task 2 1 english test

Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?. While this may have some advantages, it can also have some disadvantages which I believe outweigh the advantages.. Do t

1 In most countries, fast food is becoming cheaper and more available

Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

It is widely witnessed that fast food is becoming more and more popular in

many countries I hold the belief that the drawbacks of this development are far more significant than the benefits involved

The fact that the prices of fast food are reducing and its availability is increasing Having more affordable fast food options available bring many

benefits to both individuals as well as the society Delicious foods are offered

at low prices and delivered in a short amount of time Some chains, like

McDonald's, have opened several drive-through restaurants selling foods less than one dollar, so people no longer need to leave their car This can allow people to save money and time, which is suitable for working people with a busy schedule On the societal level, when more people go to fast-food outlets for their regular meals, fast food businesses can quickly expand and thus

increase the sales volumes This expansion of fast food chains might create more job opportunities for local people and result in higher employment rates

Despite the aforementioned benefits, this trend can have several major downsides Chief of these is that traditional dinners that serve as a bonding

activity among family members in the past are now less common as a result of the growth of fast food Long-term negative effects on family dietary patterns may result from this trend Another reason worth mentioning is that eating too much fast food may actually increase one’s chance of developing a wide range

of chronic conditions, such as diabetes or obesity Additionally, chemical

components included in convenience food, such as saturated fat and food

coloring, can hasten this process

In conclusion, the fact that fast food is becoming much more affordable and popular can bring certain benefits for some individuals and the economy

However, I believe that this development is more disadvantageous due to the negative effects on familial bonds and health

2 International travel is becoming cheaper, and countries are opening their doors to more and more tourists Do the advantages of increased tourism outweigh the disadvantages?

These days, traveling oversea is becoming more affordable Meanwhile, many countries are conducting new approaches to prompt more visitors Even thoughthere are still disadvantages to this trend, I think its values are more

However, there are some benefits of international travel that can overshadow those analysed disadvantages Firstly, the regional economy can gain some benefits from the growth of the tourism industry because more positions will

be created to accommodate the needs of tourists As a result, the locals can have more job opportunities in the traveling field and earn more money to improve their living standards Secondly, the increased number of foreign people visiting another country would enhance tourism industries, contributing significantly to the wealth of that country If those enjoy their trips, that

destination can be recommended worldwide in the future

In conclusion, from all the reasons mentioned above, it seems that the merits ofinternational tourism are more significant than its drawbacks

3 Accommodation and transport problems are increasing in many large cities Businesses are encouraged to move to rural areas Do the

advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Các vấn đề về chỗ ở và giao thông đang gia tăng ở nhiều thành phố lớn Các doanh nghiệp được khuyến khích di chuyển về khu vực nông thôn Ưu điểm cónhiều hơn nhược điểm không?

With increasing population and urbanization, accommodation and transport problems have become major issues in many large cities To overcome these issues, many governments are encouraging businesses to move to rural areas While this may have some advantages, it can also have some disadvantages which I believe outweigh the advantages

On the one hand, moving businesses to rural areas can have several

advantages Firstly, it can reduce the pressure on the existing infrastructure of large cities This can lead to better accommodation and transport facilities for residents With fewer businesses and workers in the city, there will be fewer cars on the road, reducing the time and stress associated with commuting Secondly, moving businesses to rural areas can create employment

opportunities for the local people These companies can create jobs in

transportation, logistics, and other supporting industries As a result, this can help to reduce unemployment and poverty in rural areas

On the other hand, there are some disadvantages to moving businesses to rural areas First and foremost, businesses may face difficulties in finding skilled labor Rural areas typically have smaller populations, and therefore, a smaller pool of skilled workers This can make it difficult for businesses to find

workers with the necessary skills and qualifications, leading to a shortage of qualified workers, thereby reducing the efficiency of the business Adding to this, moving businesses to rural areas can increase the cost of transportation and logistics Rural areas are further away from major transportation hubs, and the roads may not be as well-maintained compared to urban areas This can make it more challenging and costly to transport products

In conclusion, while there are some advantages of moving businesses to rural areas, ultimately, I believe that the disadvantages outweigh these as reducing costs is the most important thing for businesses, and a thriving economy is more important than less congested cities

4 “In some countries, more and more adults are continuing to live with their parents even after they have completed education and found jobs

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?”

In today’s world, there has been an accelerating trend of

students taking a break from studying before pursuing tertiaryeducation While this trend is beneficial in some respects, its shortcomings are more significant for the followers of this

trend

A gap year may enable students to enrich themselves with real-life experiences that are beneficial to their future These may include having a paid job, from which those who have just entered adulthood may learn many working skills, such ascommunication, teamwork and following orders The

youngsters taking a gap year, as a result, are better prepared for their future jobs Some gap-year-takers may also travel the world and absorb knowledge of diverse cultural settings and from different geographical contexts In this globalised world, such knowledge is essential for developing a successfulcareer

Nevertheless, the disadvantages of taking a gap year for

recent high-school graduates are serious, far outweighing the advantages The primary reason is that the young can be

overwhelmed by the unwanted difficulties of life outside of school campus A physically demanding job, for example, can

be exhausting for most high-school-leavers Another

significant reason is that to some youngsters without firm

academic goals, earning money and living without the

discipline of formal schooling could be more appealing than returning to school after the gap year If they choose not to goback to school, they may lose the chance of obtaining

academic knowledge and university degrees, which may help them earn even more money in the future

In summary, despite potential gains, there are more serious drawbacks associated with a gap year such as the

overwhelming difficulties when starting to work too soon and the prospect of not acquiring any university knowledge and degrees It is recommended that students should take a

university course right after they finish their high school

5 In many cities, there is little control on the design and construction of new houses Some people think that people can choose to build houses in their own styles instead of building them with the same style as the old house style in local areas Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Some people are of the opinion that they should have freedom of choice when

it comes to designing their own houses, and that they should not be restricted

to any former local styles Although freedom in architecture can be beneficial

in fostering diversity, too much leeway in building houses would greatly spoil the overall landscape of the local area and therefore I believe this is more likely

to be a negative development

Free house design is, to a certain extent, a good way of promoting diversity City skylines, for example, would be more interesting to look at if there are buildings and houses with different shapes and sizes Furthermore, people fromdifferent societal backgrounds see houses as manifestations of personalities, wealth, and societal positions Mansions of the rich, exotic houses of those who are artistic all combine with other normal-looking ones to form a melting pot of creativity

