English has made the greatest contribution to the promotion of better understanding Which language do you think has made the greatest contribution to the promotion o[r]
(1)NGUỒN HỌC LIỆU MỞ CHO VIỆC LUYỆN THI VIẾT CHUẨN BỊ CHO KỲ THI QUÓC GIA NĂM 2010 – 2011
Thành phố Đông Hà – Tỉnh Quảng Trị Chúc Thành Công
1. http://www.ielts-exam.net/ 2. Essay Topics:
Do you think that homework should be abolished? Discuss its value
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/homework-should-be-abolished.html) Should teachers give pupils too much homework? Discuss
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/should-teachers-give-pupils-much.html) What subject you like best in school? (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/what-subject-you-like-best-in-school.html)
Describe the first day of your school (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/describe-first-day-of-your-school.html)
The first day at school probably had been much impressed on your life Give your impressed on that day (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-first-day-at-school.html)
School is the most difficult time but it also keeps many joys for us Do you agree? (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/school-life-is-most-difficult-time.html) Describe your schoolmates and whom you like best
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/describe-your-schoolmates-and-whom-do.html) Talk about your experiences as a school prefect
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/talk-about-your-experiences-as-school.html) What you think of the use and abuse of private tuition?
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/use-and-abuse-of-private-tuition.html) Examination day often makes many pupils worry Do you agree?
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/examination-makes-pupils-worry.html) What you think of the important role of the teaching of crafts in the school? (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/important-role-of-teaching-of-crafts.html) What makes an ideal teacher: Give your opinion
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/what-makes-ideal-teacher.html) Write about the kind of work which you hope to when you leave the school (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/kind-of-work-you-hope-to-do-after.html)
Today there is some changes in the educational system In your opinion, how should we change to raise the quality teaching? (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/some-changes-in-educational-system.html)
(2)Is a teacher an actor? Give your opinion (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/teacher-is-actor.html)
Write a description of your walk to school on a rainy day
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/walk-to-school-on-rainy-day.html)
Describe all activities of your school-day (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/activities-of-your-school-day.html)
Give an account of the end of the term (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/end-of-school-term.html)
Describe your close friend (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/describe-your-close-friend.html)
Suppose you could go to school where you wanted to Which school would you choose and why? (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/which-school-do-you-want.html)
Living in an apartment instead of a college dormitory gain advantages and disadvantages Discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of apartment living and five your opinion (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/apartment-or-college-dormitory.html)
For students, purchasing or renting a home? Give your opinion
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/for-students-purchasing-or-renting-home.html) English is a popular language all over the world, especially to students, tourists and businessmen Give your opinion (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/english-is-popular-language.html)
Nowaday, everybody is very fond of learning a foreign language However, sucessful men are seldom In your opinion, what is the basic factor?
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/sucessful-in-learning-foreign-language.html) Is English the international language? Explain it
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/english-international-language.html)
From what you have learned about English civilization, write an essay on England and the English (the land, its history, tradition and people)
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/england-and-english-people.html) What you think of the value of education? Discuss it
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/value-of-education.html)
In your opinion, what is one of the major problems in the world today? Discuss some reasons for its existence Give some possible solutions ( Pollution)
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/what-is-one-of-major-problems-in-world.html) In your opinion, how the pollution problems effect today? Discuss some reasons for its existence Give some solutions to overcome
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/what-is-one-of-major-problems-in-world.html) Some people believe that a mother should not work Others argue against this Consider the problems that a working mother faces Do you believe a mother should work? Support your opinion (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/03/mother-should-not-work.html)
(3)(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/knowledge-is-power.html) Give a comment about the uses of the hobby
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/uses-of-hobby.html)
Tell about your hobby in free time (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/topic-tell-about-your-hobby-in-free.html)
The kind of books we should read Give your opinion
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/kind-of-books-we-should-read.html) Today, there are many books to read What you think of the choice of books? (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/choice-of-books-for-reading.html)
Describe a pet which you have kept (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/your-favorite-pet.html)
Talk about the person you hate most (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/person-you-hate.html)
Give a short account of an interesting magazine you often read
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/topic-give-short-account-of-interesting.html) The habit is a repetitive job everyday Explain it
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/habit.html) Give an account of a visit to a book exhibition
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/book-exhibition.html)
Discuss the appeal of a science fiction (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/appeal-of-science-fiction.html)
Discuss the uses and abuses of television (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/uses-and-abuses-of-television.html)
An interesting program which you heard on the radio
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/interesting-program-on-radio.html)
Talk about the habit of smoking cigarettes (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/habit-of-smoking-cigarettes.html)
Talk about the hobbies of your two close friends
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/hobbies-of-your-close-friends.html) Give one of the activities you like to in your spare time
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/one-activity-to-do-in-spare-time.html) The difference between my father and my younger brother in the family
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/difference-between-father-and-son.html) What should we to make a good impression at a job interview?
