More and more people work at home and study at home with the development of computer technology. Do you think it is a positive or negative development?

It is true that the Internet has become an important part of modern life. Telecommuting, which means working from home with the help of telephone lines, and, online and distance education have become very common. This situation has both, advantages as well as disadvantages.

The most important benefit is that it saves time and money of employees and students. They don’t need to waste time going and coming from work or college. They save on the fare also. What is more, they can set their own timetable of work and study. On top of that, people find more time for their hobbies and family commitments. This situation also benefits the physically challenged and those living in remote areas. You can get online education from any university in any part of the world and you can work for any office in any corner of the world. So, technology has given birth to many opportunities for many people for whom none existed earlier. In this sense it is narrowing the bridge between the rich and the poor.

Another big advantage is to the environment. As less people have to move out of their homes, less petrol and diesel is used and less pollution is caused. Traffic congestion, which is a big problem in the cities, is also lessened. We all know that at peak hours, traffic moves at a snail’s pace because of which people are forced to slow down the tempo of life even in this fast-paced world.

On the negative side, there is a decrease in face to face communication which is isolating us socially. Working alone from home can be very boring at times. When you are in a proper office, there is a work atmosphere which keeps you going. Moreover, I do not think it is possible for a computer to be as effective as a real teacher. Many jobs and subjects involve physical action. For example, it would not be possible to study dance or drama without contact with others. If everybody worked and studied from home, imagine how unhealthy and lazy they would become.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that technology has eased our life in many ways and this is both a negative as well as a positive development but on the whole the positive side outweighs the negative side.

Memorization of information by frequent repetition, namely rote learning, plays a role in many education systems. To what extent do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

There are different methods of learning. Two such methods are ‘rote learning’ and ‘meaningful learning’. Both have their own pros and cons.

There are many advantages of rote learning. To begin with, it is very helpful where quick memorization is required, such as learning one line in a play or memorizing a telephone number. It is also needed where verbatim recall of definitions or numbers is required. We all know that we need to remember phone numbers, mathematical formulae and definitions as such. If we don’t cram them then we will not be able to reproduce them when needed and if any small part is changed then the whole thing goes wrong. Rote learning is the only way to learn certain things like irregular verbs and the vocabulary of a foreign language. There is no logic behind irregular verbs and so we need to memorise them by heart. Finally, rote learning is used by many students to pass exams.

On the other hand there are some disadvantages of rote learning. Firstly, the knowledge acquired by rote is not retained for long. If a person does not repeat information learnt by rote for few days then the whole thing can be forgotten. Moreover, information learned by rote cannot be applied in a wide variety of new problems or concepts. For example, if we learn something by rote in maths then we cannot apply it in other subjects like physics. In meaningful learning the transferability of knowledge is high. Finally, it can be very boring to learn everything by rote.

Definitely, rote learning should not be the only method of learning. Meaningful learning is a must if we want to progress in life and apply our skills in varied fields. However, rote learning has its own importance in some situations. So, the education systems should incorporate both rote and meaningful learning.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that, rather than viewing rote learning as something opposed to understanding, it can be viewed in a complementary role. As the left hand is to the right, so is memory to understanding and reason

Because of the global economy, many goods including what we use as daily basic produced by other counties have to be transported for a long distance. To what extent do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Globalisation has revolutionized our world in many aspects. Now, we don’t belong to a big planet Earth. We belong to a small global village. Everything is available everywhere. There are many advantages and disadvantages of transporting goods over a long distance. In my opinion, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

On the positive side, transporting goods over a long distance gives us a lot of choices. We can taste a variety of fruits and vegetables from all parts of the world. For example, about ten years ago, we hardly saw kiwi fruit which is from New Zealand. But, now it has a place on every fruit stand. Earlier, we had very few shoe brands like Bata and Carona but now the market is flooded with Reeboks, Nike, Adidas and other foreign brands.

Secondly, many people get employment in this field. Small businesses have a chance to expand globally and it increases the overall economy of the country. Finally, it helps in developing good relations between countries which helps in international cooperation and peace. If countries are dependent upon one another’s economic success then armed conflict would be less likely.

On the downside, importing goods can have a negative effect on local culture. This can be seen in countries such as Japan where imported food has become more popular than traditional, local produce, eroding people’s understanding of their own food traditions. A second major disadvantage is pollution. When goods are transported thousands of miles by road, sea and air, it increases pollution from exhaust fumes.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that, importing goods has both merits and demerits but the pros outweigh the cons.

International travel is becoming cheaper than before, so more and more countries open their doors to tourists. Do the advantages of the increased tourism outweigh the disadvantages?

It is irrefutable that international tourism has taken mammoth dimensions. In fact it has become the backbone of many economies of the world. This situation has both pros and cons. In my opinion, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

International tourism can have many benefits for individuals. The most important benefit is that tourism provides regular employment for many local people who might otherwise be unemployed. They can find work in restaurants or hotels, or with tourist agencies as guides or drivers, for example, and earn regular wages. This, in turn, means that they may be able to save money and improve their standard of living. The second reason is that tourists spend money in the country and this allows local businesses such as restaurants, bars and taxi companies to flourish. In turn, other businesses, food suppliers or petrol stations, for instance, may be established in order to provide services to support the companies which cater for tourists. In other words, the whole economy of the region develops.

A third reason is that in order for tourists to be able to visit remote areas, roads, airports and hotels have to be built and local people also benefit by being able to use these new facilities. Furthermore, when communications improve, it becomes possible for other industries to move into the area, bringing with them more employment opportunities and increased prosperity. A final reason why I am in favour of tourism is that visitors from outside bring fresh ideas and different ways of doing things to the local community. Consequently, local people may learn from tourists. Likewise, visitors learn about the local people and culture, and return home with a deeper understanding of the host country.

On the other hand, that there are some problems associated with international tourism. Firstly, there is the increasing crime rate. Some locals see tourists as easy prey because, not only are they in unfamiliar territory and therefore less able to take care of themselves, but also they carry visible items of wealth, such as cameras and jewellery which can be disposed of quickly for a profit. Another major problem is health. With greater mobility comes greater danger of spreading contagious diseases around the world. Also to be considered is the natural environment, which can be seriously threatened by too many visitors. Australia's Great Barrier Reef, for example, is in danger of being destroyed by tourists and there are plans to restrict visitors to some of the more delicate coral reefs.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that international tourism has both advantages and disadvantages. However, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Now, a lot of charities and organisations have to publicize their activities by setting up a number of days to name the special day like National Children’s day and National non smoking day. Why do they do so? What are the effects?

Charities and organisations are formed to help the needy sections of society. Generally they are NPOs or non-profit organisations. Nowadays it has been seen that they set up a number of days like ‘Mother’s Day’ and ‘No Smoking Day’. In this essay I shall discuss the causes and effects of this phenomenon.

The main reason why these NPOs do so is to raise funds for their working. This is very essential because for every activity they do to help others, they need money and other resources. When they publicise their activities, they get people’s attention and so people contribute whole-heartedly. Sometimes, in times of calamities, they need a lot of funds and manual help. They need voluntary workers. For example, recently in Ladakh, a cloud-burst caused havoc. So many people lost their lives and there was so much damage of property. The Rotary Club and Jaycee Club of my hometown sent many volunteers to help. The government alone cannot be at all places. Because of such organisations people get timely help and a lot of burden is eased from the government’s shoulders.

When these organisations name special days, it brings people together. With more activities opened and more days named, more and more people will focus their attention and will put their time and energy and will realise the importance of doing for others. As a consequence, community spirit increases in society. As it is nowadays, people are getting self-centred and alienated from each other. So, such days are the need of the day.

Such days keep our youth in touch with our culture and traditions. With the exposure to global culture, youth today are forgetting their traditions. To establish some days may help the young people understand the importance of such events. Such days also increase awareness of offering help selflessly. Hence some virtuous habit may pass from one generation to the other. Finally, such days deter people from bad habits. For e.g. on National No Smoking Day, people are made aware about the harmful effects of smoking.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that, charities and NPOs publicise their activities because they need funds and they name certain days so that people come together and celebrate and realise the importance of community and brotherhood.

Once children start school, teachers have more influences on their intellectual and social development than parents. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

I definitely agree with the statement that once children get admission in school, teachers have more impact on them than even their parents. In the following paragraphs, I intend to put forth my arguments in support of my view.