However, I would not consider an area whose houses are built without any regard to the nature of the surroundings beautiful Having different styles of houses co-existing in one place can be an architectural disaster rather than a welcome innovation Ho Chi Minh City is a case in point; ugly buildings not aligned in style with other structures in the city have been erected for years, leaving the historic parts of the city messily mingled with the concrete jungle

of brick houses and skyscrapers Architectural homogeneity, on the other hand,often brings aesthetic appeals to the local landscape The beauty of ancient towns, for example, comes from the uniformity and harmony in terms of

architectural design

In conclusion, my firm conviction is that new houses should be better built in asimilar fashion to the other buildings in the area

6 Đề bài: In many countries, plastic containers have become more

common than ever and are used by many food and drink companies Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Bài viết tham khảo:

Plastic containers and cutleries are becoming a ubiquitous part of the out experience However, I do think that the disadvantages of using plastic in the food and drink industries outweigh the advantages of doing so

eating-On the one hand, using plastic is convenient for both street vendors and

consumers Most plastic containers can be discarded after a single-use,

eliminating the need to wash them Moreover, plastic does not break easily in contrast to glass containers, making them easier to carry around Another

reason is that plastic containers and cutleries are dirt cheap to produce

Because the materials needed to synthesize plastics are readily available, most plastic containers are at a lower price than their alternatives, especially in bulk

On the other hand, however, using plastics to store food can pose both a health and an environmental risk Firstly, most plastic containers end up in the ocean, which will damage marine life Fish can swallow these plastic cutleries, cannotdigest them, and thus die Plastic is also detrimental to landfills as they

decompose relatively slowly, leading to landfill overloads Secondly,

consuming food and drinks using plastic can be harmful Plastics are known to melt and release toxic compounds when heated, so they should not be used to store hot foods Another concern is that some plastics contain carcinogens This means that consumers are at a higher risk of developing cancer

In conclusion, convenience and low prices are reasons why people use plastics

to store food and drinks However, I think that the disadvantages of plastic to the environment and consumers’ health far overweigh the advantages of

plastics

7 Đề bài: Nowadays, a lot of offices have open-space designs instead of separate rooms Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Bài viết tham khảo:

Many modern offices are now adopting open spaces in lieu of separate workingareas for employees While some would say that such a setting can heighten the level of distraction as well as pose risks to employees’ health, I contend that the fostering of closer collaboration among colleagues and reducing costs outweigh the disadvantages

Open-space offices can result in more distractions which consequently affect productivity and health Owing to a lack of private space, employees often have to contend with distractions, such as nearby conversations and co-workerscongregating These diversions may cause them to lose focus and engagement

in their work Furthermore, employees can potentially suffer from poorer

health in an open-space office As they are situated closer together, it gives various pathogens ample opportunity to spread and maximise the potential rate

of infection This can lead to increased absences from work, which in turn maynegatively affect overall productivity

However, open-space offices engender better social relations and cost less Having an open office can reduce construction and utility expenses as well as the need for office equipment All employees can share equipment and

resources such as printers and stationery Open-space offices can also engendercloser communication and teamwork between workers Such an environment makes it easier for them to exchange ideas and fosters greater inclusion Since most businesses thrive on innovation, having all employees in a single space can help those ideas to flow faster and get everyone involved in the process

In conclusion, despite the disadvantages related to loss of concentration and adverse risks to health, I would assert these are outweighed by how such a setup can stimulate closer collaboration between employees and reduce costs

In the near future, it is likely offices with separate rooms will be completely phased out in favour of open offices

8 Đề bài: Some people say patriotism causes problems and is negative overall Others feel that it is beneficial for society at large Do the

advantages of patriotism outweigh its disadvantages?

Certain individuals are of the opinion that issues may occur once people

become patriotic, especially in extreme cases, which is regarded as an adverse tendency However, another school of thought opines that it is worthy and advantageous to show national loyalty I think that the demerits of this

tendency are eclipsed by its benefits

To begin with, patriotism at its most extreme could be regarded as problematic due to its detrimental impacts on economic and social aspects With regard to the former, the loyalty that one may express towards their country is attached

to a feeling of superiority over other countries This causes an obstruction in international trade as people regard others from different nations as inferiors; thus, there is no attempt to be made in commercing and exchanging goods worldwide Turning to the second idea, it is true that in the modern-day, while every nation enjoys equal standing on a global scale, any country putting itself

on a pedestal is detrimental to mutual connectivity and often leads to conflict

as well as social exclusion of other minorities Such practice, in extreme cases, maybe the primary cause of terrorism around the globe

However, despite the aforementioned drawbacks, I think that patriotism can be favorable in terms of promoting solidarity and enhancing national

independence Firstly, patriotism plays a crucial role in uniting people living inthe same country The majority of citizens, undeniably, would value communalsenses, and eventually, national unity could be obtained In this case,

patriotism can be supposed as a means of protection which safeguards the country from outside terrorists Furthermore, without national unity, one

country may have to accept unfavorable trading conditions that can be dictated

by another country Thus, it is of paramount importance for a nation to stay independent to avoid adverse effects For instance, authorities should be aware

of the number of goods produced within the country to minimize imported products and consequently be under no control

In conclusion, although I acknowledge that patriotism, on extreme levels, may

be detrimental to a global economy and society, I think that its benefits

including enhancing unity and national independence are more considerable

9 Đề bài: In some countries, schools are teaching foreign languages for primary school children Do the advantages of this outweigh the

disadvantages?

