Topic 61: Some people strongly
oppose animal experimentation, believing that it causes pain to animals, while
some other people consider it necessary. What is your opinion?
Perhaps no subject in the moral community is as
controversial as animal testing. Animals, many people believe, merit more humane
treatment. When animal-based experiments have long been the centre of
criticism, I am of the opinion that such experiments are essential to both the
well-being of human beings and that of animals.
There is little doubt, first of all, that most of the
animal-based experiments are conducted for the development of technology and to
date, there is little chance of finding satisfying substitutions for animals. Animals are used mainly
because they bear a close resemblance
to humans, either in behaviour or in cell structure. They respond to
external disturbances (such as electrical shock) nearly in the same manner as
humans do. There is much evidence that most of what people know about
themselves, including pain, stress, reproduction and nutrition, is based on
findings of animal-based experiments. Animal testing proves one of the main
approaches to predict the risk when drugs or other products are used on humans.
Another fact to support animal-based experiment is that
animals are not the equivalent
of humans, and can be used as resources for human purposes. Animals have no
capacity to recognise
the rights of other species. Nor will they take in consideration the interests
of other species. It is possibly one of the main reasons why animals feed on each other.
Humans, by comparison, use animal experimentations not only for their own
interests but also for the interests of animals. For example, some medical
discoveries can be used by veterinary surgeons to give medical care and
treatment to sick animals.
Despite the justifications given for vivisection,
researchers have the obligation to reduce animal testing and animal suffering.
There is a growing recognition that animal tests are mostly done for commercial
purposes and most of them are avoidable. For instance, the cosmetic industry
has been exploiting animal experimentation simply for diversifying products and
maximising profits. The fewer cosmetic products people use, the fewer animals
they have to slaughter. When
scientists are empowered to carry out cruel experiments like vivisection, such
powers should not be abused.
To summarise, one can subscribe to the notion that
animals can be taken as resources intended for the benefit of humans, although
meanwhile it is certain that suffering should be controlled to the minimum
during experimentation.
1. merit
= deserve
2. substitution
= replacement
3. resemblance
= sameness = similarity
4. equivalent
= counterpart
5. capacity
= ability = capability = competence = aptitude = power
6. feed
on = eat = survive on
7. slaughter
= kill = massacre = slay = butcher
Topic 62: Far too little has been
done to prevent animals and plants from dying out, although people have noticed
this problem for a long time. Why have people failed to improve this situation?
What are your suggestions?
Nowadays, the progressive extinction of
living species on the planet — either animals or plants — has arisen
as a big environmental challenge, according to many scientists and researchers.
Despite the growing concern on this issue, little progress has been made in
this Held. There are some factors that account for why this has happened. In my
opinion, this situation can be remedied, provided that some reasonable steps
are taken.
The sharp fall in living species is first attributed to
people's continued and heavy reliance on them for their own interests. An
age-old tradition is that animals are raised, bred and fed for human use. For
example, laboratory animals, working animals and sport animals have been used
for economic reasons or to fulfil different tasks throughout much of human
history. The meat of rare animals
is regarded as a delicacy in some countries, for example, whale meat in Japan.
When it conies to plants, over-logging, over-grazing and soil erosion are the
root causes of the dwindling
vegetation. Over-utilisation
of living species has made many animals and plants face extinction risk.
Another reason cited to explain this is that few people
take the mass extinction of species seriously. For example, fur is desired and
pursued as a fashionable status symbol in many countries, even in those
countries where people are known for their environmental concern, such as New Zealand, Canada
and Australia.
Barely have buyers realised that their purchase decisions will encourage the
fur business to further animal slaughter. Rainforest destruction is another
example. Despite strong opposition to lumber harvesting, this problem continues
simply because people have an ever-growing appetite for land to live on (such
as buying luxury properties in the country) and wood products to consume (such
as furniture). Humans' pursuit of comfort and enjoyment has long been justified
and condoned, even
though the pursuit is at the expense of other species on the planet.
From what has been discussed, it is clear that lack of
awareness and over-reliance on natural resources are the main reasons why
species are being pushed closer to the brink
of extinction. Humane education represents a long-term commitment and will
help raise a generation that has a real knowledge of environment protection and
slays alert to the risk of animal exploitation and ecological degradation. In
addition, it is imperative to carefully measure and control any activity that
is likely to pose a threat on the survival of species. Decision makers and
individual citizens alike should take into consideration the impacts of their
decisions and behaviours on living species. It is important to realise that
preservation of living species is not sentimental, but essential to the
well-being of humankind.
1. extinction
= death = loss = disappearance = annihilation
2. breed
= reproduce
3. feed
= give food to = nourish = raise = bring up
4. rare
animal = exotic animal = endangered animal = threatened species
5. dwindle-shrink
= decline = disappear
6. over-utilisation
= excessive use = over-exploitation
7. condone
= forgive = disregard-ignore = overlook = excuse = pardon
8. brink
= verge
9. sentimental
= emotional = unrealistic
Topic 63: Some people think that
killing animals for food is cruel, but others claim that animals are a
necessary part of diet. What's your opinion?
It is a widespread practice that livestock is raised and
butchered for human consumption. Although it has been condemned
as cruelty to animals, a counter-argument is that meat is the necessity for
people's health and well-being. To the best of my knowledge, meat is a regular
part of the diet and there is no alternative to animal food sources.
The first justification is that animal source foods
provide a wide range of nutrients
that are difficult to obtain in adequate quantities from plant source
foods. Insufficient intake of those nutrients will produce negative health
outcomes, such as poor growth. A diet with a good combination of meat and
vegetable is thought to have considerable value. Some might argue that
consumption of meat can pose health risks and increase the risk of foodborne
illness. This statement is fallacious, considering the fact that people can
kill bacteria and
remove risk factors by cooking properly and using scientific methods in
manufacture.
Another point to note is that most of the meat available
in supermarkets for people's consumption is produced by industrial agriculture.
In view of the intense use of modern technology and mass production techniques,
the produced livestock, poultry
or fish cannot be taken as ordinary animals but only as manufactured goods.
By making use of economies of scale
to produce enough food at an affordable cost, industrial farming is
essential to addressing food supply problems.
