Topic 41: Today, people are getting
greedy and selfish. Some people argue that we should go back to the old days,
and show respect for the family and community, so that we can make the world a
better place to live in. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Perhaps the tendency inward individualism has never been
clearer than it is now. People seem to become increasingly self-centred and snobbish. I side with those people who believe that reviving the bygone concept of family
and community is important
The rise of egoism has profound consequences on the
unity of a family, causing the breakdown of family solidarity. Every component
of a family can be detrimentally affected, if one member is egoistic.
"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 community in which they lived according to an ethos of sharing and
caring, but nowadays, members of a family tend to work separately for their
individual benefits. They are ignorant of the fact that families not only give
them tangible benefits
(e.g., financial aid), but also otter emotional support from which they obtain strength, comfort
and confidence.
Egoism also causes people to ignore the good of the community, a problem that is
disruptive to the community. So greedy are some people that they can go so far
to engage in illegal activities. For example, some merchants earn handsome incomes from
producing disqualified products
and cajoling people to
buy what they do not actually need. They, meanwhile, refuse to plough back any fraction
of their income to the community. Individuals become indifferent to others'
interests and the relationship between individual members tends to become superficial, transient and ad hoc. People remain as onlookers when neighbours ask for help, and social
solidarity has been dismantled in front of the overwhelming egoism.
As shown above, greedy and egoism are set to bring both
the society and the families in grave trouble. 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's family, friends, neighbours and
even acquaintances, and
recover a sense of community and social cohesion.
1. self-centred
= selfish = egoistic
2. side
with = support = back
3. bygone
= past = onetime
4. tangible
= touchable = concrete
5. obtain
= gain = acquire
6. the
good of the community
7. handsome
= sizable-considerable
8. disqualified
= banned = prohibited
9. cajole
= entice = wheedle
10. plough
back = reinvest
11. superficial
= cursory = shallow
12. transient
= fleeting = brief = temporary = transitory = short-lived = ephemeral
13. ad
hoc = unprepared = unplanned = improvised = informal
14. onlooker
= bystander = watcher
15. reconstruct
= rebuild = restructure
16. acquaintance
= friend = colleague-associate
17. cohesion
= solidarity = unity
Topic 42: Creative artists should
be given freedom to express their ideas through words, pictures, music or
films. Some people nevertheless think that the government should restrict
artists' freedom of expression. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
In 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 unrestricted
freedom to express their thoughts through their works, such as words,
pictures, music and films. I am of mixed 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 enlist the empathy
of the audience and make their views profoundly
influential over public opinion. On the other hand, freedom of speech does
not automatically suggest that one has the freedom to express any opinion, make
any statement and deliver any message regardless of contents. If it contains
racial elements, radical views toward government, and other objectionable contents,
the freedom should be restrained. Artists are not an exception. A good example
is that in 2005, a Danish newspaper published 12 editorial cartoons that
depicted an Islamic prophet, resulting in violent protests and conflicts
worldwide. It shows that the arts possess the power to ruin harmony and promote
anarchy.
Apart from artworks that cause social and political unreal, some other types
of artworks should be censored as well. In order to increase the visual impact
of their works of art, some artists introduce unusual or even offensive images,
without looking after the feelings of intended audiences. Many obscene works appear in
the guise of artworks,
abuse graphic sexual images and expose the public to those unwelcome messages.
It will pose a threat on the welfare 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 of speech
should be protected to the largest extent. Undeniably, their creativity would
be inhibited if they are threatened by censorship
or prosecution. Many of their artworks might look objectionable at first
sight, but over time give people different perspectives to see things. Artworks
inspire people to be creative and encourage them to reflect on what happened in
the world or in the immediate vicinity.
They draw attention to particular issues, which might be otherwise ignored.
By 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 of the
artworks should be thoroughly examined before being made available to the
public. It would minimise the risk of causing chaos and discomfort in society—a
negative consequence of the unlimited freedom of artists.
1. unrestricted
= unhindered = unobstructed = unlimited
2. enlist
= procure
3. empathy
= compassion = understanding = sympathy
4. profound
= great = intense
5. objectionable
= offensive = unacceptable = horrible = unpleasant
6. anarchy
= disorder = chaos = anarchism = lawlessness
7. unrest
= turbulence = turmoil = disorder
8. obscene
= filthy = bawdy
9. guise
= disguise
10. censorship
= restriction = suppression
11. vicinity
= surrounding area-neighbourhood
Topic 43: The advance of science
and technology has a significant impact on people, but the role of artists is
also important, such as musicians, painters and writers. What can the arts tell
us about life that science cannot?
Unarguably, the improvement in people's living standard
owes much to technical advances, which are driven by science. So important is
science that the functions of art are contested by many people. I believe that
the arts can convey some messages that science can never be able to convey.
The arts represent human thoughts, whereas science
represents natural order. In other words, the arts lead people to perceive the world while
science is aimed at discovering the nature of things. What has been found true
in science would hardly alter, unless sufficient evidence can be cited to
challenge or overrule the
established theories and principles. By comparison, what has been conveyed by a
work of art is neither right nor wrong, and can he given different meanings by
different people. Science sometimes treats a new theory as an erratic and stresses conforming to existing
rules and pursuing accuracy. Science is about exploring the undiscovered but
existing, in contrast to the arts, which are interested in exploring both the
undiscovered and the nonexistent.
