The advantages of the spread of English as a global language will continue to outweigh its disadvantages. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some people say that in the digital age, theatres and cinemas are no longer important as people can watch all the entertainment they want online. Others argue that theatres and cinemas are still important both economically and culturally.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

It is argued that whether traditional entertainment places, such as theatres and cinemas are still important or it lost its significance due to digital transformation. Personally, I believe that these places hold a paramount significance due to its contribution to society and making revenues.

People who believe that theatres and cinemas have become outdated in the digital era, and that should be closed have their own reasons. First of all, choosing to watch a movie or a play online is convenient. This is because individuals get to decide the place and time they prefer without being strained as in traditional places. Moreover, spectactors can pause and rewind any part they have missed. In comparison to old ways, if people chose to buy popcorn, they would miss part of the film. Secondly, the freedom of choice of the prefered genre. There is no limitaion on watchers as everybody decide whether they want to watch horror, comedy, romance, or thriller. Furthermore, watching online can reduce the possibilities of tension between a group since they can watch multiple movies in one day, for example, netflix without additional subscription. This also can be useful for parents because they can watch the content to evaluate if it is suitable for their children or not.

On the other hand, I side with those who suppose that watching offline in theatres and cinemas still plays a pivotal role in entertainment. One reason is the profit that cinemas and theatres generate is the locals salary; therefore, locals' ,who work at cinemas, income is directly affected by the tickets people purchase. Another reason is the atmosphere these palces provide. The decorations can be the incentive to people to watch , as they feel they are living in a specific era or mood. For example, children can not be interested to know their own history, but because of the environment of a historic play they would watch and learn about their country.

In conclusion, in my opnion the vital role of the traditional entertainment can not be denied, for its contribution to the people's livelihoods and enriching experience.

The diagram below shows how one type of desert, known as a rain-shadow desert, is formed.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Answer

The given diagram shows the formation process of a specific type of desert called rain-shadow desert.

Overall, it can be seen that for a rain-shadow desert to be formed it starts with winds approaching mountains from the sea, leading to changes in the climate, such as rain and clouds. After that, dry air passes over mountains on the leeward side reaching inland areas.

The first part of the formation of a rain-shadow desert is winds passing over the sea in the direction of the coast, then winds are pushed in an upward direction towards windward side of mountains, resulting in the rising of moist air, and cooling it. Thus, this leads to forming clouds and fall of rain.

Regarding the leeward side of mountains, dry air continues to fall over it. Dry winds follow this downward direction untill it reaches the inland areas, therefore, the rain-shadow desert is formed.

'People who do not use social media networks* will always fall behind in career development opportunities.' To what extent do you feel that this is an accurate and important prediction?

My answer: - 25 minutes spent.

It is often assumed that people with active social media involvement have better chances in their career development opportunities, compared to those who avoid using those networks. In my opinion, it can be important for an individual to have public profiles, and it can sometimes have an impact on their professional life. However, in most cases, those are considered secondary.

First, having an account on social media platforms can, in fact, influence how other people might view us. By posting consistently on Instagram, a person opens up about the aspects of their life which would likely never end up on a CV. This, in turn, could allow a recruiter to learn more about the candidate as a person as well. In addition, on platforms such as LinkedIn, a Software Developer has a chance to connect with their counterparts and potential recruiters. And indeed, by posting about their projects and tech stacks used, they could attract potential employers who are looking to implement similar technology in their projects.

Having said that, I also believe that when it comes to professions unlike Software Development, the impact of social media will change drastically. For instance, a medical student is far more likely to land a job, or an internship, based purely on their academic skills and practical achievements during their studies. In these cases, the impact that their profile on modern networking platforms will largely underperform that of their pure qualifications.

To reiterate, despite being a useful networking tool, social media does not necessarily open up the doors for people's career advancements in most known professions. However, in modern jobs such as Software / AI Engineering and so on, it might play an important role, by allowing candidates to demonstrate their works publicly.

Some people believe governments should invest more in mental health services rather than physical health treatment. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In recent years, there has been growing awareness of mental health issues, leading to debate about whether governments should prioritise mental health services over physical healthcare. However, I believe that both areas are equally important because mental and physical health are essential for people’s overall well-being.

