to red&"e air oll&tion$ They "o&ld introd&"e laws to limit emissions !rom !a"tories or to !or"e "om anies to &se renewable ener#y !rom solar, wind or water ower$ They "o&ld also im ose B#reen ta)es5 on drivers and airline "om anies$ In this way, eo le wo&ld be en"o&ra#ed to &se &bli" trans ort and to ta+e !ewer !li#hts abroad, there!ore red&"in# emissions$ Individ&als sho&ld also ta+e res onsibility !or the im a"t they have on the environment$ They "an ta+e &bli" trans ort rather than drivin#, "hoose rod&"ts with less a"+a#in#, and re"y"le as m&"h as ossible$ 9ost s& ermar+ets now rovide re&sable ba#s !or sho ers as well as Bban+s5 !or re"y"lin# #lass, lasti" and a er in their "ar ar+s$ By re&sin# and re"y"lin#, we "an hel to red&"e waste$ In "on"l&sion, both national #overnments and individ&als m&st lay their art in loo+in# a!ter the environment$

)conomic progress is often used to measure a country*s success. (owever! some people believe that other factors are more important. hat other factors should also be considered when measuring a country*s success? $o you thin# one factor is more important than others? The relative s&""ess o! di!!erent "o&ntries is &s&ally de!ined in e"onomi" terms$ There are several other !a"tors, a art !rom the e"onomy, that "o&ld be &sed to assess a "o&ntry, and in my o inion ed&"ation is the most im ortant o! all$ Standards o! ed&"ation, health and individ&al h&man ri#hts sho&ld "ertainly be "onsidered when meas&rin# a "o&ntry5s stat&s$ A #ood ed&"ation system is vital !or the develo ment o! any nation, with s"hools, "olle#es and &niversities bearin# the res onsibility !or the *&ality o! !&t&re #enerations o! wor+ers$ .ealth"are rovision is also an indi"ator o! the standard o! livin# within a "o&ntry, and this "an be meas&red by loo+in# at avera#e li!e e) e"tan"y rates or availability o! medi"al servi"es$ -inally, h&man ri#hts and levels o! e*&ality "o&ld be ta+en into a""o&nt$ -or e)am le, a "o&ntry in whi"h women do not have the same o ort&nities as men mi#ht be "onsidered less s&""ess!&l than a "o&ntry with better #ender e*&ality$ In my view, a "o&ntry5s ed&"ation system sho&ld be seen as the most im ortant indi"ator o! its s&""ess and level o! develo ment$ This is be"a&se ed&"ation has a "onsiderable e!!e"t on the other two !a"tors mentioned above$ It a!!e"ts eo le5s health in the sense that do"tors and n&rses need to be trained, and s"ientists need to be ed&"ated to the hi#hest levels be!ore they "an "arry o&t medi"al resear"h$ It also a!!e"ts the e"onomy in the sense that a well=ed&"ated wor+!or"e will allow a variety o! "om anies and ind&stries to !lo&rish, leadin# to trade with other "o&ntries, and in"reased wealth$ In "on"l&sion, nations "an be assessed and "om ared in a variety o! ways, b&t I wo&ld ar#&e that the standard o! a "o&ntryCs ed&"ation system is the best meas&re o! its s&""ess$ 0266 words, band 93

'n recent years! there has been growing interest in the relationship between equality and personal achievement. Some people believe that individuals can achieve more in egalitarian societies. &thers believe that high levels of personal achievement are possible only if individuals are free to succeed or fail according to their individual merits. hat is your view of the relationship between equality and personal success? In my o inion, an e#alitarian so"iety is one in whi"h everyone has the same ri#hts and the same o ort&nities$ I "om letely a#ree that eo le "an a"hieve more in this +ind o! so"iety$ Ad&"ation is an im ortant !a"tor with re#ard to ersonal s&""ess in li!e$ I believe that all "hildren sho&ld have a""ess to !ree s"hoolin#, and hi#her ed&"ation sho&ld be either !ree or a!!ordable !or all those who "hose to &rs&e a &niversity de#ree$ In a so"iety witho&t !ree s"hoolin# or a!!ordable hi#her ed&"ation, only "hildren and yo&n# ad&lts !rom wealthier !amilies wo&ld have a""ess to the best learnin# o ort&nities, and they wo&ld there!ore be better re ared !or the 'ob mar+et$ This +ind o! ine*&ality wo&ld ens&re the s&""ess o! some b&t harm the ros e"ts o! others$ I wo&ld ar#&e that e*&al ri#hts and o ort&nities are not in "on!li"t with eo le5s !reedom to s&""eed or !ail$ In other words, e*&ality does not mean that eo le lose their motivation to s&""eed, or that they are not allowed to !ail$ (n the "ontrary, I believe that most eo le wo&ld !eel more motivated to wor+ hard and rea"h their otential i! they tho&#ht that they lived in a !air so"iety$ Those who did not ma+e the same e!!ort wo&ld +now that they had wasted their o ort&nity$ Ine*&ality, on the other hand, wo&ld be more li+ely to demotivate eo le be"a&se they wo&ld +now that the odds o! s&""ess were sta"+ed in !avo&r o! those !rom rivile#ed ba"+#ro&nds$ In "on"l&sion, it seems to me that there is a ositive relationshi between e*&ality and ersonal s&""ess$ 0217 words3