In simple terms, the arts encourage 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 importance to the issues that are of interest to mankind as a whole.
Contrary to popular belief, artwork does not necessarily aesthetically appeal
to a majority of viewers. An artist's primary motive is not only to pursue the
aesthetic in the popular mind but also to remind people something that they
cannot afford to ignore, such as environment, religion, politics, morality, 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.
The arts also give people a sense of cultural background
and identity, as a key component of any culture in the world. By contrast,
technology and science are uniform to people, regardless of nationality, race
and ethnicity. Art has
long been a way of passing ideas, concepts, beliefs, values and ways of seeing
things to later generations. Because of art, people can be classified into
different social and cultural groups.
In conclusion, the arts differ from science in 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 science is
objective and based on predetermined
guides, art is inherent in the human mind and subjective.
1. perceive
= see = recognise = consider
2. overrule
= reject = cancel = annul
3. erratic
= irregular = unusual
4. conform
to = adhere to = obey = cling to = stick to
5. undiscovered
= unnoticed = overlooked = ignored
6. nonexistent
= missing = fictional = imaginary = conceived
7. ethnicity
= the ethnic group one belongs to
8. predetermined
= preset = fixed = determined
Topic 44: The government should
control the amount of violence in films and on television in order to control
violent crimes in society. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
action?
Because of their prevalence,
televisions and films are among 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 consultation. Some
action movies have conveyed a notion to the audience, especially teenagers,
that a hero can be highly regarded, regardless of the consequence of his
behaviour. Audiences imitate those role
models, in a belief that their behaviour will reap applause from others. In most cases, their
actions evolve into violent crimes.
Another category of programmes, war documentaries or
crime reports, also opens up the possibility of viewers engaging in violence.
Aiming at a high audience rating,
TV programme producers are inclined to broadcast crime reports. Some
reports can go so far as to present the whole procedure of a law-offending
practice, such as robbery, shoplifting, burglary, to mention but a few. Not
surprisingly, it functions like a free course from which prospective criminals learn those skills. It
contributes to the rise in crime rates and then to the increase in violence
that is involved in different kinds of crimes.
As well as those TV shows, action movies have a profound
impact on personality development of viewers, leading to their subsequent
violent acts. Dominant entertainment media succeed in attracting millions of
young viewers every single day. The audience can easily become addicted to TV
programmes and tend to be isolated, temperamental
and aggressive. They use foul language and employ violence when feeling
depressed or estranged. There
is no point in denying the fact that the TV 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 of ways, and eventually lead to crimes.
Therefore, the government should take actions to tackle such a problem and
censorship is undoubtedly one of the most effective means.
1. prevalence
= popularity = pervasiveness
2. consultation
= discussion = talk
3. role
model = model = example = exemplar
4. applause
= praise = approval = support
5. in
most cases = most of the time = in general = more often than not
6. audience
rating
7. prospective
= potential
8. temperamental
= volatile = moody
9. estranged
= alienated = separated
Topic 45: Some people suggest that
there should be restrictions on a detailed description of crimes in the
newspapers and on television. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The violent contents broadcasted by the mass media (the television
and the printing press in particular) have been singled out in recent years as a matter of urgent
public concern. It has been argued that a detailed description of crime,
especially 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 exposure to reports on crime scenes has
desensitised viewers to the horrors
of serious crimes such as homicide. Many TV programmes tend to dramatise the process of
tracing criminals. So immersed are
viewers in the
storyline that few are encouraged to link the crime to a brutal, unsympathetic and
devastating act. Meanwhile, hardly has any newspaper or TV editor carried out a
follow-up study of convicting criminals.
This form of representation
fails to alert viewers to the fact that no criminal can stay at large and all
offenders will be brought to justice.
Meanwhile, the depiction of violence is potentially the
primary cause of "copycat" suicides, fights, shootings and bombings.
People are inclined to vent their discontent in various ways, and one of the
most common is violence. The documentary on a criminal or violent act provides
them with role 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 the audience, the
description of crimes on television or newspapers should not be made a
scapegoat for all social violence. 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 example, many programmes encourage no-violent
alternatives to solutions. Similarly, television and newspapers have played a
significant role in educating the audience about the advantages of building a
non-violence community and the inadvisability
of excessive drinking, car racing, drug using and other unlawful acts.
As suggested above, media violence, including the
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
societal violence and both have multiple causes.
1. single
out = select = highlight
2. horror
= terror
3. dramatise
= sensationalise = exaggerate = overstate
4. immersed
m = absorbed in = engrossed by = captivated by
5. unsympathetic
= uncaring = indifferent = cruel
6. follow-up
= subsequent = following
7. convict
= sentence = find somebody guilty
8. representation
= portrayal = description = account
9. at
large = free = at liberty
10. inadvisability
= inappropriateness = unsuitability
11. unlawful
= illegitimate = illegal = illicit
Topic 46: We can get knowledge from
news, but some people think we cannot trust journalists. What do you think?
