student behaviour

In many countries, schools have severe problems with student

behaviour. What do you think are the causes of this? What
solutions can you suggest?
across the globe
This is due to (this can be attributed to)
sociological and psychological problems
bringing up children
play a responsible role in tackling (handling, solving, dealing
with)
other than (apart from)
which has resulted in
need to inculcate (instill)
disruptive (unruly)
In many instances,
consequently, (as a consequence, as a result)
they fail to develop (lack)
interpersonal skills and human values
many material comforts
schoolmates
on a regular basis
problematic behaviour
psychological inadequacies (problems)
ventilate
trained teachers or counselors
show little tact
behavioural abnormalities
Erratic handling
can be effectively addressed
crucial role
Taller Building
As populations grow and cities become more crowded, there is
pressure throughout the world to construct ever-taller building
to provide accommodation and offices. Many people object to
such developments, citing the social as well as the physical
dangers.
Do you agree with objections to skyscrapers?
objections to skyscrapers
remedy (a successful way dealing with a problem or difficulty)
for the
most beneficial invention
geographical limitations
skyrocketing (to rise extremely quickly or make extremely
quick progress )
aesthetic fashion
magnificent look
landmarks=a building or place that is easily recognized
architectural liberties.
crumble down=to break, or cause something to break, into
small pieces
congested=too blocked or crowded and causing difficulties
multi-storey buildings=describes a building with several floors
Health Budget

Most developed countries spend a large proportion of their

health budgets on expensive medical technology and
procedures. This money should be spent instead on health
education to keep people well. To what extent do you agree or
disagree with this opinion?
1. health awareness programs
2. Educating people about taking precautions against
diverting the money assigned for
required to diagnose and perform medical procedures
hereditary disease=(of characteristics or diseases) passed
from the genes of a parent to a child
cardiac problems =of the heart or heart disease
precautions against=an action which is done to prevent
something unpleasant or dangerous happening
many epidemics like small pox=the appearance of a particular
disease in a large number of people at the same time
budgetary constraints/ budgetary allocation
reasonable/ plausible/ justifiable/ judicious
History at school
Some children find learning history at school very exciting, but
many others think it is very boring. In what ways can history be
brought to life for all school children.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant
examples from your own knowledge or experience.
1.to take them to historical sites and museums
2.encourage them to conduct research in history
3.be asked to do projects on specific areas of history
relevant to their life
ancient palaces and similar archaeological sites
make it attractive/enticing/tempting for them
Subsequently
relevance of history in their daily lives
Previous generation
Some people feel that young people face more pressure today
than the equivalent age groups did in previous generations.
Others think they have a much easier life than their parents
did. What is your opinion?
owing to economic, social and professional issues
the level of stress experienced by
comparatively less
securing (to get something, sometimes with difficulty) a job or
moving from one to another
a great deal of stress because of the lack of job opportunities
educational qualifications
stiff targets, demanding deadlines and long working hours
The challenges are intense (extreme and forceful or (of a
feeling) very strong)
weigh=to carefully consider, especially by comparing facts or
possibilities, in order to make a decision
Nonetheless =despite what has just been said or done
Many rules
Governments make many rules to protect people from danger,
for example, by making people wear seat belts in cars or not

allowing smoking in public buildings. However, many people

believe that there are too many rules nowadays.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement
1.to protect their lives from possible dangers
2.learn the benefits of certain restrictions (inquisitive places,
such as Singapore)
imposing (to force someone to accept something, especially a
belief or way of living) certain restrictions
restrict their freedom to a certain extent
many dangers have been averted (to prevent something bad
from happening; avoid)
safety measures (METHOD)
should be weighed (to carefully consider) against
Those who believe that such rules interfere with their freedom
pay with their own lives
The conclusion one can draw from these
Littering (to drop rubbish on the ground in a public place) and
spitting (to force out the contents of the mouth) in public places
which is dealt with serious fines(an amount of money that has
to be paid as a punishment for not obeying a rule or law)
to appreciate such constrains on their freedom
Any sensible government would revoke (to say officially that an
agreement is no longer in effect) such rules and regulations
but essential for the smooth functioning of any civil society
The absence of such controls would lead to chaos and
confusion in public life
Dropped sport or physical education (PE) from the curriculum
Because of the pressure of new subjects such as business
studies, many schools have dropped sport or physical
education (PE) from the curriculum. How important is sport or
PE in a young persons education.
1.develop a healthy body which is immune to many common
diseases
2.can help students to develop sportsman spirit, skills of
socialisation and a spirit of competition
even it is to accommodate (to give what is needed to
someone) professionally relevant subjects like business
studies
can be motivated and initiated into sports
to ease (MAKE LESS) their stress created by spending long
hours in classrooms
ability to handle anxiety and tension(a feeling of nervousness
before an important or difficult event)-filled(full of the stated
thing) situations associated with their studies
will definitely receive a setback (kemunduran)
are usually spotted (seen, diperhatikan) and nurtured (to take
care of and help them to develop, diasuh/dipelihara) in schools
give importance to physical education along with (bersamaan
dengan) academic studies
it will definitely hamper (menghambat,to prevent someone
doing something easily)the physical and emotional opment of
children
modern work patterns and stress

More and more people claim that modern work patterns are a
source of stress. What do you think are the causes of this?
Can you suggest some possible solutions?
Effective management practices to deal with such situations
can play a significant role in reducing the severity of this
problem considerably
1.need to deliver their services within a stipulated (ditetapkan,
to state exactly how something must be or must be done) time
frame with the required quality
2.create relaxed environments at work, provide gym facilities
and other sports activities for employees, which they can use
during their break times
3.to reduce the hours of work
4.to encourage workers to use their weekends and holidays
more effectively by spending with their families or for picnics
This could be attributed to several professional and personal
issues
capitalist free economies have encouraged increasing levels of
competition in the market
to establish the superiority of their products and services and
increase profit
people work in target oriented and quality conscious work
places
can tackle this situation
the most obvious solution
A further step would be
a certain level of stress is inevitable
traditional values have been lost
People nowadays work hard to buy more things. This has
generally made our lives more comfortable, but many
traditional values and customs have been lost and this s a pity
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
In pursuit of material comforts, modern man strives to achieve
better financial status
ignoring traditional value systems and customs
although a minority falls into this category, the major portion of
the society still upholds (menjunjung tinggi, menegakkan)
traditional values in the midst (the middle of a group of people
or things) of material prosperity.
This is purely based on the wrong assumption
old parents should be allowed to interfere into the affairs of
their children and make decisions for them
is borne out of childrens freedom and not a result of fear
sometimes misinterpreted as lack of
What one can derive from this example is that traditional
values remain unchanged
helped them in fostering friendly relationship with ones
neighbours
they work for long hours outside their homes to meet the everincreasing demands of modern life
But this has been effectively compensated (exchanged) by the
formation of neighbourhood clubs and similar groups
Mans quest for material prosperity (kemakmuran, the state of
being successful and having a lot of money)

Although the circumstances change, man remains the same

old ethical being
The pay of professional sports people
Some people believe that professional sportspeople are paid
too much money nowadays in relation to their usefulness to
society. Do you agree?
Acknowledging (pernyataan, to accept, admit or recognize
something, or the truth or existence of something)the great
contributions made by
the remuneration (payment for work or services)that they
receive, cannot be considered excessive(too much)
Successful players possess (to have or own something, or to
have a particular quality) extraordinary talent which is nurtured
(HELP DEVELOP) through hard work, determination (TRYING
HARD, DECISION)and perseverance (ketekunan, continued
effort and determination)
reward their players with fitting(suitable or right for a particular
situation or occasion) financial assistance (help)
contribute a major share of their finances to charitable (giving
money, food or help free to those who are in need) and
philanthropic (helping poor people, especially by giving them
money) activities
but are not paid in accordance with (following or obeying a
rule/law/wish/etc) their role in the welfare of the society
Euthanasia or mercy killing
Euthanasia, or mercy killing, has been a controversial issue for
many years. Although many people are strongly against such a
practice, there is a growing demand to have it legalised. How
far do you agree with euthanasia being made legal?
it has enormous benefits for
it can also be end the hardships (kesukaran, penderitaan) and
excruciating(extremely painful) physical and mental agony
(nyeri,mental pain or suffering) of patients
Strict laws and proper surveillance (pengamatan, penjagaan)
can definitely prevent
should consider the practical difficulties involved in preserving
a life in vegetative(should consider the practical difficulties
involved in preserving a life in vegetative state) state
If proper guidelines are put forward (dianjurkan, to suggest a
plan or person, for other people to consider) by the authorities
formal examinations or course work
Only formal examinations, written or practical, can give a clear
picture of students true knowledge and ability at university
level. Continuous assessment like course work and projects
are poor measures of student ability. How far do agree with
this latter statement?
The assessment (when you judge or decide the amount, value,
quality or importance of something) methods of students ability
at the university level are now undergoing many conceptual
changes in the recent times
have continuously proved the superiority (when someone or
something is better) of course work and projects in judging the
comprehensive ability of a student