Bài viết tham khảo:

Many educational institutions at the elementary level in certain nations include non-native languages as a compulsory subject in their curriculum Despite the disadvantages involved, I am of the opinion that this development is generally more favorable

One of the main disadvantages is that implementing non-native languages in elementary education programs may create considerable pressure on young learners The reason for this is that many students nowadays already have a burdensome volume of schoolwork and a hectic curriculum to follow, they would find it challenging to have spare time if one more subject is added to their already tight schedule For example, when a primary state school in Japanintroduced a new scheme of forcing students to learn foreign languages, it raised a number of objections from parents as they voiced their concern over the paramount amount of stress their children have to suffer from

Nevertheless, I would argue that teaching foreign languages to primary school students is more beneficial in terms of developing their intellectual faculties and improving their future employability It is true that the acquisition of a newlanguage at the beginning level promotes frequent exposure to diverse and unique cultures Such experience allows children to gain an enormous wealth

of knowledge about others' customs and lifestyles as well as develop an acute awareness of other exotic people Furthermore, foreign languages are

undoubtedly a crucial tool to open more job opportunities Employers in

certain sectors have a tendency to recruit applicants who demonstrate

exceptional linguistic competence, which suggests that students possessing expert language skills are more inclined to have chances to work in various fields such as interpretation, diplomacy, aviation, etc

In conclusion, although children have to face pressure from studying more lingual subjects in their very early years of life, the integration of foreign

languages in primary school's curriculum has paved the way for enhancing students' capability and career prospects Therefore, I hold the belief that the advantages of this development clearly overshadow the drawbacks involved

10 People are surrounded by advertising, which has an increasing effect

on our lives Do you think the positive effects of this outweigh the negative effects?

These days, the extensive reach of advertising is hardly escapable, to the point

that people may find themselves surrounded by commercial promotions every waking moment This situation does produce certain positive effects, but from

my point of view, they would be overshadowed by undesirable impacts.

The productive points are largely related to business and commerce

The pervasiveness of commercials makes delivering personalized

advertisements to potential customers possible, hence expediting their

shopping experience When a person texts their friends about planning a

picnic, they might later see their social media feed filled with offers

for camping supplies The campers would, therefore, have an easier time obtaining items needed for their trip Moreover, the ubiquity of advertisements

even informs people of products that they have yet to realize are necessary While many office workers complain about spine and neck problems from

the sedentary lifestyle, some do find a relief for their predicament, after

coming across ads about ergonomic chairs or neck pillows, and buying these products In a way, this is a more significant advantage than the first, for it

allows businesses to tap into new customer bases.

However, the fact that advertising is allowed to become widespread does not happen without disadvantages to people’s lives

Informational overload from oversaturation of commercial promotions is a

rather understandable result, one which opens the door to negative impacts When a person browses the Internet for research, the appearance of

advertisements could potentially disrupt their flow, or worse, distract them

from the information they originally need Students would be able

to attest to this, for many a studying session has been derailed by midway

seeing ads and wanting to make purchases This, in my

opinion, hampers productivity greatly, and offsets the possible benefits

offered by the ubiquity of advertisements.

The current situation where advertising is pervasive in people’s lives, while

not necessarily having as many drawbacks as it does advantages, is hardly desirable, seeing how the benefits are significantly outweighed by the negative impacts If such a circumstance cannot be effectively alleviated, it would be necessary to come up with measures to lessen the detrimental effects

11 Some people think that young people should be required to do unpaid work helping people in the community Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

It is not uncommon to see adolescents and young adults working to provide

help to their communities Perhaps due to this, some people have proposed

policy where youths are obliged to perform this service to society without

being paid This arrangement, despite seemingly advantageous in certain

aspects, actually possesses drawbacks that, in my opinion, would overshadow the benefits

A typical conclusion that may be cited by proponents of compulsory unpaid community work is that young people, by devoting their effort to aiding others,

could enlighten themselves on the significance of helping the community Hence, when neighborhood service becomes a widely-propagated movement among the young population thanks to legal mandate, a generation's worth of people of age could be instilled with humanitarian values such

as selflessness and altruism, paving the way

to forging compassionate society It should, moreover, not be forgotten that

when the youth's labor is guaranteed to be channeled into helping people in

the populace, the lives of the less fortunate will undoubtedly be uplifted

Social welfare and happiness will rise, as a result Because of these advantages,

a plan to require unsalaried youth community service by law could seem like

an enticing proposal to some.

However, there are drawbacks if such as cheme comes to fruition It should be

understood that the time of certain young people will be wasted; to the ones

with entrepreneurial spirit, for example, being compelled to perform unpaid

community service would subject them to a loss of income Disaffected youths might even cheat to avoid having to do this sort of work, diminishing any

positive effects Man dating, additionally, would require legislation to create

additional public offices responsible for community service Expanding

governmental authority this way is likely to bloat the executive branch, while

diverting taxpayer money away from more pressing concerns, such as

improving public education quality or protecting strategic interests, in the

process The aforementioned pitfalls belong to a higher order of issues, and

hence, could very much outweigh any advantage produced

In conclusion, I stand by my belief that the benefits of obligating the young to

serve others in the community without pay are eclipsed by its drawbacks This sort of service should remain voluntary and never be made mandatory.

12 In today's world, private companies rather than the government pay for and conduct most scientific research Do you think the advantages outweigh disadvantages?

In recent years, it has been a common practice for private organizations, rather than

the state, to invest in and carry out most scientific research One may contend that this development overall has numerous benefits, as long as the authority can keep

check on the moral and ethical codes of all involved parties.

The most overwhelming advantage that private companies have over the

government in handling researches is efficiency While state-sponsored projects are often bogged down by bureaucracy and red tapes, private activities are executed

with utmost urgency and precision because any delay would severely affect the

expected financial returns As a result, scientific

breakthroughs and innovations can happen at a much greater pace under the

management of the private sector A perfect example is the finding of the vaccine for viral diseases such as the COVID-19 pandemic Large corporates like Johnson

and Johnson or Pfizer have made leaps and bounds in preliminary trials to cut

down the expected development time from five years to just above one year By

comparison, the U.S government's plan for a SARS vaccine has been around for

over a decade, yet nothing significant has materialized.

In addition, the private sector can raise and provide funding for researches far

beyond the capability of any nation.In most countries around the world, the

government's budget is currently stretched to their limits with massive spendings

on education, healthcare, pension, and defense Without money from private

companies, not many scientific initiatives can be carried out, and the technological

advancement of humankind will come to a standstill This effect can clearly be seen

in humanity's quest for conquering Mars as a second home No major progress was

made until the appearance of SpaceX, a startup of genius billionaire Elon Musk, and it's one of a kind reusable rocket propellers Now, humans are expected

to colonize Mars by 2040 However, all said advantages are conditional upon the

strict surveillance of the authority of private actions As companies are primarily profit-driven,

there are certain moral hazards when it comes to carrying out research and

experiments Any cost-cutting measure can potentially create exponential risks to

the communities Revisiting the example of vaccine development, if

companies neglect investments on safety procedures and the contained viruses

escape, the world will face grimmer consequences than the current outbreak.