(4)Talk about the film you like best (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/film-you-like-best.html)
In your opinion, what is the most difficult skill of studying English
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/writing-is-most-difficult-skills.html) Talk about the habit of reading in some students
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/way-to-read-books.html)
How should we to have a good memory? (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/to-have-good-memory.html)
" Money is the root of all evil" Give your opinion
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/money-is-root-of-all-evil.html)
What is flight booking like? (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/what-is-flight-booking-like.html)
What means of traveling you choose for your trip?
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/what-means-of-traveling-you-choose-for.html) Is traveling an educative experience? Discuss
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/value-of-traveling.html)
Should marriage be arranged by parents or decided by yourself? Give your opinion (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/should-marriage-be-arranged-by-parents.html) What is the job of a human resources manager?
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/what-is-human-resources-manage.html) How Hearing-Impaired people talk? Discuss
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/how-doed-hearing-impaired-talk.html)
What you think of the opinion polls? (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/opinion-polls.html)
How should people protect and preserve the natural resources?
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/protect-and-preserve-natural-resources.html) Life in the city (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/life-in-city.html)
Living in a multiracial community (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/multiracial-community.html)
Tell about a visit to a famous city (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/visit-to-famous-city.html)
Talk about modern inventions (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/modern-inventions.html)
Talk about an adventure in a forest (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/adventure-in-forest.html)
Talk about an unusual opportunity you had
(5)Talk about the value of libraries (http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/value-of-libraries.html)
Talk about a horrible sight you experienced
(http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/horrible-sight.html)
Discuss the part that money plays in our live ( http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/role-of-money-in-our-lives.html)
PART 1: ANALYZING CHARTS, GRAPHS & TABLES Task No.1:
The graph shows Internet Usage in Taiwan by Age Group, 1998-2000.
Summaries the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
You should write at least 150 words
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task
The graph shows changes in the age profile of Internet users in Taiwan between 1998 and 2000
The main users of the Internet in Taiwan are young adults between 16 and 30 years old In 1998, they accounted for more than half of all users In 1999 the number dropped slightly to 45%, but even in 2000 they were the biggest group
The second biggest group of users is aged between 31 and 50 They made up 41% in 1998, falling slightly to 37% in 2000 When combined with the 16-30 age group, over 94% of users in 1998 were between 16 and 50
However this number is dropping steadily as more children and older users log on In 1999, the number of children online quadrupled from 2% to 8%, and it continued to increase in 2000 There were similar increases for older users, rising from 4% in 1998 to 10% in 2000 In summary, while adults between 16 and 50 still represent the great majority of Internet users in Taiwan, their share is declining as more children and older users join the web
(6)The graph shows Underground Station Passenger Numbers in London Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant
You should write at least 150 words
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task
The graph shows the fluctuation in the number of people at a London underground station over the course of a day The busiest time of the day is in the morning There is a sharp increase between 06:00 and 08:00, with 400 people using the station at o'clock After this the numbers drop quickly to less than 200 at 10 o'clock Between 11 am and pm the number rises, with a plateau of just under 300 people using the station In the afternoon, numbers decline, with less than 100 using the station at pm There is then a rapid rise to a peak of 380 at 6pm After pm, numbers fall significantly, with only a slight increase again at 8pm, tailing off after pm Overall, the graph shows that the station is most crowded in the early morning and early evening periods
Task No.3: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The table below shows the sales at a small restaurant in a downtown business district. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
You should write at least 150 words
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience
Sales: week of October 7-13
Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs Fri. Sat. Sun. Lunch $2,400 $2,450 $2,595 $2,375 $2,500 $1,950 $1,550 Dinner $3,623 $3,850 $3,445 $3,800 $4,350 $2,900 $2,450
(7)During the week of October 7-14th, the lunch sales averaged at approximately $2,400 The highest lunch sales occurred on Friday, and the lowest occurred on Sunday Sunday's lunch sales were approximately $1,000 less than the average lunch sales during the rest of the week
Dinner sales, which generated at least $1,000 to $1,500 more a day than lunch sales, also remained steady during the week Just like the lunch sales, the dinner sales peak on Friday and dipped down for the weekend
Excluding Wednesday and Thursday, the lunch and dinner sales from October 7-11 rose gradually until the end of the business week Midweek, on Wednesday and Thursday, the sales were slightly lower than they were on Tuesday
According to the sales report, this restaurant has a steady lunch and dinner crowd The most profitable day during the second week of October was Friday Sunday, was the least profitable day, with the full day's sales totaling/totaling less than the Friday dinner sales These numbers are reflective of a restaurant that is located in a business/financial district where business hours are Monday through Friday
Task No.4: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The charts below show the percentage of their food budget the average family spent on restaurant meals in different years The graph shows the number of meals eaten in fast food restaurants and sit-down restaurants.
