Essay 62 (Govt. Funding for Performing Art Students)

IELTS Essay Question, Kottayam 29/1/2015

Some people believe that training courses of performing arts (eg. dance, music, drama etc.) should be funded by government.  Others believe that they should be done through other ways (eg. business or student’s family).

Discuss both view and give your opinion.

There is a view that government should provide financial support to talented students who intend to pursue a career in performing arts such as dance, music or theatre.  However, many people believe that taxpayers money should not be wasted for this purpose and students should look for sponsorship from other sources like corporates or their own families.  This essay examines both opinions.

On the one hand, state funding for students of performing arts is one of the best ways to conserve arts and culture, which is a major responsibility of the government.  This is very relevant today as the number of students opting for careers in such disciplines is declining and government’s patronage in this area would encourage an increasing number of students to choose performing arts. For example, the government of Kerala in India provides free training to art aspirants in traditional performing art forms of the state like Kathakali, Mohiniyattam and Thullal, at a prestigious art-school called Kerala Kalamandalam. This initiative from the government has played a major role in generating interest in young Keralites in traditional performing arts of the state.

On the other hand, critics contend that since it is mostly students themselves who benefit from art education they should seek aid from other sources such as corporate funding and their own parents. For instance, like any other professionals musicians, dancers and actors also earn large sums of money from stage shows and other public performances. They also believe that since enormous amounts of money is required to fund art education, it would become an unnecessary liability as the government has more important priorities to deal with.

A close examination of both views reveal that it is important for government to sponsor art education because many parents are not financially capable of shouldering this responsibility and corporate funding is often impractical.

In conclusion, although it may be a serious financial obligation, government should not hesitate to support art students financially because safeguarding the cultural traditions of a country is one of it’s primary responsibilities.

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Essay 61 ( Commericialisation of Schools)

Some schools agree that fast food restaurants and supermarkets can promote their products in school and that schools benefit from it. Is it a positive or a negative development?

Today, a number of schools, especially in the developed countries allow corporate advertisements of fast foods and supermarkets and in this way they try to raise funds for schools activities.  This practice, in my view, is disadvantageous for school children.

To start with, showing commercials of fast foods, chocolates and similar products or making them available within school premises would reinforce children’s taste for such foods.  This can increase problems like obesity and other health issues among children.  For example, if hamburgers, fried meats and sweet beverages of brands like Mcdonalds or KFC are available in school cafeterias children would definitely have a tendency to consume them on a regular basis, instead of opting for healthier alternatives.  

Similarly, exposure to constant commercial messages within the academic environment can create a materialistic attitude in children.  For instance, if schools promote advertisements of children’s products like toys or computer games from supermarkets through educational materials, billboards or school television, children would think that they have the approval of teachers and school authorities.  Consequently, they may force their parents to buy the advertised products, when they visit supermarkets. This is a very obvious example of how commercialisation of schools can promote materialistic attitude in children.

On the other hand, some principals do not believe that children are unduly influenced by commercialisation of schools and they consider it advantageous to them, as a way to improve school facilities.  To cite an example, some corporates help financially strapped schools to buy library books or improve sports facilities for promoting their products inside the campus.

In conclusion, despite minor advantages, corporate commercial campaigns within school premises has greater negative influence on children as they would promote unhealthy habits and materialistic attitude in them.

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Essay 60 (Criteria for a country's progress)

Economic progress is often used to measure a country's success. However, some people believe that other factors are more important. What other factors should also be considered when measuring a country's success? Do you think one factor is more important than others?

Financial status is mostly considered an important yardstick to assess the development of a nation.  However, many economists argue that a number of other criteria should also be given importance.  Among them, I believe education is the most significant.

To begin with, educated citizens in various professional sectors and scientific fields can be a major symbol of a nation's progress.  For example, scientists, engineers and technicians spearhead research and development, and industrial growth in most advanced countries.

Furthermore, effective health care sector can be an important measure to gauge a countries's development.  To explain, only a truly progressed nation can ensure efficient universal health care facilities for its citizens.  For example, the life expectancy of advanced countries in Europe, America and Asia is the highest, due to the availability of latest medical procedures, health care personnel and medicines.

Finally, scientific development in agricultural sector is a vital benchmark of progress.  This means that in most advanced nations, the highest level of agricultural production is achieved using the latest technology and minimum manpower.  For example, mechanised farm implements, high yielding seeds, highly effective fertilisers and other scientific methods practiced in these countries ensure maximum yield from agriculture.

I believe, the advancements in education is the most important indicator of the comprehensive development of a country.  The main reason is, only with the help of educated professionals in all fields, including healthcare, agriculture and industries can a country achieve success.

