'Topic 1: Ilnl'cr'easi:ng travels be,tween ceuntrles

IcuIIIU!re,S orto

,e'na'bI'8 ,people 'to learln d'ifferent

lncreasetenslon

betw,e'en paopll'e' from dJH'er'ent. c,ounlr:i'es?'

Globalisation is a c4teh ... terrn that refers 'to any activity that involves more than one country, for all

example travel from one country to' another. The dramatic increasein transnational travel in recent
years has sparked controversy over the potential impacts of this trend on individual countries, especially those new member states of globali sati 011., Some people are concerned that the upsurge in new arrivals

win prompte local }zo'f),tilit}' against vistors, instead ofpromoting

background.

their understanding

on mutuai

'-UHllr,1

This notion should be rejected as, one can see many facts in favour of tins development

between countries.

The first reasonwhy international travelswould never' bring conflict is"rJote,d i'n, the fact that both visitors, and locals areeconomically motivated. International travel opens up opportunities for business development throughout the world.
also in the overseamarket,

are mterested not only in the domesticmarket bUI Foreigners should Iearn the culture: of a country before winning over the
EI'ltrfJprfJll,eUfS

local people. 111. tum, locals should show their hospitality to visitors In exchange for their trust They
share a view that acceptance
• cooperation.

of each other's cultural background

isa necessary condition for'

cultural values

Understanding indelible; however,

a culture has other .implications. Differences in social background, the higher in eraetion, the bigher level of communication

and religious belief might make the ,discrBp'a'i',cy' of foreigners and, local inhabitants on some issues
and understanding.

Arabians, for example, used to consider westerners astheir,f"'s. New they have concrete relations with
their western allies in many fields, In the initial stage, their divergence seemed inherent but over- tinle~

with better mutual understanding

they take the Brune position on many issues,

should be

Undeniably, it is Bluely that in some resorts, foreign visitors repel the local community with, their

.slcant regard for the local environment and conventions when they first arrive.Howevervit

noted that. most offense is accidental, rather than intentional. Instead, visitors disobey rules and
conventions simply because they have no knowledge of them. This: situation is expected to beimproved

with the passing of time when visitors from different countries increase their knowledge of a local culture, According to the above aralysis, we can observe 'that 'the increase in the international travel should
I10~ betaken

as -the cause of any conflict that arises between ,

t\VO

countries. Alternatlvely, one should

,

recognise its role in improvingmutual

iff: >I... ~RJ

J ,;l,f" '1<.1, ~ ~i5-m t!] 2. hostility=enmity=resentment: 1lt 1;., ~'Itli, 'hiltr~ 3., rooted in=derived from-based on: ~T
1. catch-all=all-embracing; ~
~ ..!l~,~ jk ~ ~

understanding between two countries,

4. ,ell'ir,epr,eneuFtycoon-rnogul=indusbialis,t:: 6,. foe=enerny=rival:itA"

5, djs,crepanpy=disagree:me.nt~difference=divergence::

:$-r)ti ~ ;r)1f

:t·.§jr~t'-1or later:

7'. eoncrete=tangi ble=solid: ~Jt.1.f..iI~" ,~J!;Fll~'

8. over time=in duecourse=sooner

llt,~ ~.i!i-f

9. resort ~ At Jt;, tourist resort. ~ ~ JItJt; hol iday resort. Jf_ 1~1)Jt,~ :;,beach resort

~it ~ 1flJtt~, ; ilL

cenic spot: ~ 'J[:; place of interest: iJ,,- #f -l,~~

IO, repel=revolt

repulse: ~ft.~~~ 1tilt!~ -,

tk:.~ il.!J ", ~;t, ~~

i Lscant=lrmited=scarce:

'T,op'ic 2:W'he,n iniller'n.ti:D'nia~ m'edia, and 'other TV ,proglram'mea) Ipeo!ple argu'B!hBtth!IJ! cultural dhlersil'y"

(inClud:in,g; Im,ovies" 'fashion Sh,o\Ms"adveriisemen1,s,

conv,ey' 'Ihie same message,s 1,0 the gllobal audience,

,sxpalnsian of' inter'n,a,tliolnal rm,edila, ha;s ns'g'Bth/8

,im1pa,cts, on

Wtl,a;t isy,oUlr' opin'i'on?

growing popularity and uniformity media is closely linked

As. international media companies expand across the world.fbe

of some 'media programmes

(such as TV shows, movies, fashion shows) is causing worldwide COnce111.

Many people have strong views toward this trend, ~n my opinion.jnternational

to cultural globalisation and cultural homogeniety,

The dominance of intern ationalm edia is'.. a •

oc_·ft.l.·g'

n of" \' reste rn ~ _..''\I'_

!.Ji. '.

".

C·CU'

ltu ra l I" m periali sm an. h 0.b1.ule, rd .3"", zu

I ..... :1.. ,. ,(..(. U

i:i.. c-

potential to tlni"art cultural diversity. It ia not a secret that iuternational media is owned and opera" d II
c

a handt-Ht of giant .corporatiens, such as Time Warner. They control large sectors of the media market
and place national media companies ,al risk. The ,c.oli,tract;i'ull in the number of media owners willcause

,apr{}p(J1~tion reduction in the variety of'programmes .. al

of artworks of different cultural backgrounds.

broadcasted. For example, painting, music and

on

movies accessible in the media have a small number of genres, imposing restraints'

one's knowledge
companies affect

In addition to seizing control over those creative industries" global entertainment

cultural diversity by reshaping the

American origin. American

,/J8rlM!pt'i.OJ1lS ~

beliefs and norms of ordinary citizensin

different

countries, Most of the cultural values and ideals promoted by the leading mainstream culture values individuality!' maximisation wealth, rather than comrmmal lifeand

media are of

of one's benefits and material

family ~'O'lid(l;rity, the values, ,and.norms previously treasured in

many Asian countries, Unfornmercly, many Asian people now imitate American people, causing the
alteration oftheir perceptions of'family.This

radical change can he attributed to those movies and TV

programmes that portray the success of American individuals or corporations,

The loss of media diversity is also responsible for people's narrow sense of ways of life, The ruling

class of many countries speaks, English, favours Western food, wears Western-style jackets and even prefers Western weddings. Young people

are c,apt;1,ate,d .by

American

basketball

and S0111e: even,

daubing the namesof

NB,.A, stars on their' school sweatsuits, ,AU these transformations

10 Hollywood

in life are the

result of the audience's exposure

movies, TV shows. and sports reports. The loss of media

diversity will lead to degradaticn 'Of culture and to a. minanisetion of cultural diversity .. It ills, worrying a
trend, as people need cultural diversity to preserve and pass on their valuable heritage tn future generations, including lifestyle,

As shown abOVE:" international

corporations, is exportingWestern

media, controllbed

by a handful of

transnational

media

culture worldwide and putting many indigenous cultures atthe risk

of extinction, The uniformity of media prograrnules has led to that of artworks, norms and ways of life

wherever international media goes,

lift,$!liJl :~ ~
1. domlnance=domination=powenes N~.~fJ]l 2. 8ign=symbol=tnark=:s~gnal~ndieation:
.3. thwart=prevent=spoil
4.
;8,

*~,~,

~AiE
~'

ruin,;flL;t., l'Jt.i1\

handful of=a small number of: ~Jr~t all

~:!¥) 5{.,;f

5.. contraction -reduction: .1A.t!y

6. proportional=relative.
ai]' ~ ~

7., perception=view=opinionr.jr

tt 1t J ~11'
u

8. ideal=value=belief -principle: ;lJt,~~~, ;JJL~:j ;f~;jl 9. solidarity=ul1ity=harmoll)Fcobeslon:: ab 0ut :~1t..,"fljf lJIt.~ Ii

m~

10. be captivated by=be obsessed with be passionate about=be addicted to be keen on=be enthusiastic

'T'olp,iC 3: There ls ,8 disag'nlemen,l on the i:'mlpacl at ilncr,Haed_ ibus:iness, ,and cul1u'ra

OQlnt,act. be'tween, oGu:ntrie&; ona C,Qluntry"s ident'i1YI! What i'B,~Y'Our.>oplnio.n?

One of the most conspicuous trends in the 21 st century is,aclosercoP'tllectfon
between countries,
in both economic and cultural aspects, There: is a widespreadworry that this will lead to, the gradual

,demis,(J of countries' identities, This issue should be viewed and ,analysed from multiple perspectives,

When a country tends to develop a closer relationship with the rest of the world, it does not
necessarily give up its eulture. 'Culture is not adls-gr,a.c" to but an asset of a country, An indigenous

culture can distinguish one country from others, attracting foreign visitors and yielding high income. As most tourists travel abroad forlearning diff-erent cultures and sWDpHnS different ways of Ufe"sucb as
Beijing opera in China, Japanese tea culture and Thai temples, lnany countries have responded witb protecting and. preserving their cultural identities; 1n an effort ID keep themselves in the list of the most

des:tinatlorns.fu:c.rea~Had tourism cons6rvtltion ofthelr features.

popular

insdls fresh 1~/{J'J(JI,rr:'e' into these

countriea,

,aiditlg .t1l
:8"

'2_

While tourism provides a. driving force for cultural conversation, some components of

culture

such as traditions, customs or taboos might die out over time. It seems that in some countries, the locals

have become more accustomed to ex,rotic cultures ..It refleets tbe combined efteicts of the invasion of foreisn... cultures either throush ... edia 0"'1" th..ou ~· dire .....busin t intera ction F.0.... 'p.1 .: vo ._. --' .~ l;:i"' 'v'-_ J~,U ""'~, .... .' , . __ e-"~ 1-"'1' IUU_. ... ah _.h.J·~ w. decad -es _'._
,Lv 11..'.
c· c.

1. ..... _ .:.

c..

1 ..... !J".o ..'IL.,~

~lC'o::'l! _ ..... ~~]

.' .... ~.

VI..

".1.

1• f-li,'Y'''iI·m··· VAin .

dtl!-. 'h .. !;,

ago, sex was

,8,

taboo subject in China endmost Chinese people felt embarrassed to talk openly about it

Over time the Western culture has permeated into the Chinese lifestyle, and the Chinese people have

broken Inany oftheir tbne' ..hollf(J',Yr:e!a traditions, It occurs in U~N!:rest of the world as,well, As outlined above, increased int:e.r;ac,tian: between countriea in the domains of business and culture
can either strengthen or undermine theidentities of countries involved, 1'0 date there is,
DO

definite

answer 'to,this question '.

] . conspicuous

noticeable=prominent=striking:

2. connection linkage= relation=relationship:

"3. demise=disappearance=vanishing

*~"

lii;tt

~I"

:W: ~

Jf~ R~

fading: ~'~l'!k. It..-i:: ~ ~ .~ ~ ~Ii,~·t{J

4. multip'l~Etnifold~'Umerou8-vadous~many;.~ 5. disgra:ce=dishonouF,shame~bllnliHali011: Jt1iI; ~

6. life force=soul=essence,

.!t..ar.n

7. conservation protection=preservatlon; '1,f~~, 1*;fr

8. exotic- bizarre=outlandish=from ~'~'~'~ ]0. permeate=seep into=pervade=leak

afar=mysteriously unusual:

jI~

*"~

j'

·.Jr·'7~·€rll
ting: 7c;fL s~, 1JJ'

'9. taboo=offen8iv~embmTaS8ing-unacce:pta,b

le..... disgraceful=dishonourable=hrmilia

~~t* irtJ;

into: ~1i_

1.1. time-bonoured=age ..old=long ... established:

t:. f~.1t_~ 12., i.l1teraction~interplay=comlnunica'liot1~relatfo[lship:: im JL 11' Jt]

Hi

Topic 4,: Some P"olple be,l,i,e,v,ethat

CUItUlll8

wi,111e, ,ruined if it is used to earn tourisml b

reven1ue, but: ethers co:nside:r' tha't 'toullrism is thle only way o,f: ,prote'cting a culture'!!l ID'iscuss bot hi s,id.es arnd g'iv'e your ownr lo,p~nllo,n~ There is iitdle room for doubt that tourism is one of 'the fastest-growing industries in the world.
However, its impact an culture remains a source of constant dcbete. This essay wiU elaborate

on both

positive and negative effects oftourism from a cultural perspective,

main contributions of tourism. 'To many tourists, culture and history are what they first consider when
Providing economic

incentives

for cultural preservation iSI'lI,!argllab/~

one of tile

choosing 3, destination, Their mindset has been recognised by many tourism sites and m.oney has, belen subsequently directed toward cultural protection" including the maintenance' of key historical sites. Tourism is therefore one of the primary forces contributing to the preservation of a culture.

In addition to raising financing, tourism can make an ,illdige,1I.ous: culture known to the world and
rally support worldwide to protect it. When a historic site or a site that shows a country's cultural the world will soon. flock there, They heritage is made accessible to the public, "visitors from allover win share their experience in the local culturewith assisting this site to gain international.jume. the

their friends and families once they return home,

support win flood in for

Both financial and technological

sometirnes ur the expense

conservation ofnatural
On the negative

and cultural resources, develops

side, tourism

,0/

part of culture, Food,

festivals" costumes Bud other stimulatingelements

of a culture are highlighted to emertaln tourists,

COWUHOHp,iaCtJ

constituting all insul: to the locals and causing damage to the unique nature of a culture .. Moreover, cultural commercialisatiou has. made the sacred elements of a culture

and tourists are

encouraged to attach little importance to a unique tradition, which cannot be?found elsewhere,

In tile light of these facts, one can conclude that tourism is, neither a boon nor a bane to cultural
preservation, While its endeavour to protect an indigenous, culture should be recognised, it has put the

integrity of a culture at risk,..

I iff,s( itiJ*=

' J.tt

I. unarguably= unquestionably =indisputably=undeniably:

2,. destinati on=site=place:
j

*..

it ttf.i. ii!,~

jl

;It,

or~

iA..~,.-____.

upholding=protection: indi .. I ,- .,', ,J:_.l. J.A ~J.A 4 ,~.n ~.tgenous~orlglna=eborigin al.: /t""-.:L. ~i'J t lif" ~~. M

3. maintenance=preservation

,{*=iP , ,1*4

'~I";l

s'. fame~eputation=re,cognit1,on-eminel1Jc,e:;t, ~"

;g.:fo

6.. at the expense of=at the cost of: J?~,*!~'. ,.,;:J ~l;{ 7

7. entertain- armise=keep somebody amused: :k{.$w , {!_~;;;,~rtj'~

8. insult=offence:
9'
j

1l~
JL tiJ.J'

commonplace=ordinaryr-P

10. in the light of-=inview of=considermg

taking into account: ~ ~ JUI

11. endeavour=effort=attempt: 12. integrity=entirety=unity;

~ /J ~ ~rJi.

~~.

13. put at risk=endanger=jeopardise: Jtll 'I 1t··;,itl f§:.

Topic ·5,:So~me peoip~eargue that iim,migrantsshoul,d

adlo.pl: the I,oeal eulture when.

irn ..-_ _,st.ingto a new country ~An ~d'tBrna'lve viiew lathe! they can ad,~pl to H, new I:nviranlment ,byeslabllshln,g ,8 m:iin,ori;ty' c,o,m,m,unity~, D'isCUSI, thes,l!;two views and
'givI'Y'OU r' Dp,i:n i,on" The world in the 21st century is marked by high population mobility, When an increasingnumber
ofpeople have chosen to leave their motherlands and whether to blend in with the local cultureorto minorityeommunity,
'[0 yield.

resettle in a new country, they are at crossroads

eherisb theirown ,QnIMal heritages. by e:s,t8!blishinga

In my opinon, the con,,,e,~ge,u:eofdifferent cultures does not require one culture

to

another. Instead, it can be achieved. by building' minority communities .. local

Most immigrants, at the first stage of their life in a,new country, are faced with merging into the
'Dew culture and integrating into the new society, Accepting the local culture: by observingthe

traditions is a good starting,p'oint. Doing so enables immigrants to interact with Iocalaespeciafly

in the

workplace. where locals predominanny work, For example, in. Western culture; people c,uslomfUily
keep a certain distance [tom each otherwhen havinga conversation, whereasin some other cultures,
the closeness of physical distance is taken as a sign of mutual 'trust Examples of this kind are many. A migrant to a new country should recognisethe differences. and observe 10ca.1 conventions. It will help

avoid embarrassment and. bringa sense of comfort, V/hUe adopting local customs and. blending: into the local culture, migrants can follow their

individual cultural traditions, The coexistence of different minority communitiea in a country benefits
both immigrants and locals, On the one hand, it enables immigrants to' c'o:un~teractthe stress that results from culture shock and to increase confidence in their residence in a new country, On the other, the

fl{Jwi~hi:ng of different cultures contributes. to the establishment of a multi ... cultural environment, a
prerequirit'O for attracting skilled. workforce from
conventions andcherish their
O\Vl1.

an over the world to settle.

By comparing the immigration options above, one 'can conclude that immigrants can adopt local
cultures. simultaneously" This allows both locals and. immigrants 001

co-build a hannonious multi-cultural community ..

1. motherland=native country: .~lL lil

2.re:s,etUe=re1ocate:

4i...,.. 1t jj. '1:~ 4t ~

]tmction=m.eeting: ~.:~,C, ih'1r
_d:;~.~... ~_ ~~ ~~.~

3. convergence=union 5 '. _ . starting pv_ ..r-b- asis: :. poin·. '

i;;!_
.1

4. merge 111m blend into=integrate into: !~~:A

'~,","

t!

6. customarily IoutinelFhabituaUY-Ie,gulad~.s;uaHy:'l~l 7. cloStel1Jess~ea.mess~pr(Jt:x.imity:.tI-i!t., $llt

iJi~j .~"

tf j'1rt.~.

8" counterac r=0ffset =neuunliae=counrer: g. flouriahing=blocming=budding: ~

;J~$]lj ,
1ttJdt~ ~.

rf:..,

10. prerequislte=requuement=conditiofl=:tnust....;pr,econdition:

'T'opic 6: The advanlagies of' the spread ,af:E,nlg:Usih as

I,D Qutwlei!gh its

IS

'gllobal Ilangiuage w'~I~ continue,

disadvantages!!, To, what extent do, Y'DU agree· or disagree'?

ie
,(1

In these years, there is a growing recognition 'that English is well on its way to becoming"
dominant global language. The 'impact of this trend is The rise of a global subject of intense debate, I l S nly of cross-cultural
I '

advantages of'a dominant global language will continue to outweigh its disadvamages.
language'
is a. facilitator communication and the

communication between people with different languag« backgrounds,

In different areas of global

communication, such as science and news, recognising a common language removes communication

'banders and increases convenience. On many formal occasions; English, as a working language, boosts,
efficiency and avoidsmisunderstanding. Likewise, the exchange of essential information like know-

ho'w' and technologies will be

trenlendouslY,prolnpted ..

One might argue that the rise of a global language would endanger other languages" in a bclicfthut

an increasing number of people have turned to English as their first language. This, viewpoint is flawed,
The spread of global English has little", if any, influence on non ..- nglish ... speakerstlanguage People might be motivated to learn English as a foreign language but. do not necessarily native language because learning beginner
011

proficiency, drop their for day-to-day

intermediate

level English is, sufficient

communi cation,
The dominance of English as, a global language is~ therefore; not a cause ofthe loss of language

diversity. Its negative effect is reflected mainly in cultural ,imp'erialis,m" As. international
recognises English as its foot language, most of the broadcasted information

media
0',"

is related to the lifestyle,

norms and beliefs of English-speaking countries, It might over' time put many minority cultures
shrinking cultural diversity are dsstructive, causing people to live in a simple and. monotonous and think and act in similar ways.

the

verge of extinction" 'when those ethnic groups gradually adopt the Western culture. The effects of
world

The development of English is overall, a positive global trend, It

connecte people who previously

spoke different languages 811.d enables them to exchange ideas, although it might lead to the loss of

cultural diversity,

1. knew-how=know ledge';
3. imperialism=colouialisrni

~orj;; ~ ~;fL

2. prompt=encourage=stimulate=trigger:

iJl,t ",.!ti};·
..f±." .• ~~ :;jjz_~

fs ~i ..t.x, fA ~ £. )t.

4. on the verge or-on the brink of=on the ledge of:

i

.5 ., destructi v e=chunagLn,g=devasta1llng-=injuriolls=detrim,ental: 6. conne!ct=unite'=liIu(:·~,~,

.if ~ f1" ,

~R.jt:t it~

lf~§~

.·'s· T·o· ele " 7'-· A··, "I',] a -'. h-,~ b een I, .ereasl - pi .. -r,c--r-,-:--H- . ave -=>::-_-- ln
c- . -:-

..0..

n:g'" Iy"

--oj;I-

'U

Ded totrans:p-on 'fruits, 'a~ V8--g:e1' ---'B'b-Ies to nd ._ .---.1--. . - - --.-. -. . .'.

. . ---

so,me countries whelre' such plants hardly grow ,or are aut Of. seasonl!So,me people consid,er it a,good tre,nd, bul sornepeople
YQur'opinion.
'There 'bas, been a steadyincrease in 'the demand for 'imports throughout tbe world in recent years,

oppose it..DhiUlUSS both ,

Vi'8WS

and give

including those ,perislzable items, such as fruits and vegetables. Despite the: boom in this business, importing agricultural products is, very often eriticiaed as unnecessmry and e'xtravaga,f,zt'" especially when air fre;jgbt ismvolved, The criticism

was 'COIT'Bct in the

PEl,St,

buter the prese,HJ time,tbere

are

iudicatiolls that this trade activity has brought various benefits"

At first, it is important to note that contrary to popularbelief imports are now increasingly
affordable to the gene ral population ..Thanks to the rapid development of the freight transport industry, air travel has become an economical mode oftransport, resulting in the subsequent decrease in the cost

of importing, Meanwhile, technicaladvance

in the food processing industry hasmade it much. easier to

preserve fresh fruits and vegetables. over a, long-haul air flight, Because ofthe wide availability of
imported crops, there aremore varieties in the food market, leadingto the drop in the price ofimports. The supply of products in the market is less likely to be influenced by seasonal factors", and an adequate intake of'nutritionis guaranteed for the general population throughoutthe year. Another fact to note is that import ,and export 110::nnaUyg,o'ltului in Iw:nil, and a
COUD·

that

imports goods from other countries does not necessarily suffer a loss. Trade is not unilateral but
bilateral, Some countries are noted for an agrarian economy, while others, specialise inmanufactarmg industrial products. Countries differ in their product structnres because they have dissimilar n,atur,al

resources, climates, and geographical features. By adopting an enl(ght-enetl policy and promoting trade

,a,ctiviues

with other countriea.a country can facilitate the exchange of goods, services and capital with

the rest of 'Ute'world and promote economic development.

00 the negative side, some countries might become addicted Ito importing goods and op,tt'l'lo,Qk the
possiblity of developing at self~i!tJ'ntain,e',d economy, Sc'w-City' of resource or lack of technology might

~m producing crops to f~.~di,tll p~Plll~tion, but it cannot be ~aken~s.. n excu~\ for a relying heavily on imports. Government fun,clin.g in scientific research can make; It pos "-,let€! a.cm~ , a. .~...
breakthrough and increase tile yield,~,thereby resolving food supply crisis. Countries are therefore advised to promote. international trade and to develop their _
OWIl.

disa~lOl CQ~try a

\..

9i.l,

industries a

sim,ullaneollsl"

Positive attitudea

foward importing goods from other countries demonstrate

government's stance on the intemational trade, although the government should, also prevent itself from

relying on imported goods,

]' ~ s::;,'.\~J.'.'.' '''5'1]'*. .~ '.

1JU~'l;~i'~

1'. perishable=easy to rot ~ Jb ~ 1!iffl

2. boom=rapid growth sudden increase=expansion=surgo:

jr4t lAL2tJil

~i~·ittl 4, at the present time=at present=currently: il1+,

3. extravagant=wasteful=luxurious:

m 1Q'

,S.. indication=sign
,6. variety=selection:

hint=clue: :rd, It·" 4:l ~

,It,~

7 .,go handin band =be closely connected =be inseparable:

:8. unilateral=one-sided:
~ it! €til.

fil·;r: "if~~

9' .enlightened=Uberalli=op,en-mi:nde:d::: 10. lo'verlook-neglec"l:=ignore::;tg~.lJt

'71- :a)]: tfJ',~ 7f-±l1MJ·

~~. ~
jiIL~· ~

[1. self ..contained .... elf ... s reliant=self-sufficient;

12. sc.arcity=defiGiencrshortage~dearth_;defi.cit:

P_'iro

·Itlt.: t., ~'fJc; ~ ~ i

.v. deld harvest=the amoun '.t of crot s , Tv._._ . -. .m_ '. _ p_ reduced: 1:-3'.· ___..w. _._t-.
• .J ...
p'....

l4., simulteneously=at the same time: JJ1 fr~Jft 15-: stance=position=stand:

it. Jiq

TIQipl.c 8,: Mlillillio'n-s, ,ofl dollars a!re' spent 'ani spaee r,esearctl 'E¥v'e'ryyear .. Some p,e:o:p,lle
ar',guethat the money should be spent on Improving Hving standards en ,-=arth..0,0,

you agree or disagree?

In recent years, there have belen more and more countries involved and interested in long-term

space projects. Because of the enormous research expenditures incurred, the l'alu" of space projects has been disputed. Some people suggest that government funding should be dlv~rte,dtoward improving the
living standard of ordinary people. In evaluating the merits, of space ambition, one should adopt a

broader perspective, The in vestment in space research can be paid off someday in the future,
The first reason to support it is that our planet is, now facing an unprecedented resource problem, wr ich can be tackled only by discovering andmining new resources on other planets, The' overuse or

scarcity of SIOlIle resources

011

the Earth is a severe problem. Rare metals, such as gold or silver, .

;r ~

eventually be depleted, as industrial production expands. These metals and orhe na ural resource

although rare on Earth, might promising advensure .

Meanwhile

ahl(J'il.lJd

on other planets. In tho,t' ICa.SrC:, conducting

Spl8.ICe,

research is a

the world's "population is nO'\N' rowing toa stage 'where there are too many people for g

the planet to support, highlighting the need to seek land suitable for people's :r,-s,ettJel1U!rlt off the

planet Even if new urban developments are able to accommodate the increasing population, water and electricity supply; waste treatment, sewage disposal and sanitation win become u",nan'tl:l1eable fur the

capacity ofour planet, As there are countless planets orbitip,g stars throughout the universe, one can be confident 'that at least one of them, is suitable for oursecond home planetMars,
close resemblance to the Earth, is,considered a poten_tialbllCla~p ., In addition to searching for a shelter for future generations, space programmes contribute considerably to the well-being of 'the Earth in some oilier aspects. For example, bymonitoring the

for example, bearing a

ozone hole. global warming, the loss of rain forests and other environmentalthreats

to human survival,

remote seusing satellltes help people

trace the ,recQ'very from the worst environmental

threats and

thereby nnprove the: quality of life, Meanwhile", space research provides a, new p'llttifo'nn on which scientists can carry out experiments andmake new discoveries in a variety of fields, such as agriculture. As suggested above, in locating new resources, positioning new settlements, addressing

crrvironmontal concerns and. facilitating scientific discovery, space research will prove to be not only
worthwhile, but also crucialto the survival and sustainability of human civilisation.

1. value =merit= worthiness =worth: 2 . divert redirect=reroute=switch:

1k"1i. # M. # roT
proliferate- grow in. great numbers: k:I:~~

3. overuse=overexploitation; it ~1t Jf1

4. abound-be plentiful=thrive=flourish
5.adv enture=voya.,g,e=journey:
r

~il:.it" ~:ft , #711. 6. re-settlement relocation=immigration: lifts" ·l#stft 7. sewage= sullage=waste water tl1j<...,ti'~:nt~' 8., unmunageablc=uncontrollable=unruly: ~ -er ~t lJ~ ~
9" backup=candidate=replacement:

*+~Jh,
j

10.. recovery=healing=recuperation:
11. platform=stage:

1ti..

Jf5"

It ~

Topic 9: Spac'e travel lathe Moo," is often cited as one giant leap for mankindi Vet ~
-

--

som,ep,eople

'What is your opi:ni'on?'

The idem of travelling through space people: for centuries, Despite numerous
t

a:r,gue that this a,chievemenl 'm,ada litt'l'e dl'fferenc·e to eur dany live:s .
even living and working on other planets, has fascinated

setbacks and daunting expenditures,

travelling in 'the outer

space has never failed to attract people' ' s attention and provoke controversy, Sixty years. after the first . Muon landing, people question whether the .leat." previously thought of as a giant leap fOI mankind, has

substantially benefited people' s lives. In 'my opinion, landing on the Moon hasonormous the quality of life", albeit not always ,exp,lkii:.,

relevance

for

The first implication of Moon landing is reflected. in the likelihood of travelling on other planets.
Moon, as the object in the outer space close-t to the Earth, can serve as a launch site for the journeys to other planets. Having no atmosphere"

the Moon is a permanent base for people to. ,Q,b.s'err,ethe universe

011

easily and provide them with sufficient evidence they require for decision making

a great many learn more

significant issues", which are likely to have direct impact on them .. For example, oneean
" '"1" C rviusa ti IOD.

about the treat of potentially hazardous objects that are likely to hit the Earth and destroy our
Another enthusiasm remarkable in the natural

breakthrough made by the Moon landing is that it reignites people's

sciences, When today's youths become

increasingly interested in. such

subjects as carom rce, finance and business. space exploration successfully attracts and retains talents.

technologies. These young minds are convinced. that un.~a'Velling unknown of the the universe is.feas.ibllJ'~ despite many challenges They are inspired to think for the future, instead of being
in space-related

precccupied with contemporary issues only.

It should also be noted, that the Moon has water, the basic resource for people's survival, and it

abounds in solar energy, a clean and readily obtai"lIIble resour-ce.. It is also believed that minerals are
plentiful there to be exploited .. Some day, if people are forcedto move off the Earth, the Moon might be

dIe best shelter, Although people have not yet fully explored this possibility at this stage, p1'o'liminury'
investigation is imperative. Based on the above-mentioned to other planets and potentially facts" one can conclude that 'the Moon landing greatly impacts on the place, of residence for the future generations The 5icien fie

distant. future, although its, effect is net apparent/or the' tiln"e ,be'ill,g. The 'Moon is the eventual ~eway knowledge and economic benefitsto be gained by building a sustainable Moon base are hu.._,
1. feat=achievement=accomplishment:

Rf..jJL
jr~lt4:

2. relevanc·pg\gt1i6.canc,e=importance=weight:

3. explicit=overt: 2Jl]it ~ 4. observe=watch=monitor: ~,~

$. unravel=find an answer to=work out:

,;}ft7t, ~f1t
Vif ~f'a?, ,~~ a~

6,; unknown=mysterious=unfamiliar:

;ftl~;b~J, ;i..~M

7. feasible practicable= viable- practical=realistic:

8. obtainable=available=accessible:
9. preliminary=initial=

J.V,. .R i~MJ

~,.:.I,

preceding: ]ft.;WJ €rfJ,

in iV J¥J

1"

.iIJ 6'b: .

10"imperati ve=necessary=essential=crucial
12"gateway=entry=doorway=access:
A rr ,

vital: 9l.~ MJ , ~ ft f:rfJ

II. for the time being=for now=for the moment: £41, ."

Iff

:iiit

Teple 10: Some pea'plle argue, th,at the government, should spend mcney' on public

services and f:a,ciHtie's~but not on the arts. Do YOLiag'ree 'or dis8'gre'e?

The role of arts in modem life is unique, providing people with entertainmeut and yielding various
psychological rewards" such as relief from stress, Despite these benefits, the arts have been taken as , luxury goods in many cases. It is suggested that public money of a city should be CODc~ntmteti in projects like public facilities, which are more likely to bringimmediate benefits to the; public, rather should be

than the arts. There a [Ie a number offsets indicating that this position is right
Public facilities, widely accepted IS OB.e of the main preeursor« to a cit)r's, development,

one of the highest priorities, Those underdeveloped

components

cities in particular, should direct sufficient funding

toward public facilities, While m"n.i'c'ipal office buildings pools ,aI'e availsble to the public for social, educational,

courthouses and post offices, are essential

and swimming athletic and cultural activities, By boosting

of public services, Iibraries, hospitals, parks playing fields, gymnasiums

spending on public facilities, cities: aremore capable to satisfy the needs of citizens and improve their

standard of living,
[11 addition

to social benefits,

there are econormc

merit" that public facilities can offer to.

comrmmities. An integrated transport network

(maritime, land and inland waterways transport and

3!

civil aviation) ~for exemplc, promises the smooth and speedy movement of goods and people in a city. Industrial products" as wellas agricultural produce of 'city" can be delivered to other cities in exchange by for steady income. Of equal importance are public Internet facilities. Providing access to infonnation

improving Internet and other telecommunications

businesses in
8.

facilities has relevance to the ease with which

city receive, process, utilise and send information, It is

entrepreneurs; either from home or abroad, wiU first examine the infrastructure of a city before
deciding whether to pursue business opportunities there. The arts, by comparison, although enabling people to see the world and the human condition

:00
.

exaggeration to s,ay

thB't

differently and to see a truth one 'might i~7I.orebefore, do not merit government spending .. The first
reason is that the arts +referingto music, film and literature altogether+-are more likely to attract the income and the arts in return, continue to Lflouisl! withoat the
at,

ir vestment of the private sector than public facilities. Businesspeople continue toinvest ill the arts in the expectation of earning lump
SU1TI

government spending. Meanwhile, tile arts are

key component of a culture and naturally passed down

t(Jo

from one generation to another, Unlike public facilities, they require: no money

survive,

It is therefore
consideration.
1~"tIlUlin,

clear "that construction

of public facilities

should be given the foremost

The concern about the well-being of individual citizens and that of a city is moreacute

than the !appre'h{Jrlsion about 'the sun ival and prospects of the arts, somefhing thatbusinesses have a

ilfStiiJ:~
I. precarsor=forerunner=foundation: 2., trumicipal=urban=metropclitan:

J-~,""t~

J'L4i

lI'

£b~

3 .m1eril

value=advantage: f£,?..
bi A c.\-:: ~A -'me~n:nx::p' }~, ,,:,=:*,"P

. 1 , '" integrate=amalgamate=com 4 ... 5. merit =deserve=carn:

{liA,ij-

6., flourish-thrive -burgeon=boom;

g,. stake=involvement=

.jf~itr:JLJIt.

7. apprehensjO'n~,81ooety=uneEls,iness,~dl'iead=fearfuJnless.: ,!tt;&t, ;J!t~~~ concern=interest=share:

*,~!!~~

,-

Topic 11:: Somep,eop'le argue~ tiha1 'the 'glov,e'rnlment s,nDu'~dspelndm,oney Q,nlily an

miedlica'l oare and 'sdiru:cati'on but not en tneatre& Olr'sp'ort: sta,diiu,mIS'I' D'o 'you agree, or

di,sagr.'ee?
Where public money goes is an issue of broad interest 'UOthe general public. SO.De people advocate that the government should fund the: sectors tJIUt bring tatlgihle and immediate benefits to the public,

such

,LS

medical care and educational

systems, while opponents

suggest that those large urban

can coordinate

developments, such as stadiums and theatres, are worth government funding. In ]]1Yopinion, the
possibility remains that the fwo opinions can be reeondled and the government budgeting to meet the needs of both.
Medical eare is essential 'tit) the economic and social weU-bei1,1g of a c;nuntry~ part1cul:3ii~y of an

underdeveloped development-By

country. Both empiricat krrowledge and academic research suggest that making
country and eliminating illiteracy can p(lve the way for economic receiving education, children from impoverished families can shake off poverty, thereby maintaining or improving their standard ofliving, For a. country as a affecting both resource use

education available throughouta

climb high in the social ladder and live better off. Education also allows citizens to secure employment

and earn regularincome, whole.educetion

and national output.

is linked to skilled workforce and EO high productivity,

Government interference in healthcare

Availability ofaffordable

and medical services is also highly recommended".

devel prnen] of ,
0 ~ ~

medi cal service is a mark of the social and economic

country. By providing the needy people with medical service, a country call inspire the loyalty

citizens. People feelllB3ured living and. working in a country where they can be given medical service

when un,employ,ed,sick,injuIed or retired, By conlp'.arilo'n~, if they cannot affordthe high cost of visiting tile clinic, hospitalisation, or bu.yingdmgs~ they are less likely to enjoy their liviug. Sooial solid,arity
wiU ,eventually suffer,

Although education and medical services are fundamental to tile stability and development of a country, it is not to s:ay tita:t theatres Of' sport stadiums have no rfule'e'min:I fe,atu'~'.1n the ,hU',artny' of . human needs, those needs for food, "kelt." andhealth ar-e among the "basic...After these targets are attained, ·people turnto higher aspirations, entertainment and recreation, Leis-uric facilities like stadiums
and cinemas satisfy people's needs in these fields. A game between one's motherland and a. vlsitin,g country can raise people's sense of national pride and ethnical unity, The cinema brings artistic pleasure
to

ev'c:ryone:..

'To drawa conclusion, the decision. to finance theatf-es or sport stadiums depends on the; fina.ficial situation of a country. When an economy comes to maturity, the: launch of recreational and
entertainment projects of this kind is reasonable,

1.tanglbme~conCJete~soliwnuderia~~b)tlchable:

~m '~', ~ JIf.' ttj ~

2. recencile=tailor=modlty=alter=adapt:
4. assured=confident=self-confident

11~ .~.f-( v~,;ff 1i"$~it;~ ) ~t, '

3. shake off=get rid of get awa ywith: ~ nJt

poise d=self-as sured: 114T~~'., ~ i-t tfJ

5. drug=medicine ...... prescription drug: ~.*1;

6. redeeming feature=desirable quali~~:11[ J11..:c'_:9J.:,

'7. hierarchy=pyramid=pecking
'9. motherland=fatheriand=nation

order=chain of command: 11,k" lodglng

state: ;fll,l1i

*~ w.. tt
t

8, shelter=sefe haverr housing=accommodation

:f~ t: 1ltJt ,*.Jt -t,jf

T"a,pi~ 12,: T'he,!advocat~s Q,fin1te,rnatior;lll

aiel beUeve 'that: counlliil'$ have amoral

IQ1bliigat,iointo help. each ,other" wbi~,e'the Q'PIP,onlents, ,con"side,r tt u.'nln'Bce:slary" becau~sle

mane" is m~sspe'nt: by the gDv,e~rnmenls tihat Ire ce,ive, it. D:is;cuss th'e •• two: ,Points CI'f v1iew and ,give y,Qur' ,opin,iio,n ..
International aid refers to money, equipment or services thatare ideal of mankind, that is,rnutual provided by a country or inrernational organisation for countries that need them, known as recipient countries. It reflects amoral

supportandinterdependence,

according to those donor countries,

However, some people adopt an opposing view and tend to believe thataid money can be m.isspent' by

ther.ecr.p',ien~countries,. My view isthatpeople

resources in aid.

should Dot withhold the provis i'O'I,1 of money or material

to provide relief to each other, especially to those disadvantaged members and those; victims of natural

..

disasteraand civil unre8t~This aid its essential to the homeless and useful in helping recipient countries
return to their normal state aftermajor disturbances, FOI

example, with the humanitarian relief obtained

worldwide

IOn

an.annual basis, victims of natural disasters (such astsunami, draught, Ilood] throughout

the world can recover rapidly and rebuild their homeland,

Humanitarian relief is meanwhile an instrument to promotepeace and security ..The deep-rooted

hostility between some countries
C,aD Te's[llt,jro1JJ

the disparity

]11 the

materialstandard

of living, or

HOl'B

physical distance ..The provision of humanitarian relief

0fJ,fJ,II8U,P

the possibility ofcuhural, economic

and social interaction between countries, and "thereby easing tension. Recipient countries can thus participate in the global economy, a strategic step in slinking' off poverty,

Admittedly, aid money is sometimes misused or spent on unintended

de-stinations, but these

p.iif_alls can.never cvershadow the benefits. Misuse can instead raise awareness ofthe global community

toa vlllal regime and pressure the recipient countryto adjust its, syatem, Meanwhile, it can be tackled
by tight regulations: and scrutiny. In general, the- abuse of international aid is. an i-sola:te,d event, so lts effect should not be overstated .. From what has been discussed above, one can reach a conclusion that 'the role of humanitarian reliefis not only to deliver urgent assistance to populations in need but also 'to strengthen

,tt,os between

countries. Although fraud and corruption occurevery now and then, they can be addressedin a way that

enhances future aid endeav.(Ju,rs ..

] . misspend mishandle=misuse=abuse:
i{

m ~~ m

$jl ir..

2. rec,ipi,eDFreC'eive.Fibeneficiary:;Ji- ~ ~ 3. withhold=s snend defer: . '. _ ...US]J --- . .lL!_ r_ 4. provision=supply:

~J~.~~ 1~~!I
J;\~:~ "fI~.,.ID:.. .

tl1*
~L

S,' unresi=turmoil=confbct=turbulence-st 6. result from -stem from=becaused by:

d7 ..~· ~'-:.!t

7,. open up- cincrease=nlise:~'

8.. shake off=getrid of: #IJIl(
,n ..'.. ";)

yJ1J

1tm ~)
~,~'U"~

pitfall .. wb ack=dowaside: =dra

.~,ILl;.".,
,~I.I,,:,'_, .. _",g.'\1dt\.-'~~

..~""I.IJ.~",I"~_"~'11

.~.,~,~'~ It~ .kJ:·' ~IW

'II

1. 0..venal=corrupt:

-t(~t{1.

l l '.iselatedeexeeptional: ~Ij ~]..B'!J '~ 1~ ~ I!

