extracted_text:
языке

ЕГЭ

150 ЭССЕ ДЛЯ
Готовимся к ЕГЭ
СЛ.
ОТКРЫВАЯ МИР с Английским языком

Готовимся к
ЕГЗ
«Интеллект-Центр»» Москва
удк ББК 81.2Англ-922 ю 51
юнёва СА.
Ю 51 Открывая мир с
английским языком. 150 эссе для ЕГЭ. Готовимся к ЕГЭ. — Москва:
«Интеллект-Центр», 2011. - 88 с.
ISBN 978-5-89790-796-0
Пособие
адресовано учащимся, самостоятельно готовящимся к ЕГЭ по английскому языку, а
также учителям, которые могут использовать его на занятиях в классе и при
подготовке учащихся к зачету, экзамену или олимпиаде. Оно включает в себя 150
эссе, составленных в соответствии со всеми требованиями, предъявляемыми к
письменному высказыванию с элементами рассуждения. Основная цель данного
пособия состоит в том, чтобы помочь учащимся блестяще справиться с написанием
эссе.
удк
ББК 81.2Англ-922
Генеральный директор издательства «Интеллект-Центр»
М.Б. Миндюк
Редактор Д.П. Локтионов
Художественный редактор ЕЛО. Воробьёва
Подписано в печать 16.03.2011. Формат 60х84/8. Бумага
офсетная. Печать офсетная. Усл. печ. л. 11,0. Тираж 3000 экз. Заказ № 1106540.
Издательство «Интеллект-Центр»
117342, Москва, ул. Бутлерова, д. 17 Б
Отпечатано в полном соответствии с качеством предоставленного
электронного оригинал-макета
Я ПК в ОАО «Ярославский
полиграфкомбинат» arvato 150049, Ярославль, ул. Свободы, 97
        ISBN 978-5-89790-796-O                                                                      С)
«Интеллект-Центр», 2011
© Юнёва СА. , 2011
Contents
FOOD .
FASHION
TRAVELLING
FRIENDSHIP
& LOVE
MONEY
LEISURE TIME
ACTIVITIES
SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY .
YOUTH
PROBLEMS .
WORK &
CAREER .
MASS MEDIA .
. .
SPORTS, HEALTH & BEAUTY . . . . . . . . . . . .
THEATRE,
PAINTING, MUSIC & CINEMA . . .
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROBLEMS
FAMILY
PROBLEMS . .
SHOPPING
EDUCATION
GLOBAL
PROBLEMS .
ANIMALS
BOOKS
MISCELLANEOUS
. .
rlOPBAOK nOACHETA CJIOB B .3AAAHV•19X
PA3AEJIA
«nucbM0» .

Уважаемые
читатели!
Учебное пособие «Английский язык. 150 эссе для ЕГЭ»
является дополнительным компонентом к учебно-методическим комплектам по
английскому языку. Его основная цель состоит в том, чтобы помочь вам справиться
с письменной частью ЕГЭ по английскому языку, а именно, с написанием эссе.
Письменная часть Единого Государственного Экзамена является одной из самых
сложных и требует тщательной подготовки .
Данное пособие предназначено для учащихся, которые
самостоятельно готовятся к ЕГЭ по английскому языку. Оно также адресовано
учителям, которые могут использовать его на занятиях в классе и при подготовке
учащихся к зачету, экзамену или олимпиаде. Пособие состоит из 150 эссе,
составленных в соответствии со всеми требованиями, предъявляемыми к письменному
высказыванию с элементами рассуждения.
Многие учащиеся сталкиваются с рядом трудностей, когда
перед ними встает задача написать эссе. Стимул для высказывания представлен
утверждением. Учащиеся должны выразить свое мнение по поводу данного
утверждения, привести аргументы и доказательства. При этом содержание должно
отражать все аспекты, указанные в задании; стилевое оформление речи должно быть
выбрано правильно. Учащиеся должны следить за тем, чтобы высказывание было
логично; средства логической связи использованы правильно; текст разделен на
абзацы.
Еще одна трудность заключается в том, что при
оценивании заданий раздела «Письмо» следует учитывать такой параметр, как объем
письменного текста, выраженный в количестве слов. Требуемый объем для
развернутого письменного высказывания — 200—250 слов. Допустимое отклонение от
заданного объема составляет 1070. Если в выполненном задании менее 180 слов, то
задание проверке не подлежит и оценивается в 0 баллов. При превышении объема
более чем на 1070, т.е. если в задании более 275 слов, проверке подлежит только
та часть работы, которая соответствует требуемому объему.
Данное пособие поможет вам блестяще справиться с
написанием эссе. Надеюсь, что работа с ним доставит вам удовольствие.
Желаю успеха!
Юнёва СА.
FOOD
Fast food is very popular and saves
time for busy working people. However, many experts say that it is not
completely healthy.
Do you know a person who has never been to
McDonald's? McDonald's is the leading global foodservice retailer serving
millions of people in more than 100 countries each day. McDonald's restaurants
sell what is called "fast" or "junk" food hamburgers, chips
and so on. Such food is very popular, especially with children and teenagers.
Personally, I adore hamburgers, cheeseburgers,
apple pies, muffins and fruit cocktails. This food is tasty, cheap and
ubiquitous. What is more, going to McDonald's saves much time and effort. I
don't have to go to a supermarket, prepare meals and wash the dishes when I eat
out. Besides, I like the holiday atmosphere of
McDonald's. There I can relax, enjoy the food and celebrate some event with my
friends and relatives.
But experts say that fast food makes people
overweight and even obese and elevates the risk of diabetes and cancer. If your
food includes hamburgers, chips, hot dogs, pizzas and fizzy drinks like Coke,
Pepsi, Sprite and others, you are facing a serious problem threatening your
health. Such food is full of chemical additives. For example, a can of Coke
contains about eight teaspoons of sugar and artificial sweeteners. Moreover,
there is a risk of food poisoning.
To sum it up, we should think more about
our health. We should try to avoid fast food and eat more fruit and vegetables.
Those people who don't care about what they eat may face serious problems. So
let's remember about our health and make the right choice.
Some people say that genetically
modified (GM) food is dangerous to their health. Others believe that it is
absolutely harmless and has a number of advantages.
Nowadays people are getting more and more
concerned about the food they eat as it is closely connected with the way they
look and feel. That is why there are so many arguments about the safety of
genetically modified food.
Genetically modified crops have been developed
by changing the plant's genetic structure in order to help the plant resist
against different diseases or produce larger crops. Personally, I try not to
buy GM food as there is no scientific conclusion so far to prove its safety for
human consumption. We don't know what unforeseen consequences there might be. I
prefer not to risk my health because scientists are not sure if GM food is
absolutely harmless or not.
However, a lot of people are not worried
about the negative influence of GM food on their health. Besides, producers of
this food say that it has a number of advantages in terms of price, durability
and nutritional value. They also say there is no risk to human health, although
possible side effects connected with the use of GM products have not been
studied.
Can we trust producers of GM food? I
don't think so. Unfortunately, in Russia the law does not prohibit the use of
GM products. I believe that it's up to you to decide whether to buy GM food or
not. Anyway, producers of this food must mark their products if they contain GM
ingredients.
Some people say that food is our friend, while others think
that it may become an enemy.
Can we live without food? The answer is definitely
"no". Food is essential to our body which is continually wasting and requires
new energy. Experts say that food has some special powers that can control our
lives, for better or for worse.
To my mind, food is our friend if it is healthy and taken
with due regard to the exercise and waste of the body. I believe that if you
eat the right food, you can manage your mood and boost your brainpower. For
example, when I feel blue, I treat myself to a bar of chocolate or an ice-cream
and become more cheerful and energetic. When I am to take a test, I eat a
handful of nuts or a banana because such food helps me concentrate.
However, sometimes food may become a real enemy.
Unfortunately, some people don't pay attention to what they eat. If their diet
includes fast food and fizzy drinks, they can do much harm to their health.
People who are fond of hamburgers and Coca-Cola often suffer from diabetes,
cancer and tooth decay. Moreover, they may become overweight and even obese.
To sum up, food that contains vitamins gives you a
psychological lift and helps you improve your health. But food that has a hefty
amount of chemical additives, fat, sugar or caffeine makes you fat and draws
energy away from your brain. I strongly feel that if you take control of your
food, you will be able to take control of your life.
Nowadays more and more people become vegetarians. Others
say they can't do without meat or fish.
Being a vegetarian is rather popular nowadays. Some people
say they don't eat meat and fish because it is healthy. Others follow the
example of their favourite actor or musician. Is it worth becoming a
vegetarian?
Personally, I think that people should eat both meat and
fish. Our ancestors would not have survived if they hadn't hunted and fished.
Meat and fish are nourishing and they contain vitamins that make us stronger.
Besides, fish is good for our brains.
However, quite a lot of people say it is cruel to eat
animals. They feel sorry for pigs, chickens or rabbits that are kept in cages.
Vegetarians are convinced that killing animals is a crime. So their food
consists of vegetables, fruit and nuts. They say that such a diet does much
good to their health and contains all the vitamins, minerals and protein they
need. But I think that if all people eat only plants, there will not be enough
food for everybody. What is more, most fruit and vegetables are harmful because
they are full of pesticides.
So it is up to you to decide whether to become vegetarian
or not. Personally, I believe that we should eat different food but at the same
time we should know where to stop.
FASHION
Most people believe that it's important to look nice. However, some people
say that we place too much importance on appearance and fashion.
One will hardly disagree that it is pleasant to look at a
person who is neatly and beautifully dressed. A person usually chooses clothes
according to his or her age, social class, financial position and occupation.
People also choose clothes according to their preferences and character.
To my mind, if a person wants to produce a good impression
and to be successful, he or she must look nice. When people speak to you, they
always pay attention to your appearance and your clothes. If you look sloppy
and untidy, they will try to avoid you. There is a saying that "good
clothes open all doors" and I quite agree with it.
But some people place too much importance on their
appearance. They spend much money on expensive clothes and sometimes they look
ridiculous trying to be fashionable. There are some styles that can surprise
and even shock people such as punks, hippies or Goths. It looks strange when a
person wears razor blades instead of earrings, dyes his or her hair bright red
or purple or puts on shoes on enormous platform. Some teenagers are fond of
bright make-up, black fingernails, scruffy long hair or baggy clothes. But I
think it is silly to slavishly follow the current fashions.
In conclusion, I'd like to say that nowadays fashion
becomes even more influential than it was in the past. It effects and moulds
public taste. I believe that people should follow fashion and pay attention to
their appearance, but it should never become a kind of obsession.
Some teenagers think that clothes make the man, while others don't care
much about what they wear.
Nowadays the word "fashion" is a synonym for
beauty, style and glamour. Every shop offers a wide choice of fashionable
clothes and it is hard to resist the temptation to buy something new. But is it
all right to put so much attention to clothes?
Personally, I am sure that there are more important things
in life than fashion. To my mind, people speak too much about it and waste a
lot of money on clothes. I have a pair ofjeans and I wear them every day. I
think jeans are comfortable and cheap. I never go for the latest styles or buy
very expensive clothes.
However, most teenagers say that clothes show their
personality. Besides, they are the first thing people see when they meet them.
Teenagers believe that clothes help them produce a favourable impression and
they say they feel better when they are dressed well. Young people also use
bright make-up, cut and dye their hair and carry different accessories such as
bags, purses, glasses, jewellery, hats or scarves in order to attract
attention. Some youngsters are fond of experimenting with their look and mixing
styles. But I don't think it is wise to become a fashion victim.
To conclude, I believe that clothes do not make the man. The main aim of
clothes is to protect the human body from extreme weather, insects, chemicals
and other hazards. The second aim is to attract attention and to indicate
status. In my opinion, the main thing about clothes is comfort. As for beauty
and style, they are less important.
The question of what pupils should wear to school rouses strong feelings
on both sides. Some people give many reasons in favor of school uniforms.
However, there are a lot of people who are against them.
The problem of school uniforms is discussed in every
school. The majority of schoolchildren have a negative attitude to wearing a
uniform. Nevertheless, there are arguments for school uniforms that should not
be discounted.
To my mind, the school uniform has a lot of advantages.
Firstly, some teenagers wear clothes that are not appropriate at school such as
short skirts or clothes with vulgar language. Secondly, teachers say that
uniforms help improve discipline and reduce peer pressure and bullying. It
should also be noted that most pupils don't mind wearing uniforms. The wearing
of school uniforms helps pupils realize that a person's unique gifts and
personality traits go deeper than their clothes. What is more, the school uniform
promotes equality because everyone has to wear the same.
However, some teachers believe that bringing in uniforms
will not solve the school discipline problem. Clothes are not the main cause of
bullying and therefore it will continue, regardless of dress policy. Most
pupils are convinced that school uniforms interfere with their rights for
self-expression. Some parents are also against uniforms because they are not
cheap. But on the other hand, it is true that teenagers place too much
importance on appearance and fashion. So pupils whose parents cannot afford to
buy them fashionable clothes often become outsiders and suffer from bullying
and emotional stress. So I think that a school uniform can prove to be a
cheaper way of dressing children.
To conclude, school uniforms still remain a hot topic. I
believe it is up to pupils, their teachers and parents to decide whether
children should wear uniforms or not.
Some people like fur coats and hats, while others think that wearing fur
is unacceptable.
Animal furs have long served to make clothes or to decorate
them. However, the use of fur as clothing and decoration is considered
controversial by some people.
Personally, I don't wear fur for several reasons. Firstly,
the production of fur coats and hats involves cruelty to animals. Millions of
foxes, rabbits, minks, beavers, chinchillas and other animals are killed on
farms because of their commercially valuable fur. Many of these animals are
raised in cages which leave them little room to move around. Most animal rights
groups object to the trapping and killing of wildlife. The anti-fur movement
involves celebrities who try to convince people that fur is not fashionable.
Secondly, nowadays there are a lot of materials that will not let you freeze.
Thirdly, fur is very expensive and I can't afford to buy fur coats and hats.
On the other hand, in some climates it is so cold that
people can't do without fur. For some regions in Russia fur trade is the only
business that gives people an opportunity to support their families. Besides,
some people prefer furs to artificial materials because they are healthier and
much more beautiful. Anyway, it is difficult to convince people not to buy fur.
To sum up, it is unacceptable to wear furs only because of
their beauty. I strongly feel that fur must be worn only as a necessity.
Most fashion houses complain that producers of knockoff versions copy and
sell their designs. Some people say that copies are much worse than the
original. However, the knockoff industry brings some positive effects to trends
and to the designers as well.
A lot of manufacturers copy famous
designers and produce knockoff suits, dresses, jeans, bags and accessories.
Some people can't decide whether the massive knockoff industry is a good or bad
thing.
Personally, I think that the fashion industry is an
expensive one. So it is no wonder the knockoff business is so successful.
Ordinary people want to have access to the latest styles and trends as much as
the wealthy do. Most middle class consumers cannot afford to pay 1000 euros for
designer jeans, but they can buy a 100 euro imitation. As a rule everybody
knows that they buy copies, and so there are no complaints about the quality.
What is more, knockoff clothes can be in the shops within two or three days of
a fashion show, before the original is available for sale.
On the other hand, the quality of most copies is extremely
low. Poorly made knockoff suits lose colour; bags fall apart. Fashion houses
say that they are losing sales because of the knockoff industry. Besides,
knockoff versions have a negative effect on their image. But to my mind,
knockoffs bring more good than bad to the fashion industry because they
actually promote the brand or designer, which encourages consumers to buy
fashion labels.
To conclude, the copying of brand names and logos is
outlawed. However, the knockoff industry is thriving and producers of copies
are becoming richer and richer. But in spite of the knockoff business, fashion
designers have remained more than wealthy. Therefore, I believe that
prohibiting knockoffs would be eliminating more good than bad.
A lot of young people cover their bodies with tattoos and
decorate them with piercing. However, others say that body art has many
drawbacks.
Tattooing and piercing are popular in many parts of the
world and they are practiced for decorative, religious or other reasons. As the
use of body art grows, it is becoming a controversial issue.
In my opinion, tattoos and piercing don't make people more
beautiful. Most employers don't want employees to have tattoos and piercing
because it gives them an air of unprofessionalism. Some people are asked to
remove belly rings or tongue studs when they are at work. Employees often have
to wear long sleeves and trousers to hide their tattoos. Sometimes young people
are allowed to show their tattoos if they are not offensive, but most companies
still prefer conventional looks. Furthermore, doctors warn people against
possible dangers of tattooing and piercing including bacterial infection and
allergic reactions. These procedures are painful and risky. Besides, one should
remember that it is difficult to remove a tattoo. Some people have to pay much
money to undergo laser erasure treatments.
However, some young people say that their tattoos and
piercing make them feel attractive and rebellious. They also believe that body
art gives them an opportunity to show their individuality. Anyway, when you are
invited to a firm for a job interview, you can hide your tattoos and remove all
jewellery. But I still believe that body art is unsightly.
To conclude, tastes differ. You may admire the huge dragon
on your back, but your relatives, friends and colleagues may dislike it. If you
want to improve your job prospects and to stay healthy, you'd better leave your
body unadorned.
TRAVELLING
Many pupils go on school trips. Some people say they are interesting and
educational. Other people say that they are a waste of time and children should
learn in the classroom.
Most teachers are convinced that there is more to learning
than lessons in the classroom. That is why they try to create memorable
learning experiences with the help of educational school
School trips include a wide range of outdoor educational
and residential courses, designed to stimulate, educate and motivate pupils. To
my mind, school trips help teachers inspire pupils and bring subject areas to
life. School trips broaden children's mind, improve their knowledge of history
and geography and make their lives interesting and eventful. Whether pupils
want an educational school trip within their country or abroad their aim is the
same: to enjoy sightseeing, to discover new things, to meet interesting people
and to get wonderful impressions and learning experiences which educate, excite
and inspire.
However, some parents don't think that school trips are
essential. They believe that pupils can learn everything staying in the
classroom. Other parents don't like the fact that they have to pay for most
school trips. Moreover, Moms and Dads are often afraid of possible dangers and
difficulties which may arise during any school trip. Nevertheless, statistics
show that school trips are usually safe for children. But reasonable safety
measures are still required.
To sum up, a school trip is a challenging, rewarding and always exciting
experience. Pupils will have fun while learning new skills and capabilities.
There is no better way to foster team building, positive attitudes and a sense
of personal achievement. I think that school trips will certainly benefit
pupils' performance back at school.
There are people, who think that the best way to travel in a town or in a
city is on foot. However a lot of others prefer driving a car or using public
transport.
Today everybody understands that time is money. We can't
afford to spend much time on the road, so we use cars and public transport to
travel faster.
On the one hand, we shouldn't forget that we can use our
legs. In my opinion, when people travel on foot, they can see much more on
their way and enjoy the sights of a town or a city. We can stop wherever we
want and admire a beautiful church or monument or drop at a café or a
shop. We won't be stuck in a traffic jam for several hours and we will
certainly avoid road accidents. What is more, travelling on foot is much
healthier that travelling by car or by bus. Walking is a perfect physical
exercise that strengthens the immune system, improves mental health and helps
prevent many diseases.
On the other hand, travelling by car or by bus saves much
time and effort. A lot of people prefer driving cars as they have speed and
comfort combined. When you travel by car, you don't depend on the weather. For
example, if it rains you won't get soaked. If it is cold, you can turn on a heater.
While driving, you can listen to music or the latest news on the radio. Public
transport is not as popular as cars. Nevertheless, thousands of people use it
every day of their lives.
To conclude, it's up to you to decide whether to travel on foot, to drive
a car or to use public transport. As for me, I am young and energetic and I am
for travelling on foot.
Many people prefer to travel abroad; others say that there is much to be
seen in our own country.
Most people find travelling very exciting. It gives them an
opportunity to enjoy sightseeing, to discover new things, to meet interesting
people, to rest physically and morally and to get wonderful impressions.
For me there is hardly anything more interesting and
exciting than a journey to a foreign country. I've been to London, Paris and
Rome and it is the most wonderful experience in my life. Travelling abroad
gives me a chance to feel thousands of miles away from home, to visit great
cities and small villages, to admire foreign architecture, cuisine and culture,
to make friends and what not. What is more, it is the best way to broaden your
mind, to improve your knowledge of history and geography and to make your life
interesting.
However, a lot of people are sure that there is much to be
seen in our own country. Indeed, it is difficult to disagree with them. There
are many places of interest in my native town: ancient churches, monuments,
museums and parks. One can go to Moscow and visit its theatres, cathedrals, art
galleries and what not. The Kremlin attracts thousands of tourists as it is the
heart of Moscow and the centre of the Russian government. St. Petersburg, the
former capital of Russia, is known for its magnificent palaces, famous museums,
beautiful buildings and wide streets. Besides, there are many small towns and
villages in our country which are definitely worth vis-
To conclude, we should learn everything about our own
country first of all. But if we want to learn more about the world around us
and to expand the mind, we should travel abroad.
The car has become the most popular means of transport in
the history of the world. However, some people say that the world would be
better off without cars.
Nowadays, almost every family has a car. A lot of people
say that travelling by car is very convenient, while others are sure that cars
cause many problems.
In my opinion, the car is one of the most comfortable means
of transport. Firstly, travelling by car is fast and it helps you save plenty
of time. Secondly, it is comfortable because you don't have to buy any tickets
and your car is always at your disposal. Thirdly, when you travel by car, you
don't depend on the weather. While driving, you can listen to music or the
latest news on the radio. And finally, you can stop where you want and have a
snack or enjoy nature.
On the other hand, travelling by car has a number of
disadvantages. First and foremost, it is bad for ecology and health. Cars
produce exhaust fumes which make the air foul and destroy the ozone layer
protecting the Earth from the dangerous rays of the Sun. The car is not a safe
means of travel as there are a lot of car and bus crashes. Travelling by car is
not very convenient if the trip is long. Besides, it is rather expensive as
petrol is not cheap. What is more, when we travel by car, we may be stuck in a
traffic jam for several hours.
To sum up, I think it is rather difficult to do without
cars nowadays. But if we want to be healthy, we should sometimes ride a bike or
walk.