The significance of capitalising on animals as a food
source is therefore undeniable, but it is important to realise that people
cannot exploit animals and become addicted to meat consumption. Animal fats,
for example, increase the risk of heart disease and meat is frequently
associated with outbreaks of
food poisoning. Meanwhile, people's insatiable
desire for meat might lead to intensive livestock farming and animal
slaughter, which has a direct impact on the well-being of animals worldwide.
From the preceding
discussion, one can see no reason why livestock or some other animals
cannot be used as food. Switching to an animal free diet is a personal option,
but the question remains whether one can ensure sufficient intake of nutrition
necessary for one's health. When there is little room for argument concerning
the use of animals for meat, it is necessary to impose standards and prevent
animal exploitation.
1.
butcher =
kill for meat = cut for meat
2.
nutrient
= life-enhancing substance = nutrition
3.
bacteria
= microbe = microorganism = germ
4.
poultry =
fowl = livestock
5.
economies
of scale = cost-effective advantages = advantages obtained from mass production
6.
outbreak
= occurrence = outburst
7.
insatiable
= avid = greedy = voracious = ravenous
8.
preceding
= previous = earlier = above
Topic 64: Discuss the arguments for
and against raising pets.
In those years, animal welfare has become a subject of
controversy and it has been argued that animals should not be regarded as
property by human beings or used against their own best interests. When pet
raising has become a way of life in many societies around the world, it has, on
the other hand, raised the question of whether it is a breach of animal rights.
Below are some arguments concerning pet ownership.
Pet animals are known for their loyalty and playful
characteristics and believed to have a positive effect on the health
of their owners. The pressures of modern lifestyles are tremendous. Compared to
previous generations, people are more likely to live independently and away
from their families at the present time. Adopting a pet animal as a companion
can give quality to the owner's life, and help reduce stress and blood
pressure. It is also regarded as a solution to the feeling of isolation and
loneliness. These two facts are combined to justify why there are an increasing
number of people now depending on pet animals as companions or even a therapy.
Raising pets benefits pets as well. Providing companionship and giving
pleasure to their owners, pets receive loving care and attention in return.
Some might argue that holding a pet is unnatural,
because pet animals would lose their original way of life. However, people
should meanwhile recognise that some animals are unfitted to the wild environment. It is morally wrong
that people force annuals to struggle with food, clean water and other
necessities in the wild environment.
Keeping an animal is therefore beneficial, but, notably,
there is no guarantee that every pet lives a happy life. Ignorance of an
animal's needs for space, exercise or contact with members of the same species,
for instance, has been found as a common problem with raising pets. It should
also be noted that many people adopt pets for wrong reasons, such as a
statement of affluence or a status symbol. They are very likely to abandon or
even kill pets when their initial interest subsides. When holding pet animals
has become popular, other problems will result, e. g., pollution caused by
excess manure.
Based on the facts outlined above, people can conclude that
pet-keeping is a tradition that can be either good or bad, from an ethical
point of view. On the one hand, it gives people companionship and great
pleasure and animals obtain a loving home and a happy life. On the other,
inappropriate treatment can rob
animals of the basic
right to well being.
1. playful
= lively = animated
2. therapy
= cure = remedy = treatment
3. companionship
= company
4. unnatural
= abnormal = aberrant = deviant
5. unfitted
= unsuitable = incompatible with = incongruous with
6. manure
= dung
7. rob
sb. of = deprive of = take from
Topic 65: Good facilities can be
found in cities but not in the countryside. Therefore, new doctors and teachers
should be sent to the countryside. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Poor facilities have been found as a common sight of
rural areas. To improve this situation, some suggest that new doctors and
teachers should be assigned
with tasks in the countryside, but not in urban areas. There are some
strong arguments for tins suggested solution.
The first is that hospitals, clinics and schools are
severely understaffed in rural areas, compared with their overstaffed
counterparts in the city. The imbalance of resource and staff has chronic
effects on the well-being of rural people. Lack of education or medication has
made them among the most disadvantaged in a country. Allocating new doctors and
teachers to those areas can at least provide a temporary solution. Besides, it
helps address the issue of distributing the graduates from medical school and
normal college, with filling those vacancies
for physicians and teachers in rural communities.
To the doctors or teachers that graduate freshly with a
degree only, working in rural areas enables them to enrich work experience
within the shortest possible period of time. Opportunities are scarce in the
city, where numerous candidates are in the race for a single position. The
chance of raising standards through practice is so meagre that it will over time hamper rural
practitioners' career development and will make them uncompetitive in a
skill-based society. Facility shortage to many doctors in the country is an
opportunity, instead of a challenge. They are in a position to rely more on
clinical skills than on sophisticated equipment. For teachers, they teach with
few teaching aids. All contribute to the increment of their skills.
Despite those benefits, the place of work should be
chosen by doctors or teachers themselves and compulsory assortment is not
justifiable. It is not ethical to stop the desire of individuals for a more satisfying
quality of life. Needless to say working in rural areas has many issues to
address, working conditions, transport and housing. For this reason, those
graduates who volunteer to take rural employment deserve a better pay as a recognition of their contribution
and also as an incentive.
From what has been discussed, working for a period of
time in the country can benefit new teachers and doctors alike with increasing
their work experience and meanwhile, address the service shortage facing those
areas. However, the voluntary sign-up should be guaranteed, instead of
compulsory assignment.
1. assign
= appoint = send = allocate
2. vacancy
= position = post = job opportunity
3. physician
= doctor = general practitioner = surgeon
4. meagre
= scanty = slim
5. recognition
= acknowledgement = appreciation = respect
6. incentive
= motivation = encouragement = inducement
Topic 66: Some findings have
revealed that cities around the world are growing large. Could you outline the
possible causes and predict consequences?
Of those issues that have concerned the government,
academics and the public throughout the world, urban sprawl is one of the most
prominent. There are conflicting views toward this growing trend. While it has
been taken as a positive development in many newly emerging cities, it is
increasingly perceived as a threat to rural environment and considered as a
trigger for numerous urban problems. The objective of this essay is to evaluate
the forces behind this trend and its consequences.