students are forced to study an extensive syllabus (the

subjects or books to be studied in a particular course,
especially a course which leads to an examination)
In such circumstances, students may not be able to perform to
the best of their potential
Such methods have benefited (to be helped by something or to
help someone) students in approaching (to deal with
something)
technology for the care of the old
High technology is now being harnessed (dipergunakan, to
control something, usually in order to use its power) to help the
elderly by providing monitoring, tracking and, perhaps one day
robots as companions. Whilst(at the same time as) there are
obvious benefits for the elderly in these developments, some
people are uneasy about the social consequences.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant
examples from your own knowledge or experience
using high technology in the care of the elderly, if any,are
inconsequential (not important ), compared to the enormous
benefits it has brought about in the lives of the aged
bed-ridden (terbaring di tempat tidur) or immobile
Although, taking care them is a very demanding (berat/padat,
needing a lot of time, attention or energy) job both physically
and psychologically
modern equipments have reduced the workload (beban kerj) of
careers
have eased (meringankan, to make or become less severe,
difficult, unpleasant, painful, etc) the tediousness
(membosankan) of these activities
can spend more time to interact with them and give
psychological support
As human interaction is an important ingredient of the
emotional health of the elderly, such a situation could make
them more irritated and temperamental
the use of modern devices in elderly care is unlikely (tak
mungkin) to lead to any social consequences
threat of nuclear weapons
The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace. Nuclear
power provides cheap and clean energy. The benefits of
nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages
Do you agree or disagree?
In spite of the fact that nuclear energy has the image of a
harmful in human history in the last 100 years
the inevitable (tak dapat dielakkan) fact remains that it is one
of the major sources of cheap energy and a great contributing
fear factor among major nations, that prevents them from
attacking each other
Although it may have the destructive power of eliminating
human race itself from the face of the earth in the worst case,
there are very convincing evidences to prove nuclear energy
has greatly contributed
If one would argue that nuclear bombs caused great
holocausts (the killing of very large numbers of people and

destruction) in the twin Japanese cities of Hiroshima and

Nagasaki
This should be weighed against the stark (yang
sebenarnya)reality that other alternative power sources like
windmill or solar energy are more expensive, unreliable and
limited in quantity
hydro-electric projects result in environmental hazards as huge
dams cause destruction to forests and displacement of
inhabitants.
should enforce and ensure the safety and non-proliferation
(perkembangan-biakan) of nuclear energy
alternative energy sources
One-day the worlds oil and gas reserves will run out. The
search for alternative energy sources like wind power, solar
power, burning waste, and water power are causing as much
environmental damage as the oil and nuclear power sources
they are intended to replace
How far do agree with this latter statement?
What possible benefits do the alternative energy sources
bring? Or what damage do they cause?
The depleting petroleum resources with its huge environmental
hazards have forced scientists to search for a perfect
alternative energy that can replace this conventional power
source
Although alternative fuels like wind power, solar energy have
certain disadvantages, they will emerge as a force to reckon
(consider/calculate) with in meeting the worlds energy
shortage (when there is not enough of something) and
replacing oil and gas
This should be seen against the fact that traditional sources of
energy like gas and petrol cause enormous damage to the
environment
This problem will soon be overcome as a great deal of
research is now going on in order to reduce the cost of
photovoltaic technology
Burning waste may have the disadvantage of polluting the
environment by emitting (to send out a beam, noise, smell or
gas) smoke
but we need to take into consideration the amount of waste
that is removed through this process
In contrast, traditional way to sourcing energy eat up (to use or
take away a large part of something valuable) precious natural
resources and are not renewable
Is education more important than health for development
The wealth of a nation is said to depend on the health of its
citizens. Yet, in the modern knowledge-based economies of
the world, education is more and more being seen as the main
force in the development of all countries.
Do you share this view?
education is the major force that can lead to the
comprehensive development of a country
A nation with a healthy population that could actively
participate in the development the state was traditionally
considered wealthy

now giving greater importance to sharpen educated graduates

in all areas, which is crucial for research and development and
effective implementation of developmental projects
health can be considered as one of the benchmarks (a level of
quality which can be used as a standard when comparing
other things) of development, for further development in
modern economic scenario
a sound education system is a mandatory (yg diperintahkan,
describes something which must be done, or which is
demanded by law) requirement
countries would lag behind in the modern race for supremacy
(keunggulan, highest/greatest) in the information technologydriven (controlled by technology forces) world
an educated and highly skilled workforce (pekerja, the group of
people who work in a company, industry, country, etc) is key to
progress and prosperity (kemakmuran, the state of being
successful and having a lot of money)
Children over 15 years
Children over 15 years should be allowed to make decisions
about their lives without the interference of their parents or
teachers. Society should accept that children mature at a
younger age these days and should adjust the law accordingly
(yang sesuai dgn itu)
Discuss this statement in relation to your own society or a
society that you know well
but this has not given them the emotional maturity or
experience to take important decisions without the active
participation of parents or teachers
Hence, there is no need to change the present law to
accommodate the rights of children of this age group
In the first place, if the law is amended to protect the rights
these children, both parents and teacher would completely
lose their control over them both at home and in school
Since this is psychologically a vulnerable (mudah kena serang,
able to be easily physically, emotionally, or mentally hurt,
influenced or attacked) age, they can easily be lured (terpikat,
to persuade someone to do something or go somewhere by
offering them something exciting) by misleading
(menyesatkan) elements in the society, who can exploit them
physically and emotionally
Furthermore, they could be deviated (tersimpang, to do
something which is different from the usual or common way of
behaving) to bad habits like drug addiction, alcoholism and
uncontrolled sexual indulgence (kegemaran, pengikutsertaan)
Elders would require a lawful (sah menurut hukum) control
over them at this age to safeguard (to protect something from
harm) them from such potential dangers
the lack of experience and the temperamental nature of their
decision making process
can prove to be detrimental (causing harm or damage,
merusak atau mengganggu) to their success in future life
as the age of 15 is crucial period for them to lay a foundation in
their educational career, if not properly guided, there could be
a danger of greater school dropouts and career choices that

would not match their intellectual aptitudes (bakat/kecerdasan,

a natural ability or skill)
but at the same time should not impose (to force someone to
accept something, especially a belief or way of living) their
ideas on them
Celebration of National Events
Governments often spend large sums of money on spectacular
displays to celebrate national events of significance. This
money could be better spent on improving social conditions in
the country
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Government should not divert (mengalihkan, change direction)
the money meant for the celebration of national events of
significance, as it has many benefits, in terms of reminding the
citizens about the rich cultural heritage of the nation and
inspiring a sense of patriotism and nationalism among various
sections of population
Hence spending large sums of money for this purpose can be
justified (bisa benar, having a good reason for something) and
government should allocate separate funds for improving the
social conditions of the country
For instance, during the republic day celebration, in India,
traditional art forms are staged (to arrange and perform a play
or show, to organize an event) and ceremonial processions are
organised throughout (diseluruh/sepanjang) the country
Although these celebrations would incur (mendatangkan, to
experience something, usually something unpleasant, as a
result of actions you have taken) large expenditure for the
state as well as people
Therefore, spending a large amount of money for this purpose
is worthwhile (berguna/berfaedah, useful, important or good
enough to be a suitable reward for the money or time spent or
the effort made)
although a substantial (large in size, value or importance) sum
(an amount of money/total/calculation) is spent on spectacular
displays
a large number of international tourists visit the country during
this time and such events are telecast (disiarkan lewat TV)
throughout the world
This would definitely benefit the country economically and it is
a great opportunity to showcase (memamerkan, to show the
best qualities or parts of something) ones culture and
traditions before (di depan) the world
Hence it is quite reasonable to celebrate national events with
pomp (kemegahan, splendid and colourful ceremony,
especially traditional ceremony on public occasions) and
fanfare (pawai yang riuh)
In conclusion, the money spent for the rich celebrations of
national events of significance (special meaning , importance)
should not be diverted for improving the social conditions of
the country as it has a number of cultural and economic
benefits for the nation