think that travelling by plane is very comfortable and
convenient. Others say that it has a number of disadvantages.
Nowadays we can't imagine our lives without travelling. We
tend to travel longer distances and at much higher speeds. Most people say
there is nothing like travel by air for them.
Personally, I think that travelling by plane is very comfortable, quick
and thrilling. It helps me save plenty of time and gives me an opportunity to
visit out-of-the-way parts of the world. I don't have to worry about anything
during the flight. I can relax, listen to music, read a newspaper or take a
nap. The stewardess will take care of passengers during the flight and will
help them get comfortable in their seats. I can always enjoy good service and
tasty food. What is more, travelling by plane gives me a wonderful opportunity
to look through the porthole and to admire beautiful landscapes.
However, some people don't like travelling by air. Firstly,
they complain that it takes them much time to check in at the airport and to
have their baggage weighed. Secondly, some flights may be delayed or cancelled
because of unfavourable weather conditions. Thirdly, those people who are
airsick will hardly find the flight very nice. Finally, aircraft engines emit
noise and gases and contribute to air pollution and global warming. Besides, a
lot of people doubt that travelling by plane is safe. They are afraid of plane
crashes and terrorists. But as a rule much attention is paid to security: all
luggage is screened and all passengers are carefully examined.
To conclude, it is up to you to decide whether to travel by
plane or not. Anyway, all means of travel have their advantages and
disadvantages.
Some people consider hitch-hiking to be the best way of travelling. Others
think that hitchhiking is dangerous.
Hitch-hikers travel by getting rides in other people's
cars. When they want drivers to give them a lift, they stand on the roadside
and raise their hand or put out their thumb. Most hitch-hikers also carry a
sign with the name of the place they want to go to. But is it safe to travel in
such a
Personally, I think that hitch-hiking is a unique opportunity to see
different cities and countries. This way of travelling is for enthusiastic
people who want to reduce their road expenses. If you want to travel but have
no money, hitch-hiking is a single way out. Hitch-hiking will help you get
where you want to go for nothing.
But nowadays hitch-hiking is less common than it used to be
some years ago. There have been cases of hitch-hikers or the drivers who picked
them up being attacked or killed. That is why people, especially young women,
should avoid hitching alone. It is also necessary to be always friendly and
polite with drivers in order to avoid conflicts. Besides, a lot of people say
that hitchhiking is not for those who like comfort. Sometimes you will have to
walk, that is why you should travel light. You should also prepare for your
trip beforehand. You should have a good idea of how to get where you are going
and be informed about road conditions and weather forecast.
To sum up, hitch-hiking is both exciting and dangerous. Anyway, if you
have decided to hitchhike, you should consult other people and ask them to
share their impressions.
people prefer travelling by train, while others say
that it has a number of disadvantages.
Nowadays people travel more often than they did in the
past. There are different means of travel that provide you with comfort and
security, so passengers have a great variety of choice available for them.
Travelling by train is very popular with many people, though it has a number of
disadvantages as well.
I am fond of travelling by train because I have speed, comfort and pleasure
combined. While travelling I can walk around, look through the windows to enjoy
a splendid view of the whole countryside and sit where I can stretch my legs.
If I am hungry, I can go to the dining-car and have a meal. Trains can run in
bad weather. What is more, as trains are electrically-powered, they are
considered to be less harmful to the environment than other forms of transport.
The service is popular with passengers because it is fast, efficient,
comfortable and quiet.
However, some people say that they don't like travelling by
train. Firstly, they always have to stand in a long line in order to buy train
tickets beforehand. Secondly, you cannot stop where you want. Thirdly, when you
travel by train, you always have to get to the railway station first. Finally,
travelling by train is not very convenient if the trip is long. Of course,
travelling by train is not as fast as travelling by plane. But one of the
latest inventions is a high-speed train that can run more than 200 km/h.
To conclude, it is up to you to decide whether to travel by train or not.
Anyway, travelling by train has both advantages and disadvantages.
Medical travel is becoming more and more popular with many people.
However, others say that it has many disadvantages.
Travelling abroad for medical treatment has been
increasingly growing lately. But why do many people choose to go to foreign
clinics and is medical travel as beneficial as it seems to be?
Medical tourists go to foreign countries for different
reasons. Firstly, many patients want to undergo certain medical procedures for
lower prices. For example, the cost of different operations in India, Thailand
or South Africa is much lower than in the United States or Western Europe.
Secondly, medical travel gives people the opportunity not only to receive
first-rate care from highly qualified specialists, but also to have a holiday
in an exotic country. Finally, many people go abroad in order to avoid long
waiting periods. In such countries as the USA or Britain a person may wait for
a certain medical procedure for a year or even longer. But in other countries a
patient can receive the needed treatment immediately.
Nevertheless, some people say that undergoing treatment
abroad may be rather risky. For instance, infectious diseases in such countries
as Thailand or Malaysia are different from those in North America and Europe.
Foreign diseases may be extremely dangerous to weakened patients. What is more,
long flights should be avoided after certain medical procedures. Additionally,
some holiday-related activities such as sunbathing or swimming may worsen
patients' health. But to my mind, medical tourism is great because people can
combine leisure with medical procedures.
To conclude, medical travel can save your money and give you an opportunity
to rest and visit other countries. However, one should take all possible risks
into consideration before making the final decision to go abroad.
are fond of travelling to exotic countries, while
others say that exotic travel is rather risky.
Many people dream of exciting travels to sunny, beautiful
and interesting places in exotic countries. But every tourist must remember
that there are a number of risks that they need to be aware of.
In my opinion, exotic travel gives you an opportunity to participate in
exciting experiences. In exotic countries you can ride a camel or an elephant,
enjoy modern cities or picturesque little villages, admire ancient temples and
what not. Travelling to exotic countries many tourists would like to watch the
daily life of local people, to see mountains, jungles and beaches. I believe
that exotic travel is very rewarding because it can lead to totally new
understanding of diverse cultures and lifestyles.
Nevertheless, arranging a perfect travel to exotic places
is not an easy task. Travel agencies show tourists colorful catalogues with
beautiful beaches and modern hotels. Most people find it difficult to explore
this immensity of offers and spot the one that would let them admire a truly
stunning seaside, good service, clean beaches and high quality hotels. Many
tourists feel ill at ease when they go to an exotic country because they do not
know much about its traditions and do not understand the language. Some
tourists may dislike the local food. Furthermore, they have no natural immunity
to foreign diseases. In addition, tourists may have problems with insects,
public transport, thieves, insistent street vendors and so on.
To conclude, many people say that once you have tasted the excitement of
visiting exotic destinations, you'll never want to stop. However, tourists must
take precautions in order to avoid unpleasant situations and to remain safe and
secure.

FRIENDSHIP & LOVE
Some people think that life-long friendship exists only in books and
films. Others believe that it exists in real life.
Friendship is considered one of the central human
experiences and for many people it may be as important as love. There are
different types of friendship. People have close friends, pen pals or just
acquaintances. Life-long friendship is a rare kind of friendship and a lot of
people even doubt that it exists in real life.
I believe that life-long friendship exists not only in books and films.
For example, my grandfather has a friend whom he has known from his childhood.
They are devoted to each other and they have much in common. My grandfather and
his best friend understand and support one another. Besides, they have similar
tastes, interests and life philosophies. Grandfather often says that when they
were young, his friend used to help him in times of need or crisis. They have
always trusted each other and they have never quarreled.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who have no close
friends. Some reserved and shy people find making friends rather difficult.
What is more, it is really not easy to find a person with whom you can share
strong interpersonal ties. Those people who have not found best friends are
sometimes sure that real friendship exists only in books and films. But they
shouldn't despair because they may find close friends in the future.
In conclusion, I'd like to add that it is very difficult to
live without friends. Your friend is your helper, adviser and supporter. He or
she gives you a sense of being protected, emotional comfort and moral support.
As the proverb says: "A true friend is the best possession".
There is a proverb that says "a friend in need is a friend
indeed". However, many people believe that a friend's success may ruin
friendship.
Different people have different notions of what kind of
person a true friend should be. Most of them think that a friend is a person
who understands you, shows kindness and sympathy, has similar tastes, interests
and life philosophies. You can always trust your friend and share your
hardships with him or her. Besides, a true friend is always ready to help you
and to support you in times of need or crisis.
I strongly feel that a real friend is a person who doesn't
only help you and give you advice. A real friend should never envy you if you
are more successful. And if he does, then he is not your friend. To my mind,
friendship between people with different financial standing is rare, but
possible.
However, a lot of people still believe that friendship is a
union of the equal. They tend to make friends with the representatives of their
own social circle and financial position. Most people are convinced that friendship
will be ruined as soon as your friend is promoted or succeeds in some other
way.
To conclude, I'd like to say that a real friend is not only a person who
helps you in need, but the one who doesn't turn away from you in case you are
luckier, richer or more successful than he or she is. Friendship must not end
when success comes. So we can paraphrase the proverb: "A friend who never
envies you is a friend indeed".
Some                                    love
reveals our hidden talents, while others believe that it makes us silly.
There is so much talk about love. It is a major theme in
philosophy, literature, music, poetry and cinematography. A great number of
scientists have been trying to understand how love can influence people's
psychology.
In my opinion, love is a great source of inspiration. A
person who has fallen in love may suddenly have an urge to write poems or
compose music even if they have never done anything like this before. When we
are in love, we are capable of accomplishing feats, making discoveries,
inventing new things and making something unusual. Many painters, writers and
composers created masterpieces of art, literature or music thanks to this
wonderful feeling. Love fills us with energy and enthusiasm.
However, people who are in love sometimes behave rather
foolishly. They are often absentminded and it is difficult for them to
concentrate on their work and duties. All they can think about is the person
that they love. Studies have indicated that brain scans of people who are in
love resemble to those with a mental illness. Scientists say that love
deactivates the brain regions associated with negative emotions, with social
judgment and with judging other people's intentions and emotions. That is why
people in love are often unable to make critical judgments. But I don't believe
that love and madness are connected.
To conclude, even in this advanced age of science, when people conquer
space, clone animals and transplant organs, they still don't fully understand
the nature of love and the way it influences us. Anyway, I believe that love is
the most wonderful feeling in the world.
Some people say that jealousy is quite natural and it often goes hand in
hand with love and friendship. Others are convinced that jealousy wrecks
people's relationships.
All people have experienced jealousy at some time of their
lives. But is this feeling absolutely harmless and how can it influence
people's relationships?
I strongly feel that jealousy is destructive. It usually
arouses such negative emotions as sadness and anger as well as the feelings of
anxiety and insecurity. Jealousy also involves suspicion about betrayal,
distrust, uncertainty, fear of separation and low self-esteem. It makes us feel
unhappy and left out. When we are jealous, common sense and rationality matter
very little and our emotions get out of control. To my mind, having a jealous
partner is exhausting. You will constantly have to answer his or her questions
about what you were doing and where you were. What is more, jealousy can lead
to aggressive reactions and violence. Sometimes jealousy leads to scandals,
embarrassing scenes or separation and divorce.
However, some people believe that jealousy is a sign of
love. They are convinced that the greater the love, the greater the jealousy.
Researchers say that mild jealousy heightens passion towards partners and keeps
a relationship alive. It can encourage people to appreciate each other. Small
doses of jealousy can be healthy in a marriage. But I think that when jealousy
becomes irrational, it can be rather dangerous.
To sum up, jealousy can destroy people's judgment and their
love for each other. So it is important to try to overcome this feeling. You
should trust and respect the person you love and share all your
apÞrehensions with him or her.
MONEY
A number of people believe that pocket money teaches teenagers to be
responsible. Others say that teenagers are too young to deal with money and
that their parents should just buy them what they need.
Many parents wonder whether to give pocket money to their
children and how much to give. Most Moms and Dads think that pocket money helps
the child learn to handle money sensibly. However, pocket money may become a
battleground if not handled correctly from the very start.
Personally, I think that by giving pocket money parents
help children learn to manage money while they are young. It also helps them
make choices and feel that they are important members of the family. Even a
small amount can give a child the feeling of responsibility and independence.
Parents can suggest the child keeping a little book in their money box to
record ins and outs. This will help with their mathematics and will encourage
them to save money.
But in some families children are given what they ask for and do not get
pocket money. Some parents think that pocket money can cause a number of
problems. For example, if children have a lot less than their friends they may
feel depressed and may be tempted to steal. On the other hand, when they have
much more it can cause envy and resentment amongst their friends. Besides, I
believe that parents should never give pocket money to their children as compensation
for not spending enough time with them and as a reward for helping around the
house.
To conclude, I
think it is up to parents to decide whether to give children pocket money or
not. Anyway, parents should explain their sons and daughters that lots of money
cannot buy love and happiness.
Some people think they can be happy only being rich, while
others don't care too much about money.
It is rather difficult to imagine our lives without money.
People consider money to be part and parcel of their everyday lives. They buy
and sell different things, receive a fee, a pension or a subsidy, exchange
currency and what not. People's attitude to money can be quite different: for
some of them money is the most important thing in the world, while other people
don't care much about money.
In my opinion, the life of rich people is not only
luxurious. It is also dangerous. There are quite a lot of people who want to
deceive the rich. Millionaires have to spend much money on security, but
sometimes even such measures don't help. Rich people are often robbed,
kidnapped and killed. Besides, they have to work much and that is why they
spend very little time with their families and they often feel stressed.
But in spite of all dangers and difficulties, many people
are sure that money and happiness are synonyms. They believe that money can
make them powerful and independent. They dream of expensive cars and luxurious
mansions. Some people think that we live in the world where almost everything
can be bought and sold. They even make friends and marry for money. To my mind,
money becomes a kind of addiction for such people.
To sum up, money is very useful as a medium of exchange, a
unit of account and a store of value. But it becomes "the root of all
evil" when it makes people take bribes, betray their partners or commit
crimes. I think that "money is a good servant but a bad master."

A lot of it very important for everybody to own property. However, others
are not so sure that property can make our lives better.
Everyone has some possessions. People own cars, buildings,
land, money, bonds, stocks and so on. We are used to consuming, selling,
renting, mortgaging, transferring or exchanging our property. But sometimes
people attach too much importance to their possessions.
Personally, I believe that property is not the most
important thing in our lives. It may arouse other people's envy and it is
difficult to say whether people surrounding you are your real friends or they
just like your possessions and want to make use of them. I strongly feel that
having friends, parents, relatives, spouses and children who love and
understand you is better than possessing money, houses or securities.
However, there are people whose desire to own things
predominates over all other feelings. They often become "slaves of
property". They usually try to make a commercial use of everything and the
main aim of their lives is accumulation of their capital. They sometimes buy
beautiful pictures and sculptures not because they admire works of art or drive
inspiration from them, but because it is a way of investing money. But to my
mind, a person who values only property is miserable because inanimate objects
like cars, pictures or precious stones can't make you happy.
To conclude, I think that possessing property is not a sin, but one should
remember the proverb: "Money can't buy happiness".
Some people say that making money with the Internet is reality, while
others think it is a myth.
The Internet is not only a source of information and entertainment for
many people. It can also help them make money from home. At the same time the
Internet business may be hard to break into.
To my mind, the Internet gives people a great number of opportunities to
make money. Some of them earn money building websites for different companies,
organizations or businessmen. Many people use websites to sell different goods
or services. Thanks to the Internet, e-learning industry which is estimated to
be worth billions of dollars has developed. People also earn money by sending
spam, creating computer viruses, putting advertisements on a web page and so
on.
However, those who believe that the Internet can help them
make millions in a few days may be disappointed. Even hard work does not always
result in success. People usually have to invest some money to develop their
online business. What is more, there is usually great competition on the
Internet when thousands of other people are trying to sell similar goods or
services. So if you want to succeed, you should be original in order to stand
out from the crowd.
To sum up, the Internet may motivate people to earn money.
I strongly feel that if you are not afraid of difficulties, if you are
hard-working, energetic and persistent, the Internet business will help you
become richer.
Some people high social status very important for
everybody. Others are convinced that it is better to have a high income.
In modern societies, a person's social status depends on many factors
including their income, education, occupation, inherited wealth and position,
ownerships, personal skills, abilities and efforts. Some people achieve high
social status through education, occupation, and marital status. But statuses
can also be inherited through family.
To my mind, it is difficult to say which is more important:
high social status or a high income. Sometimes an individual's social positions
have both positive and negative influence on their social status. For example,
a teacher has a positive societal image which increases his status but may earn
little money, which simultaneously decreases it. In contrast, a drug dealer,
may have low social position though have a high income. There are a lot of
professions that are not prestigious, but well-paid and vice versa. Personally,
I would prefer having high social status to being rich.
Some people say that they would rather have low social
status but earn much money. They are convinced that money can make them
powerful and independent. Such people also say that we live in the world where
almost everything can be bought and sold, even high social status. But I think
that a person must be respected only for his or her individual merits and
achievements.
To sum up, both
a person's income and social status depend on him or her and may be changed in
the course of his or her life. So if you want to be wealthy, respected and
successful, you must work hard to achieve this goal.

LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES
Some people it very important for everybody to have a
hobby. Others do nothing but watch TV or listen to music in their free time.
Our
lives would be hard without rest and recreation. People have quite different
ideas of how to spend their free time. For some of them the only way to relax
is watching TV or drinking beer. But other people use their spare time getting
maximum benefit from it.
I strongly feel that hobbies make our lives much more
interesting. There are different kinds of hobbies such as reading, cooking,
knitting, collecting, playing a musical instrument, painting, photography,
dancing, travelling, sports and many others. So you can always find an exciting
activity which you will certainly like. Personally, I am fond of camping. To my
mind, it is a great opportunity to get away from town life. What is more,
camping is a cheap way to rest, to improve your health, to train yourself
physically and to enjoy nature.
Nevertheless, quite a lot of people have no hobby. Most of
them say that they are too busy or too tired to do anything in their free time.
But I am sure that such people are lazy and passive and their lives are dull
and uneventful.
In general, having a hobby is very important for everybody
because it is a kind of self-expression and the way to understand other people
and the whole world. A hobby makes you stronger physically and mentally, helps
you escape from reality, improve your knowledge, broaden your mind, develop
your skills and gain a better understanding of how the world works.
Many teenagers enjoy playing computer games. Some people, however, believe
that teenagers should spend their free time doing more physical activities.
Computer games are extremely popular nowadays. A lot of
teenagers play computer games in order to escape dull reality and to fight with
horrible monsters or to save the world from hostile aliens.
Personally, I am fond of playing computer games. They give
me an opportunity to plunge into exciting adventures: to overcome obstacles, to
fly an aircraft or to pilot a spacecraft, to solve different puzzles, to look
after a virtual pet, to build cities, to play sport games and even to control
the lives of people. Computer games are constantly becoming more life-like and
complex. New styles and genres appear. That's why I can't resist the temptation
to buy new computer games every month.
But according to experts, computer games can be rather
dangerous and they can harm teenagers' health. They say that computer games
make young people unsociable and passive. They are absorbed in games without
speaking to each other for a long time. A lot of teenagers can play for hours
without eating, sleeping or learning. They sit in front of the computer screen
exercising their fingers instead of doing physical activities. That's why the
levels of obesity among teenagers are rising. Besides, computer games cause
addiction.
To conclude, computer games have both advantages and
disadvantages. Violent computer games make teenagers aggressive. But
educational games help teenagers develop many skills. Anyway, it is necessary
not to forget about sports as it helps teenagers to be healthy and to stay in
good shape.