In conclusion, it is strongly advisable that the private sector takes charge of paying

and conducting scientific research due to the superiority in productivity and funding.

The government, nevertheless, must be vigilant and take an active role in

overseeing all such actions to ensure no foul play.

13 It is suggested that primary school children should learn how to grow vegetables and keep animals Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

In the age of technological dominance, some people, quite interestingly,

propose a retro teaching style for primary children: instructing them on

vegetable and animal caring

From my perspective, albeit some obvious advantages, they will

be eclipsed by this educational method's considerable disadvantages.

On the bright side, lessons on vegetable and animal caring can bring certain

benefits to primary students The first rationale is that this educational

approach effectively teaches them about essential life skills for

self-sufficiency Growing vegetables and raising animals are practical skills that

can accompany students throughout their life Therefore, should they learn

these skills at a young age, self-sufficiency will become a simpler task for

primary students upon adulthood Furthermore, learning these skills instils a sense of responsibility among primary pupils Taking care of vegetables and

animals requires tremendous agriculture-related knowledge and efforts, which can be done by a genuine sense of responsibility from the grower Therefore,

upon the learning process, schoolchildren will be moulded in conscientious citizens for the society who readily take accountability for their works.

On the flip side, however, these merits will be significantly outweighed by the demerits, one of which is the hurdle in facility method provisions for this

teaching Agriculture-related skills call for actual live animals and fertile land areas in order for students to truly understand what is entailed in the process of vegetable and animal caring This poses an arduous predicament to most

primary schools, especially in urban areas because the above facilities are

difficult to establish in city settings What is an even more glaring drawback is

the dubious application of these farming skills in real life As the world

progresses towards the technology-driven era, most students will adopt a more

technology-related career orientation, which makes these skills appear to little avail for their future Also, vegetables and livestock products are easily

available; therefore, primary students will consider learning to grow vegetablesand keeping animals are dundant task or even a distractor to their study

In conclusion, although learning to grow vegetables and keep animals may seem a novel idea with certain benefits, its drawbacks are so considerable that

it is worth a second thought Therefore, these skills should only be optional at primary schools since students' long-term personal development is still given

precedence

14 It is suggested that primary-level children should learn how to grow vegetables and keep animals Do the advantages outweigh the

facilities Firstly, children’s safety might not be guaranteed when coming into

contact with certain types of animals and vegetables because some of which

naturally contain lethal pathogens Some kids may be allergic to animals’ fur

or feathers, leading to a threat of respiratory distresses when physical

contacts take place Secondly, a range of wherewithal is required to nurture those plants and feed those animals well The irrigation and captive

systems have to be put into work effectively to maximize productivity

Understandably, the complexity of those facilities may pose a big challenge to manage for children

Regardless, the difficulties discussed above should not be seen as significant

obstacles to restrict children from flora and fauna caring, due to the

advantages related to awareness of a readily available source of food at home,

a heightened sense of responsibility, and a stronger set of life skills Children

learning to grow vegetables and care for animals may see these experiences useful for their well-being, leading to better health guaranteed foremost,

compared to a consumption of food grown commercially that is chemically fertilized Other greater benefits can also come from the cultivation

of valuable virtues Specifically, children in the primary school ages

may hone their sense of duty and patience, both of which are certainly useful

in later life regardless of their occupation or lifestyle

To conclude, the potential risks to let children raise plants and animals must not be underestimated but the positive effects are very clear through

encouraging our youngsters to have experience with nature

15 Nowadays, more people move away from their friends and families for work Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Living away from kins is the sole choice of certain people who long for

working to make ends meet This essay argues that the drawbacks are eclipsed

by the benefits involved because despite potential emotional breakdown, this practice ensures stable income and developed intellectual faculties

The idea of looking for employment in an unfamiliar place can be

disadvantageous in terms of the mental distress that individuals may suffer Obviously, tremendous pressure from work and a lack of support from all relatives resulted in the tendency of hiding one's inner feelings, whose long-term effect would do more harm than good to his or her mental health An extreme example of this is the alarming rate of Japanese young adults

committing suicide since they are usually overwhelmed by heavy workloads but have no companion to confide in

Notwithstanding the aforementioned arguments, I would argue that the benefits

of being job-seekers to living far away from their homeland are of greater importance partly because of decent earnings and partly because of chances to grow With regard to the former, this relocation provides more opportunities for workers to be employed in their favorable fields and suitable positions Thus, they would probably be offered competitive salaries and good benefits Concerning the second advantage, changing temporary residence according to workplace offers frequent exposure to local unique culture and customs There

is a high possibility that this practice would likely enhance one's mentality and broaden his or her horizons as well

To recapitulate, although some people may withstand mental suffering when not living in close proximity to families and friends for the sake of searching for a source of livelihood, this practice provides individuals with wage

stability, and ample opportunities to be advanced Therefore, I hold the belief that the advantages of this development clearly overshadow the drawbacks involved

16 Some teachers think that international student exchange would be beneficial for all teenage school students Do you think its advantages will outweigh the disadvantages?

It is believed by some teachers that all teenage school students would benefit a great deal from foreign exchange programmes Despite some drawbacks of

this idea, I think that the benefits are more significant

On the one hand, there are a number of major disadvantages when teenage

students decide to engage in international exchange projects The first

drawback is culture shock Exchange students might be faced with unfamiliar customs and different beliefs, which could easily lead to misunderstanding, tension and conflicts It may be difficult for them to concentrate entirely

on their studies when they are struggling to adapt to the new culture Another

disadvantage is that many students are unable to followtheir international

learning programmes, leading to undesirable academic outcomes Some of

my friends, for example, have to re-sit the exams or have difficulties catching

up with their lectures due to poor language skills.

