LỚP VSTEP THẦY CƯƠNG ÔN LUYỆN TRỌNG TÂM, CẤP TỐC B1-B2-C1 WRITING TASK – ESSAY # 1: In recent years, the family structure and the role of its members are gradually changing What kinds of changes can occur? Do you think these changes are positive and negative? SAMPLE ANSWER It is true that these days the family structure has considerably shifted, and the changing roles of men and women in the family has become increasingly similar There are several new forms of family composition, and in my opinion, these developments are not always desirable In the past, nuclear families where parents and their offspring living together under one roof used to be prevalent However, there is now a huge trend towards single-parent families due to more marriages ending in divorce, while the increase in cohabiting couple families and stepfamilies is probably a result of cohabitation and remarriage becoming much more acceptable In addition, the number of single mother families has increased as many mothers want to have children without getting married In terms of changing parental roles in a family, there has been a rise in the number of stay-at-home dads in recent years when it has become normal for women to gain qualifications and pursue their own career path This is in sharp contrast to about half a decade ago when men were breadwinners and women were in charge of household chores in their families In my view, the changes described above could have both positive and negative consequences On the one hand, due to the lack of emotional attachment and legal binding, non-traditional households such as stepfamilies and cohabiting parents are more prone to breaking down Consequently, children of these families are more likely to be involved in antisocial behaviors while their parent may experience feelings of loneliness and worry On the other hand, the changes in the roles of members in the family could be seen as progress because women are not put under pressure to sacrifice their own careers to assume childcare and domestic responsibilities In conclusion, I believe that the changes in the roles of family members and the family structure are both positive and negative because of the aforementioned reasons # 2: In today’s world of advanced science and technology, we still greatly value our artists such as musicians, painters and writers What can arts tell us about life that science and technology cannot? SAMPLE ANSWER In this modern era of nonstop scientific and technological advancement, artists still command profound respect from people worldwide There are a number of things about life that the arts can teach us that science and technology fail to so LỚP VSTEP THẦY CƯƠNG ÔN LUYỆN TRỌNG TÂM, CẤP TỐC B1-B2-C1 Many forms of art, especially literature, can deliver messages about the appreciation of what we have in life as well as life itself Hundreds of literary works choose to depict misery, misfortune, and sorrow that still exist in many places, and this sends the strongest message to those who not appreciate their lives “The Goldfinch”, for example, which narrates a resonant story about the miserable life the main character led after the unfortunate death of his mother does make each one of us wonder whether we have become heartless toward our own loved ones And I doubt that there are any technologies in the world that could manage to convey such powerful messages Arts teach us to cherish the beauty of culture and are the fuel for our spiritual lives This is extremely important in a world where science and technology seem to fade our belief in the gravity of culture in daily life The connection between arts and culture is here to stay, and traditional music and ancient paintings can remind us of where we came from and who we are at present That is to say, our cultural identity is preserved in various forms of art Although science and technology advance our understanding of all things and better our lives, arts can touch us to a much deeper extent, help us value what we have, and remind us of the significance of our culture # 3: Some people think that governments should ban dangerous sports, while others think people should have freedom to any sports or activity Discuss both views and give your own opinion SAMPLE ANSWERS The media commonly provide a barrage of news about dangerous sports, because the deaths and injuries associated with them often make for spectacular headlines As a result, some people have claimed that all extreme sports should be banned, although I would argue that such a policy Those in favour of prohibiting people from taking part in dangerous sports tend to focus on the risk element Even when individuals may be physically and mentally prepared to participate in extreme sports activities, and even when they have all the right equipment, the dangers are everpresent For example, few sports are as challenging and fraught with danger as BASE jumping Participants hurl themselves off cliffs or tall buildings, and few escape without suffering severe bruising or acute abdominal pains which normally last for several days Besides, although sports equipment rarely malfunctions, this may still happen and the consequences may be fatal – such as a BASE jumper’s parachute failing to deploy The supporters of legislation to ban dangerous sports argue that such tragic outcomes not only affect the individual victims, but also leave mental scars which their families then have to live with for the rest of their lives However, I support the view of those who contend that participation in extreme sports must be a matter of personal choice Firstly, overcoming physical