1、It is inevitable that traditional cultures will be lost as technology develops. Technology and traditional cultures are incompatible. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view? Some people believe that technological developments lead to the loss of traditional cultures. While this ma
2、y be true in the case of some societies,others seem to be unaffected by technology and the modern world. On the one hand,the advances in technology that have driven industrialisation in developed countries have certainly contributed to the disappearance of traditional ways of life. For example,in p
3、re-industrial Britain,generations of families grew up in the same small village communities. These communities had a strong sense of identity,due to their shared customs and beliefs. However,developments in transport,communications and manufacturing led to the dispersal of families and village commu
4、nities as people moved to the cities in search of work. Nowadays most British villages are inhabited by commuters,many of whom do not know their closest neighbours. On the other hand,in some parts of the world traditional cultures still thrive. There are tribes in the Amazon Rainforest,for example,
5、that have been completely untouched by the technological developments of the developed world. These tribal communities continue to hunt and gather food from the forest,and traditional skills are passed on to children by parents and elders. Other traditional cultures,such as farming communities in pa
6、rts of Africa,are embracing communications technologies. Mobile phones give farmers access to information,from weather predictions to market prices,which helps them to prosper and therefore supports their culture. In conclusion,many traditional ways of life have been lost as a result of advances in
7、 technology,but other traditional communities have survived and even flourished. (260 words,band 9) Most people have forgotten the meaning behind traditional or religious festivals;during festival periods,people nowadays only want to enjoy themselves. To what extent do you agree or disagree
8、with this opinion? Some people argue that we no longer remember the original meaning of festivals,and that most of us treat them as opportunities to have fun. While I agree that enjoyment seems to be the priority during festival times,I do not agree that people have forgotten what these festivals
9、 mean. On the one hand,religious and traditional festivals have certainly become times for celebration. In the UK,Christmas is a good example of a festival period when people are most concerned with shopping,giving and receiving presents,decorating their homes and enjoying traditional meals with
10、their families. Most people look forward to Christmas as a holiday period,rather than a time to practise religion. Similar behaviour can be seen during non-religious festivals,such as Bonfire Night. People associate this occasion with making fires,watching firework displays,and perhaps going to larg
11、e events in local parks;in other words,enjoyment is people’s primary goal. However,I disagree with the idea that the underlying meaning of such festivals has been forgotten. In UK primary schools,children learn in detail about the religious reasons for celebrating Christmas,Easter and a variety o
12、f festivals in other religions. For example,in late December,children sing Christmas songs which have a religious content,and they may even perform nativity plays telling the story of Jesus’ birth. Families also play a role in passing knowledge of religious festivals’ deeper significance on to the n
13、ext generation. The same is true for festivals that have a historical background,such as Bonfire Night or Halloween,in the sense that people generally learn the stories behind these occasions at an early age. In conclusion,although people mainly want to enjoy themselves during festivals,I believe
14、 that they are still aware of the reasons for these celebrations. (296 words,band 9) We cannot help everyone in the world that needs help,so we should only be concerned with our own communities and countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Some people believe
15、that we should not help people in other countries as long as there are problems in our own society. I disagree with this view because I believe that we should try to help as many people as possible. On the one hand,I accept that it is important to help our neighbours and fellow citizens. In most
16、communities there are people who are impoverished or disadvantaged in some way. It is possible to find homeless people,for example,in even the wealthiest of cities,and for those who are concerned about this problem,there are usually opportunities to volunteer time or give money to support these peop
17、le. In the UK,people can help in a variety of ways,from donating clothing to serving free food in a soup kitchen. As the problems are on our doorstep,and there are obvious ways to help,I can understand why some people feel that we should prioritise local charity. At the same time,I believe that w
18、e have an obligation to help those who live beyond our national borders. In some countries the problems that people face are much more serious than those in our own communities,and it is often even easier to help. For example,when children are dying from curable diseases in African countries,governm
19、ents and individuals in richer countries can save lives simply by paying for vaccines that already exist. A small donation to an international charity might have a much greater impact than helping in our local area. In conclusion,it is true that we cannot help everyone,but in my opinion national
20、boundaries should not stop us from helping those who are in need. (280 words,band 9) Some people believe that hobbies need to be difficult to be enjoyable. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Some hobbies are relatively easy,while others present more of a challenge. Personally,I b
21、elieve that both types of hobby can be fun,and I therefore disagree with the statement that hobbies need to be difficult in order to be enjoyable. On the one hand,many people enjoy easy hobbies. One example of an activity that is easy for most people is swimming. This hobby requires very little e
22、quipment,it is simple to learn,and it is inexpensive. I remember learning to swim at my local swimming pool when I was a child,and it never felt like a demanding or challenging experience. Another hobby that I find easy and fun is photography. In my opinion,anyone can take interesting pictures witho
23、ut knowing too much about the technicalities of operating a camera. Despite being straightforward,taking photos is a satisfying activity. On the other hand,difficult hobbies can sometimes be more exciting. If an activity is more challenging,we might feel a greater sense of satisfaction when we ma
24、nage to do it successfully. For example,film editing is a hobby that requires a high level of knowledge and expertise. In my case,it took me around two years before I became competent at this activity,but now I enjoy it much more than I did when I started. I believe that many hobbies give us more pl
25、easure when we reach a higher level of performance because the results are better and the feeling of achievement is greater. In conclusion,simple hobbies can be fun and relaxing,but difficult hobbies can be equally pleasurable for different reasons. 266 words Universities should accep
26、t equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. To what extent do you agree or disagree? In my opinion,men and women should have the same educational opportunities. However,I do not agree with the idea of accepting equal proportions of each gender in every university subject. H
27、aving the same number of men and women on all degree courses is simply unrealistic. Student numbers on any course depend on the applications that the institution receives. If a university decided to fill courses with equal numbers of males and females,it would need enough applicants of each gender.