1.2~ tie=bonds link: lf~

,t-~

1.3~endeavour=attempt=effort:

~.iJ<j'~ ~ tJ

'Top,ic1,3:
edueatlen,

S'Om.'B:p,e:cpie tlhink ,·'the go;vernmenll

s'hQu~:d pay f,o,r h,ealth care, ,8ln,d

but there is no agr,eem,e,nt a.lboUit whe·ther

.t

jis the g'overnlment's

resPQnsibinty,~ What is your oplnlon?

Not surprisingly, health care and education. are WlO areas of government priority in most, if not all, of the countries around the world. However, many tend to see. the both areas. as citizens' individual responsibilities, This belief is partly right. The government and the citizens should be jointly responsible

for the. cost of education and health care service.

The first point to note is that government funding for education is of great. benefit to families with

children and the society as a whole, TI~eIe are occasions on which parents cannot afford the cost of their education and their savings are meagre" compared with the formidable tuition fees being charged by a tertiary institution, Poor academic experience can impair on.e'semployability and put him or her into a seriously disadvantaged. position. Government spending addresses this issue by providing

aspiri"ng students with access to a comfortable learning experience, In this knowledge ..based society,
possibly nothing is more valuable than the access to education.
Similarly, an individual should receive health care treatments, especially lifesaving ones, whether

he or she has the means to pay. Access to health care is a basic human right and a measure to' ensure a
decent standard o.f living. In the event of the need for urgent or emergency treatment, government spending enables sufferers to receive immediate health care services. This is the fulfilment of the:

government's responsibility to its members, Needless to say, health care treatment costs are, in genera], unaffordable to low income families. Government's financal support is therefore required. Despite these facts, it. is. immoral that individuals shirk responsibility and try to pass an medical

costs on to the government In view of the- fact that the government raises financing primarily from. taxpayers' income, individual's over ... exploitation of a health care system will in fact add a heavy burden

on those hardworking and good-hea,rtea citizens. Particular attention should be paid on those people whose health problems are attributed to their poor personal living habits (smoking, drinking, substance use: or inactive lifestyle), In such cases, they should not be entitled for public medical services .. As suggested 'above, education and healthcare services are of primary importance to citizens, and the government has the responsibility setvices that the citizens currently enjoy,
1. fonrudab]e9'lemalf-kab~e-as101uldin~ daunting: ti' A'~, $:A~'

to ensure

that those services are available and affordable.

However, it is not to say that the government should bear the costs of all healthcare and ,~ducBtional'

2. employability=the ability to find a job:

3. ,a:spirin;g -'pr(l'mjsing=aspirant: ~
5.. sufferer=victim=peticnt:
~J ~

a I.fF '" j~ h "U m; '6{] j~.n

.4J;$'.~. t!J .

t{J J

4., standard of livmg=living standard=levelof affluence= love] of comfort: !t.~~tf;; ~

~'~

4t

~A

6. good ..hearted=charitable =benevolent=generous=alrruisdc: '*hJ~~' ~-? ~,1;.;~ JlIj :d~

7. beer=assame=shonlder=take

on: ift..t!!, D\.·4!t

'_I,opi:c '14:Peo,p~e should

l

'k,eepa~11he maneiY they 'ea.rnand :5ha,u~ldnot Ipay ·taxesto t

the .srtale!" 00 you agree o,r'dii.sagree?

.. --

The :rnW'e f taxation _is, prcviding funds necessary for carrying out a variety of functions in a o
country, However, to many taxpayers, especially employers, p'aying tax remains the biggest ,h,'(/laaaC,lul.

In, my opinion, tax. revenue is essential to a country. Below are some of its. main, functions, Although manytaxpayers
.. ..: <F :~_ ,"__"

see income tax as an (lppr-opriatio.rr of their f3l1:rniulls~ t3K is in fact a

b.····y····
. : .•

reliefto taxpeyers and their famflies, ~ for examnle, _IJ._.n -,.. - - 11_- _. -'-_U:'.F~V~

provid
_.LV.)

.L~

·~11'1·a ~JL Ci

01iJ'~bH<LW

,['IA'/~,&:j.u~,..J··ag· ,-,.~; :/;:.··1-· ..' - " :,- ·d·-· air .... U .- •. m~t ' O~1J)1en ~. ' ..
tl;lell~

7P-

a solution to other problems that they may confront

UJ, Iife,

For example, those whe loss

ea.rning

hiD

capabilities because of injuries, diseases and disabilities are entitled to the gcvernmenrs

financial

support, derived mainly from tax revenue, There is no point ill denying that taxis the principal source

of finance that austainsmany of the benefits offered by the welfare system of a,country. Alfhough most
workers are not the beaeficiaries currently, they
W]U

counton these benefits :in their later ,years' (as

pensioners) " Sowill their dependents (childrenand parents ),. Taxation is meanwhile an effective tool by which a society can achieve the redistribution of income and closethe _gapbetween haves
'\

tllrit

have-note. In most countries, as a general rule.jhe higher

By imposing different tax rates, the government is able

the personal income, the higher 'the incometax.

to distribme the taxburden across social clssses, reducing income di;s,parity between the rich and the poor,..
C·-Ip T e tax is deemed ••by business as a regtular cost which must be kept to a minimum ornorate __ 1. ---~---- · .Ju.-- --c·' " ..• -.. ." '. ..~

but it is

110t

necessarily a. bane. By levying different types of tax) the government

can exert an influence on

macroeconomic

performance, which in tum influences the! income of the business world. When the
clan reduce the tax and presenttax

economy is on the verge of e recession, the government

,i:nce'nti:ves,

which proves to be an effective policy ill reviving the. economy. By contrast, during the periods of
growth, the government can raise the tax rate so as. to prevent an overheated economy and combat

inflation. It is, fair to say that tax is one of the main tools in establishing
conducive to busiuess's sustained growth"
What have been discussed above are the benefits brought by taxation,

a healthy environment

an

beingessential

to a

country, its businesses andindividual

----"""'!

taxpayers. Although many taxpayers feel pressured by taxes, they

wHI eventually benefit from 'the'taxes they have paid and sbould therefere bear taxfiabiliries.
lli>tji]l~

1. hesdache=problem=annoyance:
2.. appropriation=acquisition=scizarc
4. safeguard=protection=precaution:

f~l;l[

1~

A::k1? Er.J :f rl1T

-requisition:

6: ~~;

~;tJr)l
\

3" earning=Iemuner~t\mon9¥age=income=take-bolne

p'ay=salary::,~A

'i~4f~.it ~1~f"

.s, later
i

years= last few years of one' s life: and poor:

~1f--.

fi. haves and have-note-rich 8, inceative-encouragement:

1;.A..~

7 . reces$ion---:dQiw'Dtum~ep[le,ssion;:;;;;slunlp:: Atl); ltl:~

j}r -M-.~, ;"$t iIi

1/5'A._

T'o,pic ",5:' It: is wi,dely acceipled that peop,:le who h:ave pOS1I-tIChool·qual,ificati,ons piay 8111'the, 'Iulll ,COla,tilncur'rled Dverlhe ceu,rS:8' €It what !elxtent:.' do ,'IOU ,ag-I'i ::',o_ d~-:- iii r'1l!Jte .. . . --- -- __ _ -, -~- ~ee lr '. ISa ~. ~~,?: _
y.

earn

a higher sahllry' than tho,ss, less; edllioated do. IUnivers:ily students sittauld, 1heref,ors,
Q bi

l ta,in!il1Ig ,8 cQIII'e,ge ediucati!o'n:~TD

With the labour intensive economygradually

,giv,iJ~g-waJ'to knowledge-focused

economy, the

aCtH!~'SS to.higher education has become an issue ofbread interest, Tbeproposal to charge.all university students with tuition fees and allow no e'X~",ption_arisesmainly fr01D 'the eoucern that tertiary education bas to competewith
111Elny

other lJ.ugent demands for pu.blic funds and. struggle with underfunding .. I ,
will have all accunlll.latiFi! effect on the well-being of either

believe that this policy, if implemented,

individual students or the society as, a whole.

When laying the hope offuture development over students, the government cannot shirk from the

responsibility to finance, them. The su:tcii1!8d growth. of a country rests on young talents. In this sense,
the government is investing, not spending, money.A standard example is America, a COUD,try investing multimillion dollars i1'1 higher education on an annual basis and sponsoring students' study by different forms of aid, such as scholarships, subsidies, allowances and student loans. It can be expected that these well-educated, asp'iring people, after finishing their education, will constitute a main drive of a state's growth, Mote over, the government should. plough a reasonable proportion of tax revenue, most being sourced from parents, back to their children,

M~~:wbi1e,it is, worth~'melltioning .:tbat some schools tend to force .aeomplex .of charges over students, with.

~neaim to extend

their profit margin. Ignorant of their net-for-profit nature, many

qualityofteaching
tIS

universities -might dl,J.I;'ateftom their most :important tasks, such as improving teaching quality, The

persistence of this problem will make their academic servicemuch less credible and
donatiou.or the government's fundiug~ instead- of levying
at

and faculty sta:ff,uDev,ell~,A university can cover its expense by various means, such
high fee over students.

'the receipt of

The rea,SODS cited above have justified whyuniversity students need. not pay more than a. lBMler
payment. While depending on young generations, the society should be more 'CpH1sidet te
0.\:51·.

err ~

situation, The effort to encourage tertiary education participation will pay back sooner, rather than later,

ilE.R~~-1
-~_/

1.. give way to=succumb to=yield 'to.: ,~ .. -il

2:.. exemption=exception:

"tV
J+\ _;Up- ~}~ , ~ ~

1iiJ 11~,Jt 1f'

1. accumulati ve 'g;ruw'in~increasing=incr-en1ernal~spi11dHng:: 4.. shirk-evade=avoid=dodge=shun: 6. rest binge on=depend on:

~~nll tJ~

~~i!l

5. sustained=everlasting=eternal =endless ..... unending=perpetual:

(JU-

#'~ 6~

.1j{~ ~

1ti"t' , 1t',*y1 i"'"

~ffi.i:J- -~ t
j' ~ ~ ~ ~

7,. .asprring=bopeful-aspirant:;ff

8 deviate=diverge=stray: 11~
'9.. persistence= continuance : _~

10. uneven=unbalaneed =unequal; ~. f-~MJ

jI

~.±tl ~.~.

'Topl,c 16:: On1ly government aotiio,n ean s,()llve, hQ'uslng sh'Drta,ge,s 'in b'ig ,c!ltias., To, what e'xtent do Y'O'UI aglree, lor disa"gree'?'

Housing shortage has become a serious urban social issue in many parts of the world, It has been argued that onlywhen 'the govemmem bas taken actions, can. demand for homes be fulfilled, Yet to the best of my knowledge, the government alone cannot cope well with housing shortages.
One of the main objec'tiolls to gcvernment intervention is that it would hamper the private sector

and simultaneously pose a huge burden upon the state. In countries where the government is on a tight budget and the homeless population is large, the involvement of privata property developers is required
and re CO'm end ed, Not only do-es it release the government rn from the 'burden of funding large-sized construction pro gramm es but it also fosters tile, housing; industry" Given its role in attracting public

consumption and accelerating economic development, the housing industry should be at the IIl1rrey 10J'
the market.rather than the government.

Another drawback of state control over the housing market is that it could result in the stagnancy
of construction quality, functionality" facilities and other aspects of housing, Apartment blocks
0'['

other

residentialconstructions
l

would be built in a similar pattern and "the cityscape: would be monotonous.

·C-o.Hlpl'Ie,hengtp'lJ

EX,C"6Ssiv e-unijrJ1nnityj especially in the size and-Dumber of rooms, 'will fail to meet

requirements, raised by citizens onproperties

Despite these obj ections, government iiller1',entW'n is essential in some disadvantaged
$,eglRei,lls

of the market and

housing. The
O[

can fender more: reeistance to citizens. Single parents, the people with disabilities and oilier
'people are among jhose 'who are not r-eady to. afford commercial
allol-fa,',!C'B

government can provide them either with housing

directly with economical houses.

to purchase their private properties

As indicated above, in addressing hornelessness and inadequate housing, tbejoint effort of both

government and private sector is required, 'While government intervention would impede the property

'market, and negatively influence the supply and demand relationship, government assistance is essential
for low-income families andvtl,llller,~:b]e'individuals in need ofhousing,

l itt_)( mJl ~l
'~
./

1. objection=opposition=atgument

against;

~,ta!.J 'jt,/i...

2. at the mercy of=reliaut

'00.::

'd:1 •• '.,~~~l!J

if-~ 'iYJ 4~ uniformity=sameness: ·-ftIJ;t, ;fa' ~t!l hensi · 1 ,,-'~ .Ah 5. comprencnsrve=wi id rangmg=ampie: F (::i!..~~J ae..
3 .monotono·tt~:=repetiti.ve: ~ 1)\1'~"
~I ~~__'I'~

6. interveuti.on=tnter:ferenc~invo1ve]nent:
7. segment=aector=section:

.j~*"""

1-'~, ~~

8. allowance=subsidy=payment: 9. jcinr=cembined=shared=united:

:=;I'' .JiJ' ~ i1jtWs

Jfk~iJ\J

Topic 17: The:re are social, medical and techni~cal probllems as,sociated with the use of m,nbil.e.· ..ph a,"n-e.··.ft·'W"h'a' ·1-: term de t.... ,,",,'~Ira··-·b'lem·s· "-a-k-.'- 0.0:- p···re".' lern'. s o ,:f: U-8'.::lln.g'-, ---,- ,'b-1I'le', .· ,e·? -'._LI .. b .. "'-'-' m.D--I.v h,e·l:lte· ._ p•. ', '.> .-':..
- -' -'-¥--. __..- - Q!!'! .. ,' '-. .
II,

,.Q

.'

phones oulweigh the be1nefits?

Across the world, especially the wealthier parts, the. mobile phone bas taken the place of telephone as, an electronic telecommunication owning one, As this techonology medical land technical perspectives, Similar to
IDB.QY

device, with the ]:n~}j rity of 'the adult, teenager and even child o
has become r.ife" its, dJ'B.wbacks,wbi,ch. deserve people's greatest attention. lean be' seen from social,

other hi ..tech products, suchas computers, mobile phones have detrimental effects Another ,le·,thlll health concern is thelink between. despite sometimes obsession

on users' health, For ex-ample, long-time heavy phone users seem to be more ,prcule to certain types of
cancers, although evidence te date is inconclusive, losing control of the vehiclewhen using hands-free systems, When the mobile

mobile phones and road accidents ..It is argued that n"oto'rt.w~ have amueh higher risk of IC{J"lltsiollS and
driving and talking on the' phone simultaneously, considerable' convenience

phone has brought caused enormous

,people's

with

convenience hasmeanwhile

,mtlu,bdnC'f! •. That's

why the use of mobile phones has and even transports, such as

been prohibited in many public places, such as libraries, theatrea.hospitals

trains, buses and. aircrafts, Speaking at increased volume is considered impolite or even offensive, In
schools, students are required. to switch off' cell phones beforethe class begins because mobile phones are responsible: for a. high amount of class disru_ptio'I'lI'. When its downside persists, the mobile phone bas, proven indispensable handheld, lightweight, portable and multi-functioned, music files, make voice calls, br-owse Internet, and so forth Meanwhile,
a,

in modern H£e.U

is

allowing users to send text messages,

exchange

within twenty years, mobile

phones are: expected to be more pe'n'as:ivIJ as technical advances and mass manufacture will make them
low-cost personal Hen1.8.. Given those factofs,,,bnemobii,e
before,

phone will continue to perform its role as

.81.

key social tool, by which one keeps in touch with. others much. more easily than did

thegenerations

:::~d:::e~
'll[~.lnJ*
4,.

As suggested above, the contribution of the mobile phone to the society is prominent and people's

~~:::mmlllJlieation

is an in"lJrersible trend, although it has a nurnbe...

ofPl'tl: l~ ~

1. Idlevice;"=equip'men~app[ianc.e=fnstrum.eD't: i.t~" 3,. prone to=susceptibleto ...... vulnerable 'to:

it.I

2. rii:e'4Videspread=prevlalen.r-ubiquitolls,=predo1ninant=rarnpant:

-tiiL m~

1i-/b ~~J:. ·~~·MJ· lethal=fatal=deadly=Iife ..damaging: jt~~,,% , 4f 415 ~.~ ~

5~ motorist=driver=car user: 1.tffJ ;'\.$ ~,?A

6~ colltsior=cresh-acctdent' l~~i!; If..'*fij

7. disturbanoe=annoyance=interrupti~on:":,
;j;}t, ;fr *'L

g,. disrupticn=interference=disuaction.rf

£t pervasi ve prevalent omnipresent:

4t it:i,gi el~, ~j{Af'j~ I

10. irrevers.ibte=DermMent-=irrevocable=tllulltera,ble~ .~. ~.ij!.tt~ ,

7,it~ a4]

In the history of mankind, possibly no century witnessed more progress in technology than the
20th century did.. People have become technological development increasingly

interested in assessing the correlation between

as I am concerned, people's leisure time has been'

and leisure time, As

far

,sllrinlci,ng as a result of the tremendous advance in modern technology.

Admmttedlliy,thanb,tD

.:,.-.

modern technology, people can thus spend less time on r:ompuJsfJry activities (e. g, , working), but it should also be notedthat other non -compulsory activities have come
toeonsume a larger proportion of people's aJ~er.M!ork ,life ~ such as education, If leisure refers to. the
time spent in non-compulsory activities, people's leisure time has in fact contracted. 'The growing concern on education has increased the likelihood. that people are; wH lin g to give ltptheir~.e;ist.1!e.lives

for educational opportunities. This, trend is attributed mainly to ccmpetition and fears of job loss, causing people to turnto on-the ... training and. education for securedemployment ..Another incentive job is the increasing flexibility of educational institutions, Worthwhile knowledge ,can be passe,a Ion from
one generation ofworkers
to' another in

different: forms of education, such as televised teacbicg and

online courses, It comes .a~ the cost of'their leisure time ...

People's leisure lives are continuously eroded also because of ubiq,uily of modern technological
tools (e. g .." computers with Internet access and telecommunications activities, For example, cell phones and laptops make peopleaccessible go and wherever they are. People aremore equipment)
,
i

It is, noteworthy that

people now take fewer and ahortervanatiene following 'the increase in the number oftecbnolegy ..'based
totheir superiors wherever they stressed than any generation before. Meanwhile, people

now have to engage in more everyday processes than ever before, such as shopping, food ordering, and

so on, It seems that the time budget is burdened because more time should be: invested in activities that ,
were previously ignored Q1r nnoticed, u While posing a threat on people's workers more flexibility in controlling
-

leisure lives, technologies

might an other occesions,

give

their work and more quality tittle after work. A traditional ,

,C(}',m,fQRte's,.

workweek has been cut, as the amount of mannal work continues to decline because ofautomation. The
availability of various means of transport has released working people from lengthy The

line 'between work and private: life is mueh more blurred, with many workers shopping, checking
private emails and reading newspaper online even whenworking .
From what has been discussed, one understands that the development of'technology has tremendous impacts on people's daily lives, although the exact impacts are notconclusive ..When the pruli/eru/io',n

of new technologies, such as computers, allows people to manage 'their own working time and
accommedat« family needs and lifestyle choices, it has locked them in
,8;

struggle 100 cope ,¥~th more

tasks in daily lives.

I· 'I!:

'_Jl!'~1~ ~

\'J

'''iJ--~'' J

diminish=contract: .~.&", ~ ~J \ 2. compulsory=required: Jj6.. 1t.it!J ] . slnink=decline 3. after-work life=personallife: .:c.11=~;r ... ti.~~.;+A~i.. ~~' ~
4 .. 'P!a$s on ... to=hand on=t~ansfer:4ti!
,5,.. ubiquity =prevalencetss

*'flr~

',I

it ~.1' J{t
J:_

6. eommnte=the journey between borne and place of work:

7. prQ,]ifer,atiol1"'""hlcrea.s~lnushroollling:

'F *iI~~ifl

Jt ~fl'

8. accommodate give room. for: t:,tA

Topic 19:: Ea,rUer" lechnoll,ogicall development: Ibr"Qdu,ghl mlD,rs clha,n'ges to the life, ot: ord,inlry people than recent; 1:echn·ologl·cal deve'l,a~pment dO'M TD what e,xtent do you
Undoubtedly, people are now enjoying one of the greatest technological boom times in human
history. Although jhere is a consensus that social changes coincide nornrally with jechnologica] advances, it is a, contentious issue whether theearlier
Inmy opinion.the

technology

(e. g." machines, cars, airplanes)

impacts on people's lives to a, larger extent tha-n does the recent technology (e. g. '~ Internet, cotuputers).

recent improvements, in technology have more far-reaching consequences,

of Ii,mwili

Whilethe invention of automobiles was a landmark in the technological evolutio

'~

the

V{] despre

ad use of computers and. teleecmmunications

technology has dramatically rtl,8haped the

mO'V1e

nature of the society, One might have benefited a lot fi:Olm one's unproved ability to

ra.pidly from

one place to another because of the availability of automobiles, yet this benefit bas been ,dir,co,ln,ue,d because of the advent of the Internet. With Internet access, theworld has become accessible to. people
;EUJd one

can perform many tasks at borne' {e. g. "grocery shopping ) (lnd let their fingers do the walking,

Lifestyles are changed by recent teehnologies in equal measure, Before computers and the Internet

were created, most working people snuggled with a. lack of leisure timeand the balance between family
~.iIeand work life. They were' fully occupied by employment and various chores, such as shopping.

With Internet, they' are now able to. spend much less time on those rontine, ,dull activities and lead
active leisure lives,
Modern technologies also account for the; evolution of people's perception of society ..People tend to develop, modify and repurpose technology for their own use. Interdepence, previously a
ICO'lIre

virtue

of many societies, is now undermined.

transportmeanwhile,
nfJ'Tl'.IS

Cell phones allow people to insulate their private interactions

from the culture around them and. to create their own micro-cultures. The mobility given. bymodern

allures them to leavetheir place of birth and work and live elsewhere, Cultural

are subject to modification and "thecommunal lifestyle is going out of fashion.

Inconclusion

whether one likes it or not, technology will continue: to evolve, with the resulting

changes impacting the lifestyles and cultural norms continuously, 'While the earlier technology had enhanced the quality of life and generated revenue for people, the recent technology 'has made them
lead a different lifestyle from previous generations,

.11I s: iRJ

~. landmark=tumiag

I
point=Yvatershedeven.t*~Jlr

,Ie...

2 .. humanldnd=mankind:
4. discount=impair:
5

A~

3. reshap e=reform=restructure=remodel:
.tf.;jyf..fi:! ~ 1JJ~'

1t-jrf.~ i.t." Ii."'-

dull=tedious=monotonous=dreary.

~ ~ itjJ;ft..~1Jr,

~*~
I~

6... norm=custom=normal

wavs of behaving; ~Jt4f(r?'4f ~ .~~flt

7. cnm_munal_'coUec:tive:;l_'1~1tiF:J (.~ni;t jt)

To'pi'e 20,: lt is sai:d that 'the: fast p,ace, lot rapid development
'D'r

'QU!F

,e,veryday liife"as, ,e cli:~ect Iresult cd the: terchntllo'QY and: travel in,dust,ry, has
dDy'OIJl

of telecommuniicatian:s,

ne'galiv. effects, on lndiv:idul.ls~ nations an,dllhe globe ..To wha't extent

disa'glf"fsls?
No.1 surprisingly,
life is becoming

,sgr,ee

many aspects of people's

daily lives halve undergone

considerable

changes

bceauae of the: recent development in 'tech__ nology, It is a particular concern mat the pace of everyday
faster, resulting
from the development

in cars" air travel, telecommunications

when working
I ._, •. ,' •.•...

technology and the Internet, As well as benefits, this trend is, to bring problems.
On the positive sidle, the fast rhythm of life requires people to enhance efficiency

and then allows them to.'enjoy I,A n terleisure. _ tit-e. With___" ad v_n______ intel ..:- .'. m mie ti .. peop~e can,-' at oe ; .. ~,. ~ '; ,1! -. __ .w .....'.. .. OJvng e,_ _ _"TI__ _ _ ,_ the eOOmD_WlICaIOD8,
make jnquires by phone, instead oftravelling

"

long: distances, Internet access makes it 'possible for one

now

to perform various tasks without leaving their offices.Even though people have totravel every
then for meeting business partners, visiting clients in other cities or other purposes.modem

and

transport

networks reducethe amount of time they spend on commutes.

The acceleration of the pace of life also implies the expansion ofpeople's social circle. In the past,

social relationships were limited by physical factors such as geographical distance and [ow mobility,
but nowadays" one can travel further and get acquainted with more people with those technological
advances, such as the railroad, the automobile and thetelephone, telecommunications For instance, the rapidpe'n:{J,tr;(JtWn of
and people rely on their

technology has made the mobile phone a key socialtool

mobile phone addre-ss book to keep in touch with their friends ..

01'1

the negative side, the fast-paced lifestyle is responsible for the upsurg:e in lifestyle-related

problems, Jobs: become: demanding and lequire workers' actually working longer, primarily instantly [0 voice and emailmessages

fun commitment,

resulting in their depression devices have made

and presslwe. Underneath thefacade of continued C'OIr.tnu::,tio'l of official working hours, employees are

because fax, e-mail or other communicanon

from others, Private life has to be sacrificed,

them accessible to their supervisors

colleagues snd customers after work, They -have to. respond the doubts, about tit_€: negative effects of the acceleration of
now enjoygreater
well .. eing.which b is reflected in 1l10IDe:

According, to the facts outlinedabove,

pace of life: are not weU-,grolmded.Peop]e quality family time, less travel-related
However, they might have toaccept
I ilIX'iiij ~ - 1
"_

stress and close contact with friends and familymembers ..

frequent intrusions as a lJy-produ,ct of convenient communiatJo

.12..

] . penetration=invasion=permeating: ~!t.; A 2. :j}acade~disiguise~c!olv!eJ-up:: 1lb'~

3, contraction reduction ~;~ ~.. 4. intrusion=interruption:

1IA;t,

tr ltlt

5, by~prodn~F-tmwmlted ,p,ruduc;F:anythi'llg' ,p'r-oduoed in the eourae of maldljg another Hting: ;,I~ f'cit,

'Ta,plc'21 : Nowaday's peopll,eca.n carry Q,ul,lasks'BUleh, ,as slho',pp,lingla:ndl 'bankiilng e'v1e'n bU6,iness··transaotlons w,lthout meet:ing ea.o'h ether face
Din iindiviiduaJs andt,hI9! srDC,iety?
'ID'

fa:ce. What are 'themfeets

and livetheir lives has vastly

With the wide use of the Internet, the

'way people conduct business.

changed. Many businesses have websites that allow people to conduct business, execute deals and

finish transactions online, as ,an alte"J(ltl~6'to, a Iellgthy commute, Although people are thus free from the constraints of geography and time, there are some consequences of this trend that demand attention.

S.'IJJ.l1,o~e;d~Y~, with Internet ,a!c'ces:B,~peoplear'e able to perform transactions and to do s,bopp.ing

without leaving home, but meanwhile they have to pay ,8; heavy price for it..One of the of the day on the Internet is quite normal, It can be expected tha-t beingaddicted home telecommuters
0,1' "~nQS~negative

aspects is, fa.,r instance, that it alters, their social behaviours and habits, Formany peopla to spend part
to Internet use, most of

Internet users will become socially isolated, Poor social

life
......

and feelings of ). ~ .~

loneliness are those problems tb~t are very often :~bundamongheavy users.
It is also likely that people have become increasingly accustomed

to living in a world that

appreciates convenience and ,inacti''Vity and they do not want to evade those maxims, It gives
explanation of why the sedentary lifestyle 18 now prevailing and why people spend little time on leisure

or recrearionalactivines. Time has. been spent infront of the computer struggling with deteriorating health,

OJ

Internet The net result is that

they suffer serious loss, of vision, back pain and. obesity. It is true that many people finally end up with
Despite the negative effects, the Internet has its POSt tve implications to thewell .. eing of society. b

Online shoppers: are able to seek ont the lowest prices for items. or services, Manufacturers, therefore, have to improve product quality and lower price levels in secure a stable market share. Telecommuting-working congestion" the urban air pollution and petrol use. As. outlined above, people's growing obsession 'with Internet use", such as online shopping or
at'l

effort to win the favour of consumers and

at home using a computer is a solution to traffic

banking, has both immediate and long-term impacts

up efforts. to minimise the negative effects,

'01'lL

health, social involvement; liiFesty]es!and

emotional well-being, Although it is 'of great value from a net surfer's perspective, people should step

l..alternative= replaeemenr=

SJubstitu,te:.n - *lj~' -it Y1~':p, it.

j'

2. suppo sedly=theoretic aU y=purp ortedl y: l~ ",~J:. ~t,1~i. ~ jJ!~

3 price penalty: 1~11rt -1f W

i

4. telecornmuter=teleworkerr.p

:fLii.:tt11! Jfl tk t~ii\.1'*'J!-.~' ~ ~t, .:t.1~a{JA.._ ' ~

5. social Hfe=sp,ending time with friends and other people; :~1..*:1.. .. ~ 6. ]nacHvity=idlene.ss=imnlobi.li~lndolence=.s,muggishness: ,~tti! ~ll~" ifj)' to i.... ·~··it. "f~, iit n; 7. m.aKim=rule~rinciple~te:net-guidelme~10tt~dLctuln=axiom=truis111:
~ ~.~ Jt ~~t

y,apic22: Many ipealp'~iea~re,a:p!tim iSI:i,c ,aboUit th,s2.1at century and expect ,scie'lntiSit:S

't)OI

make, I-~ ositi'v,e chan,g--'e,sto the worl!d ~ T,o 'wba't e,xtent de y_u --'---n.-.- r'e,a ,= ..-. ,d·-' __ageer _._p . 0 -;0 EI:r;lI--- Dr . l-~ -1.. -. s
th,ei:r'optim,lism? 'What ,ch,anges, wtn,dd 'you Ulke to see iln the-new century?

Co,

.wl~h''·L_

As the .21st century continues to ,ulifotd,many technologies have arisen.onost of which were previously out of the reach of pee-pile's comprehension \Vhile some people are oo:nte,mMth nI,e current
standard. of living andtend to owe it to technical advances, an opposing point of view is that not all

these changes to lives are positive. I am of the opinion that there is still room for improvement and many problems remain unsolved.

The continued improvement

in technology

undoubtedly

accelerates

indusrrialieetion but
by technological

meanwhile leads '£0 the deteria,ratiolJ, of the natural environmellt.Accompanied

development, many problems, such as, over-exploitation of naturalresources,

progress has been made toward addressing these problems, possibly

intense use ,ofilmfi,ciilJ

bectluseilnplelnenting of energy-intensive

fertilisers, reliance on automobiles and deforestation, have arisen and intensified. Even. worse, Little

environmentally

friendly poHcies\viH
01'

inevitably impede the: development

industries. That is why the use of petrol continues to climb, despite the fact that many countries pledge

to curb petrol use and discover

invent alternative resources,

for people's sedentary'
to

Another problem is that many technologies have put people at:great risks, and highlighted the need for innovation, For example, the spread of 'the Internet is directlyresponsible
the development
1"11 the food processing

lifestyle and many health problems, such as obesity. The rise of the fast food industry, owing mainly
technology,

is linked to diabetes, stroke and heart disease,

Many stress-related diseases are attributed to tbe increaslcgly fierce comperition in society, a result of technological development, Fears of job logs have become one of the most common sources of social

anxiety in these years, as computerisstion

bas undermined the traditional position of Isbour by

eliminating jobs.All these problems demand 'Quicksolutions.

Some other problemsare associated with technologyas unforeseen. Forexample, the future of genetic englneering,
a"

well, although the actual impactsremain

,8,

radical new technology intending to

introduce genetic changes to

species, either animals orplants, and toincrease crop yield, is dim, To

date there is no compelling evidenceto show that GE food has a good trackrecord for human safety, especially when it has been found related to thousands of poisoning cases ..
Overall, whether technology is a blessing to people remains yet 'to be seen,
I'

SIO

does what the 21st

century can bring to them It seems to be' a [act that whenevera new technology arises, tberemust be

some problems that follow. 'When people are impressed by the benefits brought by a new technology, it is important to evaluate its negative impacts and tak,ep7'8'C'Q.utian8 inadvance,

l iIT >L iij] ~

1, ullfbld-display=disclos,e=clul'ifFbe,couleknown
2. content=satisfied =pleased: ~ il~

reveal:

Jll-if:" .JIi.1l-

.3~ dete1:iondion....;corrosion~w,eakeninFw-OIsellillg:,~-it
4., artificial=man ... made=synthetic=non ... natural: Aa lfi~.~ .~~ R_.~ 'MJ

5. track record=past performance=reputation=background

6.. precautioa=prevcntativc

history=profile: !fJ i!,., jil jf.

measure=safeguard:

iYi 1W .;1t~

'To'plc:23: 'Many ,emplloyees may w,ork at home wIth Imoderntechnology,~, Same

peo!p!le claim' that it beneflts onlly wG'rkers, but net ,emiploy'ers. IDoyou agree or
disagree?
The spread of telecommunication technology+using the Internet, telephone, fax, scanner~i or text
has centred on messaging-r- .has opened IIp anew range of possibilities for working a,t,home.Discussion

whether it represents a benefit to 'workers alone, but notemployers, In my opinion, employers can take

fuU advantage of horne working as well,

By allowing employeesto

workat home, employers can widen the base from which they recruit

and boost the chances of cap'ital1s,ing ,on rich human capita]. For instance, parents with childcare responsibilities and those with disabilities. prefer to work at home, Distance between their
perform their jobs at ease, and thus gives employers more options in human resource use.

work ,pisce

and their place of residence has never ceased to be a problem. Homeworking enables working people to.
Another benefit obtained from home ..working is the boost for staff motivation, Byworking home, employees, can manage their time on their own and strike
8,

at

balance between work and rest,

Similarly important is that, without the presence of their immediate supervisors, they feel less stressful

and more comfortable

satisfaction.

Those

two

factors both play a part in boosting their ,proihl,ctivityJ' and job

,

Apart from those benefits, bomeworking might have its drawbacks. A challenge t1iat elll9i&-elt
have 'to face is, the difficulty in managing ,aud monitoring employees' performance.Whether

employees

are

8,lS

likely Lu mee! a deadline whenworking

at

home as they are in the workplace remains unclear

Similarly difficult is to maintain team

spi.rlt

because employees have limited. i,ntera;CM'in between each

other, Furthermore staff training" an Integral part of increasing human capital, is not practical in a
business where homeworking predominates. Therefore, it is clear that although employers can benefit a lot from. integrating homewerking into

his or hen"business, e. g. , introdncing ~110n:~ flexibility and increasing employees' job satisfaction, they
should work out methods to prevent theproblems that are likely to arise' from this move.

I ittSl,ii]_
1. represent=stand for=signify: 1l{.~
2. capitalise on= take (fun) advantage of=make the most of=benefit frOID::

~IJm, ,

3. work place=place ofwork:JL11 Jt"R~ 4.. at ease=comfortably=free

l'

it ""'J;;"

from anxiety: Ht.t}Jt,

~.}V-;/J

5., productivity=outpnt=efficiency=yield:

6. team spirit=cohesion=unity;

,00 FA~*r; 1At.~ j]

7.

interaction=communicaticn=contact;

11~,~ ~.~ 1i11:J:l~

leisurei:nd usl!rY'is, growling r.,p,id:ly,. 'The aotive Ira lie, olf medem tetihinOI,o·gry''ln,·peopl,e's leiisure II,iva., nowada,ys, hasmade them less c:reativa..D,o you
'Top,i,c 24!Tlhe

a'gr-ae or d is,agir'ee?
Nowadays" leisure timeactivities
did from the entertainment

are set to p,lay a larger part in people's daily lives than ever

before, There has been a perception that nowadays people could not derive the same pleasure as they ofyesteryear, as technology has made them less creative. This view is open

to uliiJ'uti.,
The maturity and popularity of network technology, ,tagetJ'ter' with the expansion of the software

industry, has given today's entertainment seekers many opportunities to sharepleasure,

and enhance

their intelligence .. In the past, people could only play chess, cards, or other similar games with their ,

friends" Now they can challenge other players via the Internet, professional
familiar or .unja:m,iliar. 80mB online gaines, by
Sil1l1.1.Mtillg

or non ",,:pTtJ_jess,ionm;

real life conditions, enable players to

exercise various tactics in dealing, with difficulties. They improve players' abilities. as well.
Technology also enables any person in a conternpoary society to become enlightened and empowered and exhibit a high degree of'creative power. Creativity stems primarily from knowledge. In

the P .~ naston 16
-"l'"

,£l,'Ci V Q<

kn iowledge developed slowly ,r~even ~,ev

'.~ ...... __

_,,V

Cl.....

·0.'

U ~ .~_~~~,~

.s·taulJlIl/J,,",i .~ _B

throughout much of his/her life simply... 'I;,I_l~_~ __ '. ~ ·

_~U ~~~ __ ~_ ~_, __ . .. ] __

because the access to information was limited, The siutation has been. subject to dramatic change, with the advent of modern technology. By gathering information from, a variety of sources, modern people
ean adont, ad•. rst {;I:n r _ :' c"", . a op~, a -J.1Do ·:)i'd--eFi~·c'-h·rl! ~_"'"' ""U~ d ifferent ~ strateg ries to address an issue.~ Even in doing",simnle . jobs .. lL _ ~. ..... .. ..~ ~~_ ..... '. .. . .. ......p ~ ., such as gardening, dressing, people can expand their creative energy and. add new varieties, regarding it

as a means of self-expression. Some people might argue that watching TV, a common leisur-e activity, has seriously hampered 'the viewers" development in creativity, Their argument is based on an assumption that TV viewers are passive when absorbing information presented by TV and respond with no active thinking, However,
thereis evidence that television programmes are becoming increasingly educational and instructive ..For

example, quiz shows encourage critical thinking, while educational channels, - such as, Discovery, broaden watchers' knowledge. While advertisementsbear
display the art of languages. What have been discussed above refute a prevailing notion that modern technologies stifle people's aesthetical and. ideological values, talk shows

creativity and make them passive and 'mechanical entertainment seekers, Modern technologies, as
shown in above discussion, have made peoplemore

.eisnre actrvmes, 1
IIJ ill Ii

creative, and also given them more enjoyment 111

l~ ~ l iff )(ii!]
1. "

deoaie=dispure=argurnent=heuted

discussion: ¥if"~,

~r.~

, . together with=accompanied by=coupled witb=combined with=alongside: ::iftr - .. ~~

3. inte.ligence=intellecurif

fJ

4. profesBiona]~roficient=trajned...;;;s.kined:

5.. non-professional iuexperiencedaulatel.lf:

6~ unfamiliar=strange=unusual: 7. simulate=replicate imitate: ~l{;f , ;f~.;ffiil.

4.t _:ll: ~~, ~·~·t.) u9 ;t; ·-t&'a~ " jl~Btl

.. ~

~~. 1~~'fJ, }_t~~~

8.. empoweredcompetent==autl1orised~capable:

;ft1~TjJ

-I't!J ~ 1:,JU Jl#~~;~~'~.7J ~~

9.. stagnate=stand still=langu.sh=remain unchanged.:1¥.~Jt:,:I:, ,1'~:~~·~·liT 1O. restrueture=reform=recrgnnise: ~ i1t.: it"F.t-,", ~

11,.bear=have: .;;tiQ;jf

T'op- "_-lc .2'··-" M.····n Y··· -P--Dnp- __ -1·0_ ~.~..,!!!!! __ a' ._" _"_.~'W ~
'l __

:>'

'11b "I_nk I-h-. ,g,,_ ,at 11111 _

1"

Ii-IA ,_:__.' __ '_I_V _I

p··ub•.

'I-.b·- .·lr-ar·IS--S' ,'-_.r:

L __ ;

's··· I d'-' en heu ,111

"
1, __ 11

'M

I.:.'

-I'y-'

p--r·o·v··· d··· ,-_ ·0- '-k"'~' a· :-n,d-_."I_'-~~ - eb 0-=-·

.'.I.ri:I. ,I ,.__

should nOI wa,lta [their mloney on ,exp,en'sive ,hi:-tech me'dlia, such as, softwar'es, DVDs crvldeos. Do you agr-ee air dis,ag rul'?
AlibIaIY~ generally, refersto a pilace storing and mauagiag books, that call be booked or borrowed,
In these years,~ there is a trend toward integrating new technologies" such as DVDs and videos, in

libraries. Oppon6',R;ts argue that 'the 'emphasis, should be placed on. providing books, rather than on

increas.ing modern equipment Modernisation is, 111 my opinion, an inevitable tendency" although the
e,~largem·ent of a. library's reserve should not be treated lightly.

One ofthemain

advantages of'using cotnputees

'[0

011'

other hi-tech products is improving efficiency.

By recording infonnaticn of books such as tides, authors, dates of publishing, or even summaries ina

computer system" e-library allows readers

through ..... a.. co.untry. orworldw ut
. __ 'V' .' '__.. ....

find abook promptly, Likewise, librarians are more able

to store, seek out and manage books. Moreover, with the centr-al network connecting libraries
!l' ..

ide

'_!I

,B· -.

