Countries such as China, India and Japan have unsustainable population growths. In fact many experts are of the opinion that the population ‘explosion’ which is now a very worrying concern, is the most serious threat to life on this planet.
Give some suggestions to address this problem.
World population has more than doubled in the last century, putting considerable pressure on our planet. Higher population leads to higher energy consumption and less living space per capita. Population ‘explosion’, or unsustainable population growth, directly affects a country’s environment as well as its socio-economic development. Several countries have experienced such phenomenon, which should be a concern for all of us.
Each country has its own limited means to accommodate a certain population size. Population explosion poses significant threat to the quality of life in aspects such as education, social welfare, medical care and human rights. For a country with a huge population body such as China, it’s almost impossible for the government to help ensure everyone to enjoy a certain lifestyle. In China, the population exposition lasting from 1950s until 1970s has created unbelievable pressure on the society for generations to come. Historically, people had to endure poverty and hunger while the country experienced shortage of harvested crops.
Unsustainable population growth not only threatens domestic life, but also exerts pressure on the external environment. It leads to overconsumption of natural resources, creates high demands of industrial production and causes an alarming level of pollution like the emission of green house gas. In underdeveloped and overpopulated countries such as India and China, people haven’t been alerted by the grave consequences of their damages on the environment. Most of these damages are irreversible and will affect future generations.
To conclude, unsustainable population growth raises concerns about the individual quality of life, socio-economic growth and environmental consequences. Countries that are affected by such phenomenon should come up with drastic measures and perhaps a long-term plan to limit the negative impacts. Some of the initial plans should include birth controls, improved medical insurance and infrastructures and eco-friendly industrial production.
Write about the following topic:
Illiteracy has traditionally been viewed as largely a third world problem.
However it is becoming apparent that in countries such as the USA and Australia, illiteracy is on the increase.
Discuss possible causes for this and its effect on society.
Write at least 250 words.
Nowadays, as education becomes a highly debated subject in media across the world, the problem of illiteracy has been brought to our attention. Apparently illiteracy not only affects countries that are underdeveloped but also those typically considered as “first-world”. It is a perplexing problem with many causes and must be recognized by all.
Historically in third-world countries, poverty and limited government funding have been directly linked to illiteracy, causing citizens to lead a less civilized and educated life. Children seldom get to enjoy the same educational resources as those living in developed countries. Education in these societies is not a high-priority issue for parents and society alike. However, as more and more cases of illiteracy surface in developed countries, other causes should be addressed. Technological advances have created too much entertainment and visual content that distract the students. Video games, television and web surfing are just a few examples that compete for students’ attention. As they become more drawn to the distracting content, they become less interested in learning.
As students continue to perform poorly in the classes, they become more likely to drop out of school and end up illiterate.
Illiteracy impacts not only individuals but also society as a whole. Illiterate individuals face the challenge of limited career opportunities, being deprived of certain citizen rights such as filing for legal cases, finding a place in the society and raising and educating their offspring. Collectively, they negatively affect the intellectual and technological progress of a society. As more illiterate individuals choose to accept a career in manual labor, the society ceases to advance and may lose its ability to compete with other more literate societies.
In all, the problem of illiteracy must be addressed in the perspective of both the individual and the collective society. It affects the current and future generations and must not be underestimated. In my opinion, wealthier countries should offer aid to those in need and collaborate on issues outside their economic interests. Furthermore, “first-world” countries should also come up with education solutions to adapt to the distraction-oriented life of the students.
Nowadays, food has become easier to prepare. Has this change improved the way people live?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
The availability, diversity and convenience of food in our modern society are perhaps unimaginable a few generations ago. The concept of food has been revolutionized along with the industrialization of food production and preparation. The easiness of food preparation has certainly improved everyday life quality. However, it is not without its drawbacks.
Technology has brought ease and efficiency to the kitchen, allowing more families to be fed with less time. The introduction of appliances such as microwave, toaster oven and food processor has truly revolutionized the way people cook. To save time, food can be prepared in large batches that can be refrigerated and reheated for multiple meals. Moreover, digital devices such as the iPad have enabled recipes to be retrievable anytime without cost. Quick and delicious recipes are shared widely online and have brought convenience and creativity to the kitchen. Finally, technology has created the booming frozen foods industry. Those who don’t know how to cook can pick up a frozen food item, put it in the microwave and enjoy a meal in no time.
On the flip side, easier food preparation has also led to more people eating less nutritious meals, which causes a higher obesity rate. Fast food industry that has benefited largely from technological advances is now feeding billions instead of millions. Fast food joints such as McDonald’s, open at every corner, are feeding people with burgers and artificially modified fries that can never expire. Faced at the option of fast food and many other prepared or packaged foods such as instant noodles, many people cook less at home and become less engaged with the nutrition values of their meals. In this way, people save time from cooking at a cost of their health.