What qualities do you think a successful journalist should have?
Today, it is important to note that the public has a
growing appetite for different
content areas of news, including national, local, entertainment, sports,
politics, weather, and traffic news. With news becoming increasingly important,
public attention has been brought to the creditability
of journalists. In my opinion, it would be over-simplistic to say that
journalists can convey all messages to the audience without distorting them.
Not surprisingly, whenever people talk of journalism, objectivity is the first word
that springs to mind.
Reporters are generally expected to disclose all facts and uncover all sides of
an issue without introducing any bias, as opposed to commentators, who are
allowed to provide personal opinions. However, in reality, objectivity is hard
to achieve. Journalists have to succumb
to either commercial or political pressure, distorting facts and
misleading the public. In many countries, news organisations are controlled
entirely by powerful political parties and enjoined
to disregard the truth and disseminate information that guides public
opinions.
Another factor contributing to the erosion of
journalistic standards throughout the news business is that in these years,
increasing weight has
been given to following news values, entertainment, oddity 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 on media personalities and use their public
appeal to increase viewing rates, giving these publicities, who hardly remain neutral, numerous
opportunities to express their opinions publicly on a subject in which they
have a personal stake or bias.
It is thus fair to say that news is now less trustworthy.
In general, a successful journalist should be first able
to use careful judgement when organising and reporting information.
Determination and persistence are required when journalists ought to defend the
freedom of the press and ordinary citizens' right to know the truth, despite
being under different forms of pressure. In addition, they should be sensitive
to and interested in current affairs at all levels. In acting as successful
communicators and information senders, journalists should also have a good
command of language skills and a real knowledge of different cultures,
countries, races and social groups.
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 to seriousness,
journalism has failed to maintain objectivity and live up to ideals of journalistic
responsibility. Without showing respect to freedom of express and conveying
messages accurately and promptly to the public, one cannot be acclaimed as a qualified
journalist.
1. appetite
for = hunger for = craving for = desire for
2. creditability
= reputation
3. talk
of = consider = discuss = talk about = talk over
4. spring
= bounce = bound
5. succumb
to = yield to = give way to = surrender to
6. enjoin
= instruct = command = direct
7. weigh
= importance = significance = emphasis = stress
8. oddity
= peculiarity = quirk
9. rumour
= gossip = anecdote
10. neutral
= unbiased = impartial = disinterested = dispassionate
11. bias
= prejudice = preconception = preconceived notion
12. trustworthy
= dependable = honest = reliable
13. seriousness
= solemnity = gravity
14. ideal
= principle
15. acclaim
= praise-approve = commend
Topic 47: People think that the
news media has influenced people's lives nowadays and it is a negative
development. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
For many people, news is a regular pan of life. An issue
in dispute is whether the massive influence of the news media on people's daily
lives denotes a negative development. It is my view that news
media does more good than harm to the society.
The news media provides people with much of 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 the 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. For example, 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, failing to recognise and capitalise on this impending change would
cause a costly loss.
Meanwhile it should be recognised that the news media
can sometimes save lives and reduce casualties.
There is a lot of uncertainty about the surroundings,
and people are susceptible to the damage caused by accidents, crimes and
natural calamity. The
news media conveys the firsthand
information to concerned audiences and enable them to take corresponding actions
right away. The authority can declare a state of emergency when it is
necessary, organise evacuation and distribute aid to the needy areas. All these
efforts count on the news media as the messenger.
Despite their significant and ongoing contribution to
the society, the news media might sometimes be harmful to society. It is a
convention that the news media exaggerates the magnitude of the real threat (for example, the
potential of a terrorism attack), in order to draw the attention of the desired
audiences and in 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.
In summary, the role of news media as an information
provider should be acknowledged. In case of emergency, it acts as a lifesaver.
However, it is not to say that the news media can give people an overall view
of the problems in society all the time.
1. denote
= indicate = symbolise = represent = signify
2. capitalise
on = take advantage of = make the best of
3. impending
= imminent = forthcoming = coming = approaching
4. casualty
= fatality = victim
5. surroundings
= environs
6. calamity
= misfortune = catastrophe = disaster
7. firsthand
= immediate
8. corresponding
= relevant
9. messenger
= courier
10. magnitude
= scale = enormity = level
Topic
48: There are many advertisements directed at children. Parents argue that
children are misled, while advertisers consider advertising a source of useful
information. What is your opinion?
The impacts of advertising on children have become an
area of focus in these years. When the initial purpose of advertising is to disseminate information
related to goods and services, many parents have associated it with their children's
unjustified desires to buy something unnecessary. Although the extent to which
advertising influences young viewers is a matter of debate, its impact, in my
opinion, is undisputed.