To begin with, children spend quality time with teachers. Although they spend more time with parents at home but this time is not as productive as the small amount of time spent with teachers. We all know that parents are busy with their work most of the time and even if children are around, they hardly pay any attention to them. Teachers, on the other hand are in school for the students. All the time they are either teaching the students or guiding them in extra-curricular activities. They keep children focussed on study and as a result have more intellectual impact on them.

What is more, teachers are role models for students. They are scholars in action. They not only influence intellectually but socially. Students inadvertently follow their teachers’ behaviour too. They observe how the teacher walks, talks and tackles difficult situations. At home they have parents to guide them socially, but it is seen that in nuclear families, parents hardly find time for this. Whatever social skills children learn are from TV or other activities they do at home.

Teachers also guide students for their future careers. Students follow teachers more than parents because they feel that teachers are more aware of the world around them and they have better capability of guiding them. So, they depend on teachers more than parents.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that, once the schooling starts, teachers and parents both have influence but teachers influence children more.

Aircraft uses more fuel than cars and produces more pollution. Some people suggest the non-essential use of aircraft like international travel should be discouraged. Do you agree or disagree?

It is irrefutable that the fuel consumed by one long-distance flight is consumed by a car in several years’ time, and the amount of pollution it produces is also more. Therefore, some people suggest that non-essential flights, including international travel, should be discouraged. I totally disagree whit this statement. I feel that even though cars produce less pollution and use less fuel, still we should focus on limiting the number of cars. Discouraging flights would lead to many other problems.

At a time when people all over the world worry about the decreasing level of fossil fuels and global warming, it is right to take action to save the planet earth. However, to simply discourage flights is not the answer. International tourism has become the backbone of many economies of the world. Many countries are earning from tourism. Many people are employed in this industry. Many businesses like hotels and leisure centres are dependent on tourists. So, if we discourage international tourism, it would create new and even worse problems. Many businesses would go broke and many people would be without jobs.

Air flight also enables intercultural exchanges between countries. The advent of cheap air fare makes it possible for people the world over to travel regularly, regardless of the purpose of the trip. Therefore, people have the opportunities to learn from different cultures and have a better understanding of countries they used to be unfamiliar with. This, in turn, enhances cultural communications between countries.

What we should do is to limit the use of cars. The number of cars is increasing at a very fast pace. This is creating too many problems. Cars are using too much of fossil fuels; they are creating a lot of pollution; they are leading to traffic congestion on the roads and they are also causing accidents.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that, traveling by air should not be discouraged. Instead, the use of cars should be limited.

International travel makes people prejudiced rather than broad-minded. What are its causes and what measures can be taken to solve this problem?

It is irrefutable that international tourism has taken mammoth dimensions. Unfortunately, sometimes, international tourism creates tension rather than understanding between people from different cultures. In this essay I intend to delve into the causes of this situation and suggest some ways forward.

The most important reason why some are opposed to international tourism is that tourists may unknowingly show disrespect for local culture. For instance, we generally cover our heads in a religious place. A tourist may not do so or take his shoes inside a temple. This may offend the local people. Sometimes, youngsters may be attracted towards the western culture which the tourists bring with them and many may find this as a threat to the local culture.

Moreover, the tourist dollar may not be helping the local people. We all know that tourists stay in five star hotels and enjoy the best facilities. They may be taking two showers a day where as the local people may not have enough water to drink. This has been the case in Shimla which is a very popular hill station in Himachal Pradesh India. On top of that when tourists buy souvenirs from local artisans, they bargain a lot. The poor artisans, who look up to tourists for their livelihood, end up earning the bare minimum. Finally, tourism creates pollution, which helps nobody. We are all suffering the consequences of global warming.

The solutions are not simple. We cannot discourage tourism. It is the backbone of many economies of the world. First of all, the tour operators should take the onus of guiding the tourists about the main things of local culture. Secondly, the tourists should stay with locals as paying guests. This would be a win-win situation for both. Local people would earn and the tourist would taste the local culture. Finally, ecotourism should be promoted. For example, if an elephant ride is possible, the tourist should avoid using car. After all a good tourist is one – who takes away nothing but photographs and leaves behind nothing but footprints.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that, international tourism does have a downside to it but many steps can be taken to lessen the negative effects.

Some people think people can exploit animals for any purpose they need, while others do not think so. What is your opinion?

The discussion about whether or not animals should be used for the benefit of humans is a very debatable one. Some individuals are of the opinion that we can exploit animals for our benefit. Others hold the opposite view. It is necessary to look at both sides of the argument before forming an opinion.

Animals have always been used by humans in many different ways, for example, as food, for work, and in research. Using animals for food reflects what happens throughout the animal kingdom where carnivorous, or meat-eating, animals kill other animals for food. Humans have achieved dominance over animals and are able to use them to work, for example in the fields or to pull carts and other transport. Animals undoubtedly suffer during medical research, but this research may prevent humans from suffering in the future.

Many people, however, argue that it is wrong to cause suffering to animals for the benefit of humans. Meat is not a necessary part of our diet, and there are many healthy vegetarians around the world who prove this. Technology has largely replaced the use of animals in the fields and for transport. Research carried out on animals is often not valid for human cases as an animal's reactions may be very different from those of a human. There are useful alternative forms of research available now, such as the use of tissue cell cultures. More and more people are unhappy to cause suffering to animals if there is an alternative.

In conclusion, I believe that animals should not be used for human gain. It is time to concentrate resources on developing alternative sources of food and methods of research, and allow animals a pain-free existence.

A new law you would like to introduce

• There are various laws imposed by the government from time to time.
• All these laws are for the benefit of society in general
• Without these laws we would be living in utter chaos
• If I get a chance to introduce a new law it would be ‘ one car per family law’
• You know madam/sir, the number of cars is increasing day by day and this is creating a lot of problems.
• There is a lot of traffic congestion on the roads
• There are also accidents because of cars
• Then there is a lot of pollution like air and noise pollution
• Nowadays we belong to a materialistic society
• People are not satisfied with few things
• They want more and more
• I think if there is one car in a family, it is enough for the needs of that family
• But nowadays, each member of the family wants his own personal car
• There is no parking space within the house for more than one car
• So people park their cars on the streets and roads
• This leads to traffic jams which wastes a lot of time
• So, I think, if government seriously thinks about it, it would benefit everyone.

Some people think that media should not report detail of crimes to the public. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Nowadays, we are surrounded by a variety of media like the Internet, newspaper and TV, which are very informative, connecting us to the whole world. It is a highly debatable issue whether media should report smallest details of crime to the masses or not. I feel that the media should be very judicious in selecting what to report and how much to report. So, I agree with the statement. In this essay, I intend to support my views with my arguments.

As I see it, the news outlets should pay more attention to the affairs themselves, rather than the details of the crimes. To start with, the details of crimes make a misleading statement to the children and adolescents who are curious about the process of committing crimes, and are likely to copy the criminal actions blindly.
Moreover, the excessive violence and pornographic contents can also raise the adults' criminal tendencies. In the other words, detailed crime news can generate individuals' potential desire to commit a crime, thus induce many social problems.

Moreover, the detailed report of a crime does not show enough respects to the victims and their family. For example, if any murder or robbery has taken place in someone’s house then if it is shown in detail on TV, the whole privacy of those people is lost. Another very strong argument in favour of censorship of media is that sometimes this detailed description can help the criminals also. For instance, when terrorists attacked Hotel Taj in Mumbai, the media reported details of the commandos’ position on TV. This was also viewed by the terrorists hiding in the hotel. They changed their positions accordingly.

However, the opponents claim that we have a right to know every detail and so media should report every detail. I still feel that it would lead to more problems. I think the media has an obligation to show the right direction to the public. It should report news in a balanced manner rather than high-lighting the details of the crime.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that although it is the duty of the media to keep us informed, the details of crime should not be shown.

Some people think the main benefit of international cooperation is in protection of the environment, while others think that the main benefit is in the world business. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Today we do not belong to a big planet Earth. We are part of a global village. This has lead to a greater need for international cooperation in many crucial issues such as poverty, starvation, environmental protection, terrorism and global warming. Some individuals are of the opinion that the main benefit of global cooperation has been in protection of the environment, but others hold the view that the main benefit is in international trade. In this essay I intend to delve into both views and finally give my opinion.

International cooperation does contribute a lot in environmental protection. First of all many governments have realised that it is a grave issue and have taken steps to aware the masses of the simple steps they can take to save the environment. Then, the Kyoto agreement was signed by many countries in the United Nations Charter that they would not set up any industry which would emit more than 5.2% carbon dioxide.