Population growth is widely recognised as the primary
reason. The room in the city centre is so limited that it fails to provide
enough housing to accommodate an ever-growing population. Another problem that
has intensified in the inner city is infrastructure shortage and poor conditions
of buildings. Lack of amenities,
such as water and electricity supply, waste disposal, swage treatment,
to name but a few, has left no
choice to urban dwellers but to resettle in the suburbs, where they have easier
access to new facilities
City dwellers are not always moving outward unwillingly.
The continued increase in household incomes gives renewed impetus to urban development. People nowadays
have higher expectations for quality
of life and a growing appetite for lower-density housing with a
larger open space. It is possibly the main reason why the real estate market has its focus now on the outskirts of the city,
but not on the centre. In the
meantime, the affordability and ubiquity of car ownership has made transport a less
serious concern for those living in suburbs. They can commute daily between the place of work and the place
of residence with ease.
The sustained expansion of cities will make a marked impact on the
society in several dimensions. The high traffic volume between suburbs and
urban areas would cause severe air pollution and reduce the lands suitable for
fanning. Urban sprawl requires large developments, causing areas to lose some
of their unique qualities and characteristics. From the economic perspective,
the relocation of a high population in suburbs will pose adverse fiscal impacts
on the local government in infrastructure construction. To those who used to
live in suburbs, the inflow
of new inhabitants would
damage the community
spirit and make relations between neighbours fragile.
Urban sprawl is, therefore, a trend which has a strong
effect on the environment, communities and government budgeting. When urban
decay and citizens' desire for higher standard of living make this trend irreversible, the
emphasis should be placed on planned and sustainable development.
1. amenity
= facility = service
2. disposal
= clearance
3. treatment
= handling = dealing
4. to
name but a few = to mention but a few = and so on = and so forth
5. renewed
= new
6. impetus
= momentum = thrust = drive = force
7. quality
of life = living standard = the level of comfort and wealth
8. real
estate = property = housing
9. outskirt
= suburb = the periphery of a city
10. in
the meantime = meanwhile
11. ubiquity
= prevalence = popularity
12. commute
= go back and forth
13. with
ease = easily = effortlessly = without much effort = without difficulty
14. marked
= noticeable = distinct = manifest
15. inflow
= influx = arrival
16. inhabitant
= dweller = citizen = resident
17. damage
= injure
18. irreversible
= unalterable
Topic 67: The only way to improve
road safety is to impose severe punishment for driving offences. Do you agree
or disagree?
Road safety has long been an issue of concern to the
public, and to the government. Nothing qualifies as a sufficient compensation
when a road accident occurs. Despite the painstaking
effort to reduce death, injury, and trauma
across the world, many countries are seeing traffic accidents increase exponentially. In improving road safety, some
people advocate harsh punishment.
In my opinion, it is merely one of the many countermeasures and cannot prevent
all criminal offences on the road.
In many cases, many automobile accidents occur not
because drivers belittle or defy road regulations but because those regulations
are unfamiliar to them. It is an everyday occurrence that rule-breaking acts
and traffic crashes are linked to poor driving skills. Many drivers have
limited experience in coping with different situations and an inaccurate
estimation of the complexity of road conditions, despite having passed licence
tests. It alerts people to the loopholes
in policies, such as the loose control over car use, low requirements on
driving training and low licence standards. In tackling those problems, it is
imperative to require licence applicants to attend more safe-driving courses
and pass strict tests.
Besides
education,
other endeavours, such as improving road infrastructure and transportation
systems, are equally important. Road conditions should be improved to allow
different users, including drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, to use roads
safely. Other facilities, such as stoplights and stop signs, can be used
wherever appropriate to curb speed driving. Furthermore, authorities can sponsor the research for
road safety measures and effective precautions, such as identifying risk
factors of different driving patterns. By translating these findings into
policies and practices, the government is in a stronger position to protect
vehicle occupants and vulnerable
road users.
Wider intervention of local authorities is also
recommended, such as increasing patrols in those areas where accident rate is
high. Road regulations should be reassessed and revised regularly so as to
combat road offences more effectively. When the existing policies fail to
regulate road users' behaviour, tightening
the control is preferred. However, as suggested before, strict standards
require full compliance. Without
regulations closely observed, standards are in fact vain.
It can therefore be made clear that punishment is not
the only way to cut the accident rate and improve people's safety on road. Some
other measures, such as increasing road users' knowledge of rules and defence
driving skills, improving road infrastructure and enforcing compliance with
standards, are all important
1. painstaking
= diligent = careful = conscientious
2. trauma
= suffering = pain
3. exponentially
= dramatically = markedly
4. harsh
= unsympathetic = unforgiving = severe: = strict
5. countermeasure
= preventive measure/action = precaution
6. loophole
= mistake = escape = dodge
7. besides
= apart from = aside from
8. sponsor
= fund = subsidise = support
9. vulnerable
= defenceless = susceptible
10. tighten
= increase = boost
11. compliance
= conforming
12. vain
= worthless = futile = ineffective
Topic 68: Police in Britain
do not carry guns. Some people believe that unarmed police are unable to protect
citizens, but some suggest that arming the police will lead to a surge in
violence in society. Discuss those two views.
Whether to arm the police is a contentious subject.
While some people maintain that unarmed police are unable to protect law-abiding
citizens, others reject this notion, believing that it leads to a drop in
violence in society. There are several factors that account for the stark
contrast between the two thoughts.
The primary concern on armed police is that it would
increase the potential for miscarriages of justice and mistaken shootings of innocent civilians. The
legislation in many countries is supportive of this concern. Laws protect
citizens from torture or cruel treatment and also their rights on arrest or
detainment. If armed, the police will be less likely to think twice before
pulling the trigger. They can easily get away with private execution by inventing a legitimate excuse, such as
self-defence. The chance of a shoot-out would naturally rise, causing many preventable
injuries or losses of life.
Arming the police might also add fuel to the gun culture. Nowadays, perhaps
nothing is worse than the continued rise in the gun ownership rate. Arming the
police can never redress the
imbalance but worse, give criminals a motivator
to carry guns even for minor crimes. On the other hand, in those
communities that are otherwise peaceful, armed police are intimidating and the fear of crime will spread
wildly. It would lead to further demand on private gun ownership, and expose
members of the public to higher risk.