One of the main features of advertisements is giving
products an exaggerated account. In addition to this tactic, advertisers tend to stress those attributes of a product
that are likely to be valued by young consumers, while playing down others. Some 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 small print and children cannot read them clearly. Nor can children
comprehend the messages with their literacy skills. As a result, young viewers
are susceptible to the effects of a commercial, leading directly to their
subsequent buying decisions or their thrust
for 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 with a particular label and branded
products than adults, for the simple reason that they are much less pricing
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 advertising on children are
acknowledged, it should be noted that as children grow up, they will make more
sophisticated judgements about those tactics advertisers use to grab their
attention. They are less receptive to
advertising messages and meanwhile more likely to perceive advertising as a
mere source of information, assisting them to learn products and services
better. Meanwhile, some advertisements are non-commercial and provide
information on such issues as anti-smoking, anti-drug, AIDS, healthy eating
practices, and so forth. In this sense, it is premature to judge that
advertising has no redeeming feature.
To summarise, by enhancing the image of advertised
products, making exaggerated claims on products and services and portraying a
fantastic way of life, advertising is liable for children's impulsive
purchases. Children are misguided
to make a purchase. Although adolescents are less susceptible to the
misleading information, the advertisements that are marketed to children should
be restricted.
1. disseminate
= broadcast = publish = spread = present = circulate
2. undisputed
= acknowledged = undeniable = unquestionable
3. tactic
= approach = scheme = ploy
4. attribute
= feature = trait = characteristic = property = quality
5. play
down = make light of = underplay = talk down
6. thrust
= driving force = drive = impetus
7. label
= brand = brand name = trademark
8. receptive
to = tolerant of = open to = accessible to
9. redeeming
feature = advantage = strength = merit
10. misguide
= mislead = deceive = induce
Topic 49: Do the positive effects
outweigh negative effects, when advertising gains in popularity?
It has always been difficult to assess the contribution
of advertising. This issue is fraught
with controversy, with concern being expressed over the harmful
effects of advertising. Below are some arguments against this concern.
It is important to recognise that one of the key
functions of advertising is to supply consumers with adequate and accurate
information about all of the alternatives available to them. Every now and
then, advertising is criticised on the ground that it can manipulate consumers to follow the will of
the advertiser; however, evidence supports an opposing view that advertising
merely promotes products that are most likely to satisfy consumers' wants. In
simple terms, it is consumers rather than advertisers who decide what are
advertised.
Advertising also plays a significant role in fostering
full employment and facilitating economic well-being. By conveying
marketing information constantly to the target audience, advertising speeds the
consumers' acceptance of new goods and technologies. It guarantees the high
turnover rate of the manufactured goods and therefore, sustainability of a
business. It is also agreed that advertising is one of the main sponsors of a
large number of other industries, for example, the entertainment industry —
particularly sports, music, and theatrical events.
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 information delivered to the
audiences has made them knowledgeable consumers. Under this circumstance, they
can easily distinguish inferior
products from quality products with their knowledge. The misleading effect
of advertising will be counteracted over time.
To summarise, advertising suggests what consumers need
and contributes partly to economic development. 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.
1. fraught
with = full of = filled with = burdened with
2. manipulate
= manoeuvre = operate = influence = harness
3. will
= want = wish = desire
4. foster
= promote = further = advance = encourage
5. inferior
= substandard = low-grade
Topic 50: Some people argue that
advertising is discouraging people from being different individuals, and makes
people to be or seem to be the same. Do you agree or disagree?
Perhaps no subject in the world is as likely to cause so
much controversy as advertising does. One of the main criticisms against
advertising is that it erases
individual's sense of identity and causes them to buy the same product.
This view has flaws.
By tempting
messages and persuasive
arguments, advertising can draw the attention of the audience, but not
necessarily stimulate the sales. It is clear that consumers rarely rely on
advertising as a single source of information before deciding what to buy.
Instead, they use multiple
information sources that are complementary,
such as family, friends, inspections,
and so forth. It is over simplistic to say that advertising plays a
decisive role. Most of the time, there are a range of factors a consumer would
take into account, 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 final purchase. Therefore, however persuasive an advertisement
is, never can it lead to the viewers making the same purchase.
Meanwhile, consumers have low tolerance for sameness. There is much uncertainty
about the preference of consumers nowadays, primarily because they have easy
access to information. An existing brand is vulnerable to any new entrant.
Brand loyalty is something of the past, and the rise and fall of a brand is
abrupt. Even if brand preference is established because of advertising, there
is no assurance it will be maintained. It seems to be an entrenched tendency of
consumers to try different products. The main reason behind the high unpredictability
of consumer behaviour is unclear, but it is certain that consumers will not buy
the same product.
However, people should meanwhile admit that advertising
has every now and then contributed to consumers' unplanned purchase Banners, signs, flags and other
visuals, for example, turn unintended
shoppers successfully into impulsive buyers in their mundane shopping trip. Another function of
advertising is to make people live in a world of fantasy, in which they
consider themselves prettier, slimmer, richer and more outstanding. Advertising
also succeeds in creating peer effect. It is not unusual that one buys
something on impulse without
knowing much about the product but merely assuming that his or her peers are
using it.
As suggested above, individual's reactions to
advertisements and preferences on a brand are inherently complex and
unpredictable, simple cause-and-effect conclusions are elusive. Despite
boosting the sales of a product or service, advertising can hardly make any
product or service dominate I he market.
