CELL PHONES IS BEING MISUSED

Cell phones have lost their meaning over the years. These small devices were once
developed to get in contact with someone else in case of emergencies, and now talking on
the phone while driving has turned out to be a way of life for millions of American
drivers. More than 85 percent of the 100 million cell-phone subscribers frequently talk on
the phone during driving.(www.smartmotorist.com) Talking on the cell phone while
driving should be illegal, because of the dangers they cause. Driving while using the cell
phone is one of the major problems here in the US. Cell phones should not be used while
driving. This matter is too dangerous to let it go unnoticed.

According to the essay, Yes, Prohibit Their Use, which appeared on the congressional
quarterlys web site on March 16, 2001, the Harvard Center for risk analysis printed a
study in 1999. They appointed a crash risk factor to using cell phones. In the summer of
2000 it came out to 450 to 1,000 fatalities each year. The NHTSH says that for every
fatality, there are 666 property-damage and injury-producing crashes. There are about
300,000 and 650,000 different crashes due to cell phones! This same essay states that
Japan is one of the 14 countries banning the use of handheld cell phones while driving.
The accidents caused by the use of cell phones dropped by 75 percent the next month,
proving cell phones are not necessary parts of the driving nature.

There are major dangers connected with driving and cell phone use. Drivers have to take
their eyes off the road while dialing. Also, drivers can get so deep into their conversations
that their ability to concentrate may be dangerously limited. This jeopardizes the safety of
the people inside the vehicle, and the pedestrians outside. In order to drive safely, the
driver should be able to put 100% of his or her focus on the road. Cell phones are simply
a huge distraction while driving.

It is understandable that there are some cases where the use of a cell phone is needed. In
these cases, I agree with the author of Yes, Prohibit Their Use, the driver should pull-over
somewhere safe to use the phone. If someone receives an incoming call, he should wait
until the car has come to a complete stop. Then he should proceed to use the phone. If he
feels that the emergency is urgent enough to take action right away, then the person
should use the hands free headset. Only in emergencies should cell phones be used.

Some people argue that there are other distractions other than cell phones. While using a
cell phone when driving may not be the most unsafe distraction, studies prove that it is
the most common cause of car crash accident, and common cause of death here in the
US.

The use of cell phones while driving should be banned in Philadelphia, because many
people die due to distraction of cell phones. Cell phone distraction causes 2,600 deaths
and 330,000 injuries in the United States every year. (www.livescience.com/technology).
Another reason to not use the cell phone while driving is devastating the many lives of
the victims and their families in the case of an accident.

When driving, cell phones should not be allowed. Help the statistics decrease not
increase.

DOES SCHOOL PREPARE FOR US LIFE?

The school days are crammed with facts and figures, encompassing various subjects
ranging from English to Mathematics. All of these require students to learn, memorise,
understand and to be tested. Besides grades and examinations, the school also
encompasses a wider curriculum including character moulding, citizenship building and
personality development. Indeed, I think the school does prepare us for life.

Firstly, the school teaches us self-discipline. We learn to keep to a schedule and to adhere
to the timetable. We also learn to appreciate time and to be punctual. Moreover, we are
trained to plan and manage time wisely. We also abide by and respect rules and
regulations. The disciplined students will grow up to be disciplined adults and they will
do well in their future undertakings.

The school also helps to fortify our determination and perseverance. We learn to fulfil the
demands of the school. We also learn to meet deadlines and hand in the homework on
time. Moreover, we learn to face stress and pressure. In school, students learn to
overcome challenges. Students with strength of character will be well-prepared to face
the challenges of work and life in the future.

Co-curricular activities are part and parcel of a students life. They help to mould
students character and personality so that students learn to be confident. They help to
hone the leadership qualities in the students themselves. Students learn to work together
and co-operate with others. They also learn to appreciate good values like esprit de corps.
Students learn to contribute positively and to put their best foot forward besides to take
success and failure in their stride. We as the students learn to honour values of
sportsmanship and fair play. Through co-curricular activities, students also learn loyalty,
commitment and responsibility. When they grow up, they will work well as a team with
others and committed in serious work.