Some people prefer eating out. However, many people still like cooking
meals at home.
Different people have different tastes. Some of them prefer
eating out, while others enjoy tasty food at home. In the past people went to
cafés and restaurants only on special occasions. But they are eating out
more frequently now.
Personally, I enjoy eating out. Firstly, the choice of
restaurants is great nowadays. You can try different foreign cuisines and you
can always find something to your taste. There are Italian, Chinese, Indian,
Japanese, Mexican, Turkish and many other restaurants in every city. Besides,
you can go to bars, cafés or pubs. Secondly, many people work too much
and have no time to cook meals at home. Thirdly, they go to bars, cafés
or restaurants to meet with their friends or to celebrate a holiday. Finally,
at a restaurant you will be able to relax and enjoy tasty food, good service
and the atmosphere of festivity.
However,
a lot of people prefer eating at home. Some of them say that it is too
expensive to go to a restaurant. Others just enjoy cooking meals. What is more,
some people are sure that home meals are tastier and more nutritious than food
which is served at a restaurant or a café.
To sum up, eating at home is cheaper and more traditional. But if you want
to relax and to feel a holiday atmosphere, you will certainly eat out.
Ecotourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the tourism industry
today. Some people think that it teaches tourists to take care of nature and
wildlife. Others say that ecotourism has a number of disadvantages.
Environmental pollution has disastrous effects on nature
and wildlife. That is why nowadays many people try to damage the environment as
little as possible. Ecotourism means travelling to natural destinations with
rare flora and fauna. Its main goal is to conserve the environment and to improve
the well-being of local people.
In my opinion, ecotourism gives us an opportunity to
broaden our mind, to discover new ways of life, to meet interesting people and
to improve our knowledge of history and geography. It provides funds for
conservation and jobs to local people because tourists use local
transportation, inns and markets. Besides, ecotourism helps people understand
the environment around them, makes them respect different cultures and be
careful with nature.
However, ecotourism has some negative aspects. The
increasing number of tourists can damage the local environment. Some tourists
pollute drinking water, pick up rare flowers and disturb wild animals. They
often purchase souvenirs made from the skin of endangered animals or leaves of
rare plants and scare away animals.
In conclusion, I think that ecotourism is for environment-conscious people
who love nature, understand the negative influence of conventional tourism on
the environment and want to minimize it. I strongly feel that it is an unforgettable
experience which is rewarding at the same time.
Some people are ready to risk their lives in order to
establish a record, while others say that it is rather silly.
Every year hundreds of people do rather dangerous and silly
things in order to set up a record and to become famous. They swallow bugs,
climb skyscrapers, cross the ocean on a windsurfing board and what not. Are
these people heroes or fools?
To my mind, all these activities are just a waste of time, efforts and
money. If people want to escape everyday monotony and to get their portion of
adrenaline, I think they would better do something useful. What is more, record
breakers are often inexperienced and sometimes they get into trouble when they
climb Everest, sail across the Atlantic or do something of this kind. Thus,
adventurers risk both their lives and the lives of the people who try to save
them. Helicopter and ship crews are often wounded or killed when they try to
reach people who lost their way in the forest, were stuck in the mountain or
crashed into the sea. Such rescue missions are not only difficult and
time-consuming. They also cost much money.
But in spite of numerous warnings, people continue doing
silly and dangerous things. Most of them think that they are extremely brave,
strong and hardy. They want other people to admire them and to follow their
example. But I'd rather call these adventures foolhardy. To my mind, if they
want to get the adrenalin going, they should try such professions as rescuers,
pilots or firemen.
To sum up, the adventurer should think twice before he
makes up his mind to risk his life and health. It is always useful to think
about all possible consequences of your actions.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Technology is an important part of our lives. We use computers and other
electric equipment at work and in the home. However, some people believe we
rely too much on machines, and that the more technology improves, the lazier
and weaker humans will become.
Technological
advances are changing our lives very rapidly. Nowadays we can't do without such
gadgets as mobile phones, PCs, digital tape recorders, air conditioners, fax
machines and so on. Many people feel ill at ease without their laptop computers
or GPS navigation systems.
In my opinion, technology facilitates our lives and saves our time.
Computers help us do the most difficult sums and investigate complicated data.
People do business, communicate and do the shopping via the Internet. It is
much easier to do housework nowadays, thanks to electric equipment such as
microwave ovens, washing machines and so on.
However, many people say that technology makes us lazier and weaker. For
example, such technological developments as the telephone and the Internet have
made communication much easier, but they can cause the loss of social
interaction. A lot of people prefer communicating through a keyboard than face
to face. That is why people don't meet as often as they did in the past. A lot
of people are fond of watching TV and playing computer games. They spend hours
in front of the screen. They have no time to read books or to communicate with
their friends. They move less, speak less and they even think less. Of course,
such way of life does much harm to their health.
To sum up, people should continue to develop technology,
but they must do it wisely. Otherwise we may regret in the future.
Some people say that technical devices do more harm than good. However,
others think that it is impossible to live without computers or mobile phones
nowadays.
Nowadays people can't imagine their lives without different technical
devices. Every day we use computers, laptops, mobile phones, i-Pods, digital
tape recorders and so on.
I have always wondered if our lives could be better without these
technical devices. Personally, I can't do without my computer as it helps me
study. For example, it helps me prepare reports and create beautiful
presentations. Besides, the computer is a great source of entertainment. I
often play computer games, watch films or listen to music. The Internet helps
me learn the latest news, access useful information, communicate with my
friends and what not. A mobile phone is a vital part of my daily life. It gives
me an opportunity to be reachable everywhere and to keep in touch with my
friends.
However, many people say that technical devices enslave those who use
them. Besides, they do much harm to our health. For example, if people spend
much time in front of the screen, they have problems with their eyesight and
sleep. They don't go out or exercise, they feel exhausted and depressed.
Computer games can cause addiction and make people aggressive. As for mobile
phones, they use electromagnetic radiation which can influence our health in a
negative way.
To conclude, I would prefer a technological way of life to a natural one,
though it has a number of disadvantages. In my opinion, modern society can't do
without progress and technology. People can avoid the risk to human life and
health if they use technological devices wisely.
Mobile telephones have become very popular nowadays.
However, some people say that their use should be restricted.
Mobile
phones have changed people's lives. They give us an opportunity to stay in
touch and to be reachable everywhere. It is very comfortable, especially for
the busy modern lifestyle. So, the mobile phone has become a vital part of our
daily lives and it is difficult to imagine how people lived without mobile
phones in the past.
In my opinion, the mobile phone is a very useful device.
Thanks to it, I can access people 1 need to speak to and I can never miss
anything important. If I need some help, I just call my friends and they rush
to rescue me. If I have a meeting and I'm late, I can send an SMS with my
excuses. It is very fast and convenient. What is more, with the help of my
mobile phone I can access the Internet, send and receive photos and video, play
games, listen to music and what not.
However, mobile phones have some disadvantages. Firstly,
they deprive people of privacy and it is almost impossible to relax with your
mobile phone on. Secondly, many people are worried about the harmful influence
of mobile phones on their health. Mobile phones use electromagnetic radiation. Scientists
say that there is no significant health effect from mobile phone radiation. But
still it is better not to use your mobile phone too often.
To sum up, a mobile phone is very useful because it gives
us the freedom of movement. It has made communication much easier. But we
shouldn't forget that a face-to-face conversation is much better than just a
telephone talk.
Most people are used to sending e-mails and SMS messages. But others still
prefer traditional paper letters or phone calls.
Nowadays more and more people are sending e-mails and SMS
messages, while others say that it may lead to the loss of social interaction.
Personally, I communicate with my friends through e-mails
and SMS messages. To my mind, they have a number of advantages. Firstly, both
e-mails and SMS messages are rather cheap and quick. Secondly, they are
non-intrusive. In comparison with a call, they do not interrupt a person if he
or she is in the middle of a meeting and can't answer you right now. Besides,
there are no standard rules for writing e-mails and SMS messages, and a lot of
words can be shortened. Their objective is to convey a comprehensible message
as quickly as possible. That is why traditional rules of grammar, spelling and
punctuation are largely ignored.
However, a lot of people say that sending an e-mail or SMS message is not
the same as writing a letter. Paper letters are usually intimate and long. They
give you an opportunity to tell your friends or relatives all the latest news
and to express your feelings. As for e-mails and SMS messages, they are often
short and impersonal. You can't see the sender's handwriting, you can't feel
the crisp paper and you are not likely to re-read these messages. But I still
believe that sending e-mails and SMS messages is more effective than writing
letters.
To conclude, when we are short of time, e-mails and SMS messages are the
best way of communication. But if we want to give or learn more detailed
information, letters or phone calls are better.
The Internet has revolutionized the way people live and work. However,
some people think it has more drawbacks than advantages.
The Internet is a great source of information and entertainment for many
people. It has made possible new forms of social interaction and has become a
major source of leisure.
Personally, I can't imagine my life without the Internet. Thanks to it, I
have an opportunity to access news, documents, images, sounds, video, games and
sports reports, to make friends, to book tickets and to purchase different
things online. There are a lot of different sites for pupils, students,
gardeners, engineers, bankers, people who are fond of music, cinema, sports and
even for disabled people. What is more, the Internet has revolutionized the way
people communicate. Sending electronic text messages is much faster and easier
than writing letters. People use email to stay in touch with friends worldwide.
However, there are still a lot of people who think that the
Internet has too many disadvantages. Internet-addiction is a topical problem
nowadays. Spending much time in front of the screen becomes a kind of obsession
for many people. The symptoms of Internet addiction include sleep deprivation,
decreased physical activity and social interaction with others. People who
spend most of their time in the virtual world forget about the real one. They
neglect their relatives and ruin their families. Besides, there is a lot of
rubbish online and you can't always trust what you read on the web.
To sum up, the Internet becomes dangerous when it is
misused. But if it is used wisely and moderately, it helps you work, study or
entertain and saves plenty of time.
Internet dating is becoming more and more popular. However,
many people say that meeting people online is dangerous.
Nowadays a lot of young people feel that meeting people
online is just the same as meeting in a bar. Many of them make friends online
and even fall in love with their virtual interlocutors.
To my mind, it is silly to trust a person you have never
seen. You can never be sure that you communicate with the individual whose
personal information and photos you see. For example, a "young" boy
may turn out to be a 50-year-old man. Besides, it is very dangerous to give
detailed personal information to complete strangers. Your online friend may be
a swindler or even a murderer. So meeting such a person in real life may be
extremely risky.
On the other hand, some people say that internet dating has
many advantages. Firstly, it is easier for shy people to chat through a
keyboard than face to face. Secondly, you can search the Internet when you are
not busy. Besides, you can talk to lots of people at the same time and you can
have several online boyfriends or girlfriends. One can list all his or her
romantic requirements and then find exactly what he or she wants. But I still
believe that face-to-face dating is much better.
To sum up, internet dating may help you find love. If you
don't meet someone in real life, it seems a great alternative. But Internet
daters must be cautious because you never know what you are going to get from
online romance.
Various social networks have aroused great interest among
Internet users. However, some people say that they have a lot of drawbacks.
Social networks are very popular among users of different
ages and professions. But many people are concerned about the influence of
social networks on their lives.
Personally, I think that social networks have a lot of
benefits. Firstly, they link together users of the Internet who have common
interests and give people an opportunity to look for old and new friends, to
build communities, to send messages and to share news and pictures. There are
other sites which allow classmates from school or university to keep in contact
with each other. Secondly, many people use social networks to communicate and
exchange personal information for dating purposes. Thirdly, social networks are
being used by teachers and students. Teachers often help pupils with homework
and post assignments, tests or quizzes. Social networks also serve to foster
teacher-parent communication. Parents can ask questions without having to meet
teachers face to face. Finally, some people search for job opportunities with
the help of social networks.
However, some users are worried about data theft and viruses. The problem
is that many people give out too much personal information that may be passed
to third parties for different purposes. To protect user privacy, social
networks allow users to choose who can view their profile or contact them. This
prevents unauthorized users from accessing, adding, changing, or removing
personal information and pictures.
To conclude, the popularity of social networks continues
growing because more and more people find it easier to communicate digitally.
What is more, millions of people use them for fun as well as for business and
educational purposes.
Artificial intelligence performs quite a lot of jobs nowadays. However,
many people are worried about computers doing the same things that people can
do.
In the 90s and early 21st century artificial intelligence achieved its
greatest success. Today clever machines are taught to think and make decisions.
But is it safe that artificial intelligence is invading the world?
To my mind, computers and robots are very helpful. There
are more and more jobs which humans leave to robots such as exploring another
planet, defusing bombs or just doing boring household chores like cleaning.
Computers can perform a lot of functions: they can control cars and planes,
give us the news or compose music. Many factory jobs are performed by
industrial robots nowadays. It has led to cheaper production of various goods,
including automobiles and electronics. Artificial intelligence has successfully
been used in a wide range of fields including medical diagnosis, stock trading,
robot control, law, scientific discovery and toys.
However, there are some reasons to worry about robots.
Firstly, the use of robots in industry leads to unemployment as many jobs are
performed by machines. Secondly, industrial robots can be dangerous and cause
harm to human workers. Besides, many people fear that highly intelligent robots
may take over and destroy the human race. There are a lot of books and films
about people losing control over clever machines that begin to kill their
creators. But I believe that it is early to worry because robots are still
clumsy and not very intelligent.
To conclude, artificial intelligence serves to help people and make their
lives easier. That is why I think that we should promote research in artificial
intelligence. But people must be careful and pay more attention to security.
People have different attitude to cloning. Some of them think that cloning
opens new possibilities, while others are convinced that it is morally
unacceptable.
Scientists have always dreamed of reproducing exact copies of animals and
even human beings. They have already succeeded in this field and created Dolly,
the first cloned sheep, and many other animals. But the question of cloning,
especially human one, still remains controversial.
Personally, I think that cloning plants and animals is rather interesting
and exciting. Cloned animals may be strong and healthy and they may produce
more wool, meat or milk. Besides, cloning will help us preserve species that
are on the brink of extinction. Moreover, cloning gives people new medical
possibilities. Owing to it, scientists can create organs for transplantation
and save people who need a new heart, liver or kidneys.
However, quite a lot of people are against cloning. They
say that people must not interfere in the process of creating a new life
because it is the duty of nature. What is more, scientists don't know for sure
how clones will behave and what diseases they may transmit. As for human
cloning, it seems to be dangerous and morally unacceptable.
To conclude, I think that science must develop in order to
improve our lives. But people should be more careful when they use new
technologies and investigate new phenomena. So to my mind, cloning must be used
only when it is necessary to save lives and to solve important problems.
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's largest particle accelerator,
is expected to advance humanity's understanding of the deepest laws of nature.
However, a lot of people are worried about its existence.
The Large Hadron Collider has gained considerable attention
of the scientific community, the mass media and the general public. Experts say
that it could change physics and our understanding of the world. But why do
many people worry that the LHC would be a problem?
Personally, I'm amazed by all the interesting theories surrounding the
LHC. Scientists hope that the Large Hadron Collider will help us answer many of
the most fundamental questions concerning the structure of space and time,
extra dimensions, the nature of the dark matter and many others. There hasn't
been any advance in fundamental physics for many years, but the LHC may help us
understand how the universe works and discover new facts about it.
However, many people are against the LHC. The project costs much money and
the LHC is considered to be one of the most expensive scientific instruments
ever built. Moreover, people fear that the experiments at the Large Hadron
Collider may be extremely dangerous and that it may swallow Switzerland or even
destroy the planet. In his famous novel "Angels & Demons" Dan
Brown describes antimatter created at the LHC which is used in a weapon against
the Vatican. But according to scientists, the LHC presents no danger and there
is no reason for concern. I strongly feel that the experiments at the LHC
should continue because they are extremely interesting and nobody knows what is
going to be found.
To conclude, I believe that the LHC may change the face of
physics forever and help answer the questions that people have been asking
since the beginning of time.
The use of polygraph still remains controversial. Some
people think that this device helps detect a lie, while others are convinced
that polygraph evidence is unreliable.
It is well-known that lying causes bodily changes. A
polygraph, or a lie detector, measures the physiological stress a person endures
while he or she gives statements or answers questions. The device measures the
suspect's heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate and respiration. If there
is increased activity in these areas, the suspect might be lying. However, the
accuracy of the polygraph has been contested almost since the introduction of
the device.
Personally, I think that a polygraph is a very useful
invention. If people believe that it can detect lies, they try to answer
truthfully. In some countries polygraphs are used to interrogate suspects and
screen new employees. Polygraph examinations sometimes help extract confessions
from a defendant.
But experts say that the accuracy of this method is
questionable. According to them, if you go into the test rested and relaxed, if
you are cooperative and try to remain calm, you are likely to pass polygraph
tests. There were some cases when polygraph failed to trap known spies.
Conversely, innocent people have been known to fail polygraph tests. That is
why polygraph results are not admissible as court evidence.
To conclude, I believe that no device or expert can detect
a lie with 100% accuracy. To my mind, polygraph can make some people be honest,
but it can also be deceived.
Some people think that science plays the most important role in the
development of our civilization; others believe that our world would be
impossible without poetry.
What does science have in common with poetry? Science is a product of
people's intellect. Poetry is a product of their imagination and inspiration.
Science deals with bacteria, atoms, electricity, magnetic fields and so on.
Poetry deals with human feelings such as love, jealousy, hatred and others.
I believe that the world wouldn't develop without science. The aims of
science are making discoveries and increasing human knowledge and
understanding. Science deals with such areas as the theory of evolution, the
method of creation of the universe and the Earth, the origins of life and many
others. Science has already helped people answer a lot of complicated
questions. With the help of the latest achievements of science and engineering
we can solve many problems and make our lives better.
However, many people are not sure that all we need is
science. Some of them are convinced that our lives would be dull without
poetry. People's feelings are so intense, that they want to express them using
beautiful language. Poetry serves to stir our imagination and to evoke
emotional or sensual responses. While reading poetry we forget about our
problems and experience the poet's deepest dreams and fears. A good poem often
makes us laugh or cry. It also makes us think about other people's feelings.
In conclusion, I'd like to say that it's rather difficult
to live both without science and poetry. Science helps develop technology and
solve many problems. Poetry helps make our lives more colourful and romantic.
Besides, it helps us not to forget about human feelings, values and beliefs.
Some people think that science has nothing in common with religion, while
others are convinced that it is not so.
There seems to be an eternal conflict between science and
religion. Religious people have disagreed or are still disagreeing with
scientists in different areas. Does it mean that there is a great gap between
science and religion?
To my mind, science and religion have little in common. Science is a
product of people's intellect. Religion is a product of the mystical sense and
it requires some unquestioned faith. Science is based on observation, research
and experiment. Religious knowledge is gained from religious leaders,
scriptures and personal revelation. Scientists are convinced that there must be
explanations for all mysterious phenomena. It has already answered some complicated
questions about bacteria, atoms, electricity, magnetic fields and many others.
Religion deals with questions which science has not answered yet. What is the
purpose of our life? Is there life after death? What happens to the soul?
However, many people say that science and religion are not
as different as it seems to be. Many scientists dedicate their lives to solving
the riddle of existence. But the more they learn about the world, the more
complex and harder to grasp it seems to be. Many scientists such as Albert
Einstein or Isaac Newton were devoutly religious individuals and worked to
harmonize science and religion. What scientists call the Energy is called God
by religious people. Besides, more and more scientists are becoming religious
and they are beginning to use words like "God", "soul" or
"spirituality".
To conclude, one day people may realize that science and religion have a
common ground and that spiritual power is as important as scientific power.

YOUTH PROBLEMS
People say that youth is the most wonderful period in a
person's life. Others are sure that young people face too many problems
nowadays.
Many people are convinced that youth and happiness are
synonyms. But an Arabian proverb says: "Youth is a kind of illness cured
only by the passing years".
I have always wondered why many people believe that youth
is the most wonderful period in a person's life. From the psychological angle,
youth is a very complicated period when young people are undergoing the painful
transition from childhood to independence. They are facing psychological
problems that may cause aggression and lead to the rejection of adult values
and experience. Socially, many young people suffer from such problems as
poverty, unemployment, low incomes, or breakdown of the family. So alcohol and
drugs may become a kind of psychological or emotional escape for young people.
However, it would be wrong to say that youth is the most
awful period in a person's life. It is the time of parties, dates and
entertainment. What is more, youth is the period of many happy moments,
thrilling experiences and wonderful discoveries. Young people don't usually
have as many responsibilities and duties as adults do. They don't have to work
and they can spend their time on studies, hobbies and entertainment. Youth is
the time to make friends and to fall in love. Besides, young people are usually
active, enthusiastic and know what they want.
All in all, youth is a period which may be very complicated
and happy at the same time. It is impossible to protect young people from all
problems and difficulties that they have to overcome. However, it is necessary
to support them and to help them use this period fruitfully.
Generation gap has always been a topical problem. Some people believe that
parents and their children will never learn to understand each other. Others
are convinced that generation gap can disappear.
There have always been great differences between people of
a younger generation and their elders because of their different experiences,
opinions, habits and behavior. Nowadays differences between the two generations
grew significantly, particularly with respect to such matters as musical
tastes, fashion, drug use, culture and politics.
In my opinion, you will hardly find a teenager satisfied with his or her
parents. Neither will you find parents not grumbling over "younger
generation" of their children. Pop music, ultra-modern clothes, noisy
parties and children's wish to have more freedom become a stumbling-block on
the way of mutual understanding between adults and teenagers. So it seems that
in most families parents don't understand their children and children don't
understand their parents.
On the other hand, the situation is not as bad as it seems to be. There
are a lot of families where parents love and understand their children and help
them cope with all difficulties. Many adults and teenagers have respect for
each other's point of view. So it is possible to bridge the gap between parents
and their children. To my mind, communication is the best way to solve the
problem. The more time adults and teenagers spend together, the better they
understand each other. Parents and children should talk and discuss different
things. Besides, it is very important for both adults and teenagers to be
selfless, patient and sincere.
To conclude, the generation gap can disappear. If we are a little wiser,
we will find a key to the heart of our parents.
Many teenagers enjoy being in a collective and are united in different
subcultures. Some youngsters, however, think that subcultures are for nothing.
Most teenagers are sensitive to what their friends think of them and they
are ready to do everything to be like their peers. So many youngsters
experiment with minor delinquency, inappropriate behavior and rebellion.
Sometimes young people express their protest forming different groups and
clubs. They join these clubs according to their interests: music, style of
clothes, racial views and so on. For example, the Skinheads are known for their
intolerance to immigrants. They can be very dangerous as they attack and kill
people of other nationalities. Adolescents often join a juvenile delinquent
group to improve their status and to raise their self-esteem. There are various
groups and subcultures in which deviant behaviour and violence play an
important role and increase a youth's status. To my mind, the existence of
subcultures leads to the increase in criminality. I strongly feel that if you
want to protest, you must do it peacefully without doing harm to other people
and to yourself.
On the other hand, the situation is not as bad as it may seem to be. There
are many teenagers who don't belong to any subcultures. They are not involved
in violent or criminal behavior and they spend much time and effort on their
studies and part-time work. Such youngsters know what they want and feel that
they are responsible for their future.
To sum up, young people's lives and happiness depend on our society: on
the political and social situation in the country, on our culture and morality.
I think that if adults pay more attention to teenagers' upbringing and
education, there will be fewer subcultures and consequently fewer crimes.
Some people say that the main reason for juvenile delinquency is the
family. Others believe that there are many other factors that negatively
influence young people's development.
Nowadays the problem of juvenile delinquency is becoming
more complicated and universal. In many countries rates of youth crime have
dramatically risen. But why are more and more youngsters involved in criminal
and violent behaviour?
There are a lot of reasons for juvenile delinquency. I think that first
and foremost, the family is to blame. Many children and adolescents are
neglected by their parents and some of them suffer humiliation, abuse and
violence at home. The number of mothers and fathers deprived of their parental
rights is increasing every year. Children who do not receive adequate parental
supervision are more likely to engage in criminal activities, to truant from
school and to have delinquent friends. Wishing to prove their maturity and
independence some young people commit various offences, run away from home and
use violence against their peers.
Other reasons for juvenile delinquency include poverty, unemployment, low
incomes among the young, ineffective educational systems and so on. Many of the
crimes committed by young people are related to excessive alcohol use and drug
abuse. Besides, young people's behaviour is greatly influenced by their
friends, neighbourhood and adults as well as by the social, economic, political
and cultural conditions prevailing in a country.
To sum up, there are quite a lot of factors that may have a
negative influence on youngsters' behaviour. I strongly feel that the
prevention of juvenile delinquency is very important. More attention should be
paid to leisure and youth development activities that prevent young people from
committing crimes.
Some young people believe that while at school they should
concentrate on studying; others think that working part-time has many
advantages.
To work or not to work? That is the question which many
young people ask themselves. What advantages and disadvantages do part-time
jobs have?
Nowadays a lot of young people are happy to get some job,
for the money or the experience. They work after classes, on weekends, or
during vacations. To my mind, even part-time jobs can help them pick up new
skills, which they can develop. Working as babysitters, waiters, cashiers or
shop-assistants young people learn to be industrious, persistent, communicative
and to value time and money. What is more, part-time jobs help develop such values
as initiative, self-discipline, punctuality, practicality and many others.
Besides, a lot of young people prefer earning money to asking their parents for
some.
However, some teenagers and their parents are sure that work will
interfere with their studies and may lead to falling grades. Besides, some
young people think that it is too early for them to work. All they need is to
enjoy their carefree lives. In some families young people don't work because
their parents are rich enough and they do not need extra money they can earn.
But I still believe that work is a valuable experience for teenagers.
To conclude, it's up to you to decide whether to work part-time or to
concentrate on studying. Anyway, I think that work experience can help young
people develop the skills which employers look for and realize their own
abilities.

WORK & CAREER
Some people change their jobs every few years. Others say it is better to
work for one company for a long period.
Almost everybody dreams of having a good job and making a
career. Some people prefer sticking to one company for many years, while
others, especially young people, are constantly looking for something better.
Personally, I think that if you stay with one company, you
will have an opportunity to learn everything about it and to make a career. If
you are devoted to your profession and work hard, you are likely to be
promoted. What is more, you can make friends with your colleagues and earn your
employer's respect. So, the company that you work for may become your family.
However, a lot of people have to change their jobs very
often. If the employee thinks that his or her job is not well-paid or his or
her career is not advancing at an acceptable pace, why not look for something
else? Some people feel under impossible pressure at work. Others face
situations that can lead to stress such as poor relationships with colleagues,
an unsupportive boss, lack of consultation and communication, too much
interference with their private, social or family lives, work that is too
difficult or not demanding enough, poor working conditions and so on. If people
feel that they will hardly achieve a higher position in this organization, they
usually move to another company. In some cases employees feel that they have
outgrown their jobs and they have a desire to find something more suitable to
their personality and to develop in new directions.
To sum up, I believe that employees should decide for
themselves what to do to make a career. Anyway, both options have advantages
and disadvantages.
At present there is no difficulty in choosing a career. However, many
people say that it is not so easy to find a really good job.
Nowadays young people have a lot of opportunities to
receive good education and to find a wellpaid job. In any city there are a lot
of firms which need qualified specialists. So young people have a wide choice
of career options, but many of them think that it is difficult to find
something suitable to their interests and expectations.
Personally, I think that if you are clever, active and full
of energy, you can easily find a good job. You can even stay at home and search
the Web for vacancies. Just use e-mail, send your résumé to
several companies and wait for their offers. Then you can be selected for a job
interview and you will be asked some questions about your job history, skills,
interests and so on. If you are suitable for the post, you will be offered a
job. If not, you can go on looking for other variants.
However, making a positive career choice is a problem which
worries many people. Some of them don't know what they are good at. When young
people graduate from a University, they need to find a job and most of them
understand that it is not an easy task. Many companies, offices, firms and
factories demand work experience and that is why they don't want to employ
people fresh from school. As a result, the percentage of unemployed youth is
rather high.
In conclusion, I would like to say that if you are lazy,
you are not likely to find a good job. But if you do your best to achieve your
goal, you will certainly succeed.
Nowadays a lot of people work so much that they do not have
time to do anything else. Some people say that workaholism is a key to success.
Others are convinced that it is rather bad to be addicted to one's work.
Some people think that they will succeed only if they work
a lot. If you are the first one in the morning and the last one to leave at
night, if you take fewer vacation days and never take a sick day, you will do
better than the people who don't do that. But is it really good to be a
workaholic?
To my mind, workaholics often forget about work-life balance and suffer
from the conflict between work and family. They often sacrifice their health
and loved ones for their jobs. They are too much preoccupied with their careers
and they have no time for rest, pleasure and spiritual development. As a
result, constant fatigue, physical and moral exhaustion, monotony and
impossible pressure at work and at home may cause stress. Consequently, it may
result in a real breakdown of health. What is more, workaholism may lead to
early death, often on the job.
However, working hard is greatly valued in many countries.
For instance, there are many people who are addicted to their work in the USA.
They always think about their work and feel frustrated if they are kept from
it, even during weekends and holidays. But I believe that workaholism is not
the same as working hard. I think that everybody should realize that being
healthy and happy is more important than making a career.
To sum up, workaholism is a serious social problem Workaholics' obsession
with work is alloccupying, which prevents them from maintaining healthy
relationships and outside interests. So it is better not to overwork and to
protect your health.
According to some people, it is better to work abroad. Others say that
they would prefer working in their own country.
As nowadays travelling has become cheaper and easier, more
and more people have the chance to work in a foreign country. Millions of
people are now working overseas. However, others are convinced that it is
better to work in your own country.
On the one hand, working in a foreign country gives you a
wider view of the world. To my mind, it gives you an opportunity to work on
some international projects, to make friends with people of different
nationalities, to learn more about foreign culture, to gain useful knowledge
and experience and to learn foreign languages.
On the other hand, a lot of people say that it is rather
bad when experienced specialists leave their motherland in order to work
abroad. Our country needs good doctors, scientists, inventors, sportsmen,
writers and so on. What is more, working abroad has a number of disadvantages.
Firstly, it is rather difficult to get a work permit. Secondly, settling in can
also be a problem. Thirdly, a lot of people say they find having to speak a foreign
language 24 hours rather exhausting. But despite the challenges, many people
find working abroad extremely interesting.
To conclude, I think that working in a foreign country can
help you improve your knowledge, broaden your mind and make a career. If you
give yourself time to settle in and discover new things, you will be able to
realize your potential and to succeed. Anyway, you can always return to your
mother country and work to improve its economy, politics or culture.
Some young people say that they want their future job to be well-paid.
Others believe that the most important thing is to love what you do.
In their professional lives, many people have to choose
between love and money — between doing a job they love that doesn't have great
financial rewards, or doing a job that pays well but doesn't satisfy the soul.
Personally, I think that my future profession must be
interesting, rewarding and challenging. If it is well-paid, but boring, I will
hardly like it. I want to find a job that will give me an opportunity to travel
to foreign countries and to meet interesting people. Besides, I would like to
work on some international projects and to learn several foreign languages. My
profession should help me develop in new directions and suit my character,
skills and abilities.
However, some people don't take into consideration their interests and
dreams when they look for a job. They think only about their future salary and
they are even ready to do work that is too boring, difficult or not demanding
enough if they are paid a lot of money. Such people don't care about poor
working conditions or lack of support and communication at work. But to my
mind, it is rather exhausting to do the work that you don't like and to look
forward to the end of your working day. You will certainly feel stressed and
dissatisfied.
To conclude, most young people lack work experience and
seldom earn much money at the beginning of their career. However, if they work
for one company for a long time, they are likely to be given several pay rises
and to be promoted. Anyway, I think that your well-being is more important than
your bank account.
Teamwork skills have become highly valued by employers.
However, some people say that sometimes teams cannot work successfully.
Nowadays more and more employers demand teamwork skills.
Good collaboration by team members helps achieve goals more easily. However,
bad collaboration leads to unsuccessful performance. So what are the pros and
cons of teamwork?
Personally, I think that the more people there are in a team, the greater
productivity is. Team members can communicate, exchange their ideas and share
their experience and skills with each other. If a company has a team full of
creative people who complement one another, then achieving the goal is far more
likely. To my mind, every team member should be able to make the right
decision. A well considered decision will lead his or her team to success.
But not everybody can work effectively in a team. Some people put their
own needs first and do not think of the common goal. Others cannot acknowledge
and appreciate the contributions of other members of the team. Quite a lot of
employees try to force their ideas upon others, or look down on other people.
They are reluctant to cooperate or seek advice from other members. Furthermore,
some people cannot maintain good relationships with their colleagues and handle
criticism and complaints appropriately. As a result, such individuals find it
difficult to work with other team members and the team will not be able to
succeed. But I strongly feel that it is very important to develop one's
teamwork skills because they can help employees make a career.
To çonclude, I believe that the success of the team depends on
every its member. That is why every employee must do his or her best to help
the team succeed.
Some people think that to be a success you need talent; others believe
that hard work can compensate for the lack of it.
What is success? People define this notion in many
different ways. Success may mean the achievement of what one wants or intends,
a high position in society, one's job, course or sport. Some people believe
that success is connected with the amount of money they earn. But quite a lot
of people don't know what they need to be successful.
To my mind, if you want to succeed, you must work hard.
Even the most talented person will never be successful if he or she is lazy.
All successful people face a number of challenges at the beginning of their
career. They have to overcome many difficulties, but they don't give up. At
last their persistence leads to success. Success always goes hand in hand with
hard work and great efforts and one often faces a lot of obstacles, troubles,
disappointment and failure on the way to success.
However, some people think that if a person is not
talented, he or she will hardly succeed. As a rule ordinary people have
ordinary lives. No matter how hard they work, they can never get results.
People who are not talented, but industrious usually become good workers, but
they are not likely to make great discoveries or to invent something that can
revolutionize the world. But I still believe that one must be hard-working,
patient, and strong-willed if one wants to be successful.
In conclusion, I would like to add that people are successful if they use
all their talents and work hard in order to improve the world and to make it a
bit better.
Some people say that it is impossible to work without inspiration. Others
say that inspiration is not essential.
People of different professions have been looking for
inspiration for centuries. But we still don't know what inspiration is and
where it can be found. Many people wonder whether inspiration is important in
our lives and what makes us feel it.
In my opinion, inspiration is part and parcel of the creative process. In
this state we are capable of making discoveries, writing poems, inventing new
things and making something unusual. Every masterpiece of art, literature,
music or architecture has been created thanks to inspiration. This wonderful
feeling has nothing in common with mediocrity, boredom or idleness. When I feel
inspiration, I can work for many hours running and I never feel tired or bored.
On the contrary, I am full of energy and enthusiasm.
However, some people say that they have no inspiration. They consider
their lives to be monotonous and say that every day is exactly like the
previous one. Working, saving, planning, bringing up their children, doing
household chores — these are the daily aspects of their lives. But I think that
inspiration is everywhere and it lives in every soul. Sometimes looking at the
rising sun, falling leaves or smiling children we feel the desire to create.
Many things can inspire us and fill our head with new ideas and thoughts.
To conclude, only love of their work and inspiration can make people
create beautiful and unusual things. Inspiration is very important because it
makes us work, think, search, create and express ourselves. In other words, it
makes us live.
Some people think that the profession of a teacher is important and noble,
while others claim it has lost its positions and it is not as respected as it
used to be.
A teacher is a
person who plays a very important role in children's development, upbringing
and education. One should have some particular traits of character to be a
success in this profession.
I strongly feel that the profession of a teacher is one
of the most important professions in the world. A teacher is always responsible
for his or her pupils. He or she should encourage their inner development,
protect them from any negative influence and watch their progress carefully. A
teacher's responsibility is not only to educate a child. He or she should also
understand pupils' feelings and dreams, share their problems and give good
advice. A real teacher is a person who can inspire his pupils with interest and
love for his or her subject. What is more, a teacher may even become as
important for children as their parents.
However, some people believe that nowadays teachers are not
as respected as they used to be. Unfortunately, this noble profession is not
well-paid and it makes some people think that it is not prestigious. Modern
society respects money and power. That is why young people try to choose professions
which can make them rich and influential. Everybody is eager to make a career
and to become famous and successful. But good teachers do not strive for money
or fame. Their only concern is children's welfare.
To conclude, we should have the greatest respect for teachers. They are
deeply devoted to their job in spite of all problems and difficulties. We
should be grateful to our teachers for their help, patience and
professionalism.