1. erase
= wipe out = remove
2. flaw
= defect = fault
3. tempting
= alluring = enticing
4. persuasive
= influential = convincing
5. multiple
= various = a compound of
6. complementary
= balancing = matching
7. inspection
= examination = assessment = observation
8. tolerance
= acceptance
9. unplanned
= impulsive
10. unintended
= unintentional
11. mundane
= dull = everyday = routine = dreary = boring
12. on
impulse = on the spur of the moment = on a whim = impulsively
13. elusive
= vague = indefinable = obscure
Topic 51: The high sales of popular
consumer goods reflect the power of advertising but not the real need of the
society where such products are sold. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Advertising is well-known as a method of promotion, a method used by corporations to
introduce their products and services to the market, attract the eye of
consumers and increase sales. Critics of advertising argue that advertising is
the main drive of soaring sales of some products and services, inducing
consumers to purchase what they do not actually need in their daily lives. This
contention is self-evident.
Advertisements conquer the audience mainly by sending
them a message that they are lacking a specific brand or product that is likely
to make them acceptable or even distinguished individuals in society. The
advertisements as to medicine, dietary
supplement and other
life-enhancing products 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 such problems as
malnutrition, dysfunction of any part of their bodies. Lack of the knowledge in
this field, the audience will rush
to buy the advertised products. Such cases are ever-present, and the audience expects an immediate
positive outcome — disregarding
other solutions.
Advertising also works to create a best-seller image for
a newly-marketed product. The audience is tempted
to buy it in the hope that they can thus become one of the eyewitnesses and
participants of a fad. It is not uncommon that cell phone users replace their
phones every year, although the phone they have abandoned is still in usable conditions. They might not actually need to
make purchases so frequently, but advertising spurs them to do so. The power of
advertising has too often abused by advertisers, who tend to give an exaggerated account of
the popularity of a product, soon after the product is marketed. So gullible are some buyers that
they are driven to buy it. With the number of buyers growing, it will evolve
into a buying craze.
In conclusion, people should stay alert to the influence advertising has on their
decision making process. As indicated above, advertising has twisted the
information about what product is needed, or what product is favoured, thereby
driving people to make insensible buying decisions.
1. promotion
= advertising = marketing
2. dietary
supplement = pills to improve health
3. target
= aim at
4. rush
= hurry = dash = run
5. ever-present
= omnipresent = ubiquitous = pervasive
6. disregard
= pay no attention to = ignore = take no notice of = close the eyes to
7. tempt
= attract = entice = lure
8. eyewitness
= witness = observer
9. in
usable conditions in working conditions-in serviceable conditions
10. give
an exaggerated account of = exaggerate
11. gullible
= credulous
12. craze
= fad = trend = fashion = obsession
13. alert
= attentive = watchful = vigilant
Topic 52: Advertising encourages
customers to buy in quantity not in quality. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?
Living in the information age, people are bombarded with
substantial daily doses of
advertising in multiple media. The argument that advertising, with its
overwhelming power, leads to consumers' impulsive purchase has been accepted by
more and more people. Consumers are encouraged by advertisements to purchase
products in quantity without paying heed to quality. This allegation is flawed,
as far as I am concerned.
The first tact to note is that despite the strength of
advertising, viewers remain as decision makers. 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, either quality
or price, which is determined by contexts. Consumers are now desensitised to the
information delivered by commercials and become increasingly cautious. Quality
is. in most cases, a primary concern to them. Even those most loyal
users of advertising are now concentrated
on product 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
decision according to their needs and favour a product for different reasons,
either quality or price cuts. Needless to say, people have become more circumspect than ever
before and more prone to the interaction
of other factors, such as the advice of their friends, past experience,
current knowledge and physiological state.
It is also necessary to draw a line between the concept
of marketing and that of advertising. Advertising alone is not able to
contribute high sales and the link between advertising and product 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 is similar to sales promotion, package
sales, low-pricing strategy and other marketing techniques. Advertising simply
conveys the message relating to price, rather than creating this message.
The facts outlined above, when taken together, are in
favour of a view that consumers take in the information delivered by an
advertisement differently, 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
most cases, instead of price.
1. dose
= quantity = amount
2. allegation
= claim
3. flawed
= faulty = blemished
4. stress
= emphasise=underline = underscore = accentuate
5. desensitised
to = indifferent to= uninterested in
6. concentrate
on = focus on = be conscious of = be immersed in
7. inducement
= stimulus
8. circumspect
= cautious = prudent = careful
9. interaction
= interplay
Topic 53: Some industrialised
countries have serious environmental problems. The damage to the environment is
an inevitable result when a country tends to improve the standard of living. To
what extent do you agree or disagree?
A question central to today's environmental debate is
how economic development and environmental protection interrelate. Some people maintain that no economic
target can be attained without some sacrifice made to the environment. As far
as I know, there are a couple of complementary
components, if operated
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 decelerate the
depreciation rate of machinery. Meanwhile, it can reduce businesses’
expenditure in compliance with
environmental standards. The third merit is boosting loyalty 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 mouth reputation and trigger
sales. Some large industries in the past, when asked to take actions to make
their production less environment-damaging, were worried about the proportional
rise in operational costs. Their attitudes are now subject to modification, as the
expense of improving equipment is temporary, and can be paid off by forthcoming profits. Customers are
keen on products made from an environmentally conscious business in a belief that
its products are free of pollutants.
