The graph gives information about population growth in China and India from
the year 2000 with predicted changes to 2050.
In 2000, China’s population stood at 1.25 billion and this number rose
steadily to where it is currently at around 1.35 billion. It is projected to peak
at 1.45 billion in 2025, when the number will level off and start to decline. It
is expected that by 2050 the population will have dropped slightly to 1.4
billion.
In contrast, although the population of India started at just one billion in
2000, it has increased rapidly to just under 1.25 billion today. The data
indicate it will continue its upward surge, overtaking China in 2030 and
reaching a peak of 1.6 billion by 2050.
Overall, the major difference between the two population trends is that the
number of people in China is forecast to start falling after 2030 whereas the
population of India will continue to soar.
(156 words)
In many countries throughout the world, young people are pushed into
careers that they have no aptitude for, or do not want to do, and there are
two main reasons for this situation.
The first reason is lack of tertiary study options. In some countries, such as
China, there are limited places available for tertiary study, and those who do
not manage to earn a place at the institution of their choice often find
themselves studying a subject which does not interest them, or which is a
poor match for their skills and aptitudes. The other main reason, which is
closely aligned to the former point, is parental aspirations. Many parents
push their children into a limited set of career options because these choices
represent social success, security and money in later life. In many cases, the
skills and needs of the children are ignored, as their parents encourage them
to earn places in prestigious, if inappropriate, institutions and to study
subjects that are acceptable to their friends and extended family.
Some of those children who do manage to jump through all the required
hoops find that they are trapped in a career which does not suit their needs
or abilities, and that they can see no escape from the life sentence imposed
by well-meaning family. This can have both personal and social
consequences. Firstly, unsatisfied workers can suffer from job stress, which
drains human potential and may lead to physical and psychological illness.
Dissatisfaction and distress also impacts on their chosen profession and on
society as a whole, as unhappy and disaffected workers tend not to give their
best, and this affects the quality of their work.
In conclusion, a person who is pushed into uncongenial work because of
social constraints or family pressure is not likely to be a productive and
happy member of society. We need to ensure that individual talents and skills
are recognised and catered for if we are to have a harmonious and well-
developed society.
(333 words)
The chart shows the percentages of paper and cardboard, glass containers,
aluminium cans and plastics that were recycled in one country between 1982
and 2010.
In 1982, about 65% of paper and cardboard was recycled. This figure
fluctuated before rising steeply to reach a peak of 80% in 1994. From then
on, however, it decreased steadily to a level of 70% in 2010. In 1982, half of
all glass containers were recycled; after dipping to a low of 40% in 1990, the
glass recycling rate gradually increased to 60% by 2010.
Aluminium cans were first recycled in 1986, starting at about 5%, but this
figure climbed rapidly over 25 years and by 2010 it had reached 45%.
Recycling of plastics, on the other hand, was not introduced until 1990 and,
although the growth in this category was also constant, it was very slow,
rising from about 2% to around 8% over the period.
Overall, the proportion of paper and cardboard that was recycled was the
highest of the four classes of material, but this category experienced a
decline after 1994, whereas there was a continuing upward trend in the
recycling of the other materials.
(194 words)
English is a gateway to the world and no one should be deprived of the
opportunities that arise for those with a strong command of the English
language. This does not mean that local languages are dispensable,
however. They have an important role to play in supporting education,
including English language education.
People who insist on prioritising local languages are often those who can
speak fluent English themselves. Advocates of minority languages need to be
fluent in English in order to research their field and support the cause at
international conferences. In doing so, however, they are also demonstrating
why English is so important. Learning English allows people to gain
knowledge, communicate with society, further themselves as individuals and
have a global impact. It is unfair to willingly dispossess people of this ability
in order to preserve tradition.
However, this does not mean local languages can be forgotten or
downplayed. People are more likely to succeed – not just at learning English,
but in employment and education generally – if they are immersed in a
community rich in history and tradition. Local dialects are a part of this
tradition. Efforts to regenerate and celebrate indigenous cultures in recent
decades have demonstrated that the preservation of local languages and the
teaching of English are mutually-reinforcing developments. In this way, the
local language serves as the bedrock for learning English, rather than being
an obstacle in need of removal.
I think it is important for everyone to learn English but I feel it is unnecessary
to frame learning English and keeping local languages alive as conflicting
possibilities. Each goal supports the other. We should focus on how best to
develop both English and local languages in particular local contexts.
(285 words)
The bar charts show data about computer ownership, with a further
classification by level of education, from 2002 to 2010.