MASS MEDIA
A lot of people are fond of watching TV. Others say that television
is becoming a national disease.
Every day millions of people watch TV and find it the best
way of entertainment. Why is television so popular?
Personally, I spend at least two hours a day watching TV. Thanks to
television, I can learn about the latest international and local events, I
"travel" all over the world and broaden my mind. Television gives me
food for thought, introduces me to new ideas and activities. There is always a
great variety of programs on TV: news and sports programs, talk shows and TV
games, documentaries and feature films, concerts and theatre performances.
Besides, there are a lot of excellent educational programs for children and
teenagers. They help them improve their knowledge, transfer them to different
places and develop their imagination and creativity.
However, there are a lot of silly programs and commercials
on TV which stuff our heads with nonsense. Some people don't choose what they
watch and they are glued to the screen the whole days. Watching television can
be addictive as well as smoking or drinking coffee. This fact lets some people
affirm that television is becoming a national disease. The other problem is
that there is too much violence on TV. Every day we are reported about natural
disasters, murders and robberies. We watch hits where people are killed before
our very eyes. It dulls our sensitivity and makes us aggressive.
To conclude, it's up to you to decide what to watch and how
much time to spend in front of the TV-set. All in all, television can be very dangerous
when it is misused. That is why it is very important to choose programs that we
watch very carefully and to limit our viewing time.
Some parents allow their children to watch TV the whole days, while other
parents are worried about the negative influence of television on children's
physical and mental development.
A lot of parents still don't know how television influences
children's health and development. Is it all right to let children watch TV as
much as they want?
In my opinion, it's not right that some parents use television as a
babysitter in order to keep their children quiet. Besides, many of them don't
care what films and programs their children watch. As a result, boys and girls
watch hits, commercials, soap operas and programs which are not intended for
them. As experts point out, television delays children's speech development.
What is more, a lot of adults complain that they can't get their sons and
daughters to leave the TV-set when they want to play with them or to take them
to the zoo. Nowadays some children are so addicted to television that they are
not interested in anything else: they don't read books, communicate with
grown-ups and other children. They move less, speak less and they even think
less. As a result children are becoming passive, lazy and dull-witted.
However, television has some advantages as well. There are
a lot of good cartoons and feature films for children on TV. Besides, there are
excellent educational programs and programs designed for schools. They help
children broaden their mind, transfer them to different places and develop
their imagination and creativity.
To some up, if a child's parents are clever enough, they
will choose carefully what their son or daughter watches. It is very important
to limit children's viewing time. Boys and girls should understand that there
are a lot of other interesting and useful things to do besides watching TV.
Many people watch soap operas because they find them enjoyable and
realistic. Others say that watching soap operas is just a waste of time.
I have always wondered why there is so much talk about soap
operas. Most people either like or strongly dislike them.
Personally, I don't watch soap operas. I find them
absolutely uninteresting and totally boring. As a rule events unfold rather
slowly and sometimes actors' performance leaves much to be desired. Some soap
operas have been running for several years. If I have some free time, I'd
rather read a book, listen to music or go for a walk with my friends. I think
soap operas are aimed at housewives and pensioners who have much spare time. To
my mind, people who are fond of soap operas find their own lives rather boring.
If a person's life is full of interesting events, he or she will hardly have a
desire to spend hours in front of the TV-set watching other people fall in
love, quarrel, separate and so on.
However, a lot of people say that watching soap operas gives them an
opportunity to relax, to experience the main characters' feelings and to plunge
into exciting adventures. People who like soap operas try to see every episode.
And later they discuss what happened to their favourite characters with their
friends or colleagues. Thanks to soap operas, they can learn about the lives of
rich and glamorous people. Besides, watching soap operas is the best
entertainment for old and disabled people who are confined to their homes and
who lack communication.
To conclude, it is up to you to decide whether to watch soap operas or
not. Anyway, tastes differ and what is interesting to you may seem totally
boring to other people.
Some people are fond of reality TV shows, while others are against them.
Nowadays there are a lot of television programmes that put
ordinary or famous people in different situations, film them over a period of
weeks or months, and let the viewers watch what happens every day. Reality
shows now dominate the TV schedules, but different people have different
attitude to these programmes.
Personally, I think that watching reality shows is a waste
of time. Most of them are boring and stupid. I don't care about celebrities
eating bugs or police officers chasing after stolen cars. To my mind, there are
too many reality shows on TV and all of them are exactly the same. What is
more, reality shows have become more personal and even humiliating. They are
full of awkward situations and they make people do silly things to please the
masses. So I'd rather watch a good movie.
However, millions of people love watching reality shows.
They say reality television gives ordinary people a wonderful opportunity to
become national celebrities, at least for a short period. For some people
watching reality shows is a great way to pass the time and they consider these
programmes to be rather funny. Some viewers are addicted to reality shows and
watch them for hours. But I think it is better to worry about your own life
than the lives of other people.
In conclusion, I would like to say that television should
give us food for thought, and introduce us to new ideas and activities. As for
reality shows, they stuff our heads with nonsense.

Some people say that television, radio and newspapers have changed our
lives for the better. However, others believe that the mass media has more
disadvantages than advantages.
Nowadays the mass media actually rules the world. It has a
lot of power because its tool is information and its aim is to make information
available to ordinary people.
Personally, I can't imagine my life without newspapers,
radio and television. They inform us of what is going on in the world and give
us wonderful possibilities for education and entertainment. On every news-stand
there are dozens of newspapers for businessmen, children and teenagers, sports
fans and so on. To my mind, you can always find a newspaper which suits your
interests. Television is the main source of news for millions of people. It
gives us an opportunity to "travel" all over the world. Besides, it
helps us relax and escape from reality. As for the radio, I like listening to
it in the car, in the open air, or when I do something about the house.
On
the other hand, newspapers, radio and television often inform us of dramatic
events. Many people say it makes them feel depressed. One more disadvantage is
that the media spreads gossip about different celebrities and their private
lives. What is more, newspapers, television and radio have become major
advertising media. Advertisements and commercials make people buy a lot of
useless things. Moreover, they can be harmful. For example, cigarette or beer
advertising can increase the consumption of these goods and cause problems with
health.
To conclude, it is still an open question if it is good or bad that the
media moulds public opinion. Anyway, I'm sure that people should not believe
everything they hear, see or read about.

SPORTS, HEALTH & BEAUTY
Some of my friends think it's important to do sports regularly, while
others would rather watch a sporting event on TV.
Nowadays people have to work more and they prefer to rest more actively.
Therefore they need better health, more energy and endurance in order to carry
out all activities efficiently and without fatigue. It's important to be in
good shape and to stay healthy and attractive.
To my mind, physical exercises are essential for everyone.
If you want to be strong physically and mentally, you can go to a fitness club,
a sauna or a swimming pool. Physical exercises strengthen the immune system,
improve mental health and help prevent different diseases and obesity.
Exercising is also the best remedy for insomnia, depression and stress.
However, a lot of people say they have neither time nor opportunity to go
in for sports. What is more, they feel too tired after a hard day's work. That
is why all they can do in the evening is to watch sporting events on TV. But I
think that if you don't have an opportunity to go to a fitness club, you can
just buy a treadmill or a stationary bike and exercise at home. You can also do
your morning exercises, jog, swim in summer, ski or skate in winter, play
different sports games such as tennis, football, volley-ball, basket-ball and so
on. At least you can dance and jump about your room to music for 10-15 minutes
each day.
To conclude, if you want to be slim and strong, you must
leave your comfortable armchair and exercise. It is not enough to watch other
people doing sports. Only regular exercises will help you make your life longer
and healthier.
Some parents think that Physical Education is a very important subject to
their children. Others think that PE should only be optional at school because
not everyone is equally good at sport.
There have been a lot of arguments if Physical Education should be on the
curriculum in most schools. Some parents consider PE to be a very important
subject, while others are convinced that it is up to pupils to choose whether
to attend these lessons or not.
I strongly feel that Physical Education is essential for
every boy and girl. Not every child has an opportunity to go to a fitness club
or a swimming pool because it costs much money. But physical exercises are
important because they strengthen the immune system, improve mental health and
help prevent different diseases and obesity. All children and teenagers want to
be in good shape and to stay healthy.
On the other hand, quite a lot of children have problems
with their health and they can't attend PE lessons. Some boys and girls feel
embarrassed when they can't do what their classmates can. They can't run fast,
jump high or they don't play basketball or volley-ball well. What is more, such
children often feel upset or even humiliated when they get bad marks. But I
think that PE lessons are useful for everybody. To my mind, children who are
weaker should do some easy exercises.
In conclusion, I would like to say that Physical Education is an essential
part of the school curriculum as well as mathematics, literature or foreign
languages. Of course, not everyone is equally good at sport. But not everyone
is equally good at other subjects and it is not a good reason to make them
optional. Anyway, PE lessons will help children become stronger, healthier and
more energetic.
They say, excessive exercises are detrimental to health, but some people
don't share this opinion.
In general, sport helps us to be in good shape, to become
strong and to stay healthy and attractive. But can excessive exercises ruin
your health?
Personally, I think that immoderate training is very
harmful. Firstly, a person who exercises too much feels exhausted and
depressed. He or she expands too much time and energy on doing sports. Such
people feel great pressure and tend to exercise harder and harder trying to
achieve better results. They stop taking breaks and lose touch with their own
needs. Secondly, sportsmen often suffer different injuries which sometimes can
be very serious. It usually takes them much time to recover. Finally, some professional
sportsmen take a dope, a drug which serves to improve their performance. Such
drugs do much harm to their health and they can even kill.
But in spite of all these dangers, many people go in for
sports. Physical exercises strengthen the immune system, improve mental health
and help prevent different diseases and burn calories. Exercising is also the
best remedy for insomnia and stress. People who exercise regularly are
productive, happy, efficient and calm. Exercise re-energizes them, improves their
concentration and problem-solving.
To conclude, it is generally well-known now that there are
many physical and mental health benefits that can be gained from regular
exercise. But don't forget that exercises are very useful in case they are
moderate.
The popularity of extreme sports has grown a lot for the last decades.
More and more people are getting involved in this activity. Others are sure
that it is silly of such people to risk their lives.
Extreme sports are becoming more and more popular. Some people say that
they can't imagine their lives without them. However, others don't understand
what compels some individuals to extreme sports.
In my opinion, extreme sports give one a wonderful
opportunity to release stress, to escape everyday monotony and to get his
portion of adrenaline. Those people who are involved in extreme activities say
it gets the adrenaline pumping and makes them forget about all their problems.
Besides, it is always great to take up something new. I believe it's really
very difficult to think about ordinary things when you have to survive and to
fight against environmental obstacles and challenges. It makes people feel
strong and alive. What is more, it is also an unusual way of losing weight and
keeping fit.
But some people think that taking up the extremist
lifestyle is crazy as it often involves a high level of danger. They admit that
they are afraid of diving from a plane or jumping from a bridge. Indeed, it is
not a task for the weak hearted. It requires endurance and reliance on your own
survival skills. Extreme activities often involve speed, height and physical
exertion. Besides, you will need a certain amount of money to pay for highly
specialized gear and a professional instructor.
To sum up, it's up to you to decide whether to risk your life or not. Some
extreme activities are so dangerous that people compare them with virtual
suicide. Others say that the experience is magical. But you should always
remember that your life and your health are the most important things.
Surfing is becoming more and more popular nowadays. However, some people
say that this sport is not for everybody because it is rather risky.
Many people admire muscular bronzed young men who ride a
surfboard on the crest of a wave as it carries them towards the shore. Some
people practice surfing as a recreational activity, while others think that it
is the most important thing in their lives.
Personally, I believe that surfing is a source of inspiration for many
people. It gives them a wonderful opportunity to display their strength and
agility, to release stress, to escape everyday monotony and to get their
portion of adrenaline. Surfing is an excellent sport for those who are ready to
risk their lives and to take up something new. It will certainly help you
become stronger and healthier. Anyone at any age can learn to surf.
However, many people say that surfing is very difficult.
Most beginners are not able to catch the wave at all. Surfers should be able to
control their board in challenging conditions, to ride challenging waves, and
to execute different maneuvers. Besides, the equipment and sportswear for
surfing are rather expensive. Moreover, one should not forget that surfing is
extremely dangerous. Trapped inside a high wave surfers can become totally disorientated.
One of the main dangers of surfing is drowning. Some professional surfers have
drowned in extremely challenging conditions. Collisions with sand bars, rocks,
reefs or surfboards can sometimes cause injuries and even death. Such animals
as sharks or jellyfish can also present a danger.
To sum up, if you have made up your mind to become a surfer, take all pros
and cons into consideration first.
Parkour is a sport that is extremely popular with young people. However,
traceurs (parkour practitioners) say that it is rather difficult and dangerous.
Today parkour has developed throughout the world. It is
especially popular with young men who are eager for new experiences. Parkour
teaches them to move quickly and efficiently and to overcome obstacles such as
concrete walls, high fences, hedges or rocks. But every parkour practitioner
must remember that there are a number of dangers that they need to be aware of.
Personally, I think that parkour gives you much energy and helps you
develop physical fitness and coordination as well as determination, endurance,
agility and courage. You can learn to trust yourself and to be strong. It's a
sport that teaches you to control your body and to move without being hindered
by obstacles. To my mind, it is a natural method to develop strength, speed and
power. Thanks to parkour, traceurs learn how to surmount both physical and
mental obstacles.
However, parkour is a difficult discipline to train. One of its main
dangers is falling. Young people usually practice in parks and abandoned
structures. Of course they try to avoid injuries, but everything happens. Some
reckless people who assume too much about their physical abilities and do not
take full account of the risks may be seriously injured. So parkour requires
coolheadedness, prudence, good self-control and the ability to be observant.
To conclude, parkour teaches young people to overcome
everyday difficulties and to approach problems differently. It pushes the
limits of the human body and mind. Parkour also gives you an opportunity to
explore the potential offered by your body. I believe parkour can change your
life and your attitude to everything.
A lot of people dream of being slim. They follow a diet trying to lose
weight. But others say that weight-loss diets can be very harmful.
Turning over the pages of glossy fashion magazines we see
pictures of beautiful women and handsome men with ideal figures and we want to
be like them. In chase of health and beauty a lot of people follow different
weight-loss diets. But they often forget how awful the consequences might be.
Personally, I never follow any diets. To my mind, the best
way to lose weight is to exercise. Physical exercises help you to be in good
shape and to stay healthy and attractive. Running and swift walking help me to
burn calories. I often go to a fitness club and a swimming pool. Besides, I try
to avoid fast, fried and fatty food.
However, a lot of people are keen on weight-loss diets.
Many of them stop eating anything thinking that starvation will lead to the
best results. But dieting may have such side effects as fatigue, irritability,
depression or fainting and it may result in such eating disorders as anorexia or
bulimia. I think that if you want to lose weight and to preserve health, it's
better to begin with smaller portions of food and some substitutions. For
example, you can replace a cup of tea and a cake with a glass of juice. Anyway,
one should remember that a person needs 2,000 calories a day, but it depends on
age, weight, physical activity and other factors.
To conclude, it is great to be slim, but never forget that "health is
the best wealth". All in all, if you want to go on a diet, you'd better
consult a doctor or a nutrition expert first.
Some people think that physical attractiveness is important to every
person. Others say that it is inner beauty that really matters.
People have admired beauty since ancient times. It gives us
a sense of pleasure and inspiration, keeps up our spirits and makes us
accomplish feats. But there is a kind of beauty that is not observable. It is
called inner beauty. So which is more important: a pretty face or a kind heart?
Personally, I believe that inner beauty is much more
important than an attractive appearance. People have always valued honesty,
kindness, sincerity, devotion and tenderness. In the history of mankind there
are a lot of examples when a person fell in love with an absolutely
unattractive or even ugly man or woman because of his or her wonderful traits
of character. Every child knows the famous story "Beauty and the
Beast". It is about a charming girl who fell in love with a frightening
monster because he possessed inner beauty.
However, others believe that physical attractiveness make
people happy. A person who has large eyes, a slim figure, long legs, thick hair
and regular features is usually admired by everybody. Beauty can help people
become successful and even famous. Beautiful people receive more attention,
find romantic partners more easily, get better jobs and promotions and even
earn more money. Some historical individuals have become icons of beauty,
including Cleopatra, Sophie Loren and Marilyn Monroe. But I think that most
beautiful people are capricious, lightminded and faithless.
To sum up, both physical attractiveness and inner beauty are important to
a person. But I strongly feel that it is better to have a good character than a
beautiful face. Anyway, appearances are deceptive.
Plastic surgery is becoming more and more popular. Some people think that
it can help them become happier and more attractive. Others are convinced that
there are too many risks which must be taken into account.
In modern society personal image and appearance play an important role.
Now it is fashionable to be young and attractive. Both men and women are afraid
of getting old. That is why they use plastic surgery procedures to conceal the
signs of aging.
In my opinion, the possibilities of plastic surgery are huge. It can help
you change the shape of your nose, correct sticking-out ears, reduce a double
chin and what not. Successful plastic surgery can lead to an increase in
self-esteem and confidence. Studies show that beautiful people are considered
to be more intelligent, successful and capable. Besides, they often have
increased romantic opportunities and it is easier for them to make a career and
to find friends. Young and beautiful people are more likely to succeed and they
are usually happier and more satisfied with their lives.
However, plastic surgery has its own risks including the
body's rejection of an implant, allergy to anesthesia, post-operation pains,
prolonged regeneration and others. Some people have lost their lives and
suffered disfigurement and scarring as a result of plastic surgery gone wrong.
And even if you feel good after an operation, you may be dissatisfied with
results. Surgeons can never guarantee a 100-percent success. That is why I
think that plastic surgery should be used only to remove or correct physical
defects.
To conclude, it's important to understand that while
plastic surgery has a number of advantages, it will hardly change your life or
solve your problems. Think about all the possible risks before making the final
decision to have a plastic operation done.