When businesses have become more profitable, more money
will be available for revamping
the environment. Probing
the core of environment-related issues, one can observe that people are
more likely to consider the possibility of incorporating environmentally
friendly practices when enough funds have been raised and alternative
livelihoods have been explored. Illegal logging, for example, centralises in
underdeveloped countries every year, where people are unable to find jobs. In comparison, economically-developed
countries show more willingness to invest in forest conservation, as their
industries rely less on natural resources and have become service-oriented.
To summarise, economic development and environmental
protection are not inimical,
but complementary. They are inextricably intertwined, and can be promoted simultaneously.
1. interrelate
= correlate = interconnect
2. complementary
= paired
3. operate
= manipulate = manoeuvre
4. impel
= compel = urge = drive
5. decelerate
= slow
6. compliance
= observance
7. loyalty
= allegiance = faithfulness
8. reputation
= fame
9. modification
= transformation = change = alternation
10. pay
off = recompense = reimburse
11. forthcoming
= imminent = impending "approaching
12. revamp
= mend = repair = restore
13. probe
= look into investigate
14. centralise
= concentrate
15. in
comparison = by comparison = by contrast
16. inimical
= contradictory = at odds = conflicting
17. intertwine
= interlink = interweave = interconnect
Topic 54: Environmental problems
are serious in many countries. It means that the only possible way to protect
the environment is at an international level. To what extent do you agree or
disagree on this hypothesis?
Globally, environmental degradation has been recognised
as one of the main challenges that people have to overcome in the 21st century.
The rapid deterioration of environment is believed to impose a severe threat on people's
survival in the years ahead,
if not solved effectively. In addressing this issue, countries worldwide
should join forces and make a concerted effort, instead of working individually
for inconsistent targets.
The first point to support international cooperation is
that the impact of an environmental problem can be on the
global scale. Common knowledge is that people live in a
global environment and share natural resources and survive on the same
biosphere. The interdependencies
of ecosystems and the transport of pollutants are the main characteristics
of the world. For instance, a stream or lake in a country can be affected by
pesticides released from
neighbouring croplands, lawns and gardens and by pollutants emitted thousands
of miles away. Likewise, the depiction of a natural resource (such as
deforestation) in one nation can have environmental and economic ramifications in many
other countries.
Another benefit obtained from international cooperation
is facilitating the exchange of goods, technology, know-how and capital. It is
crucial to hammering 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 protection. With a clear intent
to restore the
damaged environment, those countries have difficulties in making headway, in the absence of facilities or
technologies. They need the support from the global community, especially those
industrialised countries that have achieved remarkable progress in this field.
By sharing experience in environmental management, countries can tackle
problems with greater efficiency and at lower costs.
To summarise, cooperation between countries is
inevitable in this global campaign, not only because the ecosystem is a unified
mechanism but also because international engagement can make optimal use of
financial and human resources. By collaborating with each other, countries are
able to protect the global environment with using the least amount of
resources.
1. threat
= danger risk
2. in
the years ahead = in the years to come
3. on
the global scale = at the international level
4. interdependency
= interaction = interplay = mutual dependence
5. release
= emit = discharge = dump = dispose
6. ramification
= consequence = result
7. hammer
out = arrive at = work out
8. underdeveloped
countries = developing countries = countries in a backward state
9. intent
= intention = purpose = aim
10. restore
= repair = revamp
11. make
headway = make progress
12. in
the absence of = lacking = without
Topic 55: Some people believe that
air travel should be restricted because it causes serious pollution and will
use up the world's resources. Do you agree or disagree?
The issue of the impact of air travel on the environment
has heated up in recent years, following the concern that more and more people turn to it as a means of
travel. Restrictions have been preferably imposed on air travel, according to
some people. There are some points in their argument.
The first is that aircrafts have been responsible for a
large proportion of air pollution. Planes, either filling or taxiing, contribute a large proportion of
local emission annually. Some might suggest that air is the only suitable mode
of transport for long distance trips. This viewpoint is fallacious. Trains, for
instance, serve as an optimal
alternative, consuming less energy and causing less pollution.
As well as air pollution, aircrafts can cause noise
pollution. Although it is difficult to measure the actual impact of noise on
people's everyday lives, its ability to increase the anxiety and levels of
annoyance has been confirmed.
Especially to those living in the neighbourhood of an airport and around the
flight paths, noise created by aircrafts is indeed a headache.
Although travelling by air is likely to cause problems,
it is not to say that air navel should be significantly restricted.
Alternatively, air travel can be operated in a manner that its strengths can be
fully taken advantage of. For example, by replacing old engines with cleaner
ones, people can mitigate the
environmental impact caused by flying. Meanwhile, aircrafts have a higher
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 aircrafts.
However, it does not automatically mean that air travel should be curtailed.
Instead, people should make adjustments and improvements wherever appropriate
to ensure the optimal use of this form of
travel.