Arming police is therefore not advisable in most cases
but only allowed in exceptional circumstances. For example, in those areas
where armed crimes are rampant, armed police protect not only the public but
also themselves from the potential attack. It gives the police the leverage in
their combat against criminals, especially those hardened criminals. Firearms
also serve as a deterrent to
would-be offenders. If
street patrols in some neighbourhoods are routinely armed, it helps cut the
rates of crime.
The access to weapons should therefore be limited, for
the simple reason that carrying guns leads to higher likelihood of mistaken
shootings and to higher levels of violence. Carrying guns is only accepted when
the police are in conflict situations and confrontations with criminals.
1. mistaken
= incorrect
2. execution
= the death sentence = killing = capital punishment
3. preventable
= unnecessary = avoidable
4. add
fuel to = fuel = invigorate = encourage
5. redress
= restore = remedy
6. motivator
= incentive = impetus
7. intimidating
= daunting = frightening = scary
8. deterrent
= warning
9. would-be
= possible = likely = prospective = potential
Topic 69: Do you think it is better
to send criminals to jail or let them receive education or job training?
In the public mind, a prison is a place to keep those
who have done wicked things in captivity, in order that they will not contaminate
law-abiding citizens. However, there is a growing concern in these
years that imprisonment is a less effective form of punishment, and some
alternatives seem to promise more satisfying outcomes. I agree on this proposed
change, with evidence that imprisonment can be merely taken as the last resort.
Education is of critical importance to rehabilitating an offender. It first changes
delinquents' attitudes toward society and family, a prerequisite to their reintegration into the community. It meanwhile allows
them to keep in contact with the community, an opportunity that prisoners are
normally deprived of. With the passing of time, they lose confidence and the
ability to function prosocially. The risk of re-offending is thus higher. The
third benefit is preventing offenders' peer group effect, because by receiving
education in a proper learning environment, offenders have lower chance of
reinforcing each other's antisocial and criminal behaviours in group
situations.
Similar to education, work is one of the most important
interventions in corrections, whether it takes the form of work release or
vocational training. Money is the main inducement
of many crimes, such as shoplifting, robbery, burglary, and so forth. Job
training enables offenders to acquire earning capacity and improve job skills.
By this they can become productive members of society and have the opportunity
to behave normally towards family or occupation or society. Greater
post-release employment success will, in general, lead to a lower rate of
recidivism.
However, to those habitual criminals, who have committed
crimes repeatedly and show little respect for the legal system, education and
job training might not make any significant difference. This category of
offenders gives little thought to their past or future. Their behaviours and
thoughts are deeply ingrained
and unbending, in
which circumstance imprisonment is the best way of keeping them from being perpetrators. Meanwhile,
imprisonment has deterrent effects and can deter potential offenders from
becoming actual offenders.
To sum up, it is clear that the results of imprisonment
can be mixed and it is only effective in restricting those who are very likely
to commit repeated acts of violence. By contrast, education and vocational
training suit those who committed less serious crimes, preventing them from
becoming re-offenders after release and assisting them to reorganise their
lives.
1. contaminate
= taint = infect = influence
2. resort
= alternative = option = choice
3. rehabilitate
= restore = mend = re-establish = reshape = remould
4. offender
= lawbreaker = delinquent
5. prerequisite
= requirement = precondition
6. reintegration
= blending
7. inducement
= incentive = enticement
8. ingrained
= embedded = deep-rooted = fixed
9. unbending
= fixed = unyielding
10. perpetrator-criminal
Topic 70: Many people are afraid of
leaving their houses because of the spread of crimes. Some think that more actions
can be taken to prevent crime from occurring, but others think little can be
done. What is your opinion?
The rise in the crime rate in the past decades has fuelled
public worries about the rapidly declining safety of their
communities. Some people take the position
that little can be done to prevent themselves from victimisation. As opposed to this general pessimism,
many people, however, maintain that in combating
crime, people should adopt a proactive approach. I side with both of them.
The first point to support this is that the government
can increase intervention, including launching anti-crime public campaigns,
enforcing new laws, and providing education. A civilised society is characterised by a high
literacy rate and a low crime rate. The negative relationship between these two
parameters implies
that one will be away from a life of crime if given the access to education.
Another method relies on the combination
of imposing tougher laws
and training a more effective police force. Not only does it penalise those
offenders but it also deters prospective criminals. Moreover, the government
can capitalise on the mass media throughout the country to alert the public to
the threat of crime and teach citizens self-defence techniques.
For individual citizens, many crimes can be nipped in the bud, if
they keep vigilant at
crimes and are brave enough to fight back. It is particularly true in cases
where burglars break into houses without an alarm system, and shoplifters
target those shops that are not under the surveillance of security camera. In
simple terms, it is people's negligence that causes them to fall prey to the
criminals. On other occasions, criminals are pampered by people's cowardice. If they possessed courage to chase
criminals or at least report to the police on a crime, there would be fewer
victims.
To tackle crime, as indicated above, requires the
commitment of nearly all members of society, from the government to ordinary
citizens. Although there might not be a great deal one can do to prevent crimes
from occurring, it is not entirely helpless. Solutions exist somewhere always,
but wait to be found and practiced.
1. fuel
= increase = invigorate = stimulate
2. position
= stance = attitude = opinion = view
3. victimisation
= persecution
4. combat
= fight = struggle with
5. side
with = agree with = support = be in sb. 's camp
6. characterise
= typify
7. parameter
= factor
8. combination
= mixture
9. tough
= strict = rigid = stringent
10. nip
crimes in the bud
11. vigilant
= watchful = wary = alert = cautious = attentive
12. pamper
= spoil
13. cowardice
= spinelessness
Topic 71: There are more and more
effective security measures in large cities to reduce the crime. Does this
endeavour bring more benefits than problems?
In these years, the society has seen rapid proliferation
of different measures aiming to prevent victimisation. It is followed by a protracted debate over
its positive and negative impacts. In my opinion, it is a reflection of the inflated fear of crime,
but not of actual levels of crime.
To a larger or lesser extent, the increased presence of
anti-crime devices fuels the fear of crime and has a devastating effect on people's quality of life.