The role international cooperation in world business is self evident. Today, we can buy any foreign brand like Reebok and Nike in our country and our Indian brands like Videocon have touched the international market. This has brought the economy of developing countries quite close to the developed ones.

In my opinion, although a lot has been done in both areas, a lot more needs to be done in the field of environment. The steps already taken are not enough and the governments need to tackle this issue on a war-footing. The rate at which global warming is occurring will transform the whole Earth into a boiling pot one day and leave it un-inhabitable.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that, international co-operation has benefited the world business much more than the environment.

Some people think that in the modern society individuals are becoming more dependent on each other while others say that individuals are becoming more independent of each other. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Whether we are dependent or independent of each other is difficult to say. In some cases, we heavily rely on others but in others, we are quite self-sufficient. In this essay I intend to delve into both views and finally give my opinion.

There are times when we are dependent on others. When we are little, we are cared by our parents otherwise we would have no access to food, shelter, and clothing. At the same time, we are emotionally important to them, so they always remember they are responsible for raising us up. When we are grown up, we start to learn at schools, and then it is the teachers on whom we rely heavily. When we are employed, we need to work closely with our colleagues and our employers also depend on our productivity.

We are also independent of each other in many ways. We don’t need to go to the banks. We can do net-banking sitting at home. We can do online shopping. We don’t need to go and depend on salesmen. We can entertain ourselves alone by computer games and internet. We can even study at home through online education and distant education. We are not dependent on teachers for imparting education. We can book railway and air tickets online and are not dependent on booking clerks. We can eat ready to eat food available in the market. We are not dependent on somebody in our home to cook for us.

Whatever arguments we put forth in support of both views, the fact cannot be denied that man is a social animal and will always be dependent on others. This dependence may be direct or indirect. When we are seemingly independent, we are still dependent on people behind the technology. For example, when we do net banking we depend on all those software developers who have made it possible for us. When we eat ready to eat food we depend on those who cook and pack that food.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that we are all part of a society and it is not possible for us not to depend on others. This dependence, however, may be visible or invisible.

Some people think the cheap air flight gives ordinary people more freedom. However, others think the cheap air flight should be banned because it pollutes the air and brings many other problems. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

In today's world, we are now in a position to enjoy cheaper air flights than in the past. However, there is an argument that they should be banned due to the levels of pollution they generate. Those in favour of cheap air flight say it is advantageous in terms of freedom and the opportunities to learn from other countries. In this essay I shall examine both sides of this issue and finally give my opinion.

Cheap air flight can be beneficial in many ways. One of them is the opportunities to go overseas. Earlier, only the affluent could afford it, but now it is within the pocket of the ordinary man. Some of the discounted tickets are fairly cheap and flying abroad is no longer a dream for many. Moreover, small businesses have prospered because of the ease of travel because of these flights.

In addition to this, cheap air flight enables intercultural exchanges between countries. The advent of cheap air fare makes it possible for people the world over to travel regularly, regardless of the purpose of the trip. Therefore, people have the opportunities to learn from different cultures and have a better understanding of countries they used to be unfamiliar with. This, in turn, enhances cultural communications between countries.

The argument that cheap flight should be banned is also justified to some extent. It is generally known that aeroplanes consume a vast amount of oil and the gas emission generated by an airplane is enormous. If cheap air tickets are not controlled, the environmental impacts would only get worse in the long run. Besides, cheap air tickets at times are extremely disturbing in terms of certain conditions that go along with them. One problem is that the date and time cannot be changed once purchased. As a result, many people find it inconvenient if they are to reschedule due to emergency.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that, the issue of cheap air fares is complex and there is no easy solution as both sides have merits. However, I am convinced that giving people the freedom to travel is essential, but at the same time people should be made aware of avoiding un-necessary travel. Banning such flights is not the answer.

Schools offer a wide range of courses such as physical education, music, economics, philosophy, math, English，geography, physics and history. Among all these subjects, which one do you think is the most important and which one is the least important?

To decide which course is the most important and which is the least important is a daunting task. Each and every subject has its own importance which cannot be under estimated but if I have to choose one I would chose physical education as the most important one and philosophy as the least important one.

Physical education is the most important for all students at school level. These classes improve students' health, now and in the future. They burn calories, and this helps them to maintain a healthy weight. The classes' regular exercise develops good habits for the present and the future. People who exercise as children are more likely to continue exercising when they're adults. This reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other serious illnesses.

Physical education also improves students' mental health. It can be difficult to sit in class all day. Students can exercise and then relax after their physical activity. This helps them to feel happier and more comfortable at school. The classes also include activities that help with stress reduction. Walking, stretching, and yoga are just a few of the exercises that reduce stress. When they have good mental health, they can do well in other subjects also.

The students' favourite part of physical education classes may be the opportunity to communicate with their classmates. They enjoy talking to their friends while they play games. The students also learn how to work in teams. Teamwork is an important skill that they will use when playing sports or even at their jobs in the future.

As for the least important course, I have to say that I think philosophy is not so important after all. This is a subject which can be there at the higher level for those who want to study it. That is why, perhaps, in our Indian school curricula philosophy has no place.
To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that, although all subjects are important, I believe that physical education is most important and philosophy is least important.

Sea shore

• India has a long coastal line.
• In fact, it is around 7000 km
• I have heard about a lot of beaches like Juhu beach in Mumbai and Merina beach in Chennai
• But here I would like to talk about a beach in Goa which I visited with my family last year in the month of December
• We went by train to Goa and stayed in a hotel at Panaji
• I vividly remember the name of the hotel
• It was hotel Delmon
• It was a ten day holiday including the travel period
• My father had meticulously planned the holiday within his budget
• Every morning there was a bus from the hotel which left at sharp 9 a m
• It took us to various beaches and churches of Goa
• The beaches I remember are Anjana, Donna Paula and Calangute
• I liked Anjana beach the most
• I remember the foreign tourists sun bathing under the swaying palm leaves
• We too enjoyed the waves touching our feet
• I collected some shells and even caught a small starfish.
• The day we went there was a flea-market where we saw cute looking Kashmiri and Tibetan women selling all kinds of junk jewellery and clothes
• I too bought a T-shirt from there
• After this we went to the Calangute beach
• There was too much rush on the beach
• I remember my father took us quite far into the water
• I was very afraid but my father held my hand
• My mother was quite happy clicking photographs from the shore

Talk about a public event you attended, you should say: - What was the public event and when was it? - With whom did you go to the event? - Why was this public event so important?

• There are many public events held in my country like Independence Day celebration, Republic Day and so on but here I would like to talk about a public event which is held in my home town every year in the month of December.
• This is the Environment fair.
• This is organised by the Environment Protection Association of my home town
• The other NGOs like Rotary club and Jaycees also actively participate in it.
• Last year it was held on 12th- 14th December.
• I went there on both days.
• First day I went with my friends.
• Many competitions were held there like painting competition, body building competition, kite flying competition, debate competition.
• We took part in painting competition.
• The theme was pollution.
• My friend bagged the second prize.
• There were many stalls selling items at discounted rates.
• So I came home and told my mother about it.
• The next day I went with my parents.
• On that day there was a flower show.
• Many stalls were selling saplings and organic fertilisers.
• We bought a lot of plants.
• There was also a display of energy saving gadgets which use solar energy.
• We bought a solar cooker from there.
• My mother uses it regularly now for preparing many dishes.
• This event was important because it created awareness about the environment
• You know, madam, global warming is a burning problem these days and unless we all do something about it our Earth will become a boiling pot very soon.

Some people think children’s spending time on TV, video and PC games is good, while others think it is bad. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

While it may be disliked by many, the modern game industry is a part of our world. From its humble beginnings in the 80s, the video game industry has exploded into a 10-billion dollar empire. It is a debatable issue whether these games are good or bad. In this essay, I intend to delve into the pros and cons of these games and finally give my opinion.

There are many advantages of video, PC and TV games. To begin with, video game playing introduces children to computer technology. Secondly, some games provide practice in problem solving and logic e.g. Age Of Empires. Video games have proved to improve visual skills. They also improve motor and spatial skills. Children who play video games have better reflexes.

What is more, these modern games make learning fun. The cost of failure is lower. This encourages risk taking and exploration. If the kid gets the answer wrong or their character dies, they just start the game over and try again. Finally, some games have therapeutic applications. Watching TV also is very educative for children.