·1·1~b-r:~YV C-,Q1Dle-, -'a, '10··' care ·a·· 1"10'0- '1-(.n a librarv..,..,; .lerever'..'.~':_', ·U· 'S·'tJtI~ w.... silv b i .... lL.r.. wh :-::. " hIS .. .. ~J .u. .~
.V .. I-~J'. !;';U.L1

Meanwhile, one should note that e-books have become Increasingly popular, increasing the

likelihood that e-library will sooner or later take the place of a conventicnal library. Compared with paper books" e-books not only use much less space but also givereaders more enjoyment in reaMing. For example, readers, can customise theirviewing experience easily by adJluiting fO[l:t~, size.-anfi sr Ie ofllil

characters, accessingthe books that have the same subject, and modifying screen contract, and so forth. E-bocks appeal to young users or children specifically because of its remarkable ability 'to demonstrate or explain a.,sub~,e'Ot vividly viapictures, videos or even movies,
The importance of updating the facilities: is therefore evident, but it should. be stressed that the

primaryresponsibility oflib.raries is to provide as many books as possible to the public .. A good library is judged 'not by the extent to 'which its facilities are modernised, but by how much information it can supply. The more books the library call make available, the more visitors it can attract, At the
mternationalleve], nearly every distinguis,he'd library gains its fame by providing a vast collection and a delicate selection of books ..

As suggestedabove,

the library should focus not only on 'the instalment of modem equipment, but

also on purchasing more books, The top priority £CUEI, library is to maximise the reserve of books and make the: resource available.
llf2_ 1iJ* 1,. opponent=challenger=antagonist:

2. enlargement=amplification t .~~ 4'T 3· reserve=storage; 1~B. ~

,i. -j;; -et

growth=rise: ~~ *-, .~~iJp AS J!fJ.;t 'ffJ

li_l'J~.f:-

4,., ,distinguisbed=fa1Lnous.=reno\wed~cem,ebrated:-notable:."*

~~I'

5.. delicate=careful.

ja It.€ffl

Topiic 28: It seems that: wiiththe, in'clrease ln use al mobile, phenes Q,nd,computers, fewer pleQP~e prefer to wril~e I:,etlers..Wiil'll:heskUI o:f:wiritlln'QIdi,sappe.ar' co'm'piet,elly?

T'ex:t messages, emails and letters are everyday communication

messages and emails appear toga-in populadrywhtle
writingskills

tools, although nowadays",t:~,x;t

Ieuers are used less frequently. The fears thar

will be attached with less importance are rooted mainly ill the concern that the growing

popularity of mobile phones and computers is about to make; emails and text messaging much more 1~ popUlir. SC hi' '·UCL WO,mesare unsupported ..J .
I

.A majority of dailycommunications

involve written correspendencc.

whether it takes the form of

emails or letters ..As different from communicating in speech" communicating

contents and conventions of communication, butmerely medium, font
0(("

:111 riting rquires a large w

number of teohrdques. The prevalence of emails and text messages will not change the purposes,
sentence length. For example,

successful written communications are normally measured by clarity and aceuracy, two elements thet remain unchanged despite the upsurge in the use of text messages and emails, An email orrtext message sender should p;ay the same attention to such elements as voeabulery.vgrammar, 'punctuation, wording
and tone as at letter writer does

m order

to make sure that 'the reader understands

01"

and interpretsthe

message as intended, Any misunderstanding

misinterpretationwillcause dire consequences.

is interpersonal and interactive, thereby requiring

Another fact to note is that all communication

infbrmation sendersto use language properly and convey 111eSgag~8clearly and precisely, In order to

becomea successful. communicator,

increase IflCl""u03'1,.!

one should plan, ta.i~o'.r.~nd devise his or her writing according to a

or ""'. -- L - 1.-- - _oaJ."].. -. even misunder standiinn'.;.For exarrmle ~. .'~ ....-_ ..• P
chcosinee C '... ~LI!.__ ,i'::il

rhe characteristics of the reader. Writing a messege without considering the intended reader will
the p.1lI.sib..ilitx of poor.. understandin s .. -. ".·.r. . _. oo.• . I, 'J - _1,-, --.O'. -15
'V]

tb e .
cC.

right tone in communication is of great importance. Readers make as.s'ump,ti'o.ns about people's mood
and intentions and speculate: em the implied meaning of 'd\le messages, according tothe tone suggested
by words. Getting the right. tone is therefore an hnportam writing skin that is likely to influence the
success of communication.
,.e -

It is particularly
_

true i.n cases where the messages people send contain

__._ . [...

I emootion .... co":moneen ts IOntu_ .mp., -~

iJ.

Fr-·.!:li'.l' ~__

lureto_TIalnp ni ulate these com eonents .'m~_I. _

p..

ro erl -y. will caused.'. iscomfo rt or nA-ptJ, . _8_ _,J';'.. _

.'
p····.··.• _.

. .'.

' .. J.._ .._._

.....

_.

••

1_

j'e,eli:"gs ofthe reader.

The examples that are outlined above have apparently
(fPIJ'11u,..'Ul
i

d the prevaillingnotion

that

writing skills win vanish sooner or later as a. result of the increased use oftext messaging and emails.

Written communication requires a good, understanding of the rules of language, such asgrammar,

vocabulary and tone, Without a good command of those writing skills, a communicator willencounter m:any awkward situations in dailycommunication.
··~'~1
1

_ Jll)(' liJ.

.. ~

"""

1. tailor-adapt

:tnoclify=aUer: ~-1l.~ 1~, ~ hypothests=notion ·beli,ef:1F!.it!l '... .. t"R

"1~~I, _ I;:.j'

2.. assnmption=suppcsition

3,. hard feeling=anger: :f~tj;~ :t~, ~ v_r __ .___ ..... _ .. . .... 4 0 ..·-erturn=revers .e=irrvalidate: .:u~.:a'~ ;;Ulit~
!.

T'opi,c 2:7': S'Q,me Ipe01p'Ijili ':hliin,k,tnat radio Ih,a,s,become 'Dlul:~'Df'~d,ale, and l:he're is nanee:d
'to, Ilris,I,e'n' 'to, the red ~o'f,or' eni',erla~nm,a,nt a:nld 'nlaws". In th,e plJst~ radio broadcasting was deemedas
'0'0, Y'ou

I,g~re. erl d ii,s;l~glrBe?'

the most convenient and importaut source of

information. Howeven with the emergence of <othermass media, there is a perception that radio as a

medium will be etstake in the future if it does, not undergo any significant change, In rrry opinion, such

pessimism is ungrounded.
One of the U1.a111 reasons why radiowould not become obsolete in the near future is that driving is

rife across the world. as a way ofHfe ..Radio is a regular piece of equipment installed in a car, and to car
users, listening to the radiowhile Increased car USHe: ives g driving is an effective mean'S of taking fL1J'~ advantage of their time
a,

and gaming the latest information, such as news. weather forecast, share markets, and so forth people who have no timeinwatching tothe audience with chargingno TV ~radio providesimmediate

radio high mobility and its exposure continues to lead other media. For those and easy access to information ..Its

continued popularity is also linked to its high affordability ..Radio broadcasting is, in general, accessible

fee. Another overt advantage is, thata radio set is prJ'l1able'. 'O'[]the

occasions where people cannot watch. TV~ read ne~fSpapers, or surf the net, they can listen to the radio.

The advent of other technologies has also sustained the popularity of radio" For example, people
canget radio via satellite, 'the Internet and cable nowadays"There such as 1vIP3and MP4 players.whieh allow people
IlIUS,ic Of'

aremany other electronic devices,

10

listen to the' radio 'more easily and to, use it for

various entertainments, such as sharing their

collections. Although radio is unable to convey

messages with sight and motion as television

Internet does, the improvement in those hi-tech devices

will ensure that the radio is,able to serve the needs of audiences as it always, did. As indicated above" radio broadcasting has many advantages that are scarcely found in. other mass media" either electronic or print With the developments [11 technology that enableradio more functions and become morewidely large segment of the massmedia,
[ .u:;::.,
--,

to perform

available, radio broadcasting will continue to form avery

~ .ILl.: .X. l~J~ 1, <' ..

~'1J ~.3~.-.'. ·1 '

j

•
«:
.f!_,Jit ~ .~ ,f ~t;,

-I.. in, the- past= once upon a time =some time ago=in history: ,tt JL1~ij~-, :G:*" VA ~fj' 2. at stake=atrisk=in danger-in jeopardy=threatened: 3. :nle3.11S911ethod~h18ttu;nleDl9vaY=11leaSure:: ~

4 .. expcsure=coverage=publicity:

1t~AlA~ .:),. portable=tnoveable~ansportable:'if.n; if ir~,

~1t.WJ

'T'olpi!c 28: ;Pe!op,le' in many' cauntrl~es,do notweiar'

Ihe,:ir' 'Iraidi'l:io,[nal 'costulme'll So,me

1

argUlelhlS,t they w'ould 'for~get't'h@ir history Bind tradltiol,n,,,,Do you 8 gree or diisagree?
Traditional costume, both national and regional, is universally recognised as an ,il~te,g"(fJ element:

of every single culture, Despite its importance to a culture andethnicity,

it is now 'less frequently worn

by people, at a time when Western formal and informal clothes are rife. Below' are a number of facts that suggest the role of traditional costumes in protecting ethnicity and identity.

Wearing traditional costnmes, first of all, reminds, people of many distinct characteristics of thenculture. How people perceive their traditional costume shows the extent to which they are willing to respect and retain their cultural heritage. In Vietnam, for instance, female office workers are generally

required to wear Ao Dai, a traditional dress, as a customM1'-being handed. down from generation to =

generation, It is a national symbol, giving millions ofVietnamese a sense of ethnic identity.wherever

they are.Besides

it represents cultural values of Vietnam and shows the perceived position offemales by Western ..style business suits, People see

in a Vietnamese society .. Despite the success of Ao Dam" it is at rare example in today's world, where most of the traditional costumes have been marginalised

nationalcostume only in. theatre.film and. 'TV.

Another point to support the importance of traditional costume is, their presence in maay social
settings. Traditional ccsrnmesare required on many occasions, either formal or informal. Generally,

they comeintwo

forms: one for everyday occasions, the other for festivals and formal wear. Both have

cultural meanings. For example, in many societies, a considerable Dumber of traditional costumes
evolved. specifically for the wedding ceremony, and the wedding couple, as well as guests, are expected

to w,ear traditional clotnes. a symbol of eternity u _., and solem.nitv, •. T-'" lraditio..lall' d',.-,~....• U'1II10S case;Sl.l.leI ..• ]-'C ' ~., .o"J ll.~ .. Iesses '. . . ost ".....,: d ",r..t:
. . 4:_ •. ~ __ J.Li.;},U. :,_. __ . _. __

in styles and vary accordingto

circumstances,

For example, lu China, ceremonial clothing tends to be

dark while lighter-coloured

clothing is worn mainly by 'the commen 'people for everyday life and
very often reflected in the way of life of a society, the role of

around the: house use .. As, the cultureis Traditional

traditional costumes in a culture is undisputed.

cestUJ116S

are therefore, worthy of people's 'concern and should be preserved; however,

it does not necessarily mean that one should wear traditional costumes all tbe time, BeopleweaF. clothing in genera] for functional reasons ..Traditional costumes are of cultural and s()cial irrt ftltanc
bU'

,t··: m 6U., .lLI·, . ,D,U'.Il.,t. ~ YVLLJ" ,,', ,- - l·~H1ht .1jII o···t~ -.11iiJ' everv
1

cireu m.stan ce. F' ·~"~im:Ip-)I,~ .

~,U,~ '."
J~.,'Uj. ~ _. ~

·.0:_ '[-, ,

~~~JU

,"~~I~I

exerei ;~""cloth ~l,~, ' las.

.

,~,~,ll~v

"_~'

.~JJ,~ Q.~~

,:'_:'_'~~' __ '~

n ,G!!Cid·C when 'p,,""-IV),'_" ..•le ed ,U~." , eop

':"
I _

I~

participate

in physical exercise and play

111ann er ,_UJ.~ C

$PIClrtS.

Western-style

suits are used more broadly

011

formal

occasions where people of different cultural backgrounds, gather for serious iss-ues" such as business,

Dress II ig ~:"1 a sta n .dard _ r _ in "u!-(ul~UL

0 l!i.!. __ .

is a demo i?j,(J'tr:(l,~nl~'0.·.· rest e.... t··h···__ 1\._ J tc mUiluU. t.',st f _P_,,-, t, ..' ekev.. _0 -'.Iii al IU~li. _,
0 ... __.. _Ik:I __. ~,~tJI'J"

'11"'1

As shown above, the costume, as

a"

distinctive style of dress of ,8, particular people in a. particular

are wearing every day in ordinary settings.

country} should be distinguiahed {Tom.the wardrobespeople

Failing to maintain the unique characteristics

destruction on the integrity of a. culture.

of traditional costume of a country win surely cause

r illt~ ia]~

]
1

1, integral-ess"enfial:::::vitaJ=funddamenlal=c entral=important:
2" identity=indi viduality=distincnveness: 4, integrity=completeness=unity:

Y~.~, ~

·tif·~ tk:.~

Jt f1r, # ,?i~, .~ 1tt.

.1l ift, Jl~'

3. de]1]ongtration~expressi:on~display=m,anifes,t8tion=revelation:

Jt. ~,jt~

'TOp,i,c 2'9,: iP,eo'ple thi'nlkthsJt Q,'ldibuHd:ings us?

Every item ofproperty has its own

should be :knocked d,Qwn and Iglive way to

'Ihe ina·w ,bun!d,in,g.s~Do yo,u agr'ee or d:i_sa.gr'eI'? Ho'w imlpolrtant

,Ire o~d b,u:nd,i'ngs, to

U/espa"l,. So does every building, City plannersare very often

confronted with a debate concerning whether an old building should be deCoHst'r,uctlJ'd or maintained, In my opinion, it depends onwhether the targeted building can satisfy the needs of the city, There is no denying that some old buildings are ofaesth6ti'(J'~archaeologic,a]
do!,nai'D of architecture" Demoluio»

or architectural

values, They might be either integral to a culture as a symbol of' a city or country or unique in the of such buildings will b1jlic"t damage to cultural heritage and It is fair to say prevent architects from drawing their inspiration from 'their prede',ces,sors.. Because of their uniqueness, old buildings are very likely to provide a source oftourism income, ifmaintainedwell. that old buildings of this kind are much more important than .any new building and performing more

functions than any new building does!

With regard to other old buildings, possessing no specific: valuewhile becoming dUapidate.d, entire

destruction is an acceptable and. understandable

decision.

LOf\V

in quality and poor in conditions, some

old buildings are actually posing a. danger on users and ped,'estnans ...They might stand in the way of a

new road line

Of

impede other forms of urban development. Whether they have been

renovated or not,

these buildings ble"~lsh the landscape and provide no justification

for continued maintenance,

Replacing old buildings with new ones meets the renewed needs of the city, In slnnn1.al)l; whether to conserve cr pun down old. 'buildings is a question that can only be

answered on a case-by-case basis ..People involved should c~areftdlyweigh up the pros and cons of new
developments before reaching a conclusion.
I iffSl.iiRJ*-'

1." lifespan=lifetime=natural life:

;fir ~~.;. ~}I]

2. deconstruct=demolish
3. uesthetic=artisticrE

bulldoze=knock down=pull down: ~}~tifOO, ~JfF~{ ~lt~.;f) ~ ~.'t1" ~. ~

a~
down=knocking

4, domain=area=field: 4Jij.~

5.. demolition=destruetion=pulling 7. predecessor=forerunner 9,. pedestrian=walker=person 10"renovate=refurbish=revamp:

down: 1t..~" It,~ .

6 .~nfl]c1i:=1c;ause;_:i.mpose: ~ ll·~., ~ It precursor: 'it'~, ~t..ijK

8.. dilapidated=wrecked=decaying:
all

Ji'.tJ~iJ~, 1it& i1~

foot: 14A

Y ~ *-11} l!1~;;

r
1

11~blemish=damage=tarnish=spoil=ruin:
] 2. renewed=changed=improvediE

;.t:l1\" -Ift:l-;r:

1fJf'~' ,

'*1'-·~l' FJ

13. weigh up,....;,a;ssess=evaluate-compare-esdmane:

~"i", -f?iit" $t~!t

T'Q,p,iC 30: S,olm,I' P'8c'p'le beUleve that new b'undlngs,shoui~d be buUt lin l,ra.dliit'io'na,111 styles ..'To what exlent do you ,agree or' disagree willh thts opiniiion?
Architecture is an integral part ofevery single culture. Ac,c'ordingly some people suggest that new buildings should beconstructed agree with their recommendatioa

with a classical style, in an effort to protect a nation's cultural identity. [

that maintaining a nation's cultural identity is a priority. which characterises a

New constructions. might not only cause direct damageto those existing aged buildings. which are
central to a nation's culture, but also destroy 'lbe integrity of the citvscape,

country. Over the past decades, there has been a growing recognition that architecture is, an element
that distinguishes one culture from another, That's why people are not surprised to see that buildings

differ in styles from country to country ..New constructions, if not ,alig,u~il~vith,the existing buildings"
will impair the uniqueness of an architecture style, which bas been widely recognised, studied and

treasured by the

~IOW~.d ..

Another main justification

for upJl:oldirig a traditional building style is that it contributes. to the

C01Ultt]'.

diversity ofbuilding models in a

by the lnilzg.ril'lg of buildings examples, performing

By preserving classical architecture, some regions are marked

or ancient format ct),exi-s,t with modernised

of different ages and types. Many cities, in Europe can be cited as buildings,
and serving dissimilar purposes, It bridges the past and the present

where buildings in a traditional different functions

history, and reminds people of the heritage of a country. It creates a, modern identity of a region or

country as well,
Despite the role of old architecture works in retaining cultural heritage, not all the tluHdirl be necessarily buildmgain designed

diversity, It comes as 110

a country

in atraditional pattern, On the one he I1tl, it is ',odds wit, surprise, that ceaseless pursuit of a classical style will result in the salnt!ness of
311d

constructed

Gin the ofber traditional

building models require specific craftsmanship and

building materials, which are neither affordable nor accessible to every developer, so they cannot be
applied on a large; scale From the points enlisted above, it seems obvious that architecture is nation's cultural heritage, so new construction Although should be undertaken
SiD

approach of preserving a and

to adhere to a traditional style,

it Blight nut be reflected in all buildings, it does play a great part in maintaining

reinforcing cultural identity of a regionor country.

IIIY/... i~].~
1.accordmgly=therefote
3. characterise=feature:

hence: mJ ~:~

2. integritv=ccmpleteness=intactness:
,i,

Jl.'. tf; i.~~t~ 4f.1iE

'I

~~'llt:.t

4. aligned with=consistent

with ....... in harmony with: ~ .... ~

it

5.upho]d.~defend-suppon: .t_ #
6. mingling=Jl1ixture::blending=conlbination::
7. coexist-exist together.

ift~

~.fr-

8. bridge=link join:

i.!*
.-- it,It.

9. at odds with=contrary to=in opposition with: J§ · ··~~Il-~~, ;t~}~

10, eameness=monotony=uniformity:

11" enlist=introduce: 1p-,fB" ~'~A

T'lopic 3": I't is m,ore ilmporta,n,t for [8 lbuUdliln!glto se'rve its purpeses than to' look
beaut.ful.!! Archiitects do not need
tOI

worry aboult whether it 'is a r,ea:lwork ,ot ert .. Do

y,ou agr'ee ar di'sag:ree?

Buildings, not very different from other commodities, perform various functions and serve varying

needs of 'their users. At the centre of 'the controversy is, whether the purposes of a. building should be placed above its aesthetical values" As far as. 1 am concerned, these two qualities are not conflicting, but

mutually beneficial,
III

a 1110demsociety, aesthetical considerations

are no longer considered

~,S insiginificant

or luxury

but have been in,te:grated as a core function ef a building. People have comprehensive
a building. No longer limited to such ordinaryfunctions, such as safety" durability,

requiremenrs on
space, access to

facilities, their interests, involve decorative details and

furnishings. In simple terms a pedestrian-looking
mark..et _ ,u .. ,,,,1_.,

visual qualities, including ItJ'rnamentLl.1io'n and

building is bound to mis1:nutch the: trend of the

by the public

Mean-while, it is worth mentioning tha SOIne types of buildings moe broadlyexpected

to possess

aesthedcal

values, Standard examples include restaurants

theatres" churches and so forth. A

building fulling in these categories desires a, design of originality and l"arity:,alul1ing to distinguish itself

'from other constructions of its kind or those in. its surroundings, Architects' inspirations add values to
the building and increase its .Jnarketabilily. Many buildings have become symbolic in the CIty or region where L.
.c

th.~y,!.CI'·['e'- t· ed .. loca
... _"'_

til.

__- __ ."_'<;.<_

When being concerned with the aesthetic aspect of architecture, people should 'consider economic

/e'mribility'. The focus, on the exterior of a building alone will lead to the increase in construction cost, making such an [endeavour Lt.ujust4.fie,d., In those cities where overpopulation continues to' be a problem
and many people cannot afford housing, please the eye! Based on the arguments outlined above" adding visual appeals to a building is consistent witb the

whether a building looks beautiful would not be taken

a huge population, rather than simply

seriously. Itt that situation", the rationa1:e' is to accommodate

ne ds of a modem society. However, it does not mean that the concern on aesthetics should be at the
'I,

expense

of a. building's practical

functions;

on the contrary, a building should be the result of the

d'(J"ictzte balance between the two ideals ..

~Jlt I~~t~, ~~( 2..omam.entation~ecor:ation=adornment: Jlt -t~:u

L jntegrate=iaccrporate=assimilate:
1

_~I

it; ~

jC~;Q'

'I~_~IJ 'iffl JL 1iJ ) ~

.3. bound to=set to=expected to; ~~~JlL4. ~~1 ~ ~~~'il1..ilt' "

001)., r _ it: '1' " ~ C!' __~ _.. -ate .. .l. to_ ~ 4·. mis :··-m' h=fa Ii ·ll~ .. 11:1a·, Jll 0··· SU~,.• "',-iii A
,~

,k •••"'1'" ',/.J ~,;r}!l

A ~

5. r:arity=uniqueness::If-

Jt
ability:

6.. marketability-profit-earning
,8. feasibility=viability;

7. symbolic= representa tive: J!- ~ 1"'t;~.A~l *F ~~4:1, \fjr!;' a~" ~ 4tj'~ 9. unjustified=groundless:

.rfi" J~11t{ll" iif 1J~-I lIt., Pf dljf'J ,t!

~!t.~JI..d:] ~'b. ~:f 1i.lrirl~r~

principle:

10. rationale=underlying
11 .xlelicate

~*m.J!l.

£4l~

~Ij

subtle=fine: ~'7 ~-~~a,~~" " a{J

Tople 32: DOl you think a IMuseum is to e~dlucateQ,r entertain pe,o,pl,e'? Museums have long been known as. centres ofresearch and education. By acquiring conserving, researching and exhibiting
at

great variety of tangible

itC111S

(such

as artefacts: andspe,cinu!'1lS) ~

museums are ofgreat educational value. However, this notion has. been ~fuli1d' by some people in recent years, who tend to think that
lDUSeU1ns.

are intended for entertainment as well, In my opinion, a

Inl1SeUITIcan serve dual purposes, although education tends 'to play a larger part.
Museums impart knowledge to visitors through different means. One is collecting and displaying objects of scientific, artistic or historical importance at a specific site", Staff members

working for

museums are trained to provideinterpretations of the collected objects to the general public. Viewing
these items enables visitors, to acquire knowledge of a given subject, such as history, art, environment

and technology, History museums are: for example concerned with specialised aspects, ofhistoryat the ~aca~or national level, A.no~~ appro~ch taken ~Y a museum ~sto invite ~p,eCial1sts to lectt!~ reguJrue' lTI different fields, WhICh U3, lIistructtve as. well, An entertainment business, by cOlllpanSOll,. HBrdl_ serves an educational purpose, In addltion to the way H operates, a museum is distinct from any operator in the entertainment industry in some other aspects, First ofall, museums are entirely not-fer-profit. Although sometimes

charging an admission fee, a museum very often has free entrance, land does not engage inany profitmaklng activity. It does not target any specific audience like an entertainment business does. Instead" it is open to the general public, Museulns,~meanwhile~, chooseitems on display not according to their

commercial values but according to the line of items they mainly focus on, For instance.n history 'IDllseU1Dwould focus only on those 'Items that are of historical value, although those items mightnot

have sufficientnrarket value,

However, a noteworthy development ofmuseums in recent years is related to entertainment to
some extent, Similar to other educational Institutions, museums ha\N~;1I:Q! balance their budget. Many

museums have therefore sought to operate more activities to attract more visitors, in order for an additional entry fee to cover costs, In addition to the traditional services, such as making collected objects available: for public viewing, and organiaing lectures, a museum is, interested
entertainments

in such

as £111n5., musical or dance performances, ITIOS.t of which are linked to the, culture of its

bast region ..Al1 museums, for example, bear a close r~,sem'bltJnce.to art galleries, in exhibting a, wide
range of artworks, Museums falling in this category give visitors pleasure, and can be taken as a provider of both knowledge and entertainment As suggested above, there are m,anyb,elu:,Iuna,.ks from
all

against which a. museum can be made- distinct

entertainment provider. Some museums are now providing services in oV6Tt-tl" entertainment

nature, :alfhougheducatron:211fur the most pant.

t,
L.........

UI.:tL:ii] ~

-..,
___" ,j...

1. artefact=omament

manufactured article=work of art=object: A 1:f!1~.f b ",#'* "3

-IDt.1lf'I]"

~~~~~4*~~~~~~&t~~Ea)
2. specimen=example=sample.jf
3. refute- contest=rebut=disprove: 4. lecture=make a speech-give an address: ~",*-}~-i~

~*l~

db'" "t;i( 3t:t, .~ -t$ db ( --{mi ;f['

&.

:5. instructive=infnrmative=educational: 1. benchmark=standard:

#.;.j

if ~j:iJift'~~, ft'1f Jt j(, t-~

e: ~ru'1~ 1ft
I~

6. res,embnaD.ce=silnilarity=:likeness~S,el1d)lanc

8. overUy-.()penl~clearlrobviou$ly=explicitly::

1Dt~

Tapic 33: IPeople tend to work longer heurs now,adays" W,orking Iiong hours has
nega.t.iivel sHeet on t:hemlsel'ves, their f:a:miUes and the soc'ietyJl so' working sihoull'd be restrleted, Do you agree, er d'iisagree?
In recent years, working hours havre become a controversial an impact on general well ..being and result in work-family

,8

heurs

issue, at a time when employees

benefits have been given seriousthought, Although the extension of working hours is believed to have
cont ict and job stress this practice is

remarkably popular in many countries. I atn supp-ortive of the argument that long working hours have a. negative impact upon individuals, the organisations they work for" and ultimately upon the national
economy and society as a,whole .. To job holders, 'working long hours triggers at least two problems, It is not only to damage pcrsonal relatlouships (with families particularly), disrupt social lives and impede community activities
bu also 'to cause a feeling of stress, a psycbological disturbance that is experienced by many working

people, It also tends to exert pressure on the employment market and make fewer employment
opportunities

available" Those with caring responsibilities

Ear example,

would be disadvantaged,

because they are either unable or unwilling to work long' hours. A high unemployment rate is always
regarded as a threat to a country's economy.

To employers, long workinghours, although promising maximum benefit from limited resources
every now and then" have destructive effects in the long tenn. The primary reason is that employees

tend to be less productive, and meanwhile

at greater risks of sickness, It would lead not only to the'

aSI

[ower quality of work outputs but also to high turnover and absenteeism, As a result, employers have to

spend much more on recruiting and trainingnew workers.. To a country Some might argue that it is reasonable for an employer
'0

a whole. it bas ehronic

effects, disabling the optin:lisatioll of resource use, human capital and natural resources,

expect some degree of flexibility during

a particularly busy period but to those employers. reliance on the jobs with extended hours has the
tendency to become a regular event. ~()I'e,ro,nceof this practice would allow employers to exploit labour and dllJY!gardflle benefits that employees are entitled :[01', thereby posing a challenge to the legal

system. It is time that employers assessed alternatives

like re~s'che'dul'in~g~, flexible working

arrangements and job "'edes~g"to. explore the :fullpotential of each employee. As shown from the above discussion one can see no reason wby working long hours is acceptable.
It would lead to low productivity and frequent sick leaves.rthereby
employers and the society alike,
-

doing more harm than good to

!~·\f;.1

.J.LL.~~~

~9'~

1. impede=hold back=hinder=hamper: 2. productive= fertile 3. 4.

=

FllCf" :flLIJ:.

~-i-J[..11i1i~ fl'~ chronic=persistent=never-ending: ~lt.jtJla~" :+ ~1jf JJ:.~~ optimisation=best use: Jlk ~Jt£ fitJ ;tJ], n J:.
yielding: §; "I~', no notice of: ;1z~'~!1

5,. tolerance forbearance: ~,€;.

6. disregard=pay no attention to=ignore=take

~1Z~m3-

7. scheduling=errangement=preparation: *"..f4f" it ':\1;,1J 8, arrangement roster=timetable: .:r:..1ij!~.4~1;, f1;j- flij ~ '9 . redesign=re-arrangement
..... re-scheduling re-organisation: jt *Jr *'~F

T'op'i,c34: Whil.1 :1:5 'the dirH:er,en,ce bet.ween Iradii'llon,a~''f:ooda,nd f:8"st: f:ood?

Fast food has come underfire over the past decade, following people's growing concern on health.
When people's eating habits have shown a tendency to favour fast food, larger 111JJ:l1bers of studies have

been concentrated on its adverse impact. Below is an outline of some differences between fast food and traditional meals, Fast' food is distinguished from tradi tional food mai:oJy by the selection of ingredients and cuisines, As distinct from a tradtionalmeal, which has its emphasis
011

diversity and riehnes» of flavour, tas't€: m al~

tlm'e-,m.inde·d eaters

and choice: fast food is wenEknO~ for its high levels ofsalt, fat and sugar and heavy reli~ eJ
such as chicken and beef When fast foods ,aLneprocessed and prepared forthose
who are eager to relieve hunger, traditional foods
Wit;

diverse and varyiu.,fj .. Fast foods might not vary

significantly throughout aeountry,

but traditional foods are diversified due to ethnic diversity ..That's

why fast foods are very oftenthought to have direct threats on local cuisines .
.Another problem found in the regular consumpfion of fast food ia the high risk of obesi ty. A
Iypical fastfood meal has a very high energy density, much higher than a traditional (}'utletsi~the choice is so limited that it's virtually impossibleto

meal in many
at

select a combination of items with even

moderate energy density, Many popular: fastfood menu items are unhealthy, so excessive consumption can lead to obesity, It is one of the main reasons why many fastfood chains havenow incosporated healthier alternatives in their menu, e. g. , salads and fresh fruit, M:cDo:nald~si.6a telling example,

Moreover, it "isimportant to realise that a traditional meal bas many of its cultural and social
meanings ..Although fast food is recognised for its convenience and saving people frOID the routine of

hom e cookingmeanwhile

it discourages people from preparing deliberate meals for their familiesand

C~Ul,be

friends. People are thus, less likely to spend time talking to each other, Having a, traditional meal is of importance
ill

many social situations, and

taken asa unifying element in family life, bringing

people together in times of trouble and. in times of joy .

As suggested above, the fast food" although cheap and convenient, has its shortcomings and a diet

higb in fast foods can increase a person's risk ofgaining weight and other health problems, In terms of
health" its impact on cuisine, community spirits and family sohdarity, the real costs of convenient foods. aweshockingly high.
?

'It::

~J UI...x...1RJ~ ~
,,-'J ~~
~ ,

L 'under fire=erabattled=under 3. riehness=diversity=variety:

attack=debated:

§':fllJi >t.

*,. :till] 4fri~

2.. cuisine=style of cooking=cookery=knowledge

j ;ff~jt.t, -f- I;

of preparing good. food: .;t *atl;i;.~

4.. varying=changing -altering: .9 ~,¥J .5.. outlet=store-restanrant=shep:

~hlm" Jj Ai,

'!

ft·m ., t ~

'*

To"pii,c3;6': As; most pll!ople spend I, m,aj'Qifp'at1:'ot ,adu'll nl,e at: 'the 'p~ace 'of worik, job ,salist'octlon is an iimportant 'contriibulelo pari of indiividual

wen... being~ Wh,at H!re the

fa,ctors that:

j,013 ,s;atisfa!ct'i'on?' ,Alre all tlheexp,e.cb!tt~,o'ns;fo:r'j,o,'b ,siatlsfeu::I::i'Qtn IreaUst'ic]11

Jab satisfaction refersto the degree of pleasure employees can feel when working It is of broad

interestto employers be cause of its. potential impact on productivity and m,or,llle ofemployees, Of those factors that contribute to j ob satisfaction, some are intrinsic\.vhile others are extrinsic. Both 'will be introduced below" In the latter part of the essay is a discussion concerning whether one'sexpectations for job satisfaction are always appropriate
Most of the factors, that haveinfluence
01.1 job

satisfsctionare

extrinsic. One is employees'meterial

needs .. It is understandable that income, housing, paid holiday, bonus and other job benefits are the, main elements an employee will normally look into when evaluating: whether a job is,desirable or not. Another SOLU~ce satisfaction is job satisfaction" An employee is delighted if continued employment is of

accessible, that is", staying on a, job fnr some considerable time. Besides these basic needs, people crave
for a positive self-image and to have their contribution valued and appreciated, That's w,by promotion is very often manipulated 'to improve employees' job satisfaction, sending a message to employees that their commitment has been recognised ..
Along with extrinsic factors, intrinsic; factors are important, Individual personality plays, a large part in many cases. It is believedthat

the: employees with a positive .ou.tlook on life and full of'oprimism

a,

are more likely to achieve higher job satisfaction irrespective of the job or workplace 'they are in When optimism allows individuals to function wellin the fact of adl"G'rsi'ty and prevents them from becoming
depressed, pessimism makes them less likely to complete tasks and 'meet objectives, successfully, thereby undermining job satisfaction ..

Given the constantlychanging nature of todays business environment,

the expectaticnsof job holders, W,eakeconom.i.es,

E job

can hardly live up to

rapidly changing 'technology and. likelihood of

downsizing are combining to account for why the length of tenure is shortened nowadays and few

people: now expect to stay on the same job throughout their working lives .. Rewards are able to raise motivation and jncrease satisfaction ofemployees, but not available for every individual that wants
them. There' is no guarantee that every good performerwill be awarded, all the time, law Q/.tH,e'jungle'

applies here: only the strongest competitors willwin access to the majority of the resource.
As suggested above, job satisfaction is attributed to different factors", 'both extrinsic and intrinsic. The complexity of today's work environment has, made itless likely for people to get: whatever they desire from a j ob .
.

l, iff:>i., iil 1. m(uale=driv,e=spirits=positi.vefeeling;s=lconfidenc'e:

2, intrinsic=inherent-=basic=narural-"na.iive: Jill ~ .6t-t;, 3. extrinsic=extraneous:
4.. ontlook=what

:1f~

is expected to happen in the future=prospect ~ .l1t.. ~

*'

m~.&.)~ 1-·flfJ

it~~ ~ .::i='
t,

II

~I~ ( ~,;t~1e~ t? m

L)

...

fi'o:

5. irrespective of=regardless 'of; ~

if·
conditions=bard times:

,6. adversity=hardship=difficulty=harsh

i!~.tr{!..4~ ~ijt. a~
,t

'7. tenure=term; ir4~1 8~ law of the jungle: ~ ,pq 5'!;1tt,Ji~)~~jill~

10 'plinian'."
I~ 1.1 •

wi (Ieaving the
CIIJTent

In this fast-changing world" job-hopping

employer for another employment

SUC11 at

oppormnhy) 18 not a rare scene. Much has 'been discussed about the gains and losses of
of ;1, modern society, A new job implies opportunities for career development, an objectivemany the current job cannot 'make the best use of his

career

I11Dve"In myopmion, job ... hanging 1San ine",itllh,le step in today's labour market, reflecting the nature c

workh g :ceollJ..e she

~'ll' snd

to achieve. In general, there are two reasons behind a job holder's motive for a newjob, The first is that
Of

her abilities. The second is that he

OJ

CalU1Qt

improve skins and gain new experience. Both can. Lessen the possiblity of abrighter job prospect.
Job-hopping, meanwhile, assists. one to survive the keen competition, People are living in a fastchanging world and a once stable job is now vuln(jTable'~Willingnessto stay on. the same job is no 'Longer valued as much. as befor~'! Any employee, if complacent about the current employmenfvwould

he faced 'Withthreats posed by others. By comparison, 'taking the initiative to obtain a better Job can at
I'

least drive: people to increase skills and thereby improving the chance of continued employment,
When job-hoppers are crn.ving for new chances, S0111.eissues are particularly worthy of concern.
a, j ob

The first is adjusting to a new environment, such as working with new colleagues and supervisors.

Besides, while valuing

hopper's resume, employers too often. tend to suspect his or her loyalty and

resilienee. It is therefore imperative for e~ely potential jobseeker to learn the:new employer better and

eval uatethe potential risk,

Theabove-mentioned facts give one a glil1,pse of the potential results of changing jobs. When the willingness to change a job and seize an opportunity represents a sOW1dcareer move and provides the thrust for self-development, it 'might require a job applicant's extra efforts,

riD:~tm~ ,
',-----'

2" keen=imense=strcng=stiff 'iii i't~ au

] . inevitable = inescapable= unavoidable:

;r::; ~ i!5t. 'a{J

3. vulnerable=in a weak position=defenceless: ~ .~~5t a{l:, 4. complacenA3atisfied:=unworrjed.~contented: 5. (';hance~possibiHty-tlikelihood-.prosp'ect:

~~ ~

$:.lJ;:it j~_fL~ ~' ~t··,· I;1t-'ti , it·\_; irU ~

JL-".

6. crave for-long for=desire=yearn

7. resilience=flexibility=resistance: 8, glimpse=glance=quick look; ;t 9. thrust=driving force ..... impetus:

for: ~.~ *~ffJ't!. ,*~:btfJ

41l~

jJ

Toplc 37': Wh,at ar~'the fac,_'ors 'that cause stress and how to cope with s'tress'?
Life today is fined with SOUT-ces, of stress, much of which cannot be avoided. When stress appears

to be a ,ii/elol'lg problem to many people, how it actually /01'81.8 remains

many scientists. The objective of this essay is to outline both the of dealing with 'it. Many stressors arise from people's circumstances, leisure causesthem
SOl1fCeS

,8.

subject of controversy to

of stress and appropriate ways and fast-paced distress

For example, the high-pressured

,li/es,tyltl has made it unlikely for people to gain adequate leisure time, Failure to balance work and
either 'to struggle with deteriorating health or to cope with psychological

,e,,,g., anxiety and depression, Together with some other problems, such as disharmony with others,
,u,npleIQsant work or living environment, it would increase stress, to an llnmana;geable' level, Anothergroup of stressors is intertwined with personality, People imerpret events or situations differently. A problem taken as a threat by many people might be accepted as a positive challenge to others" Evidence is inconclusive about the reasons behind this distinction, but it is 'widely believed that

a person of a cheerful dispositia'i is,less, likely to he heavily affected by adversity. Of equal importance
is the ability to handle with some issues, such as time and actually varies from peJson to person, Methods to cope with stress are many, but the most effective ones are in fact not remote or complicated recreational but accessible and practicable .. People under stres are advised to participate more in activities, adopt a sound dieting habit" and exercise regularly ..They should learn to ,black in life to a minimum, Finally, it is important to perceive things positively factors can be taken well-being

money. Considering

the role of'personality in skins

deciding the attitudes toward an issue and n:~'Sponses,to an event, the effect of stress management

,(Jut worries and try to keep the' effect of a challenge

nurture a good state of mind and personality determines

IJO

As suggested above, environment

the extent to whichthey are influenced by those' factors, Ado-tm., 11 be 1tl ')l

lifestyle and proper attitudes, toward life can promote people's physical and psychological and help them relieve
~---

I 1& ~.;1iJ I

1" lifelong=lasting=enduring=all ..time: 7j(.,i& ~I,

2. form=develop=take

*
--"

stress.

shape ~£Jf!t

~ ,~.Et

*1:~

3. lifestyle=way of llfe=dally life=everyday life: .i.j"~ir\ i

4. unpleasant .. disagreeable: 1:tA...;r:IMtlblt·~, i1:A.Et~g~ =
5. unmanageable-uncontrollable:
(5.

~1if~~:~IJ6fJ

interpret

understand=construe:

7. cheerful=positive: ~ ~JfL 9. practicable=workable:

'I' ~71-

m Nt-"
j7}J \¥)

ftrt~f
fa

8_ disposition=character=telnperament:lli;fi.,

'I'l'!

\if JlA~ ~

a~
~$l'~j'~ ~ ~

lCL block: out=erase=forget=wipe

out, ~~,

Toplic 38: Fashion. is difii,cuU tofoUow,srndsome

people argue that we should not

fonoW' i'l..Thleyth:iink 'Iha,twe!shculddres,s, what we !llike and 'fiee~ Domfo'r1able,!!Do, you

a.gr,ee or ,disagree'?
Fashion refers to a. style of clothing worn by most people 'of a country .. The growingconcern
thetraditional

about

fashion in recent years comes as no surprise" considering the fact that fashion is very often at"odd's Wl:th
function of clothing protecting wearers from tbe extremes of weather. In '~y or"Inmanl• _ .M

fashionis nOI~ betrayal but an indicative of a,principle that wearing clothing is. for both functional and a

social reasons" Fashions are linked to personal style, Fashicns allow wearers toexpress emotion and ,8o,~idarity
with other people. People dress to their
'11100d.

and according to' circumstances,

Buying fashionable

clothes is a process inwhich the buyer translates his or her self-esteem into a personal style. A fashion
indicates one's taste, social class, likes and dis likes, It giveswearers

a. sense of identityand makes it

possible for them to feel connected to society.

Fashions are designed. and tailored 10 please buyers,..Selecting, discussing and buying fashions can.

,iIJdu,ce immense happiness.

