Crime & Punishment Some people believe that there should be a fixed punishment for each type of crime. Others, however, argue that the circumstances of an individual crime, and the motivation for committing it, should always be taken into account when deciding on the punishment. Discuss both of these two views and give your own opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
‘Cannabis has been classified as a Class B drug in the UK since 2008 and carries a prison sentence of up to five years for possession.’ (Source: The Week)
Many countries have decriminalised the use of cannabis and as a result have seen a reduction in drug related crime.
Should cannabis and other soft drugs use be legalised?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Some people argue that working in a large company is important, others however give preference to work in a small company.Discuss both views and give your opinion.
In some countries,children are often told that they can achive anything it they try hard enough. What are the advantages and disadvantages of giving children this message?
Some people believe that it is better for children to grow up in the countryside, while others argue that living in cities is more beneficial. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
The diagram illustrates the process that is used to manufacture bricks for the building industry. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
Popular events like football world cup and other international sporting occassions are essential in easing international tensions and releasing patriotic emotions in a safe way. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
To meet the growing need for food to support an increasing population, a country should make use of edible insects as a food source. However, some people believe that insects are not only unhealthy but harvesting them will also negatively affect nature. What are the benefits and drawbacks of eating insects? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
The first chart below shows the results of a survey which sampled a cross-section of 100,000 people asking if they travelled abroad and why they travelled for the period 1994-98. The second chart shows their destinations over the same period. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown below.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You have received a letter from your landlord, Mr Matthews, asking you to renew your contract and pay more rent. You are happy in the property but the landlord has not been maintaining it well.
Write a reply to Mr Matthews. In your letter:
• indicate your intention to stay
• give information about the maintenance issues
• explain what you would like the landlord to do now.
Write at least 150 words.
Air traffic is increasingly leading to more noise, pollution, and airport constuction. One reason for this is the growth in low-cost passenger flights, often to holiday destinations. Some people say that government should try to reduce air traffic by taxing it more heavily. Do you agree or disagree?
Some people say that advertising is extremely successful at persuading us yo buy things. Other peoplr think that advertising is so common that we no longer pay attention to it. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
The pie chart shows the proportion of different categories of families living in poverty in the UK in 2002. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Research has shown that overeating is as harmful as smoking. Therefore, the advertising of certain food products should be banned in the same way as the advertising of cigarettes in some countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people argue that when children are often told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough, the children will be sucessful in life. Some think that it will lead to negative pressure on children. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Many people believe that cycling is a healthy and environmentally friendly mode of transport. However, it is still unpopular in many countries. What are the reasons? What could be done to encourage the use of bicycles among wider population?
Many people choose to travel abroad to learn a foreign language instead of studying in their home town. Do the advantages of learning a new language in this way outweigh the disadvantages?
Living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problems as well as practical problems. To what extend do you agree or disagree with this statement. Give reasons for your answers and include any relevant example from your own knowledge or experiences.
These days, more and more people are going to other countries for significant periods of time, either to find a job or to study. There are clearly many benefits to doing this, but people who live abroad can also face some difficulties. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living and working in a foreign country.
The chart below shows the unemployment rate and the number of people leaving Ireland from 1988 to 2008. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
You’re visiting a town where you once worked. Write to a friend you worked with there. Include the following in your letter:
Tell your friend about your life now
Give him/her details of your visit
Arrange how you can meet.
You work for an international company, and would like to spend six months working in its head office in another country.
Write a letter to your manager. in your letter
-Explain why you want to work in company's head office for six months
-Say how your work could be done while you are away
-Ask for his/her help in arranging it
Some people prefer to live in the city,while others feel that there are more advantages to living in the countryside. Are there more advantages than disadvantages of living in the city comared with living in the countryside.
People’s lives are becoming increasing stressful nowadays and there are many reasons behind this. Many people relate this to the technological advancement while others say that high living costs and competitions are the main reasons for this stressful life we have. In your opinion what are the reasons behind this? What can be done to solve this problem?