Crimes are concentrated in particular areas, but the fear of crime spreads
across the whole community and affects nearly every resident. The most annoying
aspect of this trend is that people's freedom is curtailed (for
example, using the stairway of a building less frequently due to the alarm
installed there) and sometimes, people's privacy is invaded (due to the
concealed surveillance cameras in offices). There is little, if any, evidence
that the threat people perceive has a real life counterpart.
On the other hand, although some measures are said to
deter or stop crime, they too often produce opposite outcomes. For example,
lighting in a dark area may reduce fear but also enable criminals to see their
targets more easily, leading to a high probability of attacks. The benefits of self-protective measures
such as gun ownership and martial arts training are doubtful because nobody can
say with certainty that the net effect is to decrease harm. Most personal
defensive devices are either too difficult to use or less effective than
expected.
Crime reduction and crime prevention also rely on other
approaches rather than on security measures. Criminals choose their targets
based on time and whereabouts. Citizens will be less vulnerable to
victimisation if they bypass those places where crimes frequently occur. There
is no need for carrying chemical agents for self-defence. Many mansions are
armed with expensive in-door surveillance systems, but issuing passes to
occupants and tenants and preventing easy access to the building is more
effective and economical. In the inner city, where crimes are epidemic,
eliminating the dilapidated buildings used by criminals for hiding or selecting
a target is more useful than requiring all shops and residents nearby to
install expensive security system. The central part of crime prevention is
altering the environment, by which the root causes or at least the facilitators
of crime can be eliminated.
As suggested above, it is difficult to measure the
effectiveness of anti-crime equipment and users should examine it regularly.
The crime prevention framework should focus on making the environment safe from
crime, reducing the potential for crime in high-risk situations and halting
the possibility of future crime.
1. protract
= prolong
2. inflated
= increased = escalating
3. devastating
= destructive = harmful = damaging = dreadful
4. curtail
= limit = restrict = restrain = inhibit = curb = reduce
5. self-protective
= self-defensive
6. halt
= stop = freeze
Topic 72: With the ageing of
society, we are now beginning to see a growing interest in further abolishment
of mandatory retirement. Do you think that mandatory retirement is obsolete or
should be sustained?
Mandatory retirement is a prominent issue raised by the
continued expansion of the aged population. The notion that the older people
should be forced out of employment because of age is set to become obsolete.
However, the paradox is that a fixed retirement age is still being
widely adopted by many employers as usual, either overtly or impliedly. My
opinion is that the ways people look at older people as a section of the
workforce should be subject to modification,
in a world where the growth of the ageing population is a clear trend.
Due to improved diet, higher incomes and medical
advances, people nowadays live longer. The ongoing increase in the life expectancy leads to
the subsequent extension of working lives. It comes as no surprise that
productivity and intellectual ability of workers would remain the same as they
approach age 65 and in the years beyond. Meanwhile, older employees have a
wealth of experience and specialised knowledge they have obtained throughout
their decades-long working lives. All stand them in good stead, despite their
slightly reduced physical abilities. The age prejudice is therefore
unjustified, causing businesses to lose a major source of expert personnel.
Another disadvantage of mandatory retirement is the
difficulty in finding qualified replacements for senior employees who have
retired. Contrary to popular belief, senior employees are unlikely to impede promoting young
employees. Instead, they ensure the consistency of staff training of an
organisation. Many senior employees are willing to stay on the junior jobs and
earn less when they reach retirement age. Besides, their leadership is
essential to the improvement of younger employees' skills. With senior
employees, a corporation guarantees the diversity of perspectives and minimises
the risk of relying on impetuous
decisions made by young, inexperienced employees.
Despite those justifications for longer working lives,
working in later life might not be aligned
with the interest of all older people. For blue-collar workers,
their choice is very limited. They are either forced out because of ill health
or tired of working days and nights. In many instances, despite being able to
work, the majority of senior people prefer retirement, or at least working shorter
hours. Income has failed to be an effective incentive, compared to being part
of society and contributing to the society in later life. For this reason,
retirement should be made a voluntary option to the senior.
Based on the above-mentioned arguments, one can conclude
that the changing demographics have lent support to raising the age of
retirement or just abolishing mandatory retirement. It is in line with the
extended life expectancy and in employers' favour, although it is up to older
people themselves in deciding whether to retire or not
1. paradox
= contradictory aspect
2. modification
= adjustment = adaptation = alteration
3. life
expectancy = lifespan
4. impede
= obstruct = hinder = hamper = hold back
5. impetuous
= impulsive = reckless = heedless
6. aligned
with = in line with
Topic 73: In many countries, the
proportion of older people is increasing steadily. Do you think it is a
positive or negative change to the society?
In many countries, the trends toward fewer children and
more senior citizens are proceeding at an accelerated pace. A long and healthy
old age was previously a cause for celebration, but now viewed as a
"burden on society". As far as I sec, fears that problems will arise
from an ageing population are unfounded
People tend to believe that the ageing of a society
leads to slower growth of population size and to a shrinking workforce. The dominant way of looking
at an older society has been to see this as a problem — an increasing burden on
the working population. The fact is that as the number of young people falls,
organisations will find it harder to recruit from their traditional pool of
school-leavers and graduates. To tackle this problem, an increasing number of
sectors and companies are now desperate
to keep their highly experienced older workers. Therefore, an
ageing population will by no means constitute a problem because older people
should work at or beyond retirement age. Nor will it lead to a crisis of
labour.
Another widespread worry is the sufficiency of wealth
available in society to sustain the retired population. Paradoxically, when
people are concerned about the public expenditure on the retired population,
they have ignored private transfers of time and money from the old generation
to the young one. It is important to note that parents' earning capacity grows
nowadays because of having fewer children. The total time they spend caring for
dependents drops, and they are thus released
for productive work. When they reach retirement age, they are in a stronger
position with better financial security. In later years their children should
receive an adequate inheritance,
assisting them in turn to achieve a comfortable retirement.
In addition to establishing a solid financial base for
families, older people also have time to offer for other benefits of family and
those of the community. Healthy and energetic, they are the backbone of voluntary
services. Voluntary services are not worthless
just because they are unpaid. Senior workers can provide families or
voluntary organisations with legal, accounting, computer or other skills for
free.