On the other hand, there are some disadvantages of these technological inventions. Firstly, overdependence on these games leads to social isolation as these are usually played alone. Secondly, some games have violent characters and seeing their violent acts leads to aggressive behaviour in children. Moreover, these games can confuse reality and fantasy. For example, when children play car racing games then they may race their own vehicles in real life which can lead to accidents. Finally, many games do not require action that requires independence and creativity.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that on the whole these games are very good and certainly their advantages outweigh their disadvantages but these should be played in moderation. Parents should limit the game playing time and see to it that home work and chores are done before playing

Some people think students should learn more practical courses like computer, but others think they should learn more about theoretical courses like geography and mathematics. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

The debate on whether theoretical subjects are more important or practical are more important has been raging for ages. Some individuals are of the opinion that pupils should be taught more practical courses like computers but others hold the view that theoretical subjects are more important. In this essay I intend to discuss both views and finally give my opinion.

Those in favour of theoretical courses say that to be practically successful we need to have a strong and solid theoretical foundation. Though practicality counts but it is like half knowledge if no theoretical knowledge is gained. Moreover, theory provides powerful tools to deal with the world around us and the body within ourselves. For example, medical theories help us combat diseases, economic theories explain inflation and unemployment, gravity theory explains the presence of planets. Even marketing which was once thought to be purely practical is based on statistical data which require maths knowledge.

Those who advocate practical courses say so because today is the era of computers and technology. They feel that such subjects have more job opportunities. What they don’t take into consideration is that as far as the basic knowledge of such subjects is there it is all practical, but if you have to go into computer programming, you need to have your mathematical concepts clear.

In my opinion, both practical and theoretical subjects go hand in hand and each has their own significance. Theory and practical are interrelated. Theory is the basis of all practical knowledge. For example a person becomes a doctor in five and a half years, which has four and a half theory plus one year practical. So, for the overall development of the students a mix of all subjects should be there.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that, both theory and practical subjects have their own importance. Both should be incorporated in the school curricula.

Some people think imported food exerts positive impacts on our lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Nowadays, supermarkets are stocked with food products from around the world. Some individuals are of the opinion that this imported food has beneficial effect on us. I beg to differ. I feel that the local and regional produce is better for us and will discuss why in this essay.

It is certainly the case that importing food can have a negative effect on local culture. This can be seen in countries such as Japan where imported food has become more popular than traditional, local produce, eroding people’s understanding of their own food traditions. Although some would claim that this is a natural part of economic development, in an increasingly global world. I feel strongly that any loss of regional culture would be detrimental.

A second major reason to reduce imports is the environmental cost. Currently, many food imports such as fruit, are transported thousands of miles by road, sea and air, making the produce more expensive to buy and increasing pollution from exhaust fumes. Despite the fact that trade in food exports has existed for many years, I am convinced that a reduction would bring significant financial and environmental gains.

However, many jobs depend on food exports and some less developed countries may even depend on this trade for economic survival. In spite of this, the importance of developing local trade should not be undervalued.

In conclusion, I am certain that reducing food imports would have cultural and environmental benefits. What is more, the local economy should, in time, prosper commercially as the demand for local and regional produce remains high resisting the competition from overseas.

Society is based on rules and laws. If individuals were free to do whatever they want to do, it could not function. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Governments have the responsibility of ensuring the safety of their citizens by imposing certain rules and laws. Although it may restrict their freedom to a certain extent, there would be utter chaos in society in the absence of these laws.

Rules and regulations cause minor inconveniences to people but they also ensure the safety of individuals and society. It is a reality that hundreds of accidents are caused due to drunken driving. Since there are many rules against driving under the influence of alcohol, many accidents that could cause great damage to human life and property, are avoided. Those who believe that such rules interfere with their freedom pay with their own lives and that of others. The conclusion one can draw from these experiences is that people should tolerate certain inconveniences, in order to protect their lives from possible dangers.

Littering and spitting in public places is considered a serious offence in Singapore, which is dealt with serious fines. People in countries like India, that do not have such strict rules on public hygiene may not realise the value of such a regulation but this has made Singapore one of the most beautiful and cleanest countries in the world. When people learn the benefits of certain restrictions, they would begin to appreciate such constrains on their freedom.

However, in certain case, we may find that some rules are unnecessary and ineffective. These are only rare instances and citizens have the right to raise objections against them. Any sensible government would revoke such rules and regulations if it finds them unproductive.

In general, the rules that we have are not too many but essential for the smooth functioning of any civil society. The absence of such controls would lead to chaos and confusion in public life.

Old generations often hold some traditional ideas on the correct way of life, thinking and behavior. However, some people think that it is not helpful for the young generations to prepare for modern life in the future. What’s your opinion?

Generation gap has been a debated issue since the dawn of civilization. I partially agree with this statement. Modern life has changed beyond recognition in many ways and so many ideas of the old generation are not suitable for today’s life, but still there are some traditional ideas which are evergreen and hold true even today.

The elderly had a very disciplined life. For instance, they believed in sticking to one job for life. They also believed in fixed-hours job. They had a stress-free work life. Moreover, they believed that marriage was for life. Divorces were rare. They had a stable family life. These values, if followed, are good for today’s generation also.

However, in many ways the ideas of the elderly are obsolete in the times of modernity. The elderly live like a frog in the well. They forget that change is progress. They also want their children to follow the same profession. They do not give importance to aptitude. Youngsters are more intellectually evolved. They want to explore the un-trodden path to face the cut-throat competition of today.

Furthermore, the young differ in dress, food and habits. These things were not available to the elderly. The elderly had less opportunities to come in contact with the western world. The earth was a big planet. Now it is a global village. The young speak a universal language, eat Italian pizza and Chinese food and wear a universal dress. The leisurely ways of the old are gone. The young have the speed of bikes, cars and planes. What can link them to the old bullock cart? The young today have to change to survive.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that, there are some traditional ideas of the elderly that are evergreen and will hold true for times to come. But, in many ways, they are obsolete in today’s time.

Unemployment is getting increasingly serious in many countries. Some people think students only need to get primary education, while others think secondary education is necessary. What’s your opinion?

Nowadays, an increasing number of people cannot find jobs in many countries. Some people argue that students only need to receive primary education, while others believe secondary education is necessary. Before presenting my opinion, it is necessary for me to probe into both sides of the issue.

Those who say that only primary education should be there, feel that education has little influence on finding a job. To begin with, the competition for jobs is increasingly tough since there are more and more job seekers. Definitely, no matter what level education a person receives, he or she has to go to find a job finally, facing some competition. Therefore, the earlier one goes to find a position, the better for a person. Furthermore, they think people can acquire the technique through work instead of school. In other words, school education does not provide practical technique for factories. It is unnecessary for people to receive more education than primary courses.

On the other hand, those who believe that secondary education is necessary think that secondary education will offer more knowledge for people who plan to work, which can get them better paid jobs. However, both the two issues neglect the great impacts of education on the development of individuals.

In my opinion, it is necessary for individuals to receive as much education as possible before they go to work. Firstly, college or university education plays a key role in the development of individuals. Secondly, education will definitely enhance the competition for work. The more education one receives, the more opportunities for jobs he will have. For instance, more companies are recruiting new employees with a bachelor or master degree recently since the employment is very hard-to-get, with today’s financial crisis. Last but not least, receiving more education will widen one's horizons. Some of them, maybe, set up their own business, creating a new approach to unemployment.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that, although primary education is sufficient for some kinds of work, I firmly believe that people should receive higher education before they go to work.

Some teachers say students should be organised into groups to study. Others argue students should be made to study alone. Tell the benefits of each study method. Which one do you think is more effective?

Some educationists hold the view that studying in groups is better for students while others believe that studying alone is better. This essay shall delve into the benefits of each study methods.

There are many benefits of studying in groups. To begin with, when you work with other students you are able to share your ideas and experiences, and have more time to do this. For example, if every student spends just two minutes talking individually to the teacher, the class time is soon finished. However, if students work in groups they can spend much more time talking to the teacher than just two minutes.

Secondly, when we study in groups this helps students practice negotiation skills like making a contribution, agreeing or disagreeing with someone and asking a person to give examples of their point. Finally, we can put forward working in groups as an example of what happens in real life, in work situations and say that studying in groups in class prepares us for this.

On the other hand, when students study alone then they have no distractions and they can concentrate better on study. This is especially helpful in subjects like mathematics and physics. Studying alone also increases the confidence and ability to solve problems on one’s own. Students become more competitive which is a necessary virtue in the competitive era of today.