It bas become away

of life and can be taken as a leisure aetiv ity,

Fashion
[S

increasing interaction between people. With all types of images and colours, clothing is capable of

giving buyers a desired look, boosting their moods and increasing their self-confidence , about change which is necessary to keep lifeinteresting.
Despite the enjoyment brought by fashions, people shouldbewlar:e

oj' theirever-changiug

nature

and the expenditure of time and 'money on this commitment. /-\.fashion usually remains popular for about one: or two years ,at most and then is replaced by another, Many people have been obsessed with following the current fashions ,~',ltJ,vishl, and pursuing the elotbing wifh promised quality. land limited

availability ceaselessly, Many of them are motivated to buy outlQ"ulish clothing in a belief thatthey can
thus, keep up with fashion. and their social positions ,are displayed.

As; shown above.jhere is, no point in ,5jJ1U"i'n1l fashion, Fashion is, desired in a modern society as a

means of expression and a source of enjoyment, althoughone should reduce unnecessary spending on
fashions .. t, ill5i£.liJ .~
r-::::.,

~j-"

1., at odds with=in oppositionto=comrary to=against: :ftr'~.. i~l~

4. at ITIOS,Fto the maximum. • ,/;.~ it *-

3. beware of be careful or be cautious aboue=wary of: ,rv··.."J>~

.5. slavishly=sequaciously:
7. spum=reject=snub

2. mnduce=sthnulate--gen,erate--"bring:'~

*"

ilt~

I~

ii~~

1f )j.... Jt
-6' Jtril~.,.~. ]1'- {J),j
~.~,
E_~t; 4li~,

6. outlandish bizarre=peculiar=eccentric:

rebuff scorn=disdain=despise=repulse;

:l,5#Jt

T"DP~C ·3~91:: Dislous,s· the r,ea:s,onsw'hy IpeD!lp~]e'define happiness: difl!erently' an~' how to

,obtaIn 'h,I'ppilness?' It its always interesting to find that individuals take different views toward the nature of happiness
and. the access to it; As far
:8!S

I know, the perceptionof

bappmess differs considerably IT,om one

and environmental

individual to another as a result of the mixed effect of individual characteristics

factors. These elements deterrnine the approaches taken by different people to attain happiness,

People have different objectives to attalnand

.-1''ld.' ,.::';, lonaab leclothin Q' C ]1." laSsh",~,'_., _. C. v~Llllo __
familymembers
ap !;til "" ""',
u". ·U,Uy·

differen't:mt,oi!ests to pursue in fa lifctane, and

fit
-

meanwhile, their objectives and interests vary in different life stages. One has the: passion for toys as

vouth, (In'admirableo ecupatio ,'n' 35" ~ - ~.... .J v~-I."!.· "l"",C"".", ~'"

'JITl

adult . andpcssibly comp.·any.· of ,,_.. _... _ .

c

g ....... ,)

'.'

',..

as, ·rUIelder. With age" one's attitudes, capabilities and concerns are su~jelc.tto' change.

Following the latest fad~i, for example, appeals to young people, despite the expenditure of time and 1110ney.By comparison, senior people are; hardly interested ill keeping their clothes in fashion, buying trendy consumer products or changing a hair style, and moreover, tend to regard them as a wasteful use
ofmoney,

In addition to those factors that are visible, SOlU:efactors are less obvious and tend. to be subjective
in influencing one's perception
of happiness, These intrinsic factors include

one's temperament,

characters, pursuits and philosophies .. Taking monetary wealth as an examplec people perceive: the

value of money differently.

SOUle

people sacrlJice everything in their pursuit of wealth whereas some

(such as a marriage, a family reunion,

people take money lightly. Instead~they treasure family, friends, hobbies and philanthropy, It is also
one of the reasons why people see favourable events differently
accidents, conflicts, divorce, and lottery winnings, a promotion, Bud so forth) and react dissimilarly to troubles or bad tuck, for example,
80

forth.

Considering the fact that people aee

an

motivated to attain objectives for their happiness.ithey for the future might
10 bj ectives

should first evaluate whether the: objectives are attainable or not ..High expectations bring nothing but high levels of stress and a sense of disappointment.

Setting attainable

is a

recommended alternative.Another

step to he taken is giving different weight to different subjects, such

asmoney, health, growth, fame, power and relationships. Flew people can attain several objectives at a

time. The key is to idelltifY the top priority.

,r'----.-

In$(

1" subjectto=influeuced by=exposed to: 2. fad=fashion=trend .=cult=craze: i~J1 )§[,

3. subjective=personal;

rf.'...·fl~fJ~'~
~~ )!~

_i.'Jt~J.J"

+I...... ~·

4. sacrifice=give up=forgo:

.~tff-

Tople ,40: lamia people 'think that t:e'lnng the tlrulhl is net always essential,., lit ls :ne'cessa!ry to leU l:ie,s ,s,ome~tltm:es,.'To wh;lt e,xtent 'd~'OI ylou. ,B,gree or di:sa,glree?'
Few subjects are as, likely to provoke controversy as the' necessity of lying. Thosewho

defend

lying contend that truth might not be always desired, while lliitrutil provides tile best solutions on some

occasions in the real life ,c(Jnie,'xt. Thisargument The fustl.

seems, absurd at first sight, but with some facts closely immoral. Instead" it can. be be'uigl,r.

examined, one can see some strong elements lie within it.
'·,claRal,1 for lying lis:that. a lie is not necessarily

and beneficial. There are occasions in life on whichpeople

have to conceal part of the truth. or even

twist facts ..For example, it is:acceptable if one withholds a fact from a. friend or family member that he or she is diag'J(A~,ed with cancer, It is togive the patient a ~peaceflI1.fra,lIr.e o/,,"i"d, a condition that has a

healing power. From this example, one can observe that while a falsehood is condemened by many on
ethical grounds, it in fact shows sympathy and g,(J,(J.Qwi;ll'.
Another justification is that lying, in the broad sense, has ace 0 mpanied people since tile early

childhood as part of the daily routine. The boundary betweenlies social purposes

and white lies or

banters is, blurred,

Sometimes people ten a. lie, or to bemore precise, overstate or downplay a fact for a;In;use'mem or other A telling example is that people often co,np'.limout their friends on the food they
prepare, despite the fact that the meal is not enjoyable at all. People are taught to spare another person's

feelings, rather Ulan speaking something straightforward that can cause discomfort or distress,
Although the preceding discussion tends to
e'XC:R,~e

a lie teller, it does not justify lying as an

,B.lz,trt:fIlC'h,Bdhabit Honesty is still being: regarded

habitually. A truth .. elling environment t

as, acore

"ir:tue in many traditions" 'There is little

are striving to establish, Lying should not

doubt that a man who is known for his candour is Inane likely to earn. respect than a mall lying
is what communities

he allowed unless it is appropriate, as it creates an ethos of cll8trus,t,. From what bas been discussed, it is unfair to Iabel lying as an unethic act People's mofal s a.. ]~ng ~ depends as,much on theirwillingness to look after others' feelings and please others for bettermoods as on their adherence to troth. While telling a lie is accepted or even recommended in some situations, teliing the truth is what people pursue as,an honourable tradition.

1". untruth=lie=

falsehood:

-jjt 1""

2., contexFba~ckground=ctn;umstallce:::::envirGnnlent:.q:
3., absurd=ridiculous bizarre=illogical=meaningless: 4, justification=reason=explanatioa: 5. benign kind benevolent:

~~

..t.~tJ ~ dJ W

Jt·iJ a~, ~ it,!lJI!€FJ

1r i~

1;:~ ~ " :i.ttJ~·)Jw'~ 6. diagnose=detect: .1t:.~] it,dW 7.ftalne ofmind= mental condition; ~(.;. «s ~ ~.,
8. goodwill kindness=friendliness benevo]ence::kt-:t, 9. banter - tease:' joke: (~~~.

~!~-t.
,

)Ji5l3f" .itJV'Jt,;tk:

10. amusement=pleasure=enj oyment=laughter=delight: ~tJt~ J

l 1. compliment -praise=pay tribute to=remark favourably on:

12. spare=save; Jjjif ll:l ~ \iJ 13. excuse=forgive: 1.5
-

it·~" 1ft 4w'

~,i~
dcep-rcoted=fixed=unshakab le: ;r;. '~':;b' ~$t~'
~l~ ~1j\!i

14. entrenched=ingrained=
_·1

irtae=g:.. d":.'value .. · ·0·0·.··· ,

.'~.~ _,. '.'~ \;..,
!I

16. distrust disbelief=scepticism: ~ 1t1~

Tople 41: Today~ peo'ple are getting gr-.edy and ·selfiish" S'ome people argue that we

and commU'nlty~ 1;10 that we can make the worl.d ii, better place 1:0 live ln. To what extent do you aglree or
s,hou~ld :ga, blsokIIQ,the' ,old d,ays, and ShQiW resps'cl f'or' 'the"ami,ly

dilsa,gree?
Perhapsthe 'tendency toward individualism has never been clearer than it is now.People
bygone concept of family and community is important. The rise of egoism has profound consequences on the unity of at family, causing: the breakdown of

seem to

become increasingly st!,(f~ce"tred' and snobbish I "ide witl, those people who believe that reviving the

family solidarity, E\Je'fY component of a, family

IC;,fiU

be detrimentally affected ifone member is. egoistic,

'to. an

"Blood is thicker than water", as an old saying indicates. People will turn to family first if they are

confronted with problems. People used to live in a C'OtTU11lU.lity in which they lived according
benefits. .. They are ignorant of the f&ct that families not onhy give tbem tangtb,I'e 'benefits

ethos.

!It,

of sharing and caring, but nowadeys, members of a family tend to' work separately for their individual

"e. g. ~

financial aid )~, but also offer emotional support from which they ,obtain strength, comfort and

confidence.
Egoism also causes people to ignore the gooll of the
,Cfll'1.Z.".1;UItU, ~

a problem that is disruptive to

the community .. So greedyare some people 'that they can go so fall" to, enga;ge in illegalactivities, , example,
801ne

For

merchants earn hands,o.m,e incomes from producing tlisq,ua.llfied products and ,c,ajo.ling

people to buy what they do not actually need They~meanwhile, refuse to p'IV'll,/~, ba:c,k any fraction of
their income to the cemmunity. Individuals become indifferent to others," interests andthe .relationship

between individual members tends to beC0111e Sl,tP'lJlji:ci.al, t,.tl,IISi,rtt and ad IlOC. People remain as o.r:I.ifJ'okierBwhen 'neighbours ask for help, and secial solidarity bas, been dismantled in front of the

overwhelming egoism,
As shown above, greedy and egoism
,a(1S

set to bring both the society rand the families in grave

mo,uble'.The: best way to prevent people from further loss in social solidarity and community unity is to
reconstruct the concept of family and community, show esteem to one'sfamily, friends, neighbours and

even aC,(lu,ailz~ances,and recover a. .sense of community and social eohesio«.

l'i1i~ iru~ ~J \.__-_,.,........

L self-centred=selfish=egoistic: ~l jft,tiJ:"
r-:.{

t! ~~'

tp ~Ut4J

1.#".7fp' •• " j~ ~;t. _,.,It _ 3. bygoae=pasteonetime: tt·~·a~:, :tt*~ 4. tangible=toucbable=concrete: t}3' ~ {.r.J, J!-{f, a~, ~ ~a9
2. side with=support back
5..
,4+0btain=eai tam gam=acquire+se. "'"e!' 1.)'"'

6. the good ofthe ,c;omrnunity':;f!,,1!

a~ifl].it
Vf J!t.ft;

7', handsome=sizable=consirierable:
:~.. disqualified=banned

probibited: ;F 1t-~~. , ~ #; ~'J

9. cajole=entice=wheedle: .~.~." JiJit

] O.plough back=reinvest:

~P!-4i:.1t,.~.4Jt;Jt:A 11"superficial=cursory=shallow: _B;t~~ t, ii_.i£.. a~'(3(11 ) ~

12. transien~fl.eetin.g=brief-===temporary:~transitolT8hort-lived-ephenu~rat:

13. ad boc=llllprepared~lJnplanlled~i~np~o'vised--infomlal: .!L. ;,1l. 4i- ~J , ~

14..onlcoker=bystaoder=watcher: 15. reconstruct rebuild=restructure:

r!a! .

~.l,'~"¥J
,tr.J

~)tJt.~

-.rirt-~,JE
~~"A.., MAt..~ 1iJ:f, ~11EA

16. acqURintance=-friend~coneague-ass,ociate:

17.cohesiorr=solidarity=unity: ~!t

T'opic 42:: C;reative ,arti·s·ts should Ibe 19 iven f.reedom

to express their idea.s 'Ihrough

w"ords" pl:ct:.ulrllS, mus,'ii,c 'Olr f~~llmsi~:S,'D,m,e' p'Bop'I'B neverl:heil,e!ss thinlkthal the gove~nment should restrict artists"freedom of exp,re's.sionl Tal what-extent do 'you

,agree

or disagreE!'?

Ill.principle, every person has the right to communicate his or her views. by any means and 'in any

form, known as. the right to freedom of expression. However, there has been a lot of debate as, to whether artists should be given llnresmctBd freedom to express their thoughtsthrough their works,
such as,words, pictures, music and films, I am ofmixed opinions on this.
Although a citizen's freedom of speech is protected by' law, artists should not be treated as

ordinary citizens .... Because of the wide appeal of their artworks, the artists can easily ",nlis,t the ,e',IIJp'(allY
of the audience andmake the]!" views pra/ol"ldly influential over public opinion. On the other hand, freedom of speech does not automatically suggestthat
radicel views toward government, editorialoartoons

one has the freedom to express any opinion,

of contents,

make any statement and deliver any message regardless

If it contains racial elements,

and other .fJbj:ec.tio.IlaiJ',le contents, the freedom should be: restrai ied, Cl~

that depicted an Islamic prophet, resulting in. violent protests an: conflicts~arlld

It shows that the arts possess the plower to ruin harmony and promote aMarcl,y'.

Apart from artworks that eause social and political "n:rl'st~ some other types of' artworks should be: censored as well" In orderto increase the visual impact of their works of art, some artiste introduce unusual or even offensive images, without looking after the: :re~eHngs of intended audiences. Many
o1Jsc:e,M works

appear in the ,guise of artworks. abuse graphic sexual imagesand

expose the public to

those unwelcome

messages,

It will pose a threat

on thewelfare of the audience, especially that of

children, The authority should discriminate between. artworks and obscene works and impose limits.

When artists should not be treated as normal people in view of their unique capacity to influence
others, their freedom ofspeech
look objectionable

should be protected to the largest extent, Undeniably, their creativity

Many of their artworks might

would. be blhibitedi.ftbey are threatened by ce,nsors'hip or prosecution, inspire people to be ere;alive: and encourage them toreflect immediate

at first sight, but over time give people different perspectives to see things, Artworks on what. happened in the world or in the
might be: otherwise ignored, BY'

'vic'.infty. They draw' attention to particular issueawhich

encouraging critical and reflective thinking, an artist contributes to addressing social and political issues.
According to the: above discussion, people 'can. come to. a conclusion that artists are entitled to freedom of speech, although some ofthe artworks should be thoroughly examined before being made

available to the 'public. Itwould

minimise the risk of causing chaos and. discomfortin

negative consequence of the unlimited freedom of artists"

1. unrestrieted=unhindered=unobs 2. enlist= procure:

tructed unlimited: Jt..1llilt1 eiJ" ~3t;f.f lif m~

1t1', ilJg

l'

society+a

3,. e,mpailiy=compassion=und.erstandmg=sympatby:

4. profbund=gre·at=inrens,e:~*.m~" 6, anarchy=disorder=chacs=acarchem
'7. unrest-tarbulence-turmcil=disorder.

e, *-~I
lawlessaess:
~J~.~, ~,.

:~itt:l mmf
~ .A.B... i~b~
;I

5.. ohj,ec;tionable=o,f.rensiv'~lllaccept:a.ble~.hon"ible~pleasant:

1~..A...;r;titit#t ~lJ

~~tt,fcJk.M~k.~
Ji--i:L~ 5t!, ~L,

:8. obscene=fllthy=bawdy
9'.guise=disguis,e: ~ ~

B, ~tt·~,~~ ~

~
nt~]
~~·ilt~.]~

10., ceosorsliip=restriction=suppresaion: 11..vicinity=surrounding

~~'"

area =neighbourhood:

To'piC 43: The adrvance of: sci'lence and te,chnology [has a slgnlif'iicanlt impa,et o'n
people~ but th,e role ,ot al1:ists is also lmpertant,
Unarguably, the improvement

such as musicians,

painters and

w~ilers.,'What can the arta tell us abcut nf,e 'thatscilence cainnot?

m people's

living standard owes much-to technical advances, which

are driven by science. So important 'is science rhat the functions of art are contested 'by many people. I
believe that the arts can convey some messages; that science can never be able toconvey, The arts represent human thoughts, whereas science represents natura] order. In other words, the

arts lead people to perceive 'the world while science is aimed at discovering the nature of things. What

'bas been found true in sciencewould

hardly alter, unless sufficient evidence can 'be cited to challenge

or overnd« the established theories and principles.By

comparison , what has been conveyed by a work.

by different people, Science

iQf art is neither right nor wrong_, and can be given differentmeanings
I

sometimes treats ,3 new theory as an ,(J,rratic and stresses ,f;,o"forll~ing to existing niles and pursuing accuracy, Science is about exploring the "fidi,cavereti but existing, in contrast to the arts", which are interested ill exploring both the undiscoveredand the ":Io,,,ex:~~'tent:. simple terms, the arts encourage In

individuality and creativity; whereas science respects conformance,

Another major distinction is that the arts draw attention to issues that are unique in a particular

society, while science attaches importauce to the: issues that axe 'Of interest to mankind as a whole.
Contrary to popular belief, artwork does not necessarily aesthetically appeal to' I, majority of viewers,

All artist's primary motive is not only to pursue the aesthetic in the popularmind

but also to, remind

people something that they cannot afford to ignore such as environment, religion" politicamorality,

and so forth. ,A scientific breakthrough, by comparison, 'brings benefits that can be shared by the whole human, society" but not unique in, any specific community. Th~ arts also give people a sense ofcultural background and identity, as, a key C01TI,pOnent of any culture in the world, By contrast, technology and science are uniform to people" regardless of nationality, race and et"n.i·cityIU1 bas long been. a way of p'a's'sin.gideas, concepts, beliefs, 'values and
ways of seeing things to later generations. Because of art, people cain be classified into different social
andcultural groups.

In conclusion, the: arts differ from sciencein many aspects. and because of'it, people know more ,about
the 'world in which they live and get an insight into the society culture and themselves, While soien eJs

obj eetive land based onpl'Sde.tB.rm,il'lIf!d guides" art is inherent in the human mind and ,subj,ectl"'e_;

riff~ijJ*

1'. perceive=see=recognise=consider: 2. overrule=reject=cancel=annul;

If.'4, x.l~

~i~ , 1_t,··..iG3tt

1., erratic -irregular unusual: -1' ~,~ ~, .~ 4., conform to=adhere to=obey=cling to=stick to: j( ~ , l!hl

*~~'

"*-«£JJt ~ 6. nonexistellt=Inissing=fictional=ilnaginary--conc,~dved:: ~.1t 1t'-9 , il $~,.m~ 7. ethnicity=the ethnic group one belongs to: 1Pll i!i 8., predetermined -preset=fixed=determined: 1M~:ff MY., til it.,~
.5~ undiscoyered=unnoticed~ove:rlooked~gnoved::

'a-f]

To'pJic 44,: The gove'rnmenl shou'ld control,the.smount o.f 'violence infilma and on ~ telavisio,n ln orde:r .. control v~io,I,ent: to crimes· in $Qc:.iety~TQ whal .e.)(tent: aY'D'U ,agree d
-'

..

or d·i:s"_gree w'itb thls ~C1tiion?

Because oftheir prevaienee ~ televisions and films areamong

those media that are believed

to

potentially affect, change or mould people's thoughts and behaviours .. Media watchdogs suggest that

some programmes should be censored so as 'to curb violence. 'It is, necessary, for the link. between
violence in media. and violence in society is evident. First of'all, violent movies promote heroism and individualism, cajoling people to resolve conflicts
through violence, rather than legal cons'ldtaticJ'J,I. Some actionmovies have conveyed a notion to the

audience, especially teenagers, that a hero can he highly regarded, regardless of me consequence of his

behaviour. Audiences imitate these role In:oarJls in a belief that their behaviour win reap applaZls6 from
j

others ..InllW,st cas',es, their actionsevolve into violent 'crimes.

.Another category of programmes, war documentaries or crime reports, also opens up the possibility
of viewers engaging ill violence, Aiming at a, high audience ratiqg, TV programme producers are inclined to broadcast crime reports,
SOlTIle

reports can go so far as to present the whole procedure of a

law-offending practice, such as robbery, shoplifting, burglary, 10 mentionbut

a few. Not surprisingly, it

functions like a free course from whi.chpr'Ospecuv,e criminals learn those skills" It contributes to the rise in 'crime rates andtben to the increase ill violence that is involved in different kinds of crimes.
As well as, those TV shows" actionmovies

have

Q\

profound impact on personality development of

view,ers~leading to 'their subsequent: violent acts. Dominant entertainment media succeed in attracting

minions of young viewers every single day... The audience can easily become addicted to' TV progra,mrnes and tend to be isolated" ,te.mp:e,ramenta,l and aggressive .. They use foul language and
employ violence when fe:elin.gdepressed or :s'stra;zgea. There is 110 point in denying the fact that the TV
1

is,the chief culprit for these emotional disturbances and. erratic behaviour patterns. To summarise, the violence in movies or on. television can impact audiences in a variety ofways,
and ,eventually lead to. crimes" Therefore, the government should take: actions to tackle such a problem and censorship is undoebtedlyone
-..,...

of tila most effective means,

lttS( tl1*= ~
1.. prevalence=popularity-pervasiveness:

..

it·iti,fut

2. consultation=discussion=talk: .$f1-w·, iF> ~

3. role model=model=exarnple=exemplar:

~t ~,ff, 1~1]:r jJ;; 4. applause praise=approval=support.jf ~" 3L' .,' 5" inmost cases=most of the time=in general=more often thannot: -~lAtvt"F 6. audience rating: ~'t*J[.~
7 prospective=potential: :~~ iJ~
I

8" temperamental=volatile9noody:t-·1~:it

1t,~

9.estranged=alienated~8epEl!rated:: iOC1;t.l2E. ~J

TopYIC 45: Borne pe,oplesuggest

descrlptlon agree Dr d'isagree?

'that: there shou~d be res:trictian,s

Dna

detailed

of crimes in the, new&papersrand

,on televhsi'on. To wh,at extent do you

The violent contents broadcasted by the mass media (the television argued that a detailed description ofcrime.iespecially

and the printing press in

particular) have been singled out in recent years as a matter of urgent public concern. It has been
violent crime" should be restricted. I agree on this

suggestion based on the following concerns.

There can be little doubt that a complete description of crimes has a direct impact on viewers" perception of crime" including its nature and impacts Ongoing expos ure to reports on erime scenes has dcsensitised viewers to the horrors of serious crimes such as homicide. Many TV programmes tend to

ilramatise the process of tracing criminals. So immersed are viewers in the storyline that few are
encouraged to link 'the crime to a brutal, unsympatneticand devastating act. Meanwhile, hardly has any
newspaper or TV editor carried out a jollow"llp study of C'oRiJicting

criminals. This form

0'·'

represe.ntatinn, fails to alert viewers to the

he broughtto justice.
Meanwhile, the depiction ofviolence most common is violence.

fact that no erimical can stay at

large and aU offenders '~1U

is potentially the primary cause of "copycat' suicides, fights,

tOI

shootiags and bombings, People are inclined The documentary

vent their discontent in

V8;!]OtllS

ways" and one of the

on a criminal or violent act provides them with rote

models" those characters who initiate most of the acts of violence on television. The portrayal of those

characters encourages viewers to emulate violent behaviour, believing that their acts are likely to be acknowledged,
Despite its enormous effects on (be audience.jhe
8bDU~d, nat

description of'crimes on televisionor newspapers

be made a scapegoat for all secialviolence,

It would divert people's attention from the root

causes of violence. Some depictions of violence are likely to contribute to harmful effects on viewers,

whereas other portrayals may be pro-social and. beneficial for the audience. For e';(,amph:;],M,any programmes encourage no-violent alternatives to solutions, Similarly, television and newspapers have played a significant folie in educatingthe audienceabout the advantages of building a non... violence
community and, the i'nad"isab'ili,'tJ 'ofeXCe8S]V~ drinking, car racing" drug USiJ1Q; other u"dawfulacts. and
As suggested above, 'media violence.jncluding fhe detailed picturing of violent acts, contributes at
least partly to' social violence and to the audience's aggressive thoughts and behaviour, However, there

is no simple cause-and ..effect relationship between media violence and societalviolence and both have

rmY{

multiple causes.
W]I :fi.J

1. singleout=select
2., horror=terror:

highlight: ~ ..fL,.t!: ~" ,tJt it~' ~

$.!'tiJ., ~,jrit

3. dr,amatise=s.ensatiollaUse=exaggera:te"'-overstate:

+ *-

l'

it.·,,,·itAiIJ '1t

4. immersed in absorbed in=engrcssed by=captivated by:

iJ mJ·J\..i!_ 5" uDsym.p:athetie=uncaring=indifferen,Fcm;cl: ~ ..fl~:q-'~~~~ ~ *}*£i~tN~ ~ Jt'i9J r;tl~· 6. ibllow-up=:.subsequellt~bnowhlg:il~~ {riJ', iWu~ 1. convict=sentence find somebody guiltY': ~ %·".' r' .i4 8. :representatian=porl1ayal=descrip\tion=ac'count~" i:t" mf~ ,,,4~ it 9.. at large=free=at liberty: ili_%~' ;~;,,::tt 10, inadvisability=inappropriateness :unsuitability: ~. ~ ~, ~ r1~~
ji.!I ~
j
'j • •

it ~r-.~ ~;ft'jt·

l ].1L1Dlawfu.l~inegitinla:te-~Jtegal=nHcit:~f

'*~

Top'le 46·':W,ecan

g,al

kn,owled'ge trem n,ews, but sO'lme people think, we can-not trust

,jc'urn,aUs,tsl' Wh;al S'h!D,ulld have:?

dOYDU

think?' Wh,st ,qjualliles, do you think I :sulccessfullourn,aUst

Today" it is important to note that the public has a growing appetite news, including national, local, entertainment, sports, politicscweather
becoming increasingly important, public attention has been brought to the witht :.~.., ,d' storting them.• out "]' I.JJ. U " U I"",,·.
'II'\!(

Jor

different content areas of

news

and traffic news.Wi,th

c'r,ilita,i',i'lity 'Of joumalists, In

my opinion, it would be over-simplistic to say that j ournalists can. convey all messages to the audience
,.J

Not surprisingly, whenever

introducing

people Italk ojjollID,alisD]" objectivmty is, the first wordthat Np'rin,gs to

are allowed to provide personal opinions.

mind. Reporters are: generally expected to discloseall facts; and uncover all sides of an issue without
any bias, as opposed to cOlnmenta.tots~who

However, in reality, objectivity is har-d to achieve, Journalists have 1:0 SUf),Czlm1J to either commercial or
political pressure, distorting facts and misleading tbe public, III many countries, news organisations are

controlled entirely by powerful political parties and f3njai,u~d to disregard the. truth and disseminate
information that guides public opinions,

Another factorcontribnting

to the erosion of] ournalistic standards throughout the news business is oddity

that in these years, increasing weight has been. given to following news values-entertainment,

and celebrity, To cater for the tastes of wider audiences, journalists can go so far as to twist the facts,
fabricate news and spread rumours. 'Many news media have a clear preference .011 media personalities

and use their public appeal to increase viewing rates, giving these publicities, who hardly remain neutral, numerous opportunities ito expresstheir opinions publicly on a subject in which they have .a

personal stake or billS' .. It is thus. fair to say that news, is,now lessltro;~I.twolrthiY'.
In genera], a successful Journalist should be first able to use careful judgement when organising

and reporting information ..Determination and persistence are required when j oumalists ought to defend

the freedom of the press and ordinary citizensrighttcknowthe

In acting as successful communicators groups.

truth, despite being under different

forms of pressure. In addition, they should be sensitive to and interested in current affairs at

an levels,

and. information senders, journalists should also have a. good

command of language skills and a real knowledge of different cultures, countries, races and social
As shown above, people have reasons to suspect the creditability of a journalist, Either as a

medium. that deliberately affects, the public interest or as a form of entertainment that does. not attach
much importance
tosf'rio',USHf1SS;J

journalisrn has failed to maintain objectivity

C~Ull10tbe

,8.111d

liveup

to ideals of

journalistic responsibility.

Without showing respect to freedom of express and conveying messages Qcclai11u~'d'as ,a qnahfed journalist.
'0 • ~~ ~

accurately and promptly 'to 'the public, one '.f..11.;G J!:I

1. ap'peti:b~ for=hunger for=eraving for=desire for:

2. credirabllity=repuration:

-r itJlt

'1"

!l

3. talk of=consider=disc uss talk about=talk over: ~2t 4., sprin,r-bounce=bound:If!'~,

'I

iil~

r~,~:
ltf}r~1

S:,' succumb to=yield to=give way to=surrender to: ~ .. ~~ nl

6. e.njoi]]~'instruet=coJTI'mand=d.irect: ~~"
8. oddity=peculiarity-quirk:

7 . w'ei.gb.t~hnportancle=signi11c.a.:nce=elnphasiFstre;s.s:

j:·*·t:t

4t. ~f~ ",4tr, ~ it~'

je

J1'R,

9~ rumour=gcseip=anecdoter

i;" 1&-1f' ~ tt·:f

notion: ~Jt",

l o. neutral=unbiased~jIJlpartlal-d.isinterested=d·ispassionate:'

_iL ii-9;

;r; fib ;r.·1t~;

11. bias=preJudictrpreconceptioll~r'eCQncejved
[2 ..trustworthy=dependab Ie= honest=reliable:
[3.,. seriousness=solemnity=gravity:

~~, It'& ~4J;If ~

r J1t ~ri

'PT 1~·t;J~,1il~~1t ~ ~

I.4,. ideal=principle: $Ji!~Jt ,;l1.oolJ

15. acclaim=praise =approve=commeud:

*~w" +.~

'T'o'pi,Q: 7': Peo'pl:e Ihlink that: I:he news, medila. hasi iinlfl'uenced peo,pre~s l'ilves 'niGwadays, 4
r

and it is a ne·····g.··· ·a····livle develop·.m.e.·Mil., To wlh··a·t·· 'Px !W'n_ 0 c-y.··.o···-··agl 'ree or ul.sagree _? ~-~t·EIo-~·.I·d~·UI..~' - --c""":~ .. ', .... ,~
_ .. _ . _ .' . . ._ ' ~ . . _ _. _ .~I~ __ __ __

1)1

For many people, news is a regular part of life. An issue in dispute is whether the rna. sive influence ofthe news media on people's daily lives iletiotf'G a negative development.
._---1

news media does

m0J16

good than ham! to 'the society,

The news media provides people with much IQf the information "they need on, a timely basis,

although there are claims that it reports on issues and events purposely (only selecting those events that
interest file audience). Anecdotal evidence shows that people from all walks of life have the habit of

collecting information regularly from the news media, including print, broadcast and Internet-based media, Information assists people in decision. making. Forexample, the Free Trade Agreement reached

by the Chinese government and its New Zealand counterpart might open up many opportunities to both
countries. For any business, person, either in New Zealand or in China" faiUng to recognise and

c',ap'ittllise '(),11: this impe,ndillg change would cause a. costly loss."

Meanwhile

it should be recognised 'that [he newsmedia

can sometimes save lives and reduce

cClsualties'. 1116re is a lot of uncertainty

about the SUTT(Jull:ilings"a:nd people are susceptible

to the

damage caused by accidents, erimesand natural .caillmity. The news media conveys the firsthand

information to concernedaudiences and enable them to take co.rre.spondi',,;g actions right away, The
authority can declare a state IOf emergency when it is necessary, organise evacuation and distribute aid
'00

the needy areas ..All these: efforts count on the news media as "me m,eS6!e'Zfer"
Despite then" significant and ongoing contribution to the society, the news media might sometimes mllgn,lt;uiJe of the real

be harmful to society, U is a convention that the news media. exaggeratesthe

threat (for example" the potential of a terrorism attack), in order to draw the attention of the desired

audiencesand

ill pursuit of high audience ratings. It ends up with causing panic among the population,

Meanwhile, the news media tends to emphasise

some issues or events, which virtually have little

relevance to people's daily lives, such as an occasional multiple vehicle accident, an affair that a celebrity is involved with, and the like. It distracts the audience from something that is much more

noteworthy, for instance, poverty, environmental problems, to name but a few. III summary, the role of newsmedia
as all information provider should he acknowledged. In case

of emergency, it acts as a ]if~sav'er. However" it is not to say that the news media can give people an overall view of'theproblems in society all thetime ..

itt>!

1. d:enote~ll1:dicate=sY1nboHse=repr~senFs,ignffy: .2. capitalise on=takeadvantage

4. casualty=fatality=victim:

i~*

1tAL, ifi ~ ~ j[ if;

of=make the best of: 4]lM"j~~1~, HJ coming=approaching:

3.. bnpending=hnminent=Iorthcoming It. -i=A,~

llr ~~·jU

*" l¥J'

5. surroundings=environs: %l !j.'~ ~ht

6.. calamity=misfo.rtuJle~c.atastrophe=disaster:

st~

7'.,firsthand9:mmedia.t:e:
8.. corresponding=relevant: '9, messenger=courieetje

jf;- ~ d'tr ,1a~mj{J

~!!L@: ;t~t~r~'[:t .~.~, t¥J. ;jfr1~j~':~ A

1 magnitude=scale=enormity=level:

o.

(~'P'~)

t.l)Jt

T'O[p'irC 4'8:' 'The're ar,e many ,advl!r1ls,ements, dilrected rat chnd're,n~ IParents arglue 'that

chUidren are mislled, while adv8;rtislers, consider adver1isiing a info,rim'8,tirorn~, What is;y'rOUJ Orpiiniron l'
'The impacts of advertising on children have become an area of
lOCUS :01

SOUf'ce'

off usefuli

these years, When the

Although the

initial purpose of advertising is to dissemi'naJe' information related to goods and services, many parents
have associated it with their childen's unjustified desires to buy something unnecessary.

extent to which advertising influences young viewers is a matter of debate",its impact in my opinion, is ll.ndispute'd.

One: of themain features of advertisements is giving products an exaggerated account In addition

'to this tactic:, advertisers tend to stress those attrilJllttes of a product that are likely to be valued by young
consumers, whilepiay,illg down others" SOIne advertisements might disclose detailed information about products ( such as health hazards of overeating some types of' food ), but in most cases, such
information appears normally in S.t11aU print and. children
CIiI1UlO,t

read them clearly. Nor can children

comprehend the messages with their literacy skills, As

,6l

result" young viewers are susceptible to the

effects. of a commercial, leading directly to their subsequent buying decisions or their thruNt f-or buying.

Another main strategy adopted by advertisers is to associate products with lifestyles that are attractive to young people and deliver a strong message that the advertised products are what their peers

want and will choose. Children are more concerned wi.th a. particular ,Iab,e,' and branded products than
adults, for the simple reason that they are much less price sensitive, They have the desire to possess

products they consider popular, fashionable and likely to be admired by their peers, but seldom take into consideration the functions and practical values of'those products. When the negative impacts of adverrising on children are acknowledged, it should be noted that as children grow' up" they 'win make more sophisticated judgements about those tactics advertisers use to grab their attention. They are less .rllcBptiV'e to advertising messages and meanwhile more likely to
perceive advertising as a. mere source of informationvassisting them to learn products and services

better" Meanwhile, some advertisements are ncn-commercialand

anti-sm,o,kingsanti-drug,

provide information on such issues as

AlDIS, healthy eating practices

and so forth .. In this sense it is premature to

judge that advertising has no redeemingfeature,

To, summarise, by enhancing the image: of advertised products, making exaggerated claims on
products and services and portraying
,8.\

fantastic way of life, advertising is liable for children's impulsive

purchases ..Children are mis-guided to make a purchase . Although adolescents are less susceptible to the
misleading information, the advertisements that are marketed to children should be restricted,

l. di:ssemlnate--'broadc,as.r=publishsp~ead~rres.ent=;cit',culate: i(_;/fr ,I
2. l1.ndisputed~ackn..owl'edged~nd!en.iable9Jnque~tionable:

iit~.~ tf~

7t.w.;r fit «,'a~, .it 1if *'lit ~.

ii'

3. 'tactic approach=scheme=ploy,

tit~, -it{~

4~ attribnte=feature=trai =characteristic=property=quality;

#~.iE., 4"t,~~~#.l1.. 5,! play down=make light of=underplay=talk down: ~J"" ··e.¥i$i;fJ o. thrust=driving force=drive=impetus ,:.;jJ. JJ' ;jf!. #J j,' 7. label brand brand name=trademark: J'a J6 ., 1Di~ 8. receptiveto=tolerant of=open to=accessible to::n~ fi$ 4 ~ ~"J. '9. redeeming feature=advantage= .. trength=merit: -ar J'tt:!:. *-, ill. s

~*

t~"

10. misguide

mislead, deceive=induce:

1l:~,

.jj-~

T,opJlc 49: Do, 'the pos:ltive, effects outweig1h neg,.live effiecl,s, 'when adivertislng 'gaiins in tP0pu,liarily?
It has, always been difficult to assess the contribution controversy, arguments against this concern. of advertising, This issue is /rtlllcgizt w,fth with concern being expressed over the harmful effects of advertising. Below are some

It is, important to recognise that one of the key functions ofadvertising

is to supply consumers with

'to them.

adequate and accurateinformation about all of tile, alternatives available

Every now andthen,

advertising is criticised on the ground that it can ,maniJ"dat~ consumers to fo'Uow the will of the
advertiser; however, evidence supports an opposing view that advertising merely promotes wbo decide what are advertised .. Advertising also plays a significant role in fasten'!g full employment

products.

that are most likelyto satisfy consumers' wants, hll simple terms, it is, consumers rather thanadvertisers

and facilitating economic

well-being. By conveying marketing information 'constantly to the target audience, advertising speeds
the consumers" acceptance of new goods andtechnolngies.
manufactured

It gU'ar,a.rlltB:f'ls,.he high turnover rate of the

goods and therefore, sustainability of a business .. It "isalso agreed that advertising is one

of the main sponsors of a large number of other industries, for example, the entertainment particularly sports" music, and theatrical events ..

industry-

Unarguably, advertising is criticised every now' and then for 'misleading the public, However, the rapid development of advertising itself has provided a solution to this problem, as the infonnation

delivered to the audiences has made themknowledgesble

can easily distinguish To summarise, development,

consumers Under this circumstance, they

il!,/erior
advertising

products from quality products with their knowledge .. The misleading

effect of advertising will be counteracted over time,

suggests, what consumers need and contributes partly to

eCOn0111]'C

In this sense, advertising

is of great value to people and the society. The general

perception of advertising as a. source of misleading information is in fact a bias.

,iffSlii]~
L fraught with=full of -filled with=burdened with: .~ ~.~ ;f1
2. mJanipulate~(lat1QeUvre=op'erate=influence"""hame'ss:~~,,,

4i:.f£',

-:ij \1~

3:. will=want=wish=desire:
.5., mferior=substandard

Ji,. 'i!
jt).G~'", 1Jt:i!:

4" foster=pr-omote=furtber=advan,ce~encourage: low-grade;

1~!W:"itfJj

'T'op,ic 50: Some peD'ple ,Ilrgue thatadv'Blrti,sing

-

is discDurag.ilng
'_

p,eople frem being

different individuals, and makes peop,le to be QlrSeeml to be the same, Do, you ag:ree
Dr

disagree?

Perhaps no subject in the world isas likely to cause so much controversy as advertising docs, One
of the main criticismsagainst advertising is that it erases individual's sense of identity and eausesthem to buy the same product, This view hasflaws.

By tell!l'tln,gm,essa,ges

;8111d

persuasive

arguments;

advertising

can draw the attention

U~H~: 'Hultip'i.e

of the

audience, but not.necessarily stimulate fhe sales. It is clear that consumers rarely n~ly onadvertising as
a single source of information before deciding what to buy. Instead, they
informatiou

sourcesihat arecomple,l1uJ.,Uary, such as family, fi:iends~,'llspe'c'iwn:r,!I and so forth. It is overslmpllstic to i

saythat advertising; plays a decisive role. Most of the time, there are a range of factors a consumer

would take intoaccount, including their income levels, circumstances, and so forth. For instance, when
it comes to luxury goods, only a limited number of consumers respond with a, [111a1 purchase, Therefore,
however persuasive' an advertisement is, never can it lead to the viewersmaking Meanwhile" eonsumers the same purchase. the An have low tolemnce for sameness .. There is much uncertaintyabout

preference of consumers nowadays, primarily because they have easy access to information.
fall ofa brand is abrupt, Even if brand preference 'rus established because ofadvertising, assurance it will be maintained, products, The main reason behind the high unpredictability

existing brandis vulnerable to ,any new entrant. Brand loyalty is something of the past, and the, rise and there: is no It seems to be all entrenched tendency of consumers to try different of consumer behaviour is unclear, but it is

certain that consumers will not buy the same product,

However, people should meanwhile admir that advertising has every now and then contributed to

consumers u~pZan~lJd purchase, Banners, signs, flags and other visuals, forexample, turn "nJrl;teruted
shopper's: successfully

into. impulsive buyers in their m.unda,'u2 shopping trip .. !\,nollier function of

Advertising also succeeds in creating peer effect, It is not

advertlsingisto

make people live inaworld of fantasy, inwhich they consider themselves prettier"

slimmer, richer and move: outstanding.

unusual that one buys something ,o,tz,I"'IJ,~,6~ewithout know.ng much about the product butmerely ~
assuming that his or her peers are using H.

