Tổng hợp bài mẫu writing task 2 IZONE

2018/07/19: Education for young people is important in many countries7. 2018/07/28: Some people say that economic growth is the only way to end world poverty and hunger?. 2018/08/18: In

T NG H P BÀI M U WRITING TASK 2 - IZONE

1 (2018/05/19): The range of technology available to people is increasing the gap between the rich and the poor Others think it has an opposite effect Discuss both views and give your own opinion 5

2 (2018/05/24): The media should include more stories which report good news To what extent do you agree or disagree? 7

3 (2018/06/02): International tourism is the biggest industry in the world Unfortunately, international tourism creates tension rather than understanding between people from different cultures To what extent do you agree or disagree? 9

4 (2018/06/07): Traffic and housing problems could be solved by moving large companies, factories and their employees to the countryside To what extent do you agree or disagree?

7 (2018/07/19): Education for young people is important in many countries However, many people believe the government should spend more money on education of adult population who cannot read and write To what extent do you agree or disagree? 17

8 (2018/07/28): Some people say that economic growth is the only way to end world poverty and hunger Others say that economic growth is damaging the environment and should stop Discuss both views and give your opinion 19

9 (2018/08/02): In some cities, there are few controls on the design and construction of homes and other buildings, and owners can decide on the styles of their houses Do the advantages of this outweigh its drawbacks? 21

10 (2018/08/18): In the modern world it is possible to shop, work and communicate with people via Internet and live without any face-to-face contact with others Is it a positive or negative development in your opinion? 23

11 (2018/08/25): For school children, their teachers have more influence on their intelligence and social development than their parents To what extent do you agree or disagree? 25

12 (2018/09/15): Most of the world’s urgent problems are caused by over-population Do you agree or disagree? 27

13 (2018/09/19): In countries where there is a high unemployment rate, most pupils should be offered only primary education There is no point in providing secondary education for those who will have no hope in finding a job Do you agree or disagree? 29

14 (2018/09/29): Some teachers think that the programs of international student exchange would be beneficial for all teenage school students Do you think their advantages will outweigh the disadvantages? 31

15 (2018/10/13): Many museums or historical sites are mainly visited by tourists but not local people Why is this the case and what can be done to attract more local people to visit these places? 33

16 (2018/10/20): In recent years, the family structure has changed, as well as family roles What are the changes occurring? Do you think these changes are positive or negative? 35

17 (2018/11/01): Cycling is more environmentally friendly than other forms of transport

be done to make cycling more popular? 36

18 (2018/11/10): Some people think governments should spend money on faster means of public transport However, others think money should be spent on other priorities (eg environment) Discuss both views and give your opinion 38

19 (2018/11/17): Nowadays, there is a trend that reports of media focus on problems and Nevertheless, cycling is getting less popular What are the reasons for this trend? What can

20 (2018/12/08): Most people try to balance between work and other parts of lives Unfortunately, not many achieve this balance What are the problems and solutions for this?

26 (2019/02/14): Some people claim that public museums and art galleries will not be

54

27 (2019/02/17): Some people think that the best way to improve road safety is to increase the minimum legal age for driving a car or motorbike To what extent do you agree or disagree? 56

28 (2019/03/02): The world of work is rapidly changing and the employees can not depend

on having the same work or the same work conditions for life Discuss the possible causes and suggest ways to prepare for people to work in the future 57

29 (2019/03/09): Should movies be for entertainment only or should they also have an educational purpose? 59

30 (2019/03/14): In some countries, small town-center shops are going out of business because people tend to drive to large out-of-town stores As a result, people without cars have needed because people can see historical objects and works of art by using a computer Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

limited access to out-of-town stores, and it may result in an increase in the use of cars Do you think the disadvantages of this change outweigh its advantages? 61

31 (2019/04/06): People have little understanding of the importance of the natural world, what are the reasons and how can people learn more about the natural world? 63

32 (2019/04/13): In many countries, people like to eat a wider variety of food than can be

65

33 (2019/05/04): Today many children spend a lot of time playing computer games and little time on sports Why is it? Is it a positive or negative development? 67 34.

skills such as cooperative skill What are the causes and suggest possible solutions? 69

grown in their local area As a result, much of the food people eat today has to come from other regions Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh disadvantages?