In my opinion, however, the benefits that such programmes bring to students are far more significant than the drawbacks Firstly, exchange students are given the opportunity to meet different people from all over the world and

learn a range of skills that they might not have a chance to learn if studying in their home country For instance, they can develop their social skills by

sharing their experiences with other exchange students and get a deeper

insight into the culture by immersing themselves in the local community

Another benefit is that living in a different country helps exchange students

become more independent This is because without daily support from their parents, these students have to learn to cook, clean, manage their

budgets and make their own decisions.

In conclusion, althought exchange students might have difficulties in adapting

to the new culture and following international school curriculums, I believe

that the benefits of international exchange programmes do outweigh those drawbacks

17 It is common practice for some students to take a gap year after

graduating high school to work and/or travel Do you think the

advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Taking a gap year has become a popular option for many students after

graduating high school In my opinion, while taking a gap year has its own set

of disadvantages, the advantages outweigh them In this essay, both advantagesand disadvantages will be discussed, and I will explain my opinion further

On the one hand, taking a gap year can provide many benefits for students

First of all, it can help them to gain valuable work experience and develop important life skills, such as communication, time management, and problem- solving Secondly, travel can broaden their horizons and expose them to new cultures and ways of life, helping them to become more open-

minded and adaptable Finally, taking a gap year can also provide students

with a much-needed break from the academic pressures of high school,

allowing them to recharge and return to their studies with renewed energy and motivation.

On the other hand, taking a gap year also has its own set of disadvantages For example, it can be expensive, particularly if students are traveling to foreign

countries or pursuing internships that do not provide financial compensation Besides, taking a gap year can lead to a loss of academic momentum and

make it more difficult for students to return to their studies In the end, taking a

gap year may also delay students' entry into the workforce, which could

impact their future career prospects.

In conclusion, while taking a gap year may not be the right choice for

everyone, I believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages It providesstudents with a unique opportunity to gain life experience, work experience,

and travel to new places, which can help them to become more

well-rounded individuals.

18 The use of social media is replacing face-to-face interaction among many people in society Do you think the advantages outweigh the

disadvantages?

These days, face-to-face communication is being replaced with online

conversations using social media apps, such as Facebook, WhatsApp or

Tumblr It seems to me that the benefits these technologies have brought to our

lives are overshadowed by their drawbacks.

In terms of the advantages, social networking sites have made it much easier for us to keep in contact with our loved ones, regardless of geographic

location Students studying abroad, for example, can keep in touch with their families and friends on a daily basis using the video call features of Skype, Facebook or various other apps Social media is also a powerful tool in

marketing and business In this digital age, companies can keep their clients updated regarding newly-released products or promotions by posting their campaigns on Facebook or Instagram, which helps save a great deal of time and expense compared to the traditional methods of advertising in newspapers

or magazines

Despite the above benefits, I personally believe that when it comes to

communication, social media does more harm than good The overuse

of social media reduces the quality of interpersonal communication Many people are so addicted to social networking sites that they constantly stare

at their screens during dinners with their families without actually paying attention to the people around them The frequent use of social media also

affects the style of speaking and writing, especially among young people

These days, many teenagers have a habit of using abbreviated words, which

are frequently used in text messages or in posts on social media, in their

academic essays or formal emails

In conclusion, for the reasons mentioned above, I am of the opinion that the

positive effects that social media has on our communication are outweighed

by the disadvantages.

19 Some people think that good health is very important to every person,

so medical service should not be run by profit-making companies Do the advantages of private health care outweigh the disadvantages?

Some argue that since good health is significant to all individuals, the

provision of medical care would be better handles by entities not primarily driven by financial returns In my opinion, profit-seeking private entities can help push advancements in healthcare, and concerns with regards to economic motives would cease to be an issue in the long run

One key advantage of private sector involvement in healthcare is the potential for greater medical innovation, which would result in improved patient

outcomes With profit motives and pressures of competition, private companiesare incentivized to invest heavily in cutting-edge research and clinical trials This translates to improved quality of medication such as new drugs and better therapies for diseases In contrast, government-run healthcare systems lack such commercial pressures and therefore may not feel as compelled to rush treatments to the market

Some critics might say that the emphasis on economic returns risks

marginalizing poor patients As the demands for prevalent healthcare

conditions are ongoing in nature and therefore price-insensitive, companies may opt to impose predatory pricing to extract more earnings from patients However, this concern does not take into account competitive market forces When a company sets arbitrarily high prices, competitors would have an

incentive to develop less costly or even better solutions This dynamic would discourage companies from applying such a short-sighted strategy, as there is arisk of losing significant business As a result, treatment costs can be driven down gradually, hence increasing affordability for all consumers

In conclusion, while private companies can promote medical advancements through innovation incentives, there are still concerns about prioritizing profits over medical needs However, competitive market forces can discourage high prices and increase affordability over time

20 Some believe that we should invent a new language for international communication Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

There have recently been proposals to have an international language as a means of communication In my opinion, such an endeavour is both

impractical and undesirable, and in this essay I hope to explain why the

potential drawbacks overshadow the advantages

There are those who believe that an international language would help to fostercross national interactions and remove barriers to economic development By developing a common system of communication, people from different

countries can better explain the culture and history of where they came from Furthermore, by having a common language, immigration would also be

easier, since there would be less difficulty in trying to integrate into a new culture As a result, economic output might increase, as immigrants bring new talent to areas that require them Overall, this argument suggests that a global language will mean a more unified humanity

On the other hand, I argue that an international language is impractical since languages develop organically in interaction with a country’s culture and

history Thus, some words that are exclusive to certain languages would not make sense when translated into a universal system As such, if an

international language were to form, it would likely be the case that it would sooner or later fragment into dialects specific to specific regions of the world, and in the end evolve into new languages anyway Lastly, since language is a cultural artefact, attempts at replacing all the languages in the world with one common one results in people’s past stories being erased Instead of

unification, I believe that a global language would lead to less cultural

21 In today’s world, private companies rather than the government pay for and conduct most scientific research Do you think the advantages outweigh disadvantages?