You should write at least 150 words
(8)Over the past 30 years, the average family has dramatically increased the number of meals that they eat at restaurants The percentage of the family's food budget spent on restaurant meals steadily climbed Just 10 percent of the food budget was spent on restaurant meals in 1970, and 15 percent in 1980 That percentage more than doubled in 1990, to 35 percent, and rose again in 2000 to 50 percent
Where families eat their restaurant meals also changed during that 30-year period In 1970, families ate the same number of meals at fast food and sit-down restaurants In 1980, families ate slightly more frequently at sit-down restaurants However, since 1990, fast food restaurants serve more meals to the families than the sit-down restaurants Most of the restaurant meals from 2000 were eaten at fast food restaurants If this pattern continues, eventually the number of meals that families eat at fast food restaurants could double the number of meals they eat at sit-down restaurants
Task No.5: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The take below gives information about the underground railway systems in six cities. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
You should write at least 150 words
Underground Railways Systems
(9)London 1863 394 775
Paris 1900 199 1191
Tokyo 1927 155 1927
Washington DC 1976 126 144
Kyoto 1981 11 45
Los Angeles 2001 28 50
The table shows the details regarding the underground railway systems in six cities London has the oldest underground railway systems among the six cities It was opened in the year 1863, and it is already lye years old Paris is the second oldest, in which it was opened in the year 1900 This was then followed by the opening of the railway systems in Tokyo, Washington DC and Kyoto Los Angeles has the newest underground railway system, and was only opened in the year 2001 In terms of the size of the railway systems, London, For certain, has the largest underground railway systems It has 394 kilometers of route in total, which is nearly twice as large as the system in Paris Kyoto, in contrast, has the smallest system It only has 11 kilometers of route, which is more than 30 times less than that
of London
Interestingly, Tokyo, which only has 155 kilometers of route, serves the greatest number of passengers per year, at 1927 millions passengers The system in Paris has the second greatest number of passengers, at 1191 millions passengers per year The smallest underground railway system, Kyoto, serves the smallest number of passengers per year as predicted
In conclusion, the underground railway systems in different cities vary a lot in the site of the system, the number of passengers served per year and in the age of the system
Task No.6: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below compares the number of visits to two new music sites on the web. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown below.