(2019/5/11): Some businesses find that their new employees lack basic interpersonal

1 (2018/05/19): The range of technology available to people is increasing the gap between the rich and the poor Others think it has an opposite effect Discuss both views and give your own opinion

The past few decades has witnessed a vast array of technological advances

coming into existence However, it is still questionable whether these

developments help bridge or further widen the gap between the wealthy and the

needy This essay will weigh both sides of the argument prior to giving my take on

the matter

On one side of the argument, there are people insisting that the proliferation of

technology exacerbate income inequality It allegedly displaces thousands, if not

more, of low-skilled workers, particularly in the technology-related industries As

a matter of fact, many practices are now performed by machines, and it follows

that less physical labor is in demand The prevalence of robots in assembly lines,

for example, compromises the livelihood of thousands of blue-collar workers,

who can hardly sustain their life without a stable income

There is no denying, however, that technology has been a catalyst for narrowing

the gap between people at both ends of the income spectrum Granted, those

low-income tech workers are put at the risk of job redundancy owing to

automation, but these individuals could, in due course, secure a new job with the

proper assistance from government agencies At the same time, it is argued that

they, as well as the underprivileged community in general, can now enjoy a decent

living standard, one which was exclusive to only the well-off Ample evidence of

this can be seen with the ready availability and affordability of washing machines,

water heaters or microwave ovens, labour-saving devices which were not long

ago out of the poor’s budget With these mod cons comes the better living

standards along with the increasing contentment among the lower income group

In conclusion, I believe both sides of the argument have merit On balance,

however, I am inclined to believe that technological achievements have helped

diminish the disparity between the rich and the poor more than it has widened it,

in light of the greater comfort and convenience enjoyed by a wide section of the

population

2 (2018/05/24): The media should include more stories which report good news To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In this age of massive media coverage, the media is believed to exert a profound

impact on people’s perception of current affairs Given this pivotal role, I am

convinced that it should feature more accounts of positive news

One of the primary reasons, in my view, is the disproportionate reporting of

disheartening news on various media platforms that can arouse negative emotions in viewers The majority of these are naturally drawn to the most shocking and sensational news, which explains why these news stories tend to be over-reportedby broadcasters for self-serving purposes Surrounded by these traumatic events, it is only natural for the viewership to take a gloomy view of the world around them Over time, this could

translate into self-doubt, mistrust or anxiety, morbid feelings that can take a heavy toll on people’s well-being

More heartening stories, therefore, deserve wider coverage The main justification is, as opposed to bad news, good news can evoke positive emotions, and these sentiments, however subtle, can bring positive changes to people’s lives It can be as simple as the story about a firefighter putting his life at stake to rescue a senior citizen trapped in a blazing building that can trigger a sense of compassion in people Or it could be

something as inspiring as the story about a Vietnamese athletic shooter, an underdog who had, against all odds, become an Olympic gold medalist.Since the news took the whole country by storm, it has inspired thousands of people from various backgrounds to

persevere with their goals Were more accounts as such to make headlines, they would prompt more people to create positive changes

In conclusion, more encouraging news should be incorporated in news broadcast to keep viewers at bay from negative feelings inherent in bad news At the same time, this should also encourage more commendable changes

3 (2018/06/02): International tourism is the biggest industry in the world Unfortunately, international tourism creates tension rather than

understanding between people from different cultures To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is indisputable that international tourism is now one of the leading businesses in the world Some people, however, put forward the view that this development

would heighten the existing friction between people from different cultural

backgrounds I disagree with this view for the following reasons

The first one is that even though there are culture clashes when people from

different countries come into contact, these clashes can be resolved with ease, and are therefore likely to have no detrimental impact Most, if not all, of these incidents result from cross-cultural misunderstandings, which can be attributed more to a lack of pre- departure research about the host country than to deliberate disregard Even with some research done, it would still be challenging for tourists to grasp every intrinsic element of

a well-established culture Their failure to conform to these sorts of cultural norms, as a result, can be empathized with It is also sometimes suggested that since tourists come and go, their stay at the home country is just temporary, which means any offence made

by tourists would then be forgotten and would not be taken too seriously

Another significant reason is that cross-border tourism is more likely to foster

harmony between people from different cultural roots First-hand experience with a culture would render a more holistic and unbiased view towards its people, which may be far from what are often led to believe by the mass media For example, upon making a visit to Vietnam, many American tourists are astonished by the warm hospitality of the locals, who, to some individuals’ misconception, should be bearing a grudge over their war enemies in the past Another illustration is a visit to a mosque would enlighten

foreign tourists about the good cause of Islam, which is sometimes mistaken as

4 (2018/06/07): Traffic and housing problems could be solved by moving large companies, factories and their employees to the countryside To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Since traffic gridlock and housing shortage in big cities are becoming more pressing issues than ever, it has been suggested that large firms should be relocated to the rural areas I believe this measure would help mitigate the problems to a large extent