28、In reality,many courses are more popular with one gender than the other,and it would not be practical to aim for equal proportions. For example,nursing courses tend to attract more female applicants,and it would be difficult to fill these courses if fifty per cent of the places needed to go to males
29、 Apart from the practical concerns expressed above,I also believe that it would be unfair to base admission to university courses on gender. Universities should continue to select the best candidates for each course according to their qualifications. In this way,both men and women have the same
30、opportunities,and applicants know that they will be successful if they work hard to achieve good grades at school. If a female student is the best candidate for a place on a course,it is surely wrong to reject her in favour of a male student with lower grades or fewer qualifications. In conclusio
31、n,the selection of university students should be based on merit,and it would be both impractical and unfair to change to a selection procedure based on gender. (265 words,band 9) Some people think that instead of preventing climate change,we need to find a way to live with it. To wha
32、t extent do you agree or disagree? Climate change represents a major threat to life on Earth,but some people argue that we need to accept it rather than try to stop it. I completely disagree with this opinion,because I believe that we still have time to tackle this issue and reduce the human impa
33、ct on the Earth's climate. There are various measures that governments and individuals could take to prevent,or at least mitigate,climate change. Governments could introduce laws to limit the carbon dioxide emissions that lead to global warming. They could impose “green taxes” on drivers,airline
34、companies and other polluters,and they could invest in renewable energy production from solar,wind or water power. As individuals,we should also try to limit our contribution to climate change,by becoming more energy efficient,by flying less,and by using bicycles and public transport. Furthermore,th
35、e public can affect the actions of governments by voting for politicians who propose to tackle climate change,rather than for those who would prefer to ignore it. If instead of taking the above measures we simply try to live with climate change,I believe that the consequences will be disastrous.
36、To give just one example,I am not optimistic that we would be able to cope with even a small rise in sea levels. Millions of people would be displaced by flooding,particularly in countries that do not have the means to safeguard low-lying areas. These people would lose their homes and their jobs,and
37、 they would be forced to migrate to nearby cities or perhaps to other countries. The potential for human suffering would be huge,and it is likely that we would see outbreaks of disease and famine,as well as increased homelessness and poverty. In conclusion,it is clear to me that we must address t
38、he problem of climate change,and I disagree with those who argue that we can find ways to live with it. 323 words Some people who have been in prison become good citizens later,and it is often argued that these are the best people to talk to teenagers about the dangers of committing a crime.
39、To what extent do you agree or disagree? It is true that ex-prisoners can become normal,productive members of society. I completely agree with the idea that allowing such people to speak to teenagers about their experiences is the best way to discourage them from breaking the law. In my opinion
40、teenagers are more likely to accept advice from someone who can speak from experience. Reformed offenders can tell young people about how they became involved in crime,the dangers of a criminal lifestyle,and what life in prison is really like. They can also dispel any ideas that teenagers may have
41、about criminals leading glamorous lives. While adolescents are often indifferent to the guidance given by older people,I imagine that most of them would be extremely keen to hear the stories of an ex-offender. The vivid and perhaps shocking nature of these stories is likely to have a powerful impact
42、 The alternatives to using reformed criminals to educate teenagers about crime would be much less effective. One option would be for police officers to visit schools and talk to young people. This could be useful in terms of informing teens about what happens to lawbreakers when they are caught,bu
43、t young people are often reluctant to take advice from figures of authority. A second option would be for school teachers to speak to their students about crime,but I doubt that students would see teachers as credible sources of information about this topic. Finally,educational films might be inform
44、ative,but there would be no opportunity for young people to interact and ask questions. In conclusion,I fully support the view that people who have turned their lives around after serving a prison sentence could help to deter teenagers from committing crimes. (287 words,band 9) The olde
45、r generations tend to have very traditional ideas about how people should live,think and behave. However,some people believe that these ideas are not helpful in preparing younger generations for modern life. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view? It is true that many older peopl
46、e believe in traditional values that often seem incompatible with the needs of younger people. While I agree that some traditional ideas are outdated,I believe that others are still useful and should not be forgotten. On the one hand,many of the ideas that elderly people have about life are becom
47、ing less relevant for younger people. In the past,for example,people were advised to learn a profession and find a secure job for life,but today’s workers expect much more variety and diversity from their careers. At the same time,the ‘rules’ around relationships are being eroded as young adults mak
48、e their own choices about who and when to marry. But perhaps the greatest disparity between the generations can be seen in their attitudes towards gender roles. The traditional roles of men and women,as breadwinners and housewives,are no longer accepted as necessary or appropriate by most younger pe
49、ople. On the other hand,some traditional views and values are certainly applicable to the modern world. For example,older generations attach great importance to working hard,doing one’s best,and taking pride in one’s work,and these behaviours can surely benefit young people as they enter today’s
50、competitive job market. Other characteristics that are perhaps seen as traditional are politeness and good manners. In our globalised world,young adults can expect to come into contact with people from a huge variety of backgrounds,and it is more important than ever to treat others with respect. Fin