Some people claim that not enough of the waste from homes is recycled. They say that the only way to increase recycling is for governments to make it a legal requirement. To what extent do you think lawas are needed to make people recycle more of their waste?
The graph shows the life expectancy of people living in Asian regions from 1950 and predicts life expectancy until 2300. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main feature, and make comparisons where relevant.
You are planning a surprise birthday party for a friend and need some help organizing it.
Write a letter to a friend. In your letter:
Explain why you are writing.
Give details about the party.
Suggest how your friend can help
You would like a temporary job working in a summer camp which runs sport and outdoor activities for children and young people next summer.
Write a letter to the organisers of the summer camp. In your letter:
•Explain what sort of job you would like to do.
•Describe your personality.
•Say what experience and skills you have.
(SOFIA) The government is looking to demolish an old historic building in the City Centre. Write a letter to them expressing your dissatisfaction with this plan. In your letter
– Say why the building is important
– Suggest solutions to preserve the building
– Explain the benefits of keeping the building to the city and its residents.
living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can couse serious social problems, as well as practical problems. to what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
With a growing population one of the most pressing issues is that of feeding such a large number of people. Some people think that GM foods offer a viable solution to this problem. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
You are studying in a large town where there are no leisure facilities for young people.wriyr a letter to the local council.in your letter
Describe the problem
Make some suggestion for leisure facilities
Say why you think that these facilities will make the town a better place.
Some people believe that it is better to live in the countryside, while others believe that living in a city is more beneficial. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
More and more people are using the internet to do their tasks rather then doing in person. (e.g. banking, shopping, hotel booking etc. ). Do the advantages of this trend outweighs the disadvantages?
In some countries, parents expect children to spend long time studying in and after school and have less free time. Do you think it has positive or negative effects on children and society that they live in?
Some people believe that the arts should receive subsidies or sponsorship from government and big companies. Others feel such spending is a luxury and that it would be better if it were invested in scientific projects. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
People are living in a “throwaway society”, using things for a short time and then throwing them away. What are the causes of this? What problems does it lead to?
You have recently left something in a train, write a letter to the manager of lost and found department and specify.
• When you lost it
• Describe the object you have left
• Tell the manager what you want them to do with it
It is becoming increasingly popular to have a year off between finishing school and going to university what are the avantages and disadvantages of this.
You are doing an evening course. Write a letter to the principal of your school and explain that the course that you are taking is slightly different in the way it is delivered from what the school offered. In your letter
– provide the details of the course.
– explain what the problem is
– give some suggestions to fix the problem
You recently stayed at your friend's place, to look after the house while he/she is away. You accidentally damaged something in his/her house. Write a letter to your friend.
In your letter, you should:
describe what the accident was
explain when it happened
suggest how the damage can be fixed.
Cultural tourism, in which people travel in order to visit museums, monuments and archaeological sites among other things, is a growing industry. Having so many visitors may sometimes benefit a nation's cultural heritage, but it can also cause problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Space exploration and the possibility of colonizing other planets have become popular topics of discussion. What are the advantages and disadvantages of investing in space exploration?
Some peoplethink it is a better way to leave their home country toimprove their work and living opportunities, while others think staying in theirown country is a better choice. Discuss both viewsand give your own opinion.
All Children should study a foreign language in school, starting in the earliest grades. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
You were studying in an English speaking country and suddenly needed to go back to your home country leaving
your course incomplete. Write a letter to your teacher to
- Thank him
- Explain the reason you left without completing your course
- say during your course study what did you like most about this course.
Bringing in foreign workers to fill positions that domestic workers are unwilling to do can cause problems in the local community and should therefore be stopped. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The diagram illustrates the process that is used to manufacture bircks for the building industry. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisions where relevant.
Some people believe that there should be fixed punishments for each type of crime. Others, hiwever, argue that the circumstances of an individual crime, and the motivation for comitting it, should be taken into account when deciding on the punishment. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
The diagrams show the problem of flooding in a UK town and two possible solutions. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.