You should write at least 150 words
(10)The overall trend shows fluctuation with slight Increased towards the end of the period
Starting with Music Choice websites; 40,000 people went on this new site on first-day Half of them backed out the next day In Contrast to this Pop Parade net sites were visited by 120,000 music lovers on day one which decreased slightly on the next day thereafter regaining the same fame on 3rd day
After 3rd day the enthusiasm for both music lines on Internet dropped slowly- reaching maximum fall of 40,000 on 7th day Whereas Music choice gained popularity, slightly Improving to get the original strength of 30,000 viewers on screen, but was getting still less visitors than their opponent Pop group i.e 40,000 on day
In the beginning of the next week both gained remarkable recovery after a few fluctuations for 8th and 9th day having 40,000 and 50,000 visitors respectively, reaching to their peaks of one and a half thousand new viewers for Pop Parade on 11th day showing a contrast of very few people visiting Music choice for the same day Thereafter Music choice gained popularity on 12th day for having more than 120,000 new visitors on web
In the end of the period Pop sites were visited by maximum viewers of 180,000 whereas sites located to Music choice were not explored by more than 80,000 explorers on the last day of the report
PART 2: ESSAY TOPIC I. The advantages and disadvantages of co-education
I study in a co-education school In my class there are about twenty boys and twelve girls We learn many things one another in the course of being in the same class everyday Sometimes the interaction is pleasant and sometimes not In other words co-education has its good points and bad points, that is, its advantages and disadvantages
The main advantage that I can see is that we learn that boys are different from girls in many ways In short, we learn how to handle each other Boys tend to be more physical, while girls are far gentler However this is not a universal rule, for tom-boys exist in our class and they pack a harder wallop than some sissies who also exist in our class Anyhow I learn that the two sexes behave generally in fixed manners although there are exceptions
I suppose this sort of interaction will come in useful in the future when boys and girls become men and women who will produce the next generations I am a boy and I have to admit that I learn a lot about how to handle both boys and girls I have a friend who studies in an all-boys’ school He always asks me how I handle the girls He is quite ignorant about girls, for I have seen him being tongue-tied in front of girls None of my classmates have such a problem The one big disadvantage about having boys and girls in the same class is when we go for physical education Boys and girls just cannot the same type of exercise or play the same game together So we need to have two teachers, one for the boys and one for the girls Our headmaster has come up with the ingenious solution of having two classes doing P.E at the same time so that the boys and girls from each class combine together under one teacher each
Another advantage of a co-education school becomes obvious when the school holds the school sports, concerts and other functions In sports a co-education school can see full participation from both sexes Also the harder physical work of preparing for a sports meet can be done by the boys while the gentler tasks of preparing food and drinks as well as serving guests are best left to the girls The boys and girls get to learn their social roles
(11)some of their functions I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed my duties there, for the girls there really appreciate our help thus lavishing their attention on us I suspect that they enjoy our being there too
Our girls too get to go and help out at an all-boys’ school I am sure they enjoy themselves too
I have not studied in an all-boys’ school before so I not really know what sort of situation exists there However I would not change my place here for anything else It is definitely better to have girls around than to see only boys everyday
II. The importance of examinations (exams)
Life today has become so complex that examinations have come to play an important part in one’s educational career Examinations are considered so important that most students are afraid of them
The ability to pass an examination is indeed a valuable quality It shows that the student is able to express his thought and ideas to a manner others can understand It also shows that the student has acquired a certain amount of knowledge in some branches of study Besides, the mind of a student, even if he is dull, receives good exercise when he prepares for an examination A student’s success in an examination, therefore, helps employers and others to assess his mental or general ability
Some people, however, argue that examinations test only a certain kind of skill They say that many people have a good memory and a special ability to pass examinations and achieve brilliant results, though they have no capacity for original thought or imagination But it should be realized that today the syllabuses are so extensive that a student cannot expect to pass an examination by relying entirely on his memory The student of today must not only have a fair knowledge of the subject matter but also be able to show his intelligence and power of reasoning, especially if he is sitting for a higher examination Therefore, a student’s ability to pass an examination must indicate some of his mental powers as well as his grasp of the subjects that he has studied
If there were no examinations, most scholars would have been less informed than they are today Examinations compel students to read as mush as they can, and as they so, they absorb knowledge unconsciously Further, because of examinations; teachers have to confine themselves to the syllabuses which are aimed at imparting knowledge in a systematic manner, and thus develop mental discipline
Examinations are therefore an important part of academic studies III. What you think of the use and abuse of private tuition?