As suggested above, indi vidual's reactions to advertisements

inherently the market,
t

complex

and unpredictable,

simple

and preferences on a:~' n~are cause-and ..effect conclusicns are elusive ..Despite

boosting the sales of a product or service, advertising 'can hardly make any product or service dominate

llISl'lRl~ ~
1.. erase=wipe out=remove:

~t*~~f'
1

2, flaw=defect=fault: ~J~!I ~~
3 . tempting=alluring=enticing:

ilt ~ A..a~
.1f~.i1~;Jj

4. persuasive=influential=convincing:

~rtr·" :iff i5lJIflfJ'~ ~$f~

;tJiLf--$, ~jJ£J....

.5. multiple=various=a

compound of: ~. 5fl1:r

matching;

6. complementary=balancing R.. to~e.r:ance=:accleptanlCe:~'&, ~, 1O.unintended=unintentional: Ll.mundane=dull=everyday

12, on jmpulse=onthe

,;i.",:r 'Et~,

7. in5pection~f'lX81nination=assessInent=abs,erva,tiol1::

lt~

9~ unplanned=impulsive: *l1~:~i_;;rtt~IJ,l¥.1

Jt.~ 'ilt'~~"~;t;t f;~

-routine-dreary-boring:

spur of the moment= on

is~ 09, ~5tjtJ 11~, Sf JL tl~ a whim impulsively: ,_ &1' if i:b.~

13. elusive=vague=indefinable=obsoure:

Topic 51,::The high sales of popular eensumer goods 'reflect the po'wer of .adver1ising

but: nat, the: ~ea,1 need ,of ·the .saci,sty' where such p,n,dUlcts, "aire sQ,ldli,Ta wh,ale,xtent do you agiree or' disagree,? .Advertising is well ... known as a method of prDmotion~ a method used by corporations taintEedua;e
, "

"

"

"

.
L

their products and services to the market, attract the eye of consumers and increas

sales. Ct't~cs of

,advertisillgargu,e that advertising is the main drive of soaring sales of some products and services" inducing consumerato purchase what they donot actually need in their daily lives, This contention is,
self-evident.

Advertisements conquer the audience mainly by sending them amessage that they ave lacking a
specific brand. or product that is likely
society. The advertisements
'DO

make Chern acceptable or even distinguished. individuals in

as to medicine,

a,ie.tary S.llpplel.'I:ent' and 'Other life ... enhancing products,

SLICb-

provide a typical example, Targeting the buyers that are doubtful or worried about health, advertisers

have sought to encourage them to think that they are threatened by

problems as malnutrition, dysfunction of any part of their bodies, Lack of the knowledge in this field, the audience will rush too

buy the advertised products, Such cases are ever-present, and the audience expects an immediate positive outcome -disregarding other solutions.
Advertising also werks to create a best-seller image for a newly-marketed product. The audience
Of,8

is It;empt:ed to buy it in the hope that they canthus become one of ithe i!:yecJfJ',itn:esses andparticipants
halve abandoned

fad. It is not UnCGml110n that cell phone users replace their phones every year, although the phone they

frequently, but advertising spurs them to do, product is marketed. So gullible' are
buyers growing" itwillevolve
SOlTIe

is still in ,lls,able condidons ...They might not actually need "to make purchases
80.

so

The plower of advertising has too often abused by

,3

advertisers, who tend ·~o ,gi've an :f},x,aggemt,ed accoun: 01 the popularity of

into a buying

product, soon after the

buyers that they are driven to buy it. With the number of

eraze.

Inconclusion, people should sta:yalert ·'1:0 the influence advertising has on their decisicn making

process, As indicated above, advertising has twistedthe informatiorr about, what product is needed, or

what product is favoured, thereby driving people to

1113,ke

insensible buying decisions.

l'm $( 11] ~
_

"
.t

1. promotion=advertising=marketing: ~ i~l
improve healtn:

2. dietary supplement=pillsto

if ~,&

3:. targer=aim at ~ ,;11"

4. rush=hurrj=dash=run:

~t,t
I~' ~

~1M:.·~.
ubiquitous=pervasive: jl~i:9tf~:,!t~~I~.
l,
~.~

5. ever-present=omnipresent 7~ tempt=atnacr=entice=lurerf
8. eyewitness=witness=observer:

''t it·ifi~~

6. disregard=pay no attention to=ignore=take no notice of close the eyes to: 'I~~ilt,'I~!!&.. I

i.t" l~;;]
JliiE.A serviceable conditions:

9.. inusable conditions=in working eonditions=in

110. give anexaggerated account: of=exaggerate: I l. gullible=credulous; (~1t ~~ ~·lb ~~ 'rrlJ

'J

+ k .~. .1rt·~:rJ-iji-

~r VA1t. m:a"J,

=sf 1~1l!..m:.aJ.J

12. craz,e=fad=trend.;::;fashion=obsession:wJJ}fit,

13. alert attentive=watchful=vigilant:

~~r·· 1¥J ." if:;t'{fJ ·ifJr~

~~ i?JJ

Toplc 52: Advert:lsi:ng encQura,ge,s custcmers to bury in quantity not, in qiuali1y. To what ext.n,t do ylou agrire:9 o,r dils,a,glree?'
Living in the information age" people are bombarded with substantial daily doses of advertising in multiple: media. The D:l'gument that advertising, impulsive purchase has beeu accepted with its overwhelming power, leads. to consumers' are' encouraged

by rnore and more people. Consumers

by

advertisements to purchase products. in quantity without paying heed to quality. This allegatioll is

flawre,d~ as far as I amccncemed.

The first fact to note is that despite the strength of advertising, viewers remain as decisionmakers, They gather information from advertisements based on their own interest. While some people focus on quality, others are concerned with price. Likewise, advertisements

stress different aspects of a product,

are now desensisised
tOI

either quality or pricev which is determined

primary concern to them, Eventhose

by contexts.

Consumers

the

information delivered by commercials and becomeincreasingly

cautious, 'Quality is, ill most cases" a

product

most loyal users of advertising are now cOlu::elllraie'don

quality, believing that neither pricing nor advertising is an effective facilitator of sales and consumers'
satisfaction with quality is the key to repeat purchases, Price is perhaps an

inducement

used by marketers to trigger sales, but other elements, such as

product package, functions, after-sales service and warrantee, appear to gain in importance. Advertising
informs people of more choices, allowing them to make a. buying decisionaccordingto

their needs and

favour a. product for different reasons, either quality or price cuts. Needless to say, people have become more circumspeet than ever before and more prone to the tnte~ar:tion of other' factors, such as the
advice of their friends" past experience, current knowledge and physiological state.

It is aliso necessary to draw a line between the concept of marketing

Advertising alone is not able to contribute high sales

and that of ad vet ising. ,

and Rrncu~

and

the link between advertis'ng

. usage is in fact not clear. In its broadest sense, advertising is merely a means of generating demand in

society by offering specific information on a product or service in a persuasive format. It 1S, similar to
sales prom,oltion~ package sales, low-pricing strategy and other marketing techniques .. Advertising

simply conveys the message relatingse price, rather than creating this message,
The facts outlined above, when taken together, are in favour of information delivered by an advertisement
GIl

view that consumers take in the instead

differen.tIy" and they are influenced. by a variety of factors

and driven by forces in a decision making process, Quality is of concern to them in mostcases,

ofprice.

['iff'.S! WJ

1., dose-quantity=amount:
2. a]1egation=c laim:

*J

~ it

4'~'4'~" ;t

3 . flawed=faulty=blemished:
,5

41&-i;l, Ca~t;tif

ft6..~
in:

4. ~,tress=emphElLs,tse~tnderHnle=und,erSrcafe=a.lccenbJ,a.te: ~i ~
i

desensitised to indifferent to=uninterested

~t..-1' .' '

7+;di!

6. concentrate on=focuse on . be: conscious of be immersed in:

1t-*f 1ft ji.1~,-t:£ f;;.. )

7... inducement= stimulus: All] ~,4h., itQ.:IJ

8~ circumspect=cautious

9'. interaction=interplay:

illrA.ll~ ~W.~1f rn '~ ~1Sl1ifJ~r'J

-prLlden~careflJl:

T,opi,c 53,: SOlm,e induSiriaUsed

d,amage to the 'enviironmelnl
A question central

countries,

ha,ve ·,s,erious e!nlvilr'o'nme'nta'i 'problems ..Tb,e

bi ,an iinevila,!b~e :resullt when a cou,nt:ry' lend,s 'to i'm'p,rove

the standard of litvingi To, what extenlt do to- today's

environmental protectioninte'rrl!,late.Slome

you agree

or disagree'?'
development
and

environmental

debate is howecononUc

people maintain that no economic target can be attained

without some sacrifice made to the environment, AB far as I know, there are a. couple of
clunp,le'm,(tntary components, if,f}pe'l'oted properly,
For businesses, large! or small, taking environmental

consequences seriously can impel them to

improve their production lines, make optimal use of materials and resources and increase the profit
margin ..For instance, the adoption of environmentally

friendly equipment can reduce' waste, minimise

pollution, and. decelerato' the depreciation rate of machinery. Meanwhile, it can reduce businesses' expenditure in ,compiia1JC6with environmental standards ,. The third merit Is boosting lo"a/ty of employees, who have an appreciation for the safety and comfort of their working environment,
By adhering to environmental standards, industries will also make a favourable impression on

their clients, build up word of mouilir-eputatiolJ

the proportional rise in operational

and trigger sales. S0111e la:rge~l1dustrie8 in the past,

when asked to take actions to make their production Iesseuvirourceut-demaging

were worried about

costs .. Their attitudes are now subject to ,nadificatlon, as the its products are

expense of improving equipment is, temporary, and can be pa.td off' byjorthC'om:bz.g profits. Customers
are keen on productsmade from an environmentally conscious business, in a beliefthat free of pollutants, When businesses have become more profitable, more money will be available tor re',a.mping' the

environment, Probing the core ofenvironment ..related issues, one can observe that people are more likely to consider the possibility of incorporating environmentally friendly practiceswhen enough funds'

have been raised and alternative livelihoods have been explored, Illegal logging, tor mf'm,:pfe~~ tNJlltr«lulJ.s in underdeveloped countries every year, where people are unable to find jobs. l~i;
to Invest in forest conservation,
are not ilt.i,:ni,cal, but
Jif:.SODrCIOS

compari8on, economically-developed countries show morewillingness

as their industries, rely less on natural

To summarise, economic

and have become service-oriented

and environmental protection

development

complementary ..They are inextricably int:e.rtwilu;,d.~ and can be promoted. simultaneously.

:il[.Sl.~~
-----"

§_.q,. r t!J';! irut 5tt ~~. 3. operate=manipulate=manoeuvre; ~jt_ll, 1~4t

2. complementary=paired: 4. imp el=comp cl=urgc=drivc :' ~ffd1.~ ~'K1Yt

1. intetrelate=correlate=irrterconnect:

.t~.1i~ &..~ ~~§_ 11m

.5. deQem,erate:;::::slDw~~~ltlt~ ~,ti 6. compliance=observance: ilM;

it~ 7., loyalty=allegiance=faithfirlncss: jt.-iJl :8 .~leI'u.t:atton- fame: ;g. !t.

9,

IDodification-tr,ansfbnnation=change-alternation: 10. play off=recompense=rennburse: 1~ if.~.Ytt ifrestore: .~ \t:17

rt ~
~j~

11.. :6orth.colning=illnnin.ent=imp·endin,g~approaching:~'f
[2 ..revamp=mend=repair

1~~" IF;~ r

*.~~

13,. probe-Iook into=investigate:~*.A~.t;t·

l4. centralise=concentrate:
1

s. in comparison

by comparison=by

contrast ;,l)'f J;t~,

]i._

T
1E~!ll1l~~

i6. inimical=ccntradictory=at

odds-conflicting: ~

At ~J.j'

17. inte.rtwine=interliuFinterweave~ilJ.terCQllnect:

~ro ~a~, ~

a~

T'OIP,i,c54: E'n'vironlm,1enlto!'1 'problems, olnlly p,oss.ibl,e wayla

Globally,

lel:'rese:rious, lin mieJ,nlY'counlr~es. 'lit means

Ihatt'hle

protect

theenviro,nlm'ent

is, at: an inJ'ternational lev-at To wh,st that

'extent do Y'ou agree or dis,a,gree! en 'Ih:ii,shYPQ'lhe,s;is? environmental degradation

011

has 'been recognised. as. one of the main challenges of environment

people have' to overcome in the 21s·t century. The rapid deterioration impose a severe threat this issue, countries worldwide

is believed. to

people's survival in lh()'yearsaheod'~ if not solved effectively, In addressing should join forces and make a concerted

effort" instead of working

individually for Inconsistent targets.

The first point 1'0 support international cooperation is that the impact of an environmental problem can be Of' the global seale . Common knowledge is that people live in a global environment and share natura] resources and survive on the same biosphere. The ,illterdepcertdencies of ecosystems and the
transport of pollutants are the main characteristics of the world.For
Instance, a stream or lake in a
C such

country can be affected by pesticides released from neighbouring croplands, lawns and gardens and by

pollutants emitted thousands of miles away, Likewise, the depletion of'a natural resource
deforestation)

as,

in one nation can have environmental

and economic

ramifications

in many other

countries.
Another benefit obtained from internstional cooperation is facilitating the exchange of goods,

technology, knew-how and capital, It is crucialto ha:mm:eril,!g out the best and quickest solution to the
problem. Environmental problems are mainly found 'in underdeveloped countries, where industrial or

agricultural developments are placed ..ahead of environmental protectionWith

the darn aged environment,

a clear imen: tcrestore

those countries have difficulties in making headwa», in the absence ,oj

facilities or technologies. environmentalmanagement,

To summarise, optimal
US!(~ of

They need the support from the global community; especially those
countries can tackle problems with greater efficiency and at lower costs,
between countries is inevitable

industrialised countries that have achieved remarkable progress in 'this field. By sharing, experience in
cooperation
Ell

ill this global crul1pa,ign~not~ Ol1]Y

can make

because the ecosystem is

unified mechaniam but also because international engagement

financial and human resources. By collaborating

with each other, countries arc able to

protect the: global environment with using the least amount of'resources,

lifi:)(.ijj] ~ :
1.. threat=danger=risk:
3. on theglobal

llJJir

2. in the years ahead= in the years to come

:1~ ~?j;.f~, ~r
<J:l~n

scale= at the international level: ;{i.1V: Jf:-. ~tQ B

*" ~iJjJ. )]
riJ
~~.

4. interdependency==interacrtion==interptay==mutual dependence: 5. release=ernit=discharge=dump=dispose:

0.. ramification=consequence=result: ii;'

*1t ,

;f~:!.1t rn

*",' Jf:;}f~
~ W~'

7. hammer out=arrive at=work out f~f~,( :fii.J J( MJ mq~t:k:~ $.i ) .

8,. underdeveloped countrie·s~devemo:ping countries=countries in a ba.. ckward state: fi,J5 tX7 '~I $:, £.~

~rII I~, I

2tilJi.II]:~

'9. intent=intenticn=purpcse=aim:

In. rest-ore

~ *$"

repair=revamp: 1~~l', ][..,~

make progress:

J1R.1i ut·~ 12. in. the absence of -lacking=whhout: :/1, ~l ·a~Ht·~-r ~., "
ll. 'make headway

Tllp,lc 66;: So'me: peop,le be,lie,va that ,Etlrlravel should be ,r&strided because it cause;$

seriious [polluti!oln lanlelw:iU use up f:hll 'viDr'~,d!sl esoul~ces;1I001 you Ilgr'ee r

'Olr'

Icnsa,gree'?

The issue of the Impact of ail' travel on the: environment bas heated up in recent years, following
the concern that more and more people tur,,! to it las ameans of travel. Restrictions have been preferably

imposed on air travel, according to some people. Thereare some points in their argument,
The first is that aircraft, have belen responsible for a large proportion of air pollution, Planes", either
fdLillg or taxiing, contribute a large proportion of local emission annually." Son16 might suggest that air is the only suitable mode of transport for 1
1

01,s: distance

trips. This viewpoint is fallacious, Trains, for

instance, serve as an op,timtll alterative, consuming less energy and causing less pollution,
As well as air pollution, airerafts can cause noise pcllutionc Although it is difficult to measure the actual impact of noise on people's everyday lives, itsability to increase 'the anxiety and levels of annoyance aroundthe has been. (1:on.firrned. Especially to those living In the neighbourhood

of an airport and
,

flight paths.noise created, by aircrafts is indeed a headache,

Although travelling by air is likely 10 cause problems, it lis 110t to say that air trave I>hAf~e significantly restricted .. Alternatively, airtravel can be operated in a manner that its strengths can be ruUy taken advan~age of For example, by replacingold engines with cleaner ones, people can lnit(gate

liljl

the environmental impact caused by flying. Meanwhile, aircrafts have a higber capacity, allowing
greater numbers of passengers for each flight and thereby giving the best possible values to the fuel

used.
In the light of the facts outlined above, substantial thought should be given to the problem of pollution caused by aircrafs, However,
it does not automatically

rnean ithat air travel should be

to

curtailed, Instead.people should make adjustments and improvements wherever appropriate

the optimal use ofthis fonn of travel .

ensure

. 'i&)Z,iiJ ~

l
~i

I. tum to=resort to=rely Ion: ;.jt ~l'T, 1f{.if

2,.. idle-stay unused=remain redundant: ]*l jl W;j ~Jl.~,

3... optimal ..... best=most favourable: '_iJ~'

f 1JL Jt]' 4lJt,~,

4,., confirm=verify=prove true: $RJI It, i.£ ,~, " ", 'lJ::' {fA 5· rmtigate=a 1-]" eviate=ease= ]·1ess en= S(lI'ft ten: ~~±.~
I.
J.

.~. JI.. I J' '..'," .'-.'.": JI'

w~ ....

' form - .~, _0. d ;,~~, j" ~~ ffij;r..,..i~ 6 __ LLJ . 0····.f· trave ",,",_ 13 an~ 0.···•·•.f trav el=mo.•. e of travel '..~X~/J !.lei _ .. =m .__. •.• _ Yi._V _ ~....~ ·if
b:!.
J~

Topic

.' _ . _._

·5· : It... is sad d th~t 8 _ __._ __0

_ .....__

the ._ ~ _. way·" 1,0 s.··Dlv·.·.··.e.-.!CO' w'o·."''''''rl.d.' 's en._ .'CV·Ir-#ll. -- m:"::-~ .0,I 'p.,:-,b-.~- .'.~IS bast .. _. ._ .' _. . . th, iI'1\ __ . ' __ L un e nta . 1,0 .Iom,s..
L

..

toinctiea,se the prlee of fuel., To what extent do you agree' or disagree?

The burning of fossil fuels is universally recognised as the: Jargest SOW1Je of emissions of
greenhouse gases in the world and one ofthekey factors responsible for global warming, When there is a glowing concernabout the destructive effects of global warming and other. environmental
problems, some people argue: that the best approach to deal with such problems is to increase fuel prices,

assuming that it will lead directly tothe drop in car use, This approach is productive to some extent, but
some othermeasures should be given equa] consideration.
It should be first noted that car use: alone doesnot take up the entire consumption ofpetrol, although people's obsessio'uwith car use contributes greatly to greenhouse gas emission, Petrol is intended for other applications too" such as electricity generation, the daily running of equipment and machinery for industrial and agricultural purposes .. People are not surprised. to see that the appliances used bymany

families are powered by petrol as well, Therefore.when it comes to reducinggreenhouse ga-s emissions, people should take different 'methods sfmultaneously, instead of'relying on any single method only,
People should meanwhile recognise the fact that the demand for petrol is generally inelastic, at of petrol would not vary significantly
011 petrol

least in the short run .. The consumption

according

to the

fluctuation of petrol price" To such a high degree have people relied

in their daily Jives that

they cannot cut petrol use immediately,

Some people might argue that using public transport is an

alternative, but notably, public transport itself is a large producer of carbon dioxide. Going on foot or by

bike is clean; hut not preferred by many, p.eop 1e."who are 'extremely tirneconseioua,
Therefore, the effort to reduce greenhouse .gases emission

by curbing

car' use 'cannot achieve any

immediate outcome unless sufficient time is given, Over a period ofyears, petrol consumption is very
likely to drop, when households realise: that fuels represent au. increasing proportion of expenditure.
People might turn to fuel-efficient 'cars or reduce non-essential trips.both resulting in the drop in petrol use. Car manufacturers are forced to enlarge research and development investment in producing hybrid

carsor cars powered by renewable clean energy sources, a,cure-allfbr car emission problems.
In conclusion, imposing petrol tax. is neither the' main nor the only
SOlUtiOl1

to environmental

problems that people are struggling to solve, although the utilisation of fossil fuela panieularly petrol,

is the largest source of 'emissions. Some other methods should be taken into consideration as, wen.

[lli~i~l~~
1. take up=occupy=make up=constitute=account
2. obsessionwith=fascination 4.cure~an =panacea=universal with=passion for:
3 " inelastic=unchangeable=fixed:

for: t!;..~J-

~'·"'Al!,

j~ ~

~ §t.i¥J

remedy=solutionrF t~, f~ ,tk:::# ~

'Topic 57: Water resources around the world are falling deficient
po.sibll. reasons and proviide yo'Ursuggestions ..

Analyse! the

Access to water is 'vital to eV'fU'Y living creature' on the planet.Despite

the: fact 'that approximately

'two thirds of the earth surface is covered with ,aU forms of 'water bodies, countries worldwide we faced

with different levels of water shortages, Some reesonscan

problem.

be cited to explain the emergence of this

A trigger fail' a water crisis is people's lack of knowledge of the value of water. Given the ready
availability of 'water in Dlany countries, people tend to believe that the ],~es!erve f water inthe world is o

infini~e.Notwithstand1.ng the increased expenditure on water supply" water is, perceived as a cheap
commodity by lnany families .. Many people see water as a pe'rpetual resource. For this reason, the

.unbridled use of water iscommonplace,

Rapid population growth isanother

accelerating the exhaus ti011 of thi s valuable resource.

force contributing to the water crisis. Not only does d reduce
3180

the amount of water available for manufacture, farming and households, but

has a profound effect

on the sustainability of aquotic ecosystems. Massive urban and industrial growth fuels unprecedented

demands." often at the expense of aquatic ecosystems. Many warer resources are nut Tep,wnished' before
being re-used and depleted. Human-induced pollution is worthy of concern as well; a factor regarded by many as the root

cause ofthe rapid loss of drinkable waterThe

Industrialisation,

untreated disc:barge of various pollutants such as heavy

metals, organic toxins, oils and solids, in water bodies is believed

to have severe impacts.

some areas

meanwhile, results in ab'l'ltJ'Tlnal climate and biological destruction.While

have become barren, other areas are hit by floods. Floods Tav~g, everything, including reservoirs,

dams and cannels ..The water supply problem will intensify. As noted above, tbe steady
10'S$

of water is attributable to inappropriate usage, population growth

and pollution, In order to tackle the above-mentioned

problems, one can adopt various approaches,

besides the existing strategies, such as restoration of ecosystems, rainwater harvest New' technologies can help ease water shortages, by tackling pollution and making used water recyclable. In agriculture, water use call be made far more efficient by introducing new farming techniques (e .g., drip irrigation).
Droughtresistant

ili)[iR]

1. vital=cru.ci,al~es!iential=c'entnd;;;;;;criti.cal:;
2. perpetual=eternal=everlasting:

plants ean help cut the amount of water needed,

$...§t1~*-~·

!"

i.~ y~trtJ"

ll'~~#~'

iftl&.'~ ~ iR!t_·~ ~.t~Ffi,lM ~ ~.~.~41l~l ~~;

.3. unbridled -lmchecked:~Lln.con:trol1ed=un.inlti.bited.:

4. equatic=water-related,

,}tAs *-·ftJ
1 ~~

s.'. {,epleIhis:h=refiH:·j[ i\T£.~~ l.. jL,

6. deplete=reduce=exhaust=use 7 ..['ox-in. =contaminant= up-drain: .(~~',

m~
4~, ~ Jo,f MJ· Ll #1 1t.~~
-f ~ ~''tr,

pollutant =poison=noxious waste: i~~

8. abnormal=non-standard=unusual; 10. ravage=ruin =damage: i'!~~ ,,~j~

li..~.~, ~~·fH'b

9. barrens arid~productive=infertile=dry=v{aterless,:'

T"Dpic,5.8: Many people bel1ieve Ihat the: human s'ociety has devalolped into a 'Ihro,w~, aways'o'ciety,
solutions?'

which lis,filled' Wiiih(p Iast i(f bags -a:ndl ru bbi'sh. What are 'the ,caLlusa:s en d many other environmental

AltbQugl1 waste disposal does not grab a headline as frequentlyas

issues do, it does notmean that it is less serious,..Asa matter of fact, the treatment ofgarb'llgB continues to be a problem worldwide. Despite its sizable influence, lTI31lY citizenshave not yet realised the

seriousness of this issue, It is the goa] of this articleto outline the potential causes of this problem and suggest possible solutions,
People should. first recognise that .theincrement economic development, Uneth(cal businesses in garbage is a natural result of the social and People's ques: for
it

are the main creator.s of industrial waste, including

BI1Ch

heavy metal, chemicals, plastic, and other durable, and non-recyclablematerials, better standard of living gives them, incentives to manufacture

variety of consumer goods and

disregard the potential impact on environment .. This practice can date back to the earliest days of

industrial revolution; producing

environmental disaster. Another potential reason for the

enormous waste that are unable 110. be recycled and causing

..

81.0,\\'

progress in \V88te treatment is people's low aw,~e'n6S'S of lhe

f}j~111stand

opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle waste, M!aI1Y people do not have ..a!

against over-

consumptioa

iand excessive

production

of disposable items. Besides", many citizens are not

environmentally conscious, disposing of wastes whenever and wherever they consider convenient,
Meanwhile, many manufacturers tendto use 'virgin .Illaterials, rather than recyclable materials in the course of production, That's wby many eomrnunities are facing treatment. The best approach to address waste issues is simply to minimise its generation. It is primarily
,3,

particularly difficult position in waste

because the more waste people produce, the more waste they have to cope with." Waste recycling offers
another means, althou.,gb it requires the spontaneous eommitment of both businesses and citizens, Additionally, laws should 'be setout to regulate corporation behaviour and make their operation environmentally friendly,

n is

clear that the problem of waste disposal exists due to people'sever-growmg

:8150

demand for on businesses'

manufaetured goods and slow responsetc the impact of this problem IOn. the environment. Tackling this problem depends not only on individual's effortto keep the waste to a minimum but

attempt to optimise their manufacture and reduce the i.npl'lts.

I' '1rr$l...W,~ 'I

,

'

1. garbege=refuse=waste=rubbieh:
2.. uneihical-immoralrf

1&.11t

jt.tt ~'9

3. creator=maker: ,t1J it~

4. 'quest=p\U~suit: .~. 'I' • • ro~ it,,ft,, ~'l,j~,

5. earliest days=outset =start=onset: -Jf~'~' 6.. recycle=reuse:

Y'~1!t)J]
'i;iq_

7, awareness=consciousness: 9

8.. stand=stance=position: jL!~

i ,

virgin material=raw material:

1i!i #*I~

10,.set out=lay out=leuforoe::~~,fr~!ll;t

11, input=resources used:

itm ff-J 1f:v.t.

Topic 5'9: Food can be produced much more c~eaply 't,o,daybecause, ,of improved fertUisers and be'ttelf machinery,,, However, aome Df 'the methods used' te do this m,ay be dangerous to, human hea:lth and may' have negative effects on local commun:itiesii
To what extenll do you ag'r'eeor di$,agree?

Fertilisers and machinery used to be welcomed by countries worldwide as essentialelements

of

industrialised farming, a landmark in the history of global agriculture. However, because of being used

on a. large scaleworldwide,

they have caused heated controversy, There is ongoing: debate au the

possible damages of industrial farming caused to the environment and ,h~"nallity, In rny opinion" both
are still irreplaceable, although efficient and scientific utilisation is highly recommended. Fertilisers and machinery are both essential in increasing crop yields" a solution to sM.natio'n throughout the world. In history, manual work
.aCCO'I;tll;'~r3d

for

the majority of farming, from sowing,

irrigating to harvesting. The slow pace of human labour made it unpossible to produce enough crops to

feed populations. Ferming is, on the other hand, exposed to the influence of many elements+weather
conditions, soil compositions, pests or some ul,rpredic,tab'l'e events like natural disasters" 'e'rt~Hslers

enhance crops or other foods" resistance to external disturbances, while machinery savesmanpower by finishing the major part of the work. The yield is raised to the highest, and lands are used to the full.
Enough foodcan
population.

be produced to meet the market need now, despite the continued growth of the

Some people defy fertilisers and machinery because of their concern on environment, However,
this
"t.(),ti(}",l

has been challenged by advances in this area of knowledge, Technological innovation has
friendly, and many machines used for farming purposes are

made machinery more environmentally

now able to operate without generating much waste, Fertilisers, by comparison, are mucbIess
enviroumem-damaging, Most fertilisers are organic and free of ingredients incompatible with the

eIlvLromn~t. N 01' do they ha~e .deleteriol~8effects on people's health, ... .. . .... . . , Despite what has been discussed, :E~u11]erSshould beware of over-application offet:bhse:s._Frrr ~an

envirenmental perspective, fertiliser-s and machinery should be classified and used with caution, The over.. pplication of fertilisers! not only has perpetually disastrous effects Ion farmsbut also injures the a neighbouring ecosystem. Many scientific studies suggest that a long hisetry of fertiliser use can
signicantly reduce land fertility, Other consequences include poisoning all wildlife feeding on. farm

crops (e.g., birds), and polluting the neighbouring water bodies. On health and safety grounds,
fertilisers might bring: remediless damage to eaters' health, for some chemicals, although not fatal

themselves, might become life-threatening when accumulating inside eaters' bodies.

On the basis of the above-mentioned arguments, people are convinced 'that the: sustainable 8lUpP]Y

of foods sdUre'sts
~c

OIl

fertilisers and machinery, and the key is,to use them properly and ill moderation,

iliSl.,OO~ ':
1.. hnmanitv=human race=humankind=people: A~
matchless: ~'iif 1}1~ i{l" ~ ~!k_....., tr9 JL'::"
an explanation for:
~j1lIJ iiI.J

2.. irreplaceable=unique=inimitable 4. account for=explain=justify=give

3.. starvation hunger food crisis=food shortage: 1tJLJi..,1~::thlait:

~:1ft

5. unpredictable random=irregular: NiAlL ~·;~1t,ffi

6. defy=boldly resist-boldly reject=act against: ~ ?At~;j;t ~ 1t~~J-

7.. notion cone ept=p ereeption=th ought -opinion: ~"~ ,i; ~

8" deleterious=detrimental ..... ... life damaging=life- fbr,eatening:*· ~a.fJ

9.. disastrou.s=dev{t,stating=[umnous-.-catastrop hie:

Jt-,1f~Jt~ ,[:1: it\!

lO~rest on=hinge on=depend on rely on=count on: '~,$,

1Kwm

T'O[piIC16'0:: :Sol:mle':peopiisl holld 'that we :slhoulld spe,nd mlo',ney and time on 'the, p,ro,tectJIDID of wlld anilma.s, whlle'others Bugg,esllhat the 'mo,'nley s:hlould be,;sp'enl 01n populatiolns
I'iving :i,nthe, poores,t area,s of 'the wQ'rl,d,,,, WtUI,t Ii,., yOlu:r ol'piniloln?'
In these years, animal protection has become a subject of ongoing scientific research and. an issue
of concern. People take different views lOW:H;Idtbe
enODI10US

spending required by wildlife

conservation, It is suggested that the spending should he ,di1~,erted to helping human populations, especially those living below poverty line, because human life is D10re valuable than animal life, In my

opinion, the investment in animal conservation is worlhw,'dle.,

Animals as a significant part of an ecosystem, have profound impacts
011

the sustainahility of an

ecosystem and on the well-being of humanity ..All animals are connected in one way or another in food
chains", For this, reason, the demise of a species. can lead to overpopulation
disrupted and the ecosystem cannot be sustained,..It 'would disable vegetation

or underpopulation of
fr01TI

another species and then put this species at the verge of extinction, The natural balance will be purifying water,

recycling nutrient andpoIUi'",atilig crops ..We humans. are eventuallyaffected ..

Another justification for animal protection is. that animals play a significant role intbe development of industries as an important natural resource People derive substances aadmaterials

from animals for different purposes. A typical example is that animals provide essential sub stanc es drug ..making .. It is. also, very common that designers and engineers instance, the invention ofwater .. mof clothing drew p
UpOt1 ttU11

fOI]"

to 'wildlife for inspiration, For

fhe research on shark '.

On account _of those: benefits, wildlife protection is a ignificant strategy that bas, far-reaching
effects on the future of human. However, when impl,elll.'el1.ted,th:is, strategy should be adapted in different contexts It should be noted that spending money simply
011

animals is not the approach that

promises the best outcomes in all circumstances. For example, in those regions where inhabitants struggle with weak economies and have few job sources, direct spending on any animal program would not stoppeople from hunting and trading animals for a living. An atternative strategy is creating Jobs
providing subsidies, lifting these regions out of poverty.
Of'

From what bas been discussed- animals are key components of 'the whole natural order and have
relevance to the sustainability of an ecosystem and. the interests of humanity, Animal pro,t'ction :~ a
strategy that applies to the whole world, and might vary in different circumstances,

...

1. drvert=switch=redirect; ~ jf§

2. worthwhile= worthy; :1f 1it1iit , 1A1f if; 3. purify=cleanse=decontaminate: ~tAt, ifr1G

4,. pollinate=fertilise: ~t,·· ~i$.}, .t··· 1 5" water ... proof=water ..:resis,tat1t=rainproOFwatertight=impermeahIe::

~.**

IW ,Jt ~~

Toplc 6'1: Som,e Ipeop,le st,ron'gly oppose animal ,experim,entation"

beUevin,gl that i,t

causes patn to animals" whUe some other people ,con,si,de,,' iit necess,a:ry. Whal iis·your
-;

opinion?
Perhaps no subject in the moral community is as controversial as animal testing. Animals, many experiments

people 'believe, merit more humane treatment

Whenanlmal-based

have long been the

centre of criticism, I am of the opinion that such experiments

are essential to both. the well-being of

human beings and that of animals.

There is, little doubt" first of all, thatmost ofthe animal-based experiments are conducted for the development oftechnology and to date, there is little chance of finding satisfying iubstitutio,ns' for they bear a close animals. Animals are used mainly because

resemblance

to huma -"s; either in

behaviour or in cell structure" 'TIley respond to external disturbances

(such as electrical shock

in the same manner as humans do. There is much evidence that most of what people know about

'themselves, including pain, stress, reproduction and nutrition, is based on findings of animal-based

experiments, Animal testing proves one of the main approaches to predict the risk when drugs or other products are used on humans.
Another fact to support animal ... based experiment is that animals are not the e:q'Uivallent of humans"

and can be used as resources, for human purposes, Animals have no captU:'itJ, to recognise the rights of
other species. Nor will they take in consideration. the interests of o the 1" species. It is,possibly 011e of the

main reasons, why a:nimalsJe,B'd on each other, Humans, by comparison use animal experimentations
no' only for their own interests but also for the interests of animals, For example, some
Despite the justifications commercial given for vivisection, researchers
111edi cat

discoveries can be used by veterinary surgeons ,to give medical care and treatment to sick. animals,
have the obligation to reduce animal that animal tests are mostly done fo-r testing and anima] suffering, There is a growing recognition

purposes and most of them. are avoidable, For' instance, the cosmetic industry has been

exploiting animal experimentation simply for diversifying products and maximising profits" The fewer

cosmetic products people

use, the fewer animals they have to ~rltlughte'r.. When

scientists are

empowered to carry out cruel experiments like vivisection, such powers should not be abused, 'To summarise, one can subscribe to the notion that animal minimum during experimentation. can be taken as resources intended for

the benefit of humans, although meanwhile it is certain that suffering should be controlled to the

1lISl. iRi

:1.

merit=deserve:

1lt~'
~~.~
~I§l ~@;.

2. substitotion=replaeement:

3. resemblance=sameness=similarity:

4. equivalent=counterpart:

~,~~~A~;t~

5,. eapaeity=ability=capa'bility=competence 6. feed on=eat=survive on: v)!:, ~• j{J

...... aptitude=power:

~~,fJ

7, slaughter=kill massacre=slay=butcher;

Jt

*,At*'

T'lopi,c 6,2: Farto,o

tiD

1111'ls' has, .bean dene to Iprevent animlsl,s and pllarnts 'from d'y'lngaul:,

Bllthoug,h peo'plle have not:iced t:his problem for ,8 langlimle.

fmp'rc've thii:s si:luati'oln? What are your s:'Uglgast~o,ns?

Why have people faii.led'

Nowadays, the progressive extinction of living species on the planet=either animals orpla:um-·

has arisen as :it big environmental challenge, according

to

many scientists and researchers, Despite the

growing concern on. this issue, little progres,,~,has been made in this. field, There are some factors that

account for why this has happened, In my opinion.rthis situation can be remedied, provided that some

reasonable steps are taken,

The: sharp fall in living species illsfirstattributed to people'scontinued and heavy reliance onthem

for their own 'interests" An age-old tradition is that animals aJlerlaised,b'ro)d aud/cul for human use, For example, laboratory animals, working animals and sport animals have been used far economic reasons or to fulfil different tasks 'throughout much ofhumanhistory. The meat ofra:ri€ animals is regarded as a
delicacy in some countries, for example, whale 'meat in Japan. When it comes to plants, over-logging,

over-grazing and soil erosion are the: rootcauses ofthedwintlling vegetation ..,O'ver-lltiUsatlnn: of living species-has mademany animals and plants face extinction risk, Another reason cited to explain this is that few people take the
1119.S8,

extinction of species

seriously. Fair example, fur is desired and pursued as a fashionable status symbol in nlany countries,

even in those countries where people are 'known for their environmental concern, such as,New Zealand,
Canada and Australia, Barely have buyers realised. that their purchase decisions will encourage the fur
business to further animal slaughter.

Rainforest destruction is another example .. Despite strong

CIQUUtry )

opposition to lumber harvesting, this problem continues simply because people, have an lever...growing

appetite for landto live on (such as buying luxury properties in the consume

and wood products to

{ such as furniture). Humans' pursuit of comfort and enjoyment has long been justified and

c,(J'naoned,even though the pursuit is at the expense' of other species on the planet.
From what has been discussed, it is clear that lack of awareness and over-reliance on natural

resources are the main reasons why species are being pushed closer to the bri,:I.k of extinction. Humane
education represents a long-term commitment and win help raise a. generation that has a real knowledge

of environment protection and stays alert to the risk of animal exploitation and ecological degradation.
In addition, it is imperative '00carefully measure and control any activity that is likely to pose a threat
on the survival ofspecies
a,

Decision makers and individual citizens alike should take into consideration

the impacts of their decisions and behaviours on living species. It is, important to realise that preservation of living species is not se.ntil:nenttiJ", butessential to the well -being of humankind,

I.. extmctiondeath=llios.s=dis,appe:al',fUlcle=,annihilation: 2. breed reproduce; ifJiL

3. feed=give foodto=nourish=raise=bring
up: "Jt~.,

x~
-tiJ IfJ~

4. rare animal=exotic animal=endangered animal=threatened species; ~jf,*isb 4bJ';I'

I~t i9 7iJ~' 3R...~~

s.
61..

dwindle=shrink=decline=disappear: over-utilisatiorr=excessive

~~.&t
tl~1~tml ilm
!I

USA~~""'"over-exploitation:

7.. condoneE3:FQrg:i.vfFdis[I{~;ga[d~ig110Ie overlook=excuse pardon: jt, ~ ...... ,8. brink=verge: i1.~ '9. sentimental=emoticnal=unrealistic:

jt~;fJt,

f~Jft ~, ::r:. J:.t ~ .:~~

T'OIP'ilc~ 183,:: S·Q,1mle :pe!olpl~elIh:iln~kthat'ld'IUng anlmals

f'Q,:rf'cod is, cirue!I[, 'bu'I ,others Iclllo:l:m

that 'alniim~,B,ls:are,a necessary pia,n ,of diet Wh:B't!,S y'our op,iniic,n'? It is a widespread practice that livestock. is raised and ,butchered for human consumption.

Although it has been condemned as cruelty to,animals, a counter-argument is that meat IS, the necessity

for people's health andwell ..being, To the best of my know ledge, meat is a regular part of the diet and thereis no alternative to animal food SOIU"ces,.
The first justification is thatanimal source foods provide a w:ide! range of n,utrie'nts that are
difficult to obtain in adequate quantities from plant and vegetable is. thought to have-considerable
SOU1,'Cf:

foods, Insufficient intake of those nutrients

t

willproduce negative health outcomes, such as poor growth, A dietwith a good combination of m -

value. Some might argue that: consur _pHon of ~'ealan pose bealth risks and increase the risk of fbodbome illness ... his statement is fallacious, considering the T
fact that people 'can kill boateeia and remove risk 'factors by coo'kmng properly and using scientific

methodsin manufacture,

Another point to nate is that most of the meat available in supermarkets For people's consumption is produced by industria] agriculture, In view of the intense use of 'modem technology and mass,
production techniques, 'the produced livestock~pou!.tr;" or fish cannot 'betaken as ordinary animals but

only as manufactured goods. By making use' of

The significance of capitalising

eCl)nom~es

of scale to produce enough food. at an

undeniable, but it is

affordable cost, industrinl farming is essential to addressing food supply problems"

on animals as a food source is therefore

important to realise that people CM110t exploit animals and become: addicted to meat consumption, Animal fats, for example, increase: the risk of heart disease and meat is, frequently associated, 'with ou;ebr,eaks of food P'OiEH).nill,g.M,ean.whUe~ people's .m,sdtlab,"' desire for meat might lead to intensive
livestock fanning and animal slaui IteI,'t-vbicb 'hag a direct impact on the well .. eing of animals b

worldwide, From theprec,ed:ing discussicn, one can see noreason why livestock or some other animals cannot

be used as food. Switching

'~O

an animal free diet ills personal option, but the question remains whether a
,'

one can ensure sufficientintake of nutrition necessary for one's, health. 'When there is little room for argument concerning the use of animals for meat, it is necessary tc impose standards and prevent

animalexploitation.