I feel that teachers should mix and match both these methods depending on the subject and the situation. For boring subjects like history and philosophy students should be organised into groups but for subjects that need concentration, individual study should be encouraged. Both methods have own importance and should complement each other rather than being treated as rivals.

Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are the main sources in many countries, but in some countries the use of alternative sources of energy (wind energy and solar energy) are encouraged. To what extent do you think it is a positive or negative development?

It is irrefutable that fossil fuels are our main source of energy in many parts of the world, but some nations are taking a step forward and using renewable sources like wind, solar and tidal energy. Definitely, it is a positive development. In the following paragraphs I intend to support my view with my arguments.

The main advantage of using alternate sources is that these conventional sources like coal and oil are non-renewable. They take millions of years to make and we are finishing them at an alarming rate. This means that if we finish the existing resources they will be gone forever as far as our and the coming many generations are concerned. Energy from the wind, the sun and the sea is an everlasting source of power. So, more and more governments should come forward in promoting these sources.

Another big advantage of these non-conventional sources is that they do not pollute the environment. We all know that global warming and damage to the protective ozone layer are caused by carbon-dioxide and other by-products of fossil fuels. If urgent steps are not taken towards the use of natural sources like sun and wind, then the time is not far when the whole earth will transform into a boiling pot.

Although the use of these alternative sources has some hurdles such as the initial cost of setting up solar panels and wind farms is very high and these are also dependent on the geographical locations. However, once the initial cost has been met with, their maintenance is practically negligible.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that the use of these alternative sources is a very positive development. It should be the global priority to invest in such research and development.

Talk about a useful thing in your house you use a lot - What is it - What you use it for - How it benefits you - Explain how else it can be used

Today, we live in an era of technology.
There are many things in my house which I use a lot
Here I would like to discuss about the microwave oven
This is something I use almost daily
It is a Samsung Combi 301 model
It is of black colour and has a capacity of 23 litres
It has a rotating plate inside
I generally use it for reheating.
Whenever I buy any burger or pizza from the market, I reheat it for a minute and it becomes hot and fresh.
Sometimes I come home late and then I reheat the food that my mother has prepared.
So this equipment is very helpful for me.
Sometimes my mother prepares some dishes and if they are left over, then we freeze them in the refrigerator and after few days we thaw them in the microwave and use them.
This microwave can also be used for cooking.
My sister bakes cakes in the microwave.
They come out very nice.

Talk about a good quality you admire in your friend - When he/she did it - What you learnt from it - What difficulties your friend found in doing it

• I have many friends but Ravi is my best friend.
• He is 20 years old
• He is tall and handsome
• He has curly hair and a smiling face.
• He belongs to a very rich family but he is very down-to-earth.
• He has many good qualities but the quality I admire the most is his ever-helping nature.
• He is very dependable.
• You can rely on him all the time.
• I remember once we were going to school.
• On the way there had been a road accident.
• Nobody was helping the victims.
• One person was badly injured.
• My friend immediately called an ambulance and we picked up the person and took him to civil Hospital.
• I was afraid of the formalities that we would have to go through.
• But my friend was determined to help. He did not think twice before doing that kind act.
• We had to answer a lot of grilling questions from the police and hospital authorities.
• We even had to miss school that day.
• Later on when the relatives of that person arrived, we heaved a sigh of relief.
• They were very grateful and thanked us.
• This made us very happy and I felt very proud of myself that I was part of this deed.
• I learnt that helping someone gives more happiness than anything else in the world.
• I learnt a lot from his selfless nature.

Talk about the way you like to relax when you are not at work - Where did you go recently to relax - Who was with you - How did you relax

• I have many hobbies which relax me in my free time.
• I like to watch TV, listen to music and do some gardening in my free time. I enjoy these activities and they give me relaxation.
• When I listen to music, all my worries and tensions fly away
• Sometimes I watch sitcoms and reality shows on TV
• They are also entertaining and fun
• When I do gardening I feel very happy to see my plants grow
• I have a kitchen garden in the backyard of my house
• I have grown okra, aubergine, mint and radish.
• Spending time with friends also gives me relaxation.
• Last to last Sunday, my friend had come from Australia.
• We enjoyed a lot that weekend.
• We saw a movie at Sarab Multiplex.
• We saw Khatta Meetha
• It is a very hilarious movie
• We had popcorns and Pepsi in the interval.
• After the movie we went to Haveli
• We saw a cultural show at Rangla Punjab.
• We ate dinner after that.
• My friend belongs to Delhi
• He was impressed by the hospitality of Punjabi culture at Rangla Punjab
• We came home very late at night
• So, it was a very fun and relaxing day for me.

Talk about a place in your city that is developing fast, please say: - What part of the city is it? - How did it look in the past? - What are the changes now?

• I belong to Phagwara
• It is a small but beautiful town on the national highway between Jalandhar and Ludhiana
• Generally speaking a lot of changes have taken place in my home town
• But one area which is developing very fast is the suburban area where a Lovely Professional university has opened
• Earlier this place had only fields
• But now, it has changed dramatically for the better.
• The building of the university is very majestic
• There are several campuses
• The infrastructure also is very good
• This university is in 600 acres of land
• 40,000 students study here
• This year 200 students from other countries have also enrolled
• Because of this university, the surrounding areas have also developed
• Big shopping malls have opened near the university
• Big bazaar has opened
• Ansal plaza has opened
• Even the residential areas near the area have developed
• This is because many housewives have started earning from the students who stay as paying guests
• So this area has developed very fast in recent years

An American film actor once said, “Tomorrow is important and precious.”Some people think individuals and society should pay more attention to the future than to the present. Do you agree or disagree?

I certainly support the view. One should most definitely keep the future in mind and not fritter away everything to enjoy the present. One should always remember that the present would one day transform into the future, and when it eventually does, it should be safe and secure. The same holds true for societies. Let us consider why it is so important to be prepared for the coming time.

The mortality rate has come down and the span of life is generally longer, but the period of earning is comparatively limited. Nobody knows how long he would live, but the age of retirement is generally fixed. One cannot work indefinitely. Therefore, during his earning span, he has to make sure that he puts aside enough money that will hold him in good stead in his later years, when he will be able to work no more. Further, the requirements in old age are sometimes more than a person's needs during the period of his youth. Deteriorating health translates into higher medical bills and hospital charges. Being weak and infirm, one needs to spend more on commuting. He will need to hire assistants to help in the house.

Next come the needs of the family. One has to provide for the education and marriage expenses of the dependent members of the family, like children and even grandchildren. One has to pay one's insurance premiums, and even for the day-to-day needs of the younger members of the family, till such time as they are employed and earning. Moreover, one may incur extra expenditure on leisure activities. People generally travel more after retirement to meet their relatives and friends who may be settled and staying far away from them. There would also be the usual expenses on house maintenance and repair, and the payment ¬of personal and property taxes.

The societies should also think about tomorrow. Neighbourhoods should be planned nicely. Everyone should participate in community projects. Good educational institutes and health centres should be there in all areas. If only today is looked into and no planning is done for tomorrow then crime and violence would increase in society and everyone would suffer.

Therefore, it is imperative that people and societies plan wisely for the future. If one has saved enough, one can sit back and enjoy peace and comfort in ones later years and even witness the smile of joy on the faces of ones children. If he has saved not, then the journey ahead would be dreary and dismal indeed.

An increasing number of people choose to live in big cities. What problems will this bring about? Should the government encourage people to live in small towns?

Cities act as magnets to many from rural areas. As a consequence of this migration many problems arise in the cities. This essay will discuss these problems and also give opinion on whether or not the government should encourage people to live in small towns.

A major problem is the pressure on the cities’ infrastructure. For example, as more and more people crowd into cities, water delivery and sewerage disposal systems are often found to be inadequate to cope with demand. Moreover, unlicensed construction of dwellings usually leads to further problems for water and sewerage systems. Roads and transport services also suffer when they are overused. As more and more people attempt to travel, the roads quickly become overcrowded and traffic slows. Examples of this situation can be found in many cities throughout the world. Not only this, these congested roads become more and more accident prone.

Certainly, if the government encourages people to live in small towns, it would have a positive impact on the overcrowding of some cities. There would be less traffic, less people in the city centre, and this would obviously be highly desirable. In addition, there would be less strain on the services offered by the city – ¬banks, public transportation, restaurants and the like. This would mean a reduction in queues and faster customer service.