As suggested above, the fear (hat people will suffer
from the "burden" of too many elderly people is unreasonable. Any
issue that arises from having a larger, older and healthier elderly population
should not be viewed as a challenge for the century to come, because improving
health and increased life expectancy mean that today's older population is able
to lead a fuller life than any generation before them.
1. unfounded
= groundless = tenuous
2. dominant
= leading = main = major = prevailing
3. desperate
to = anxious to = eager to = keen to
4. release
= free = liberate
5. inheritance
= legacy = heritage
6. backbone
= main part
7. worthless
= of no value = valueless = useless
Topic 74: Currently more and more
people respect elders and become convinced that older people should live with
their families, which is in contrast to the view that older people should live
at a nursing home. What is your opinion?
The swelling
of the aged population is an inescapable
trend in many
countries. There is no point in denying that managing this fundamental social
change is an unprecedented challenge, such as presenting suitable housing and
care options to the elderly people. As to whether a nursing home suits the
elderly better than their own homes (where they can stay with their families),
my view is that it is a decision that varies according to personal needs and
characters.
It is true that nowadays, many older persons are able to
stay active in their old age because of medical advances, healthier lifestyles
and anti-ageing technologies. It is time that people rethought the perceptions of what it means to be old.
Many retired people feel the need to contribute to the community after a
lifetime of service to businesses and their families. They love to be involved
in all sorts of activities and enjoy being included in groups. Considering
their desire to maintain their independence and be part of society, if they do
not have a decent quality of life, they will feel excluded. For this reason, the retirement home is not
a preferred option.
Families and friends are the key to a happy old age.
Elders can enjoy the company
of the peers of the same age in a nursing home but meanwhile, suffer a loss
of family life. Living away from their families, older people are more prone to
the feeling of loneliness. The lingering
stereotype of the average senior citizen as a frail and passive family member
should be scraped now. Older members are capable of shouldering more family responsibilities following
their retirement. Their sense of well-being is linked to the extent to which
they are involved in family duties.
Despite the strong preference among the elderly for
staying with their families, a nursing home functions well to help those who do
not have the company of their families. In addition to offering the access to
social activity and engagement, a nursing home provides professional care
service to old people, most of whom are not capable of caring and cooking for
themselves. For those who are taken to hospital frequently for treatment, the
rest home is particularly a good choice, as there are many health and medical
specialists.
As suggested above, considering the fact that nowadays,
many elderly people are able to remain healthy and active, they should be given
the chances to participate in social and family activities as well as pursuing
hobbies and other interests. Only when their ill health or emotional well-being
becomes a serious problem, should a nursing homo be taken into consideration.
1. swelling
= growing = expanding
2. inescapable
= unavoidable = inevitable
3. rethink
= reassess = re-evaluate
4. excluded
= expelled = isolated = insulated
5. company
= accompany
6. lingering
= lasting = enduring = persistent
7. frail
= weak = fragile = feeble
8. passive
= inert = inactive
9. shoulder
= bear
Topic 75: In many countries, women
join the army as men do. However, some people argue that the army solely needs
males. What is your opinion?
Stepping into the 21st century, women have set foot in
nearly every walk of life. However, the army is still a male-dominated area in
much of the world. A great many people hold bias against women's enrolment in the army. In my
view, females can contribute to the army just as males do, despite some of
their shortcomings.
The first standpoint to conscribe females is that they now have more chances
to receive education. In comparison with the past, where the army recruitment
policies focused on strength and fitness, the current focus is on academic
ability. Physical fighting either armed or unarmed, no longer features in
modern warfare. It has been replaced by battles between tanks, armours,
missiles or warplanes, most of which are computerised. In other words, females
can perform military tasks as their male counterparts do, provided that they
are well-educated and well-trained.
Secondly, women have inborn merits that stand them in good stead. Females
are less likely to commit faults, for they are accustomed to dealing with
matters with accuracy and caution. Patience and consideration of others account
for the high presence of females in army hospitals or logistics departments.
Other impressive personality traits include their endurance of hardships,
especially in gruelling conditions,
and their tenderness, a character required in the caring profession in the army.
Notwithstanding their strengths, females have some
limitations they may need to overcome. The first obstacle is the social
attitudes. Females have to cope with the pressure exerted by their families,
acquaintances, or friends, as serving the army is widely seen as a deadly job,
which is exclusively for males. The second obstacle is sexual discrimination
and harassment, which seems common in most armies and can discourage females
from serving their countries.
In conclusion, females' presence in the army should be
approved and encouraged. Their performance can be guaranteed by their innate
strengths, despite the fact that they might have to cope with prejudices and
other external disturbances.
1. bias
= prejudice = reconceived notion
2. conscribe
= enlist = enrol
3. stand
sb. in good stead = advantage sb.
4. gruelling
= harsh = tough = difficult = severe = arduous
Topic 76: Gender imbalance has long
been a general phenomenon not only in the labour market but also in formal
education. Some analysts argue that it is impossible to eliminate the
underpresentation of women in some subjects in the university. Do you agree or
disagree?
Although gender equality is widely promoted at modern
colleges, females are still underrepresented in some subjects. Some people tend
to treat it as a persistent
problem, believing that the root of this problem is not in the university,
but should be seen in a wider context. This conclusion is cursory and
should be reviewed in today's society.
The first point to note is that females have made a lot of inroads into fields
that have been traditionally dominated by men. To serve in the army was, for
instance, the exclusive right
of males, but today, more women have been enlisted. Many would consider the
army as the most ideally "men only" profession. If females can make a
success of it, they can succeed in every other field. The ascendancy of woman has been seen in the surge in
their prominent positions in society and in the traditional blue collar
business world. Women should not be considered unqualified or incapable
of any university subject.
Universities that provide a gender-fair environment see
benefits for both students and faculty. Historically,
the gender imbalance at
colleges has isolated students from the real world, where there is a high chance
of dealing with females rather than just males. The tension or conflict between
the sexes in the university environment only allows students to exercise their
ability to work with peers of the opposite sex. Faculty gets the chance to
address the problem of gender inequality and discrimination, which has
characterised campuses for decades. This results in a better learning
environment, and thus a better thought of university.