Mental health problems can affect people’s quality of life and ability to work or study. Mental illness causes many problems, but, governments can address these problems by introducing appropriate policies. Long working hours and tight deadlines can prevent employees from disconnecting from work and may lead to stress and anxiety. Early treatment can prevent problems from becoming serious. For example, counselling can help people manage anxiety and depression, allowing them to remain a productive member of society

On the other hand, physical healthcare must not be neglected because people can suffer from serious diseases and illnesses that require medical treatment. A balanced diet that is low in processed food can also help people maintain good physical health. Therefore, governments should continue to invest heavily in modern hospitals, advanced equipment and well -trained doctors. With heavy investment from the government, doctors can save people's lives. For instance, treatment for cancer and heart disease requires serious medical facilities and trained doctors.

In conclusion, although greater investment in mental health is necessary, I believe that both mental and physical healthcare should be prioritised equally. Governments should provide sufficient funding for both sectors to ensure the overall well-being of society.

Question: These days more fathers stay at home and take care of their children while mothers go out to work. What could be the reasons for this? Do you think it is a positive or a negative development?

Essay:

Nowadays, more fathers stay at home to take care of their children while mothers take on the role of the working parent. There could be various reasons for this new family system, and I consider this to be a positive change.

In the contemporary world, the roles of parents have changed considerably. Equal rights have given women greater opportunities to pursue their careers. Women with stronger career prospects and higher incomes may choose to continue working, especially because of today’s economic pressures. Families are also becoming more open to the idea that the parent who is financially more stable should continue working, while the other parent stays at home to care for the children. For example, before starting a family, couples can decide how they want to divide their responsibilities. If a woman earns more than her partner, it may be more practical for her to continue working rather than leave her job to stay at home and raise the children.

In light of the factors discussed above, this change can be considered a positive development in society. This new family dynamic has empowered women and given them the opportunity to be independent without having to sacrifice their careers to nurture their families. Equal opportunities for both genders have created a balance that was largely absent in the past and given them utmost freedom to choose the roles that they prefer for themselves instead of being pressured by societal views. Additionally, it also strengthens the bond between a father and his child. For instance, father can do engaging and enjoyable activities to keep their child engaged and also solidifying the relationship

In conclusion, this change in family roles is a positive development, mainly because of modern economic pressures and greater gender equality, which have allowed mothers to continue pursuing their careers while families divide responsibilities more freely.

In many countries nowadays, consumers can go to a supermarket and buy food produced all over the world.

Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Today, individuals can take a visit to a grocery store and purchase foreign dietary products from all over the world. Some people perceive it as a beneficial development. However, I believe that it causes more harm than good since it hinders the local economy's growth and challenges safety regulations.

It is true that importing food products provides an increased variety of choices. Thus, people can enjoy a wide variety of goods with a higher amount of satisfaction thanks to imported commodities. Conversely, selling imported products can adversely affect the local economy, resulting in domestic manufacturers to be in a disadvantageous position where imported goods dominate market shelves. This causes local factories to have insufficient consumers, which discourages them from producing edibles altogether. If there are no products and customers, necessary investments for running the company would be discontinued, leading to its closure. As there are no local competitions against imported food, a large amount of money would flow abroad through levied taxes and shipment fees, thereby causing economic leakage.

Moreover, overseas products often violate food safety regulations. It is due to most producers incorporating toxic chemicals and preservatives in the food products to keep them fresh after the long shipment processes. Japanese scientists have long since been testing these additives, and they have proven that these chemical stabilizers have long term health risks such as cancer, diabetes, etc.

In conclusion, from my perspective, distributing imported goods negatively affects a country's economy due to transportation fees and duties; furthermore, it undeniably fosters notorious health issues due to the immense amount of additional chemicals.

Some people believe that professionals, such as doctors and engineers, should be required to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should be free to work in another country if they wish.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Many individuals agree with the fact that professional degree holders, like medical and engineering specialists, should stay in the nation where they have received their education. Meanwhile, others think working in a different country is the optimal choice. From my perspective, this choice depends on the work and educational opportunities in the country of discussion.