In my opinion, the modern food industry has created more problems than improvements. It may have helped relieve hunger in certain parts of the world, but has caused serious health issues in others. Nowadays, people are bombarded with a great number of seemingly delicious processed foods and distanced from the healthy natural fruits and vegetables. I think the food industry should focus less on making large profits and more on advocating healthier eating habits and lifestyles. Consumers should also educate themselves more about the benefits of cooking at home and eating less process food.
People attend college or university for many different reasons (for example, new experiences, career preparation, increased knowledge).
Why do you think people attend college or university? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Nowadays, getting a college diploma has become a norm. It is considered a default option for those who want to advance in a professional field and a pre-requisite for many employment opportunities after high school. Besides the commonly recognized advantages of a college education, people attend college for many other reasons as well.
College is a melting pot of people with diverse interests, backgrounds and beliefs. It is an intellectually stimulating environment fostering a confluence of ideas. In classes and especially small-size seminars, students are encouraged to lead the class with discussions. When speaking on a specific topic such as a book or a reading material, students bring their unique personal experiences and points of view into the classrooms, learning not only from the instructor but also from each other. Moreover, extracurricular clubs and special-interest groups invite the students to exchange opinions and plan productive events such as campus-wide discussions and socials. On a college campus, each one’s voice is given a chance to be heard.
College is a good place to experiment, try out different classes and academic disciplines before deciding on a specialized field. For many people with successful careers, college is where they challenged themselves with unfamiliar topics and subjects. It helps them discover what they are truly passionate about. The experimentation has also benefited them with a well-rounded and well-informed approach to thinking about their own careers. As an old saying goes, you’ll never know if the shoe fits unless you try it on.
In all, attending college is an extremely enriching and rewarding experience that will benefit everyone intellectually and professionally. Many choose to go to college simply to network and make connections while in fact college offers so much more beyond its practical benefits. College teaches one to think originally. College makes one realize that learning is a life-long mission that continues beyond the ivory tower.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Many newspapers and magazines feature stories about the private lives of famous people. We know what they eat, where they buy their clothes and who they love. We also often see pictures of them in private situations.
Is it appropriate for a magazine or newspaper to give this kind of private information about people?
Give reasons for your answer.
Write at least 250 words.
Generally, people read newspapers to find out about world current affairs and they read magazines to be entertained. Therefore, one would expect to find articles that feature the private lives of famous people in magazines rather than newspapers. However, nowadays, more and more newspapers include stories that are neither informative nor useful.
In my opinion, gossip about people's private lives should not be in newspapers for several reasons. First, for example, the fact that a celebrity is going out with a sportsman is not important news. Secondly, if newspapers want to publish articles about famous people they should focus on their public events and achievements. In other words, if there is an article about a movie star, it should be about his/her works of charity, which will increase public awareness of important problems. In addition, journalists should make sure that they write about the facts only, not rumors. One should be able to rely on newspapers for the actual truth.
Magazines, on the other hand, focus on social news. It seems more acceptable for them to contain features about famous personalities. Besides the popular demands from readers, these stories often benefit the stars by giving them free publicity, thereby helping their careers. However, I also believe that magazine stories should not mention things that are too embarrassing or untrue just to attract people to buy the magazine. Sensational stories cause great unhappiness to the people concerned.
In conclusion, I think newspapers should concentrate on real news but magazines can feature some articles on people's private lives.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Parents are the best teachers.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
In our contemporary society, raising children is a responsibility with complexity and much public discussion, especially on the subject of parental education. How and when to teach children at different ages has often been written about by education experts. In my opinion, parents are crucial at forming a positive environment for the children, but it doesn’t make parents the best teachers.
First, parents may be too close to their children emotionally. Sometimes they can only see their children though the eyes of a protector. For example, they may limit a child’s freedom in the name of safety. A teacher might see a trip to a big city as a valuable new experience. However, it might seem too dangerous to a parent.
Second, parents may expect their children’s interests to be similar to their own. They can’t seem to separate from their children in their mind. If they love science, they may try to force their child to love science too. But what if their child’s true passion is art, or writing, or car repair?
Parents are usually eager to pass on their value to their children. When children are young, they believe that their parents are always right. But when they get older, they realize there are other views. Sometimes parents, especially older ones, can’t keep up with rapid social or technology changes. A student who does his homework online and chats with his friends on social networks may find that his/her parents don’t really understand or value the digital revolution. Sometimes kids have to find their own ways to what they believe in.
The most important thing to realize is that we all have many teachers in our lives. Parents may be important influences at the early stages of our lives, but books, media and our peers also shape our identity and way of thinking. Parents should focus on creating a fostering environment for children and allow them a certain amount of freedom to learn things on their own.
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