Despite what has been discussed, it should be admitted
that to put gender equality into practice is a complex task. There are a number
of hurdles a female
applicant has to overcome in the pursuit of academic objectives, and the first
is from family. Traditional families often feel reluctant to support their
daughters' quest for higher
education. The idea that university is mainly for men to learn a trade to support their
wives and family remains prevalent. The women's role is being defined as
supporting their husband through performing menial tasks of life.
In conclusion, achieving a gender balance in the
university is no longer an unachievable aim at the present time. While the
competence of women has widely been recognised by their male colleagues in a
wide range of occupations, the balance between men and women in an academic environment
is deemed as a necessity. Although problems such as gender prejudice and favouritism continue to
prevent women's full participation in some subjects, these problems are losing
their leverage.
1. persistent
= lasting = constant = permanent
2. cursory
= superficial
3. make
some inroads into
4. exclusive
= absolute = sole
5. ascendancy
= dominance = superiority
6. unqualified
= incompetent = unprofessional
7. incapable
= inept = incompetent = powerless
8. historically
= in the past = in history = traditionally = in times gone by
9. imbalance
= inequity = inequality
10. hurdle
= obstacle = barrier = impediment = problem = difficulty
11. quest
for = pursuit of
12. trade
= skill = craft
13. menial
= tedious = unskilled
14. favouritism
= preference = discrimination
Topic 77: Throughout the history,
male leaders often made the society more violent and conflicting. If women
governed the world, the world would be more peaceful. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?
It is always interesting to notice that most of
government leaders around the world are male. This situation is becoming more acute
as gender roles have changed dramatically over the last century — with
women taking more high-ranking positions in the corporate world. An issue
people are openly debating is whether women, if taking office as world leaders,
can bring a more peaceful world. In my opinion, any judgement about the direct
link between government policies and the gender of the government leader is premature.
It is first important to correct a common misconception
that a leader's decision is determined very often by his or her natural
dispositions. The truth is that a leader formulates a policy
mostly according to public opinions and makes a decision as the representative
of a country. Admittedly, many autocrats
in history were meanwhile temperamental
males, who were notorious
for their volatile characters,
unpredictable decrees and
aggressive stance. Some historians have offered another explanation for this
general sign. A leader with such personalities was favoured and supported by a
country during a specific period of time and chosen by a majority of the electorate to pursue the
interest of a country. The rise of Hitler Adolf before World War II is a
telling example. His attempt to establish a pure race of German people and
colonise Europe reflected more a common desire
shared by the whole German society than his own will.
Another general notion that females are intrinsically
sympathetic and nonviolent
is also ungrounded. Although it seems that females are generally less
combative, quarrelsome and
ambitious than males, there are always exceptions. The path to the top of the
chain of command of a country is routinely filled with obstacles. Only those
with strong leadership qualities can survive power struggles and reach the top
position. It meanwhile requires contestants
to show their abilities to make tough decisions in situations, for
instance, when the sovereignty
of a country is under threat. A good example to support this is the
decision made by Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to send a naval task force to recapture the Falkland
Islands and settle a military conflict with Argentina. It shows that a female
leader should show the same decisiveness
as a male leader does.
There are many other examples of this kind to support
the argument that a decision to start a war and choose a violent solution to
problems is not on personal grounds. A more satisfactory explanation is that a
leader makes a decision he or she considers in general interest. The relationship
between gender and peace-making is therefore remote.
1. acute
= critical = serious = sharp
2. premature
= hasty = impulsive = untimely
3. formulate
= devise = prepare = invent = create
4. autocrat
= tyrant = dictator = absolute ruler
5. temperamental
= volatile = moody = unpredictable
6. notorious
= infamous = dishonourable = disreputable
7. volatile
= unstable = unpredictable = fickle = capricious
8. decree
= order = ruling = verdict
9. electorate
= voter = voting public
10. nonviolent
= peaceful = diplomatic
11. quarrelsome
= argumentative = hot-tempered = grouchy
12. contestant
= competitor = contender = rival
13. sovereignty
= autonomy = independence
14. recapture
= resize = regain
15. decisiveness
= determination = resolve = authority
16. remote
= distant
Topic 78: Discuss the advantages
and disadvantages of playing sports and participating in physical exercises.
Sport and recreational physical activity is an integral
part of the society. Especially in today's society, where people have a growing
concern about health, participation in recreational physical activity has been
strongly promoted as part of a healthy lifestyle. What will he discussed below
are the benefits of physical exercise, and some issues participants should pay
attention to when increasing the level of physical activity.
One of the main benefits associated with regular
exercise is the development of a healthy lifestyle. There is evidence that
people can enjoy a longer life expectancy by adapting their daily lives to
incorporate physical activity. There are many reasons for this. For example,
sports perform a wide range of life-enhancing functions, such as boosting the
immune system, burning fat, reducing the risk of experiencing major illnesses
(e.g., heart disease, diabetes). In a society where physical inactivity, unbalanced
diet, stress and other problems are becoming increasingly serious, playing
sports has significant implications to the well-being of the general
population.
Another major benefit achieved from regular activity is
the enhancement of social life. Combined with a balanced diet, sports, such as
jogging, cycling or swimming, enable people to maintain a healthy weight, keep
in shape, thereby boosting confidence on social occasions. In addition, sports
and regular physical activities provide opportunities for social interactions.
For example, team sports, such as soccer, rugby and basketball, allow
participants to meet new teammates regularly and improve social life.
When physical exercise is highly recommended, it should
be planned and managed well. Excessive physical exercise, for example, puts
participants at the risk of injury. It is commonplace and hazardous that some
people take up long duration and high intensity exercise despite lack of stamina. Although these potential
risks are not to negate the
benefits of physical activity, participants should take precautions and follow
the instructions of sports professionals, trainers and coaches. In general,
participants are advised to start gently and then increase the frequency of the
activity until they can stick to
it as an everyday routine.