The school is a micro-society. The everyday social interaction is an excellent preparation

for life in the society outside. In school, students have the opportunities to interact with
other students from varied background, creed and race. Indirectly, they learn tolerance,
acceptance and understanding. The students also have the opportunity to work and to
mingle together. This can help to foster an open mind and promote unity.

Just mention the word school and images of grades and examinations come to our mind.
Indeed students spend a lot of time and energy preparing and sitting for examinations.
Along with that they gather a string of qualifications as well as knowledge and skills.
They are crucial since they are the stepping stones and the foundation for the future. They
can help students to secure a good job and successful career.

In short, school does prepare us for life. It helps to nurture and to build strong character in
ourselves. School also prepares students with the necessary tool so that students can fit
into society and contribute positively to the nation and people in future.
Pollution
Pollution is an issue of concern in the modern world that we live in today. There are many types of
pollution, namely air, water and noise. Pollution in our environment will undoubtedly affect our
quality of life. Our naturally beautiful world becoming ugly because it is suffering from the effects of
environmental pollution. Pollution can also cause various health problems and other negative effects.

Air pollution is caused by the emission of toxic gases from vehicles, factories and open burning.
Nowadays, there are more and more vehicles on the road as society gets more affluent. More and more
people strive to have a better quality of life by having the convenience of driving to their destinations
instead of taking public transportation. Automobiles provides transport to millions people around the
world to enable them to travel to their workplace, school and other places, therefore, the air around us
is getting more polluted by the carbon dioxide that is emitted. Carbon monoxide is another type of gas
which harmful to the environment as it can cause the reduction of oxygen in the bloodstream.

Another example of contributor to the air pollution is the manufacturing factories. The manufacturing
of products in factories to meet the growing demand of society is also causing air pollution. Factories
release toxic gases to the environment. Some factories also use coal to generate heat and energy. As a
result from the burning of coal, carbon dioxide is released into the environment.

Besides factories, many people are still practising open burning as a way of disposing their household
wastes. Although burning our household wastes is a convenient way of getting rid of our rubbish, it is
harmful to the environment as it contributes to the worsening of the air quality. As a result, air
pollution causes people to suffer from health problems such as chest pain and asthma. In extreme
cases, people can contract lung cancer.

Water pollution is also a problem that we are currently facing. The marine life is the first to suffer
from water pollution as they depend on the nutrients in the water to survive. As a result, we are robbed
of beautiful sea corals and unique species of fishes. Besides ruining our marine heritage, the
disappearance of marine life will affect the livelihood of fishermen, not to mention our source of food.
Water pollution is caused by harmful waster from industries, farms and sewerage systems which are
dumped into our sources of water such as rivers and lakes. This irresponsible act contaminates our
drinking water and can cause serious health problems and can even culminate in death.

Noise pollution is another form of pollution. Noise from heavy machinery and vehicles can cause
hearing problems and in extreme cases, deafness. As there is growing number of vehicles on the road,
we are exposed to noise pollution every day. The government in advanced countries encourage their
citizens to take the public buses and trains by providing an affordable and efficient transportation
system. This effort discourages people from driving their private vehicles and consequently reduces
the number of vehicles on the road.

We must work together to reduce pollution so that the future generations can live in a healthy,
unpolluted environment. As the saying goes, precaution is better than cure. Lets hands on hands
together by recycle and conserve the world for the better future.

MONEY

It is truly undeniable that in this science and technology millennium, we can hardly live without
money. Even buying something small such as sweet will cost you some money. However, this does not
mean that money can buy happiness, unlike the misconception of most people in the world. In fact,
wealth is a far cry from happiness. If you disagree with me, let's look at the reasons for my stand.

Firstly, one of the main gates to happiness is to stay healthy. Maybe some people think that when one
is rich, he can be healthy or it does not matter even if they have diseases because these rich men have
lots of money to pay their medication. This is totally wrong. Good health is acquired from a healthy
lifestyle progressively and not in a day. With lots of money we are tend to temp ourselves to exotic,
luxurious food. If this food is taken excessively, it will let to obesity, heart diseases, diabetes,
hypertension and other serious illness. Moreover, rich people are probably lack of exercise as they
hardly walk outdoor due to 24 hours-service debar fetching them about causing them to be at a higher
risk of getting these unnecessarily health problems. How a person can enjoys his life and feels happy
when he is confined to a wheelchair or bed-ridden. He would not even be glad spending his money
and time curing his sickness. Therefore, wealth cannot bring happiness.