In conclusion, there are varied ways to measure the progress of a nation, but education is the most significant aspect, because all the other sectors depend on it.

Essay 59 (Life on Other Planets)

Some people think that government should invest money to study life on other planets, while others say that it is waste spending money on such things when earth itself has lot of problems.  To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Space agencies in many countries are now taking great efforts to find signs of life on other planets.  However, certain people think that it is unreasonable to waste money and efforts on such futile projects, when there are more serious issues left unsolved on our own planet.  I support the latter view.

To begin with, it is improbable/unlikely that there is any life on other planets and spending for this purpose would be a very unwise use of taxpayers valuable money, which would be better spent on human welfare.   For instance, NASA has been investing billions of dollars over the last couple of decades in space shuttles and telescopes to spot traces of extraterrestial life, with hardly any positive results, whereas the social security system in the US has been severely affected due to such unreasonable spending.

Moreover, looking for evidence of life on other planets would be of little use to human beings, except for experimental purposes.  Money used for expensive space expeditions should be deviated/diverted towards human welfare schemes such as education, healthcare, housing and social security.  For example, the government of India spent many billions of rupees on the recent Mars project, whereas a major proportion of Indian population is still below poverty line.  The success of this mission did enhance the prestige of India, but hardly benefitted the nation in any other ways.  Countries like India should not waste money in discovering life on Mars, but spend it for alleviating poverty or improving the basic infrastructure of the nation.

In conclusion, spending on expensive space programmes to search for extraterrestrial life is not worthwhile, while many problems on earth are left unattended.

Essay 58 (Technlogy in Solving Crime)

There is a decline in crime rate today as technology helps in preventing and solving crime. How far do you agree or disagree?

Scientific inventions are increasingly used these days by law enforcement agencies to deal with criminal activities.  This, in my view, has definitely helped in reducing crime.

To start with, many law breakers have been dissuaded from illegal activities as anti-theft electronic gadgets have been installed in most crime prone places.  This would either warn the presence of burglars and thieves or help to trace them.  For example, security alarms and cameras have brought down burglaries in banks, and x-ray machines and metal detectors in airports have greatly reduced crimes like smuggling and hijacking.

Similarly, in the recent times scientific methods and devices have been successfully used in solving crimes more efficiently.  An ideal example would be, the use of finger printing, DNA testing and lie detection technology in identifying culprits and bringing them to justice.  These technologies have definitely discouraged  many criminals from committing offences.

On the other hand, criminals have also devised methods to evade anti-crime gadgets and technologies and therefore some people say that technology has not helped in reducing crime.  Criminals, for example, now use masks at crime scenes to hide their identification from security cameras, and researchers have discovered that a significant proportion of criminals trick polygraph tests and act innocent.  Despite these minor drawbacks, we need to acknowledge that the use of technology has played a very crucial role in tackling crime in various ways.

In conclusion, technology today has greatly revolutionised crime prevention and detection, which has resulted in the reduction of illegal activities in many parts of the world.

Essay 57 (Online Shopping)

Nowadays on-line shopping becomes more popular than in-store shopping. Is it a positive or a negative development? Give your reasons and examples.

Recently, the number of people who purchases various products and services online is increasing more than ever before. This has certainly affected the business of shopping centres to a great extent. However, I consider this development as positive, due to a number of reasons.

To begin with, e-shopping is generally considered to be more convenient for customers than in-store purchasing. Perhaps, this is because many people, nowadays, are unable to find adequate time to go shopping as they are too busy with professional or personal responsibilities. For example, virtual shopping websites such as, E-bay and Amazon provide a wide range of products online, which cater to the needs of individuals from the comfort of their home. Moreover, such shopping sites have considerably reduced major inconveniences associated with shopping, like traveling to far away shops, parking vehicles in crowded cities and spending a considerable amount of time.

Furthermore, online shopping allows people to select from a wide range of products, and the prices and features of products are often compared. This has enabled customers to choose the right products that suit their needs. For instance, popular online shops in India, namely Flipcart and Jabong have not only provided detailed information of their products on sale, but also customers' opinions and reviews on their product experience. Besides, placed orders on these websites can be altered or canceled by customers, and purchased products can also be returned if they do not meet the assured quality.

Shopping, however, is a social experience for certain people and many of them enjoy shopping as leisure or entertainment. But, popular shopping websites often compete with stores with lower prices and discount sales. This has also influenced many people to purchase products online.

In conclusion, online shopping offers greater benefits to customers when compared to in store purchasing. Clearly, while it converts shopping into a hassle free experience, shopping over the internet is increasingly convenient, too. Therefore, I think this is definitely a positive trend, and the popularity of online shopping is likely to continue.