However, the problem however would be that a dramatic reduction in numbers of people in the cities would mean that many businesses would go broke. Restaurants, cafes and other service areas would suffer tremendously. What would happen is that overcrowding would occur in the small towns. More and more people offering services would spring up - restaurants, shopping centres and other businesses would be needed to service the increasingly larger numbers of people who live in that area. So, although the idea seems good in theory, it would be very impractical. The better solution to the problem would be a careful planning of the city keeping in mind the future population predictions.

To put it in a nutshell I pen down saying the because of migration of people from rural to urban areas, many problems arise in cities but the solution is not in encouraging people to live in small towns as this would be a short sighted approach.

With the increase in the use of mobile phones and computers, fewer people are writing letters. Some people think that the traditional skill of writing letters will disappear completely. To what extent do you agree or disagree? How important do you think is letter-writing?

It is irrefutable that in today’s era of modern technology, many people struggle to produce letters and often avoid writing letter altogether. Nevertheless, I don’t agree that this skill is gradually disappearing. In this essay I shall put forth arguments to support my view and also talk about the importance of letter writing.

Firstly, let us consider the reasons why writing letters is less frequent nowadays. This is because of modern technology. These days we are much more likely to email someone than write a letter. In addition our business communications have become more informal than in the past. As a result a less formal style of writing is more acceptable. Other forms of communication such as text messaging have reduced our need to write letters even more.

However, in my opinion, there are times when there is no alternative to writing a letter. Letters are generally more formal and carefully composed than emails. This makes them more suitable for occasions when they are likely to be kept and re-read, perhaps several times, by the recipient, as with formal letters of thanks or sympathy. In letters provide a written record, unlike telephone calls, so they are also a better way of setting out an important or complex argument, as in the official complaints or legal matters. Moreover, that time is still very far when everyone will have a computer and internet connection. Till that time letter writing can never disappear.

So, it can be seen that letter writing is a very important skill to learn because there are many parts of the world where it is very important to be formal. This is particularly true if you are involved in international business. Because of globalisation the business world is becoming more and more international and it is not always possible to pick up the telephone to talk to people. Consequently I believe that letter writing will never die out completely. And even though these letters may be written on computers rather than by hand we still need to learn and practise this skill.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that there are fewer times when we need to write letters than in the past. On the other hand, I feel there are still some important occasions when a letter is the most appropriate form of communication.

Some people think that schools should select pupils according to their academic abilities, while others believe that it is better to have pupils with different abilities study together. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Children are put in a particular grade according to age in our education system. It is obvious that all children are not of the same intelligence level and sometimes it becomes difficult for educators to teach them in the same class. Therefore, some people feel that there should be separate teaching for intelligent students and weak students.

If we look at the benefits, then yes, intelligent students can be taught at their pace and the sessions can be made more interesting for them and the same thing applies to the weak students. Thus, both the categories of students would enjoy learning. Moreover, different teaching tactics can be adopted in each group to give students maximum benefits. In a mixed group, many times weak students could not cope up with the pace of studies, come under high pressure and get de-motivated. When they are separated, teachers can handle them tactfully and bring them back the lost confidence.

Furthermore, it has been seen that sometimes the more intelligent students show disruptive behaviour. They can grasp things very soon and then disturb the others. It can become very difficult for the teacher to maintain discipline in the class.

On the other hand, weak students would automatically develop an inferiority complex if they are made to realise that they are weak in studies by separating them. In addition to that, the other group might not treat them well, which can have a direct effect on their psyche. On the contrary, when the students study in a mixed group, a sense of competition develops and weak students are motivated to study. Even intelligent students can help weak students in studies and the bond can be strengthened. This way, even weak students would not feel belittled.

In my opinion, children should not be separated as only academic abilities are not enough to judge the intelligence of the students. I would rather suggest what I had in my school, and that is extra coaching to weak students. It serves the purpose best as teachers save their time and energy and yet maintain the effectiveness.

Individuals can do nothing to improve the environment. Only governments and large companies can make a difference. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Everyone is becoming aware that the environment is a serious issue. There is bad air and water pollution everywhere and we also know that the greenhouse effect is changing our weather and that the hole in the ozone layer is causing skin cancer. However, not enough is being done to solve these problems, because most people seem to think that they can do nothing. They think that only governments and large companies can combat this massive problem. I feel that the responsibility for protecting the environment must be shared by everyone. Individuals can and should do many things to help to solve the problem.

First of all people can make sure that they are responsible in the way that they dispose of waste. If people throw rubbish like plastic into rivers and oceans, it always stays there, and causes fish and sea-birds to die. It is also important to make sure that we do not buy goods that have too much wrapping on them, especially plastic wrapping, because if we do we are adding to the huge amounts of waste.

People also need to be responsible in the way that they use water. In some countries, like Australia, an enormous amount of water is wasted for swimming pools, washing cars and so on. Most countries are running out of fresh water. If people used their cars less this would help to prevent the greenhouse effect. Everyone can try to use public transport more, or use bicycles, or even walk, instead of using their cars for even short trips.

Finally, the most important thing that individuals can do is to let their governments know that they want something to be done about the environment. It is obvious that the governments will not do anything unless the people force them to.

It is therefore clear that individuals must take responsibility for the environment, otherwise it will soon be too late, and we and the next generation will suffer serious consequences.

Some people say that it is the responsibility of individual to save money for their own care after they retire. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

I certainly support the view. One should most definitely put aside some money for the future, and not fritter away everything to enjoy the present. One should always remember that the present would one day transform into the future, and when it eventually does, it should be safe and secure. Of what purpose is enjoyment today, if it becomes the cause of misery and worry in the future? It is so easy to spend, yet so difficult to save. Wisdom dictates that one must be discreet and stingy to save for the future. Let us consider why it is so important to save.

The mortality rate has come down and the span of life is generally longer, but the period of earning is comparatively limited. Nobody knows how long he would live, but the age of retirement is generally fixed. One cannot work indefinitely. Therefore, during his earning span, he has to make sure that he puts aside enough money that will hold him in good stead in his later years, when he will be able to work no more. Further, the requirements in old age are sometimes more than a person's needs during the period of his youth. Deteriorating health translates into higher medical bills and hospital charges. Being weak and infirm, one needs to spend more on commuting. He will need to hire assistants to help in the house.

Next come the needs of the family. One has to provide for the education and marriage expenses of the dependent members of the family, like children and even grandchildren. One has to pay one's insurance premiums, and even for the day-to-day needs of the younger members of the family, till such time as they are employed and earning.

One may incur extra expenditure on leisure activities. People generally travel more after retirement to meet their relatives and friends who may be settled and staying far away from them. Thus, there are so many needs that would surface in the future. Some may be quite unexpected and traumatic like accidents in the family, which may entail high expenditure. There would be the usual expenses on house maintenance and repair, and the payment ¬of personal and property taxes.

Therefore, it is imperative that a person plan wisely for his future. If he has saved enough, he can sit back and enjoy peace and comfort in his later years and even witness the smile of joy on the faces of his children. If he has saved not, then the journey ahead would be dreary and dismal indeed.

With technology speeding up, more and more young people begin to use mobile phones and the Internet, but old people have little chance to be exposed to them. What ways could mobile phone and the Internet be useful to old people? How can old people be encouraged to use this new technology?

It is irrefutable that the young generation today are technophiles and are very comfortable with mobile phones and internet whereas the elderly are uneasy with the latest technological devices. This essay shall delve into how the mobile phone and internet could be useful for the senior citizens and ways to encourage them to use such technology.

Mobile phones and internet could be beneficial to old people in various ways. To begin with, we all know that a major problem the elderly face is of social isolation. Nuclear families predominate these days and even in nuclear families, children have to leave their parents to seek greener pastures abroad. Through mobile phones the elderly can connect with their kith and kin who live far away from them. Through the internet, they can chat with their grandchildren and also see them through web camera.

Furthermore, the elderly face a lot of health problems. Through mobile phone they can any time call the ambulance or their relatives and get timely medical help. Through the internet they can get consultation of any doctor in any part of the world by showing their digital x-ray or MRI scan. Another advantage of such technology to the elderly is that they can entertain themselves through these gadgets. They have a lot of free time and they can listen to religious hymns, visit sacred and holy places on the net which they can’t otherwise visit because of failing health. They can also do net-banking, online shopping and also buy their rail tickets and air tickets online.