One merit of such a measure is that it would help ease the strain on the traffic

infrastructure in many megacities An existing issue common among these cities is

the failure to accommodate an every-increasing volume of traffic to and from the

workplace In response, the geographical redistribution of large companies would

mean a lower need for daily commute to the downtown area and a corresponding

reduction in the usage of not just privately owned vehicles but also public transports Not only would traffic congestion along with its associated issues, namely road rage and road accidents, be relieved, but the currently overloaded public transport system, which is subject to frequent delays and breakdowns, would be more adequate and reliable

The problems accompanied by housing can also be addressed It can be argued that the incessant flow of migrants to metropolises has made the demand far exceed the supply, leading to a severe shortage of accommodation and a resulting surge in property prices If enterprises move their headquarters and factories to satellite towns, there is a fair

possibility that their staff will choose to settle down in the neighborhood for the

convenience of proximity to their workplace This will ease the enormous demand for shelters in urban areas, and in turn the ongoing housing affordability crisis will no longer

be a matter of concern

In conclusion, my view is that given the expected benefits of relocating large firms to the countryside, it is highly recommended that the authorities in charge deliberate on this course of action

5 (2018/06/23): In many places, people’s lifestyle is changing rapidly and this affects family relationship Do you think the advantage of this development outweigh the disadvantage?

It is true that the speedy change in people’s lifestyle exerts certain impacts on family life Most of these impacts, in my view, are negative, prevailing over the positive ones

On the downside, the bond between family members is being compromised as a result of the hectic life that many people are leading With both parents working and children spending a large part of their day at school, many would settle for a quick meal rather than a family meal which often involves the time-consuming process of cooking, setting the table and cleaning It follows that the chance for these individuals to bond with their family members is harder to come by Even when they do have time together, some are still occupied with checking emails and keeping up with work progress, tasks that are no longer confined to the conventional office hours Interaction among family members diminishes accordingly, which leads to a weakened family bond in many instances

However, a positive side to this development is that two-income families can usually generate more wealth than the traditional breadwinner model The higher income yielded would in turn go to covering the basic costs of necessities and even some luxuries,

thereby alleviating problems associated with an insufficient income stream, those that mostly confront lower or middle class families Since financial difficulty is the cause of family quarrels in many cases, the absence of it is likely to facilitate a more harmonious relationship among family members However, this is not meant to say all the domestic upheaval would be kept at bay, for if the parents were not able to strike a balance

between work and family, the problem detailed in the first paragraph would overshadow the aforementioned benefit of a higher flow of income

In conclusion, the changes in modern lifestyles can be seen to do more harms than goods

to domestic lives

6 (2018/07/07): Many people say that universities should only offer entry to young students with highest marks, others think they should accept people

of all ages even if they did not do well Discuss both views and give your own opinion

Many people believe that college admission should be reserved for high-school graduates with good academic records, whereas others put forward the opinion that every person, regardless of age and intellectual level, should be eligible for higher education Although there are justifications for both sides, I personally think the former is more viable

On the one hand, there are certain merits of rendering tertiary education available to everyone Among these is a more educated and productive workforce that the country can benefit from With all the necessary skill sets and expertise acquired at universities,

graduates stand a good chance of enhancing their productivity at work Another benefit can be a reduced unemployment rate This is particularly true in the face of the ongoing automation that has displaced thousands of workers These workers would enjoy a better chance at securing a sustainable job were they to be given access to higher education Promising as it may sound, such a proposal, in my opinion, is far from feasible, for it would entail customizing all the current curriculums and training programs to suit a broad spectrum of levels, a task that would undoubtedly come at tremendous effort and

expense

On the other hand, I gravitate towards the view that the privilege of higher education should be exclusive to young individuals with outstanding academic records Age is an important factor since young students would be less burdened with the everyday concerns that a typical mature student is subject to It follows that these young individuals can give their undivided attention to schoolwork, which is likely to yield better results Another reason is that since the highly intensive coursework offered by most universities could be intellectually demanding, only those that have what it takes, proven through a spotless academic record in high school, should be qualified

In conclusion, although both arguments have their merits, I am more inclined to believe that universities should be selective in its recruitment process due to the impracticality of granting the admission to everyone

7 (2018/07/19): Education for young people is important in many countries However, many people believe the government should spend more money

on education of adult population who cannot read and write To what extent do you agree or disagree?