Private tuition as against what is being done in regular school is resorted to, in certain cases where the pupil is not able to follow his lessons well and wants to improve his performance In some cases the parents want to make their child sit at his studies and in others it is a matter of prestige
Whatever the reasons may be for private tuition, it can certainly complement and supplement the class work provided the teacher and his ward cooperate It can be complementary when the lessons done in the class have not been fully understood by the student and he have to be told more than to impress upon him for the lesson done in the class may not have caught his brain For this reason, tuition at home may be the answer
(12)would normally avoid in class If the tuition master is earnest, the pupils can progress and improve gradually
Some of the topics that are not covered in the class or which requires supplementary reading could very well be done in the tuition hour Additional exercises could be done, better reading is possible which may lead to better understanding
Private tuition becomes necessary where the student would not be capable of sitting at his studies by himself because he has no inclination or the parents have no time to look at their child’s academic progress Most pampered children need a private tutor as a permanent feature
From the examination point of view some may seek tuition The students who want to achieve very good results in competitive courses may resort to tuition This has become a common practice for getting seats in medical, engineering and technological course An ordinary classroom lecture does not cater to the needs of such students For many aristocratic families, it is a prestige to arrange for tuition in music and dancing
Let us now look at the abuses Tuition may lead to too much of pampering and may kill the self effort of the student The student would not touch the book unless the tuition master turns up Instead of his working and learning on his own he becomes so dependant on the tuition master that ultimately the gain would be perceptibly nil
There are also pupils adopting devious means through the tuition masters to get a pass The poor tuition master makes himself cheap and worries more about the promotion of his ward than about his own children Often it is not uncommon to see a boy having more than one tuition master for each one of his subject Because he pays for the tuition, he looks down upon the poor teacher who is likely to lose his dignity
But one fact that stands foremost is that tuitions cannot be thorough learning and at best there can only be nibbling of the learning process as the student has recourse for likely questions that may come in the examination through the tuition teacher
In order to avoid the evils of private tuition, educational institutions themselves may arrange tutorial classes If the regular teachers cannot attend to the tutorials special tutors may be appointed to attend to very small groups of needy students Such contacts may help build confidence in the student such tutorial classes may be complementary as well as supplementary The tutorial system when properly organized will go a long way to improve the efficiency of the student
IV. Which language you think has made the greatest contribution to the promotion of better understanding among the people of the world?
English has made the greatest contribution to the promotion of better understanding Which language you think has made the greatest contribution to the promotion of better understanding among the people of the world
The human race is divided by a multiplicity of languages, many of which have come to play an important part in the affairs of the world
A little reflection reveals that the importance of a language is associated mainly with the ideas and knowledge it contains The more ideas a language can convey to the people of the world, the more it will be used by people everywhere Thus, the language that is used most extensively is the language that makes the greatest contribution to human progress and mutual understanding between people
(13)in all spheres of public activity but also began to encourage the use and study of the English language as means of achieving national progress and unity These efforts on the part of the various countries of the world convey an idea of the importance of the English language It would be instructive, however, to consider the reason for the extensive use of the English language One of the reasons is that several countries in the world have been occupied mainly by immigrants from England such as the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand It is therefore not surprising that the people of such countries have continued to use the English language, though they have severed their independent status, for one cannot discard one’s language easily Another reason is that, in the course of history, a large number of countries throughout the world came directly under British rule, where English was made the main language for administrative, commercial and all other purposes
As the leading colonial power in the world, England has indeed exerted a profound influence on the affairs of the world, though its colonial possessions are rapidly becoming independent one after the other Concomitantly, the English language too has come to play a leading role in international communication Thus, many people whose native language is not English have studied English and become more conversant with English than with their own languages This is especially true with the leaders of the people to whom English is a foreign language As a result, the English language is used by them not only in the administration of their countries but also in all their institutions of higher learning
The most important reason for the pre-eminence of the English language, however, is that it is the source of all knowledge The Industrial Revolution that began in England and spread to other countries revealed the English genius for invention Even the political and social institutions of England, which were affected tremendously by the Industrial Revolution, have evoked the admiration of all countries The knowledge, ideas, experiences and profound thoughts of the English people have made a deep impression on the minds of the people of other countries Innumerable books have been written in the English language on all branches of study, and such is the thirst of English scholars for knowledge and their desire to communicate it, that they have even translated books of great value from other language to English for the benefit of all Writers of other nationalities too have written a great number of books in English and made a substantial contribution to the enrichment of the English language As a result of all these efforts, the English language has become the main avenue to the greatest storehouse of information Therefore, people everywhere have developed a special respect for the language and they continue to learn it with avidity
As the English language is used so extensively, it is mainly in this language that the people of the world communicate with and understand one another No other language has such a wide appeal In my opinion, it is the English language that has made the greatest contribution to the promotion of the better understanding among the people of the world
( http://language123.blogspot.com/2008/04/role-of-money-in-our-lives.html examinations Examinations are considered so important a good memory subject teacher. English