There are a lot of ways to motivate the elderly to use these equipments. Firstly, they can be made aware of the various ways such things can help them. The government and NGOs can open free training centres to appraise them with this technology. Grandchildren can teach their grandparents about these gadgets. Too many features on mobile phones deter the elderly from using them. So, user-friendly models could be made especially for them. Finally, these gadgets could be made available to the elderly at subsidised rates.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that there is an unending list of how mobile phones and internet could help the elderly but a little effort is required to make them techno-savvy.

Nowadays, people get information through news and papers, but meanwhile are uncertain about the truth of these news. Should we believe the journalists? What qualities should a good journalist or correspondent have?

News and newspapers are an indispensable part of our everyday life because they keep us connected with the outside world. This essay shall delve into whether or not we should believe the journalists and also explain the characteristics of a good journalist.

We have to believe the journalists because they are our only source of information. But, we should take it all with a pinch of salt. Sometimes they may spread ill-founded news just to sell their papers. On the whole, they are doing great service to us. They are a link between the government and the people. They shape our opinions. They make us feel part of this global village by keeping us in touch with it and at times they even provide justice. For example, in the Jessica murder case, it was because of the effort of these journalists that a politician’s son got punishment and Jessica’s family got justice.

A good journalist should have many qualities. First of all, he should promote the truth and not rumours of ill founded news. Only authenticated news should be given. Secondly, he should be unbiased and not favour any group or political party. He should not hurt the sentiments of any particular community. This is very important in a pluralistic (multicultural and multi-religious) society like India. He should also have excellent communication skills.

Furthermore, a good journalist should be versatile – he has to cover varied fields such as sports, business, entertainment and politics. He should be always on his toes because you never know when the sky is going to fall. Finally, he should be bold and brave because he has to handle tough situations. For instance, during the 26th November terrorist attack at Mumbai, it was these journalists who brought us the first-hand news.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that we have to believe the journalists because they bring us the latest news and a good journalist should be a multifaceted personality.

Some people think that children should obey rules or do what their parents and teachers want them to do, but others think that children controlled too much cannot deal with problems well by themselves. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Young children are beginners. They have lots to learn and one of the biggest lessons they must learn is how to behave or act in an acceptable manner. So, they need rules. When young children have rules, they know what is expected of them. However, the extent to which children have to follow rules is a very sensitive issue. In this essay I shall discuss the benefits of imposing rules on children and the negative consequences of having too much restriction.
Firstly, rules of behaviour create responsible and respectful children who in turn mature into respectful adults. They know the value of respect for elders. They know the importance of relationships. They know about their cultural values as well. This forms a stable society which is virtually free from vices such as prostitution and drug abuse. It would be wrong to say that having rules mars the problem solving ability of children. They, in fact, face difficulties in a more mature and disciplined way. They are not lured by peer pressure and refrain from acting on impulse.
However, if too strict rules are imposed on children then they may become rebels. They may start doing just the opposite of what is told them to do. What is more, they may show abnormal behaviour. They may fall into bad company or resort to drugs because of frustration. Finally, imposing too strict rules destroys the individuality of children. They may withdraw into a shell. This may suppress their creativity and as a consequence, they may not be able to deal with problems well by themselves.
What is important is that parents and teachers should learn where rules are needed and where it is necessary to give room to the children. Having absolutely no rules and letting children do whatever they wish to do would also be wrong. They are not mature enough to solve all problems and they have to be taught their limits.
To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that parents and teachers should impose rules on children but they should know where to draw the line. They should be flexible and modify the rules according to the circumstances.

Consumers are faced with increasing numbers of advertisements from competing companies. To what extent do you think are consumers influenced by advertisements? What measures can be taken to protect them?

Whether it is on TV, radio or hoardings at the side of the road, advertisements have become a part of our lives. Advertising is a powerful and persuasive medium. Consumers are influenced by advertisements in both positive and negative ways. This essay shall delve into the ways adverts affect the common man and suggest ways to protect people from the negative effects of adverts.

On the positive side ads tell us about the new products that are launched in the market. They also tell us about the working of these products. After seeing the ads, consumers can go to the market and select things of their choice.

On the other hand, advertisements can cause people to be dissatisfied with what they already gave and make them want more. Being exposed again and again to products which one cannot afford leads to dissatisfaction. Furthermore, not all parents are in the position to afford the goods which the children see advertised and want to possess. This often leads to feelings of inadequacy among them. In addition to this advertisements lead to materialism and people lay too much emphasis on material goods. People are prepared to work long hours or even turn to crime to get these goods.

The solution is not simple as advertising has become a very pervasive medium. To begin with, advertisements which make false claims should be banned. Then there should be consumer awareness programmes. Consumers should be warned against too much consumerism. Finally, advertisements for liquor and those ads which show stunts should also be banned.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that today we are influenced a lot by adverts, both in positive and negative ways, without adverts we would lose a valuable source of revenue which is used for the benefit of majority. Our lives would be dull without these ads and there is not much that can be done against the consumerism they promote.

The world of work is changing rapidly. Working conditions today are not the same as before and people no longer rely on taking one job for life. Discuss the possible causes for these changes and give your suggestions on how people should prepare for work in the future.

It is irrefutable that the work scenario is altering at a fast pace. Working conditions are also different and the process of job-hopping is very common. This essay shall delve into the possible causes for these changes and suggest ways to prepare for work in the time to come.

To begin with, the development of science and technology has changed the structure of work. For example, people no longer need to do some heavy work by themselves. Instead, they can use machines. Secondly, competition has become intense and people have to constantly update themselves with the latest materials and methods. Sometimes they cannot compete with the new techno-savvy workforce and so have to change jobs out of compulsion.

Furthermore, we belong to an era of consumerism. Being surrounded by so many choices, people today want to buy new things and for that they do multiple jobs. In addition, the 24/7 society of today provides us the opportunity to work day and night. For instance, in earlier times, there were very few jobs which were round-the-clock jobs. But, today, globalisation has brought in a multitude of options of working day and night. The line between day and night has become dim and people have become workaholics.

There could be many suggestions to prepare for work in the future. People should have a set goal in their mind and get training accordingly. Moreover, it is important to draw a line somewhere. The stress and strain of the fast modern workplace is leading many to nervous breakdowns. In the developed countries, a new term called downshifting has already where after a certain stage, people are saying no to promotions and showing contentment with less. We should also realise that if we stick to one job, then also life can be more stable and we can enjoy our leisure also.

To put in a nutshell, I pen down saying that, although work condition are different today and we have a need to update our knowledge regularly, we can plan our life in a meticulous way and have a balance between work and leisure.

Some people support development of agriculture, like factory farming and scientific creation of fruits and vegetables, while others oppose. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Yesterday’s fiction is today’s reality. Such colossal developments have taken place in agriculture which we could not even think of earlier. It is a highly debated issue as to whether the growth of this industry is a blessing or a curse. This essay shall delve into the merits and demerits of these developments.
On the positive side, farmers now have a wide range of selection, in terms of seeding, irrigation and use of pesticides and fertilizers. Secondly, technology has saved people from tedious work and in the mean time increased the production markedly. All this is needed to meet the demands of the burgeoning population.
Furthermore, genetic modification of foods has given us such species which need little or no insecticides and no fertilizers. The quality of food has also improved. For example, fish gene has been added to tomato to make it frost resistant. A nut protein has been added to soya bean to increase the protein content. Finally, factory farming, in which animals are fed nicely so as to increase their meat is also the need of the hour.
On the downside, such technology has reduced the need for manpower and many people are now jobless. Moreover, factory farming is considered inhuman. Animals are tightly packed in cramped spaces and this may lead to many diseases. Genetic modification is also considered unnatural and as it is relatively new, people are also concerned about its long term harmful effects. Last but not least, the rich countries can use this technology and further increase the gap between the rich and the poor.
To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that as every garden has weeds, such developments have their pros and cons. We should know where to draw the line and take maximum advantage of this technology minimising its harmful effects.