THEATRE, PAINTING, MUSIC & CINEMA
Some people say that the theatre is likely to disappear, while others
believe that it will continue attracting large audiences.
The theatre has existed since 2000 BC. Greek theatres were huge, open-air
structures that were able to seat thousands of viewers. Nowadays there are many
types of theatres: a comedy theatre, a drama theatre, a concert hall, a musical
theatre, an opera and ballet house, a dance theatre and others. Some theatres
are famous all over the world such as the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow or la Scala
in Milan.
Personally, I am sure that the theatre is not likely to disappear. I am a
real theatre-goer. To my mind, a good play stirs spectators' imagination, makes
them smile and cry, fills them with joy and excitement, makes them forget about
dull reality and carries them away to a fantastic country. The theatre is a
small world with its own rules, its own life and feelings. Going to the theatre
is always an exciting event for me.
But nowadays a lot of people prefer watching a movie to
going to the theatre. Some of them even say that the theatre will not last
long. Firstly, a lot of people prefer to watch TV sitting in a comfortable
armchair at home. Secondly, tickets for a good play are rather expensive.
Finally, they should be bought beforehand and one will have to stand in a queue
for a long time. But I believe that those people who say that they don't care
about the theatre have never seen a good play.
To conclude, I think that the theatre will exist as long as people love
art and enjoy a special fascinating atmosphere that reigns in the theatre.
Some people compare painting to literature and music. Others say that it
is boring to look at pictures.
Millions of people admire pictures by great artists and pay
a lot of money to become their owners. Other people don't understand why some
paintings are spoken about and valued so much. Some people are fond of going to
art galleries, while others consider it a waste of time.
Personally, I am fond of examining paintings by well-known
artists. I think that a good picture always provokes some mood. It is either
cheerful if the colours are bright and festive, or wistful if the artist uses
dull and oppressive colours. The artist tends to depict wonderful scenes of
life — the grand beauty of old pines, the formidable power of a storm or the
delicate colours of flowers. Painting gives me aesthetic experience, stirs my
imagination and makes me think about something serious and elevated.
However, some people say that they feel bored when they look at pictures.
In contrast to books which tell us an interesting story, a picture always shows
a transient moment. So the viewer should guess what happened before that moment
and what will happen later. But I strongly feel that a great artist is like a
writer. But instead of words he uses a canvas, a brush and paints. The pictures
of talented artists can really "speak". Through their pictures
artists tell us about their thoughts and feelings and open their inner world to
us.
To conclude, the masterpieces of painting, like the masterpieces of music
and literature transform experience. People will admire a beautiful painting if
they learn to understand the language of the artist.
A lot of young people think that music serves only for dancing. However,
others say that the aim of music is not just to entertain us.
There is hardly a person in the world who does not like
music. Most young people can't imagine their lives without it. But what is
music? Is it just a pleasant combination of sounds or a far more complicated
notion?
Personally, I think that music is a universal language
understandable to everybody. People compose music in order to express their feelings
and emotions. The composer speaks to us without using any words. Music can fill
us with energy and make us happy. It's known that classical music makes us feel
delighted and relaxed. And on the contrary, rock music and heavy metal arouse
hatred, violence, irritation and rage. Some sounds even have a healing effect
on people and can normalize heart rate and soothe them better than any pills.
But some young people think that music serves only for
entertainment. They like pop music, rap, dance music and heavy metal. These
musical genres help them relax and have fun. Most teenagers are not ready to
listen to such serious music as symphony, opera or chamber music. To my mind,
musical compositions by such outstanding composers as Mozart, Beethoven, Bach,
Tchaikovsky or Shostakovich should be listened to attentively and brooded over.
To conclude, the aim of music is not just to entertain us,
but to give us aesthetic pleasure, to develop our taste and love for beauty.
That is why everybody likes listening to music, dancing to it, visiting concert
halls, singing or playing musical instruments. Music plays a very important
role in our lives and it has the power to unite people all over the world.
Some people say that they are used to working or studying to the sound of
music, while others are convinced that music is a distraction.
Parents often complain that children listen to their
favoutite records while doing their homework. Some employees cannot imagine
their working day without music. But is it all right to listen to music and to
work or study simultaneously?
Personally, I think that listening to music will hardly
help you when you are studying mathematics or physics or preparing for an exam.
But music is fine when you are doing something that is duite automatic. Many
people, especially teenagers, claim that having music on while they study or
work can help improve their concentration. Besides, it makes the task seem less
boring. Some teenagers even like to do their homework to the sound of heavy
rock.
However, for many people, it would be difficult not only to
work with heavy rock music playing, but with any kind of music at all. They say
that music does not help them concentrate, and therefore study or work. Most
people need total silence to be able to work. If there's any background noise,
they get distracted and annoyed. But to my mind, loud chatter, whistle or
rustle disturb us more than music.
To sum up, it is up to you to decide whether to listen to
music while you study or not. I think that it is a matter of personal
preference. But it is not always good to have music playing in the office or
workplace. While it improves concentration or provides relaxation for some
people, for others it may be a distraction and even an irritant.
The silent film disappeared when the era of the talking film began. A lot
of people say that modern movies are much better than the early ones. However,
some people are sorry about the disappearance of the silent film.
Movies are truly the art of our time. Nowadays there are
quite a lot of interesting films among which we can find westerns, horror
films, hits, comedies, science fiction films, thrillers, romance films and many
others. But why do some people still admire the first black and white films?
Personally, I am fond of modern cinematography. Nowadays
films are skillfully made and contain a lot of special effects. They attract
people's attention with absorbing plots, stunning visual and sound effects,
exciting scenes and complicated scripts. One of the latest inventions is 3-1)
films. To my mind, it is amazing to look at objects which seem to have length,
depth and height. Besides, modern movies have become easily accessible.
However, many people like early films that have picture but no sound. They
say that modern movies have lost something. Silent films were understandable to
everybody without any words.
They were like a universal language and they united people
of all nationalities. But now films have to be translated into different
languages and dubbed. They make our imagination work no more and sometimes they
don't help us relax and forget about our everyday problems as there is too much
violence, filth and horror in them. What is more, some people say that a lot of
modern films are stupid and uninteresting. But I believe that most of them have
a successful run. They are watched, discussed and admired.
To conclude, I think it is difficult to compare modern
movies to silent films. They are absolutely different and have their own charm.
Anyway, tastes differ and everybody can choose what to watch.
Some people are fond of 3D films and they are convinced that 3D will take
over the cinema in the future. Others are against 3D films.
Nowadays production companies are putting many films in 3D. Some people
wonder if it will enhance or ruin the film they want to see.
Personally, I think that watching a 3D movie is a great
fun. It gives you a wonderful opportunity to interact more with the film. To my
mind, 3D movies prove that the technology can enhance not only the experience,
but the storytelling too. People perceive the world around them with depth. So
it would be natural to see films that are given more depth to the scene instead
of flat images.
However, a lot of people say they were disappointed with 3D
films. Firstly, some of them did not have a feeling that they got their money's
worth because of the lack of effects. Secondly, some movies have 3D graphics
added later. It makes films darker and 3D effect is often not very good.
Thirdly, some people believe that when we see 3D we lose the artistry of the
film. They also say that 3D movies are made for amusement rather than for
aesthetic pleasure. In addition, tickets are expensive and it is a great
disadvantage for people who are tight with money. They believe that 3D films
are not worth the extra cost and they are just a way for companies to boost
profits. But I am convinced that a skillfully made 3D movie is worth seeing.
To conclude, most people think that someday every movie
will be released in 3D. But you still have a choice today. If you do not want
to watch movies in 3D you can choose the 2D version of a film.
Some people think that graffiti is an art form, while others think that it
is vandalism.
Nowadays graffiti can be seen in the subway and on the
walls of many buildings. Some people, especially teenagers, enjoy examining
these drawings. But not everybody likes graffiti and recognizes it as an art
form.
I
think that graffiti is definitely art. It is so popular nowadays that it can be
seen in some museums and art galleries. Graffiti varies from simple written
words to elaborate wall paintings. One can see graffiti on many websites, in
fashionable magazines and Oen on clothes and toys. Some graffiti artists get
thousands of dollars for their paintings. To my mind, graffiti gives young
people an opportunity to express their feelings and to demonstrate their
skills.
However, a lot of people say that graffiti is the work of
vandals. According to them, it is silly and aggressive and it makes cities
ugly. Graffiti is sometimes revolutionary. It often has a reputation as part of
a subculture that rebels against authority. Besides, graffiti is still illegal
in many places and punishable by fines that is why most graffiti artists choose
to remain anonymous. But in my opinion, if the artists were given some place to
practice their art, the attitude to graffiti would be different.
To
sum up, nowadays graffiti has the status of "street art". Some
paintings are really skillfully made, while others are unsightly. Personally, I
like graffiti, but I wouldn't like to see it everywhere.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
Some people say that we should invest money in ecology
projects, while others believe that nature is doing well by itself.
The
earth is the only planet that people can live on, but nowadays they seem to be
doing everything to make their home unfit for living. Industrialization has
brought us into conflict with the natural environment. Our    is in danger:
air, water and land pollution have disastrous consequences which threaten human
life on Earth.
I strongly feel that the more money is invested in ecology projects, the
better our lives are going to be. People have technologies to make our planet
cleaner: we can control pollution, recycle waste materials, protect rare
animals and plants and install antipollution equipment. We need more
disaster-prevention programs in order to control environmental pollution, fight
the destruction of wildlife and preserve woodlands. There should be more
organizations like Greenpeace that will help protect the animal world and stop
environmental degradation. Such organizations influence public opinion and help
form a correct attitude to nature. There should be more newspaper articles,
TV-programs and science-popular films about ecological problems. They help
people become environment-educated.
However, many people still believe that nature is doing
well by itself. They use natural resources and pollute the environment, but
they don't think how awful the consequences may be. I'm sure that nature can't
do without our help. If we want to breathe fresh air, to drink clean water and
to eat healthy food, we must stop polluting the environment.
To conclude, ecological problems concern everybody and
there are ways to solve them. People must always remember that the earth is our
home and it depends on us what it will be like.
Many people think that they can't solve the world's environmental problems
on their own and that the government and big companies must care about these
problems. However, others say that individuals can do much to help the
environment.
Our planet is in danger: air, water and land pollution have disastrous
consequences which threaten human life on Earth. Most people are convinced that
something must be done to stop pollution, but they don't know if they can help.
In my opinion, much can be done by an average citizen.
People have to be smart about such things as driving a car or using
electricity. Whenever we drive a car, we are adding greenhouse gases to the
atmosphere. To make our planet cleaner and to use less energy we can try
carpooling. That is when three people ride together in one car instead of
driving three cars to work. We can also use public transport, ride a bike, or
walk. People can save electricity by turning off lights, our TV-set and
computer. We can use less washing up liquids to keep the water clean. We can
also plant trees, collect litter and recycle cans, bottles, plastic bags and
newspapers. Besides, we can buy products that don't use much energy.
But a lot of people still think that there is little they can do to help
the environment. They are sure that it is the duty of the government and big
companies to make our planet cleaner: to recycle waste materials, to protect
rare animals and plants, to install antipollution equipment and so on. But they
are wrong. Everybody must take part in reducing pollution.
To conclude, if we want to be healthy, to drink clean water and to breathe
fresh air, we should take care of the environment and help improve our lives on
Earth.
There is a lot of discussion about the destruction of rain forests. Some
people don't care about this problem, while others feel that the rain forest
must be preserved.
Nowadays rainforests occupy a relatively small area. One
can find them in South America and Indonesia, in Thailand and Sri Lanka.
Worryingly, rainforests are disappearing at an alarming rate owing to
deforestation, river pollution and soil erosion. Quite a lot of people still
don't know what effect the destruction of the rainforest may have on the world
climate.
To my mind, tropical rainforests are very important for our
planet because they are home to a great variety of plants, insects, birds and
animals. Tropical rainforests are called the "world's largest
pharmacy" because a lot of natural medicines have been discovered there.
More than half of the world's species of plants and animals are found in
rainforests. They also offer a way of life to many people living in and around
the forest. What is more, rainforests are the lungs of our planet because they
produce a significant amount of the world's oxygen.
Unfortunately, rainforests continue disappearing. Some
people say that we need more land for agriculture and more trees for timber.
They continue killing animals and picking up herbs and rare flowers.
Rainforests also have value as tourism destinations. But the increasing number
of tourists may damage the local environment. I strongly feel that people must
be careful with nature.
To conclude, if people want to be healthy and to live happily on Earth,
they must preserve rainforests. I think that governments must work together
with environmentalists to fight deforestation and to prevent the disappearance
of "the lungs of our planet".
Everybody understands that we should recycle our waste.
However, most people continue disposing of it in the usual way.
Recycling is an important issue nowadays. Unfortunately,
people have always polluted their surroundings. The development of big
industrial cities has led to the concentration of huge amounts of waste into
small areas. Disposal of waste has become a major problem. When rubbish is
burnt, this pollutes the atmosphere. When it is buried in landfill sites, it
can cause pollution of water supplies. So the obvious solution of this problem
is recycling.
I strongly feel that everybody can help recycle waste by
collecting litter and by sorting rubbish into different categories. Paper,
glass and plastic can be sold to recycling companies. Recycled waste can be
made into new products and it can help save natural resources. Some waste can
also be used to produce electricity or to make soil for growing fruit and
vegetables. In my opinion, it would be great if recycling centres paid people
for the rubbish they brought in.
But in spite of all the advantages of recycling, there is
still a lot of waste everywhere. Many people don't want to sort their rubbish.
Some areas still have plenty of landfill space and no recycling centres. They
find it rather expensive to transport materials for recycling to big cities. To
my mind, there must be more recycling centres not only in big cities, but in
small towns as well. Besides, people should be educated about the importance of
recycling.
In general, recycling is good for the environment. What is
more, it is an interesting and profitable business. If everybody made a small
effort to improve their local environment, pollution would be reduced gradually
and the global situation would improve.
FAMILY PROBLEMS
Some people like big families, while others think that small families are
better.
As someone has rightly said: "The family is the
nucleus of civilization". A person's upbringing and education starts in
his or her family and it is in the family that values, norms and ideas are
communicated from generation to generation. Families can be big and small. Some
families consist of parents and their only child. But there are families where
several generations live together and where there are a lot of children.
In my opinion, big families are better than small ones.
Firstly, when there are two or more children in the family, they are used to
helping each other and sharing responsibilities. They learn to live in a
"community" where every member is equal. Secondly, when a child has
brothers and sisters, he or she is not likely to become egoistic because
parents share their love and attention between all their children. And finally,
it is difficult to feel lonely when one has a big family.
However, some people say that they would prefer to have a
small family. First and foremost, one needs less money to support a small
family. Parents who have only one child don't have to work much and therefore
they can spend more time with their son or daughter. Besides, when several
generations live together, there is often misunderstanding between older and
younger people because of their different experiences, opinions and habits.
To conclude, it does not matter if the family is big or small. The most
important thing is that it should be happy and united. That is why it is
essential to maintain harmony and the atmosphere of love, mutual respect and
understanding in the family.
Nowadays quite a lot of young people choose to conclude marriage contract.
Others say that it is an absolutely useless thing.
Unfortunately, nowadays a lot of marriages break up. For
many men and women divorce turns into a nightmare because it is often connected
with quarrels and partition of property. Sometimes a wife and a husband can
become real enemies arguing about who will take the flat or the car after their
separation. If they have small children, everything becomes even more
complicated and painful.
Personally,
I am convinced that it is wise of young people to conclude marriage contract.
Marriage contract is a mutual consent about mutual rights and duties before
marriage, in marriage and after it. The contract takes effect on the date of
the civil marriage ceremony. It regulates property relationship between spouses
and determines their rights and duties. What is more, marriage contract can
determine property rights and duties of spouses as parents. It is very
convenient that spouses can change their marriage contract during their
marriage. They also have the right to cancel it.
However, some people say that a person who concludes
marriage contract shows that he or she does not trust his or her spouse. And if
there is no trust in the family, it is likely to break up. Besides, when young
people are going to get married, they should think about love, not money. But I
still believe that both men and women should be responsible and they should
think about their future.
To conclude, it's up to you to decide whether to conclude marriage
contract or not. But in my opinion, it makes people's lives easier in case of
divorce and helps avoid quarrels.
In modern
society old people and their grandchildren usually live separately and don't
communicate too much. Some people say that it is quite natural, while others
think that the old and the young should spend more time together.
Nowadays there are few families where several generations live under the
same roof. Children and their grandparents don't see very much of each other.
But is it good or bad for both the old and the young?
Personally, I think that children and their grandparents
should spend more time together. Children always need much attention, but their
parents usually work too much. But pensioners always have time for kids. Old
people feel useful and needed when they have somebody to take care of. They
also become more active and more interested in life and their physical and
psychological health improves. What is more, grandparents can pass their
knowledge, skills and experience to kids. At the same time the young can show
the old how to use a mobile phone or a PC.
But unfortunately, there is less and less contact between children and
their grandparents nowadays. Some families live in small flats where there is
no room for grandparents. Other families leave for big cities and have neither
time nor opportunity to visit their ageing relatives. As a result, many old
people have no contact with children and feel lonely and depressed. Children
who are separated from their grandparents also suffer from lack of attention,
love and support. So I think parents should do their best to bring the old and
the young together.
To conclude, the advantages are enormous for both the old
and the young. If grandparents and children spend more time together, they will
learn to understand and respect each other; consequently, there will be less
conflict in society. Besides, there will be fewer lonely old people and more
happy kids.
Nowadays a lot of people adopt children from overseas. Others are sure
that there are many children who need parents in our country.
A typical family usually consists of a couple with their
children. However, some people can't have their own children for different
reasons and they choose to build a family through adoptions. In recent decades
international adoptions have become increasingly popular.
Nowadays the growing number of men and women adopt children
from foreign countries including Third World countries. Every time a Hollywood
celebrity adopts a child from overseas, more and more ordinary people want to
follow his or her example. To my mind, it is not right to adopt children from
abroad only because it is fashionable and because other people say that it is
good.
On the other hand, many people believe that adopting children from foreign
countries has a number of advantages. Firstly, children's biological parents will
hardly interfere in their lives. Secondly, people think that international
adoptions help build bridges between communities and create a culturally
diverse society. Personally, I think that it is not wise to adopt children from
foreign countries when there are thousands of orphans in our country. They also
need loving families and permanent homes.
In general, it is a good deed to adopt a child either from
abroad or from your own country. Anyway, people must be responsible and they
must take care of children who need their love and attention.
Some parents think that young people would better live independently,
while others believe that it may spoil the relationships between children and
parents.
All parents dream of raising responsible and self-reliant children. But
when their nice little kids grow older and demand independence, most parents
don't know what to do. Moms and Dads can't stop wondering if they should let
their sons and daughters live independently or if young people would better
live with them.
To my mind, young people should live on their own. I believe that
children's job is to try their wings and parents' job is to let them fly away.
For example, in the USA young people usually move out of their parents' house
at the age of 18. A grown-up person who is still living with his or her parents
may be considered "immature", or "tied to the mother's apron
strings". Young people who live far from their parents and try to earn
their living are usually more responsible and emotionally mature.
Some Moms and Dads want their children to be independent so much, that
they stop influencing their lives. As a result, young people completely forget
about their parents' existence and visit them only once or twice a year at the
best. Some parents feel unhappy and lonely because they have to live in an old
people's home where they miss their children and grandchildren. I strongly feel
that parents ought to love, protect and guide their children in order to avoid
such a sad situation. And children ought to take care of their aging parents in
their turn.
To conclude, I believe that lifelong bonds between parents
and their children are extremely important. No matter how old you are or where
you live, you must never forget about your parents.
Some parents think that if their children are disobedient, they should be
stricter with them. Others say that love and understanding will help solve the
problem.
Have you ever met an ideal child? I don't think so. Small children are
very active, inquisitive and sometimes naughty. There are kids whose behaviour
can be called notorious and unbearable. They constantly give a headache to
their parents and teachers. Why does it happen and what should parents do in
such a situation?
Personally, I think that if parents want their sons and daughters to be
cheerful, self-confident and socially successful, they must be loving, caring
and attentive to their children's wishes and needs. Grown-ups ought to show
warmth and affection towards their children. Of course, sometimes parents
should be strict, but they must always remain fair. They should use punishment
and praise appropriately. I love and respect my parents because they prefer
discussions and explanations and value compromise.
However, some Moms and Dads are still convinced that if
they spare the rod, they will certainly spoil the child. They think that if
they punish their children, their sons and daughters will grow into
well-behaved adults. Such parents choose to be very strict with their
offspring. As a result, adults achieve the contrary effect: their son or
daughter becomes estranged and feels rejected. I believe that pressure and fear
are the worst methods of upbringing.
To conclude, it
is parents' duty to make their child happy. Many psychologists say that there
are no problem children, there are only problem parents. Mothers and fathers
should be wise, loving, considerate and consistent. As soon as children feel
that their parents love, understand and support them, they will have a desire
to please them and to improve their behaviour.
SHOPPING
Some people are fond of shopping. Others consider it to be a waste of
time.
Different people have different attitude to shopping. It is usually
considered that all women love shopping, while all men hate it. In reality
there are women who are indifferent to the process of purchasing things and
there are men who find shopping to be the best entertainment.
Personally, I like shopping. To my mind, it is a wonderful leisure
activity. I often go shopping just to pass the time, to get pleasure or to plan
a later purchase. Besides, sometimes I make purchases online. It is very fast
and convenient. You have access to the information about the particular product
and you can look at it. What is more, you don't even have to leave your house.
It helps you save much time and effort and encourages you to purchase more
products.
However, some people hate shopping and consider it to be a terrible waste
of time and money. It drives them crazy to look for the things they need and to
wait in long lines to buy them. They prefer to purchase everything they need in
the nearest supermarket. Sometimes they buy clothes in the sales without paying
attention to their quality and price. Such people take the first thing that
falls into their hands and don't try to look for something cheaper and better
as they can't stand the process of exploring shop-windows and counters. But I
think that department stores and supermarkets save plenty of time and make our
lives easier.
To conclude, shopping is a part of people's daily lives.
But it's up to you to decide how much time and money to spend on shopping.
Some people like supermarkets and shopping centers. However, others say
that they have too many disadvantages.
Nowadays there
are a lot of shops, supermarkets and shopping centers in every city. Some of us
are fond of spending our free time there. But the increasing number of
supermarkets and shopping centers worry a lot of people.
Personally, I am fond of supermarkets and shopping centers. A supermarket
usually offers you a wide choice of goods and you can buy food, clothes, toys,
books, disks and electrical goods under a single roof. Nowadays everything is
done in order to make shopping more convenient. Many shops work 24 hours. So
food and drinks are available at night. Some supermarkets offer extra services
such as cafés, pharmacies, banks or children centers.
However, many people prefer small shops to big ones. There
are usually crowds and long lines in supermarkets. So there is always noise and
hustle there. Perhaps, there are too many supermarkets and shopping centers
nowadays. They make us buy more and more goods. Quite a lot of people can't
resist the temptation to buy things that they don't need when they see bright
wraps and reduced prices. Shops attract the buyer with advertising, discounts
and lottery. A lot of supermarkets use the so-called psychological prices: a
little less than a round number, for example $ 9.99. Some people are addicted
to shopping. They get great pleasure from buying things and they often make
useless and unplanned purchases.
To sum up, I think that supermarkets and shopping centers are very useful.
But when you go there, you should try to be economical and buy only the things
you need. Otherwise, you risk spending too much money.
Some people enjoy buying different things, while others say
that our lives would be better if we bought fewer goods.
To buy or not to buy? That is the question. Modern society
is often called consumer society, because buying goods and services is
considered to be very important. What people need depends on their age,
character, way of life and other factors. But do we really need as much as we
buy?
Personally, I am fond of shopping. I often buy things which
I don't really need, but which make my life a little happier such as an MP3
player, designer jeans, beautiful postcards or a bar of chocolate. There is
always a wide choice of different goods in every shop and supermarket and when
I see beautifully shaped bottles and bright wraps, I can't resist the
temptation to buy things.
However, some people say that if we bought only what we
needed, there would be enough for everybody. If we buy fewer goods, we will
become "conservers" because it will help save natural resources. Some
products have too much packaging, creating more rubbish and causing pollution.
Besides, if we don't buy so many things, we won't have to work so much. We will
reduce our working day and we will have more spare time. It will give us an
opportunity to go in for sports, to travel and what not.
To conclude, when we go shopping, we should think about what we really
need to buy. It is also useful not to take much money with you and to make a
list of goods you need, so that you will not be influenced by advertisements,
discounts or promotions. Our lives may become happier and healthier if we buy
less.
Some people think that excessive shopping is a hobby and the way to spend
your free time. Others say that shopaholism is a disease with its specific
symptoms.
Many people, especially women, consider shopping to be a
leisure activity. They go shopping to pass the time and to get pleasure.
However, love for shopping is all right until it turns into addiction.
To my mind, shopaholism is becoming a global problem, with
the growth of advertizing and online trading. It can be compared with smoking,
alcoholism or drug abuse. People who are addicted to shopping say that the act
of buying gives them a high like a drug. Shopaholics often feel satisfaction
when they are in the process of purchasing. Shopping gives them a sort of
euphoria and excitement. It helps them forget about their sorrow. But there is
usually a feeling of disappointment afterwards, followed by guilt. Shopaholics
feel either regretful or depressed when they get home. Some people become so
ashamed of their problem that they may commit suicide. Furthermore, shopaholism
leads to emotional, social and financial problems. The consequences also
include ruined relationships, health problems, extreme levels of debt or even
theft.
Nevertheless, some people do not realize how destructive the nature of
shopaholism is. They don't take any measures when their friends or relatives
spend much time and money on buying useless things. But they must understand
that shopaholism is not just love for shopping. I think that people who are
addicted to shopping must receive treatment for shopaholism.
To conclude, shopaholism is a serious disorder which can lead to numerous
problems. That's why it is essential to notice early signs of this addiction.
If you catch the trouble early, the problem may be easy to fix.
EDUCATION
Education plays an important role in our life. However, some people
consider it only a necessary step in getting a job so they do not want to go to
university after leaving school.
"Knowledge is power" as the famous proverb says. It is
transferred from generation to generation and comprises different facts, skills
and information. Through learning people get knowledge and experience
accumulated by their ancestors.
Of course, higher education is not compulsory, but I
strongly feel that going to university is very important to everybody. In my
opinion, higher education gives great opportunities and opens all doors. Only
an educated person can get a good job and be promoted. Nowadays employers
demand perfect knowledge. Education helps cultivate skills and provides mental,
moral and aesthetic development. Personally, I prefer communicating with an
intelligent person who knows a lot of interesting facts and who can share his
or her ideas with me.
However, some of my friends say that they do not want to go
to university and they would better get a well-paid job soon after leaving
school. It will give them an opportunity to get work experience and some useful
skills. But I doubt that they will be offered a really good job and that they
will be able to succeed without higher education.
In general, owing to education highly industrialized cities are built, new
information technologies are developed, important discoveries are made. Without
education society would become primitive as it used to be long time ago. To my
mind, everybody must realize the importance of education as it is the guarantee
of the development and well-being of our society.
Home education is becoming more and more popular. However, some people say
it has a number of disadvantages.
Most parents send their sons and daughters to school, but some of them
choose home education for their children for some reason or other. Instead of
going to school children are educated by their parents or professional tutors.
Thousands of families in the UK are now practising homeeducation.
Personally, I think that home schooling is an excellent
alternative to traditional education. To my mind, it has a lot of advantages.
Firstly, it is very convenient because you do not need to observe school hours,
days or terms. Besides, you do not need to have a fixed timetable. Parents can
provide a more personalized and adaptable learning environment for the child.
Secondly, the family can spend more time together. Thirdly, children who have
special educational needs are home educated when school cannot meet the child's
needs. In general, home schooling gives you an opportunity to work on just what
you want and when you want.
However, a lot of people are sure that the aim of any
educational establishment is not just to give knowledge but to help their
learners develop communication skills and team spirit. Children's interaction
with pupils of their age influences their character building. School is not
only a place for the imparting of knowledge, but it's a place for the creation
and development of the child's personality.
To conclude, home schooling has its pros and cons and it's up to the
child's parents to decide which kind of education is better for him or her.
Anyway, parents must provide their children with full-time education suitable
to their age, ability and aptitude.
Some people say that online education is an excellent alternative to
traditional education. But other people believe that virtual education cannot
substitute traditional one.
Online education is rapidly increasing thanks to the development of
computer technology. It is intended for those who can't attend classes and
communicate with the teacher face to face. Education is delivered via the
Internet, multimedia resources or videoconferencing. Teachers and students
communicate by exchanging electronic media or in real time.
Personally, I think that online education is especially convenient for disabled
people and for those who want to work and receive higher education
simultaneously, You don't have to attend classes and you can plan your day as
you want. In my opinion, receiving education online may be rather interesting.
Some universities offer online student support services, such as online
advising and registration, e-counseling, online textbook purchase, student
governments and even student newspapers.
However, a lot of people think that online learning is not as effective as
traditional education. Firstly, students don't have an opportunity to
communicate with their teachers and group-mates face to face. If they want to
ask a question or to receive some additional information, they have to send an
e-mail and wait for the teacher's answer. Secondly, it is rather difficult for
teachers to control students' knowledge, to evaluate their progress, to
appreciate their abilities and to find an individual approach to everybody.
To conclude, I think that online learning is a wonderful opportunity to
receive higher education for some people, although computer-based activities
will hardly be able to replace practical or classroom-based situations.
Some people think that self-education is not very effective, while others
say that it is the only productive way of learning,
Is it possible for people to educate themselves without
help or support from others? Can selftaught people become famous and
successful?
In my opinion, people can learn without schools and tutors. You can read
books, speak to educated people or spend a lot of time in libraries or on
educational websites. Self-education has a lot of advantages. Firstly,
self-taught people are not dependent on others for knowledge. Secondly,
self-education can help you to be anything you want to be or to do anything you
want to do. Finally, it usually costs nothing and it does not require fixed
life style. Many famous and influential writers, artists, architects, actors,
musicians and even scientists were self-educated. They thought that working was
also learning and self-education was associated with creativity. For example,
Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian painter, sculptor, architect, musician,
scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor and writer was self-taught.
However, some people depend on teachers and tutors for guidance. They want
someone to help them and to show them the way. Others admit that they are too
lazy to choose self-education. Indeed, most people need somebody who will
constantly make them study and encourage their efforts to learn. So I think
that self-education is only for hard-working, persistent, diligent and curious
people.
In conclusion, I would like to say that if we learn the art of
self-education, we will have an opportunity to improve our knowledge and
acquire new skills whenever and wherever we like. I believe that the options of
self-education are very flexible and the opportunities are unlimited.
Some people think that when they don't go to school, college or
university, they don't learn. Others say that we learn as long as we live.
Today a lot of people realize the importance of lifelong
learning. In the course of our lives we acquire attitudes, skills and knowledge
from daily experience, from family and neighbours, from work and play and from
other sources. Lifelong learning means building, development and improvement of
skills and knowledge throughout people's lives and it comprises both formal and
informal learning opportunities.
To my mind, when people leave school or graduate from university, their
learning continues. It takes place at all times and in all places. Lifelong
learning is a continuous process, going on from birth to the end of our lives.
It begins with learning from families, educational institutions, workplaces and
so on. Social organizations, religious institutions, the mass media,
information technologies, environment and nature can also play a role in our
learning. I strongly feel that both children and adults need continuous
development of intellect and capability. Even elderly people never cease to
learn. They can learn a great deal from such activities as art, music,
handicrafts or social work. Lifelong learning helps people adapt to the modern
life which is constantly changing.
However, there are many unintelligent and ignorant people
in the world. Most of them lack willingness and motivation to learn. Some
people are not ready to invest time, money and effort in their education or
training. Lifelong learning must be self-motivated because people usually take
responsibility for their own learning.
To conclude, I think that lifelong learning is extremely
beneficial because it helps adapt to changes, develop natural abilities and
open the mind. It increases our wisdom and makes our lives more interesting and
meaningful.
Some people believe that exams are the best way to check the student's
knowledge. Others are convinced that exams don't always accurately measure the
level of knowledge.
Most people have to get through exams at certain points of their lives.
But what is the real purpose of taking exams? How important are they and do
students benefit from them?
I strongly feel that examinations are extremely useful because they make
all students face an intellectual challenge and test their knowledge, skills
and abilities. Exams encourage young people to improve their knowledge of the
subject and to revise information which has been learnt over a period of time.
Students always know that they are to take exams at the end of the term and
learn the new material little by little so that they won't have to cram later.
On the other hand, young people who often miss classes
sometimes receive passing grades as easily as those who have attended classes
regularly. When such students perform well on exams, it is obvious that they
have crammed or figured out a way to cheat. Besides, while for some people
taking exams is no big deal, most of us feel stressed. If a student looks
confused and worried and can't answer the teacher's question, it may be the
result of his or her nervousness. Unfortunately, exams cannot determine stress
factors and tell honest students from cheaters. But of course it does not mean
that exams must be abolished. Though exams are not always the best method of
evaluating the student's knowledge, they have a lot of advantages and help
teachers understand whether students are ready to be promoted to the next
level.
To sum up, I think that examinations are important because they are a step
toward students' future success.
Many people think that homework is essential for every pupil. Others
believe that it is of little educational value and it may have a negative
effect on learning.
Some people think that homework is rote work which takes up
children's time, without offering any benefit. But others say that though
boring, homework is going to benefit pupils later in life.
Personally, I think that homework plays an important role
in the pupil's education. Firstly, it teaches children to be responsible and
hard-working because it fosters independent learning. Secondly, homework helps
reinforce what pupils have already learnt, prepare them for upcoming lessons
and extend what they know. So homework assignments make children learn more and
revise the material that they have learnt at school. Thirdly, homework provides
an opportunity for parents to participate in their children's education.
However, too much homework is not good as children also
need some time to relax, exercise and play. Homework takes a lot of time and
effort. Some pupils sit up and do their homework all night. It is a well-known
fact that lack of physical exercises and good sleep leads to stress, heart
attacks and obesity. What is more, some pupils do not have good dictionaries,
encyclopedias, computers with a good internet connection and parents who can
help them. As a result, children have great difficulty in doing their homework
and begin to hate it. But I believe that if pupils were not given homework,
they would spend their free time having fun or even doing something illegal.
To sum up, teachers need to know what their pupils
understand and can do independently. Therefore, they give pupils homework
assignments. I am convinced that homework gives you an opportunity to increase
your knowledge, to improve your abilities and skills and to grasp new concepts.
Most people think that it is very important to be literate. However, some
of them say that literacy is not essential.
The 21st century is the age of information and
technological advances. However, millions of people all over the world remain
illiterate. Even in developed countries a lot of people have low literacy
levels.
We live in a society where most people are literate. That
is why a person will feel ashamed and ill at ease if he or she can't read or
write as well as others do. As a rule such a person is considered unintelligent
and ill-bred. To my mind, people who make a lot of spelling and grammar
mistakes and who can't pronounce words correctly find it difficult to find
jobs, even when reading and writing are not necessary for the work. What is
more, statistics show that illiterate people are poorer and have worse health.
But in some families children don't have an opportunity to
go to school for different reasons. Such situation is wide-spread in Third
World countries. In some families parents don't read books and never write
letters or postcards. Reading and writing don't play a big part in their lives.
Such people make a lot of mistakes when they speak, but it does not necessarily
mean that they are stupid or ignorant. They can be good workers and they can
have much experience and worldly wisdom.
To conclude, I think that literacy is very important for
everybody. It helps us communicate with other people and find a good job.
However, the ability to read and write doesn't make people happy.
Some people are convinced that holidays, traditions and rituals play a
very important role in education. Others don't find it necessary to observe
traditions at school.
Traditions, holidays and rituals link the present with the past, help pass
the knowledge, experience, wisdom, skills, habits and practices of the older
generations to the new ones. So it seems necessary to make them part and parcel
of the process of studies.
I strongly feel that children, teenagers and young people should know and
observe the traditions of their country. Holidays, traditions and rituals help
pupils learn more about the history and culture of their country. Celebrating
national and local holidays makes young people united and has a great impact on
their character-shaping. To my mind, children should also know the origins of
some holidays and the way they are celebrated in other countries.
However,
some people are convinced that while at school pupils should concentrate on
such subjects as mathematics, physics, chemistry or foreign languages. Most
parents don't find it necessary to overburden children with additional
information when they have so much homework to do. Besides, they don't
understand how schools can integrate traditions, holidays and rituals into the
curriculum. But I think there are many interesting ways to do it. For example,
teachers can prepare lessons devoted to some public holidays or local occasions
such as celebrations of birthday anniversaries.
To conclude, our future depends on the younger generation and adults must
teach them to preserve the holidays, customs, ceremonies, traditions and
rituals that have become part and parcel of our existence. We should adopt
other people's experience and wisdom. And it is wellknown that holidays, traditions
and rituals hold them in full measure.
Some people think that creativity is an essential ability which must be
taught at school. Others say that creativity is not very important.
Teaching creativity is becoming a topical issue nowadays.
But many people still doubt if this ability is essential for modern life.
To my mind, teaching creativity is extremely important
because school leavers and university graduates face a lot of challenges in
real life. Nowadays employers demand not only perfect knowledge and work
experience, but different qualities including creativity. If you want to become
a good specialist, you should be able to produce new and original ideas and to
use your imagination and inventiveness. Creative people do their work faster
and without much difficulty, while a person who lacks creativity does it under
pressure, forcing his or her brain. So creative individuals are more likely to
succeed, that it why teachers should focus on creativity rather than
conventional skills.
On the other hand, creativity is not always encouraged at
school. When pupils are given different tasks, they are often supposed to do
them following examples and the teacher's directions. There is too much control
at school and too little freedom. Besides, many tasks are not interesting and
they don't teach students to solve problems and to make decisions. If teachers
want to develop pupils' creativity, they should let them make mistakes,
experiment, express their ideas and look for unusual ways of problem-solving.
Children should be taught to be original. They should also be taught to think,
to make suggestions and to rely on personal judgment rather than actual facts.
To sum up, creativity is an engine of success. In my opinion,
both pupils and teachers must work hard to develop children's creativity
because it will help them realize the full extent of their own
Some people say
that punishment should be used in class to achieve discipline and to make
pupils study hard. Others are convinced that punishment does not motivate pupils
to study well.
There is still a lot of argument if punishment must be used
in schools. Traditionally pupils are punished for poor progress, cutting
lessons, lying, untidiness or rudeness. But some parents think that schools
have very strict rules and that teachers sometimes demand too much.
Personally, I think that if pupils don't work hard enough
and behave inappropriately, they should be punished. For example, if the pupil
receives bad marks, the teacher can phone his or her parents and tell them
about their child's poor progress. As a rule, Moms and Dads know how to punish
their son or daughter. Parents can forbid their children to watch TV, play
computer games or leave the house during the free time in the evenings. To my
mind, it is useful to give pupils some extra work such as writing an exercise
or an essay, copying out a paragraph from a textbook, learning a poem by heart
and so on. It will help pupils improve their knowledge and it will certainly
teach them a lesson.
However, some people believe that any kind of punishment
humiliates pupils and makes them fear and suffer a shame. Such people say that
it is better to use awards to motivate boys and girls to study hard and to
behave well. According to them, good marks or praise show pupils how much their
work is appreciated and valued. But to my mind, teachers should use both
punishment and awards.
To conclude, there are plenty of ways for teachers to control academic
progress and to discourage pupils from breaking school rules. Anyway, I
strongly feel that strict systems usually work well.

