Wednesday 27 July 2011

1. January 9, 2010



Some people believe that the charity organisations should give aid to those in the greatest need wherever they live.  However others are of the opinion that such organisations would better concentrate, instead, on helping people who live in their own country.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Rephrasing the question

There are many charity organisations that function beyond their national boundaries reaching out to millions of underprivileged, especially the most disadvantaged (underprivileged) in poor regions of the world.  However, there are certain people who oppose (object to) the international nature of such humanitarian activities and suggest their aid should be limited to the poor in their own countries. 

Aid to people wherever they live because:

  1. There are poor countries where the local charity organisations are not financially capable of meeting the basic needs of the underprivileged.
  2. There are very rich countries where there is very little requirement for extensive charity work, but have great amount of charity money at their disposal.
  3. Even in rich countries during serious emergencies, like, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes need the help of international charity organisations.

Help those in their own countries:

  1. Dependence on rich countries will increase and discourage them from becoming self reliant. 
  2. Sharing in poor countries will increase when they do not get help from abroad.
 

Viewpoint

1.       In spite of (despite) certain drawbacks, I would consider, charity organisations should not limit (confine) their activities within their own national boundaries as it has greater advantages for the beneficiaries.


Vocabulary

  • ·         Aid agency
  • ·         Benefactor
  • ·         Charities
  • ·         Philanthropic groups
  • ·         Humanitarian
  • ·         Donations
  • ·         Sponsorship
  • ·         Outreach
  • ·         International Aid
  • ·         Natural calamities
  • ·         Floods
  • ·         Hurricanes
  • ·         Famine
  • ·         Earthquake
  • ·         Tsunami
  • ·         Unemployment
  • ·         Poverty
  • ·         Dependence
  • ·         Self-reliant
  • ·         the disadvantaged
  • ·         the underprivileged
  • ·         the deprived
  • ·         the most vulnerable sections of the society
  • ·         poverty-stricken areas of the world
  • ·         destitute
  • ·         oppose
  • ·         object to

Friday 22 July 2011

Explanation and Vocabulary of Essay Question (February 6, 2010)



Air travel can only benefit the richest people in the world. Ordinary people can get no advantage with the development of air travel. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Disagree

·         Development of air travel would trigger increasing competition resulting in lowering of air fares, making it possible even for ordinary people to travel by air.

·         When demand for affordable tickets increases, economy flights would be introduced catering to ordinary people for tourism, education, business and emergency travel.

Vocabulary

·         Aircrafts
·         Flights
·         Travel by air
·         Journey by air
·         Airlines
·         Planes
·         Business class
·         Economy class
·         Tourist class ( the cheapest set of seats in flight)
·         Chartered flights
·         Fly
·         Flying
·         Frequency of flying
·         Affordable
·         Disadvantageous
·         The common man
·         The general public

You have read this post. Why don't you write down your opinion it. I greatly appreciate it.

Sunday 17 July 2011

IELTS Essays, discussion and vocabulary, January 2010 (Questions Courtesy www.ielts-blog.com)

IELTS Essay 2010

1.      January 9, 2010

Some people believe that the charity organisations should give aid to those in the greatest need wherever they live. Some people believe that the charity organisations would better concentrate on helping people who live in their own country instead. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Aid to people wherever they live because:

·         There are poor countries where the local charity organisations or government are not financially capable(especially in emergencies, like famines, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes or large amount of money is required by many African countries to fight poverty and diseases).
·         There are very rich countries where there is very little requirement for extensive charity work, but great amount of charity money for disposal.

Help those in their own countries:

·         Dependence on rich countries will increase and discourage them from becoming self reliant.
·         Sharing in poor countries will increase when do not get help from abroad.

Vocabulary

·         Aid agency
·         Benefactor
·         Charities
·         Philanthropic groups
·         Humanitarian
·         Donations
·         Sponsorship
·         Outreach
·         International Aid
·         Natural calamities
·         Floods
·         Hurricanes
·         Famine
·         Earthquake
·         Tsunami
·         Unemployment
·         Poverty
·         Dependence
·         Self-reliant



2.      January 14, 2010

In today’s world, it is private companies rather than government who pay for and carry out most scientific research. Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Advantages

·         Huge investments required and so government can concentrate on more priority issues like health care and social security.
·         Better quality research and better utilisation of money for research.

Disadvantages

·         Monopolisation of certain research and consequently the products may be priced very high.
·         Profit motive and therefore no social commitment. May not be accessible to the poor.
·         Sometimes research may be hampered as private companies may not be able to invest as much as government as it may not be financially feasible (alternative sources of energy).

Vocabulary

·         Research and development
·         Carry out research
·         Research into
·         Research on
·         State funding
·         Corporate research
·         Corporate companies
·         Monopolistic policies
·         Multinational
·         Inventions
·         Discoveries
·         Scientific development
·         Social commitment
·         Profit motive
·         Money making
·         Researchers
·         Scientists
·         Greater benefits




3.      January 23, 2010

The gap between the rich and the poor is becoming wider.  While the rich are becoming richer, the poor are becoming poorer. What problems can this situation cause and give solutions to this problem?