1-Nowadays, most scientific studies are financed and carried out by private

enterprises instead of governments In my opinion, the benefits of this are

greater than its drawbacks

On the one hand, having research paid for and conducted by private companiescan be greatly beneficial In fact, unlike government organizations, most

companies’ primary objective is making profits, so their motivation to

minimize the costs arising upon research activities is much more considerable Therefore, they tend to prevent their scientists and other workers from wasting any resources, including time and money As a result, the research goals can bereached quicker, more efficiently, and more cost effectively In addition, whengovernments leave scientific research for businesses, the financial pressure on the national budget can be partly relieved Instead, it can be allocated for

investing in other important sectors such as education or transportation

On the other hand, I believe that letting private businesses sponsor or

undertake such studies will bring about more significant disadvantages First, there are very few private companies that are willing to do unpaid work while shouldering a huge financial burden at the same time Consequently, they may require the public to pay to access or share their research results, so that they can afford to cover their expenses as well as to ensure their personal income Second, when allowing companies to do scientific research, the authorities can not make sure the entire research process is supervised It is possible that

companies with a priority for maximizing profits will sell their research to other organizations, such as terrorists or criminals, who take advantage of such research to harm society

In conclusion, I claim that private investment in and conduct of scientific

research may result in several advantages which are, however, outweighed by the undesirable consequences

22 In some countries, small town-centre shops are going out of business because people tend to drive to large out- of-town stores As a result, people without cars have

limited access to out-of-town stores, and it may result in an increase in the use of cars Do you think the disadvantages

of this change outweigh its advantages?

1 In various parts of the world, a number of small stores in thehigh streets of towns have gone bankrupt due to the

dominance of large stores located on the outskirts This has led to difficulty in accessibility for non-car owners and an

increase in car usage While there might be a positive

influence to this change, I believe the negative impacts are by far more significant

On the one hand, large-scale shopping centers may create more employment opportunities for local communities where they operate These opportunities can vary, ranging from

entry-level jobs to management positions A good example in this case is Walmart Each of the brand’s supermarkets is

estimated to hire up to two thousand people working as

customer assistants, goods couriers, or other back-office

positions with competitive benefit packages As many of these employees are from nearby areas, Walmart has been praised

by some town councils for helping to curb unemployment,

sustaining local development

However, one of many drawbacks is that the prevalence of suburban shops causes great inconvenience to customers Many shoppers now are unable to make a quick purchase at nearby convenience stores which used to be omnipresent in town centers, and instead they have to spend time traveling toshop instead of on other profitable endeavours such as

studying, working and resting

Another disadvantage is that the use of personal motorised vehicles is on a rise As stores become more unreachable on foot, many urban denizens would switch to owning and driving cars, leading to a significant increase in the number of vehicles

on the road This inevitably gives rise to the quantity of

exhaust fumes from car engines which

exacerbate environmental pollution, as well as congestion and increased damage to road infrastructure

In conclusion, I agree that the demerits such as inconvenience

of shopping to local people and adverse impacts on the

environment and traffic issues outweigh the merit of providing

a certain number of jobs Therefore, I maintain that authoritiesshould provide financial and management support to

encourage the development of small stores in the downtown

There are more workers working from home and more students studying from home This is because

computer technology is more and more easily

accessible and cheaper Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

The increasing affordability of modern technologies such as computers and smartphones has facilitated teleworking and virtual learning As such, there has been a progressive

increase in the number of remote workers and learners in

many parts of the world While the shift towards working and studying from home may cause some problems, the overall impact has been tremendously positive

Admittedly, the drawbacks of remote working and learning are evident As for the former, teleworkers are more susceptible topsychological problems such as boredom and depression due

to the lack of face-to-face interaction with their colleagues In addition, adults who opt for working from home for childcare reasons tend to find it hard to concentrate on their work,

hence lower productivity Similar challenges are found in

internet- based learning Online lessons lack the element of competition that traditional classes offer, and there is

inevitably less direct interaction between students and

teachers These factors may negatively affect students'

motivation to study, leading to lower academic results

Despite the negatives mentioned above, the benefits of the trend towards learning and working remotely are more

significant On an individual level, while distant leamers can study whenever and wherever is convenient, teleworkers can still take care of their children or elderly members and earn money at the same time They also have complete freedom to design their learning and working environment to best suit their personal preferences and needs, enhancing their

productivity and creativity On a business level, institutions andcompanies allowing distant learning and remote working can reduce operation costs in the form of fewer classrooms and offices, and lower electricity bills

In conclusion, I believe that the advantages of the decision to study or work from home outstrip the disadvantages This is provided that virtual learners and teleworkers eliminate

possible distractions at home and socialize with their

neighbors and friends so that their productivity and mental health are not affected

23 Some people prefer to live alone Others enjoy sharing a house with family or friends Do the

advantages of living with others outweigh the

disadvantages?

• It is widely acknowledged that we are living in an

increasingly isolated world Although some individuals claim toenjoy their somewhat solitary lifestyle, the vast majority of us would rather share our homes and our lives with others

The drawbacks of living with others are indeed in plain sight Firstly, one's room-mates may behave in ways one finds

annoying: they might play loud music, leave a mess in the

kitchen or spend hours in the bathroom However, with some tact and diplomacy, these issues can usually be overcome Another apparent disadvantage of sharing is that one has to take other residents' wishes and opinions into account

Nevertheless, saving to consider the needs of those one sharesthe apartment with, one probably becomes more sensitive, caring and a generally kinder and more likeable person

Besides this, living with loved-ones or flatmates is healthier because it is essential that we have warm human contact and that we interact and share our experiences with fellow-

humans From a practical viewpoint, those who live with

friends or family can save money by splitting utility bills, rent and food costs They can also save time by dividing household chores such as cooking, dusting, washing up and ironing

Obviously, a house with more inhabitants is likely to be

occupied more of the time and is therefore at reduced risk of burglary or break-in

• In conclusion, while there are some drawbacks to living with others, for example in the form of frustration and having to make compromises, these are outstripped by the positives including better mental health, savings in money and time, and increased personal security

24 In some countries, some criminal trials in law courts are shown on television so that the general

public can watch Do the advantages outweigh the

disadvantages?