Problems of aging
Because of the falling birth rates and better healthcare, the
worlds population is getting steadily older and this trend is
going to cause serious problems for the society
would become a huge burden (a heavy load that you carry)
on them to provide food
Inevitably (tak bisa diacuhkan, in a way that cannot be
avoided), a major share of countrys resources has to be spent
for this purpose
Consequently, this would lead to the reduction in budgetary
allocation for other developmental activities, resulting in
serious economic consequences
a number of developed countries shortage of young
professionals in important areas like healthcare and
information technology is experienced today
In conclusion, although increasing life expectancy can be
counted as a sign of development, if it is coupled with the
reduction in the number of younger population it would lead to
many issues related to the progress of the country
Hence a number of countries are now encouraging more
children in families by giving them incentives in terms of
economic benefits and longer maternity (the state of being a
mother) leave
Power of advertising
Today the high sales of popular consumer goods reflect the
power of advertising and not the real needs of the society in
which they are sold.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Although the lure of advertisements helps to sell products to
some extent, the reason for the large sale of consumer goods
cannot be attributed to it
The increasing needs of people for convenience and luxury,
and the rising purchasing power of the society, have
contributed considerably to this phenomenon
Firstly, modern inventions have helped people to have
products that would reduce their physical labour, wastage (yg
dibuang2, the amount that is wasted) of time and increase
convenience
have saved a great deal of time for housewives (ibu rumah
tangga) and reduced their physical effort. This would prompt
(mendorong/mendesak) them to buy more and more such
products with newer features and discard the older ones
Moreover, people also buy tinned (kaleng, which is tinned is
put in a tin in order to preserve it) and instant foods in large
amounts to save the time for cooking
to flaunt (to show or make obvious something you are proud of
in order to get admiration) their wealth
Private Tuition
Some parents believe that extra private lessons outside school
hours, where students work alone with a teacher, can help
them do better at school. Others disagree.
Discuss both the views and give your own opinion
they send them to private tuitions (UK teaching, especially
when given to a small group or one person, such as in a

college or university) where the teacher can individually help

them to study their lessons more effectively and perform better
at school
others believe that private lessons outside school hours are
burdensome (memberatkan, causing difficulties or work) to
children and it can have a negative influence on their academic
development
Because of the constrains (desakan) of time, the size of the
syllabus (iktisar rencana pembelajaran) and the number of
students
school teachers may not be able to cater to the individual
needs of all children who have different intellectual capacities
weaker students find it hard to grasp (to understand
something, especially something difficult) the formulas of
mathematics and science
the teacher at a private tuition follows the pace of the student
and makes sure that he is thorough with the lessons
This means that the teacher has sufficient time to repeat the
lessons in case the student does not understand it, the first
time
is considered, by many parents, as an intrusion
(pengacauan/pengangguan) into the time that children should
engage in sports or other extracurricular activities
They believe that students are already stressed out after
regular school hours and should be given time to relax, instead
of taxing ( to need someone to make a lot of effort, either
physical or mental) them again with more lessons
which would have detrimental (yang mengganggu) effect on
their academic performance

Being away from a formal educational environment for such a

long time can affect his discipline, study habits, which can lead
to poor academic performance at the university
they should also be aware of the dangers that they are
exposed to

In some countries young people are encouraged to work or

travel for a year between finishing high school and starting
university studies.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people
who decide to do this.
can give young people a broader outlook about life, which is
not possible through university education alone
It can also give them greater emotional and intellectual
maturity to plan their career goals and even deal with problems
of life in a better way
Engaging in practical work will help young people to have a
direct experience of the harsh realities of life, rather than just
bookish (gemar baca buku) knowledge
the professional skills that they need to acquire in their
university education
can teach them qualities of life that they may not learn at home
and such knowledge can make them more tolerant
Above all, it can give them greater confidence and self-reliance
(kemandirian diri)
which can end up in increasing number of school drop outs
if a young man finds a job with a decent (patut/layak) salary, he
would sometimes continue in his job even after the end of the
gap year
Although it gives him a temporary financial fulfilment, denies
him the opportunity for further education and a much better job

televised sport
The amount of sport shown on television every week has
increased significantly and this is having an impact on live
sports events. Do you think the benefits of having more
televised sport are greater than the disadvantages?
Televised sports, both recorded and live, have become a major
form of entertainment for millions of sports lovers in the recent
years
On the one hand, the thrill (sensasi,getaran hati/jiwa) of
watching a match with thousands of spectators can hardly
(only just) be experienced in the privacy of ones television
screen
sing patriotic chants (nyanyian gampang&pendek) and dress
up in fancy clothes during a match, whereas such euphoric
(extremely happy and excited) experience of mass
entertainment
many accuse television sports to be addictive in nature
without engaging in any productive activities.
Firstly, television has made sports accessible to millions of
people across the globe, while sports venues are restricted to
only a limited number of people
millions of soccer fans all around the world watch it in the
comfort of their homes
Secondly, television has played a significant role in
substantially increasing the popularity of many sports like
cricket, badminton and hockey

Governments spend huge amounts of money on arts. Some

people feel that this is justified, whereas others feel that this
money can be used for public health and education. Discuss
both the views and give your opinion.
It is necessary for governments to spend sufficient (enough for
a particular purpose) amount of money for the improvement
and maintenance of public health and education
but allocating a certain amount for arts is also important for the
comprehensive (secara luas) development of a nation
On the other hand, downplaying (menganggap remeh, the
importance of arts in a country is like neglecting the aesthetic,
creative and emotional needs of the people
similar arts have great importance in the cultural development
of the people
Moreover, preserving and maintaining the cultural traditions of
the country through arts can attract tourists from all over the
world
Apart from their economic and educational pursuits, man finds
great fulfillment in life by spending time for arts, which can
satisfy his emotional needs
In conclusion, spending money for both arts, and educational
and health needs are equally important and therefore ignoring
either of the sectors is not desirable

Thirdly, a televised sport is more appealing to many viewers

because of the superior technological features like close up (a
photograph taken from a short distance that gives a very
detailed picture) and slow motion visuals, expert commentaries
and statistics, which make it very interesting
Finally, the huge amount of revenue generated through
television rights and advertisements has made sports an
important economic activity
the increasing coverage (report) given to sports on television
has been greatly beneficial for sports in general
its growing influence suggests that, its negative impacts are
negligible
Non-essential Flights
A long distance flight consumes as much fuel as a car
consumes in several years time, and causes the same amount
of pollution as cars. So some people think we should abandon
non essential flights (such as for tourism), and it is more
efficient than restricting the car. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?
Although long distance flights exhaust (to use something
completely) much greater amount of fuel as compared to cars
banning non essential flights is no better way to control
pollution than limiting the number of cars
In the first place (in or at the beginning (of a series of events)),
although an individual flight may cause much more damage to
the environment as compared to a car that travels the same
distance, the total pollution caused by the increasing number
of cars is much greater
millions of new cars are crowding the streets every day and
their numbers seem to be soaring (to rise very quickly to a high
level/to reach a great height)
abandoning such flights cannot be effective in minimising the
impacts of pollution. Whereas, considering the enormous
damage caused to the environment by millions of new cars,
their usage should be limited
Moreover, many people make use of private chartered (rented)
flights because of the non-availability of seats in regular flights
especially when large groups of people
So is the case with businessmen, who travel on short notice.
This would mean that banning the so-called (used to show that
you think a word that is used to describe someone or
something is not suitable or not correct) nonessential flights
would hamper (prevent someone doing something) the
development of business and tourism
Although there is an argument that privacy and safety are of
prime importance to such people, many believe that their
usage is nonessential in nature. But, the effects of restricting
such flights would be minimal, since their numbers are very
few.
controlling the use of cars is a much better way to fight
pollutions than restricting a few non-essential flights.
Censoring Creative Artists
Creative artists should always be given the freedom to express
their own ideas (in words, pictures, music or film) in whichever