Problems

·         increasing levels of social unrest and antisocial behaviour
·         polarisation of the society on the basis of income
·         lopsided development

Solutions

·         increase tax for the super rich and use it for social welfare
·         industrialisation and the creation of good jobs for the poor
·         better social security measures and welfare programmes

Vocabulary

·         Widening the gap
·         Increasing the gap
·         Narrowing the gap
·         Closing the gap
·         Equitable distribution of resources
·         Unequal distribution
·         The wealthy
·         The prosperous
·         The underprivileged
·         Lower economic strata
·         Economically backward sections of people
·         Issues
·         Result in
·         One of the best ways to address the problem
·         Tackle the issue
·         Economic divide
·         On the basis of
·         Disillusionment of the poor and the youth


4.      January 30, 2010

Many people believe that today there is a general increase in anti-social behaviour and lack of respect for others. What might have caused this situation?  How to improve it?

Causes

·         Modern consumerist culture
·         Unemployment and poverty
·         Lack of disciple in families and schools
·         Pampered children
·         Influence of the media like movies, television and the internet
·         Leniency in punishments
·         Selfishness and individualistic attitude
·         Deterioration of social values

Solutions

·         Better discipline and values in schools and homes
·         Censorship of undesirable material in the media
·         Creation of employment and eradication of poverty
·         Superior policing and strong laws

Vocabulary

Increasing proportion of
Rising levels of
Go up
Multiply
Crimes
Offences
Law breakers
Social unrest
Disillusionment
Hostile
Lack of discipline
Civic sense
Social responsibilities

Saturday 16 July 2011

IELTS Essays of 2011 (courtesy http://www.IELTS-blog.com/)

January 8, 2011
Some people think that robots are very important to human’s future development, while others think they are dangerous and have negative effects on society. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

January 15, 2011
Nowadays, some workplaces tend to employ equal numbers of men and women workers. Do you think it is a positive or negative development?

January 22, 2011
Nowadays some individuals behave in an anti-society way, such as committing crimes. In general, it is the society to blame. What causes the anti-social behaviours of individuals? Who should be responsible for dealing with it?

January 27, 2011
Some people think that it is necessary to travel abroad to learn about other countries, while other people think that it is not necessary to travel abroad because all the information can be seen on TV and the Internet. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

February 12, 2011
Tourism is an excellent way to develop a country, but it can also cause harm. How can countries ensure that tourism benefits development.

January 17, 2011
Some people think that creative artists should be supported financially by the government of their county, while others believe that they should find financial support from other sources instead. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

January 19, 2011
Some people believe that women should play an equal role as men in a country’s police force or military force, such as the army, while others think women are not suitable for these kinds of jobs. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

January 26, 2011
Some people suggest that a country should try to produce all the food for its population and import as little food as possible. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

March 5, 2011
Some people think governments should spend money on measures to save languages with few speakers from dying out completely. Others think this is a waste of financial resources. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

March 10, 2011
Some think that children should start school as early as possible, while others believe that they should start school at the age of seven.  Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

March 12, 2011
Competitiveness is a positive quality for people in most societies. How does competitiveness affect individuals? Is it a positive or negative trend?

March 19, 2011
Around the world, more adults can work from home and more children can study from home as computer technologies have become cheaper and more accessible. Do you think it is a positive or negative development?

April 2, 2011
Many people think cheap air travel should be encouraged because it gives ordinary people freedom to travel further. However, others think this leads to environmental problem, so air travel should be more expensive in order to discourage people from having it. Discuss the both sides and give your own opinion.

April 16, 2011
Many people think it is very important to protect the environment but they make no effort to do it themselves. Why do you think it is the case? What actions can be done to suggest individuals protect the environment?

April 28, 2011
Some people think that too much money has been spent looking after and repairing old buildings, so we should knock down old buildings and build modern ones instead. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

April 30, 2011
Some people think foreign visitors should be charged more than local people when they visit the cultural and historical attractions in a country. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

May 7, 2011
Environmental problems are too big for individual countries and individual persons to address. In other words, we have reached the stage where the only way to protect the environment is at an international level. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

May 14, 2011
Individual greed and selfishness has been the basis of the modern society. Some people think that we must return to the older and more traditional values of respect for the family and the local community in order to create a better world to live in. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

May 19, 2011
The government should control the amount of violence in films and on television in order to decrease the violent crimes in society. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

May 28, 2011
Some people think that teachers should be responsible for teaching students to judge what is right and wrong so that they can behave well. Others say that teachers should only teach students academic subjects. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

June 4, 2011
Nowadays, we rely on news for our knowledge, but we are uncertain about the truth of these news. Should we believe journalists? What qualities should a good journalist or correspondent have?