:'In:)t

iiJ*

1 for meat=cut for meat:

1. butcher-kill

-*, Ji- *ifrb ,tJh Alit *f-t"~h

m ~.,
~

2. nutrient=life-enhancing substance=nutrition:
3. bacteria= microbe=microorganism=germ: 4" pcultry-fowl=livestoe]; ~ II;

11~
obtained frommass production: ~: *-~,

5:. economies of scale=cost ... effective advantages=advantages

.~~~ rrm' il.~fd,?j!. ~'l~ t'b

6. outbreak=occurrence=outburst: 1-',~" .~11_ 7 ,mElcatia.ble~a.vid=g%ie,edy=vora!cious=rnv,e:[l:ous ~ .:f~. )l.ir1J., ~ .~l&~~,JSl rM3.

1

8. precediug=previous=earlier=above:

Z iMr~· JlA t9 J:.

TOpic 64:, Discu,s. the arguments,fOf an:d ,agednst raJsing pets ..

In. these years" animalwelfare has become a subject of controversy and it has belen argued that

animals should .not be regarded as property by human beings, or used against their own best interests,
When petraising has become a way of life:in many societiesaround the world, ithas, on the other hand, raised. the question of whether it is a breach of animal rights. Below are some arguments concerning pet ownership, Pet animals are known. for theirlcyalty [tudplayfu,l cbaracteristics and believed to have a positive effect on the health oftheirowners,

The pressures of mndernIifsstyles

aretremendous,

Compared to

previous generations, people are more Ii1{<elyto live independently

and away from their families 8Jt the

present time, Adopting a pet aniInal as a companion can give quality to the owner's life, and help reduce stress and blood pressure. It is also regarded as a. solution to the feeling of isolation end loneliness, These two facts are combinedto justify why thereare an increasing number of pieople now depending on pet animalsas companions or evena the'ralJY. Raising pets benefits pets as well Providing c'(JlnlJailionsllilJ and giving pleasure to their owners,

pets receive loving care and attention in return.

SOU1I3

might argue that holding a pet is u,uzatural~

because pe't animals would lose their original way of life, However, people shouldmeanwhile recognise that some animals ar-e'Ulzfitted 'to the wild environment ..It is, morally wrong that people force animalsto
struggle with food, clean water and other necessities in the wild environment,

Keeping an animal is therefore beneficial, but, notably, there; is no guaranteethat

every pet lives a

happy life .. Ignorance of an animal's needs for space" exercise or contact with members of the same

species, for instance, bas, been found as a common problem with raising pets, 'It should also be noted
that many people adopt pets for wrong reasons" such as as a. statement of affluence or a status symbol.

'They are very likely to abandon or' even kill pets when their initial interest subsides. \V11en holding pet
animals bas become popular, other problems '\\ViT] result, e.g ~,.poJlutioncaused by excess manure.

Based au the facts. outlined above, people can concludethat pet-keeping is, a tradition 'that can he:
either good or bad, froman ethical point of view" On, the one hand, it gives people companionship and great pleasure and animals obtain a loving home and a happy life. On the other, inappropriate treatment

can rob ,allil1lals of the basic right to well-being,

Im)(: im~ ,
] ~ playful= Iivelj=animated:

*JJt lR' 7~'ili._~1

~ lEI: f~'~,~ .:F iE.1t.,~
" ,.If' ~~$.t?

2~ therapy=cnre=remedy

treatment; ~~fj

3. companionship= company: lit1~

4;, uanatural=ebnonnal=aberrarr=devianne
5, unfitted=unsuitable=incompatible

with=incongruous with: ~ it~'~

6. manure=dung: ~=1£ 7. rob sb, or-deprive of-take from: ~~,

~!~ ~

TOlpic 65: Go,ad 'facUiities, can bileto'Und in clUes !but:not: in the c'ount:ry:si,de., Theref:ore,
I1tS:W'

doctors and teache'r:s should be sent '10 the c:Du:ntryside ..To. whateKtent: do Y;QU

agfise or disagiree?

Poor facilities have been found a8 3, common sight of rural areas. TQiimprove this situation, some suggest that new doctors and teachers should be Q,sstgne,d with 'tasks in the countryside, but not in urban
areas. There are some strong arguments for this suggested solution,
The first is, that hospitals, clinics and schools Me severely understaffed

in rural areas, compared.

with their overstaffed counterparts ill the city .. The imbalance ofresource and staff has chronic effects , on, thewell ... being of rural people. Lack of education or medication has made them among the most
disadvantaged

in a country. Allocating new doctors andteachers to those areas can at least provide a

temporary solution. Besides, it helps address the issue ofdistributing thegraduates from medical school ,
and. normal college" with filling tn.os!evacan,c;'ie's for p.l~,siciarlS: and teachersin rural communities.

To the doctors or teachers thatgraduate freshly with a degree only, working in rmal areas enables
them to enrich work experience withinthe standards shortest possible period of time. Opportunities are scarce in career

the city, where numerous candidates are inthe race for a single position. The chance of raising , through practice is so meagre that it will overtime
hamper rural practitioners'

development and. make then" uncompetitive in a skill-based, society.Pacility shortage

in "the country is an opportnnity.jnsteed

'to many doctors

of a challenge. They are in a. position to rely-more on clinical

skills than on sophisticated equipment, For 'teac-hers, they teachwith

to the increment of their skills.

few teaching aids, AU contribute

Despite those benefits, the place of 'work should be chosen by doctors, or teachers themselves and
compulsory assortment is not justifiable,

It is not ethical to stop the desire of individuals 'for a more

111ROY

satisfying quality of life, Needless to say working in rural areas has

issues to address.working

conditions, transport and housing, For this reason, tbosegraduates

From what has been di.s,cussed~'vol'kin.gfor

who volunteer tornke

rural

employment deservea better pay as a ,1"ec'o'g,'fdtioH of their contributien and also as an in'(;,6n,ti~e'.
a period of time in. the cou __ can benefit new ntry

teachersand doctors alikewith increasing their work. experience and. meanwhile-address

shortage facing those areas, However, the voluntary
compulsory assignment.

the service

sign-up sbould be guanmtoed~jnstead of

['lliJ<.1.m~ .
1. assign appoint=send=ellocate; 4!i~)~ ,~lL1t
~r ~~.

2. vacancy=position

post=jo b opportunity:

~.{¢t,

JlfR-i;l
,]i, _:t

1.. physician=doctor=general

practitioner=surgeon:

~,7~-'# i..~
~
jJt.