A steady but significant rise can be seen in the percentage of the population
that owned a computer over the period. Just over half the population owned
computers in 2002, whereas by 2010 three out of four people had a home
computer.
An analysis of the data by level of education shows that higher levels of
education correspond to higher levels of computer ownership in both of
those years.
In 2002, only around 15% of those who did not finish high school had a
computer but this figure had trebled by 2010. There were also considerable
increases, of approximately 30 percentage points, for those with a high
school diploma or an unfinished college education (reaching 65% and 85%
respectively in 2010). However, graduates and postgraduates proved to have
the greatest level of ownership in 2010, at 90% and 95% respectively, 20
percentage points higher than in 2002.
The last decade has seen a substantial growth in computer ownership in
general, and across all educational levels.
Given the power and influence of the super rich, it might seem as if social
status and material possessions are the new symbols of personal worth, but
in everyday life I do not think this is true.
It is apparent that most celebrities today are admired or envied solely for
their material wealth or position in various social hierarchies. Many of these
people are known to turn their backs on friends, cheat on their spouses or
spend their evenings over-indulging in alcohol and/or drugs. Things like
owning a mansion, driving an expensive car and getting into A-list parties are
exalted above old-fashioned values.
Ultimately, though, it is the many readers of gossip magazines and celebrity
blogs who reinforce these ideas.
Nevertheless, I do believe that in their day-to-day lives most people still
believe in values such as honour, kindness and trust. In some way most of us
want to form loving families, raise our children to be good citizens, stand up
for the downtrodden and protect our communities from harm. We still form
friendships, romances and business partnerships based on old-fashioned
criteria. When our trust is abused or we are unfairly treated, we see that as a
major violation of our relationship and we judge the wrongdoer accordingly.
In conclusion, I believe there is some truth to the notion that status and
possessions have superseded old-fashioned values as a measure of a
person’s worth.
Looking beyond the tabloids, however, it is apparent that most ordinary
people have still preserved an old-fashioned conscience.
The graph shows the value of sales of popular baked goods in an individual
bakery in 2014.
Overall, bread and buns appear to have been more profitable than pies but
the sales of buns ended the period in steep decline, ending up even below
pie sales.
In January, sales of bread were valued at $80,000 but this figure fell to
around $45,000 in March and fluctuated between $40,000 and $65,000 until
September. The last quarter, however, saw a jump in the value of bread sales
to finish where it was at the beginning of the year.
The sales of buns followed quite a different pattern. In January, bun sales
stood at $40,000 but quickly rose to $70,000 in May and remained stable
until August, after which they plunged to just $30,000 in December.
The value of pies sold slowly increased from $10,000 in January to reach
$20,000 in August. Sales then levelled off but went up sharply in the last two
months of the year to close just ahead of buns at $40,000. Pies were the only
item where sales figures in December exceeded those in January.
(184 words)
Communication styles have changed radically over the past 20 years, and
this is largely due to the prevalence of social media websites. Some see this
as a wonderful enhancement of their lifestyle, while others have a more
critical opinion. This essay will outline the benefits and drawbacks of this
phenomenon, and will weigh up its merits.
Social media websites have reached their current level of popularity because
of their many advantages. Notably, these websites have made it almost
effortless to create and maintain both local and international social networks.
In addition, thay allow users to access support when suffering from life’s
tribulations and complications. It is possible, as well, to use these sites to
find and discuss information about many issues, from the best local shopping
to international news. Authorities find social media advantageous when
tracking criminals, who sometimes use networks to set up illegal activities.
One further advantage is that sites such as LinkedIn are a key resource for
job recruiters, and many people find work in this way.
However, these sites also have significant negative consequences. Foremost
is the fact that both students and workers can waste a great deal of time and
productivity because of the distractions these networks provide. This can
adversely affect not only academic life but also career opportunities. Another
drawback is the amount of misinformation and vicious rumour that can
circulate and spread like wildfire, causing real misery and distress to both
private citizens and to celebrities. Finally, the websites tend to reduce time
spent on face-to-face communication, and, in my opinion, live family and
friend interactions are of primary importance for our mental wellbeing.
In conclusion, although social media sites have the potential to bring people
closer together, they encourage time wasting and superficial communication,
and the anonymity that they provide allows for unkind, even nasty, social
interactions. People would do better to spend more quality, face-to-face time
with real people.
(319 words)
Urban migration is causing extreme pressure on housing and infrastructure
and, consequently, some people feel that public parks have become a luxury
that we can no longer afford. While it is true that green areas can take up a
lot of space, the benefits to the residents of a city and to the environment
are too numerous to ignore.