GLOBAL PROBLEMS
It is reported that billions of dollars are spent on space
exploration projects every year. Some people believe that this money should be
used to solve problems on Earth.
People are explorers by nature and space has always
attracted them. But is it wise to spend so much money on space exploration
projects when we have so many problems on Earth?
In my opinion, space exploration is very important to
mankind. Firstly, satellites are used for radio, television, and other electronic
communication. Satellite television provides us with a great number of
channels, mobile phones facilitate communication, GPS that uses radio signals
from satellites can show you your exact position on the Earth. Secondly, thanks
to space equipment we can learn the weather forecast and predict different
cataclysms. What is more, people have always dreamed of reaching other planets
and finding other forms of life. So I think that the more money is spent on
space exploration projects, the more people learn about the universe and their
own planet.
On the other hand, a lot of people say that it is better to
solve the problems on Earth first of all. Unfortunately, we face a great number
of problems nowadays: environmental pollution, the greenhouse effect, global
warming, acid rain, ozone depletion, overpopulation and many others. People
pollute lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. They destroy forests, kill rare
animals, pick up herbs and flowers, envenom soil and make the air foul. The
world's population increases faster than the food supply. Each year millions of
deaths occur from starvation, especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
To conclude, I think we must solve problems on Earth first. To my mind,
people can do without satellite television, but they will hardly be able to
live without food, clean drinking water, fresh air or electricity.
Some people approve of multiculturalism. However, others have a negative
attitude to it.
The modern world can be called multicultural due to racial,
cultural and ethnic diversity. Through the process of globalization and
immigration modern society has become a mixture of different nations and
cultures. However, different people have different attitude to
multiculturalism.
Personally, I believe that multiculturalism supports the ideals of a
democratic society in which every person is free and equal in dignity and
rights. It leads to understanding, friendship and respect among racial and
ethnic groups. All people are equal which enables them to participate fully in
the social, cultural, economic and political life irrespective of their race,
religion, colour of skin or origin. What is more, thanks to multiculturalism we
can enjoy foreign goods, food, music, ideas, technologies and practices. To my
mind, the positive attitude to multiculturalism plays a very important role in
the fight against all forms of extremist action.
But unfortunately, some people have a negative attitude to
multiculturalism as they believe that it erodes social stability. People's
prejudices and fears may lead to racial discrimination, social conflicts and
violence. I strongly feel that it is wrong to think that one's own race or
ethnic group is more important than others and that its culture is superior to
the culture of other groups.
To conclude, people should be understanding and tolerant of
multiculturalism because it helps us create a united and harmonious society
where every member enjoys equal rights.
Our grandparents say their way of life was much more
secure. However, young people have more life opportunities nowadays.
A lot of elderly people like talking about good old days
and they often say that life in the past was much better than life today. But
is it really so?
Personally, I think that modern life is more satisfying
than the life in the past. Firstly, nowadays there are different technical
devices that make our lives easier and save our time. Every day we use
computers, laptops, i-Pods, digital tape recorders, GPS navigation systems and
so on. The mobile phone and the Internet have made communication much easier.
Secondly, travelling has become faster and more convenient. Thirdly, young
people have more opportunities to receive good education and to find a
well-paid job nowadays. In any city there are a lot of educational establishments
and a great number of firms which need qualified specialists. Besides, there is
a wide choice of entertainment in a big city.
However, modern life is full of dangers. The Internet causes addiction and
the loss of social interaction. Technical progress harms the environment.
People suffer from acid rains, the greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, the
extinction of rare animals and plants and other calamities. Overpopulation is
another reason for environmental problems as the more people there are on
Earth, the more they pollute. Thousands of people are infected with AIDS and
other incurable diseases every day. What is more, modern life is full of
stress.
To sum up, modern life has its advantages and disadvantages. On the one
hand, it is eventful and it gives us more life opportunities. On the other
hand, it is rather dangerous and full of problems. Anyway, I prefer the
excitement of the present.
Everybody knows that smoking is dangerous and it must be
banned. However, more and more people smoke today.
It is not a secret that smoking ruins people's health. However, statistics
show that millions of men, women, teenagers and even children practice smoking.
I have always wondered what makes people light up a
cigarette. Smoking is extremely dangerous. Nicotine is a drug that causes
addiction like heroin. Smoking causes a lot of serious diseases such as many
forms of cancer, heart attacks, asthma, bronchitis and many others. People who
smoke have yellow teeth, bad breath, dry skin and premature wrinkles. What is
more, smokers do harm to the health of those people who surround them.
But in spite of all warnings, people continue smoking. Some
of them say that they like the taste or smell of cigarettes or because it helps
them steady their nerves and think. Others say that it helps them make friends
and feel relaxed in a company of smoking people. For many children and
teenagers smoking is the first step out of childhood. But I strongly feel that
it is silly to begin smoking in order to show off.
To sum up, smoking shortens people's lives. That is why
there must be more restrictions, bans and anti-smoking advertising in every
country. Smoking must be banned in public places, including offices,
restaurants, bars and night clubs.
Our life is full of stress. Some people say that they feel stressed almost
every day, while others think that it is possible to cope with stress and to
relax.
There are a lot of stressful events in our lives. Losing a
job, having difficulties at home or at work or just moving to a new flat may
cause stress. Besides, we may feel stressed because of constant fatigue,
physical and moral exhaustion and monotony. Some people say that it is
impossible to avoid stress. But is it really so?
It is a well-known fact that stress may result in a real
breakdown of health. That is why it is very important to try to avoid stress or
at least to minimize it. In my opinion, one of the best ways to cope with
stress is to keep a sense of humor in difficult situations. I think laughter is
the best medicine for all diseases. Besides, if you feel depressed, you can try
some relaxing hobbies such as yoga, swimming, bicycling, painting or gardening.
Of course, people react to stress in different ways. Some of us are more
vulnerable to it than others. A lot of people don't know how to cope with
stress. They begin overeating, smoking, drinking, and even taking drugs. But
junk food, cigarettes, sleeping pills and alcohol don't help. On the contrary,
they make things much worse. I believe that the best way to cope with stress is
to forget about your problems, to take breaks and to be enthusiastic.
Unfortunately, stress is inevitable. It may have a negative
influence on our physical and mental health. But sometimes stress helps us
develop and makes us stronger. To my mind, the main thing is not to lose
control and to stay positive.
A lot of people believe that it is impossible to get rid of
poverty. Others say that poverty can be reduced.
Nowadays millions of people live in poverty. They are
deprived of common necessities such as food, clothing, shelter and safe
drinking water. They also suffer from the lack of access to opportunities such
as education, information, health care and employment.
I have always wondered if it is possible to get rid of
poverty. I strongly feel that it is not fair that the rich live in luxurious
houses and drive expensive cars, while the poor lack access to health services,
suffer hunger and experience mental and physical health problems. All people
are born equal. So why do they live in different conditions? To my mind, there
must be more poverty reduction programs as well as institutions dedicated to
tackling poverty. In politics, the fight against poverty must be regarded as
the most important goal. Besides, developed nations ought to help developing countries.
However, it is not so easy to fight poverty. Poverty may be
caused by different factors including geographic factors, unemployment,
overpopulation, war, discrimination and many others. So if we want to reduce
poverty, we must solve quite a lot of global problems first.
To sum up, the problem of poverty remains unsolved
nowadays. In my view, governments must take some urgent measures to fight
poverty because it often goes hand in hand with crime and it may destroy
society. Anyway, poverty must be reduced for reasons of justice and security.
Most people are worried about the problem of overpopulation. Others think
that the situation is not as terrible as it seems to be.
At the present time the earth accommodates more than 6 billion people. The
world's population is growing so fast because people live longer owing to
better medical care and nutrition. Besides, more babies are born, especially in
developing countries. But how can overpopulation threaten people's life on
Earth?
In my opinion, overpopulation makes the standard of living worse. The
world's population increases faster than the food supply. Each year millions of
deaths occur from starvation, especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America. If
the world's population continuous growing, it will be very difficult to produce
enough food and goods. More people need more water, minerals, shelter and
clothes. Population growth is another reason for environmental problems as the
more people there are on Earth, the more they pollute. They drive cars, throw
away litter, cut down forests, use electricity, build roads and plants and
deplete the planet's resources.
On the other hand, in many European countries the average
woman has only one child. In many big cities fertility rates are falling
because some people think that it is rather expensive to have a child. Most
young women dream of making a career. So they say they have much to lose by
becoming mothers. As a result, families are getting smaller and smaller.
To sum up, the real situation is not so bad. To my mind, the problem of
overpopulation can be solved if there is population control in some countries.
Anyway, nobody knows what will happen to the human race in ten or twenty years.
Some people are convinced that the concept of pacifism may
become reality, while others say it is a kind of utopia.
Humans have always been competing for better life.
Pacifists believe that war and violence are always wrong. But is it really
possible to create the world where nonviolence, love and patience rule or is it
just a dream?
I strongly feel that since nuclear weapons appeared, people
have understood that war cannot be used to settle confrontations. To my mind,
the costs of war are so substantial that better ways of resolving disputes must
be found. Fortunately, some countries have already adopted pacifism to conduct
foreign policy. They reject war and stick to a neutral role. Some pacifists say
it is necessary to establish a world government in order to prevent and control
international aggression.
In theory, people are creating a "peace-loving"
society. In practice, there are still some military conflicts and tension
between different countries. Civilization is still far from establishing a
world government. What is more, the modern world is not perfect enough to avert
wars. But I'm convinced that nonviolent action is morally superior and more
effective.
To conclude, everybody wants to live in a peaceful world.
That is why people must reduce regional and international conflicts and avoid
all attributes which could tend to war. I believe that international disputes
can and must be peacefully resolved. All in all, any violence is morally wrong.
Some people say that gambling is just entertainment, while others are
convinced that it ruins gamblers' lives.
For centuries people have spent a lot of money trying to
beat the laws of probability. Some of us find gambling quite innocent. But most
people believe that gambling is one of the worst temptations that exist in this
world. This problem is taking on greater proportions as gambling, especially
online gambling, becomes more popular.
I have always wondered what makes people risk their money
or possessions. Of course, everybody hopes to gain an income. Some people even
succeed in winning additional money or material goods. Others consider gambling
to be a form of recreation. They enjoy gambling for the thrill of it, and they
both have fun and earn a little money.
But while some people enjoy the entertainment value of a
horse track or casino, others can become addicted to gambling which threatens
their financial and family's well-being. Many gamblers are possessed by the
idea of getting rich quick. They often continue risking their money even after
repeated losses. In my opinion, an addiction to gambling is like an addiction
to any other thing. However, since it does not have any physical signs, most
people discover that their relatives or friends are addicted only when it
becomes too late. What is more, many people say that casinos contribute to
crime because some gamblers resort to stealing.
To conclude, gambling must be banned or at least heavily
controlled. Unfortunately, quitting gambling is just as hard as quitting
smoking or taking drugs. I believe that gambling addicts must receive medical
treatment. Otherwise they may ruin their lives and the lives of their nearest
and dearest.
Some people say that in the modern world we are losing our
sense of spirituality. Others are convinced that people still need faith.
In the past faith played a central role in people's daily
lives. But the situation is quite different today. A lot of people never attend
religious services of any kind and some of them say they have no religion at
all. But what could have brought about such a dramatic break from tradition and
how can it influence our way of life?
I have always wondered what role faith plays in our lives.
In my opinion, faith can help people cope with difficult emotions or moral
decisions. When everything goes wrong and you feel extremely unhappy, faith can
help. I think that a person who believes in God has courage, hope, confidence,
calmness and assuring trust that all will come out well. Faith helps people
overcome all difficulties and remain optimistic whatever happens.
Unfortunately, scientific advances have made many people
question their religious beliefs. The terrible events of the 20th century have
also made others question the existence of God. A lot of people say that
science is more important than religion because it tries to solve the problems
connected with reducing pollution, protecting biological diversity, saving
energy and natural recourses and many others. But I strongly feel that if we
want to resolve the global crisis and to improve our cultural, social, economic
and political systems, we need faith and spirituality.
To conclude, people need to change their attitudes, values
and beliefs. Faith can help us become kindei, more generous and responsible. I
believe that it will make our lives much happier.
Some people prefer to escape from boring reality from time to time. Others
say that escapism cannot help them solve their problems.
People have always tried to escape from reality in one way or another.
They try to forget about bad or boring things with the help of different
activities and entertainment such as reading books, going to the theatre,
travelling and so on. But does it help people change their lives for the better
and what are the possible consequences of escapism?
To my mind, people escape from reality for different
reasons. Some of them are dissatisfied with their lives and don't know how to
improve the situation. Others have dreams that they think will never come true
because these people lack self-confidence and have low self-esteem. I strongly
feel that if people are dissatisfied with their lives, they must do something.
To forget about your problems and to solve them are two different things.
Nevertheless, some people prefer to follow the line of
least resistance and never to take risks. If something goes wrong, they usually
give up and never make one more attempt. They prefer to forget about all bad
things that happened to them. Some philosophers say that escapism is not
exclusively negative. It is just a different reality. But I believe that
escapism is only for weak and indecisive people.
To sum up, those who escape from reality don't want to
accept themselves as they are. They often feel depressed and unhappy because
they are unable or reluctant to connect with the world. I think it is better to
face the reality and try to solve your problems and overcome difficulties.
Anyway, it is impossible to escape from something all the time.
Some people say that capital punishment should be allowed,
while others are convinced that it is unacceptable in a human society.
Capital punishment has been used for a wide variety of
offences since ancient times. Nowadays many countries have already abolished
the death penalty, but it is still used for certain crimes in the USA, China,
Japan and many Asian and Middle Eastern countries.
Personally, I am not sure if capital punishment should be allowed. To my
mind, it is morally wrong to kill criminals, no matter what they have done. The
death penalty runs counter to the principles of humanism. There is also a
possibility that innocent people will be executed and that there will be no way
of compensating them for such injustice. Opponents of the death penalty are
convinced that it is needlessly cruel and that life imprisonment is a more
rational alternative.
However, some people believe that capital punishment is morally right if
it is used for punishing murderers. Firstly, capital punishment removes the
most dangerous criminals from society and should prove much safer for the rest
of us than long term or permanent incarceration. Secondly, the fear of death
penalty may prevent many people from committing crimes. Besides, some people
think that it is wrong to keep criminals in prison at the expense of taxes. The
government would better spend more money on the old, the young and the sick
rather than on murderers. But can we deprive a person of his or her life? Do we
have the right to murder? I don't think so.
To conclude, I believe that the death penalty removes our humanity. In the
case of the worst criminals, this may be acceptable but it is more questionable
in the case of less awful crimes.
The problem of xenophobia is discussed by many people
nowadays. Some of them say that it is important to be tolerant, while others
disagree with this point of view.
I have always wondered why some people have strong fear or
dislike of those from other countries. The problem of xenophobia is very
topical nowadays. It is especially widespread in large cities with
multinational population.
Tolerance is a respectful attitude to people who differ
from us. To my mind, it is prejudice to think that some races are superior and
some of them are inferior. I strongly feel that it is primitive and silly to
divide people into types and classes. In my opinion, we should treat another
person as an equal.
However, in reality some people have a feeling of distrust
and aversion to something or someone different and unusual. They are used to
understanding those people who have the same traditions and who speak the same
language as they do. And that is why people of other nations seem strange.
Unfortunately, people's intolerance may lead to racial discrimination, social
conflicts and violence. So we must develop mutual understanding and respect.
Besides, we should learn to make a compromise.
To conclude, tolerance is a very important element of our lives, culture
and communication. It is another word for humanity, equality and fairness.
Tolerance is very important if we want to have happy future and global
security.
It seems that people of different nationalities will never understand each
other. However, others believe that countries can work together to improve
tolerance.
Today we live in the world of racial, cultural and ethnic
diversity. People differ in appearance, colour of skin, way of thinking,
customs and behaviour. Every race has its own culture and its own beliefs. That
is why there is often some misunderstanding between people of different
nationalities. So the question arises if anything can be done in order to
improve tolerance.
To my mind, governments can do much to improve tolerance.
Some international conferences and meetings can be organized in order to
discuss the most vital problems of people of different nationalities and to
exchange experience. I think it is very important to work out educational
programs for universities, colleges, schools and even kindergartens. We must
teach children, teenagers and young people to be patient, respectful and
tolerant. And of course we mustn't forget that family upbringing is of great
importance for any child, that's why countries should think about special
educational programs for parents.
However, many people say that some misunderstanding between
people of different nationalities will always exist. Watching the latest news
on TV we can always learn about military conflicts and racial strives. People
are accustomed to cruelty and their behaviour becomes aggressive and
uncontrollable. And if they feel angry and depressed, they want to find
somebody to blame for their troubles. So they blame people of other
nationalities and vent their anger and vexation on them. But I think that in
spite of all this, we must co-exist peacefully.
To sum up, if there is tolerance among people, we shall
live in harmony. But it will be possible only if we plunge into the culture,
religion, traditions and language of other nations.
Disabled people are often considered to be miserable.
However, some people believe that the disabled are much happier nowadays.
Most of us think that disabled people are extremely unhappy because they
are confined to their homes and cannot perform the same functions that we do.
But others are convinced that it is it just a stereotype.
To my mind, the lives of disabled people are easier
nowadays. Firstly, in many European countries public buildings have ramps and
toilets big enough for wheelchairs. Secondly, many companies are not allowed to
refuse a person a job on the grounds that he or she has only one leg, or cannot
speak. Thirdly, thanks to different things like the Para Olympics disabled
people's selfesteem has risen enormously. Today they have realized their
ability to compete with everyone else. Finally, new technology works wonders.
For instance, artificial limbs enable people to walk and run as fast as
everyone else. Cars are adapted so that people can drive them with only one
leg, or even no legs at all.
However, in many developing countries there are no
facilities for disabled people. What is more, it is fashionable to be beautiful
and healthy in modern society, so a handicapped person may become an outcast.
Most disabled people suffer from loneliness and lack of communication. Some of
them become burdens on their families because they are unemployed and depend on
their relatives. But I think that many disabled people are very talented. They
can work, support their families and contribute to society.
To conclude, I strongly feel that disabled people have
rights just like everyone else. They are part of society and they must never be
forgotten or left behind.