With regards to the issue of education funding, it is generally held that the top priority goes to education for young generation Some, however, claim that the government should allocate a larger part of its budget to literacy education Since this is a wide- ranging topic that would involve a thorough deliberation on both sides, this essay would limit its scope to the economic standpoint, from which both issues should be equally attended to

There is no denying that proper investments in the education of the youth can ensure a more qualified workforce for the future This helps generate more wealth for society, which in turn justifies the substantial financial resources dedicated to improving the quality of formal education This is evidenced by the fact that the countries with an

advanced education system, those in North America and Western Europe for example, are often the hubs for productivity and innovation Given this pivotal role that education for the young plays, it would make little sense for authorities in charge to overlook such

an area in financial terms

Of equal importance is the national funding to increasing the literacy rate A clear benefit

to this investment is the increased employability for the illiterate adults who are currently living under the poverty line With the exception of low-paying menial jobs, no employer would willingly hire an individual without literacy, the very basic indicator of an average intellectual level It follows that these illiterates will encounter immense difficulty should they aspire to secure a job with a livable paycheck, let alone a generous one, and hence continuing to get trapped in the vicious circle of poverty Scaling up the investment in the eradication of illiteracy, on the other hand, readies these individuals for more challenging

and well-paying jobs, which in due course contributes to the economic prosperity of the country in question

In conclusion, after weighing up the merits of a more highly educated labor force and a more literate one, it is safe to say that the two bear equal significance, and thus deserving equal financial resource allocation

8 (2018/07/28): Some people say that economic growth is the only way to end world poverty and hunger Others say that economic growth is damaging the environment and should stop Discuss both views and give your opinion

In many parts of the world, economic development has been of great importance in

solving famine and raising living standards While some people believe that the economic progress itself could eventually put an end to poverty and hunger, others are more wary

of the associated threats posed to the environment This essay will discuss both sides of the argument before a conclusion is drawn

On the one hand, it is true that economic development has a crucial part to play in

eliminating famine and poverty A strong economy, at its simplest, means a high

employment rate for the people, which provides them with a good income to feed

themselves and their families In the long run, as the economy thrives, living conditions can be improved, and people will no longer suffer from the lack of basic necessities This can be seen in the case of Viet Nam, an under-developed country in Asia in the early 2000s After joining the WTO in 2007, the country’s economy was given a strong boost from trading goods and services with many more developed countries, which lead to the people’s living standards being greatly raised and millions of people escaping poverty and hunger successfully Nevertheless, economic progress is probably not the solely way

to fight poverty as there remain other alternatives such as investing in the education system or encouraging poor people to fight poverty themselves

On the other hand, the side effects that an economy developing too rapidly has on the environment can be tremendous As more industries and factories are needed to produce goods, the discharge of industrial wastes of various kinds would soar accordingly This could result in the degradation of natural habitats such as rivers, the seas and air Another major threat is over-exploitation of natural resources for industrial purposes, which could lead to irreversible damage on the ecosystem since some species may never recover and

develop Therefore, it is extremely necessary for the authority to impose stricter laws regarding industrial activities in order to protect the environment Economic growth is undeniably important, but it should not come at the expense of the environment

My opinion is that there must be harmony between the environment and the proliferation

of the economic activities Despite the obvious benefits that a strong economy could bring about in terms of solving the issue of poverty and raising people’s living

conditions, I do not believe that it can make up for the environmental consequences mentioned above

9 (2018/08/02): In some cities, there are few controls on the design and construction of homes and other buildings, and owners can decide on the styles of their houses Do the advantages of this outweigh its drawbacks?