4, meagre=scanty=shm:

~~~ ~9', ~J'iffl

~/A\..iA

5., re:cognit:ion.=acknow,~edg!e!ne:n~app'reciation respect iJ.... ~,

o.

rn:ce:ntive~nlotiv,atioI1~encouragem,en't~lnducem,eD't: .t.!..lWJ" ~lf#J!, -'I] ~It

Ta,p,ic 6&,: S'Dlme 'fin~d1ings ha,ve Ir'BVGjaled t:ha,t eit~es areund

'the 'worl,dI ,are grlow'~lngl

I,arge"Co,uld

'Y'G'UI

outllne the' posslble causes and predi,c1Ic,ons,equenlc1es,?

IOf those issues that have concerned the government" academics and the public throughout the world, urban sprawl is, one of the most prominent, There are cenffieting view'S, toward this growing

trend, While it bas. been. taken, as a positive development

in many newly emerging

cities, it: is

increasingly perceived as a. threat to rural environment and considered as a. trigger for numerous urban,

problems. The objective of this essay is, to evaluate the forces behind this trend and its consequences.
Population growth is widely recognised as the primary reason; the room in the city centre is so

limited that it tails 'to provide enough housing to accommodate

an ever-growing population, Another

problem that: has intensified in the inner city :is infrastructure shortage and poor conditions of buildings,

Lack of,amenitie,s- such as 'water and, electricity supply, waste ,disposal~ swage treatment, to name br,lt
a jew, has left no chioce to urban dwellers but to resettle in the suburbs, where they have easier access

to new facilities;
City dwellers are not always moving outward unwillingly, The continued increase in household incomes gives renewed inlp'et.us to urban development. People nowadays have higher expe'tatio's wr quality of life' and a growing appetite Lor lower-densit-y housing, with a larger open space, It IS possibly the main reason why the real estatemal'}<et has its focus now on the outskirts of the city, but not on the, centre, In th« meantime, the affordability and ubiqllity of car ownership has made transport a less serious concern for those Jiving in surburbs. They can eomnuae daily between the place' of work and the place of residence with ease. The sustained expansion of cities will make amllrked impact on the society in several dimensions. The high traffic volume between suburbs and urban areas would cause severe air pollution and reduce the lands suitable for fanning. Urban sprawl requires large developments, causing areas to lose some of their unique qualities and characteristics. From the economic perspective, the relocation of a high
-:

population in suburbs 'will pose adverse fiscal impacts on the local government
construction.

in intrastrucmrc

To those 'who used to live in suburbs, the irtjAJW of new iniUl b ita11. would. (ialnag'ethe ts

community spirit and make relations between neighbours fragile,

Urban sprawl is, therefore, a trend which has a strong effect on the environment, communities and government budgeting. When urban decay and citizens' desire for higher standard of living make this trend irreversible, the emphasis should be placed on planned and sustainable development.
----.

'i!I)tt~~ I
1. ameni ty=facility=service: it;j{i.~ it., 2. disposal=clearance:
3., treatment
~J]t

Rrt ~

handling=dealing;

~ J;Jl

4., to name but a few=to mention but a few=and so on =and so forth: Ut~P'_,j:t~
5. renewed=new:

-lIT ~.I.J.

6. impetus momentnm=thrust=drive=force 8. real estate=property-housing:

ti!:w jJ
.± Y6 ~O;.;;ft ','1:. rG/fi'it'

7. quality of life-living standard=the level of comfort and wealth:

EF~~?~

9" outskirt-suburb=the periphery of a city. ~. 1&

10. in the meantime=meanwhile: 12" commute=go back and forth:

a'J-, ~~t fij ~,j-

11, ubiquity=prevalence=popularity.

4tlJl
much effort=without difficulty! *£.tk~
f.~

13, with ease=easily=effortlessly=without 14; marked'-noticeable=distinct=manifest:

15, inflow=influx= arrival: '),fitA, j~

*'

£*"

16, inhabitant=dweller=citizen=resident:
17, damage=injure:
};Jtj;~

}51i,;f'

18. irreversible=unalterable: ;r;, fi[~J1_.$-tltfJ

:0

7F ~if.#flfJ

'''r1op,iiiC: 67: The' IQ!nly way' 'la, rm:p:rove, roads:a,'fel'v ~s 'tOI iim'p"D,s!e! s:e'vere' IPuniishmie:nt f'D'r dr.vlng otrenlce,s,. DID you ,agree or disaglr'ee?1
Road safety has long been an issue of concern to the public, and to the government, Nothing

qualifies as a sufficient compensation when a, road accident occurs .. Despite the paiJ.zsta,ldllg eff"oB:to reduce death, i.nJury and
.tr-aU1T1Q

aross the world, many countries ale seeing traffic .:le,ide ~ s~:n.CI~eas,e ..

expo"entitl'lly., In improving road safety, some people advocate harsh, punishment, In my opinion, it is

merely one of the many

C(JlIRtel1n611SlI.reS

and. cannot prevent all criminal offences on the road.

In many ceases, many automobile accidents occur not because drivers belittle or defy road
regulations but because those regulations are unfamiliar to them, I-t is an everyday occurence that rulebreaking acts and traffic crashes are linked to poor driving skills. Many drivers have limited experience

in coping with different sitnaticna and an inaccurate estimation of the complexity of road conditions, despite having passed licence tests. It alerts people to the loopJzoles inpolicies, such as the loose control over car use, low requirements on driving training and low licence standards, In. tackling those problems, it is imperative to require licence applicants to attend more safe ..driving courses and pass
strict tests.

Besides education, other endeavours, such as improving road infrastructure and transportation
systems, are equally important. Road conditions should beimproved to allow different users, including

drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, to use roads, safely. Other facilities, such as stoplights and stop signs,
can be used wherever appropriate to curb speed driving, Furthermore, authorities can sponsor the research for toad safety measures and effective precautions, such as identifying risk factors of different driving patterns .. By translating these findings into policies and practices, the government is in a stronger position to protect vehicle occupants and vuln,emble road users, Wider intervention of local authories is also recommended, such as increasing patrols in those areaswhere accident rate is high. Road regulations should be reassessed and revised regularly so as to combat road offences more cffectiveljv Whcn the existing policies fail jo regulate road users'

behaviour, tighten-i'ng the control is preferred, How ever, as suggested before, strict standards require
full €fJ"ln:pliance . Without regulations closely observed, standards are ill fact vain ..
It can therefore be made clear that punishment is not the: only way to cut the accident rate and improve people's safety on road. Some other measures, such as increasing load users' knowledge of rules and defence driving skills, improving road. infrastructure

and enforcing compliance with

staadards.are all important,

[ iff_)! lru~· : 1. l'ainstakin,~diligent-c.al~fu.l=conscien.tious:*
.--,

f;b iJ'~, M..1t:Jk. il~~

2.. trauma=suffering= pain: 1Ji

13 ,

(*t~Jf.1:. fI~ ) -€~113

~

3. eXPQllentiallrdnunaticaUrlnar:kecUy~

*.Jt1L

4" harsh- unsympathetic=unforgiving=severe=strict:

5. .countermeasure-preventive
T

?- JJfl¥], if:;f' f6 ift t-':1 measure/action=precauiiorrBijs ~t:it

6. loophole=mistake=escape=dodge:
7. besides=apart from=aside from: 8. sponsor=fund=subsidise=support:

r~r

(.vtJtt~ *# ~W\r ).~ ~~

ji-Jl.h
~.; ~

9. vulnerable=defenseless=susceptible:
10,. tighten=increase=boost;

1~j~

.!t JJl1, ,itu k

1 t '.compliance=conforming

.11.~
~,_W
#1';

12. vaur-worthless-futile=ineffective:

~Jt.;Jf·1t{lt·if!J

'Topic i6,B: IP'Q11:iic,e lin Britain 'd'DI net carlry 'guin.s,~SQ!m,e! Pif!o,:pllj'e be.~i:e'velha.t u!n.a:rmedl IPolice a.r·e'unabl!8 10 p,role,c1 c:itl~.!e:n.,s;" .b·urtsam1esugge:s.t I:hata.rmring ·t,h,ep!D:liJce 'wilil
1

If'e·s:dto a,sUlr'g:e! in viiD,'len'ce iin .sQlciet,y., DiSlc'usslhose 'two y:iiews ..

Whether to arm the police is a contentious sllbject While some people maintain that unarmed

police are unable to protect law-abiding citizens, others reject 'this notion, believing that it leads to a
drop, in violence in society. There are several factors that account for the stark contrast between the two

thoughts"
The primary concern on armed police is that it would increase the potential formiscarriages of justice and mistaken shootings of innocent civilians .. The legislation in manycountries is, supportiveof this concern. Laws protect citizens from torture or cruel treatment and alsotheir rights on arrest or

detainment, If armed, the police will bel less likelyto thinktwice before pulling, the 'trigger" They can
easily get away with private exeeution by inventing a legitimate excuse, such as self-defense. The chance ofa sheet-out would naturally rise, causing m.a.mYP'revBntable injuries or losses of life. Arming the police might also ,arlit'fuel .toth,egun culture, N owada.ys~,perhaps nothing is 'worse than the continued rise in thegun ownership rate. Arming the police can. never redress the imbalance but worse, give criminals 8.rnotivQ1or to 9arry guns even for minor crimes. On the other hand, in those communities that are otherwise peaceful, armed police are ,intillZidating and the fear of crime will spread wildly, It would lead to further demand on private gun ownership; and expose members of the

public to higher risk.

Arming police is therefore not advisable in
IDOst

eases but only allowed in. exceptional

circumstances. For example, in those areas where armed crimes arle' rampant, armed police protect not onlythe public but also themselves from the potential attack. It gives 'the police the leverage in their combat against criminals, especially those hardened criminals. Firearms also' serve as a deterre. t to would ..1J'e' offenders If street patrols in some neighbourhoods: are routinely armed," tbe1psollttn of crime, The access to weapons should therefore be limited" for the simple reason tbat carrying guns leads to higher likelihood of mistaken shootings and to. higher levels of violence. Carrying guns is only

accepted when the police are: in conflict situations and confrontations. 'with criminals,

~_ itiJ ill~
.' .'
"1'

a.··" j 1"""1 1 mistaken=incorrect:

,j,
.IL.; '. .: "'" ~

~J

I,

k!1.J}l ~'';J 1.'m itA.. Ml

2.. execution=the death sentence killing=capitalpunishment:

3" preventable=tmnecessary=avoidable:;f: 4" add fuel to=fuel=invigorate=encourage: 5.. redress=restore=remedy:

r~;tIJ
1j~

~~··~MJ, .~ YA Jl!~

Bh iE:., 1iI.)jJJ

·~'I~~t; jl;tx 6. mctivator=incentive=irnpetus: .4?lll·~Jt~ it

7" intimidating=daunting=
8" deterrent=warning;
I

tening=scary.

Jl.~,t.lh ~ t:- 'fi;;:.~;; f

vr },-.~ ,iJ:A~~ ~l*'A'~~1~

~~ '~'" ;f.r.~ fJ J1t J9, .. t{J CA~$ 4JJ )

9" would- be=pos,sible=lme]y=prosp'6ctive=potential:::

Topi'c 69 Do you think it. ~s bett:l!t toslend

1 :

,crim:iiilnial:s to ji,aUo:r let ,them lreceive

educati:on or job trai:nlinlg?' III the public mind, a prison is a. place to keep those who have done wicked things ill captivity:".in order that they wiU not
years that imprisonment
CVJ'H,t:al'n,ina;te

law-abiding citizens, However,

there 1;8a

growing concernin

these
can be

is a less effective form ofpunishment,

and some alternatives seem to promise

'more satisfying outcomes, I agree on tills proposed change.with evidence that imprisonment merely taken
B.S

the last

resorl..

. .: ... .

..
into the

.,

Education is of critical importance to' ,rll,llabilitatin.' an (}fjena:e,,.,. It first changes loelmgU!en' attitudes toward society and family, a prerequisite
meanwhile

to their reintegratioN

>~

allows 'them. to keep in contact with the community,

an opportunity

that pri,s'O)le'l~Sare

normally deprived of. With the: passing of time, they lose confidence
effect, because by receiving education in a proper learning environment, ofreinforcing

and the ,ability to

funlcuon

prosccially, The risk ofre ... ffending is thus higher" TIlle third benefit is pJiieventin.g offenders' peer group o
offenders have lower chance correcelons-w hetherit each other's antisocial and criminal behaviours in ;group situations,

Similarto education, work is, one of the most important interventionain

takes 'H1eform of work release or vocationaltraining,

Money is the main

induceme,,' of many crimes,

offenders to acquire learning

such as shoplifting, robbery, burglary, and so forth, Job trainingenebles opportunity to behave normally However, towards family or occupation

c,apa,city iandimprove job skills" By this they can become productivemembers of societyand have' the
or society, Greater post .. elease r

employment success will, in general, lead, to ,9, lower rate of recidivism. to those habitual criminals, who have committed, crimes repeatedly and show little
any significant difference. This respect liar the legal system, education and job training might notmake

category of offenders gives little thought to their past or future .. Their behaviours and thoughts ar-e
deeply ,ingr,flined and :anb,6H4I,ng., in which circumstance imprisonment is the bestway of keeping them from beingpe.rpetr:-atoT:s. Meanwhile, imprisonment
i

has deterrent

effects and can deter potentia. I

offenders from. becoming actual offenders

resniedng

To sum UP:, it isclear that the results of imprisonment

those who are very likely to. commit repeated
8JCtS

can be mixed and it is only effective in

ef violence, By contrast, educationand

vocational training suit those who committed 'les,s serious crimes, preventing them from becoming reoffeuders after release and assisting them to reorganise
,

then'

lives.

l-,_;1!ll_A.

.!, ~

\~}'1'~,~

.R~

4"C

1. conta1nil1a.te~taillt--iIIfec:t=influence:~· ~ ~ Jj~. 2,. resort=ahornative .3 . rehabilitate

1~rt

option=choice: :t&.~.

*
i!t±t:l 1t.~.,~itJ:tt~~4T'~'

r:e~stole~e:!ld~re~estabUsh9"eshape=Iie!Dl0u]d:

4. offender=lawbreaker=delinquent;
5. prerequisite=requirement=pre 6. reintegration -blending:

i!li_,*'#~A, 1T;/'1~ ,~'hUA conditi on: -m-~~ ~14~

:!'11!t ,l~A(~±~

7. inducemenr=incentive=enticemerrt 8.ingradned~emhedded

'*~

jjt4*, iIJ,tJL

deep-rooted-fixed:

~tl~*' r!l ~~

g., unbending=fixed=unyielding:

]0., perpetrator=criminal:

iii,ith~~~·*'M"!~ llt~" ~lJ.;:t

._-,opi,c,70:: Mainly' people are afrBi,d of 'Ileavi!ng the:!i'r'Ihoius,es, because of 'Ihe, sprea!d of '
,cr'im'es,~Some Ihinik fhat more ,B,ations ,can be lakentci 'prev,e'n't-crime from occurring',

but others thiinlk, liltle'can !bedo.ne!!, lhat'-is your'!oplnlo:n?' W

The rise in the crime 'rate in the past decades has ju,el'ed public worries about the rapidly declining
safety of their communities, Some people take the position that little can be done to prevent themselves

from victimisution., As opposed to this general pessimism, many people; however, maintain that in
'f'J]flba-1jII..... - im ~ ,, le should , __ a preactive approach, I side wi'th both of them, CV,,.f,._._~,,_gcn,_,p, ' e- eo,··'.....__ ..., .,...adop t, ..':_' p_ .
Of, .,., ' ., .. , "

The first point to support this is that the government can increase intervention, including launching
anti-crime public campaigns, enforcing new laws, and providing education" A civilised society is

characte-ri8,edby a high literacy rate and a low crime rate" The negative relationship between these two
parameters implies that one will be away from a life of crime jfgiven the access to education. Another

method relies on theco.rnbination of imposing tougher laws and training a. more effective police force,
Not only does it penalise those offenders but it also deters prospective

criminals .. Moreover, the

government can capitalise

POt" .,

OJ)

the mass media throughout the country to alert the public to the threat of

crime and teach citizens self-defence techniques.

individual citizens" many crimes can be nipped in tile bud, ifthey keep vtgilant at crimes. and

are brave enough to fight back. It is particularly true in cases where burglars break into houses without an, alarm system, and. shoplifters target those shops that are not under the surveillance of security
camera, In simple terms, it is people's negligence that causes them to fall prey to the criminals, On

other occasions, criminals are pampered by people'scow.ardice.

If they possessed courage: to chase

criminals or at least report to the police on a crime, there would 'be fewer victims.

To "tackle crime, as indicate-d above, requires the commitment of nearly all members of society,
from the. government to ordinary citizens, Although there might not be: a great deal one can do to

prevent crimes from occuring, it is not entirely helpless. Solutions exist somewhere always, but wait to
be found. and practiced,

1. fuel =increase=invigorate=stimulate: 3., victimisarion=persecutlon: 4.comhatFfight==strtlgg]ew.iili: ,6. characterise=typify:

1Jt~,
~

~M)J

200 position =stance=attitude=opinion=view:

'*, j:_Ji&
FJ=--·f.t.of
1{

it,~ , 1~~
~ ...

,+~
'8

5. side with=agree with=support=be in sb,

"*-JJ[' - ·b~·#~
rf1 j::,\J ~~ /f>:"

camp: i_ # ~A, ;fp ~A{t

7.., parameter- --, 0r:. fact. . -- . ...-

8.combination-rnixture:

*~j~~
.~;M!,. '?J-5(~

9,. tough=strict=rigid=stringent:

,~I'lit j~,

1(),. crimes in the bud: I~ J1:.~~ nip,

] 1.,vtgilant=watchful=wary=alert= 12. pamper-spoil: ~~

r lfi a~
'.?f"~ *~

T' ~~

cautious=attentive:

] 3. cowardiee=spinelessr-ess:

jt-k'I' ~ J§l ..] ...

Toplc 71: Therear,e' more and more effe,ctive .sec:urity measures in. large cltles to f{educe the c:riiime.Does this endeavour bring mare benafltl tha,n Iproblems?
In these years, the society has seen rapid proliferation

of different measures aiming to prevent

l11Y

viotimisation, It is followed by a prO'tr-ac,ted debate over its positive and negative impacts, In
opinion, it is a reflection of the inf/ttted fear' of crime, but not of actual levels of crime ..

To a larger or lesser extent, the increased presence of anti-crime devices fuels the fear of crime

and!has a devllStating effect on people's quality of life, Crimes are concentrated in particular areas, but

the fear of crime spreads across the whole community and affects nearly every resident. The most anncying aspect of this trend is that people's freedom is curtailed (far example, using the stairway of a
building less frequently due to the alarm installed there ) and sometimes, people's privacy is invaded
(due to the concealed surveillance camerasin offices )..There is little, if a.l1y~ evidence that the threat
people perceive bas a rea] life counterpart. On the other hand, although some measures are: said to deter or stop crime, they too often produce

opposite outcomes. Forexample,

lighting in a dark area may reduce fear but also enable criminals to

see their targets more easily, leading to a high probability of attacks .. The benefits of self~pr()te().tri~·e

111eaSLU'es such as gun ownership and martial arts training are doubtful because nooody eml_aycith
certainty that the net effect is to decrease harm .. Most personal defensive devices are either too difficult ,

to use

QI

less effective than expected, Citizens will be less

jn-door

Crime reduction and crime prevention also rely on other approaches rather than on security measures, Criminals choose their targets based on tune and. whereabouts.
for carrying chemical survaillence agents for self-defense. Many mansions

vulnerable to victimisation if they bypass- those places where crimes fr-equently occur. There is no need
are armed with expensive

systems, but issuing passes to occupants and tenants and preventing easy access to the

building is , more ,e:ff~ctive and economical, In the inner city.where crimes are epidemic, eliminating (he

dilapidated buildings used by criminals for hiding or selecting a target is more: useful than requiring all
shops and residents nearby to install expensive security system. The central part of crime prevention is
alteringihe

environment, by which the root causes or at leastthe facilitators of crime can be eliminated.

As suggested above, it is difficult to measure the effectiveness of anti-crime equipment and users

should examine it regularly, The crime prevention framework should focus on lna](in,g' 'the envircnment
safe
frOID

crime.ireducing

the potential for crime in high-risk situations and halting 'the possibility of

future crime.
r

ilI~i~J~

"

1., protracr=prolong.

sf

"*~ *
;!Ill

2. inflated=increased=escalating:
,4

J:1t~

, ;~iJlJ~
~,:1"

3" devastating=destructive- 'hannful =damagmg=dreadral: .«·i+jtt ~~, ~'~' 'trb

curtail=Iimit -[estrict=restrain=inh..ibi:~curb=reduce: ,It ~J , 5. self-protective=self-defeosive:

r~Jl ir{1,

'~.~ JW J1 il'fJ

6. halt=stop=freeze: fA,J1.., 1f J1:

1"apic 72: Wi'th 'the agel ngal sooiety, we are now begl~nnfng'to see a G.tr-owin:g -in:terest iiin ·:f·lJrt[h1e':r ,abollis'hm,ent of n1ah,datcry relilremlenl. D'oyou 'thirnk th,at mari:dafciry
I I I

.•

,fEe,'ti,f,e!me'nl: obsolete or sheu Id be, s,U!stab,ecf? is

I.

.' ,

Mandatory
e"

retirement is

at

prominent Issue raised by the continued expansion

PIJ't'tli1(JX

of the aged

'0, ;lati -.. •• nr people should be forced out of employn lent because of aa e is set ppu_lon._uo_l The notio n .thatthe older p J ,.... .. _ ~ to become obsolete. However, the is that a fixed retirement age is still being widely adopted
by many employers as usual" either overtly or impliedly. My opinion is that the ways people look at

older people as a section of the workforce should be subject to 1Ilo'dijictltioll1 in a world where the growth of the ageing population is a clear trend. Due to improved diet, higher incomesandmedical advances, people nowadays'Iive
ongoing increase in the .life expectancy leads to the subsequent extension of working lives. It comes as

no surprise that productivity and intellectual ability of workers would. remain the same as they approach
,a,ge 65alld iu the years beyond. Meanwhile, older employees have a wealth of experience and specialised knowledge they have obtained throughout their decades-long wcrking lives. AJ] stand them

in good stead, despite their slightly reduced physical abilities. The age prejudice is,therefore unjustified,
causing businesses to lose a major source of expert personnel

Another disadvantage of mandatory retirement is the difficulty in finding qualified replacements

for senior employees who have retired. Contrary, to popular belief senior employees are unlikely to of staff training of an.

impede promoting
organisation,

young employees.

Instead, they ensure {be consistency

Many senior employees are willing to stay on the junior jobs and. earn less when they of youngeremployees'

reach retirement age. Besides, their leadership is essential to the improvement

skills, With senior employees, a corporation guarantees the diversity of perspectives and minimises 'the

risk of relying on impetuous decisions made by young~ inexperienced

Despite those justifications

employees.

for longer working lives, working in later life might not be align,ed

w'it}z the interest of all older people. For blue-collar workers. fheircboice
being able to work" the majority of senior people prefer retirement, societyin later life. For this retirement should bemade

is. very limited. They are

either forced out because of ill health or tired of working days and nights. In many instances, despite or at least working shorter hours. Income has failed to be an effective incentive, compared to being part of society and contributing to the
r,eaSOTI;.

a voluntary option to the senior .

. ased on the above-mentioned B

arguments, one can conclude that the changing demographies

have
in

lent support to raising the age; of retirement or just abolishing mandatory retirement, It is in line with. the

extended life expectancy

and in employers' favour, although it is up to older people themselves

deciding whether to retire: or not.

fTtt>! i,fi]

1. paradox=contradi ctory aspect: ~

2. modifica tion ..... adjustment

1W
C.t~,
-ift]~.

-adaptation=alteratioa:

3. life expectancy=lifespan:
4. impede=obstruct=hinder

~.4r
hamper=hold back: ImJl.

5, impenious=impulsive=reckless beedles.s:~t ¥:IJ 6. aligned with=in line with: :f"'p ... ~ it

a~

Top,jo·.!.73: In many countries:". th~;-prop'Qrtlon ,g·fGdder- pe.mple Js ilnc:f,eas.lng, steadjfy~ D;o.·~(:ou:th_in~{"_i.tija·!.'~· pO~$iti,v.e·orn:egativs chs,nge.,t,Q the soc:iety?
In many countries, the trends toward fewer children and more senior citizens are proceeding at an

accelerated pace. A long and healthy old age was previously a cause for celebration, but now viewed as "burden on society" As far u.o '1 see l ..... Lu,· th problems CI w·· ']'11 ,eli .. ,,", _IJ~" .... g:.n ageing 'p_· V!:" , .. ,U'lI_ are s hat 1_' '_ ...... ..... pulation .iu 131""', _~ ."' 1 arise from
,!;I !y.'__ -'j.J, . ,
iI.]!"

J:.

_'

•.

(}

(·U~

..j:',ao .....

LIoL •.

'Q,l,./~,...

,i;.',)_',,,

un-founded. People tend to believe that the ageing of a. society leads to slower growth of population size and to a shrinking workforce. The dominant way of looking .at an older society ha.s~ been to see this as. a
problenr+an increasing burden on the working populatio-n. The fact IS 'that as the number of young

people falls, organisations will find it harder to recruit from their traditional pool of sehool-leavers and
graduates, To tackle this problem, an increasing number of sectors and companies are now desperate to keep their highly experienced crisis of labour, older workers. Therefore, an ageing population will by no means

constitute a problem because older people should work at or beyond retirement age.. Nor will it lead to a Another widespread worry is the sufficiency of'wealth available in society
population, Paradoxically, when people are concerned
to

sustain the retired

on the retired

about the public expenditure

population, they have ignored private transfer'S oftime and money from the old generation to the young
one, It is important to note, that parents' cemingcapacity
.' . __ .,

grows nowadays because of having fewer

...
_I~
.r;

children The total time they spend can"--a for dep on "'no idents w'V drops wl. '~h'e:' are thus r.e,1'.ease... ii.·· .. and y~..."e . "".' . vets "~-·d,··' .or
I.
... _._ . . . \;.i_ \;.i
r' '. ._. _.. __ ._

[I.....

""',

D~

11,;...

productive work. When they reach retirement age, they are in achieve a comfortable retirement,

stronger position, with better financial

security. In later years their children should receive an ,adequateinheritan,cB, assisting them in turn to
In addition to estab lishing a solid financial base for families, older people also have time to' offer
for other benefits of family and those of the community. Healthy and energetic, they are the 'backbone' ofvoluntary services. Voluntary services are notw,oTthle.ss just because they are unpaid. Seniorworkes
c

n nrovid ami ies '. tan '. lsati .omoute or can pro V! .e 111'-,.'. or vo 1untary orgamsa Ions \\'ith_.' gat, _c. Dun rug" computer .'..... 0iner"1 n'niSCiTI· ftee.'l .'. Ie al a"c mti s or. .'. As suggested above, the fear that people will suffer
frOITI.

the "burden' of too many elderly people

is unreasonable .. Any Issue that arises from having a larger, older and healthier elderly population should not be viewed as a, challenge for the century to come, because improving health and increased
life expectancy mean that today's older population is able 10 lead a. fuller life than any generation before

them.

[i!I)!. ifil~ 'I

1.unfoUllded~groundless=tenuous:
§J;;:f: {iJt!p b~
~t

2.. dommam= leading=main=maj

4. release=free=Iiberate:

prevailing: ~ j_~ 1 desperate to=anxious to-eager to=keen to: .~1m.

01

J;

it.~ $d11i ~

M-.& ilJk
:i..lJ
"

5. inheritance=legacy=heritage:

6.. backbone main partj:,*~J.g~1-t,

7. worthless=of no value=valneless=nseless:

~t'1t1jL'iiJ ~

..

'Topic 74:: Cunrently more and more' people, r·els'pect, elders and beco:me convinced 'that older. peop':lft ~ shnu .,'.. Ihl ·w·i~I·:h- '.. a.... -I Ue;'~ 'W"h" ~ic.·:h ;ie ln ·c-.. n't<ra-1"':,1,' '1'· . th,',' ... '.th at, 'I:h,e~ .~Irf-~m, .' _ iOI, _ ' I o· ~ e , I,ew .". ., _, _ _ I'd· ,.,,.....,.,~....._ I . ~· .- a, 0 V ,.
A 1.0

olde'[rpeople should Uve'at a nurslnq home ..What 'is your oplnlon?

in_denying that managing this fundamentalsooial

The .fwelling" of the aged population is all inescapable trend in many countries, There is 1110 point

change is an unprecedented

challenge,

such as,

presenting suitable housing and care options to the elderly people. As towhether a nursing home suits the elderly better than 'their own homes (where they can stay 'with their farniliea), my view is that it is a decision that vades according to personal needs and characters. It is true that nowadays, many older persons are able to stay active in. their old age because of medical advances, healthier lifestyles and anti-ageing technologies .. It 'is time that people .,.e·thou;ght the

perceptions

of what it means
;1lifetime

'~O

be' old. Many retired people feel the need to contribute

'[0'

to the
ill

communityafter

of service

businesses, and their families ..They love to be involved

all

sons of activities and enj oy being included. in groups, Considering

independence and be part ofsociety,

their desire 'ta, maintain their

if they do not have at decent quality of life, they will feel exeiuded

For this, reason, the retirement home is nota prefered option ..

Families and friends are the key to a happy old age. Elders can enjoy the company ofthe peers of

the; same age in a nursing

h01116

but meanwhile, suffer a loss of family life. Living away from their
The lil,lgeril:lg stereotype of the family member should be scraped now. Older members are following their retirement, Their sense of well-

families, older people are more prone to the feeling of loneliness.

average senior citizen

~18

a.lredl Ellldpass.iv'I

capable of J~/t(),ulderi'lg more family responsibilities Despite the strong preference

being is linked to the extent to which they are involved in family duties.
among the elderly for staying withtheir families, a nursing home In addition to offering the service to old takento a nursing home provides professionalcare functions well to help those who do not have the company of their families access to social activity and engagement,

people" most of WhOlD arenot capable of caring and cooking for themselves. Forthosewhoare and medica] specialists. As suggested above, considering

hospital frequently for treatment, the rest home is particularly a good choice, as there are many health the fact that nowadays, manyelderly people are able to remain

healthy and active, they should be given the chances to participatein serious problem, Sb01111d. a nursing horne betaken into consideration .. r ili5Zi,m~ _' 1, swelling=growing=expanding:
''''___-~'

social and family activities as, wen

as pursuing hobbies and other imeresrs. Only when their ill health or emotional well-being becomes a

1:k,

~~.j*MJ.~~'~, ~t~.i.. ~!'J

2. iuescapabJe=una. voidable=inevitable:
3. rethink- reassess--re ... evaluate: 5,.. company=accompany:

;f~:mt5t ao;] 'f: fiT 1lt'J:-, 1t~ ~t ~

4 .. excluded=expelled=isolateo=insulared.

,~1~f

6. lingering=Ias·tingFendurin8~)ers,isbeI1t ~ fi' 7.. frail weak=fragile=feeb le: ll.§~ 'tf!J'" ,wt JPit-].
8. passive=inert=inactive: 9. shoulder=bear; i&.~.ll~, ~ ffi~ h~

~.*~' ,'#3t.

·~tcr

,~A~ ~ if;. ~

'Top'ic75,: In
people

many coumrtes, woni!e:n 'jOiln ih,e' :army as, men do. However', arg:,ue that the arnl':y .s,olle'ly needs mahisii' What i·s your o.p'iitdOri?
~
,

some

Stepping into the 21st century.women army is still a male-dominated

have set foot in nearly every walk of life. However, the

area in much of the world. A great many people hold bias against

women'senrolment

in the .army, Inmy view, females can contribute to the army just as males do,
ITIOre

despite some of their shortcomings,

The first standpoint to conscribe females is that they now have

,
,

chances ,to receive education.

In comparison with the past where the army recruitment policies focused on strength and fitness, the

current focus is on academic ability, Physical fighting, either armed or unarmed, no longer features in
modern warfare. It has been replaced by battles between tanks, armours which are computerised. missiles or warplanes.most

of

In other words, females em perform military tasks as their 111aJe counterparts

do, provided that they arewell-educated and well-trained,

Secondly,
consideration
WOl11en

have inborn merits that stand them in goad stead,. Females are less likely to
of females in army hospitals or logistics

commit faults, for they are accustomed to dealing with matters with accuracy and caution. Patience and
of others account for the high presence

departmenrs, Other impressive personalitytraits

include their endurance of hardships, especially

,grue,lling conditions, and.theirtenderness, a character required in the caringprofession in the army, Notwithstanding their strengths, females have SOl11.eimitations 'they may needto overcome, The I
first obstacle is the social attitudes, Females have to cope with the pressure exerted by their families,
acquemtnnces, or friends, as serving the army is widely seen as a deadly job, which is exclusively for

males, The second obstacle is sexual discrimination and. harassment, which seems common in most

armies and can discourage females from serving their countries. III conclusion, r~m~des'pl'es'ence
performance
C~Ul he

ill the army should be approved and encouraged.

Their

guaranteed "by their innate strengths, despit.e the fact that they might 'have to ,cope

with prejudices and other external disturbances ..

] .. bias prejudice=preconceived notion: 1A:Jt,

2,,,

conscribe=enlist

enrol:

.fJl. ~ A 1&,

3, stand sb. in good stead=advantage :sh.:: jot···, ~jf:]J

4. gruelling=barsh=tough-d.ifflcult=severe=arduous:

..~~:;t' ~. ~

T'o'Pic 7'6;::'G,I!l'nder' imbalance has long been a genleral ph,eno,m,enon not olnly ln the
,

labour' ma,rket: but also in,' formal educ:aiion!!So'me analyst's ,HlrglUe that it Is im-'Ip.ossible' to elli ----..- If.! lt1e un derp .'r··,s··e'n·t·~·~·I·.O· A·f· 'W':- - .",'e~ :-~ ~CI GIl_ubu'l c~ ,......, I;h, ,e ". .... In ,m- ~ 's·.·· ",e-,' .In. .. ~,+.a l-- - -.......... --.- m'i:na~ -.. -_v v . - oil . in; u . am n
.I!!.'.~

university'l! Do you ag:ree or d'isagree?

Althougbgender equality is widely promoted at
1110den1

colleges"

females

are still

underrepresented in some subjects. Some people tend to treat it as a persistent problem, believing that the root ofthis problem is UD't in the university, but should be seen in a 'wider context, This conclusion ,

is cursory and should be reviewed in today's society.

The first point to note is that females have made a lot of inroads into fields that have been

traditionally dominated by men. To serve in the armywas, for instance, the exclusive right of males, but today, ITIOrewomen have been enlisted, Manywould consider the army as the "most ideally "men only'

profession .. If females can. make a success of it, they can succeed in every other field, The asce.ndancy
of woman has been seen in the surge in their prominentpositions in society and in the traditional blue

collar business world. Women should not be considered unqualified or incapable of any university subject. Universities that provide a gender-ftdrenvironment see benefits for both students and faculty.
there is Historically, the gender imbalance at colleges has isolated students from the real world.where

a high chance of dealing with females rather than just males. The tension orconflictbetween

the sex in

the university environment only allows students to exercise their ability to work with peers of the

opposite sex. Faculty gets. the chance to address the problem of gender inequality and discrimination,
which has characterised campuses for decades ..This results in a better learning environment" and thus a

betterthought of university ..
Despite what has been discussed]. it should be admitted that to put gender equality into practice is a

complex task. There are; a number ofh,urdles a female applicant has to overcome in the pursuit of
academic obj ectives, and. the first is from family. Traditional families often feel reluctant to support

their daughters' quest/or higher education. The idea that university is mainly for men to learn a trade to
support their wives and family remains prevalent, The women's role is being defined as supporting their husband through performing menial tasks of life.
[0

conclusion, achieving a gender balance in the university is nolonger an unachievable aim at tile

present time, While the competence of women bas widely been recognised by their male colleagues in
a wide range of occupations, the balance between men and worn. en in an academic environment is deemed as a necessity, Although problems snell as gender prejudice and /avor4rilism continue to

prevent women's fill] participation in some subj~cts, '~1(Seproblems are losing their leverage,
,--

-_._---..,

;k:."y Ih!..!: ,~, . RJ4"X

"'---. ;

i~ ~

I
_'..

1 ,.

persistent lasting=constant perm - nen t: .:~ *st: A..f. .' .... _.. .... . __..Jill .. ~"i;r~.t.I''.,I,
=

7:Y';t # 'J"'~ j:f''J .

2. curs ory=sup erficial:

4tootriJ , ~ ~ ~ lF1t~ 1¥J', ~ 4f €FJ

.~~~Uij.,

3., make some inroads into: Jj~ ....

4. exclusive=absolute=sole: 5. ascendancy=doluinanc·e=superiority;1IG 1j,\ " it~?;~ 1.rl:.

6. unqualifled=incempeienr=unprofessional; 7~incapab1.~neptqncompetent~owerless:
9. imbalance-inequity=inequaHty: -4C!~"f?1f,

~m..f1-1¥:r'

~5 '~'9

8.. historically=in the past=in history=traditionally=in times gone by: Pi :Jt.k, {f.~;Alit·

::.r::f""~
[II~,,~ fj.>~i-

1o. hut~dle==obstaa]e=-batT]er=irnpedhnellt=problem"-difficuT1y:
11. quest tOr. pursuit of 12~trade=skill=crafbff

il*
it, lf~~t, .-}. ~

13.lnellial=tediolls=un&kiHed:

,5f-,~.~,

#~~l!

£a~ta~

14. favouritiam=prcfbrcncc-discrimination:

.tli.~:t,f1fij*'

TOplc 77'~, TI1.rO~gt1~\Ett"~·,.'li~$tOIY'", male-ltQd~r•·;of,ten ma~cJetb,eHsQt:jely m!Qrer v,igl,'ent . , andl,."DOalli.ctiln$J·"'il'f.w'o.ITU!Ii1I,.gove:r.n.ed the :wo:~ld,h~ wo(ld' wQuld.:be,mo·~~:efaoe~ul.'10 t A
.
,

It is always interesting to notice that mostof situation is becomingmore with women takingmore high-ranking

govemment leaders around the world are male. 'This

acute as gender roles have changed dramatically over the lastcenmry->

positions in the corporate world, An issue people are openly

debating is whether women, if taking office as world leaders" cap. bring a more .peacefulworld,

In lUY

opinion.vany

judgement

about the; direct link between government

policies and the gender of the

government leader

IS premature.

It is first important to correct a. common misconception

that B. leader's decision is determined very

of'a country ..Admitt~dly, la..rl. (lutoCI:OI;8_

often b: his.o~her natural disPositi~l~. The truth is that a .leader formulates a p_olicy mostly accoli~

to public opinicnsanc makes a, decision as the representative

in his tory were rneanw hile lel"tpt!rtI,nU!,'1tal'm,ale's~'llboVi'ere
general sign .. A Ieader with such personalities

.1

notorious for their V'O'[ati'le characters,

by a country during

unpredictable decrees and aggressive stance" Somehistorians have offered another explanation for this
was favoured and supported
.1:1

specific period of time and chosen by .a 'filsjorit:y of the ,{1,I'ectortllte to pursue the interest of a coumrv,
The rise of Hitler Adolf before World War II is a telling example. His attemptto German people and colonise Europe reflected more society than his own will.
Ell

establish a pure race of

common desire shared by the whole German

Another general notion that females are intrinsically

sympathetic

and IUjn,iole.tt is

a[8;0

ungrounded, PJthOIJ.g]I. ],t seems that females are generally less combative, tjl4arnzts()'lne and ambitious

than males, there are always exceptions, The path to the top of the chain of command of a country is
routinely filledwith obstacles. 'Only those with strong leadership qualities call survive power struggles requires
ICO'Itte'Ita1'lts

and reach the top position. Itmeanwhile

to show their abilities to make tough

decisions in situations." for instance, whentbeso1),e.reig,nty' of a country is under threat, A good example to support this is, the decision made by Margaret Thatcher. the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to send a naval task force to recapture the Falkland Islands and settle amilitary conflict with Argentina. It shows that a female leader should show the same There ar"I: many othe r F-\;.·a'·'~'·I-]-~'· this kand to' support .. ef!e c e c,ny u:l ..... mpe"" 0 f " x ...
.....:!...U _ .. .;;1;.

,d.tu:isiv,ene.ss
.

.as a male leader does. that a decision to start a war ou ._. __ ..

.IlO.l~V _. oJi_. '" ... ..~

'the

8J!,Q11ment ." 'iI;;;I'"" __

and choose a violent solution to problems is,not on personal grounds ..A,more satisfsctoty explanation is
that a leader makes at decision he or she considers in general interest, The relationship between gender

and peace-making is therefore remote.

r

l iff:)i( iE]~

..... J

1.. acute=critical=serious=sharpr

j" l1t~J,

2. p:remature-hasty=impulsive=tTntnne[y:
3. fOlnlula.te;"'""devis.e=prepare=invenFcreate:
4. autocrat=tyrant=dictator=absolute

-f~ a1.~ ~.i;- a~~j[ aiJ ~ $.. ir1 ~'~ !fJ.

tll.It.~.1M iT
.14f
$I. 57
• .IJ.Jt!lk.., J"~~~

~.Jt~

ruler: ;it ~
··c··

5.. temperamental U.~u~L """','. " ....

Ji.Q,

='Illo·I":J,~lII-r.II':::=1]]· . ", '!.-iltl,,,,", I,

oodv=unored ictable: UJ '-.J!:"'

·.V

*,~ ...
~:;t., .. 'f'ft

~"ah ~. _.a ~:&.. 4t".# ~."J .I'Ll rr.f"~J

0'
~'I:;l;.

'II'~

6. notorious=~nfatnous=disho'Domable=disIDeputable:

.~.;g B~ ;f.if]:~ ~ ~ l&,~ia'tr

7,. volatillf~~unstab,~e~npredictable~fickle~ca.pricious:
8. decree=order=ruling9.. eleckirate-voter-voting verdict: Jlt ~ public:

,ti* ~ :It a~l

l!.~
~1~

1O. 0.011. violent=peace ful=dip lomatic: I 2. conte stant=competitor=con

14. recapture=reseize=reguin:

J..j;

-€FJ

,t/} ij' ~<)

grouchy: *f?-i~~T~J , ~T_lJ- mU

11,. quarrelsome=al'gumenta,tive==hot-tenlpered
tend er=ri val:
13. sovereignty= autonomy=independence:

:it ~

.i..~J...

yl{r it1~
...... authority:

15.,decisiv en ess=determination=resolve

de [~ :h.~ I.k ,F';;_:

] 6..remote=distant: i!~ fJtl " '{la;1'~~j~ ,

Topic 78:D'i:s.c~csls the aldva~ntlges andi dlsadvant:a,ige,s;,

P-a-il1li"'ip--a~tin,g'~_'1._!_"_~ -_"'_"'- __ __.,-. '

01:

playing sp,onsand
tOOO.),"8

in'" p-·--h·

. __ I I,:=-' _", _ Ell "

'y'

'-'So

-~I-,-c§I·8X-··.:lIc-Ja.I!!!l!i!i' ~_. Q~I .. I!LDULD'liili

Sport and recreational phy:s,icala,ctivi,ty is, an integral part: of the society BspeciaUy in
society, where people have a. growing concern about health, participation in recreational

physical

activity has been strongly promoted as part ofa healthy ]ifestyle.1Nhat will be discussed below are the benefits of physical exercise, and some issues participants should pay attention to when increasing the level of physical activity. One IOf the main benefits associated with regular exercise isthe development _ ~~

l- _......

of 8. healthy lifestyle,

There isevidenee
incorporate
experiencing unbalanced

that people can enjoy a longer life expecrancy by adapting their daily Jives: to
functions", such as boosting the immune system, burning fat, reducing the risk of

physical activity. There: are many reasons J60r this. For example, spang, perform a wide major illnesses (e. g. " heart disease, diabetes}. In a society where physical inactivity, diet, stress and other problems are becoming

range oflife-enhancing

increasingly serious, playing sports has

significant implications to the well ... being of the generalpopulation,

Another major benefit achieved from regular activity is the enhancement of social life, Combined with
a, balanced diet, sports, such as jogging, cycling or swimming,

enable people to maintain a healthy

weight, keep in shape" thereby boosting confidence on social occasions. In addition, sports and regular physical activities provide opportunities for social interactionS,For example, team sports" such as
soccer, rugby and, basketball, allow participants life. When physical exercise is highly reconanended, it should be planned and jnanaged well, and. Excessive physical exercise, for example, puts participants at the risk. of 'injury, It is commonplace

to meet new teammates, regularly and improve social

hazardous that SOIDle people take up long duration and high intensity

exercise despite lack of stall dna.

should
...., ..... _ ~

Although these potential risks are not to negate'the benefits of physical activity, participants

ak t a. e

'", .' . tions n d pI recar lb, vl1bJ. 'a' ,11

fo.•-ow thl~ ll W ~

U.I._.

h.,

struicti on

C! i:I

0" f -~

sports v_
.

'p' -

. rofession __ l!~b1I. __

al ~~ tainers s

[;l!

QJ._

~'~'1" d

ceac··b.·: hi general •. .>S' -. e

_'-" __ .. _, ,._

participants are advised to start gently and 'then increase the: fre que llCy' of the activity until they

CC1lD.

stick to it as an everyday routine.

As, shown above, there are a large number of benefits obtainable promoting nevertheless health, preventing illness and boosting self-esteem, in regular exercise, such as

Sports and recreational injuries. are

a common problem, which deserves people's attention" It can be avoided by increasing

activity gradually to a desired level, instead of starting from intense training,

,,--

ilISt.. iii] ~
I~

1.. ,inactiv[~idlleness~lug-gishness~ind()lence~obBity::.

~Hr~ ;r:. f:iii-;b.

2.. stamina=strength=f physical or mental) energy=vigour: ~:!J .3. negate=cancel out=counteracr=reverse:

4. stick to=fellow=abide ~~.3~

by: ~;Jf

Top' lc 79: 8om.e IP···~·eap·~le believe, thai na.tionals1norts teams~~ and ·',~~,dc:-:I ua a~1 .' ~ --~--~-~-,~,--~~-, ~~,~-~ .. ~~_- ~-~~ g __ ~nv.. ·-··i-:d:,-~I -: tL...k,t < ne~,es
l

who represent ·theiilr country

.

should be 'f:inan·cially
,

supported by the governme:nt.

gr,altps (eOj ,~ g

Some, peoplethink

that they should be funded by non-government

What is you!r opi'n.ion?

busiiness,. spcnscrshlp).

In recent years. one of theclearest trends in sports is that more and more corporations have come
into play, Itis a subject of discussion whether private financing should be accepted by the government

to a larger extent and. even the state ,call concede its control over naticnal sports teams to private
ownership.
[amy opinion,

the' involvement

of entrepreneurs is essentia, and can be deemed

as a the

cO'I,,:p'l:e'n~'.nt to government administration. there are manyreasons why the private sector should play a more active role ill sports.First
athletes, administrative costs, and so forth. By organising competitions
Of'

government alone cannot afford the expenditure involved in the sports industry, such as salaries of
efficiently and economically,

enh£tDJ'crng athletesmarket values, seeking out aponsora take part in this industry is attributable to manyinceutives.

pa~ons.~the private sector not: only raises

necessary financing but also. maximises the retur« of the sports industry. A. business's willmgingness to

For example, it would help create animage

which is, associated with enthusiasm, energy and passion and can be turned into enormous, inc om e..

MeaIlwbim,e itcontributes
nutritionand

a lotto its solid position in soc'~etyj as well asgood reputation.

Meanwhile, as SPOlJ1ts, havegrown

more

competitive,

'the need for better equipment, facilities,

training methods has become urgent. Athletes should have well-developed phJ!f,iques~ ranging from nutrition to the treatment of injuries, 'They

which can be obtained only through extensive physical training and strict exercise .. Private sponsors have expertise in different areas of technology lives. Besideaas
are able totrain athletes scientifically and effectively, reduce the risk of iniuriesand extend their career

private: sponsors ate more financially capable of providing awards, bonus and other on the
't

financial "incentives to motivate athletes, their involvement is crucial to athletes' performance

p laY',i','r.gji,eld ..

The: role of the private sector is tberefore indispensable, but it is not to say that the

should 4i'p"'I" to se,eking spcnsorship and. performingmany

. itself of intervening in the sports industry. Although the p,dvate sector is surely committed
fund-raising j obs, it is pr;ofit~oldented and therefore, very 'teams; are branded, marketed and

\,:~

likely to make a decision ignorant of the interests of athletes.National

sokl as entertainment products, while' the value of national pride and ethnical dignity is overlooked. It 1S
also very likely that private investors are only interested in those sports with h:~ghmedia exposure,

rest ltins i .~enuu"an .... develonment of, ~ .. ~. Fe•• d... r e8U_w.~g1D. unbalanced uv~ oplnen ... sports .u;, is e
the .. ~.'

'r~OSOl1 1.o'l<~_ ~_,.~

the Q'Dv'erin'rnent should retain the

~ _ _ .JlJ"... .... . ... " ..

major ownership of the sports.

In conctuslon, the sports world is in need of flnancial supportand
sector.

"the assistance of the private

While providing: financial resources, goods and services, business investors can obtain

communicative and commercial benefits.. By giving the green light to private financing, the
government is more likely to advance the overall development of sports,

:m)(i.i]~

I
_t_,':fl, -iJ:W

1_ concede=give iugiv1e up::::gtan~forieit= i1:.~) 2. entrepreneur=businessman=merchant:

3,. complement=supplement:

4• p~- .. . .'~ ..... 'jQ~.. A atron=sponson -~ ..

.!'~~.A
,.,:'11-.'.' '~."J~

*1~i£.

~,~~,!

!t.~A~ lSfA

5. renlim.=eamingprofit==revenuegain:

~1tA type': i~;f!3., 1:f.;Tj

6. physique='figur~bod~forln~hape--body
8. divest=rid=deprivec ~Mr'·;;H idrtilf 1:f:,
9~ unbelanced=unequal=unevenr

7. playing field=sports ground=arena; jf:.;ft~J;.;e.i!h 1M

;J~.tr
-t:fflt ttJ
JL ~f

F ft.1 '~'i¥J , ~

10..give the green light=permit; ~" ..... :1t~*T,

To'pic 8lDi:D'Qlyau t:hi,lnlk th,st 'iin'ternatiiD,nalsporis

W'QUilld

events Uke' the, O'I,Ylmip:i:c G:ames

glooal audiences with displaying

C1oint:ilnue! or gl~a,djrua~liy'Ilo.,e'lhe,j:r ,mo,me:nilum,?

The Olympics, known as the world's largest event, appealto

rivalry, and. high level of competition are the striking attractions of'the Olympic Games, When many people are concernedabout the forces that drive , athletic skills and competitive spirit, Pageantry.keen
this event forward, there are fears about iheir sustainability, In my opiniouthe
carried by relay runners on and on and would never be ,exu;'nguislted.,

'Olympic torchwill be
young

Reasons why the Olympics would continue are many ..First, people, especially

males,

are

in

need of some form of outlet for their energy and emotion related, with sports. The OI~Y111pics:, as well as W.· '1 ts.jne id th M1l..."]1 ~.'..'. I' d otner mtemanonat sports events, are t. eat~r.:ror ',. em Iv eanwnue, leisure actrvrnes are vamerd.. to_iay,as
r

economic conditions continue to improve .. As part of the growing leisure industries" sport and. sporting

contests will become increasingly important, Moreover, the Olympics are ofcommercial values and of
broad interest to mass media orgsnisatiocs, advertisers, sponsors and' business managers .. Because of

those business opportunities, cities will not' cease to compete to host sporting events. Needless to say,
they can thus achieve or maintain world class status. Apart from. those tangible benefits.fhe SL1'iC:t political requirements Olympics, possess other values. For example.jhe Olympics allow nearly all nations in the world tocompetein

the event rather than require any of them to meet .the'

set 'by oilier worldwide o rganisations , such as, the United Nations en
,

s·o",(J'rt'l,iglltJ,. The P"OHrilC~,8l1, social and. economic conflicts between countries and regionsare
in the face of Olympic spirit, A udiences
8f\6 S'D engrDssed

disregarded

.6" the gr,ace~endurance andjori.m;ule shown

by athletes that they pay little attention to their nations of origin, cultural and language differences. Despite those elements in favour of sustainmg this international event, the Olympics are 19J:Cin.g
many challenges today. TIlle expenditures industrialised countries are capable are one of the biggest. 80 many services and facilities are

required for serving athletes, media and spectators .of and jnterested

that up to present" only those cities from

in hosting such events. The Olympics

are

meanwhile the hotbed of varicus scandals .. Te',,~ptBtlby tbe prospect of large financial rewards-many athletes take proscribed performance-enhancing Olympics,
.

drugs, a stain on the sportsmanship

nursued b~ tire
on·!

Critics also view international

SPOtting events as, a substitute for war. rittlalisin ._.

CUl, ~

jo,rmlaiis,ingthe contliets between c:ountries,;Whaf'smore:,~'llie 'Games draw criticism for elnb'r.ac.inf

commercialism. The Olympic torch, fom'; example, an important symbol of the Olympics, has, been used

popularly in the connnodity market

As shown above, humankind's passion for competing in andwatching

gaInes., the special appeals

of the Olympic Games, and ecenomic and non-economic benefits brought to the host city all make' the.
immediate demise of the gaules unlikely, However, in the pursuit of those high ideals, the Olympics are

meanwhile at the risk. of being the instruments of'commerclalism andnationalism,

il[.ll i~l
--

*
-

I" extinguish=put

out=quench:

~I~'.x, ~ ~ 3{,
,.·;Jt.*it~

2,,. host provide facilities

fo,r:£ ;jJ;, ~!f.l

3··. sovereignty=auronomy=independeuce:

.i.~51.~~ it tl

j:_

4. engrossed by=occupied by=absorbed in=immersed in:' 1:~~1t~:t a~, 5.. fClrtit'llde=d.e·benl1mation~courage~,-s:trengtb:~i!l,

~'~.

st~~t.!l~l ~

6.. spectator viewer=observer=watcher=audience:

7" tempt=lure=entiee=aatract: ~.¥] ~ ~'11~ 8. proscribed -banned prohibited=forbidden:

st,J.t~"

;tjtJi):

~J1:. €fJ

'9. ritualise=rnake sth..a ritual: ~ i{.1~, -1M.J\ 1C

10. formaliae=make sth. formal: iE.~1t

n, embrace=accept

adopt: *=,11.:[, ~i-Jj: .?t i:

!i

12. demise=termination=death:

1:.t JJ:.

'T'o~p'ic.,8'1,: Wearing 'unito,nm,s ~,Sl POiPul,.r' 'in schoQIs,,- brut ;SQIPU!'I p'I'Qpllle ,ar'mue Ih,at i:l: migl"~ C!I'Q'II!,dlmage tp ch Udr'sn '8 j~ndliVi'd_uallty,~ What lis·,YOIU r 'opin:.:on?
Wearing school uniforms is a no,.'n~n elementary and secondary schools in many countries.

Ahhough students are advised to follow this convention, it is, a, subject of debate whether wearing
uniforms should be made compulsory or not In w,a:rd~-obehas, nnrnereus advantages One of the must significent benefits obtaining from a uniform is that it eliminates economie
inefl,flalwB'sand
lOY

opinion, designating and standardising studens

reduces the competition among studentsfoif showing .off stylish clothes, Parents need

not shop for expensive and varied wardrobes fartheir children, There will be less distraction at school and children wil) not strive to keep up with thefashion,

Students from low income families would Dot

feel isolated or inferior to others, while those from high income families. wouldnot become the target of

bullies., It is because all emdents look as plainas their peers, A child's education should not be damaged
"iYtheir insbiliry to affor-d stylish clothes ..Their performance at school should 'be recognised based on individual characters rather than on their economic status,

8011001 uniforms are meanwhile believed to have positive effects on discipline. Students are
discouraged from wearing make-up jewellery or trendy clothing, When children are required to 'wear

uniforms and conform to a dress c'ode, they' cDnjll'r-tJ ,Up' thoughts of order and safety. They will take
their schooling
U10re

seriously, In addition.with o'bscenfj and gang-related clothing being forbidden, the

school would find it much easier' to combat the ,gani~ decrease drug use, improve attendance and solve other discipline problems,

School uniforms are sometimes viewed as a symbol of restrictive culture and a. sigpin'Wli

detexmina .nt 0- .··f- childrern"~self-ext ress loD;, P ._ all .y supp ressing , students' individuality .. However. . ._. n .".... ~ xp .t::tl -.~.····.0··· te··'"t~
0' "
'J..lI .... lI.t.I _
_I~ .. _

",",'j;lo;

.....

__

._

...

'

.'1'

.'

.,

.. this

concern, is groundless, because uniforms can 'VaIYaccording to the season, environment and occasion. It is, not common fhat students wear different seasonal and activity uniformswithin therefore very limited on children's individuality,
As; suggested above, wearing school uniforms. should be retained as a rule, not only because it
.ullifi'f!i~ students

the same classroom

during the day, After school, they can wear whatever street clothes they like ..The, impact of'uniforms is

and makes the rich and poor look alike, but also because it can instil

8)

sense of

discipline in children. The fearthat school uniforms can ruppress individuality is ungrounded,

[if!YL i~J.~J
1., norm-normal ways of behaving: 3~ wardrobe=clotbes=clethiag:

~$,11,~. ~ ~iti!itrJ.ft ,70'

~ ~~'.:it

2~ designate =choose .appoinl=spe'cify:-j!tJ.t

*Rl

4~.ine:quality=disparity=inequity.:· ~

f-~
l!h.l

5.. bully=intimidator: ~ Vf;;t, Jt:Jr~;ilt 6~ conformto=ablde by=comply with=follow:

7~ dress code rules about clothes! 8.. conjure up=recall:

-j~~

lt ~}]L·Ml· !t;t_( ~:t1.!r.r" ·if j'~/~$J ~~t Jt. j£~) ~

9~ obscene=sex-related: 115' R9lt 1& ~'9', ~ 'ft i~

1o. unify-bring together: lI-i:%'t fJiG·~ 11. suppress=stifle repress hold back: ~fp 1
1 ],

Topic 8.2:Some people think that ehltdren should learn to eempete, but others thin,k that theysho,uld be taught: 10 cooperate with others. What's your op,i:nlon?
.

There has been a lOotof debate among educators about whether students should work together
(knO\VD as cooperative learning) or individually
and personal achievement

(known. as competi-tive learning). While the former

model of learning encourages collabor.aiioll between students" the latter seems te value individualism
In my opinion; cooperative learning is more favourable; despite some of its
towards a common goal.A~

drawbacks.
Cooperative learning occurs when students work collaboratively

student's achievements are posinvelycorrelated with those of his or her peers in the group. Students
work together in small clusters or groups and thus ha ve a [e·~ling,of connection with oilier members of

the group as they accomplish a common goal. Not only can it enhance the sense ofteamwork among students but also it enables students to exercise their communication skills, with much of their' learning
being involved in face-to-face interaction,

Another benefit of cooperative learning is allowing students to take advantage of individual

strengths and combined

efforts. Working in a group'!' each member is assigned. with a task, which

closely matches his or her strengths, expertise ard aptitudee.It will enhance efficiency and productivity,

Meanwhile, group membersmight discuss howwell they can function as a unit .throughout the process
and how effective their working relationships can be. It raises the possibility of students' malting swift

adjliStlnent from school to work when the time comes,

However, some characteristics of collaborative skit-sand intellectuallevels learning have made it inapplicable on some
.

occasions. For example, successful collaboration normally requires group dynamics, great variation in .

of group

members and a good command

of' social skills, and

SOl

forth,

Theseprerequisites can. easily ol',e,rwhelm the possible benefits that collaborative learning techniques may have, Although collaborative learning tends to favour ordinary or slow students with giving them more support, it turns out that talented, eager students might learn. little and become disenchanted over
time, This situation can

be remedied by encouraging intergroup competition,

ill groupwork.

grouping students and

allowing them. to compete in groups. It minimises the negative effect of individualism while retaining
the interest of outstanding students,

III light of the above-mentioned

.

facts, teachers should identify the best learning style for students
.

and predict its. outcomes" either destructive or constructive. In cooperative leaming, personal success

spring,s only,/rom group success, 'while in competitive learning, one learner succeedsat
other learners. Collaborative learning brings
1110re

the cost of

benefits, despite the possibility

of impeding

outstanding students' personal development, a problem which should be handled with caution.

1.)aSL liJil
1. collaboration=partnership=group effort teamwork=cooperation=alliance:

~1t, Ii) ~J...~-t1=

2. adjustment change:

?t~
.~, -bJ ~ Jf~ til) , ~,it. JfJ t1iJ

3. inapplicable=lmstlita,ble=ilnpractica1:

4. overwhelrn=overpower: Ei 'ff'~:
5. disenchanted~dissatisfied=disappoit1ted:
6. spring from-arise from=originate ~ (~~ ~.~{J,

5t~!i.. fJ' ~

~I ~

~itE4J

from=develop from=derive from:

-*.~+. ~~ T

7. with caution=with care -prudentlFsensibly: IJ'i '~i£'JJ~:tt,