• It is true that people in some countries can watch some

criminal trials live on TV While I acknowledge the benefits of this decision, they are outweighed by its problems

The advantages of televising trials on a casual basis are

indeed in plain sight Firstly, court shows, theoretically, were started with a view to informing adults, and children alike, of how the judicial system works Obviously, the more

knowledgeable one is about the criminal justice system, the less likely he or she is to commit an unlawful act Reports havesuggested that court shows are cost-effective ways the

authorities use to enforce the law and deal with the escalating crime rate, as the information provided in the show can deter would-be offenders Secondly, since most citizens have doubts about the effectiveness of their countries' justice system,

televised trials are perhaps a way to allow more transparency into the judicial branch of the government

Despite the positives mentioned above, the negative

ramifications of allowing cameras in the courtroom are far

more significant Flashing lights and camera lens may put the judge, who must always be of sound mind, off his stride and hence affect his judgements In other words, the final verdict given by the judge, which decides whether the defendant is guilty or not, may be affected due to the presence of cameras Moreover, after all the editing, court shows have become

entertainment shows, failling to deter criminals or they might become a tool for the authorities to manipulate the viewers, precluding transparency rather than promoting it

In conclusion, streaming criminal trials on TV might be

beneficial, for example in the form of informing the public and making judicial procedures more transparent However, court shows might serve as nothing short of entertainment or even ameans of manipulation, and so these potential problems

negate the aforemention benefits

Some people regard video games as harmless fun, or even as a useful educational tool Others, however, believe that videos games are having an adverse

effect on the people who play them In your opinion,

do the drawbacks of video games outweigh the

benefits?

• While some people believe that video games can be both funand educational, others think otherwise, saying that these

games are likely to have a harmful impact on users

Personally, I'am of the latter school of thought for several

reasons

Granted, there is some truth in the view that video games can

be both entertaining and educational Users, or gamers, are transported into virtual worlds in which they are allowed to do things that are unthinkable in real life, for example in the form

of shooting, killing or car-racing These bring them not only a sense of novelty, but also the adrenaline rush that only a few real-life pastimes can From an educational perspective, these games encourage imagination and creativity, as well as

concentration, logical thinking and problem solving, all of

which are useful skills outside the gaming context

• However, I would argue that these benefits are outweighed

by the drawbacks Gaming can be highly addictive because users are constantly given scores, new targets and frequent rewards to make them feel like they are achieving something For example, many children now spend hours each day trying

to progress through the levels of a game in the blind pursuit of achievement or to get a higher score than their friends out of the sense of competition This type of addiction can have

negative effects on users, ranging from lack of sleep to

problems at school or at work and obesity

• In conclusion, although it is true that those who play video games can derive a certain level of excitement and can also learn something, these benefits pale in comparison with

potential dangers of video games

25 Many things which were done in the home by hand in the past are now done by machines Does this development bring more advantages or disadvantages?

Chores which used to be done manually are now completed bydishwashers, food processors and electric sewing machines While this trend benefits individuals and society alike in the short term, it has negative long-term repercussions for the planet as a whole

• On the one hand, the process of mechanization in the home undoubtedly saves time and energy Overworked and

exhausted adults no longer have to worry about tedious tasks, such as doing the laundry or doing the dishes This means theycan enjoy themselves and spend quality time with loved ones Women in particular reap the rewards as, in former times, theytended to be responsible for most of the laborious housework They now have the opportunity either to work and become economically independent or to socialize, instead of scrubbing floors or chopping vegetables

On the other hand, the popularity of these products has

unwanted environmental consequences Machines including vacuum cleaners and washing machines are made using

nonrenewable and relatively scarce resources When used, they are powered by large quantities of electricity, which is often obtained by burning fossil fuels This obviously causes anincrease in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere Furthermore, as these items are deliberately

designed only to last for a limited period, they soon have to bereplaced and are thrown into landfill sites, which puts

additional pressure on the ecosystem

• In conclusion, although we should not ignore the positive social and economic impact of the increasing use of modern appliances in the home, this trend is contributing to the

depletion of natural resources and pollution

26.Technologies have changed the way children spend their free time Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

The way minors spend their leisure hours has been altered by advancements in technology Although this can detrimentally affect their overall health, I believe that its benefits such as accessing information more easily and boosting their creativityare more significant

On the one hand, the tendency of children to utilize

technological devices in their spare time has an adverse

impact on their general well-being More specifically, many of the activities that children engage in with technology are

sedentary, such as playing video games or using social media This can lead to reduced physical activity, which in turn can contribute to health problems such as obesity and poor vision Furthermore, children's mental health can be badly affected Since they often spend an excessive amount of time using

digital devices in lieu of interacting with others in person, their interpersonal relationships would likely be weakened

Consequently, they become socially isolated and suffer from mental issues such as depression and stress

On the other hand, using technology in leisure time can be beneficial to children for two reasons Most noticeably,

technology has made it easier for juveniles to access

information on a wide variety of subjects To be more specific, they can use search engines educational apps and online

libraries to learn about topics that interest them, This can help

to broaden their knowledge and foster their passion for

learning Another justification is that it enhances creativity This is because there are many digital tools and apps that

allow children to express themselves For instance, they can show their artistic side by using video editing software and digital art programs to create and share their own works of art

or videos, which can be a source of pride and satisfaction

In conclusion, although technological advances can pose a threat to children's holistic health, I maintain that they can offer more noticeable advantages such as easy access to

information to broaden their knowledge and promoting their sense of expression It is advisable that children should be allowed to use technology in their study and personal lives under parental supervision to mitigate its demerits.

1.In some countries, people spend long hours at work Why does this happen? Is it positive or negative

development?

Nowadays, working overtime is increasingly common for

employees in many different parts of the world There are

many reasons behind this phenomenon and I believe this

brings more harm than good to people

There are two main reasons for the extension of working hoursamong people Firstly, people want to earn more money, whichwill satisfy their demand of affording their lives In this day andage, the living cost is much higher than before, not only in metropolises but also in rural areas This puts a large financial burden on employees, especially ones who are the

breadwinner in the family As a result, people have to work extra hours to feed themselves and their family, and also to increase the living standard Secondly, people have to cope with a heavy workload these days, which makes them spend longer hours at work If people do not extend their working hours, they may not meet the deadlines and be unable to

finish given tasks, which prevents them from climbing the

career ladder

Despite the benefits that this trend may bring to people, I

believe it is negative due to two major reasons One is that it causes a lot of detrimental health effects when people spend too much time working Overworking gives people little time torest, and if this situation continues for a long time, it may

cause some physical diseases relating to the back, neck, eyes and even heart Moreover, dealing with a high volume of work continuously also makes people suffer from mental problems such as stress, sleep disorders or even depression Another negative impact of this trend is people can not get a work-life balance Many people tend to spend more than half a day

working, which makes it impossible for them to spend enough time for themselves and their loved ones, including family and friends This leads to the fact that people may find no fun in life because they have no time for family and their

relationships are also likely to be broken

In conclusion, the tendency of working extra hours is caused

by the increasing living expenses and overwhelming workload.Personally, I believe this brings more negative impacts to

individuals

2.In some parts of the world, people try to find out

one’s own family history Why do people do this? Do you think it is positive or negative?