In some cities and provinces all over the world, house owners are given a lot of freedom

to design their own houses I believe that the benefits associated with this trend could far make up for its drawbacks, as now will be explained

The most significant disadvantage of letting people choose the style of their own homes and buildings, according to some people, is probably it can potentially lead to some dangerous situations in the future Many owners could lack the knowledge and expertise necessary to design and execute the erection of their houses, which could result in such buildings finding it difficult to withstand inclement weathers or failing to function

properly in the long run This might cause some dangers for people who lives in these houses and simultaneously threaten the lives of people residing in the same

neighborhood It would be fatal, for example, if a poorly designed house suddenly

collapse while its owners are inside, or some people are being near the place Therefore,

it will be better if the local council has some say in this designing and building process, which will help guarantee the safety and well-being of not only the owners, but also their neighbors

However, the potential benefits that this act could bring about are tremendous, which is why it should be implemented more widely From an individual perspective, the house owners could enjoy a greater sense of satisfaction in having some contribution in the making of their own homes Many people invest a substantial amount of money in their buildings, and they will surely feel more satisfied if the design of the house is their idea From an economic standpoint, this may result in a boost for the local economy A city or province with a lot of uniquely and creatively constructed buildings may attract a huge number of tourists coming to admire their beauty, and with it come more income for the

locals A prime example is Rotterdam, the city of Netherlands with some of the most unique and curious cubic houses, welcoming thousands of tourists on a regular basis

In conclusion, despite the fact that it would be more safe to consult the authority before designing a house, letting people choose their own styles could be far more beneficial, therefore should be implemented in more cities and provinces

10.(2018/08/18): In the modern world it is possible to shop, work and communicate with people via Internet and live without any face-to-face contact with others Is it a positive or negative development in your opinion?

The vigorous growth of the Internet in the early 21st century has paved the way for the prevalence of online shopping, distant working and online communication, all of which seem to have rendered interpersonal interaction superfluous in many instances Contrary

to popular belief, this trend has done more harm than good, as will be proven in this essay

On the one hand, the rise of the Internet, together with its broad range/array of associated activities, has done wonders for mankind Those with an access to the Internet could save

a great deal of time that would be otherwise dedicated to commuting back and forth to physical stores or their workplace, which in turns brings about an unprecedented level of comfort and convenience This lower demand for transportation subsequently helps with easing traffic congestion (on the road) Better still, being in the comfort of their own home affords people the time it takes to make an informed purchasing decision These shoppers, equipped with a massive pool of information readily available online, could stack up attributes of each alternative (against one another), before arriving at a sound decision of what to buy This is unlikely the case with in-store shopping, where shoppers are often pressured into buying certain products against their will

Albeit the good intentions of the Internet, its wide coverage comes with a variety of pitfalls in reality, presumably overshadowing the said benefits One of such

shortcomings is the impairment of crucial social skills, which could be attributed to a severe lack of social interactions The time many chronic Internet users once spent on daily exchanges is taken away in favour of online activities, which, if sustained, could lead to a reluctance to communicate with others Though it could be said that this

shortage in communication could be made up for with the abundance of online

communication tools and platform, this is a questionable statement per se/in itself

Research has indicated that eye contact and body gestures, factors inherent in a physical encounter, have a critical part to play in forging a close bond, without which we humans are more prone to feel a sense of isolation, and by association, depression

In conclusion, after a thorough examination of both sides of the issue, it is safe to say that the benefits the Internet has to offer would be outweighed by the potential dangers it poses to the netizens

11.(2018/08/25): For school children, their teachers have more influence on their intelligence and social development than their parents To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Children education has traditionally been a difficult topic A question that often leave many stumped is which group, parents or teachers, exerts more of an influence on

children’s intellectual and social development My view is that although teachers have a large part to play, the role of parents carries just as much weight

The role teachers assume on children’s cognitive development should not be taken

lightly They are professional at conducting their class in a stimulating and insightful manner, which could be attributed to years of rigorous training and hands-on experience that afford them the right set of skills, pedagogical skills and the like Without the same skill set, parents could find it hard, if not impossible, to perform the job of comparable quality, and this shortcoming may present a challenge to children’s intellectual

development in the long run An equally important factor is students’ social awareness, which is fostered through multiple class activities and interactions These activities go a long way in teaching a kid how to forge a bond with his fellow classmates or how to disagree without being disagreeable, skills that are often absent in homeschooled

children

The role parents play by no means pales in comparison with that of teachers however Research has shown that children’s intelligence could be partly attributed to the genetic makeup that they inherit from their parents This is particularly the case with prodigies, whose talents have attracted a greal deal of interest at various mind sports and

competitions, holding all other factors like schooling and financial background constant