way they wish. There should be no government restrictions on

what they do. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Although it may seem logical (reasonable) to let creative artists
to convey their ideas with total liberty, it can sometimes have
negative consequences to the functioning (operating) of the
society
Therefore, it is sensible (bijaksana/good judgement) for
governments to limit their creative freedom to a certain extent,
so that art would be used for the welfare of the society
To start with, although artists are generally considered
exemplary (patut dicontoh, very good and suitable to be copied
by other people) individuals who aim at the progress of
humanity, some could have vested (tetap berbagi) interests in
creating frictions in the society
Art could be used as a tool to create such tensions among
different groups of people, especially in a multicultural
environment
have included socially sensitive materials, which could hurt the
religious or communal sentiments of certain groups
The censorship authority in India has been able to edit the
contents of such movies to avoid social frictions
This would certainly mean that censorship is very essential in
guiding creative artists to be socially responsible, while
expressing their ideas
Again, sometimes poets, writers or painters express their ideas
but they could be detrimental to the existing moral or ethical
standards of a particular society
Ideal instances would be books and movies that show excess
sexual content or glorify (memuja/mengagungkan, to make
something seem splendid or excellent, often when it is really
not) illicit (illegal, gelap/haram) relationships like incest or extra
marital affairs
their ideas could mislead the society especially the young
Governmental restrictions in such cases, many believe, is
necessary for maintaining the accepted moral practices in a
society
They also believe that many of the accepted moral and ethical
standards are not conclusive (meyakinkan) and should be
evolved
corrupt (bad) and despotic (sewenang-wenang) rulers could
use censorship to silence their critics
restricting artistic liberties is a very complex issue which should
be handled from a practical point of view
In principle, freedom of artists should be respected, but if it
leads to negative impacts in the society government should
restrict artists
Lack of support for
Professional sports involve large sums of money and receives
enormous media coverage (ulasan/pemberitaan). Meanwhile
serious culture, including music, art and theatre, is badly
neglected. This is making our society shallower (semakin tidak
serius). To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Due to the enormous popularity that sport enjoys it receives
great financial support and media publicity, while sponsorship
to serious cultural activities is seriously on the decline

This essay examines whether this trend reflects a superficial

(not serious) attitude of the society
is
often
interpreted
as
societys
indifference
(pengabaian/pengacuhan) towards serious cultural activities
It seems that very few people today have the willingness or
time to enjoy such arts, which would require a deeper aesthetic
sense. In contrast, the society spends a great deal of time and
effort to watch sports, which provides instant entertainment
and emotional satisfaction (kepuasan)
For instance, in many societies it is difficult to get audiences
for classical music concerts or theatre, whereas football and
cricket stadium are usually crowded with cheering
Consequently, organisers of such events fail to get media
support and financial sponsorship
The excess (extra) economic and press support that sports
receive is due to its universal popularity as a means of
entertainment
Moreover, people today need rest from their stress-filled life
and sports provide such relaxation and help them to ease their
tensions
Art or music cannot expect such back up from the government
or corporate world, because people generally spend much less
time to enjoy such activities
For example, people may go for a theatre performance or
similar shows only a few times a year, but and this has not
reduced their appreciation of such serious cultural events
A societys depth of character should not be judged only on the
basis of the amount of support that the cultural activities
receive
Overall, although today serious culture does not receive as
much media attention or money as sport, the society cannot be
considered shallow in it approach
Dependence or Independence
Some people think that in the modern world we have become
more dependent on each other, while others think that people
are now more independent.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
In personal, social and professional life people today have
become more independent due to a number of reasons.
However, there is an opposing view that modern lifestyles have
forced people to become more dependent on each other. Both
perspectives are analysed in this essay.
the disintegration of traditional family systems and values has
made people much more independent as compared to the past
where younger members had to obey the head of the family in
their personal, career or economic matters
emergence of technology has also given a great deal of
freedom to people to perform many activities without
depending on others
computerisation of offices, Bank ATMs, online commerce and
modern household appliances (alat-alat) have reduced the
dependence of people on others
has become more prominent (mencolok) in modern life

They cite the example of modern work places where team

work and coordination among various departments play vital
role in the success of any particular business
Even in scientific developments group activity is more crucial
than individual achievements
Moreover, since technology has influenced most human
activities people need to depend on specialist technicians in
each area to sort out (to deal satisfactorily or successfully with
a problem, a situation, or a person who is having difficulties)
issues in their everyday life
While considering both the perspectives, I am convinced that
people today have greater independence, in spite of their
dependence on others in certain areas
Strict punnishments for drivers
The only way to improve safety on our reads is to have stricter
punishment for driving offenders (pelanggar). To what extent
do you agree or disagree?
However, there are also certain other measures that have
equal or more effectiveness in ensuring road safety
In the first place (pada pokoknya), there are certain accidents
that occur not because of traffic violations. To explain it further,
poor road condition is considered a major reason for road
casualties
For example, narrow roads and sharp curves often force even
law-abiding drivers makes mistakes
Therefore, it should be noted that drivers alone cannot be
blamed for such mishaps (kecelakaan2) and giving them
stricter punishments in these cases is no solution
A more effective strategy by the government would be to
straighten accident prone curves and widen narrow roads
For instance, poor visibility due to dense mist and rain, slippery
roads on account of snowfall cause make driving difficult and
cause serious accidents in many countries
Stricter punishment for drivers is a futile (sia-sia/unsuccessful)
exercise in handling such problems
On the other hand, reckless driving, speeding and breach
(pelanggaran) of traffic rules by careless drivers have caused
many accidents
Moreover, drunken and drowsy (mengantuk/) driving have also
resulted serious traffic mishaps
In summary, there are certain situations where drivers are not
responsible for a particular accident. Hence apart from
punishing drivers with heavier penalties other effective
measures should also In summary, there are certain situations
where drivers are not responsible for a particular accident.
Hence apart from punishing drivers with heavier penalties
other effective measures should also be considered to apply
Who should pay for roads
The number of cars keeps increasing, so road systems should
be expanded. Some people think the government should pay
for it, while others think the car owners should pay for it.
Whats your opinion?

Unless roads are developed to accommodate (to give what is

needed to someone) the increasing number of cars, it would
aggravate the rising traffic problems in our cities
However, it is unfair for the government to expect car owners
to bear (to hold or support something) the cost of expanding
roads
car owners are already burdened by various types of taxes
levied (ditarik/dipungut) on them by the government at the time
of purchase of the car and on a periodic basic
Increasing number of cars would naturally boost the tax
revenue of the government
Furthermore, it is the responsibility of a responsible
government to provide the basic infrastructure like efficient
roads to the people
If tax revenue is not sufficient for this purpose, Governments
usually perform these responsibilities by availing loans
(bantuan pinjaman)
This would mean that there is hardly (certainly not/only just)
any need for governments to require car owners to pay for
such expenses
This argument would, in fact, seriously downplay the basic
responsibility of the government to provide people with
infrastructural facilities
In conclusion, from the above arguments it is clear that
government should bear the cost of improving the road
system, in order to handle the growing traffic problems
associated with large number of cars
Who should handle enviro. damage
Reducing global environmental damage should be handled by
governments rather than individuals. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?
If individuals can make a conscious effort to change their
lifestyle, by cutting down the use of private cars and use public
transport, it would substantially reduce the burning of fossil
fuels
The lack of public support can seriously hamper any
government endeavour towards the reduction of pollution
Again, people use enormous amount of plastic in daily life,
which is a hazardous pollutant of the soil. Individuals can
make a great contribution for the protection of the environment,
opting for eco friendly substitutes
Finally, people should gradually withdraw from excess
consumerism, which has greatly contributed to the over
exploitation of natural resources
This would mean that they should give greater priority to
durable and reusable products in the shopping list,
consequently discouraging (preventing) use and throw culture
Are universities producting more graduates?
Some people believe that universities are producing more
graduates than needed, and that less emphasis should be
placed on university education. Others are of a different
opinion. Discuss both views and include your own opinion