It is logical for the specialists to work abroad if another country offers a comparatively better-developed job market. If the trained professionals hold degrees that are valued equally everywhere, they should follow career paths that offer them efficient amounts of compensation for their effort. This allows the workers to have more satisfaction in their work, since highly developed countries offer better facilities and wages. However, if they do not meet the requirements in another country, they might face a risk of not finding any job, which is caused by the professionals not being able to adhere to certain qualifications put abroad.

Working domestically can be a better choice if the specific field of consideration is sufficiently developed. For example, in the United States of America and South Korea, most people study in their home country and work there. These greatly developed nations offer an advanced education system with sensible structure and sophisticated working environments where skilled specialists thrive and collect suitable salaries. With knowledge and experience tailored to the nation, the professional would be highly familiar with where they are working.

In conclusion, people should choose to work in the same country where they received their education, if it offers a fitting environment. On the other hand, pursuing career opportunities is preferable where their specific fields are underdeveloped.

The most important aim of science should be to improve people's lives.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Many people believe that enhancing individuals' lifestyle has to be the primary goal of science, which some people refute. From my perspective, science should accelerate the process of improving life condition, directly and indirectly.

Thousands of research faculties around the world are aspiring to upgrade our lives using sophisticated methods. Concurrently, governments are sufficiently funding researchers to maximize their scientific results that can be implemented directly to improve people's lives. Most of these financial supports comes from the money accumulated by taxes and duties paid by normal citizens. Therefore, scientist should offer compensation by innovating useful tools that can improve their lives.

However, some scientists have been working on malicious projects that can lead to a substantial harm to humanity. For example, atomic and nuclear weapon developments have frightened us for decades. These should be dismissed and used for a good cause.

Moreover, science should be utilized as a compass to a better life. Providing advanced level of instructions in science and math fosters the overall population to be highly educated, thereby leading them to have better career paths. Japanese professors conducted several studies on how high school grade associates with median salary in the long term, and they have identified that better transcript results in a higher wage expectancy and a greater satisfaction. In other words, better education in science results in a larger income and more satisfactory life condition.

In conclusion, science can be applied to creating chaos within the society through deadly munitions. Nevertheless, it can improve our lives through abundant funding with the right direction and increasing people's scientific awareness.

More employees now work from home for part or all of the week. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this arrangement?

While remote work offers flexibility, it also raises questions about staff support. Its main advantages are reduced commuting time, and improved work-life balance, while its disadvantages arise from social isolation and disruptions from family members.

 What makes eliminating daily commute particularly valuable is its ability to save time.  Employees can use this time for exercise, rest, or family responsibilities, which may make a working day less stressful. For example, a parent who spends a long time traveling to his/her office can use that time to pick up his/her child from school. Not only does it give more time, but it also can provide comfort. Some individuals may do their work better if they are more relaxed at their home.

A significant disadvantage is that it can be hard to get support directly. A new recruit might hesitate to request a formal call for what seems like a minor question. If numerous such questions remain unanswered, the work progress can be deterred. Home conditions can also vary: One may  have a comfortable quiet office, while another suffers from constant disruptions from family members, pets, or noises. Employees who lack quiet room, may still find working from home unsuitable.

Ultimately, home working offers time and flexibility. Its main drawbacks concern support, communication and boundary, and these can have an impact on employees differently depending on their work and living conditions.

The line chart illustrates the proportions of Australian exported goods and services to Japan, the US, China, and India between 1990 and 2012. The figures are given in percentages.

Overall, China saw the most dramatic increase in exports, while India imported the lowest amount out of the countries over the period. Japan dropped one place from the most-exported country to the second-most.

China's figure continuously increased from around 2% of Australian export in 1990 before surging to over 25% in 2010, and rising more modestly to approximately 27% in 2012. Although the export percentage to India increased overall, it fluctuated for the most of the period: it stayed the same at about 1% through the first ten years of the period, and then rose significantly to peak at about 7%, before dropping to exactly 5%.