Tople 83: Some people bel:ieve that' educal:ling chi Idren ,B'ltogether will beneiit them,

Others 'think inb~IHgent chUdlreri ·shOlUd be'taugh't, separateliy and given special courses. Di:scuss those two views ..

Not .surprisingly, students feel.pril'ileged when working withsomeone with exceptional abilities
even
fr01D

very early years, With the aim to produce "Ute studentaschools now endeavour to gather

children of special talents and offer them special courses. There are both advantages and disadvantages
to this educationalphilosophy.

Treating gifted children the same as, others might seriously hamper their personal development,
Imagine that a maths p'l}odigy works out solutions toa thorny and tricky problem b.riskly, it makes no sense to force him or her to follow an ordinary curriculum. depression or frustration amongst low ... achieving special class and given specialised

Some might argue that it win foster with a

students if talented students, are arranged

instruction, Many students think otherwise. Studying with high

achievers cause slow students to feel frustrated and cast doubt on their effort Feelings of worthlessness will drive them further toward lowperformance, Another advantage of grouping students is enabling them to advance a strong friendship or partnership within different groups. Som-e opponents of this strategy argue that special students suffer

socially, in a, misguided belief that studentswould

seldom talk to each other in an air of professi onal

jeaio,usy .. This stereotype has blinded people to the fact 'that students with the same backgrount knowledge are more likely to share a common topic of conversation. By exchanging, ex en_enGC aRe{
know ledge, they CH,n make quicker progress toward tb,eiI acadcmie success. Despite the significant position of special courses in education,

it is

11.01

to say that. ordinary

students should be denied the same opportunity. Treating students differently can twist a child's
perception of his or her abilities and potential, A student experiencing great difficulty ill studying
should be provided with extra support rather than. being treated as the, loser. The sense of exclusion does not inspire their performance or commitment but merely triggers their further decline ill school

record ..
In view of the arguments olltli,r.,ed above, ability grouping is of great value .. It fosters a nutritious

environment in which talented students can facilitate their learning process and easily find their pala of the same gift, However, special courses should be opell Jo any willing learner; otherwise, students will feel discriminated.

(_ ~ 1m~ iff
1. privileged=honoured=advantaged:
j.

;ff4t;fJl~ , ~;fIJ jifJ

tlr:/);"

2. exceptional=extraordin.ary=olltstandin,~itlcompar,ab[e: elite best=most talented:

itfJ, ~. W i1~

J:jf l(.J
if...

4. prodigy=genius=phenomenon:

5. briskly=rapidly=quickly.
5. jealousy=envy=resentment;

~ilJt

*'

-kJi.-!lf ".. ~Itll

~

7. exclusion--isol.~ti:onsegr'egadon=e]j,lniIlQtiol1: ~~p~..(f;1r, :JJks" 4tl~~.t

8. outline=summarise=delineate:

9. pal=peer: l6l

*, ~-f

*, ~!~:s

fiJA_

T'ap,ic '.84,:'Some Ip,eople who have been successful 'iin the society' do not aH;ribute· theilr

sUcCess

t~o the

tl1"eo~retiCajl 'k·oOWhid.ga··theY'ilearned alyniversily.· W'hiat Is' your

op;lniQ,n on the fs;ctors CO'n'lrib'uth1"g

People barbour

to o:ne's'8ch'ievement?1
of tertieryedncetion.
Although higher education

different perceptions

is

recognisedby many 'as the most important predictor of one's success, its effj~'~y has been subj~c'
long discussion. It is always interesting to note that some people do not owe : elf success te

knowledge they acquired at university

despite the great effort tbey ever made in obmlninga

qwdifiGation. In my opinion, tertiary education itself cannot guarantee one's success, and there are
rrrany other elements combined to. mould a successful role model.

Knowledge, an essential element of one's success, is normally acquired through formal education,
but it i~ 'not the only approach ..A university is home to those teaching professionals who have a firm.

grap of a given. knowledge area andean impart it to students by various techniques .. However, not all the knowledge, experience and skills can be passed on to students by teaching ..Experiences and rule«

ofthum,bare non-transferable at atraditionalclassroom. The only way to gaina mastery ofthem is the

fun participation in, a job. In ,nddition 'to, ha:nM""Io1l, skills end practical experience, characters can JorfJ,tlJ,ll' one's prospects.
Society has been. ptJ!lar.isB(J as economic and social changes make it 'more competitive. Those with

outstanding academic qualifications arenot eougln ... after asmuch as before Employers show interest in
other qualities of an, applicant,

for ex;an1.pl,e),rtesili,e.1u!'e, willpower and ad:ap'm.bi1iity. It is increasingly

believed that the most successful are normallythose who are most likely to adapt to changes in their
world. Some other qualities", suehas theability to work in a hard-working, stressful and ever-changing

environment, are viewed

their obj ectives,

shared traits of successful people.Runningtoward success is more of a marathonthan of a sprint, 'Only those persistent, .gelf~m{Jl,tivated and self..,dire'cte.d can eventually attain
There are someother factors; such as, opportunities.tbat

,ElJ~, the

playa contributing role in one's success,

but for silnplic.ity',[; std(.c." one does not need to cite all these factors to uphold the: ~fe,.tio,n that a
college degree is not the precondition

to. personal success. Practical experience, a mastery of different

skins and personality suffice to illustrate the complex nature ofpersonal achievement,

fill::£( til~ ~,
l. efflcacy-effecriveness=usefulnessrjf

~jl:t

If·~1"~i., 4Jl:~ :3. rule of thumb=a rule based on experience: ~ ,J!t~ Ji; 4. hands-on=pracrical.sa if tlJ', ~ .~~
2. g:rn~sp=understan.rung=;oompfehens.ion:~, 5.. foretell=predict=fore

cast =harbinger: '

6., polarise=sepsrate: ~.m11-·lt 7~ resilience=flexib ility=elasticity; +J.7 '~i

8~ aelf-motivated-cnergetic:

~:Rtr!J~t it~

€f)'

9~ :self:..drrected-autonom:ous=indepelldent: lO~for simplicity's sake: ;If} T rlj :~~JL

II. assertion=declaration=conrentiorr

~ L flV

,ro 7/J a1J;

:t

claim=statement:

*,

~.t}!.,~, iic "t

TO'pic: 185: 11'li,s; genelra,III"y bellev.e·d tha't educ,aUa:n lis of viil:a:1~Im~po,rtance, !individuia!~ 1:0
fUllfil both

dev'elopment a:ndl 'Iihe, w'eU ..bei:ng of s:ocii.,ti:e,s..W·hats:hou lid education co:nls~,s,t (II '

tQ'

these fUiln ctla,ns,?'

8.11

Education is one of the largest items ofgovernment

economic prosperity, scientific and technological

spending. It is regarded. as the p,ath;'J!a;y' to and the driving force behind

21l11d

instrument for cO'l,'lbtJ,tiR;1l unemployment

advance. Given the importance of education for individuals and society, its

seop,e" constituents, and ,collfigumtioR have ~.ioing been the subj ect of research, studies
school, but throughoutthe and communicate

discussion.
at

Th:eoreticaUy,3. student is, expected to acquire knowledge of a specific subJect

A successful school leaver should showexceptionalabihtiea
information

01~profession

learning process~,education should focus on the development of their skills,

to aequire.organise,

interpret, evaluate
be a

when graduate. Sil1zilarly, a proficient learner should meanwhile

resource coordinator and user, proficient in identifying useful resources (such as information and
capital ) with speed and utilising them to the full advantage, A qualified student should also possess

SOUleother skills, such as problem solving and critical thinking, 'which are essential not only for their
further education but also for their careers later in life,

\Vhen students beC0111:e nowledgeable and resourceful, they should be equipped with competence k
that would enhance the tra',,'u~,tti()rl from school to work. An excellentlearner is admittedly important to society" but more important is his of the needs of community.
01

her productivity,

Education should absorb new substances the progress of sou Jents in y ,M2.ilcing

and

embrace new' ccncepts in, order {or students to' keep intoucb with communhy and have [Lin knowledge
Besides, a school should facilitate
e'l~W

practical fiekl and give them opportunities

to try new tasks and take on new roles,

. ceb~ lliI

hands-on skills and job-related skills, schools can foster students and scciety's future development and prosperity.
When enhancing learners academic excellence and professionalism, education cannot overlook

learners' physical and psychologiea. 'wen-being. In this Iast-changing and competitive society, many people are not in gOt)djO:"'R in coping with stress and health problems, Encouraging students to reduce

stress and develop good health habits 'is,therefore important, Sports, for example, function effectively as
a health facilitator and as a: good stress reducer. 'These- extracurriculum activities can be combined with
academic activities to boost students' mental health and learning outcomes,

To conclude, today's students are expected to be versatile, producti ve and healthy individuals when they finish schooling ..With society becoming more specialised andeconomies demanding more

skills, students ·:sbouLdfocus on both theoretical and practical aspects of education. They should lay a

stress on physical activities as well,

ill>l.,l~.~
~

·'·fF . 'I~. ,~.

1" pathway -paih=access=entrance;

A fl ~.it1::f:.

2", combat=address=tackle

prevent=fight

a.gainst:.lt it"

ffl'·~

3. configuration=oornpositioll=forlna:tion-rrlak,e=up: 4. similarly=likewise: ~1)~~ 5" resourceful=tcgenious=smart:

~ll.it,;tJ;J.~
6fJ

fit ~r~'1J¢:.~ ~ ~.~

tM!:. jf

6.tr.3lTIsition=change=cilangeover:
7" in good form=performing
8. versatile=multitalented=all

wen: ~lJii Ji_ *t ... round: p;t' jJ t:. iFJ

, 1:~'~ I¥-j

Topic :86::,Now,adays, some unlver:sitihe,s o,fler gradru.ale students

1

s,k~Usthat aselst function ,of

'them, to find '9ImpI1oymlsnt, but $·Q,m,e people: be,lIi,erye that' ·the main uniivers it:y s:hQUId be to
;(lCCIQSS

know[e,dge tor its sake, What ls yo UIr cpl nJ,on?

There is an. upsurge in practical knowledge in these years and people have seen many education
courses being totally work-based. The idea that students should apply theory ,to practice or even focus

on practice only has become widely accepted .. In. my opinion, schooling should be designed children for real life, rather than 1ll"derlining Ute academic aspect only,

'[0

prepare

There can be little doubt that the main purpose of pro-viding university education is to assist young

contenders to begin and pursuetheir future careers, The hypothesis

kn~w~edge are important ~iesill the ~act~[they
Dr.illglr,ng theoryand practice,

'that

'theory land abstract conceptual

are ,~~ fundamentals o~tertiaryedu.cation, rut'with u educationwill pOSS eS8 little value and receive much less supp 1111 ~ffi(DJn.~
1

public, A univer-sity should place its emphasis on vocational training (or C,311ee:r education) ~,Whi'Cb is, directly related to a specific tTtrl'd.e~.occupation or vocation, It is particularly true whenmanywell-paid jobs require intense use of technical skins.

Aside from iheoretlcal knowledge, universities should (J'S,'Slllft6 the .re'sp'oJr;.1ibi1ity to enhance, diversify and ca.11801itlat,, Ole skins students can possibly use in many life situations. Life skills refer to
a "\~r;df:,:ran.ge of skins l1eCeSS~l'ljlfor successful living, lllcluding recognising setting realistic and attainable goals and employing prcblem-solving activities, the university
other people's feelings~,

strategies, The university can

devise its curriculum to achieve these outcomes. For example, by organising sports and other physical can help students enhance ·fueir~eam,~bldldin.g and leadership skills, Meanwhile" team assessments can be designedto facilitate students' group discussion and improve information-sharing skills, Theae skills, when takentogether, enable students to put 'their potential to the maximum and to applythe knowledge dextl1fJ',llSly
a,

Meanwhile, as education is widelyaccepted as the Foundation of society, emphasis should be placed on the relationship between education and economic
r

success,

Education

is sometimes

considered useless because it leads learners awa y' from practicality and

,ili}S:.ta1:ICIJ.&

them from, real life.

To tackle this, problem, educators, are required to restructure the curriculum to suit the emerging trends

in society. A good example is rthat if some industries, such as retail, tourism and information
technology, are projected to have good prospects, educational institutes should generate skilled

workforce for those industries, thereby giving a boost to the employability ofyoung contenders.
As suggested in the above discussion, the role of education is to prepare young generations for paid work. Vocational education or training should be integrated in 'Olecurriculum, in an effort to 'make

sutdents productive members of aociety,

:.!ft~iIJ~J
1. underline=underscore-emphasise 3.. bridge=link=eonneet=j oin:

hi,gb1ight:~i 1ft]

2. contender= asp iranr=appli cant=candidate :.-i;,.4r,$-'

l!Ji-

4.. trade=craft

line of work=eceupariorr profess~on.;·lJR.1lk" .:L f.t

.5. assume responsibility=take responsibility: 3Jct~-t f-· 1

6. consolidate=strengthen=secure;

1JL IiJ , i;1l5i

~Jl~,l~~, ff1t

7. asssssmeut=examination=appraisal:

8. dextrous[·'FSki]fl1n~adroitlY9JIOfilc~en:tly;;;;;adeptly: ~.j;t ~~I\g~~ ~. 9' ,. distance=disaociate=detach=aeparate: 15e..' .. ~... -h~~. ,,{~~J!Jiil;

10,. wOl·kforc~w()rkeFemploylee.persQlmel=la.bouJ
,'

force: ;1 ijb'

~'~J

11

teaQher~s.,.hou:l.d "e respon,sible for leBetting, students to Judge~right a:nd wrong and '10 bahive!. :we~t'.So'me say that teacihers, sheuld Q,lnly leitch' ·stu~.enls about Icad.~mic :.ubjects~ IDi,s!QUss, oth views ·lIndo.va b ·your', Dip,lnion
Tcrpic, ,87,:,:SQme. p.BQPI,e· thiO.k
I

thet

Traditionally, the task of teachers was '00 use a variety of methods and 'materials to impart tile

knowledge of a given field to students, However, this notion has been refuted by many people, who
consider it important to inte-grate other elements in education, education win become a central part ofmodern education such as. moraJity. In my opinion moral

and. teachers
fr0111

should be responsible

for

correcting students' behaviour and improving their moral values, Ethics in plttinwords means studying and. analysing right objective of education, telling the young generationwhat wrong, which is identical with the is the. right thing to do ..'Without being aware
Q'.',UI' .
'(:1,

of th e~s· stin C cd; ction between v

iii, -,

I,.W""'\oo',

ac '\Ie,. n, ~ ptable ,..,' and" a.c,'cuc~'b'ebehavi _. _" #1... _'.__,.

,
Ii!!!"",",_

"'.~

you, o·0' p:,'e.:o"e becom' e ,p, _' __:L'....., I ,_"I

"'b

..:Ie',. '1-111'" nnnni(;j '1'_,~",~'1'tl1J

and
~Ji

criminals" rather than qualified workers and successful individuals. It illsparticularly

true as people are

living in a society where violent juvenile crime, teen pregnancy and suicide are becoming worrying
problems, There is thus a strong can for linking the modification of young people's behaviour to the

teachin g of mra" an'U __ ..LU .... noral c-A

address misbehaviours,

3-0.cial • __ ."".

values in schools, Teachers are expected to take_ prev .. mea ... ',,: ...• _. u__ u_ __ _ __ _. __ ,~___ . ~_. ~ .. ··c-ent1:·'.--ve Dleasures to
_< _

such as. substance abuse, focus on the root causes of the problems,

such as

, family violence, and help' 'those who appear troubled .. It stops a problem among young people from occurnng or reoccurrence.

Ethic-all principles and moral values have relevance to the order ofa society and. individual citizens'
quality oflife. The young people who are unaware of standards of morality will end up with breaching their duties as law-abiding citizens and ruining the moral values of the society. N 01 can they become

happy, successful and productive. A good example to support this is thatmany recent business frauds,
bribery, embezzlement and other illegitimate activities. have been found related to some w ll-educated
~

butu.1~elhtcal people. Despitetheir

strong educational background and high intelligence, they cause

damage to enterprises and communities.

Ethical education can also help, shape the behaviour pattern of individual 'citizens .. Morality is,
neither a vain promise; nOT a. collection ofw(uds that appeal' in writing only, It isreflected in how people

respond and act in different social situations, such as whether they habitually

01"

ins,tir,tctil',eiy reserve

seats for the elderly and disabled at a bus. When children and young peopleconstruct most of their knowledge of theworld through social interactions, teachers are in a very good position to impart such

knowledge to them. 'Young people are: hence wen informed of moral principles, code of conduct and

motivated te speak and a.. t in a c

peoplejnstead students.

1.1l,fB,WUer·ClS

intended.
ill

As suggested above, teachers should play ~et ore activo role in tho moral development of young m

of simply translating knowledge of

subject into course materials and imparting it to moral principles and wisdom
to students,

They should ,pasr "" good judgement,

all

contributing to students' individual lifefulfilment andwell ..being.

ifiJllm~
1. refute=disprove=contest:

Ji.~'J 1i_~t i~A~~

2.. moral ity=ethic=moral;

4. accusab le=detestable:

1. in plain w ords =in simple terms; r8J If!.~-it

ur

~J,

-ar~ Wi]

5.. deHnquen1;-criln]nal9Vtol1gdoer-la'~l-bre.a.ker:* :i!--df

6., reoccurrence=occurring again: JJ1j.,

*--:.t. :t
about: If"'~Jtt~ ~i~f'tiJ ~

7. unaware of=ignorant of=uainformed 8. ul1ethicaJ~blllnOral-disho][lourable::~·

9.. ideal=principle=standard

il-tt .~~
i~At1*'~1.iitt!~~.~
J

belief moral value: ;fs..t~~,

1,0.iestinetively=intuidvely=impulsively: 11" pass on=impart=convey: 1-1;'- ,j~l,~ ~

~~

'm K.&~,

'T'Q'picB8: Edu:cat:ian used to be, a short perlod of tralnlnq, but today, peDpletreat it
like ,8 iifel'Qng Ipr'ia,ct~,c!e.DID you s,grls or dhaa!gr"S'B:?
i•

The notion of learning throughout life is not new but only until recently has been discussed to a larger extent. More than learning for employment opportunities and. competitive positions, learners pursue academic opportunities for many other purposes today. One has reasons to believe that

education is more likely to be a lifelongpursl'dt~rather than an, isolated practice in the century to come.
Because of tecbnological advances, peopleare now given learning: opportunities in different
contexts at work, at home or through leisure activities. People ill a modern society arenot confined to

formal channels (e. :g,.. , schools) but provided with more options, such as studying either via the Internet or television, known as distance; learning or e..learning, Learning can occur at aU ages .. The workingpeople, parcntswiih

childcare responsibilities, the disabled and the elderly are ,a.Uable tolearn available only

now" with time and location constraints being ~an,sC'eIJ:de',d.. The era when educationwas in a formalschoo: and intended for youn.g people is bygone ..

Another force that drives lifelong education is Hie constantly changing nature of the society, It is
certain 'that at the present time, no careerfields can stay static'. Because of the acceleration of scientific and technological progress~reeducation seems to be an urgent need throughout one's working life; to keep especially to those who work in hi-tech industries, such as IT. People feelcompeHed

themselves well ..informed of all the latest changes in the industry they ale working in, in case that they

fall behind their peel's. It is hi sharp contrast to the past, where university education was sufficient for a professional career spaI1"ing 'three or 'More decades.

Pursuit of one's own targets lsanotherreasou whyeducation tends to last a lifetime nowadays.The
interests of people in today's society are not limited

to material

wealth and better standards of living,

but involve other desires, ranging from self... expression, individuality to fulfilment of their own dreams. When formal education in the past was generally vocational and intended for s,u:,ta,ini.Rg life, many

forms of education in todays society are non-vocational. Porexsmple, many people study philosophy,
psychology, painting" music, history and 'Other arts subjects with file purpose to put meaning into the

whole of life, rather than living simply as

all

income 'earner.

In summary, a 'cornbination of various factors including the educational opportunities provided outside standard educational systems, individuals' craving for achievement, and the soaring competitive pressure, accounts for 'why education has no endings in one's lifetime.
'" "1::\"1-] ';;'1 3;_ . U I . LA1RJ~~ I
< ' I

1,., pursuit hobby=interest:

*il!, !t:lff~,!);it i
.~.~" ~~
~ ~~,

2... transcend surpass=excel=exceed: 4. span=extend=cross: 5..

3.. static=stationary=inert-=ul1chan,ging--constantunvltryin,g: ,

~Bf~, Jt1t& suarain=malntain: j~#

U: fi~·, 1jt~ iJ~ ~

Topiic ,8S: IDI!:SCU,ss, 't1hlea:dviB,nllisges and dllsadvantag1es, ,ot 'st:Uldyi:ngl a brlQ,8'dl ,I'
In recent years, there has been a growing trend toward studying abr-oad among young people,

When pursuing, educational

opporumides overseas is widely considered as a lije ... tram/or.m;,ing opportunity] students should ,take 0,:1 ,I number of challenges, Below are some, specific advantages and
disadvantages of studying abroad,
Studying abroad allows
OD.e

to gain a real knowledge of a new cultureand

,0

new language, By

interacting and communicating with native speakers daily" students can enhance their foreign language
skills .. They will simultaneously explore the values and wa:ys, of life of the host country", For example, Asian students might be surprised to find that ccremunication in Western countries is starkly 'open and straightforward, in sharp contrast to the intense use of non-verba], messages in, communication in their

horne countries. Not surprisingly, even simple everyday experiences, such as buying food and mailing letter, call help improve language pro,{icie.nc_y and promote culture learning. It gives students new
perspectives. on how things are done,

During their overseas tripa rnany student'S will lean] how' to take care of themselves and. live
independently", They might have initial difficulties in fulfilling even the simplest tasks at the very

beginning, such as grocery shopping, doing Iaundry.maldng living arrangements and setting accounts for electricity, but before long" they will adapt to the new environment aod become s!elj;'s,lIffic.iellf
Moreover, by interacting with. people from different backgrounds, overseas students 'can exercise and improve their social skills, an experience which is of great value to their careers later in. life. ,

While studying abroad bas, its advantages, it might have its drawbacks .. Most of {be student are ~'110". __.... __ lack of life experience 'when they first travel overseas, Failure to cope with the problems that arise from
their everyday lives might cause frustration, They feel helpless" suffer homesick and in worse' cases,

have a breakdown.
As suggested above, studying abroad poses both. opportunities and challenges. While young people

can become polyglots and independent indi viduals, gain opportunities for personal growth and develop an appreciation of cultural differences, they have to cope with the stress of living overseas.

1. life-transforming= life-changing; .t~

w: .....-i- ~' ,
iJ
iL ~"1, fi SLa!J

2. take on=assume=undenake:
3. pro fi cieney=fluency: ~

!a~5'I~t~'IJ ;

,f;.~:l!, 1~~

4. self suffieient=inde.p'ende!Dt-=autonoIIlous=sel.f",re:iiant ...

5. breakdown=collapse=depression: (1ft ~J:. ffJ )A! jjt" &;}tp' 16. polyglot=multilingual individual: .i:('~~#'iJ·~·~A...,
jjt,§.

#;'i-iJ~ A

T'opi';c 90;: Some Ipeople IBlrgue that II,earning a second language linvolvies II,earnilng the culture of 't:he country wheir,e,thls language lis sp'oke,", (includi:n,g Ufestyle,&) .. What ls
'.,.' yOlur ••.- .;; ? .•.. Opl men
I'

To most people, second language acquisition is a lengthy and exllouzti"J,' process, A general approach taken by most learners is to learn vocabulary and memorise grammar rules, They contend that language speaks for itself and the meaning of language lies in the language itself: III my opinion, a
language goes beyond its literal meaning and delivers diffe-rent messages as situations change. The
cultural context and background ofa language have a bearing on the forming ofa language. There is no

distinction between acquiring

,SI

language and acquiring a culture,

cOlltentllJ'fi

Tile first reason to support the above

is that culture influences the evohttion and

II language

formation of a language, Learning a culture; can help learners understand many aspects of

"

wording, syn.l.rrx, and so forth, For example, word order, the order in which words. appear in sentences,

differs from language to Ianguage. In some languages, the object normally comes ahead ofthe subject,

as opplosed to' the word order in the English language, It mirror« 'the disparity in 'ways of seeing, things
and ways of thinking betwe
11

people who speak different languages. Learning a culture can draw the
and therefore: lead them to us,ea

..

attention of learners to these differences appropriately,

foreign language

Familiarity with a culture is also known as the prere.qtdsite of communication with native speakers, Effecti ve communication relies not only on wording, pronunciation and sentence construction bu also on physicalgestu:re, body language and facial expressions. In fact, non-verbal messages sometimes tell people more than verbal messages do, For example, silence in the English-speaking
I

country might indicate the agreement of the speaker on something, but in some Asian countries, silence
might co'n"ey a message to 'the ccntrary disagreement or even rflS'IB'ntment. Thiele is no denying that by

learning the cultural dimensions of at language"

l'~!II d _~a~'ltsm'VO.h¥e· l' Wi:ith .h'.e SK.LLS ano hi bit ut

Ell

language learner can make him-or-herself acquainted

I·

d. : cross-cultural1 commurucatron, ~,~1' . '. ill

Although the imp ortan cle; Q1f studying the cultural aspect of language is indisputable, it should not
be over-emphasised, For most learners, especially for those at an elementary level, the cultural

elements of a language ,ar'eremote and i,nCfJ1J.lprehe.nsibl:e. Intru.siol.r2 of these messages will create confusion. Learners Virilljlo'.Ullder when the prlogress toward success is, little and the' situation appears to be u,nmanag,fJab.le;, Language acquisition requires a high commitment of time and effort, so new
learners are advised to concentrate on the Ianguage itselfat the first stage.

From what has been discussed, one can make it clear that culture "isan element that determines the
difference between languages ..Failing to recognisethis wouldil1ipede' language Iearning ..However, fur
new learners, acqumng a culture is less. practical, for it requires great effort and produces little

outcome. i!I~i~~ 1 1. exhausting=tiring=arduous=streneous:

2. literal plain=nnvarnished=basic=original:

it Ml~';f+ 4'A.it w tV-J' ~~'" ~'diI'J::~~' ~,.I..*t~'

J'

3. contention asserticu=argument=opinion=claim:
4. syntax=. sentence structure-language

rules:1iJ

5. as opposed to=rather than: r711 ~.;il ....".'., :fr-r" ",.... ·~'ro.El ,

*',

'flL.ff.., ;f

$~ i;f;tJ!IJ

6. mirror=reflect. ltsJe 7. disparity=difference =discrepancy: ;£.

8. prerequisite=precondition;

wr~tJt.

*,
011:,

!k JiJ

9. gesture=signal:

~:?b., -+.-!If itit ?~·t!t,. jtfl

j~.

10..convey=communicate=fransmit=pass L1.,resentment=anger =hatred=antipathy: 12~ incomprehensible: l3~intrusion-incursion:

ijf,;jt,

perplexing=beyond understanding: ~·'PfJ£J1if'~~, ~·Ait~.;f.f6tt!J

1i~t
~.;r;; 1if~ -$~tr-J'

14..tlounder=have difficulty=struggle.: ·~t.3lL, 1tt,,· ..,,....;.r 1}J~" ,;

15. unmanageable=uncontrollable

16. impede=o bstruct=hinder=hamper=hold

back: ,r:1LJL. lll~

Teple '91:: Same pellple.·arglue 'that

.,.istory ris·cd UIt'll!: or 'no

l . I.

use te u.s,. alhe:rs beUeve . .

-

that studying history

opinion ..

. ~.

gi'v,es .trua:n·ybene)'lts,~ -,Discuss those viewstiii1d .

.

give
-

'your
.

own

History has long been recognised

aSEI

discipline, but it seems to be a fact that few students bave a,

D1RtlY

clear concept of why they should study it. Many people even argue that studying history is

mean,ingles,s, considering the past differs in

there are
Ul21UY

important ways from the present. In my opinion,

facts to show the importance of his'tory as a subject, Despite the skep'li&rn over the relevance of historical events 'to today's society, understanding the
8"

past contributes to people's decision making in today's social context. By studying history", people can

draw on the experience of the generations beforethem, taking a similar pathto success and avoiding
dead-end.Besides,

they understand how and why people (e. g. " Hitler, N'apoleon ), behaved as they did.

Theyare aware that people are neither good norbad but ,rr,o,Dl'ate;c1 in complex ways, Instead of being
Ini;J:1Jllided by stereotypes or historians, one learns to analyse issues! or subjects based. on historical

context and perspective, take a dispassi,o,Htlte view towardtoday's political and social problems and
trace origins and causes objectively. To students, studying, history is not only
[I(]

seek self-knowledge,

but alsoto

enhance their skins

and make themselves all.. ound individuals. The sUldy of history requires independent research as 'well r

as co~herentexplanations, Students ar'e encouraged to do asmuch work il1depen.d>ently as, they can and
to

read widelyend extensively. In addition to widening _theil' experience, it helps students develop
to analyse and compare
can foster a student's intellectual independence, sharpness

qualities of perception and judge m ents, Students are increusinglycapable

conflicting views. All these improvements and maturity, These strengths are tramfeTflbl'e across occupations and careers.

Although studying history is beneficial, its importance should 'Dot be changing so rapidly that the lesson
frOID
",11.1.,;1.,

over,stated. The world is

~,.,
,_,'~I.Ii

the past might be applicable in particular circumstances only,

l. ,,_.,.IL_ ."U.i.J!l .. 13- ..

Forinstance
" .1.,'iJIi 0_

,IILJ',

im perialism is now oceuring - in business or culture rath t:Iorthan in col/nie '" T ... in s the k Ul'-_,IL
,.I, !.- •.

=e-e

~l'_ ..

.:1'

'_'

_i"¥

».

lll.U"~,J"

.\;J

..

J.lIU.-_,'

n.t\...l

[C;ji

same __p__ ~l_S s .e 30-'-1031""1; es p

tc combat _0 C --- a.

imnerialism __ p__---D

migh be coumereffective . -- .. Studying.. history....sh ould nom: be -,&1-1- it _ .- -.-----_ .. _-.;1 .~. · - -. _
i

taken as a demanding job but preferably as ,1, pastime that satisfies people's

cll,rtosit;y over the past, In

addressingreal-life issues.current events give people morehints and advice than historical events do, From. what has been discussed, studying history is, very important, particularly in. increasing one's
knowledge und enhancing one's intelleetua] abilities .. However] it should no'tbe
attached

rwith

,Ylv'Ustiji'ed importance because its applications in today's society are not known }pUn tUl.rtai,gty.
L-....._

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..'

1.. meaning·~ess~'nns,igl1ifican.l~oJthles,S9J11jmportant~~]t;j:f J1.... a9, it,*~-~Fr,? ~

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fif ~ ~Itq:;,~l:
~.ttjiJJ" ,~1:t

3" morivate=inspire=euc enrage= stimul ate:

4. misguide-mislead: iJt ~~

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6. coherent=consistent:

. ~~tlJj 1Jfr. M --It.u~

7. sharpness=acuteness: .i}t~,~k1"

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le: 1f #~_j.. . ~ "kj~~'{;. j

:8. transfcmble=conveyable=convertib 1O. curiosity=inq uisitiveness=interest:

i,t ov,erstate=exaggerate=ovler"lempbasisle: it.-5iJ- ~i,~·?

+;k_

.t. unjustified=groundless;

~i~tlt4:i ill l2. with certainty=certainly: it·it.

Topic 92: DD you think middile seheel s'tude,ntsshould study international news as a

subject? Today, watching news; a. means of learning what is happening aroundthe "world, has become a way of life to
11181lY

people, Wb.en'the value of news, is undisputed, an issue of debate is whether it is

necessary to include international news as part of school. curriculum. I am of the opinion that it will be
ina C:' an 'enlreartenmg ch ange,

The first point to support the importance of international news is that it reminds young people of the forces of globalisation and international developments, In today's world, businesses operate beyond

borders and countries are closely ccnnected with each other. Any countrythat fails to recognise this
would miss out on the benefits, ofglobalisation, To yOlmg people, watching international news leads

them to develop a global perspective and world visia«. They learn to elicit information from, news and use it in decision making, for example, studying abroad, career option, and so forth. It is of critical

importance as they arc 'very likely to face stiff international competitionlater

Another benefit obtained from studying international

i:nlife.
yOtJlng people's

news is enhancing

capabilities and skills, such as critical thinking skills. Living in a. society that is bombarded with different messages, many people have become lost in search for useful information and unable to

understand and absorb information. Studying international news drive's them to explore: perspectives and get a view of every aspect of an international event. Reading editorials allows them to practice independent thinking, Despite those benefits, integrating international news into curriculum requires educators, to address several issuesin advance. First students might be distracted by a great variety Q1f conflicting arguments produced by di.fferent experts. However, asmeotioned above, it is, :i"ll;,mellsely
conducive to the development oftheir analytical skills, Meanwhile, it could be time ... consuming for students to read fhos~
news stories that are ide'nticalwlrth each other in essence although "they appear 'in different papers .. It,

therefore, requires teachers to select news, ill advance and. play an active role" In, conclusion, one has reasons to believe that international news deserves a. place in 'school
curriculum .. By reading.watching and analysing interuational news, future generations will acquire

knowledge of the whole world and enrich a variety of skills.

(lli:)( iiJ$J
I . vi.sion~fbresighFfarsightedness=forethought

7t.JtZ ajJ, i&~

2. immense:ly=vastiy=greatly=hnm.ea.sUJ'ably:
3. identical=the same=duplicated=alike:

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Topi.c :,9.3:OR.lnlo'I1:S, dh,ide co,nce:rming'wh,at

I

I,.

I·

p:lays ~amore iil:Tll"PO;~l.,t r-0111e, pe,ople~~s il1

I I ,.

I~

,-

rpersonality devel'oprme.nt", nature.or nurture, What

are facedwith

i[S

yClur Q'~iniQn?'

The idea of nature ..versus ... nurture bas long been debated. with no

conclusive resokuian.

People

an apparent paradox: while some studies have ascB.rta:i:ned that no nexus exists between

genes and behavioural patterns; anecdotal evidence suggests that :it is not

a jor:egone conclusion.

This

essay is to evaluate these two schools of thoughts, with some facts being closely examined ..
It is still a mythwhy some children, born. in llifl"«8nt families and TailJed in a positive enrlching environment, still embark on a career of crime and self destruction,

It points to factors outside of the

parental and educational environment; natural progression. though environment individuals,

or in plain words, it could be traced back to genetics and thus a that life is not simple, Nor is any human being. Even that it either suppresses or

It must be remembered
is so overwhelming

fortifies

personality

traits of

individuals

differ from each other in many aspects, rather than show identical traits,

Genetic difference shows.its effect from as early as one's preschool years" throughout into adulthood. The impacts, ofnature twins who resembleeacb

adolescence and

seem sizeable in some otber eases. For example, a couple can give birth to other in both appearance
-

and behaviour.
,

Rufhlessly

separated at birth, and

brought up in completely different environment, developing extremely similar characteristics

the wins wouldmost

likely grow into identical adults, are obscured ..

and even showing the same Iikes and dislikes, So striking

are the effects of their genetic make-up' that those oftheenvironment

Despite the strong proof that nature is responsible for one's behaviour, it is not to deny the function of the environment people are raised in. Studies show that many young criminals come from problem families, who have at history of violence and crime. Without good job prospects, finding
80laC'6

they end up with

in gangs.The circle of poverty andcrime will continue, as these YOWlg criminals start oftheir own .. or nature plays a. desicive part in one's character and behaviour

new families with the characteristics a conclusion that either environment

As suggested. above, people are made up by both learned and born traits. There is no need. to reach development. Although the effect of genetic heredity is overt, one cannot afford to ignore that of

environment where a. child is brought up,

[lliSt ifi]~

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1. c:onclusive.=defini.te.-.in~efutable=decj.sive: 2, resolution=result=declaration: 3. ascertain=find out=establish: 4. nexus= relation Iink.

fIt it :ft~ PA ,;;t j"f,

1T~,~
~'~

.5. a foregone conclusion:

=ar JrA~AE]tfm ~

{J~ ~}{r

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-income =high-class:

~,*
iJp~'~

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8. embark en=initiate=attempt:
9. fortify=strengthen=reinfarce:

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1],' solace=comfort=

consolation: -jf1f~

14. trait=artrlbute=characteristic=femnre:

~t 4t.$E."

I ~~

T,opic '94: Do you thiink. that parentI should be pUlnisihed if their 'five-year-aid chUd ecmmlts a cfii'me? IFtom what ,sge":shoul:d ,clhildre'n Ib,ehlell,d fes,ponli'b'~,e 'f,or th,eir
IQW,ni

beha,vi'ours?

Parents' intervention can heavily influence a child's personality and behaviour development It is am
mteres.tiug subject of discussion whether parents jshould be liable for their five-year-old child's

lawoffending behaviour
responsible.

OJ

even 8ubject

to' punishmerrt

Tn rny viewpoint, parents must beh,eld

Unlike adults, children break the law in the absence of either incentive ormotive ..Their acta are Gt:,c/iden.tal and iJil:uitiJ!',e,llillnallirtg
the accumulative effect of the environment
Wh0111

where they grow up,.

Children in jo.rl1lllti"6 years are particularly susceptible to

they meet and what they see in their

daily lives, For example, their violent acts are very likely to reflect a mixed effect of their repeated

exposure to violence .. Parents should therefore act as gate'k,eepe,s to prevent their children Hom
watching TV and playing video games, thereby n.e:gatin:g the influence of media, Once a child uses violence", it reveals that his or her parents have habitually faUedto fulfil those duties" For this rea'Ofl~! ... __ r

parents should be accountable for their child's wrcngdoing.

Another example to show parents' effect on their child's behaviour is that many parents fail to set

a positive role model ..More often "thannot; parents have their own behaviour problems (SlLC·h as using
violence in 'the face of their children )..Asehtldren have a.natural ability to imitate others, their violent

or unlawful behaviour is potentially a replica of their parents'. That's why children with fine
upbringing normally show their cot;~rtf!sJ and professional etiquettes in coping with veal-life problems,

such as conflicts with others, while those children with poor upbringing are more likely to act
violently. People are thus not surprised to see that many young delinquents had unhappy lives and felt

discol,tented with their lif-e circumstances in which they grew up ..

In general, 18 is. the age when an individual starts to be legally responsible for his or her nets,

This, is an age from which a child is rea.dy to explore life him ..or..herself and assumes life
responsibilities, Fur tile most part they are allowed to vote, drive, drink and smoke, They have

sufficient experience, knowledge conclusions.

and competence for decision making and reaching moral

In conclusion, parents should. be subject to punishment when their children violate the law, in

view of their tremendous 'influence on their child's behaviour, It is their ino;scapable responsibility until their child come'S oj age ;

r iffSl iii]

1~ liable=responsible=accountable:
.~,

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j

..It.1t a~ ,J.};..~!t tfJ·

1A.~.~, jlt ;fr.;r~1t~it ll ~~

ji rJ;

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a, ~lJt}] WfJ ~ ~ ~.)OO .~

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10. courtesy=politeness:

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nut: 4Il~)!j ~~

=fLtt, ~W~·~L

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T'o,pic:95,: SQ:me.scie:n!ti$t~ beHave that $Iudyin,glh.e

beha~viou'r of 3~yea.r-olld chi1ldren think: a criime is a product ,of

can predict their cri.minaUty. To. what extenil, do

yOU'

human nature or i:s it, possible. to, stop children from growing up '10 be ,criminails?

The ll:ge~ld nature vs nurture debate' is, concernedmainly

.

with reachinga conclusion over genetic

and environmental influences on criminal behaviour, which. has long been a subject of interest to

psychologiats
-

8.11d

criminologists. Some scientists subscribe to a view that studying. the beha viour of 3...
.
'"

year ..old children can help foretell their criminality. To the best of 'my knowledge, ,both genes. and . environment have a bearing over the development of one's behaviour patterns, including criminal or
violent behaviour .. The notion that some individuals have a genetic predisposition for criminalbehaviour can seek support from a large number of facts. For example, aggressionand impulsivity.two
<

petjonalify traits

commonly found among adult criminals, are in fact ev,ident from as ear ly as those people's preschool
years, Criminals are also diag.nose.d to share a similar set of psychological problems, indicating their

heritable nature. If given. the right clrcumstanee», individuals whhthose

illegitimacy are
DODDS

genes would eventually

engage in criminal activity. For example, the children raised in an environment where violence and are more likely to commit similar crimes in adulthood. It is therefore fair to say is, reccgnisedcgenetice is not solely responsible for whose parents have
,

that the effect of heredity is -wors,ened by the environment,

While the impact of genetic predisposition

unlaw!llJ acts. Criminal tendencies are admittedly clear among thosechildren

Eli

long: criminal history. However, the chances for their engagement in criminal activities would not
become bigger until they are exposed to an environment that breeds such activities. Environment can
modify, weaken or reinforce one's characteristics. It is the reason why a child can act in a different

manner from his or her parents. It is neither precticeable nor rational to make a moral judgement on a.. child simply by their genetic makeup and ltilJel him
factors like education.
OJ

her as a criminal while ignoring the influence of

A proper understanding of'the impact of environment on individual behaviour also 'enables people
to 'recognise the influence of some other elements, suchas schooliugand ,upbringing,. Children, whose biological parents 'have criminal records, have the potential for personal success, if'adopted and reared
bywell ..educated and upper class families, Likewise, children family breakdown and child abuse are
LTIOf'6

WIlD

experience family problems like:

likely 'to commit violent crimes later in life .. These behaviour.

the interaction between 8t~nes.
~

elements, working either in isolation

01'

in groups, 'lead to a child'scriminal

In the: light of the facts outlined above, onecan concludethat

the environment is a predictor of criminal behaviour. Certain genes, when combined wi ~ ce 1 environmental factors, lead to criminal behaviour. To prevent individuals 'with criminal disposition

from committing crimes, schooling, parenting and some other factors are of critical importance.
,,----,..

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4. diagnose=detect=identify: ~ ~,
j:_.J}L

-plain: ~}l iii~, ~. B.fJ ~

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7, worsen=muhiplyi sr

"'J.,

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~f. 9' label=regard=consider=brand: iJ...Jt.)t, "iAYb ~ 10. upbringing-rearing-education: If ~ ~fr8" unlawful=iUegal=illegitim.ate=prohibited:

*iI~

l'Ol!dc 9.6: Computers. do Ido,t help,·chUdiren !Iefi'rn more e'ffectiively .. On the contr,ary:, the use 'o'f COlmputers,· .has a negative developm·enl: ..To whal.extenit'do'ya,u:sglr,ee effect on ehlldren'e physical and menta:1

Q,r'cnsag~ree'? :

In the new millennium, computer technology is set to become an essential feature of the societe People are very often confronted with the argument concerning the impact of widespread aOmltter u on young people. In my opinion, using computers can, be either beneficial or harmful, so moderation is
the key.

Excessive lise of computers is unarguably de,triJ,r.ental, as it can place children at risk in 'terms of
their physical, social and psychological development Studies have pointed to the fact that children need physical activity and social interaction to behealthy; happy and productive individuals. U",",o,nitored

use of computers isolates them from those activities, and makes them. indifferent, to the: real world. They , are so immersed in the computer that they ate .mre'ly concerned about the peopleand matters around
them, It leads to a drop in their interaction with othe-rs, organised sports and other social activities that are conducive to their development,
Another hazard of excessive computer use is children's increased exposure to' violent and sexual

contents beyond their years, which have long-term negative effects

011 their

Iives, Repeated exposure to

violence has been. recognised

subsequent aggressive

and singled out as, a decisive element responsible for children's

computer

behaviour. Although

,g~nnes thai have violent themes have been

forbidden in many countries, tens ofthousands of children are vulnerable to other forms of'violence that spread on the Internet.

Despite the negative effects of excessive computer use, adults can take, advantage of computer
technology in different areas of education. Educational galnes, for example" are: believed to have

positive effects

0011

children's intellectualwell-being, Some computer games 'are developed speeitically

to help children develop academic skills required for schoolwork. 'Computers meanwhile provide an
escapll? for children who experience high levels, of pressure in the daytime and, offer them a balance

between campus and off-campus life. As suggested above, healthy and appropriate use of computers is accepted and encouraged, By

giving children ongoing instructions; imposing a. limit no. computer time and classing the' types of content a child can view, teachers andparents advantage while avoiding possible harms. [.ilis(ii]~ are able to. use the computer technology to great

-r-----,
!

1. detriInental-hannful=dfllnagin.g=unfa.vonrahle:

.:f.~~~ ~*IJ~'~"~~ ~1
l'

tfr , 3CAhl.-$tJ, MJ 3. immersed in=absorbed in=engrossed by: iJt.ifu -f, ~ .."'., ..$-i!
2. unnlol1itored~nsupervised=uncontJ_'oned: .£AJ!t~, 4.. rarely=hardly=seldom=once in a blue
J

1110011; ~

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1ri; ~Jt~..~

.5 .conduciv'e=favoLllable=helpfill-advantage Qu.s 6~ hazard=risk peril=danger:.~ rtEt 7.. theme=main subject=main idea: £~

..... 0"

beneficial:

*'~IJa~ ict
l'

ir~

di ":!: escape =diversi iversion=distraction=pastime:

.:~~lll·;-;t ip~I.l£,}r.rr

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-n=. ~I¥ '~'" :r~ 'J ~rJJL .,,~.

9., class=classify=categorise=group:

~~

T'op:ic '97: In medsrn SOCi'I,t,y, some peo,pl,e argue·thal schools

become unnecessary

as chUdr,en can 'study ·at,home via the In'le·rnetll Do yo,u agree or disagr:ee?
_ The rapid progression of the Internet has paved the way for the growing popularity of distance

learning, People are now specll.ittti11.g

O,D

the possibility of the Internet takin,g the place of a traditional

learning call serve as

school. In.l11Y opinion, given the continued advance in technology, Internet-based

an alternative to traditional class-based learning,

Online education has a large- number of advantages. It allows students to set their own study time,

Unlike uaditionallearning,

online courses offer children greater flexibility and enable them to create a

timetable in line with. their needs and characteristics .. Students can also save tuition fees, because a.

virtual school normally charges students much less than a conventional school does. It is particularly a
great option. tor those students withphysical school campus,

handicaps, who have great difficulties in commuting to

online education is remarkably

For those who live far away from the school,

favourable. It can be expected that the Internet is very likely to replace a physical school as an
education provider in the near future if its drawbacks are removed,

The first drawback of a virtual school is lack of human contact as opposed to a noted merit of

traditional teacher ..led education, providing students with ongoing daily interactions with teachers, This weakness can be solved by taking advantage of bandwidth network technologies. The interaction
between students can be guaranteed. when one can contact with another+-whenever

and w' rerev r h~~

she likes,-via lemaU" pest commems on message boards and chat rooms, communication knowledge tran~Je,rtJbl'e FOI' example, somecourses ..
which is beyond the capacity of olllinebarrlllng.

0:1:'

even videoconference lor

Edacators :an~alsc'Ol concerned. that online learning cannot make all skills and require a high proportion of hands-on practicer",
TIlls. problem
C:[(11

be nevertheless addressed

by

introducing mulrimedia as a. teaching aid,.. By using audio and video, students can ,s,ample different
learning styles and acquire both general and specialisedknewledgc

of 8 subjeH:t

As suggested above, there .are plenty of b~nefits, of online' learning, 'including flexibility, costSlaving and convenience, Althoogh it has two problems, lack of interaction and failing to provide a wide

range (ofcourses, both can be overoomed as 'technology advances, .

.l.progr,es8ion~de:velop"ment=,ev,alu.t:ion==ad\1ancB::
2. speculate en=consider=contemelate: 3. take tbe place of=substimte-supplant;
1'11,
~!!

iLJ1

.~ Ai" fi'iOO'J!

Jf.9:..f\

hsndicap=disability:

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itl'~'" *f.:lt
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.5. merit=value=advantage: 6. transferable=conveyable:

"iif itis! MJ

T10pic '98::The computer is, widely used In educatlon and same peo'ple thin,k thai binac:hers win nol play lmportant rolee in the' cl;lssroomt.1 To 'what e.xtent, do you
ag~l!e:?
'Computers have been favoured by more and more educators and teachers as a,key component of a

perfect educational environment, Its 'tole

withmy,riad

~fia

traditional classroom is nevertheless a subject of debate,

arguments being advanced both in support of and against its impact onthe role of a

teacher.
One of the major drawbacks of the computer is lack of' flexibility, Due to its programmatic

limitation", its teaching is uniform" repetitive, standardised and therefore unsuited' to the specific needs
of a student For example, it can only answer questions which have been programmed into it but fails to

answer any ullus.ual, non-standard and. unprecedented question ..By contrast, a human teacher is able to
respond flexbUywitthgiving well ... tailored, persuasive and inspiring answers. For this reason, a

computer hardly funtions as effectively as a human teacher does.

Another disadvantage computer is interested
computers

of the computer, which makes it .urttJ~gne,d wUh the philosophy the desired response

of the

contemporary educatlon~i;s its failure to interact with students" Out of technical constraints-the
ineiiciting
only. Students' unexpected performance, potentially exceptional and distinguished, is not recognised by the computer, It is fair to say that
achieve nothing but 111akea,H education

into, an u,tlcritical type of vocational training.

Students are conditioned to absorb information without. questioning and given no chance to expr-ess
f~L.. •. • men personal1"opmions,

There ate some other problems inherent in the computer-based teaching, such as inability to discipline students and failing to ,attend to students' emotional needs, making this model of teaching not as competent as the traditional style, However, the contribution of thecomputer asa teaching aid can never be und'lTated. It not only assists teachers to present educational materials In diversified w3:)'S but alsoprovides repetitive: drills to improve the students' command ofknowledge .. With the computer, the teacher can spend less time
Oil

paper work and concentrate more on the development of a student in

other aspects, such as creativity and teamwork skills. It is essential to advancing rounded education.

Taking intoconsideratien

thos-e above-mentioned

characteristics of computer-based teaching, one

can conclude that the computer can only serve as a teaching aid, facilitating students' interest in a topic
and assistingthem to take 'in information faster, rather than t'llki.ng the place qf: the teacher.

~. ii]~] ifi~
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l..myri.ad-nnmerous~many=countless:

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13. take the place of=replace: Jf!t.1~.

T(op:ic 99: A'ltlho,ugh, iit i,1 gener.ny prQhibitedl, corporal punlshment persists iln many
I . " I I I"-

f,amIUies. D'o you thlnk

I

corporal punishmls;nt is an ,a,cceptabI1e way to reg1uhB.te

children'8 behavleu
i

Fa"

Ph;YI,ic'lslplllJ;is'hm ",n"t is, of cencern for many researchers, A snbject cf broad interest is bow pbysi,cal punishmentsIinkto the internal andexternal influences that. a child may be exposed to, Either
frown studies, orr people'aexperience, the use of corpora] punishment can cause short and long: term their behaviour, in

effects on 3, cbild'spersonality, identity and behaviour,

Although
11l8J.ny

parents, attempt to control the intensity of physicalpunishment,

maRY

iIlSZtlRC'BS,

increases the likelihood of causing remediless harm to their children" The distinction

between discipline and abuse is hardly clear-cut, and there is no assurance that pareutscan control their discipline properly. Physical inj"rj seems to be an inevitable result in most cases, For example, spanks

are widely accepted by many parents as a method of discipline, but, unfortunately, TI1Qstparents. b,~t
harder when children recommit the offence. Injuries are therefore well ... documented, In addition to physical harm, corporal punishmentbas punishment been consideredas the facilitator of many

kinds of emotional harms, For example, children who are exposedto

intense and frequent physical

,E1l1'e more likely than their peers, to suffer depression, unhappiness,

anxiety and feelings of

survivors of physical punishment, They lose courage: to venture and have: no desire
individuals, as they only 'try things their parents permit them to do.

Thereare also some other negative outcomes, such as behavioural problems .. Corporal punishment isperhaps not the sole 'factor responsible for delinquent 'behaviour among children, but there is. no
('i

~ccr-~,0' - .a.. lIDc:rease", ch ·l-,d' ~~ tendency.. ... ·· derrym,e..,_. that it incre as ~ .. 1. -'CQ19I's.n --L. __to I act- out and attack their siblin..o·_.:ll". peers or even p. rarents, It .. . - _.. . - _. _.. _ ..... - D'.· __ . .
n;;;U.l.
r·

._!.

is particularly

true when children receive physical punishment

intensely.

Even worse, victims of

physical punishment might use violence as one of the main parenting methods when they become
parents. It is a vicious cycle,

In

COIlC

Iusion" physical punishment can affe-ct a. child's life forever, It is imperative that every

parent control the extentto which they physically punish their children in order to avoid any negative

behaviour' problems.

~ m$l.ilj~
1'" physical punishmene=corporal punishment:

1f.~

2.,. in many instanees=inmanycases=under

some circumstances; ~t.[l!}

J'ft :9t'r

3. clear~cu.~c[e.aFdefinite~~str.aightfb'n¥ard: ~Bft·tEj:"

~JJ:.fA

'~I

4. injury=harm: 1~·i;
5 profound.-;overwhehnin~intense~deepI'

great=extreme: ~J~ ~

j,1f:J!.!l ~~.

parents and teachers. Some ipeople are 'Worried that to:o mueh control over chilldren win not p'repare them well for their adul't life,!! Discuss both sides and give your

opinli,on ..
Adults' inte rventi on plays a pivotal role in a child's development, Despite this generalknowledge,

people are very often confrontedwith

the arguments about. th,e appropriateness of some traditional

all other

teaching styles and methods, such as enforcing rules and. requiring children's compliance. I agree that
rules set by parents contribute greatly to the shaping of children's behaviour, personalitiesand

personalcharaeteristics, although I question the: 'view that it is, definitely beneficial to children ..
There is no point in denying 'that rule setting is possibly the most effectivemethod In overcoming

some upbringing difficulties, such: as protecting: children from dangers and guiding them to act

rationally. Children are adventuresome and [1;111. curiosity, They attempt various activities, either of
'with deliberation or on the spur of the moment, Imposing rules is therefore imperativa us it prevents.

many preblems from occuring, For example, forbidding: accessing knives, medicine, microwaves or
" .

ovens can minimise the risk of accidents and injuries. Some other rules, such a'S forbidding spitting, nose-picking and foul language, lead children to develop proper demeanour
~_'. __._, ,._,._ .. .~. __.. ,""" _ -_ .... 0.,,"-' ..... , 0 .... ,,' . J..lcY,J.. 'Io<,~!i,.'!J .

in different isocial

situations, and to adhere toistrict rules of profess• .,1'0· nal etiq uettes fr om- their earl- ~c.'b,c·~·I··d:'h·0··- .d.I!:! !!J..l ..... ~.y_,_,,II.,_._.O~. ·c

However, rules should be lifted gradually as children grow older, especially when it becomes, clear
that rules tend ton!51train children's mental development, Ina traditional classroom, fur example, rules are set and applied to u1'lderpwthe authority ofa teacher. Students are not allowed to pose questions at
,
'

win, nor are they allowed to challenge teachers' answers, Many of their questions remain unanswered, ,

presenting obstacles to their learning process and forming numerous misconceptions. Another problem
is that it will discourage students from. reflectirlg all what they have learnt, and .tlampe.n theu: passion for learning. They are trained esmeehauical
Of

rote learners, while their aptitude for creativity is

stin.. .. ··~e(t ~I~' As indicated. above, whether to impose rules on children "is determined asmuch by the age of
children as by the appropriateness ofrules themselves, For younger children, strict rules should be set

to ensure children's safety and health. For older children, rules, sho-uld be, concerned about children's
behaviour on social occasions 'WIlen. children become responsible al1d,knowledgea.blewitlt should be pl,ased out
i

age., rules

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1. rationally=sensibly=reasonably:
1.][ W Jili.,

2. adventuresome~adventur,ous~darin~cour91geous

audaci ous: .~.ptJ.ri ~~, Jji[t'tfJ" it.Jt .{t~

3.. deliberation=eareful consideration; }*-I$ ~~~ ."it :M}l, %]i

4. demeenour=behaviout =manner=conduct: ~t;7b·~ if.Jl:.
5.. Iift=revoke=reseind=cancel: iJl]~,Ii-,

s.Mt

6" restrain=hold back=hold down=control:

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7. underpin buttress=underline ....... bolster=strengrhen=fortify: '9. reflect on=mull over=meditate on=contemplate: ;~jJf

8, misconception mistaken belief=misunderstanding=fallacy: itil irfJ' 'Jt~

10. dampen= reduce=diminish.d'
l Lmeohanical=unthinking;

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,~p"*lW, Bi ~11

12. stifle=suppress=resrrain=repress:
14. phase out=abolish=forsske:

13 . with age=as one grows up': Mt :i.lt-.. . tflJ'~·

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