increasing number of university graduates find it hard to find

employment and this raises the question whether university
education should be given less importance
many graduates from universities are not employable
yet skilled labour is in shortage in todays growing industrial
and business sectors
sufficient (cukup) number of school graduates do not opt for
technical education
This tendency would lead to further unemployment of the
educated youth, which is already being experience in many
parts of the world
Evidences in many industrialised countries like Australia show
that increasing number of graduates are forced to choose jobs
that do not match their qualifications
In contrast, there are those who believe that the purpose of
education is not just to teach a trade. Hence, university
graduates, with their superior knowledge have a greater role to
play for the development of the nation
they believe, the importance given to university education is
justified
Many countries want to move factories and big industrial firms
out of big cities and towns and into rural areas. Do you think
the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Relocating manufacturing firms and plants from big cities to
smaller towns and rural areas can certainly address many
issues related to excess urbanisation
Although the negative impacts of this issue should also be
given due consideration, I would consider, the advantages of
such a move are much greater
the effluents (pembuangan air) and gas emissions from many
factories add to the already polluted cities and create huge
environmental issues
Whereas, rural areas usually have large areas of uninhabited
wasteland and effects of pollution can be managed efficiently
many states of India have started Industrial Parks in rural
areas and given tax incentives to companies to set up
factories. This has prevented many unemployed youth from
moving to the cities for employment
Lack of transport and other infrastructural facilities may be a
handicap (rintangan) for industrial units as technically qualified
professionals and skilled labourers may not be interested in
moving to such places to work in factories
To conclude, having considered both sides of the argument,
the benefits of shifting factories to rural areas seem to be a
very favourable idea as it can create a large number of job
opportunities for the rural youth and reduce urban migration to
a great (sampai jumlah tertentu, Hence (maka dari itu,
therefore/from now), the minor drawbacks should not prevent
governments from going ahead with this policy
Planning for the future
Some people consider thinking about and planning for the
future to be a waste of time. They argue that people should
simply live in the moment. Do you agree or disagree? Use at
least one personal example in your response

However, there is another line of thought which advices people

to lead a meaningful and effective life in the present and not
bother much about the future
To be precise, it would prompt (mendorong, to make
something happen) people to think about their own abilities
and make an extra effort to realise their dreams
On the other hand, in many instances planning for the future,
some believe, is not very sensible and many unforeseen
events in life can turn things against ones plan
people often plan their future and make huge investments in
terms of money and other resources
Nonetheless (meskipun demikian), I am inclined (denderung)
to favour (the support or approval of something or someone)
the idea that it is
failure to realise their dreams can seriously affect their morale
(semangat juang, the amount of confidence felt by a person)
Museums and the Internet
Museums for many years have been the places of knowledge
and cultural exchange. Nowadays there are more and more
resources on the Internet and museums will not be needed in
the future. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Both the internet and museums have great resources for
education, research and cultural exchange
However, the information on the internet has certain serious
limitations and can never match or replace museums
To start with, the materials available on the internet are in
digital form and cannot be touched
Whereas, museums have real objects, that are more useful for
students and researchers for education and cultural exchange
in a historical museum a visitor is able to see the real pieces of
ancient materials like coins, artefacts and manuscripts, which
are much more useful and interesting than mere digital images
Similarly (dgn cara yg sama, in a similar way), visitors can
have a direct experience of real objects of culture, whereas
digitally available images are not reliable or tangible
it is difficult to find out where information is available on the
internet because it is poorly organised
In contrast, a museum is systematically arranged and reliable.
For instance, in a science museum inventions are
chronologically arranged, therefore, visitors can have a clear
idea about them
museums will definitely continue to have a unique role in
preserving information for future generations
Prisons/Education for Criminals
In many countries prisons is considered the best way to
decrease crime. However, education is often argued to be
more effective way. Which opinion do you most agree with?
Imprisonment is generally/mostly/usually considered the best
way/ideal method to reform (to make an improvement,
especially by changing a person's behaviour or the structure of
something)/rectify (to correct something or make something
right, mengkorek) the behavior of criminals and bring down
illegal activities/crime in the society

Whereas/However/But, of late, many people are

convinced/believe/are of the opinion that education is a better
way to do it
This essay attempts/tries to analyse this issue in detail
On the one hand, as prisons can deprive
(mencabut/menghilangkan) a persons freedom it would
dissuade
(meminta
jgn
berbuat)/
deter
(mencegah/menghalangi) people from committing a criminal
offence (penyerangan)/illegal activity
a great deal of social disgrace (aib/malu)/stigma (noda/cacat)
is attached to being detained (ditahan) in a jail
To explain, not many people would risk losing their
honour/respect before their friends, family and society through
imprisonment (hukuman penjara)
long imprisonment/incarceration (kurungan) can keep
compulsive (yg mendorong) criminals and serial offenders
(pelanggaran) away from the society and indulging
(memanjakan, membiarkan bergitu saja) in crime
psychopaths with criminal tendencies need to be separated
from the mainstream (the way of life or set of beliefs accepted
by most people/ normal, accepted by most people) of society
as they cannot be reformed easily
educating criminals about the implications (the effect that an
action or decision will have on something else in the future) of
crime and supplementing (to add something to something to
make it larger or better) to their educational and vocational
(kejuruan/skills and education for a job) deficiencies
(ketiadaan/nggk punya)/ inadequacies (ketidakcakapan) can
definitely discourage (prevent) them from committing further
crimes to an extent
However, such methods cannot work independently (dgn
bebas) but only as an addition to prison sentence (hukuman)
Lack of community in cities
With the increasing number of people in cities, most do not
know their neighbours and the sense of community is lost.
What is causing this? How can we turn it around?
A number of reasons can be attributed to this tendency among
city dwellers
This situation can be addressed (dealt with) effectively if
certain proactive steps are taken by the urban population
One of the major reasons for the isolated lifestyle in cities is
the busy schedule of people due to extended working hours
and long commuting (berubah-ubah/change) time
many business firms in cities demand their employees to work
beyond the usual hours and owing to heavy traffic congestion
getting to and back from work is a time consuming affair
Even at home people need to be engaged in their household
chores (pekerjaan/tugas, a job or piece of work which is often
boring or unpleasant but needs to be done regularly), which
leave them with hardly any time to interact even with their
immediate (dekat/closest) neighbours
the ethnic (kesukuan), cultural and linguistic diversity of people
in cities, who come from different parts of a country or even
other nations, does create serious hurdles (a problem that you

have to deal with before you can make progress) for easy
socialisation
An ideal way to deal with this problem is to encourage people
to visit their neighbours on weekends and make friends with
them
Joining neighbourhood cultural forums and charity groups is
another effective method to create a sense of community
among city dwellers
families that live in apartments or housing colonies can form
associations and meet occasionally to work for the welfare of
the neighbourhood
Finally, using a common language like English for
communication is also very useful. Such initiatives can
definitely enhance a sense of unity and increase socialisation
among people who live in cities
To conclude, a lack of community feeling is prevalent in city
life, but if people make a genuine effort to interact with each
other, this problem can be solved to a great extent
Save energy by shorter workweeks
Research has shown that spending much less time in office
can reduce the use of energy (for example, electricity, gas).
Thus some companies close for some days a week. Do the
advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Inspired by the realisation that energy consumption can be
checked by reducing the time spent by employees in offices,
many companies have adopted strategies like reducing the
number of days in a workweek
However, some people feel that such a plan can have a
negative impact on the performance of businesses and the
welfare of employees
Moreover, with the reduced workweek and longer leisure time
it is likely that the productivity of employees would improve,
compensating (mengganti kerugian) for the hours lost
it has substantially cut down energy costs in terms of lighting
and running of office machinery, the work completed in a week
has not been seriously affected
Similarly, the commuting of employees and movement of office
vehicles have been reduced, resulting in substantial fuel
savings
On the other hand, critics believe that shortened workweek can
affect work output and reduce the earning capacity of
employees.
This would mean that losing a considerable number of manhours at work would affect the performance of companies
After considering both views, from a broader perspective, the
substantial energy saving achieved by modern companies
should be given greater prominence (menonjol)
Moreover, the drawbacks can be minimized by introducing
alternative methods like telecommuting, where employees do
not come to office, but work from home using modern
telecommunication systems
Animal Rights
Some people think that humans can use animals in any way
for their own benefit. Others, however, believe that people