challenges may be a springboard for positive personal transformation It may make a person stronger and more determined, and the experience may be a life-changing one Secondly, the rigours of preparation needed to take part in mountain-climbing, white-water rafting, or other such extremely strenuous activities LỚP VSTEP THẦY CƯƠNG ÔN LUYỆN TRỌNG TÂM, CẤP TỐC B1-B2-C1 demonstrate that an individual is in peak health and physical condition Finally, there is an ethical aspect which dictates that a person should have the freedom to pursue the challenges which they set themselves, even though this may involve a level of risk that others might find unacceptable In conclusion, while acknowledging the real risks, I would defend the right of any individual to take part in the extreme sport of their choice # 4: Scientists predict that humans will speak the same language in the future Do you think it is a positive or negative development? SAMPLE ESSAY The omnipresence of some languages around the globe has resulted in an anticipation that one specific language will be worldwide spoken by all people in the future While this trend offers some undeniable benefits, I believe that it is a negative development On the one hand, it is true that an universal dialect may help remove language barriers, allowing people from different parts of the world to convey their thoughts and ideas more effectively Using the same language would, as a result, facilitate many fields including international business transactors, cross-border cooperation and tourism The emergence of English as the predominant communicative language has testified for this advantage Furthermore, without linguistic barriers, any country could freely communicate and cooperate with others, forming a global village with a myriad of unprecedented opportunities On the other hand, I am of the belief that those aforementioned advantages are negligible when compared with the potential consequence As people around the world speak merely one language, this would lead to the disappearance of many other languages which are integral to national identities of any country For example, some ethnics’ cultures in Taiwan would be on the edge of extinction, if minor languages of these tribes are replaced by one global dialect, which poses a dire threat to Taiwan’s cultural diversity In conclusion, it seems that people can reap a great number of benefits regarding communication thanks to the use of an universal dialect I firmly hold the view that the drawbacks should not be overlooked and concrete actions should be taken to retain the linguistic diversity in the world #5 Traffic and accommodation problems are increasing and government should encourage businesses to move from cities to rural areas Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? SAMPLE ESSAY In the past, factories were often built close to city areas as the lack of transportation forbade people to otherwise However, this is not exactly the case today, when industries and LỚP VSTEP THẦY CƯƠNG ÔN LUYỆN TRỌNG TÂM, CẤP TỐC B1-B2-C1 businesses are moving from municipal and into countryside areas in flocks This essay will elaborate on both positive and negative effects of this trend On the positive side, firstly, this movement makes perfect environmental sense Due to industrial activities, residents of many cities around the world are still breathing in air and consume water dirty enough to cause numerous health diseases Therefore, moving businesses out of the cities will rid human and other species of pollution A further advantage of this trend is reducing the gap between the rich and the poor in a country, as countryside dwellers can opt to work in factories with higher pay, rather than agricultural work This will eventually bring about peace and harmony to society On the negative side, doing business in the countryside also represents some notable drawbacks To begin with, skilled workers are a rarity in rural areas Most people living in small towns and villages not receive sufficient education to undertake intellectual jobs What is also disadvantageous is based in regional areas, companies risk distancing themselves further from their customers, their suppliers and other partners in their business transactions, which can weaken their profitability In conclusion, moving business from cities to rural areas can be a smart decision However, there are disadvantages that should be weighed carefully against the advantages Useful words and expressions: Be in close proximity to: be close to A flock of: a lot of To elaborate (v.) to explain further In flocks: a lot of them Rid human and other species of pollution: to make them free of pollution To make environmental sense: to be good for the environment To rid somebody of something: remove that thing from someone To undertake: To bear the responsibility of, to carry out Intellectual jobs (n.) jobs that require mental skills Weaken their profitability: make it less profitable Distance yourself from: to stay away from ... speak the same language in the future Do you think it is a positive or negative development? SAMPLE ESSAY The omnipresence of some languages around the globe has resulted in an anticipation that... businesses to move from cities to rural areas Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? SAMPLE ESSAY In the past, factories were often built close to city areas as the lack of transportation... people should have freedom to any sports or activity Discuss both views and give your own opinion SAMPLE ANSWERS The media commonly provide a barrage of news about dangerous sports, because the