It is also parents who make the decision of which educational institutions to send their kids to so as to reap all the benefits of schooling as detailed above These parents

understand their kids better than anyone else, and would endeavour to promote not just

their children’s intellectual growth but also their emotional well-being This is largely the reason why parents of introverts, for example, may give them guidance on how to

socialize with others better and keep them from rowdy activities, which in turn helps them to be socially adept and balanced

After a brief deliberation of parental and teacher roles, it is my belief that the company and guidance of both parties is essential for well-rounded children, and neither side prevails in terms of importance

12.(2018/09/15): Most of the world’s urgent problems are caused by over- population Do you agree or disagree?

Over-population has been one of the most alarming issues in the last several decades, especially in developing countries Although not all social issues could be traced back to

a highly populous world, it does lead to with some of the most imperative problems, such

as a deteriorating environment, high poverty and crime rates

Environmental degradation, one of the most pressing global issues, go hand in hand with overpopulation More people means higher demand for food and other resources To keep

up with this every-growing demand, unsustainable farming practices and overexploitation

of land are often resorted to Over a sustained period, this could be detrimental to the environment with its finite supplies of natural resources, which could take as much as millions of years to recover It is, therefore, more advisable to curb the growth of the population, rather than exploiting the environment to the point of irreversible destruction

Another issue that is posing a threat to the modern world is widespread poverty, which can also be closely linked to an overly high population Granted, countries with a high figure for population, as in the case of the U.S., does not necessarily encounter poverty problems, but such countries are most often superpowers with high income per capita When economic development does not match the correponding massive population

figure, as in the case of China and India, the inevitable result is a considerable rate of people would live below the poverty line In oder to get by, many of them would engage

in criminal activities to feed themselves and provide for their families Though it is true that not all of the said povertystricken segment would be reduced to committing crimes, poverty does serve as an incentive for criminal proclivities in extreme cases

In conclusion, there is no doubt overpopulation has been threatening the livelihood of people in all over the world While its most significant impact is on the environment,

other consequences such as widespread poverty, and hence, more crime are also

alarming

13.(2018/09/19): In countries where there is a high unemployment rate, most pupils should be offered only primary education There is no point in providing secondary education for those who will have no hope in finding

a job Do you agree or disagree?

In some parts of the world where unemployment is a pervasive problem, it is suggested that these countries would be better off restricting education to primary level In my opinion, this will impose a severe constraint on the general intellectual level that

eventually translates into more serious repercussions, as will be articulated in detail

At first glance, the proposition to impose restrictions on education has some grounds From an economic standpoint, it would make little sense for the jobless to attend

secondary education or above, for the knowledge attained at these levels would not be put

to use to generate additional value for the society in general This, however, could be the perfect recipe for a negative feedback loop If the said proposition is enforced on a

national scale, the general intellectual level of the respective country would suffer The ensuing lack of qualifications would undermine employability, since the minimum

requirement for a decent-paying job is commonly set at a high school diploma Without these necessary qualifications, most of these individuals would either have to settle for menial low-paying jobs or stay jobless for life

The value of secondary and tertiary education is not limited to better job prospects, but extends to cover social spheres of life Lessons learned at these steps of education raise the social awareness of learners, enabling them to conduct themselves in proper ways in social situations By contrast, people with a mere primary education often shy away from public discussions that are intellectually demanding, and this avoidance could deprive

insecurity In the absence of confidence, it is likely for many parents to be reluctant to teach their children out of fear that getting it wrong could ruin their children’s

foundational knowledge All these possible disadvantages contribute to set the stage for a

perpetual downward spiral, for which the only actionable resolution is access to further education

In summary, setting an upper limit for education is not the answer for a high

unemployment rate Countries which implement this are likely to experience a further climb in the number of people who are out of job, and the damage would extend beyond economic indexes to shadow many other areas of life as well

14.(2018/09/29): Some teachers think that the programs of international student exchange would be beneficial for all teenage school students Do you think their advantages will outweigh the disadvantages?