ANIMALS
In Western countries, people spend a lot of money on their pets. They buy
special food and toys for their cats and dogs and often pay high fees for
medical treatment. Some people think this is a waste of money, and argue that
pets are dirty and dangerous.
In many Western countries people are fond of keeping pets.
However, others say that pets are often dangerous and aggressive.
Personally, I think that people can benefit from pets in
many ways. First of all, animals are usually devoted to their owners and love
them. You will hardly feel lonely and depressed if you have a pet. Secondly,
pets help people stay healthy. For example, doctors have found out that people
who have high blood pressure feel much better when they stroke pets and talk to
them. What is more, pets encourage their owners to get out and exercise. Dog
owners usually spend much time walking which helps them improve their overall
health. It is a well-known fact that people who have pets are happier and live
longer than those who don't.
But many people
say that they are too busy to take care of animals. Others think that it is too
difficult and time-consuming to keep pets. Cats, dogs, birds, fish, hamsters
and other creatures require not only human love and kindness but also food,
medical care, training and shelter. You must feed them regularly, keep them
clean, go to the veterinarian for their yearly checkup and so on. It takes much
effort and causes extra expenses. It is also obvious that animals make a lot of
noise, may look untidy and disturb the members of your family.
To conclude, it's important to realize that owning a pet is
a great responsibility and additional work. However, for most people, the
advantages of having a pet outweigh the disadvantages. Anyway, everybody must
remember that all pets need love and care just as people do.
Some people believe that animals without owners should have the right to
live on the streets in cities. Others say that they could be dangerous and
should be collected and found new homes, or even put down.
Unfortunately, many cats and dogs suffer abandonment,
cruelty and neglect nowadays. Some of us think that it is quite normal and there
is no need to change the situation. But others are convinced that some urgent
measures must be taken in order to improve the lives of homeless animals.
To my mind, the lives of homeless cats and dogs are full of
hardships: they starve, catch different diseases and suffer from cold and
people's cruelty. Furthermore, they may be rather dangerous because people may
get infection from them. Besides, stray dogs may attack people and even kill
them. In my opinion, living on the street is not a right, but a necessity for
poor creatures that have no choice. I think that volunteers should catch
homeless animals, provide them with food and medical care and try to find home
for them. But I am against killing homeless cats and dogs because I find it
inhumane.
On the other hand, some people believe that many owners
cannot provide good homes for their pets and the full lives that they deserve.
Living in our homes animals must obey commands and can only behave how people
allow them to. Dogs, cats, or birds want to be free, but they are confined to a
house, yard or cage. But I think that domesticated animals are not able to
survive on their own in the wild and it is cruel to throw them out on the
streets.
To sum up, people must be responsible for both domesticated
and wild animals. I believe that homeless animals are a serious social problem
that must be solved as soon as possible.

keep exotic animals as pets nowadays. Others say that
it is difficult and dangerous to take care of unusual pets.
Today some people keep rare and unusual animals in their
houses. But do alligators, tigers, crocodiles, snakes or raccoons feel
comfortable living with people? And is it safe to keep such animals as pets?
Personally, I think that owners of exotic animals are going
to have many problems with them. Firstly, many professionals, including
veterinarians and zoologists strongly discourage the keeping of exotic animals
as pets, as their needs may be difficult to meet by the average owner.
Providing appropriate environmental conditions, housing and diet for an exotic
animal may be rather difficult. Secondly, unlike cats and dogs, exotic animals
have not been domesticated and remain wild. Even if they are raised by humans,
they may be unpredictable, aggressive and dangerous, especially as full-grown
adults. Finally, some animals are known to carry diseases that can affect
humans.
However, some people say that having an exotic pet is funny
and "cool". They are fond of showing their pets to their friends and
relatives who cannot stop admiring these rare animals. Besides, the information
about many commonly kept reptiles, birds and small exotic mammals is widely
available through literature, Internet websites and discussion forms. Although
having an exotic pet is sometimes challenging, it is generally very interesting
and rewarding. But I believe that most animals feel much better in their
natural homes where they have the right climate, food and exercises that meet
their needs.
To conclude, most countries have the laws that forbid people to keep
exotic animal as pets. To my mind, the government must strictly control the
trade of some exotic animals around the world in order to prevent any threats
to their survival and ecological damage.
Many people enjoy visiting zoos. Others believe that animals should not be
taken from their natural surroundings and put into zoos.
A lot of people, especially children, are fond of going to
the zoo. There they have an opportunity to look at wild animals, exotic birds,
insects, reptiles and fish. When we come to the zoo, we can see animals that we
would never have a chance to see in our country. But is it right to keep
animals in the zoo?
Personally, I think that animals should live in their
natural habitats. Animals that live in zoos are confined within enclosures and
displayed to the public. It is difficult to create ideal captive environments
for some species and sometimes animals have to live in bad conditions and look
miserable and untidy. They may suffer from lack of space, comfort and good
food. Some wild animals feel stressed in captivity. Sometimes they are kept in
such small cages that they are unable to turn around. Besides, in spite of
prohibition many visitors give animals food that may do harm to their health
and cause different diseases.
However, some zoos keep fewer animals in larger, outdoor
enclosures, rather than in cages. For instance, safari parks allow visitors to
drive through them and come in close contact with the animals. What is more,
most modern zoos display wild animals primarily for the conservation of
endangered species, as well as for research purposes and education, and
secondarily for the entertainment of visitors. But I still believe that animals
feel much better without people's control.
To sum up, I think that the conservation and educational role of zoos
should be strengthened. All zoos must be inspected and licensed, and all
animals must be provided with a suitable environment.
Most convinced that a digital pet cannot substitute a real one. Others
suggest that digital pets are preferable for a number of reasons.
Some children keep digital pets instead of real ones for companionship or
enjoyment. But a lot of people doubt that the relationship with robotic animals
can have a good effect on a child.
I strongly feel that digital pets can never be compared
with real cats, dogs and other animals. They do not even have concrete physical
form. Instead of a cute little kitten or a funny puppy, you have a palm-sized
computer with a small screen. I doubt that feeding, washing or playing with the
digital pet may be interesting and rewarding. Nevertheless, some children
believe that their digital pets are really alive and they feel extremely
unhappy if their virtual cats and dogs fall ill or die. In addition, it is
quite possible to become addicted to the digital pet. Some children play with
them when they should be doing something else, for example, their homework.
But some people believe that digital pets have a number of
benefits. Firstly, a relationship with the digital pet teaches children that
their desires cannot always come first. It can also teach boys and girls to be
responsible because the digital pet requires constant attention, otherwise it
will "die". Secondly, having a digital pet is a good training before
adopting a real animal. Finally, digital pets can successfully substitute real
ones for children who cannot care for a real pet, such as those who suffer from
allergies.
To sum up, digital pets are usually predictable and they cannot give us as
much joy and satisfaction as real ones. Anyway, parents should take into
consideration all advantages and disadvantages before buying a digital pet to
their children.

BOOKS
fond of reading, while others consider it to be a waste of time.
Different people have different attitude to reading. Some
of them have dozens of books in their houses and consider reading to be their
favourite pastime. Other people prefer watching TV to reading books.
Personally, I get a lot of enjoyment out of reading books.
Our family loves gathering in the sitting room in the evening and reading
books: fairy tales, novels, detective stories, thrillers, fantastic stories and
what not. It has become a tradition and I'm sure it makes our family united. To
my mind, books are our best teachers and friends because they have the power to
educate and entertain us. When I'm tired, I like reading detective stories and
thrillers. When I want something more serious and instructive, I take an
encyclopedia or read some philosophical works. I love reading when I'm
travelling, when I'm having meals, when I'm bored or just for relaxation.
However, a lot of people read very little or don't read at
all. They say they have stopped reading books due to their busy way of life.
According to some people, reading is a waste of time. They prefer getting all
the information they need from television, radio, and the Internet. A lot of
people read everything online and check the news on the websites. Besides, some
of them think that the fewer books they buy, the more trees they save. But I
believe that it is rather sad that many people read much less nowadays. I'm
sure that reading is the best learning.
To sum up, I think that our lives would be dull without books because
reading stirs our imagination, broadens our mind and entertains us.
Some of my friends say there's nothing better than reading a good book,
while others would rather watch its film version.
Can people live without books nowadays? Is it possible that
books will be replaced by television and cinema in the nearest future?
Personally, I'm fond of reading. Books educate and
entertain us, bring past centuries to life and help us understand our deepest
dreams and fears. To my mind, a book is one of the greatest wonders in the
world. It gives us a unique chance to link up with authors who lived hundreds
and thousands of years ago. Through reading books we hear their voices and
understand their thoughts and feelings. Reading stirs my imagination, creates
colourful pictures of the described characters and events in my mind, transfers
me to other countries, continents or even to other worlds, introduces me to
amazing people who live exciting lives, makes me laugh and cry. I can travel to
wild jungles and deserts, to hot Africa and cold Arctic or wherever I like
staying at home.
However, some of my friends don't read at all or read very
little. They say that they are too tired after school and can do nothing but
watch TV. Some people say that they have little spare time and that is why they
prefer watching a film to reading a book. What is more, watching a film is much
easier than reading a book because you don't have to use your imagination.
To sum up, it's up to you to decide whether to read a book or to watch its
film version. But I'm sure that no screen version can be better than a book
itself and it can't substitute a special silent conversation with the author.
Most fond of detective stories. Others say that reading detective stories
is just a waste of time.
There is hardly a person in the world who has never read
detective stories. This literary genre has always been extremely popular with
the reading public. But of course there are people who dislike detective
stories.
Personally, I find most detective stories rather puzzling
and exciting. They arouse the reader's curiosity and keep him or her in
suspense. To my mind, the popularity of detective stories lies in the fact that
most people like unravelling complex puzzles. The detective story is like an
intellectual game. The reader is given exactly the same information that the
detective uses to find the criminal. Most readers treat the story as a battle
of wits between themselves and the detective. Others read detective stories for
pure relaxation.
However, some people say that all detective stories are the
same. In most detective stories, the crime is murder and the clues lead to or
away from the solution. Furthermore, it is quite possible to become hooked on
reading detective stories. Some people read them when they should be doing
something else, for example, work or study. In addition, there are a lot of bad
detective stories in many bookshops and I think that reading them is just a
waste of time. A second-rate detective story describes unreal people and
situations, has poor construction and a boring narrative style. Sometimes the
reader can easily guess who the criminal is from the very beginning.
To conclude, it is up to you to decide whether to read detective stories
or not. Anyway, a good detective story can do you nothing but good.
Some people say that business books can help them become successful, while
others think that they are completely useless.
In any bookshop you can find a lot of books about business.
Many people wonder if these books actually help them succeed in their
professional careers and if they are really vital for the modern workplace.
Personally, I think that if you want to become a successful
businessman, it is not enough to read a couple of books on this subject. What
you really need is a lot of experience, persistence and a wish to work hard. To
my mind, business books have become a business in themselves. They are just a
way for publishers to make money. The more books are sold, the richer they
become. Most books that claim that they can revolutionize the way you do
business and make you rich and successful have little practical use. Moreover,
some business books are so boring that they sit on the shelf unread.
However, some business books are truly worth our investment
of time and money. They may become essential tools for students of business at
any level. Biographies of successful business people can hold valuable lessons
and interesting ideas and they can inspire others to go into business. Some
books can give you helpful advice and tell you how to make other people believe
you, how to read and use body language, how to make yourself a better manager
and how to become richer. Nevertheless, many experts are convinced that most of
business books complicate the world of business.
To conclude, don't buy a book unless you can use it in your
work right now. Try to find something really useful and to avoid needless
purchases.