should not use animals in a wrong way. Discuss both these

views and give your opinion
Man use animals for various purposes, which sometimes can
amount to (be) abuse (penyalahgunaan) and even cause their
death
Many animal right activists have, recently, raised concerns
about the ill-treatment (perlakuan buruk) of animals by human
beings
This essay intends to analyse both sides of this issue in detail
On the one hand, many believe that man is a superior (higher)
being and therefore it is justifiable to
For example, many life saving drugs for humans have been
tested in animals like guinea pigs before they are is used by
man
This has resulted in the invention of many life saving
medicines which are essential for man to maintain his health
and prolong (to make something last a longer time) his life
Similarly, many animals like pigs and chicken are reared
(dipelihara) and killed for food and elephants and lions are
used in circuses to entertain people and make money
Although many consider these to be cruelty (cruel behaviour or
a cruel action) to animals, most human beings think that it is
essential for mans well-being
On the other hand, animal lovers contend (to state that
something is true or is a fact, berpendapat) that showing
cruelty to animals is unjustifiable because it is a violation of
animal rights
They also believe that animals experience pain and stress just
like human beings and therefore it is cruel to ill-treat them
Although it may amount to a certain level of cruelty, it seems
logical to make use of animals for the needs of man
Even in nature, we see stronger animals attacking and killing
weaker ones for their food. Moreover, man greatly benefits
from animals, in transportation, farming and scientific
experiments
In conclusion, my suggestion is that it is inevitable (tak dapat
dielakkan) to use animals for the benefit of man, but they
should minimise animal sufferings in all ways possible
Credit Cards
Nowadays it is easy to apply for and be given a credit card.
However, some people experience problems when they are
not able to pay their debts back. In your opinion, do the
advantages of credit cards outweigh the disadvantages?
Most banks today have reduced the formalities required for
issuing a credit card but the inability to repay credit card debts
has driven many into mounting (to gradually increase, rise, or
get bigger) financial difficulties
Yet, I believe that this electronic credit facility is greatly
advantageous to people, if handled with proper caution and
prudence
credit cards have enabled people to handle their large financial
emergencies without strain and pay back the money later in
easy installments/ hire purchase (rencana angsuran)
For example, if an individual has an unforeseen hospital
expense as a result of an accident or illness he can use his

card to borrow money without going to a bank or approaching

another person
Moreover, people can travel without mental stress or anxiety
about any unexpected crisis. For instance, people who travel
abroad often experience difficulties like, unexpected
cancellation, delay of flights and loss of luggage
Nevertheless, if people are not able to repay their credit card
interest on time they could end up (to finally be in a particular
place or situation) in serious financial troubles
This usually occurs when people borrow money beyond their
expected weekly or monthly income or engage in excessive
shopping using this facility. Besides, some people are less
conscious about the amount of money they spend or the date
of repayment
Credit Cards
It is a known fact that this policy provokes (causes) strong
arguments against it, banks have the support of governments
on their behind
To begin with, slackening/softening (to (cause to) become
slower or less active, mengurangi) the credit cards application
policies is a tricky move made by banks in order to delude
people to the notion that, with the aid of a credit card, they can
buy things which normally they can't afford
remaining indebted to the banks is not a wise practice, it is
also not practical to spend the money you don't possess at the
very moment
On the contrary, banks prefer their customer to be indebted,
thus they will be able to profit from the interest money
Most people who possess credit cards are regularly spending
more money that they own, thus they are not able to manage
their day to day finance without relying on credit cards
anymore
Eventually, these people go bankrupt, and suffer from
depression, anxiety, and on some occasions, commit suicide
as a consequnce of their difficult economic condition
On the other hand, credit cards have enabled people to handle
their financial emergencies resulting from unexpected
situations such as accidents or illnesses
As an example, due to an unforeseen illness, people may have
to spend some amount of additional money that they don't
have temporarily
As conclusion, common folk (people, suku/bangsa) should be
informed against the nasty (dangerous or violent) policies
adopted by banks to encourage (mendorong/menganjurkan)
them spend more than they earn. Additionally, people should
also refrain from irresponsible spendings, and should take
assistance from governments regarding financial management
if it is necessary
Mobile Phones in Public
Some people believe that mobile phones should be banned in
public, especially in public transport, restaurants, and cinemas.
Others think that people should be allowed to use mobile
phones anywhere. Discuss both views and give your opinion

Although using mobile phones in public may be of some

nuisance (gangguan, something or someone that annoys you
or causes trouble for you) to people in rare instances, it would
be very unfair to ban them in such places, especially when we
consider their enormous advantages for emergency
communication
or, Nonetheless, I tend to believe that it is unreasonable to
prohibit the use of such a useful communication device in
public
On the one hand, important messages need to be
communicated to people even when they are in public places
cell phones have played a very significant role in keeping
individuals connected with each other
can be conveyed to them immediately, so that required action
can be taken by the people concerned
On the other hand, in some instances, the indiscriminate use
of mobile phones has become a serious concern, as people
speak loudly, disturbing the privacy of others
We sometimes witness people talking loudly on mobile phones
in theatres and movie halls and deny the enjoyment of the
people who sit nearby
through educational institutions and the media, government
can give awareness about the proper use of mobile phones,
instead of banning them altogether in public
Exam Stress and Creativity
Most education systems rely on examinations to encourage
children to study, but as a result, children suffer from too much
stress and they never learn to be creative. Therefore, exams
should be abolished. To what extend do you agree or
disagree?
examinations do exert (mendesak) a certain amount of stress
on them
However, this does not affect their creative development and
hence, there is no need to abolish examinations
unlike common perception, examinations these days are not all
about rote learning and memorising, but also encouraging
children to research and form their own opinions about various
topics
For example, in language and literature examinations children
are often asked about their views about a novel or poem
This encourages them to read books more seriously and
develop their own perspectives
even if examinations result in a certain level of anxiety or
pressure, it should only be considered reasonable as they
would inspire students to work harder to have a sense of
achievement
In other words, a fair amount of tension (tegangan) helps
children to make greater efforts for achieving higher grades or
marks
examinations do lead to excess stress in certain children,
which is mainly due to lack of preparation or pressure from
family members or teachers to perform well
proper guidance and counselling can help children to handle
their exam related anxieties successfully

more innovative ways of conducting tests to reduce the need

for memorising can help children to enhance their creative
abilities
it unreasonable to ban examinations because they play a very
vital role in helping children to approach studies with greater
earnestness (kesungguhan)
It also helps to develop their imaginative expressions rather
than suppressing (menekan/menindas) them
Changing Locations
It is common that people change their locations more
frequently than in the past. What are the reasons? Is it a
positive or negative development?
Unlike in the past, an increasing number of people are
relocating to different cities and countries for various reasons.
This movement, in my opinion, in general, has a positive
impact on their life
many professionals do not find jobs that suit their qualifications
in their own hometown or country
Whereas large cities and industrialised countries offer them
lucrative (producing a lot of money) employment opportunities
and obviously they would be encouraged to migrate to such
places
many young graduates from rural India and small towns have
moved to the metropolitan cities of India, like Bangalore and
Mumbai, where multinational companies and large industries
provide them appropriate jobs
In addition, for changing jobs and inter-organisational transfers
people relocate (menampung, refugee, to (cause a person or
company to) move to a new place) more often these days
people today move to more developed regions and countries
for life style changes like better education, shopping
opportunities and cosmopolitan environment
They often gain in terms of economic betterment, professional
development and lifestyle improvevent
Contact between Countries
Some people say that the increasing business and cultural
contact between countries is positive development, while
others think that many countries will lose their national
identities as a result. Discuss both views and give your opinion
The growing global business relationships and interaction
between various cultures have resulted in greater economic
development and better understanding between people across
the globe
However, some people believe that such developments have
led to the degradation of the individual identities of many
countries
On the one hand, the establishment of large international
businesses firms has created a great number of jobs for the
educated and skilled youth in many underdeveloped countries
For example, the arrival of software and outsourcing
companies like Google and Accenture from the United States
have created enormous jobs for engineers in India