1. turn
to = resort to = rely on
2. idle
= stay unused = remain redundant
3. optimal
= best = most favourable
4. confirm
= verify = prove true
5. mitigate
= alleviate = ease = lessen = soften
6. form
of travel = means of travel = mode of travel
Topic 56: It is said that the best
way to solve the world's environmental problems is to increase the price of
fuel. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The burning of fossil fuels is universally recognised as
the largest source of emissions of greenhouse gases in the world and one of the
key factors responsible for global warming. When there is a growing concern
about 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 to the drop in
car use. This approach is productive to some extent, but some other measures
should be given equal consideration.
It should be first noted that car use alone does not take up the entire
consumption of petrol, although people's
obsession with 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
by many families are powered by petrol as well. Therefore, when it comes to
reducing greenhouse gas emissions, people should take different methods
simultaneously, instead of relying on any single method only.
People should meanwhile recognise the fact that the
demand for petrol is generally inelastic,
at least in the short run. The consumption of petrol would not vary
significantly according to the fluctuation of petrol price. To such a high
degree have people relied on petrol in their daily lives 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 fool or by bike is clean, but not preferred by many
people, who are extremely time conscious.
Therefore, die effort to reduce greenhouse gases
emission by curbing car use cannot achieve any immediate outcome unless
sufficient time is given. Over a period of years, petrol consumption is very-likely
to drop, when households realise that fuels represent an 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 cars or cars powered by renewable clean energy sources, a cure-all for car emission
problems.
In conclusion, imposing petrol tax is neither the main
nor the only solution to environmental problems that people are struggling to
solve, although the utilisation of fossil fuels, particularly petrol, is the
largest source of emissions. Some other methods should be taken into
consideration as well.
1. take
up = occupy = make up = constitute = account for
2. obsession
with = fascination with = passion for
3. inelastic
= unchangeable = fixed
4. cure-all
= panacea = universal remedy = solution
Topic 57: Water resources around
the world are falling deficient. Analyse the possible reasons and provide your
suggestions.
Access to water is vital
to every living creature on the planet. Despite the fact that approximately
two thirds of the earth surface is covered with all forms of water bodies,
countries worldwide are faced with different levels of water shortages. Some
reasons can be cited to explain the emergence of this problem.
A trigger for a water crisis is people's lack of
knowledge of the value of water. Given the ready availability of water in many
countries, people tend to believe that the reserve of water in the world is
infinite. Notwithstanding the increased expenditure on water supply, water is
perceived as a cheap commodity by many families. Many people see water as a perpetual resource. For
this reason, the unbridled
use of water is commonplace, accelerating the exhaustion of this valuable
resource.
Rapid population growth is another force contributing to
the water crisis. Not only does it reduce the amount of water available for
manufacture, farming and households, but also has a profound effect on the
sustainability of aquatic ecosystems. Massive urban and
industrial growth fuels unprecedented demands, often at the expense of aquatic
ecosystems. Many water resources are not replenished
before being re-used and depleted.
Human-induced pollution is worthy of concern as well, a
factor regarded by many as the root cause of the rapid loss of drinkable water.
The untreated discharge of various pollutants such as heavy metals, organic toxins, oils and solids
in water bodies is believed to have severe impacts. Industrialisation,
meanwhile, results in abnormal
climate and biological destruction. While some areas have become barren, other areas are
hit by floods. Floods ravage
everything, including reservoirs, dams and cannels. The water supply
problem will intensify.
As noted above, the steady loss 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 can be made far more efficient
by introducing new farming techniques (e.g., drip irrigation). Drought-resistant
plants can help cut the amount of water needed.
1. vital
= crucial = essential = central = critical
2. perpetual
= eternal = everlasting
3. unbridled
= unchecked = uncontrolled = uninhibited
4. aquatic
= water-related
5. replenish
= refill
6. deplete
= reduce = exhaust = use up = drain
7. toxin
= contaminant = pollutant = poison = noxious waste
8. abnormal
= non-standard = unusual
9. barren
= arid = unproductive = infertile = dry = waterless
10. ravage
= ruin = damage
Topic 58: Many people believe that
the human society has developed into a throw-away society, which is filled with
plastic bags and rubbish. What are the causes and solutions?
Although waste disposal does not grab a headline as
frequently as many other environmental issues do, it does not mean that it is
less serious. As a matter of feet, the treatment of garbage continues
to be a problem worldwide. Despite its sizable influence, many citizens have
not yet realised the seriousness of this issue. It is the goal of this article
to outline the potential causes of this problem and suggest possible solutions.
People should first recognise that the increment in
garbage is a natural result of the social and economic development. Unethical businesses are
the main creators of
industrial waste, including heavy metal, chemicals, plastic, and other durable
and non-recyclable materials. People's quest
for a better standard of living gives them incentives to manufacture a rich
variety of consumer goods and disregard the potential impact on environment.
This practice can date back to the earliest
days of industrial revolution, producing enormous waste that is
unable to be recycled and causing an environmental disaster.
Another potential reason for the slow progress in waste
treatment is people's low awareness
of the opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle waste. Many people do not
have a firm stand against
over-consumption and excessive production of disposable items. Besides, many
citizens are not environmentally conscious, disposing of wastes whenever and
wherever they consider convenient. Meanwhile, many manufacturers lend to use virgin materials, rather
than recyclable materials in the course of production. That's why many
communities are facing a particularly difficult position in waste treatment.