As shown above, there are a large number of benefits
obtainable in regular exercise, such as promoting health, preventing illness
and boosting self-esteem. Sports and recreational injuries are nevertheless a
common problem, which deserves people's attention. It can be avoided by
increasing activity gradually to a desired level, instead of starting from
intense training.
1. inactivity
= idleness = sluggishness = indolence = immobility
2. stamina
= strength = (physical or mental) energy = vigour
3.
negate = cancel out = counteract =
reverse
4.
stick to
= follow = abide by
Topic 79: Some people believe that
national sports teams and individual athletes who represent their country
should be financially supported by the government. Some people think that they
should be funded by non-government groups (e.g. business, sponsorship.) What is
your opinion?
In recent years, one of the clearest trends in sports is
that more and more corporations have come into play. It is a subject of
discussion whether private financing should be accepted by the government to a
larger extent and even the state can concede
its control over national sports teams to private ownership. In my opinion,
the involvement of entrepreneurs
is essential and can be deemed as a complement
to government administration.
There are many reasons why the private sector should
play a more active role in sports. First, the government alone cannot afford
the expenditure involved in the sports industry, such as salaries of athletes,
administrative costs, and so forth. By organising competitions efficiently and
economically, enhancing athletes" market values, seeking out sponsors or patrons, the private
sector not only raises necessary financing but also maximises the return of the sports
industry. A business's willingness to take part in this industry is
attributable to many incentives. For example, it would help create an image
which is associated with enthusiasm, energy and passion and can be turned into
enormous income. Meanwhile it contributes a lot to its solid position in
society, as well as good reputation.
Meanwhile, as sports have grown more competitive, the
need for better equipment, facilities, nutrition, and training methods has
become urgent. Athletes should have well-developed physiques, which can be obtained only through
extensive physical training and strict exercise. Private sponsors have
expertise in different areas of technology, ranging from nutrition to the
treatment of injuries. They are able to train athletes scientifically and
effectively, reduce the risk of injuries and extend their career lives.
Besides, as private sponsors are more financially capable of providing awards,
bonus and other financial incentives to motivate athletes, their involvement is
crucial to athletes' performance on the playing
field.
The rule of the private sector is therefore
indispensable, but it is not to say that the government should divest itself of
intervening in the sports industry. Although the private sector is surely
committed to seeking sponsorship and performing many fund-raising jobs, it is
profit-oriented and therefore, very likely to make a decision ignorant of the
interests of athletes. National teams are branded, marketed and sold as
entertainment products, while the value of national pride and ethnical dignity
is overlooked. It is also very likely that private investors are only
interested in those sports with high media exposure, resulting in the unbalanced development of
sports. For this reason, the government should retain the major ownership of
the sports.
In conclusion, the sports world is in need of financial
support and the assistance of the private sector. While providing financial
resources, goods and services, business investors can obtain communicative and
commercial benefits. By giving the
green light to private financing, the government is more likely
to advance the overall development of sports.
1. concede
= give in = give up = grant = forfeit
2. entrepreneur
= businessman = merchant
3. complement-supplement
4. patron
= sponsor
5. return
= earning = profit = revenue = gain
6. physique
= figure = body = form = shape = body type
7. playing
field = sports ground = arena
8. divest
= rid = deprive
9. unbalanced-unequal
= uneven
10. give
the green light = permit
Topic 80: Do you think that
international sports events like the Olympic Games would continue or gradually
lose their momentum?
The Olympics, known as the world's largest event, appeal
to global audiences with displaying athletic skills and competitive spirit.
Pageantry, keen rivalry, and high level of competition are the striking
attractions of the Olympic Games. When many people are concerned about the
forces that drive this event forward, there are fears about their sustainability.
In my opinion, the Olympic torch will be carried by relay runners on and on and
would never be extinguished.
Reasons why the Olympics would continue are many. First,
people, especially young males, are in need of some form of outlet for their
energy and emotion related with sports. The Olympics, as well as other
international sports events, are ideal for them. Meanwhile, leisure activities
are valued today, as economic conditions continue to improve. As part of the
growing leisure industries, sport and sporting contests will become
increasingly important. Moreover, the Olympics are of commercial values and of
broad interest to mass media organisations, advertisers, sponsors and business
managers. Because of those business opportunities, cities will not cease to
compete to host sporting events. Needless to say, they can thus
achieve or maintain world class status.
Apart from those tangible benefits, the Olympics possess
other values. For example, the Olympics allow nearly all nations in the world
to compete in the event rather than require any of them to meet the strict
political requirements set by other worldwide organisations, such as the United
Nations on sovereignty. The
political, social and economic conflicts between countries and regions are
disregarded in the face of Olympic spirit. Audiences are so engrossed
by the grace, endurance and fortitude shown by athletes that they pay little
attention to their nations of origin, cultural and language differences.
Despite those elements in favour of sustaining this
international event, the Olympics ere facing many challenges today. The expenditures
are one of the biggest. So many services and facilities are required for
serving athletes, media and spectators
that up to present, only those cities from industrialised countries are
capable of and interested in hosting such events. The Olympics are meanwhile
the hotbed of various scandals. Tempted
by the prospect of large financial rewards, many athletes take proscribed performance-enhancing
drugs, a stain on the sportsmanship pursued by the Olympics. Critics also view
international sporting events as a substitute for war, ritualising and formalising
the conflicts between countries. What's more, the Games draw criticism for embracing
commercialism. The Olympic torch, for example, an important symbol of
the Olympics, has been used popularly in the commodity market.
As shown above, humankind's passion for competing in and
watching games, the special appeals of the Olympic Games, and economic and
non-economic benefits brought to the host city all make the immediate demise
of the games unlikely. However, in the pursuit of those high ideals,
the Olympics are meanwhile at the risk of being the instruments of
commercialism and nationalism.
1. extinguish
= put out = quench
2. host
= provide facilities for
3. sovereignty
= autonomy = independence
4. engrossed
by = occupied by = absorbed in = immersed in
5. fortitude
= determination = courage = strength
6. spectator
= viewer = observer = watcher = audience
7. tempt
= lure = entice = attract
8. proscribed
= banned = prohibited = forbidden
9. ritualise
= make sth. a ritual
10. formalise
= make sth. formal
11. embrace
= accept = adopt
12. demise
= termination = death