Similarly, today people in many countries are able to enjoy

music, dance, theatre and other cultural practices of other
countries
This has helped them to appreciate other cultures and it has
often become a positive impact on their own cultures
western music and movies are very popular in many parts of
the world, and in India films and film music have been greatly
influenced by the technical advancements of the west
At the same time, Indian spiritual and cultural practices like
yoga and meditation have been extensively practiced
On the other hand, People's food and dressing habits and
entertainment options are dominated by international business
firms, whereas traditional lifestyles becoming unpopular
This has led to the internationalisation of culture directed by
multinational companies. This is evident in the increasing
popularity of fast-foods like Pizzas, Burgers and fried meats of
multinational chains like KFC, Pizza Hut and MacDonald. In
contrast, many traditional dishes are becoming less popular or
even extinct all over the world
although we need to acknowledge that globalisation has
resulted in a certain loss of cultural identities, it has enormous
benefits in terms of economic development and cultural
evolution of the world
Fathers as Homemakers
Nowadays more and more fathers look after their children at
home, while mothers are doing fulltime work. What are the
reasons? Is it a positive or negative development?
In the recent times, an increasing(growing) number of men
stay(remain) at home and care for(look after)their children,
whereas(while) women engage(are involved) in fulltime jobs
and earn for the families
A number of factors have led to this situation, and, this trend, in
my opinion, is greatly desirable(acceptable)
One of the major reasons for this shift(change) in gender roles
is the unemployment of many men especially due to frequent
occurances of economic recession in many parts of the world
This has resulted in many men staying(remaining) at home
and providing for the needs of their children, while women
continue to earn for the family
For example, the dot-com industry suffered(experienced) a
major meltdown(recession/collapse) in the United States a
decade ago and the majority of employees who were laid off
(to stop employing someone, usually because there is no work
for them to do) were men
The rise in women's earning power, is another factor, that has
led to this situation. This would mean that many women
draw(earn) bigger salaries than men and it is often more
reasonable(logical) for them to save(avoid) the expenses of
babysitting than going for a job
women who work as business executives, doctors and lawyers
usually earn huge(enormous) salaries, whereas their husbands
may not be well-paid
men are forced to become homemakers mostly due to
economic reasons and therefore their self-esteem can be
affected

Changing Places Frequently

In the past people used to live in one place in their whole life.
Nowadays people live in several different places during their
life. What are the reasons for this change? Is it a positive or a
negative trend?
Unlike in the past, there is an increasing tendency among
many people to change their place of residence frequently for
various reasons
One of the major reasons for this shift is the frequent transfers
of employees in large business organisations on account of
(because of something) promotions or for other reasons
For example, multinational software companies like Microsoft
and Google have development centres in different parts of the
world and employees are often asked to relocate to different
cities or even countries depending on the requirements in
various projects
Another important reason for people's periodic movement, is
their desire to enjoy better economic prospects
An ideal example would be, the movement of unskilled
labourers from the northern Indian states of West Bengal,
Orissa and Assam to southern states of Kerala and Karnataka
They often shift from cities to cities for better wages and
favourable working conditions
Similarly, many Indian professionals travel to and live in the
different Arabian Gulf nations due to higher salaries offered by
companies in this region
Positively, many people have been greatly benefitted by
frequent relocation, in terms of improving their economic status
and lifestyle
Moreover, they have been able to enjoy the experience of
meeting new people, cultures and opportunities
This has made individuals more self-reliant, open-minded and
bold
However, some feel that those who relocate often, need to
deal with problems like unfamiliar languages, unfriendly
climate and racism. Nonetheless, the experience of majority of
people prove that it generally has a positive impact on the lives
of people
Despite certain drawbacks, it definitely has been
advantageous to majority of them both economically and
socially
Customs not required
Many customs are traditional behaviours are no longer
required in the modern society and therefore they are not
worth keeping. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
People all over the world try to preserve their traditional
practices and ways of life, but sometimes many of them seem
irrelevant in the present day social life
Hence, I believe that it is not beneficial to follow them in
todays context
To start with, some of the age old practices, especially of
certain conservative societies are discriminatory to women and
would further distance them from the mainstream of society

For instance, women in India fold their hands as a gesture of

greeting when they meet a person, whereas men shake hands
However, in modern workplaces in India women increasingly
prefer to shake hands with men as a more warm gesture,
which can reduce the distance between them and their male
colleagues. This clearly shows the irrelevance of some of the
traditional practices in todays society
Furthermore, many behavioural patterns of the past do not
respect personal freedom and expect individuals to obey the
commands of the older member of the family or community
For example, formerly, in many countries father insisted on his
son to choose his own profession or an employment of the
formers preference. In modern society, children have a variety
of career choices and most people think that it is better to
leave such decisions to children themselves
This would ensure that their aptitudes are taken care of and
individuality is respected
Relevance of the print media
More and more people are using computers and other forms of
gadgets for reading information. Therefore there is no need to
print books, magazines and newspapers on paper. Do you
agree or disagree?
An increasing number of people depend on modern electronic
gadgets to gather information and the relevance of the printed
media is often questioned today. However, I am convinced
that printed books, magazines and newspapers will continue to
attract people for a number of reasons
Firstly, despite many improvements in technology, reading
information on electronic gadjets is still physically stressful
Therefore, even people who like the convenience of electronic
readers or computers prefer printed books or magazines for
serious or long reading
For example, students and researchers often experience
problems like headaches and strain in the eye, when they
engaage in prolonged reading on electronic devices. This
clearly indicates that printed reading materials will continue to
be used by many people in the future
Secondly, many popular books and magazines will not be
published electronically, because publishers fear that they can
be pirated easily
For instance, people download unathorised copies of ebooks
through various sites, and it is a huge revenue loss for
publishers
The non-availbility of ebook versions of many popular books
and magazines would force readers to depend on printed
aleternatives
Finally, reading a printed material is part of the daily routine of
majority of people over a long period of time and it is not easy
to break that habit easily. Moreover, even today a large
number of young people are also acquiring such behaviours
Most people have the habit of reading the printed newspaper
along with their morning coffee. We have not witnessed a
major decrease in this practice in the recent times

In summary, despite the growing popularity of electronic

reading devices and materials, the printed media still remain
relevant for a variety of reasons
mendapatkan: collect/gather/access - information
memberi,menyediakan:
disclose/exchange/impart/provide/supply - information
acquire/develop/fall into/form/get into - a habit
break(yourself of)/get out of/ give up/kick - a habit
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 (pelaksanaan,penyelenggaraan, the activity of
making certain that the laws of an area are obeyed) agencies
(organizations) to deal with criminal activities. This, in my view,
has definitely helped in reducing crime
To start with, many law breakers have been dissuaded (to
persuade someone not to do something) from illegal activities
as anti-theft electronic gadgets have been installed in most
crime prone places
This would either warn the presence of burglars (a person who
illegally enters buildings and steals things) and thieves (a
person who steals) or help to trace (find) 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
(penyelundepan, taking things or people to or from a place
secretly and often illegally) and hijacking (pembajakan, when
someone uses force to take control of an aircraft or other
vehicle)
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 (prevent) many criminals from committing
offences (crime, penyerangan/kejahatan)
On the other hand, criminals have also devised (to invent a
plan, system, object, etc., usually cleverly or using imagination)
methods to evade (o avoid or escape from someone or
something) 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 (a piece of equipment used to try to discover if
someone is telling lies) 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
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 (mustahil)/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 (transportasi,
vehicle) and telescopes to spot traces of extraterrestial
((coming from) outside the planet Earth) 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 (dialihkan, to go in a different
direction) 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 (mengurangi, to make
something bad such as pain or problems less severe) 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 (not being watched or
taken care of)
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 (relating to a large company)
advertisements of fast foods and supermarkets and in this way
they try to raise funds for schools activities
making them available within school would reinforce
(memperkuat) childrens taste for such foods
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 childrens
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 (terlalu) 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
(not having enough money) 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
Govt. Funding for Performing Art Students
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 students 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 perspectives
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 governments 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, in a prestigious
art-school called Kerala Kalamandalam
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 performance. They also believe that since