It is undeniable that parks provide valuable leisure amenities – a place to
picnic, walk, kick a ball, play with the children, or just relax. Besides this,
recent research has shown that they also provide appreciable health benefits
by allowing people to engage with nature, which enhances their mental well-
being and lowers their stress levels. Consider also that, with the rising
epidemic of obesity, it is more important than ever to make space available
for physical exercise. The bonus of exercising in a natural setting, rather than
going to a gym or jogging on urban streets, is that not only does the body
benefit from the physical activity but anxiety and depression are alleviated
as well. It is reported that the overall effect of “green exercise” is better
fitness, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels and greater tranquillity.
Moreover, for lower socio-economic groups, parks are an affordable way to
improve health and participate in social interaction.
City planners should also consider environmental benefits before deciding to
sacrifice parkland for construction. Trees improve air quality by removing
pollutants and filtering the air. Furthermore, if parks are located alongside
urban waterways, they help keep the water clean by absorbing contaminated
runoff from the city’s hard surfaces.
In conclusion, although I appreciate the problem, I wholeheartedly disagree
with the view that parks should be used to mitigate housing shortages in
cities. They offer significant health and recreation benefits to the people and
improve the overall climate and environment of the city. If space is truly at a
premium, city officials would do better to look at reducing the urban sprawl
of shopping malls and parking lots.
(331 words)
The bar chart shows how those on low, medium and high incomes spend
their money. Both the differences and the similarities are striking.
Housing costs consume almost a third of each group’s income and another
15-19% goes on transport. While the high income earners are able to put
17% towards their retirement, and the medium group 10%, those on low
incomes invest only three per cent of their income in retirement funds.
All categories spend a similar percentage of their income on clothing (around
6%), eating out (less than 5%), and entertainment (4-6%). The lowest
income group spend a higher proportion on their health (8%), eating at home
(12%) and paying for utilities (13%) but less on education, which stands at
just three per cent compared with slightly more for the middle group and
over five per cent for the wealthy.
To sum up, each income group assigns by far the largest portion of their
budget to housing and a large portion to transport. However, only the rich
devote a significant share of their income to retirement savings. Poor
families, on the other hand, spend more of their budget on the basic
necessities.
(193 words)
The table shows the amounts of grain that a certain country produced from
2010 with predictions until 2030. Wheat is the leading grain crop and its
production is expected to remain fairly stable, along with maize and rice,
whereas the barley harvest is estimated to double over the period. In 2010,
100 million metric tons of wheat were produced. This figure rose to 105
million tons in 2015 and is predicted to increase slightly to 110 million tons
by 2030. The maize crop was only about a third of the wheat crop in 2010, at
34 million tons, and will remain much the same until the end of the period.
Rice production is also fairly constant at around 25 million tons, although this
dipped slightly in 2015 and will also do so in 2020. Production will probably
not exceed 25.5 million tons in 2030. However, barley shows dramatic
growth in production, rising from 50 to 70 million tons in the first five years.
The yield is projected to expand by another ten million tons in each
succeeding five-year phase, until finally reaching an estimated 100 million
metric tons by 2030.
(190 words)
Many lives are lost every year from heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other
obesity-related illnesses. I think a tax on unhealthy food is a sensible idea
even though some people think it could be discriminatory and difficult to
implement.
There are several arguments against the introduction of a ‘fat tax’. It could
end up as a tax on the poor because low-income families are more likely to
consume cheap, fatty food. It might also be just another revenue-gathering
scheme for the government as it can be argued that there are already taxes
on cigarettes and alcohol, but that does not stop people from smoking and
drinking. Besides, what right does the government have to dictate what
people should eat? Who would decide exactly which foods merit a ‘fat tax’?
These questions aside, the most cogent argument against a food tax is that
food alone is not responsible for obesity and ill health. Exercise and genetic
factors, not to mention portion sizes, all have a part to play.
In defence of a tax on unhealthy food, I would contend that the government
has a right to collect tax from products that cost millions of dollars every
year in medical treatment and lost productivity. Statistics show that the
obese are less likely to be employed and are, therefore, a greater burden on
society. In any case, it would not be an outright ban on unhealthy food –
people could still eat what they want – but higher prices would discourage
over-consumption and reduce demand. Admittedly, it might be difficult to
decide which foods would attract the tax, but a good start would be sugar-
laden beverages such as ‘energy’ drinks, deep-fried takeaways, chips,
chocolate and sweets.
To conclude, I think government intervention in the form of a new tax is
justified when society’s well-being is at stake. Obviously, many people fail to
make the connection between diet and disease and ultimately society pays
for the costs of their consumption of unhealthy food.
(327 words)