The best approach to address waste issues is simply to
minimise its generation. It is primarily because the more waste people produce
the more waste they have to cope with. Waste recycling offers another means,
although it requires the spontaneous commitment of both businesses and citizens.
Additionally, laws should be set out
to regulate corporation behaviour and make their operation environmentally
friendly.
It is clear that the problem of waste disposal exists
due to people's ever-growing demand for manufactured goods and slow response to
the impact of this problem on the environment. Tackling this problem depends
not only on individual's effort to keep the waste to a minimum but also on
businesses’ attempt to optimise their manufacture and reduce the inputs.
1. garbage
= refuse = waste = rubbish
2. unethical
= immoral
3. creator
= maker
4. quest
= pursuit
5. earliest
days = outset = start = onset
6. recycle
= reuse
7. awareness
= consciousness
8. stand
= stance = position
9. virgin
material = raw material
10. set
out = lay out-enforce
11. input
= resources used
Topic 59: Food can be produced much
more cheaply today because of improved fertilisers and better machinery.
However, some of the methods used to do this may be dangerous to human health
and may have negative effects on local communities. To what extent do you agree
or disagree?
Fertilisers and machinery used to be welcomed by
countries worldwide as essential elements of industrialised fanning, a landmark
in the history of global agriculture. However, because of being used on a large
scale worldwide, they have caused heated controversy. There is ongoing debate
on the possible damages of industrial farming caused to the environment and humanity. In my 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 starvation
throughout the world. In history, manual work accounted for the majority of fanning, from sowing,
irrigating to harvesting. The slow pace of human labour made it impossible to
produce enough crops to toed populations. Farming is, on the other hand,
exposed to the influence of many elements — weather conditions, soil
compositions, pests or some unpredictable
events like natural disasters. Fertilisers enhance crops or oilier foods'
resistance to external disturbances, while machinery saves manpower by
finishing the major part of the work. The yield is raised to the highest, and
lands are used to the full. Enough food can be produced to meet the market need
now, despite the continued growth of the population.
Some people defy
fertilisers and machinery because of their concern on environment. However,
this notion has been
challenged by advances in this area of knowledge. Technological innovation has
made machinery more environmentally friendly, and many machines used for
farming purposes are now able to operate without generating much waste.
Fertilisers, by comparison, are much less environment-damaging. Most
fertilisers are organic and free of ingredients incompatible with the
environment. Nor do they have deleterious
effects on people's health.
Despite what has been discussed, farmers should beware
of over-application of fertilisers, from an environmental perspective,
fertilisers and machinery should be classified and used with caution. The
over-application of fertilisers not only has perpetually disastrous effects on farms but also injures the
neighbouring ecosystem. Many scientific studies suggest that a long history of
fertiliser use can significantly 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 supply of foods still rests on fertilisers and machinery, and the key is to use
them properly and in moderation.
1. humanity
= human race = humankind = people
2. irreplaceable
= unique = inimitable = matchless
3. starvation
= hunger = food crisis = food shortage
4. account
for = explain = justify = give an explanation for
5. unpredictable
= random = irregular
6. defy
= boldly resist = boldly reject = act against
7. notion
= concept = perception = thought = opinion
8. deleterious
= detrimental life = damaging = life-threatening
9. disastrous
= devastating = ruinous = catastrophic
10. rest
on = hinge on = depend on = rely on = count on
Topic 60: Some people hold that we
should spend money and time on the protection of wild animals while others
suggest that the money should be spent on populations living in the poorest
areas of the world. What is your opinion?
In these years, animal protection has become a subject
of ongoing scientific research and an issue of concern. People take different
views toward the enormous spending required by wildlife conservation. It is
suggested that the spending should be diverted
to helping human populations, especially those living below poverty line,
because human life is more valuable than animal life. In my opinion, the
investment in animal conservation is worthwhile.
Animals, as a significant part of an ecosystem, have
profound impacts on the sustainability 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 or
underpopulation of another species and then put this species at the verge of
extinction. The natural balance will be disrupted and the ecosystem cannot be
sustained. It would disable vegetation from purifying water, recycling nutrient and pollinating
crops. We humans are eventually affected.
Another justification for animal protection is that
animals play a significant role in the development of industries, as an
important natural resource. People derive substances and materials from animals
for different purposes. A typical example is that animals provide essential
substances for drug-making. It is also very common that designers and engineers
turn to wildlife for inspiration. For instance, the invention of water-proof clothing drew
upon the research on sharks.
On account of those benefits, wildlife protection is a
significant strategy that has far-reaching effects on the future of human.
However, when implemented, this strategy should be adapted in different
contexts. It should be noted that spending money simply on 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 stop people from
hunting and trading animals for a living. An alternative strategy is creating
jobs or providing subsidies, lifting these regions out of poverty.
From what has 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 protection is a strategy that
applies to the whole world, and might vary in different circumstances.
1. divert
= switch = redirect
2. worthwhile
= worthy
3. purify
= cleanse = decontaminate
4. pollinate
= fertilise
5. water-proof
= water-resistant = rainproof = watertight = impermeable