enormous amounts of money is required to fund art education,

it would become an unnecessary liability for government, as it
has more important priorities to deal with
A close examination of both views reveal that it is necessary
for government to sponsor art education because many
parents are not financially capable of shouldering (to accept
that you are responsible for something bad or difficult) this
responsibility and corporate funding is often impractical
(cannot be done or used easily or effectively)
although it may be a serious financial obligation, government
should not hesitate (ragu, to pause coz uncertain or nervous
about it) to support art students financially because
safeguarding (usaha perlindungan) the cultural traditions of a
country is one of its primary responsibility
ELectronics vs personal qualities
These days everyone seems to have more and more
possessions (e.g.: computers, cars, mobile phones etc.). Our
strong desire to own these things is making us less aware of
important personal qualities such as kindness and concern for
other
Do you agree or disagree?
the desire to possess these objects (electronic devices) has
not necessarily (bukanlah) affected people's personal values,
in terms of concern for others or being kind
For example, Bill Gates, the owner of Microsoft, donates a
substantial portion of his earnings for charitable activities like
AIDS prevention and treatment in many developing countries
in Asia and Africa. He owns luxurious cars, air-crafts and
many other possessions but that has not prevented him from
being kind and considerate towards the needy (poor people)
One of the major reasons for this attitude may be man's
realisation that fulfillment in life is not possible only by owning
a large number of material objects or leading a luxurious life
Moreover, the moral qualities like kindness and concern for
others are innate characters (that you were born with, not one
you have learned) in every human being and it cannot be
easily suppressed by the increasing ownership of material
possessions
In conclusion, man's desire to enjoy the comforts and
conveniences of modern inventions has not seriously eroded
(to slowly reduce or destroy) his personal values
Expedtions to Difficult Regions
Nowadays many scientists and tourists would like to travel to
remote natural environments, such as the South Pole. Do you
think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
An increasing number of people today explore difficult and
distant terrains (daerah/ tanah lapang), either to visit these
places or to conduct scientific researches
Although people do face great deal of hardships during these
activities, it has greater advantages both for the travelers
themselves and the society as a whole
it would be greatly enjoyable for people who like adventurous
travel and novel experiences. They not only take great delight
in preparing physically and psychologically for such demanding

expeditions but also experience a sense of achievement in

completing the task
Again, scientific expeditions to these regions have also
benefitted human society to a great extent in terms of studying
the many unknown facts about the earth and the universe. For
example, scientists to the Polar Regions of the Antarctica and
the Arctic have conducted various experiments on the climate
changes and given us information about how the melting of the
polar ice can affect the earth
On the other hand, many people have questioned the huge
financial commitments made by governments in conducting
such expeditions, especially for scientific purposes
For instance, many social economists point out that
maintaining space and polar stations would cost enormous
amount of money but the net results usually do not justify
(membenarkan) the expenditure incurred (biaya belanja yg
banyak sekali)
Moreover, the risks involved in travelling to dangerous and
distant terrains are enormous and many people have lost their
lives due to extreme cold, difficult landscapes and lack of
provisions
Field-trips in schools
Some people believe that children should have important
lessons other than classes in a schools, that is, visiting local
businesses or public buildings.
To what extend do you agree or disagree?
Many progressive schools today often try to provide more
innovative learning experiences to children by taking them to
local commercial establishments or public buildings where they
would be exposed to a great deal of practical knowledge. This
practice, I think, would be a significant opportunity for them to
acquire skills and information which are not usually available in
a school environment
To begin with, classroom learning can sometimes be tedious
and access to ideas and knowledge in nonverbal and practical
ways can make learning creative, fun-filled and more effective
For instance, while visiting a historical museum children can
see and handle real objects and experience artefacts like
coins, inscriptions and utensils of the ancient times. These
experiences would reinforce their study of history and help
them to recall information more easily.
Furthermore, field trips to local businesses can introduce
pupils to direct interaction with objects of learning, which are
not easily available in schools
However, sometimes children can take fieldtrips more as a
recreational activity rather than an innovative learning
experience. This can defeat the very purpose of such trips,
and therefore some parents are sceptical about such activities
in school
In conclusion, although field trips from schools offer a certain
amount fun, most children benefit greatly from such
educational tours. Therefore, school authorities should
encourage children to visit local businesses or public buildings
in order to make education a more creative and interesting
activity

Academic IELTS Essay Questions of 2015 (January to June)

(These questions will give you an idea about the nature of
questions you can expect in IELTS exams in the near future.
Please practice and analyse these questions patiently.)
1. Many people believe that international tourism has negative
implications on their countries. What are the reasons for it?
What can be done to change the negative attitude towards
international tourism?
2. People prefer to watch foreign films rather than locally
produced ones. Why do you think this happens? Should the
government support local film makers financially?
3. Modern technology has a great impact on our environment.
Some say that people should adopt a simple lifestyle to solve
this problem, while others argue that the technology itself
should provide a solution. Discuss both views and give your
own opinion.
4. Some people think that governments should invest more in
public services instead of wasting money on arts such as
music and paintings. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
5. Some people say that having many TV channels is good,
while others argue that it reduces the quality of programs.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
6. Some people believe that the radio is the best way to get
news, while others believe that TV is better for this purpose.
Discus both views and give your opinion.
7. Some people believe that students should be allowed to
evaluate and criticise their teachers to improve the quality of
education. Others think this is disrespectful to teachers.
Discuss both views, give your opinion and include relevant
examples.
8. Nowadays in some countries the numbers of children aged
15 and younger are increasing. What are the current and
future effects of ever increasing population?
9. Some people think that teenagers who commit crimes
should be treated the same way as adult criminals. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
10. All around the globe every year many animal species
become extinct. However, some people feel that governments
should be concerned more with solving the problems of human
life. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
11. Some people say the most important thing about being rich
is that it gives you the opportunity to give back to the society.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Give reasons for your answer.
12. Nowadays more and more older people compete with
younger people for the same jobs. What can be the reason for
this? What would you suggest as a solution?

23. Some people believe that the government should pay for
and offer housing to people who lost their homes or cannot
afford them. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give
your own opinion. Use specific reasons and examples to
support it.

13. Some teachers tend to reward students with high academic

results. Others, however, support and reward students that
improved their grades. Discuss both approaches. Give your
opinion and provide examples.

24. In many countries there are people with extremely high

income. Some say it is good for the country, while others claim
that governments should limit salaries. Discuss both views and
give your own opinion.

14. Internet contains a lot of information, however, sometimes

this information is inaccurate or wrong. Do you agree or
disagree with this statement?

25. Some people believe that the use of mobile phones in

public is as annoying as smoking and should be banned,
similarly to smoking. Give your opinion and examples from
your own experience.

15. Some people think that excessive use of mobile phones

and computers badly affects teenagers writing and reading
skills. Do you agree or disagree with the statement? Give your
opinion.
16. Some people think that children should learn to obey and
do as parents and teachers say. Others think that this kind of
upbringing will not prepare our children for real life. Discuss
both views and give your opinion.
17. Some people believe that history is very important and we
must study the past to understand the present. Others say that
it has little or no use at all. Discuss both views, give your
opinion and support it with relevant examples.
18. Some people consider sport to be their carrier and role in
the society. For others it is mostly a workout to keep fit.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
19. Sometimes celebrities get invited to international aid
events. Do you think that such events deviate from their main
purpose by inviting famous people?
20. Some parents think that childcare centres provide the best
services for children of pre-school age. Other working parents
think that family members such as grandparents will be better
carers for their kids. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
21. Some people say that public libraries should be free,
otherwise they are just a waste of money, especially because
modern technologies and the internet allow easy access to
resources. Discuss and give your point of view.
22. A recent study showed that both developed and developing
countries prosper because of the economic growth. People
from developing countries are happier than before while
people from developed countries are not as happy as they
were in the past. Why is this happening? How can this
situation be improved? Give your opinion including relevant
examples and your own experience.

26. Some people say that noise made by people should be

strictly controlled while others say they should be free to make
noise without limitation. Discuss both views and give your own
opinion.
27. Some people say that mobile phones should be banned in
public places such as libraries, shops and public transport. Do
you agree or disagree?
28. Many people think that too much attention and resources
are given to protection of wild animals and birds. Do you agree
or disagree with this statement?
29. Some people think that children should have some classes
outside their schools, visiting local companies or public
enterprises for some real life experience. To what extent do
you agree or disagree? Give your opinion.
30. Museums and historical sites are mainly visited by tourists,
not the local people. Why is this so? What could be done to
encourage more local visitors? Please include relevant
examples from your own knowledge and experience.
31. Most leaders or directors generally belong to an older age
group, but some people believe that young leaders are better.
To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your own
opinion.
32. Some people think that the government should fund music,
dance and arts lessons for children. Others think that they
should be funded by private businesses or by childrens
families. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
33. Nowadays scientists and tourists can travel to remote
natural environments such as the South Pole. What are the
advantages and the disadvantages of this development?
34. 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?
35. Some people are reducing their walks, however many
health experts say that walking is the best exercise to maintain
health. Why do people walk less? What might encourage
people to walk longer distances?
36. Some people think that they can make as much noise as
they want, while others think that the amount of noise people
make should be strictly controlled. Discuss both views and
include your own opinion and examples.
37. Many people think that the government should spend
money to explore life in the outer space, while others think that
its a waste of public money. Discuss both views and include
your own opinion and examples