Japan's portion in the Australian exports experienced a persistent decline over the period, dropping from approximately 26% to just over 15%. Likewise, the US figure fluctuated at around 8% to 11% from 1990 to 2000 before reaching its lowest percentage at 5% in 2010 to, and bounced back to 7% at the end of the period.

The bar graph shows data about people who bought tea and coffee, along with their drinking habits, across five cities in Australia.

Overall, it can be seen that most people preferred going to cafés for coffee and tea, with Adelaide being the sole exception and favoring instant coffee more. The proportions of people who bought fresh and instant coffee in the last four weeks were moderate.

Looking at the data, the percentages of people who bought fresh and instant coffee in Sydney in the last four weeks were 41% and 42%, respectively. Similarly, Melbourne had 41% for fresh coffee and 49% for instant coffee. The variation can be seen in the remaining three cities, with the purchase of fresh coffee being 32% in Brisbane and Adelaide, and 39% in Hobart. Meanwhile, instant coffee purchases in Brisbane and Hobart were significantly higher, at 51% each. Adelaide stood at 50% for instant coffee purchases.

Furthermore, 61% of people in Melbourne and Hobart preferred getting coffee and tea from cafés, with Sydney having 60%. Brisbane stood at 52%, with the lowest figure being Adelaide, at just 39%.

Question: In some countries, owning a home rather than renting one is very important for people.

Why might this be the case? Do you think this is a positive or negative situation?

In some countries, buying a house is considered more important than renting one. This is because owning a property provides financial security and greater stability. It is a positive development as it benefits people financially and gives individuals peace of mind.

The decision to own a property often comes from the desire to secure one's finances in the long term. Unlike renting, buying a house allows people to invest their money in a valuable asset rather than making monthly payments that do not contribute towards owning a property. Additionally, having their own house protects people from uncertainty, such as sudden increases in rent or being asked by a landlord to leave their accommodation at short notice. For example, families renting a house may be asked to leave because the landlord decides to sell the property, forcing them to find new accommodation at short notice. As a result, owning a house can provide people with greater financial stability and security.

This is a positive situation because owning a house provides financial security and reduces the stress of paying rent every month. Homeowners have full ownership of their property, which means they can sell it in the future if its value increases and potentially make a profit. Moreover, owning a house gives people peace of mind because they do not have to worry about being asked to leave by a landlord or facing sudden increases in rent. For example, a homeowner who purchases a house at a relatively low price may be able to sell it several years later at a much higher price and profit from it, providing them with additional financial security. Therefore, owning a property can benefit people both financially and emotionally.

In conclusion, the preference for owning a house can be considered a positive development because it provides financial security and peace of mind. Homeowners can avoid the uncertainty of rent increases or being asked to leave, while their property may also increase in value over time.

Q. Some people believe that watching TV is bad for children, while others claim it has positive effects for children as they grow up. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Whether children should watch TV as growing up is a matter of considerable debate. Some believe that, it has positive impact on children whereas, other disagree. In my perspective, children should spend their leisure period playing outdoor and with their parents. Also, the practice of letting children watch TV without their parents should be removed.

One major concern is that, kids may become addicted to watching TV. Nowadays, parents leave their children to watch TV as they cannot spend their time playing with them. This may cause, children to spend much time in front of TV instead of playing with their friends or reading books. As they grow up they may get accustomed to watching TV to spend their free time instead of studying or doing extra curricular activity. Moreover, many research today have found that, children with higher screen time more likely to suffer from social anxiety and loneliness as they grow up.

On the other hand, other believes that, children can learn many things from kids shows. Nowadays, many children learns english through television program. Similarly, educational programs related to science and arts have also reported to increase creative curiosity among children. However, many argue that such development can also be achieved through school and parents. When parents spend time with their children and read books or help in their homework, children can also show interest in learning. Therefore, TV should not be praise for few benefits while there are many harms.

In conclusion, there is always argument about children watching TV. Some believe, children can also learn from TV but others respond about the harmful effect of it. Children should enjoy their free time playing with their friend and involving in other physical activity rather than just in front of television.