Ancestral lineage research has been argued by many people to

be important in recent times In this essay, I will seek to show why individuals in certain regions make an endeavor in

knowing more about their families and reach an accord that the phenomenon is positive

The trend of discovering family history can be explained by theurge to get closer to one’s own family and the desire to learn about the health records of the family Concerning the former reason, it is true that ancestral lineage research enables the reconnection of family members This could potentially be of great comfort to orphans or those who do not know who their parents are DNA tests, for example, have helped many peoplewithout family to track down their long-lost relatives and

discover brothers and sisters they never knew they had

Turning to the second point, knowing the medical history of a family enhances the understanding of genetically inheritable medical conditions such as asthma, obesity, and diabetes

Therefore, people would take appropriate action to identify ways to mitigate the adverse effects of diseases

From my perspective, the overwhelming desire of finding

family history can be deemed positive due to its role in

preserving familial culture and customs and motivating

individuals to overcome life’s troubles Chief among these is that the discovery of ancestry plays a crucial role in

maintaining the culture and traditions of one’s family Once thedescendants are fully aware of the significance of cultural

values passed down from previous generations, they would show more willingness in preserving as well as promoting

those intangible merits Moreover, a means of self-motivation can be regarded as one of the worth-mentioning advantages ofexamining family roots During the discovery, people would be more mindful of obstacles that their ancestors overcame,

thereby driving them to be bold and brave in dealing with

issues in life

In conclusion, research on ancestors is prompted by the desire

to form a close bond with former generations and to know

about familial health records I would opine this development positively due to its benefits in maintaining culture and

boosting individuals’ will in life

3 Some children spend hours every day on

paragraphs

To begin with, the most compelling factor for long duration on mobile by children is social media The majority of youngsters use most social networks to do a lot of activities such as

chatting and watching funny videos in order to relax stress Forinstance ,most young people use social networks like

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter every day They spend at

least 6 hours Although funny videos help them relax stress, it also causes eye problem Moreover, it helps them to do their research.Most students do not have money to buy laptops so they tend to use their phones mostly for their assignments Hence leading to them using their smartphones each day

Secondly, this is a negative development because of sickness When they are using their phones, their eyes are glued to the screen of the phones which cause vision problem in the long run For example ,a colleague of mine is blind as a result of his eyes being glued to his phone for a long time Government should limit phone use so that the citizens will be healthier It causes deafness because of radiation emitted into the body because of its continued use of it

In conclusion, the essay argued about factors as well as the negative trends of smartphones Social networks and research are the two main reasons youngsters use phones for a long time whereas eye problem is the demerit associated with it

Some parents give their children everything that their children ask for and accept what their children want to

do Is this good for children? What could be the

consequences for these children when they grow up? Indulging children by giving them everything they ask for and letting them dictate their activities may seem like a way to

make them happy in the short term, but it is not necessarily beneficial for their overall development In my opinion,

this parenting approach can

have detrimental consequences as children grow up.

Firstly, when children are granted every request and whim,

they may develop a sense of entitlement For example, if a child always gets every toy they want immediately, they might

later expect the same instant gratification in other areas like

relationships or work This may result in impatience and

frustration when they face situations requiring patience or

gradual progress Furthermore, an

overly permissive parenting style may fail to instill important

values such as responsibility, discipline, and the ability to

make wise choices For instance, if parents frequently allow their child to skip school or neglect homework without

consequences, the child may not learn the value of education,

responsibility, or commitment This could hinder their

academic and professional success later in life

As these children transition into adulthood, they

may encounter challenges in adapting to a society that

doesn't always cater to their desires Their early experiences

of having everything they want without effort might lead to difficulties in educational or workplace settings where self-

discipline, personal responsibility, and the ability to delay

gratification are essential In academic environments, they may find it challenging to cope with the demands of higher education, where independent study, time management,

and perseverance are crucial Similarly, in the professional

world, they might face difficulties when tasks require patience,dedication, and the ability to work towards long-term goals

In conclusion, when children are consistently granted their

every wish without experiencing the value of patience,

responsibility, and hard work, they may face difficulties in adapting to the demands of adult life

Some employers think that formal academic

qualifications are more important than life experience and personal qualities when they look for an employee Why is this the case? Is it a positive or negative

development?

The last few years have witnessed lengthy debates over

whether degrees from educational institutions are of greater significance than a person’s qualities and life experience in theemployee recruiting process This essay will discuss the

contributing factors behind this trend and why this is a wholly negative development

First of all, academic qualifications are increasingly overrated

by employers because they are believed to be a reliable

indicator of a person’s working ability They claim that when people study at school, they can gain essential skill sets and knowledge for working such as team work or communication skills Therefore, it is their view that obtaining these degrees isindispensable to working productively, whereas personal

characteristics can be adjusted accordingly over a long time ofgrowing with the company What is more, these employers alsofeel that life experience of an employee is not as vital as

specialized knowledge from formal education because

nowadays there are a myriad of ingenious young graduates who can perform their jobs even better than their older

counterparts

However, to my way of understanding, overemphasizing the roles of formal certificates can have adverse effects on job seekers and society at large Although it is true that these

qualifications can act as a benchmark for evaluating potential candidates for a corporation, it does not mean that these

people can have their jobs done more efficiently than those without If every recruiter considers participation in academic institutions as the most prominent element in recruiting, there will be a large number of people being unemployed for, in fact,not every citizen is lucky enough to get formal schooling As a result, these underpriviledged will end up having no means to earn a livelihood and leading a miserable life If this is the case