It is a generally held view among teachers that exchange programs offer multiple benefits for teenage students worldwide These ranges of benefits, in my opinion, outweigh the associated drawbacks, as will be detailed

On the one hand, opting in to a student exchange program comes with by a number of hindrances, the most prominent of which is the financial implications for those who come from a lower-middle class family Students pertaining to this stratum, or their family more likely, find it hard to afford the expenditure typically incurred in an exchange

program, particularly if the exchange involves moving from a developing country to a first-world one Even when this cost can be covered at a stretch, the value proposition of the program could be questionable, in light of its limited duration of 6 months to a year (the standard length of overseas exchanges) In such a constrained time frame, few

students would be adaptable enough to fit into a new environment and actually gain any concrete benefits from their journey

On the other hand, it is my belief that the merits more than make up for the demerits to make exchange programs a worthwhile experience Although their typical duration might

be a little too brief for one to fully adjust to an exotic setting, it should be sufficient to provide them with abundant first-hand exposure to the language of the host country, thereby serving a catalyst for the mastery of a second language Better still, this does not necessarily occur at a significant cost, for many travel grants are rewarded for students with credentials Even if the remaining expenses are expected to come out of students’ own pocket, this is an investment with high return considering the range of downstream effects an exchange program would have on the employability of students upon

graduation

In conclusion, after a thorough examination of both sides of the issue, it is safe to say that the demerits international exchange programs have to offer would be outweighed by the merits they bring to the students

15.(2018/10/13): Many museums or historical sites are mainly visited by tourists but not local people Why is this the case and what can be done to attract more local people to visit these places?

It is true that museums and historical attractions mostly appeal to travelers, much more so than the locals Reasons for this vary, but some actions can be taken to change the status quo

There could be several underlying causes for the subpar attendance at historical sites These venues are meant to showcase items of historical interest with a view to educating international as well as local visitors The latter group may find it an all too familiar a topic, one that has been integrated into the curriculum of their school years and that they have to endure the grind to scrape through The lack of interest is further compounded by the unoriginal layout of most history museums, which often displays their items in a run- of-the-mill fashion with hardly any accompanying visual aids or other forms of

recreation This could be attributed to the nature of historical sites as a means to preserve traditional values, catering for those who want to relive a stage of history in their

visitation

However, the issues detailed above are not without actionable solutions/measures To start with, history should be treated less as a test-oriented unit with students’ recitation of historical events at its core, and more as an intriguing exploration of the past To go about this, it would be worthwhile for school and teachers to endeavour to liven up the learning experience in each and every history session, possibly by introducing a range of

stimulating yet relevant activities These could include hosting trips to museums in the locale, which, for all intents and purposes, should be turned into local places of interest Movie-showing or folk games, for example, are activities that can attract a great deal of interest, but still museums have to make sure to constantly renew their variety of

attractions as an incentive for revisits

In conclusion, historical locations and museums can appear unexciting for local people because they can have negative impression with history lessons during school time To improve the situation, interest with discovering the past should be instilled in students by organizing more interactive activities and field trips, and also museums need to refresh and diversify their attractions to encourage more returns

16.(2018/10/20): In recent years, the family structure has changed, as well as family roles What are the changes occurring? Do you think these changes are positive or negative?

The demographics of families have shifted greatly over the past several decades The number of families is decreasing and a typical household is now much smaller, coupled with the growing tendency to divorce I believe these changes will exert a negative

impact on our society as will be articulated below

The need to get married is no longer a necessity for many young women More and more women are taking an active role financially by participating in the labor force instead of relying on a husband This would likely discourage the idea of getting married or, in extreme cases, dismiss it altogether In addition, this independence would give rise to a higher rate of divorce as women do not feel the need to turn to their partners for the

money and would be willing to live separately in the time of domestic conflict

The effects will be indeed detrimental to our society Shrinking number of families would likely lead to fewer babies born per year and consequently, less of youth have to support more pensioners, ultimately destabilizing the society at large At the same time, higher incidents of divorce set the stage for instability in children’s upbringing Evidently,

children are more likely to develop in a comprehensive manner with the presence of both parents, without either of which these children are more inclined to be emotionally or materially inadequate, potentially leading to less than ideal future prospects For example,

in the USA, the number of adolescents of divorced families is closely correlated with the number of colleges dropouts as well as the heightened crime rate in recent years

In short, there are many changes in the composition as well as the size of families and they would have severe impacts on our society as a whole