say that we don't need libraries any more. Others are
convinced that libraries are not going to disappear.
Library is a place where print, audio, and visual materials
are collected and arranged to serve people of all ages and interests. Some
people say that traditional libraries are not so popular now as they used to be
some years ago. But does it mean that libraries are going to disappear?
Personally, I think that libraries are very useful.
Nowadays, besides books, libraries keep manuscripts, documents, newspapers,
magazines, CDs, DVDs, video games, e-books and many other electronic resources.
Modern libraries are equipped with computers and they store enormous amounts of
information that can be checked immediately. People go to the library to read,
look, listen search, inquire, discuss, learn, think, relax or while away the
time. Anyone can become a member of the library and it usually costs nothing to
borrow books.
However, some people say that traditional libraries are
useless nowadays. Most young people have become used to retrieving information
from the Internet. It may be more efficient and time-saving than visiting a
traditional library. But the information that people find online may not be as
in depth as the information from other resources such as the books available at
a physical library. Besides, libraries are intended for use by people who don't
have a PC, who cannot afford to purchase books and magazines, who need material
no individual can be expected to have, or who require professional assistance
with their research.
To sum up, I think that libraries play a very important
role in the cultural development of any country. Modern libraries help people
get unrestricted access to information in many formats and from many sources.
Electronic books are becoming more and more popular. Some people say that
e-books are going to replace traditional books in the future, while others are
convinced that print books will never disappear.
E-books are making their way onto the world's markets. A
lot of people, especially children and teenagers, who are accustomed to
computer screens, have already embraced e-books. But does it mean that if the
popularity of e-books grows, paper editions will soon die out?
Personally, I think that e-books are so popular with
readers for several reasons. Firstly, they are easy to use because they are
light, compact and can store up to thousands of pages. Secondly, ebooks have a
touch-sensitive screen which can be used to call up a dictionary, to increase
the front size and even to add notes in the margin. Thirdly, the bright
backlight gives you an opportunity to read in the dark. Finally, people can
read e-books in public without having to display the covers.
However, most people still prefer traditional print books.
They say that the device for reading ebooks is rather expensive and one needs
access to the Internet to download them. E-books may cause problems with
eyesight because it is rather tiring to read from the screen. Some people say
that one of the main disadvantages of e-books is that the battery must be
recharged and that ebooks can be easily broken. What is more, so far there is
only a limited selection of e-books being published. But I think it is very
convenient to put a lightweight e-book into your bag when you are leaving for
holiday.
To conclude, people will always continue buying, collecting
and displaying beautiful paper editions with the sole purpose of possessing
them. To my mind, e-books will co-exist with traditional print books. Anyway,
we'll have to wait and see.
MISCELLANEOUS
Some people prefer to live in a big city, while others would like to live
in a small town or in the country.
Those people who live in a big city and those who live in a small town or
in the country lead different ways of life. We choose where to live according
to our preferences and character.
There are a lot of advantages of living in a big city.
Firstly, people have more opportunities to receive good education and to find a
well-paid job there. In any city there are a lot of educational establishments
and a great number of firms which need qualified specialists. Besides, there is
a wide choice of entertainment in a big city. One can visit concert halls,
theatres, museums, art galleries, cinemas, clubs, restaurants, cafés, discos
and what not. To my mind, a big city gives people all modern conveniences and
cultural opportunities.
However, it is well-known that citizens suffer from a great
number of problems such as traffic jams, huge crowds of people, dirty public
transport and many others. Living in a big city is dangerous to your health.
Factories emit tons of harmful chemicals; cars exhaust toxic gas and the air is
so dirty that it is hard to breathe. That is why a lot of people prefer living
in the country to living in a big city. In a village one can enjoy fresh air,
beautiful nature and the quietness of provincial life.
To conclude, it's up to you to decide whether to live in a city or in the
country. But I think that if you are tired of noise, illumination and crowds, you
can always leave a city and have a rest in the country to improve your health
or just for a change of scene.
Some people say that it is impossible to feel lonely in a
big city. However, others believe that quite a lot of citizens suffer from
loneliness.
It is rather difficult to live in the world of strangers,
that's why people need friends. They give us a sense of being protected,
emotional comfort and moral support. But is it easy to make friends when you
live in a big city?
To my mind, loneliness is a wide-spread problem nowadays.
Living in a big city many people often feel that they are not noticed because
of the fast pace of city life. You can stand on the street for several hours
and nobody will pay attention to you. Sometimes you feel as if you suddenly
became invisible. A big city is a place where millions of people live and work,
but still it is very difficult to find a devoted friend in this indifferent
crowd. City life absorbs people and makes them forget about such essential
things as rest, recreation or friendship. So you can feel lonely even if you
are surrounded by hundreds, thousands or millions of people.
On the other hand, the city offers you a wide choice of
places where you can relax and meet somebody. You can visit clubs, restaurants,
cafés, discos, theatres, museums, art galleries, libraries, cinemas,
parks, health clubs and what not. A sociable person can easily communicate with
other people and make friends with them. So if you are a good mixer, if you are
always optimistic and have a sense of humour, you will hardly feel lonely.
To suin up, I think that a big city gives you a lot of opportunities, but
sometimes it can be cold, remote and indifferent. The main thing is not to
despair, but to try to find friends.
believe that English should be the only foreign
language taught at school. Others think that German, French and Spanish should
continue.
There are 6000 languages spoken throughout the world. Some of them
including English, French, German, Spanish, Russian and Arabic are considered
to be languages of wider communication around the world.
I think it is very difficult for an average pupil to learn
two or more foreign languages because there are a lot of other subjects at
school. To my mind, only English should be taught at all schools because it has
long been accepted to be a global language. It is the language of science,
culture, international politics and economy. Besides, it is the language of
most international business deals and organizations. If you speak English
fluently, you can communicate with people of different nationalities. I believe
that it is better to know one language perfectly than to speak in broken
German, French and Spanish.
But nowadays many people learn two or more languages. Some
of them find it necessary to acquire a second language for practical purposes
such as business. Other people are just interested in foreign languages.
Furthermore, learning foreign languages has a great number of advantages.
People who learn foreign languages expand their horizons and improve their
thinking abilities. They enjoy social and employment advantages and they have
the chance to get a better job than people who speak only one language. In
addition, a person who speaks several languages sees the world from two or more
perspectives.
To sum up, it's up to you to decide whether to learn one or
several foreign languages. Anyway, if you speak several languages, you have
more chances to make a career and to be successful.
Most people say that the English language should be learnt in England.
Others believe that one can easily learn English in one's country.
People have always tried to find the fastest and easiest
way to learn languages. Is it better to go to the country whose language they
study or to stay at home and read textbooks?
Nowadays millions of people learn English because it has
become a global language. Personally, I think that it is easier to learn and
improve your English in England. Firstly, you will not have an opportunity to
speak your own language and you will enjoy "total immersion". You
will meet different people and have a lot of speaking practice. To my mind,
speaking to Englishmen or listening to their speech is absolutely different
from sitting in the classroom with a tape recorder and headphones and repeating
some phrases after the speaker's monotonous voice. What is more, while in
England you will be able to see many places of interest and to learn more about
the English traditions and lifestyle.
However, a lot of people don't have an opportunity to go to
England. So they have to learn English in their own country. Nowadays everybody
can use the Internet to make friends with people from English-speaking
countries and to write e-mails. It is also very useful to watch TV programmes
and feature films in English. Besides, you should not forget about English
books, magazines and newspapers.
In conclusion, I would like to say it is up to you to decide where to
learn English, but if I had an opportunity I would certainly go to London to
reinforce what I have learnt from books and to put it into practice.
A number of people believe that a country is successful if it is ruled by
a clever politician. Others say that an only person doesn't make the image of a
country.
I have always wondered if an individual can create the
image of a country. There were quite a lot of clever politicians in the world's
history, but it is difficult to say whether an only person can cause important
changes in ordinary people's lives.
In my opinion, the politician who rules a country has quite an impact on
its politics, economy and culture. Every country needs a wise, powerful and
intellectual politician at the head. There is no doubt that the leader of each
country holds a lot of power in his hands. That is why he can make significant
changes in different spheres of people's lives such as education, health
services, business and many others. What is more, the leader of a country plays
an important role in foreign policy. He carries on negotiations with other
politicians, maintains diplomatic relations with other countries, signs
treaties and what not.
However, a lot of people are convinced that an only person
can't make the image of a country because every leader must take the opinion of
his assistants into consideration and work in a team. Besides, even the
cleverest politician can't rule forever. For example, in our country the leader
is elected every four years. But I think that if the leader of a country is a
charismatic person, he has good chances to make ordinary people believe him and
admire his personality.
To sum up, I believe that the image of every country doesn't only depend
on its leader, but also on many other people. And of course, it depends on
ordinary people who take part in elections.
Some people don't care about advertising, while others say that
advertisements and commercials may be very harmful.
Nowadays advertisements can be seen everywhere: in
newspapers and magazines, on the sides of buses, walls of buildings, shopping
carts, subway platforms and trains. Advertisements are often placed anywhere
people can easily see them. Recently television, radio and the Internet have
become major advertising media.
Personally, I seldom pay attention to advertisements and commercials. But
some commercials are skillfully made and resemble short films. Consumers, TV
stars, industry professionals and scientists are often asked to share their
opinion about the product which is advertized. Broadcasters don't want the
public to switch the channel during commercials, that's why they are becoming
interesting and entertaining. However, no matter how tempting they are, ads and
commercials will hardly win my confidence and make me buy some product.
Quite a lot of people find advertising rather obtrusive and
annoying. Indeed, it is very unpleasant when your favourite film or soap opera
is constantly interrupted by commercials. They reach and motivate large
audiences and make people buy a lot of useless things. Advertisements and
commercials can even be harmful. For example, cigarette or beer advertising can
increase the consumption of these goods and cause problems with health. In the
USA food advertising targeting children was an important factor in the epidemic
of childhood obesity. As a rule children believe all advertisements as they
can't determine the truthfulness of the message. Some ads are untrue or even
offensive.
To sum up, advertising is necessary for economic growth,
but the government must regulate the content and the influence of ads and
commercials. Advertising must be legal, decent, honest and truthful.
prefer buying pirate CDs and DVDs. However, others say
that piracy must be banned.
Nowadays selling pirate CDs and DVDs is a profitable
business. Producing compact discs and digital video disks brings criminal
dealers a lot of money.
To my mind, selling pirate CDs and DVDs is a kind of theft
because people who sell them exercise one of the exclusive rights of the
copyright holder without authorization. Legal producers of CDs and DVDs suffer
considerable losses. Buying pirate production consumers support the seller's
unauthorized actions. What is more, the quality of these disks usually leaves
much to be desired. So if you don't want to waste your money and to lose your
good spirits, you'd better not buy bad production. I am sure that it is
necessary for governments to provide criminal sanctions for selling pirate CDs
and DVDs.
On the other hand, disks of good quality are usually rather
expensive and not everybody can afford to buy them. Besides, pirates sell the
latest records and so we are able to watch new films or listen to new songs.
That is why a lot of people continue buying pirate CDs and DVDs. However, I
think it is better to go to the movies or to buy qualitative CDs. and DVDs if you
want to enjoy good films or music.
To conclude, if we don't buy pirate disks, their producers will not get a
profit; bad CDs and DVDs will disappear and it will improve the country's
economy.
Some people are sure that if we want to build relationships successfully,
we must have good manners. However, others say that nowadays good manners are
not as important as they used
If you don't live on a desert island, you meet different
people and communicate with them every day of your life. Everybody wants to
build good relationships with his or her relatives, friends and colleagues.
However, not everybody knows how to behave in order to win other people's love
and respect.
Personally, I think that it is very important to be
well-bred and to behave properly in different situations. A person who has good
manners always produces a good impression. Politeness and the ability to
understand other people will help you build good relationships and they will make
your life easier. To my mind, nobody wants to communicate with people who are
always late, who can't cope with their negative emotions, who don't respect
other people's point of view and who are constantly irritated and moody. We
should always remember that our words and behaviour may be offensive to other
people and may hurt their feelings.
However, some people do not know how to behave well. What is more, they
prefer to ignore the rules of etiquette. They often interrupt their
interlocutor, speak on a cell phone during a meeting, point or stare at people
and yawn in somebody's presence. In my opinion, if a person is illbred and
often forgets about politeness and punctuality, he or she is not likely to
command other people's respect.
To sum up, people should never think that the rules of
etiquette are useless and unnecessary. Everybody is expected to have good
manners. In this case our lives will become simpler and more pleasant and
social interactions will run more smoothly and successfully.

think it is important to be honest, while others say
that there is hardly a person in the world who has never told a lie.
Lying is quite natural and people often do it in case of emergency,
intentionally or even without any reason. Is it all right to tell a lie or must
we be honest all the time?
I believe that a person who always lies, cheats and
deceives other people will never have any real friends. At the same time it is
very difficult to communicate with people who are very direct and say exactly
what they think. Sometimes telling the truth may hurt other people's feelings.
For example, your friend has had her hair done and asks what you think of her
hair-do. To your mind, she looks terrible. But I think that in such a situation
it would be better to tell a white lie because it does not harm anyone. One may
also tell a lie with the intention to help another person or even to save
somebody's life.
But unfortunately, most people lie to save their face, to
derive some benefit or to avoid a punishment. Sometimes their dishonesty can be
criminal. For instance, some people tell a lie after promising to tell the
truth in a court of law. But lying often makes things worse, especially after
it has been discovered. Discovery of a lie may spoil one's reputation or lead
to social or legal sanctions. Besides, you can't lie all the time.
To conclude, if you want to be trusted
and respected, you should be open and sincere. But in some cases truth may be
blunt and rude, so it is better to tell a white lie in order to remain tactful
and polite.
Some people have a lot of wishes and plans, but they think
they will never come true. Others say that you must believe in yourself and
success will come to you.
Does
success come to a person or does a person go to success? A lot of people
believe that if you want to succeed, you must work hard. But sometimes it is
not enough to be industrious and persistent.
Personally, I believe that self-confidence and the ability
to convince people are necessary for every successful person. Even if you try
to persuade people that your dog is cleverer than any human, you must be so
sure about it that you can make everybody believe in what you are talking
about. Belief in yourself is very important. If you stammer and look confused,
if you doubt your own knowledge, skills and abilities, you will hardly succeed.
Many people want to make a career, to win fame, to invent something that
will change our lives and to make the world a little better. But they think
these are only dreams and they don't believe that they are meant to be great.
In other words, they don't believe in their own success. Such people think that
famous scientists, sportsmen, politicians and celebrities have achieved success
because they are super-talented. But to my mind, they are not super humans. The
most common thing about all well-known people is that they all have incredible
belief in themselves. In my opinion, everybody has the potential to become
whatever they want, but people have to do a lot to achieve their goal.
To conclude, you are the one responsible for whether or not
you will succeed. You should develop your inner confidence because nobody can
give it to you. And when you have developed it, nobody can take it away.
think that time management skills are not important for
success in both their work and home life. Others are convinced that it is essential
to make good use of their time.
According to some estimates, people waste about 2 hours per day. Others
waste even more time and feel disappointed and dissatisfied. They find it
difficult to keep appointments, meet deadlines or show up on time for personal
engagements. Such people do not know how they can make their time more
productive.
To my mind, time management skills are essential for
personal and career success. If you don't use your time wisely, you can never
get it back. When you are late for an appointment, it can reflect badly on your
reputation. What is more, poor management of your time can result in lost
promotions, failed job interviews, constant fatigue and stress. Many people
failed to make a career because they did not find the time to do it.
However, some people still think that learning time
management techniques is difficult and unnecessary. So they continue wasting
time on unimportant activities such as gossiping, watching TV, playing computer
games, writing messages to their friends, taking coffee breaks and so on. As a
rule it adds nothing to their lives and prevents them from doing things that
are really important to them. I strongly feel that such activities are just a
waste of time and energy.
To sum up, time management skills help you use the time
that you have in better ways. They can also help you reduce wasted time and
energy and become more creative and productive. Consequently, you will have
more balance and fulfillment in your life. Remember that "time is money".
A sense of humour is usually considered to be one of the
most important human features. However, some people say that humour is not
always good.
The ability to understand and enjoy funny things is called a sense of
humour. A person's understanding of humorous things and situations depends on
his or her age, gender, nationality, education, intelligence, culture and mood.
Many people wonder if we can we live without humour.
I think we can't. When you are in a tight corner, when you
feel tired or irritated, when the atmosphere becomes tense and it is necessary
to break the ice, the best way out is to joke. Jokes will help you settle a
conflict, reduce tension between people and change something horrible into
something funny. It is always interesting to communicate with a person who has
a sense of humour. He or she can tell you an amusing story, an anecdote or a
joke. What is more, there is an old saying that laughter is the best medicine.
Scientists have found out that it can reduce the risk of heart disease and it makes
the body release pleasure chemicals. So people who often laugh are healthier,
happier and live longer.
However, humour is not always appropriate. A joke may provoke a quarrel
and hurt other people's feelings. Sometimes jokes can point at a problem better
than any serious statement. In some situations humour may be completely
misunderstood. Some jokes are silly, rude and even offensive. What is more, a
bad joke may even turn best friends into sworn enemies
To sum up, a sense of humour is important for everybody.
People who lack it are often dull and grumbling. To my mind, humour makes our
lives more interesting and helps us cope with many difficulties and problems.
believe in luck, while others say that it doesn't exist.
We
often wish each other "Good Luck!" Some of us believe that there is
the power which is supposed to be the cause of all events. At the same time
many people say that it is silly to believe in luck.
Personally, I think that certain objects or rituals can
bring me luck. I often wear a "lucky" sweater to attract fortune, use
a special pen during tests or cross my fingers. It helps me to be more optimistic
and to have better moods. I also believe that some people are luckier than
others.
But a lot of people are rather skeptical. They say that it is silly to
wait for something good to happen. According to them, it is better to work hard
and to listen to your intuition if you want to be happy and successful.
Besides, you should be optimistic and have a relaxed attitude to life. If you
don't think about bad things, everything will be all right. In my opinion, it
is good to rely only on our own powers, but it is very exciting to believe in
some supernatural power that may change your life for the better.
To conclude, it is up to you to decide whether to believe in luck or not.
Anyway, you should "put your trust in God and keep your powder dry".
Some people say they don't care about philosophy. Others
are convinced that it helps us to live.
Philosophy is the love of wisdom. It deals with general and
fundamental problems. A lot of famous writers, poets and scientists were
philosophers too. However, nowadays some people say they don't understand why
we need philosophy. So is philosophy really important and could we live without
it?
I strongly feel that philosophy is an essential part of
people's lives. Most of us have a philosophy on life. Everybody has an idea of
what is right and what is wrong. A lot of people believe somebody else's
philosophy. We often share the ideas of some religious or political leaders.
Some people are true philosophers: they want to know what we live for; they
spend much time thinking and asking questions.
But philosophy can also cause misunderstanding and conflict between
people. Some of us choose one philosophy to believe, while others choose a
different philosophy. As a result, people begin arguing and try to make others
change their mind. It prevents them from working together and slows down
progress. But I believe that the existence of different philosophical schools
proves that people have always tried to gain a better understanding of nature
and the essence of life.
To sum up, philosophy helps us understand ourselves and other people
better. In my opinion, it encourages people to think, to understand different
subjects more deeply and helps them make right decisions.
say that one should analyze the situation before making
a decision. Others believe that it is better to rely on one's intuition.
Intuition has been the subject of study in psychology, as
well as a topic of interest in the supernatural. Many people wonder whether it
is worth relying on their intuition.
I strongly feel that the guiding role of intuition should
not be ignored or underestimated. It helps us pattern our behaviour and make
right decisions in uncertain situations and unknown areas. People of different
nationalities, professions and ages use intuitive judgment. Minor or major
decisions are often made based on instinct and feeling, even when the reason
for the feeling is unclear. We sometimes have an impulse that we should or
shouldn't do something. And these sudden decisions that are difficult to
explain turn out to be the best ones. Besides, in some situations intuition can
save people's lives.
However, not everybody recognizes and trusts his intuitive information.
Some people don't believe that it is worth relying on intuition. They think
that it is eccentric and irrational. Of course, there are many situations where
analysis and rationality are superior to intuition. For instance, intuition may
not be helpful in determining another's personality. The situation may not give
the observer an opportunity to see the traits that would indicate the
personality. But to my mind, there are many situations when our intuition can
help us find the right answer to the most complicated question.
To conclude, I think that people should listen to their inner voice which
is sometimes an excellent guide. We should also develop our intuition and try
to understand how it operates and analyze the situations when it helped us.
Some people say that ambitiousness is a wonderful quality, while others
believe that it is not so good to be ambitious.
Ambitious people have a strong desire to gain a particular
objective. They want to succeed or to gain fame, power and wealth. In the
history of humankind there are many examples of people who were extremely
ambitious, for better and for worse.
Personally, I think that society cannot survive without
ambitious people. Ambition implies work and discipline to achieve goals.
Ambitious people always know what they want and work hard in order to succeed.
For instance, such people as Bill Gates, Condoleezza Rice or Tiger Woods have
become famous, rich and powerful because they are ambitious and hard-working.
On the other hand, it is considered that the ambitious
person ignores the collectivity. Such people are socially detached, they are on
their own. They wish to rise above other people. The ambitious man or woman
sees the world as a battle. Rivalry is his or her principal emotion. Ambitious
people sometimes believe that what they want for themselves is good for
everyone and that the satisfaction of their own desires is the most important
thing. The ambitious individual is also convinced that the rewards of ambition
— wealth, success, power — are worthy of the sacrifices made on ambition's
behalf. But I believe that a person should not sacrifice his or her family or
health for distinction or material goods.
To conclude, it is difficult to imagine the world without
ambitious people. Our lives would probably become better: without
disappointments, conflict, anxiety, tension and stress. People would be
healthier and they would live longer. Time would stretch on and on, with
ambition Igng departed from the human heart. And our life would become
extremely boring.

A lot of people would like to become famous actors, singers or musicians.
Others say that publicity can be a terrible thing.
Most people dream of being famous. They admire different celebrities
whose photographs are published on almost every page of many newspapers and
magazines. The mass media has created "the cult of celebrity". But is
it really wonderful to be well-known?
On the one hand, famous people have expensive cars and
luxurious houses. They spend their time travelling, meeting interesting people
and having crazy parties. They lead exciting and glamorous lives. Besides,
celebrities enjoy everybody's admiration. In my opinion, it is rather pleasant
to be recognized by ordinary people and to receive much attention.
On the other hand, if you are a star, you can forget about
privacy. Paparazzi follow famous people around, newspapers and magazines
publish unreliable information and spread rumours. The life of celebrities may
be spoilt by fans that get their telephone numbers, wait for them after
concerts, send messages and love-letters to them and follow them everywhere.
Famous people often have to disguise themselves and spend much money on
security. What is more, celebrities often get tired of their stressful lifestyle
and feel depressed. That is why they begin smoking, drinking and taking drugs.
To sum up, publicity doesn't only lead to success,
admiration and richness. It is also the reason for envy, stress, extreme
fatigue and the impossibility to escape public attention. Many stars would like
to become common people at least for one day so that not to be recognized in
the streets.
Most people admire glamorous celebrities and want to lead the same lives
they do. However, others say that glamour is not as magical as it seems to be.
Nobody heard anything about glamour some years ago. But the
situation has changed drastically lately. Today many women and girls buy
fashion magazines and dream of becoming glamorous and alluring. But is
glamorous life as wonderful as it seems to be?
When I hear the word "glamour" I think about a
person who is beautiful and extremely fashionable and who excites everybody's
admiration. To my mind, glamour is the power of attraction, fascination and
enchantment. Hollywood movie stars are often seen as particularly glamorous. I
admire their beauty, elegance and style. Stars wear expensive clothes and
jewellery, drive luxurious cars and live in wonderful mansions. They lead
glamorous lives: travel all over the world, meet famous people, dine in the
best restaurants, go to expensive beauty salons and spas and have crazy
parties.
However, a glamorous person produces an impression which is
usually better than the reality. Most stars wear bright make-up, fashionable
hairdos and clothes that make them more attractive, but many of them are not so
beautiful in real life. These glittering social butterflies only pretend to be
glamorous. Their beauty is artificial and some of them don't really like their
image. When their fans and paparazzi don't see them, celebrities put on plain
jeans and a T-shirt and you will hardly recognize them if you run into them in
the street. Nevertheless, most ordinary people envy celebrities and their way
of life.
To conclude, glamour is a by-product of show business. A glamorous life
may be not as dazzling as we think. Some celebrities are really tired of their
glamorous lives.
ПРИЛОЖЕНИЕ
ПОРЯДОК ПОДСЧЕТА СЛОВ
В ЗАДАНИЯХ
РАЗДЕЛА «ПИСЬМО»
При оценивании заданий раздела «Письмо» (С2) следует
учитывать такой параметр, как объем письменного текста, выраженный в количестве
слов. Требуемый объем для развернутого письменного высказывания С2 — 200—250
слов. Допустимое отклонение от заданного объема составляет 1070. Если в
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выполненном задании С2 более 275 слов, проверке подлежит только та часть
работы, которая соответствует требуемому объему. Таким образом, при проверке
задания С2 отсчитываются от начала работы 250 слов и оценивается только эта
часть работы. При определении соответствия объема представленной работы
вышеуказанным требованиям считаются все слова, начиная с первого слова по
последнее, включая вспомогательные глаголы, предлоги, артикли, частицы. При
этом:
— стяженные
(краткие) формы сап 't, didn 't, isn 't, I'm и т. п. считаются как одно слово;
— числительные, выраженные цифрами, т. е. 1; 25; 2009,
126204 и т. п., считаются как одно слово;
— числительные, выраженные словами, считаются как
слова;  сложные слова, такие как good-looking, well-bred, English-speaking,
twenty-five, считаются как одно слово;
— сокращения, например USA, e-mail, ТУ, CD-rorn,
считаются как одно слово.

КРИТЕРИИ ОЦЕНИВАНИЯ ВЫПОЛНЕНИЯ ЗАДАНИЯ са

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Решение коммуникативной задачи (содержание)

Организация текста

З

Задание
  выполнено полностью: содержание отражает все аспекты, указанные в задании;
  стилевое оформление речи выбрано правильно с учетом цели высказывания и
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Высказывание логично; средства логической связи использованы правильно;
  текст разделен на абзацы; оформление текста соответствует нормам, принятым в
  стране изучаемого языка.

2

Задание выполнено: некоторые аспекты, указанные в задании, раскрыты не
  полностью', имеются отдельные нарушения стилевого оформления речи; в основном
  соблюдены принятые в языке нормы вежливости.

Высказывание
  в основном логично; имеются отдельные недостатки при использовании средств
  логической связи; имеются отдельные недостатки при делении текста на абзацы;
  имеются отдельные нарушения формата высказывания.

1

Задание
  выполнено не полностью: содержание отражает не все аспекты, указанные в
  задании; нарушения стилевого оформления речи встречаются достаточно часто; в
  основном не соблюдаются принятые в языке нормы вежливости.

Высказывание не всегда логично; имеются многочисленные ошибки в
  использовании средств логической связи, их выбор ограничен; деление текста на
  абзацы отсутствует; имеются многочисленные ошибки в формате высказывания.

О

Задание не выполнено:
  содержание не отражает те аспекты, которые указаны в задании, или не
  соответствует требуемому объему.

Отсутствует логика в построении высказывания; формат высказывания не
  соблюдается.

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Лексика

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Орфография и пунктуация

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кз

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Используемый словарный запас соответствует поставленной задаче;
  практически нет нарушений в использовании лексики.

Используются грамматические структуры в соответствии с поставленной
  задачей. Практически отсутствуют ошибки.

2

Используемый словарный запас
  соответствует поставленной задаче, однако встречаются отдельные неточности в
  употреблении слов, либо словарный запас ограничен, но лексика
использована         правильно.

Имеется ряд грамматических ошибок, не затрудняющих понимание текста.

Орфографические ошибки практически отсутствуют. Текст разделен на
  предложения с правильным пунктуационным оформлением.

1

Использован
  неоправданно ограниченный словарный запас; часто встречаются нарушения в
  использовании лексики, некоторые из них могут затруднять понимание текста.

Либо часто встречаются ошибю« элементарного уровня, либо ошибки
  немногочисленны, но затрудняют понимание текста.

Имеется ряд орфографических и/или пунктуационных ошибок, которые
  незначительно затрудняют понимание текста.

Крайне ограниченный словарный запас
  не позволяет выполнить поставленную задачу.

Грамматические
  правила не соблюдаются.

Правила
  орфографии и пунктуации не соблюдаются.

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alt: ЕГЭ 150 ЭССЕ ДЛЯ Готовимся к

alt: ОТКРЫВАЯ МИР с Английским языком

alt: Contents FOOD . FASHION TRAVELLING

alt: In modern societies, a person's social status depends on many factors including their income, education, occupation, inherited wealth and position, ownerships, personal skills, abilities and…

alt: Some people prefer eating out.

intro: Пособие адресовано учащимся, самостоятельно готовящимся к ЕГЭ по английскому языку, а так же учителям, которые могут использовать его на занятиях в классе и при подготовке учащихся к зачету, экзамену или олимпиаде. Оно включает в себя 150 эссе, составленных в соответствии со всеми требованиями, предъявляемыми к письменному высказыванию с элементами рассуждения. Основная цель данного пособия состоит в том, чтобы помочь учащимся блестяще справиться с написанием эссе.