Professionals like doctor, nurse, lawyer, engineer, food technologist and accountant earn a lot of
money per month. They are considered the high class citizens who can afford large, expensive house
with huge beautiful gardens. But do they really enjoy the pleasures of life? Most probably not because
they are simply too busy with their work. They frequently burnt the midnight oil in their work place. It
is even more miserable if they have to turn their home into a working place. Most specialists have to
stand-by 24 hours in case of emergency calls from the hospitals. Hence, they can hardly spend any
relax, restful night at their home even if they posse a huge two and a half storey bungalow with a
beautiful garden and artificial waterfall. Successful businessmen may always have a chance of flying
to all parts of the world when they go out station to make business. However, very few of them can
really take it as a holiday as a treat for themselves for their schedules are always full and they are so
stressful with their works. Even fewer businessmen can ignore urgent, pursuing calls from their clients
or office when they are going for holidays or resting. In other words, one can make lots of money but
he may not enjoy even the beauty of nature around them or the branded, expensive things with them.
So what is the use of money when we do not even enjoy a meal properly and discontented with lives.
One with a moderate income can feels happier if he leads a simple life and be grateful with what he
has.

Finally, a children or a teenage brought in moderate family is better than in a rich family. As the sons
or daughters of billionaires, their parents will give them whatever that they want in material. These
children or teenagers get a lot of pocket money from their parents and can afford to buy many
expensive things like branded, latest handset, expensive clothes and branded sport shoes. But the
question is, are they happy if their parents are always working with only an Indonesian maid to
accompany them. If they are asked to choose between wealth and love from their parents, I believe
that they were undoubtedly choose love. A healthy family is not created for the children. These
children mentally are not as healthy as those being cared and loved by their parents. Children need
parents who can listen to their problems and give them words of wisdom, teaching then day by day.
Parents who are not rich may not be able to buy branded things to satisfy their children but with more
communication and understanding, these teenagers will understand the difficulty of their parents in
earning money, learning to be thrifty. In short, money does not promise a happy, caring family.

Money may be able to buy a lot of things but not love, friendship, health and others. These are the
main ingredients for a happy life. Thus, it is a controversy if money can bring happiness. Even, if we
can afford many things we desired with lots of money, we may not be happy and enjoy our lives if we
are always dissatisfied with what we had, yearning for more. Thus, I stand firm that money cannot
bring happiness.

Synopsis
A man is lying on the street. 3 people Patric, Rebecca and David pass by and they look at
him not knowing what to do. There are in 2 minds, either to walk away and do
something. As they are arguing, a lady in blue comes and immediately help the man. She
instructs each of them, David has to call for an ambulance, Rebecca to get water and
Patric for the man's pulse. The lady asked Patric to take the pills inside the man's pocket
and he took the pills and get better. The man is actually the famous Tv chef. The 3 of
them are happy to help and commented on the lady for not wanting to help.
Character & Characteristic
A. Rebecca, David & Patric
Selfish
Irresponsible
Insensitive
Claiming undeserved credit
Themes
A. Responsibility and civic duty
Rebecca, Patric and David does not bother to help the man as they did not knowing him.
While the lady in blue is a quick thinking and quickly give orders.
B. Taking charge in a critical condition
The lady in blue able to take charge on critical situation and she knows what need to be
done.
C. Helping others in need
Once they notice the man is a famous person, they are glad that they helped and take
credit for helping him. In contrast, the lady helped the man regardless of his identity.
Values
A. We must help other people regardless their race, religion, or status

B. We must help with sincerity. We should not take credit for helping and expecting
something in return.

C. Taking credit when it is not deserved is wrong.

THE WRITER
Martyn Ford
Place : The sidewalk of a street in town.
B. The lady in blue
Responsible
Quick thinking
Assertive
Sensitive and observant
C. Micheal Schott (the sick man)
Poor health
Grateful and pleasant person
Tone & Mood
The tone is serious as there was a man lying on the street. once the ambulance has taken
the man to the hospital, the tone and mood becomes lighter and relieved as Rebecca,
Patrick and David take the credit for saving the man.