International tourism has become the biggest industry in the world. Some people think the advantages of international tourism outweigh its disadvantages. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

International tourism has taken mammoth dimensions. It is a highly debated issue as to whether the growth of this industry is a blessing or a curse. Personally, I feel that the advantages of international tourism outweigh the disadvantages.
It is irrefutable that there are some problems associated with this industry. Firstly, there is the increasing crime rate. Some locals see tourists as easy prey because, not only are they in unfamiliar territory and therefore less able to take care of themselves, but also they carry visible items of wealth, such as cameras and jewellery which can be disposed of quickly for a profit. Another major problem is health. With greater mobility comes greater danger of spreading contagious diseases around the world. Also to be considered is the natural environment, which can be seriously threatened by too many visitors. Australia's Great Barrier Reef, for example, is in danger of being destroyed by tourists and there are plans to restrict visitors to some of the more delicate coral reefs.
Nonetheless, international tourism can have many benefits for individuals. The most important benefit is that tourism provides regular employment for many local people who might otherwise be unemployed. They can find work in restaurants or hotels, or with tourist agencies as guides or drivers, for example, and earn regular wages. This, in turn, means that they may be able to save money and improve their standard of living. The second reason is that tourists spend money in the country and this allows local businesses such as restaurants, bars and taxi companies to flourish. In turn, other businesses, food suppliers or petrol stations, for instance, may be established in order to provide services to support the companies which cater for tourists. In other words, the whole economy of the region develops.

A third reason is that in order for tourists to be able to visit remote areas, roads, airports and hotels have to be built and local people also benefit by being able to use these new facilities. Furthermore, when communications improve, it becomes possible for other industries to move into the area, bringing with them more employment opportunities and increased prosperity. A final reason why I am in favour of tourism is that visitors from outside bring fresh ideas and different ways of doing things to the local community. Consequently, local people may learn from tourists. Likewise, visitors learn about the local people and culture, and return home with a deeper understanding of the host country.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that international tourism may create some adverse effects. However, the pros it produces far outweigh its cons. On balance, I am convinced that while promoting international tourism, we should encourage more culturally-sensitive, sustainable tourism.

University students now focus on a special subject. Some people believe that universities should encourage their students to study a whole range of subjects. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is a highly debated issue as to whether students at university should concentrate on one subject or study a multitude of subjects. I personally feel that studying a range of subjects is better for university students.
There are many advantages, for students, of studying a number of subjects. The first and foremost advantage is that if they don’t get a job in their field they will be able to get any job related to their other subjects. They will not suffer unemployment and they will not be stuck to menial jobs despite being highly qualified.
Moreover, a well rounded education is very important in today’s time. Without a diverse background, a graduate will not be competent in any job. For example, excellent communication skills are very important while looking for a job. For that you need a basic English class. Most jobs require problem solving skills which you get from basic knowledge of maths and science. For instance, a doctor specializing in MRI scan, needs to have a good knowledge of physics – magnetism etcetera.
Another advantage is that, learning a range of subjects can also add spice to the students’ studies. Students may be fed up with study when they concentrate on one subject constantly. Studying a range of subjects can help the students to enrich their campus life and maintain their interest in study.
Finally, it is well known that most of the subjects are linked to each other, to some extent. With a range of knowledge, students can find different solutions to approach the problems they encounter either at work or in life, which will definitely make the students more creative and innovative in the field they specialize in. Clearly, the students with all-around knowledge have an apparent advantage over those specializing in only one subject.
To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that, studying a variety of subjects is beneficial to the university students. In this case, not only can the students better themselves, but also become adaptable and flexible in the increasingly challenging and competitive world. It is advisable that students spend time learning more subjects instead of focusing on a specific subject, so that they can prepare themselves for the global society.

Some people think that economic progress is the only way to measure a country’s success, while others think that there are other factors which can be used to measure a country’s success. What are these factors? And among them, which one is more important than others?

It is irrefutable that economic progress is one yardstick of determining a country’s success, but there is a range of other non economic factors such as availability of nutrition, primary health care and literacy rate which can be used to judge the well being of a nation. This essay shall delve into all such factors and also pick out the most significant one.

Economic progress or, in other words, the GDP has traditionally been the benchmark for determining the growth of a country. The true measure of success, however, is to determine how much of this economic growth is reaching the weakest sections of the society. A successful measure of development should represent the life of an average person in a country. It should measure the quality of life of all citizens.

One important factor is the Primary Health Care. If people receive good healthcare at the primary level, they are happier. Their productivity of work increases and they lead a comfortable life. Another factor is the literacy rate. For example, a country like Cuba has low GDP but less than 1% of its population is illiterate. As a consequence there is less crime and hence people enjoy a peaceful existence.

Furthermore, the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is also an index of mapping the success. For instance, Costa Rica has a low GDP, but its people are considered to be the happiest in the world. This is perhaps because it ranks 5th in the world in the EPI.

To put in a nutshell, I pen down saying that Literacy Rate is the most important factor to measure the success of a nation. GDP is just a mathematical value and does not take into consideration many of the factors that affect a person’s well-being and thus a nation’s well being.

People should look after their health as a duty to the society they live in rather than personal benefits. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Good health is a basic human need. The statement says that people should look after their health as an obligation to the society and not think about their own benefits. I however feel that compliance would be much more if we were to look after our health for our own interest and the benefits to the society would automatically ensue.

There are many benefits to the individual if he/she looks after his/her health. Good health means a person leads a quality life. He does not have to spend on expensive medical treatment and he has more productive life. He can work better and enjoy all the good things that life has to offer. Moreover, if a person suffers from any infectious disease and takes timely treatment then he does not spread it to others. Later on he does not stand the chance of getting re-infected by other people.

On the other hand, it cannot be denied that as a part of society, we all have an obligation to the society. If all people are healthy then the society is also healthy. A healthy society means that the government does not have to spend a lot on health. All those saved resources could be used to improve the lives of people further. Government could spend on latest diagnostic machines and on gyms and on educating people as to how they could look after themselves even better.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that we should all look after our health. It does not matter whether it is for ourselves or the society. We are all inextricably linked to the society. If we do something good for ourselves, the society is benefitted and if we do something for society then we are benefitted.

Figures show that some countries have an ever-increasing proportion of the population who are aged 15 or younger. What do you think are the current and future effects of this trend for those countries?

Some demographic surveys have shown that the proportions of young people are rising rapidly. This may be because of any reasons such as illiteracy and poverty or wars or any other reasons. This essay shall delve into the immediate and long term effects of this trend on those countries.

The most important current impact of such a trend would be on the national economy. For instance, goods and services would need to be imported which would lead to an unstable economy. However, the future effect would be different as there would be more people within the country needing employment. Then there might arise the problem of unemployment.

In addition to the effects on economy, there would be social implications also. The government will have to invest a lot on educational institutes as more children need more schools and colleges. In addition more spending on health would also be needed. The long term result would be that the education and health infrastructure would be well developed.

If careful management of such a situation is done by the government, for instance, by providing good education and health facilities, then the future outcomes could be quite positive. The society would be younger and more vibrant. The culture of those countries would be more fast paced than the traditional culture.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that the culture and lifestyle of these countries would be transformed if the population would be younger. Fresh opportunities and challenges would both be on the way. The trend would cause multiple possible effects and these countries should strengthen the education and health infrastructure to overcome its negative influence.

Some people think that we should invent a new language for international communication. Do the benefits of this outweigh the problems?

There are so many languages around the world, thereby discouraging people from different regions or cultures to communicate with each other. To overcome this obstacle, some people propose to invent a new language which will be used as an “international language” among people who come from different areas. Although this proposal seems reasonable, I personally see more disadvantages than advantages of inventing a new language.

First of all, a new language would not be accepted by many people because it would be artificial and not based on any culture. In addition, people would be required to spend time to learn the grammars and the words of the new language.
Secondly, promoting a new language requires financial support and a lot of time. For instance, in some countries such as China and India there are many languages because it is financially unrealistic to teach everyone in poor areas on language. Although this might be achieved finally, it will just take as long as a hundred years or even more.

Another reason against having a new language is that it is bound to be divided into dialects and so the whole purpose of having one language would be lost. For instance, in Punjab, a small state of India, the mother tongue Punjabi has two dialects which are quite different from each other. So it would be unrealistic to expect one language without different dialects in the whole world.

Finally, we all know that variety is the spice of life and language is related to culture. So, if we have one language spoken in the whole world, then it would be a dull and boring place to live in.

To sum up, although there would be benefits such as easy trade and travel, inventing a new language for the international communication is not a good idea because of the various reasons given above. In my opinion it is totally a waste of time and money to invent a new language because its advantages cannot outweigh its disadvantages.

Many people use distance-learning programs to study at home，but some people think that it cannot bring the benefit as much as attending college or university. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is undeniable that the distance¬ learning mode is very useful, especially for those living in remote areas, for those who are physically challenged and for those who want to do a job while studying. However, there are many advantages in actually attending a University, which would not accrue to a person who prefers to learn through the mode of distance education. Let us see how going to a University scores over the distance-mode.

In the very first place, going to a University provides the opportunity of face-to-face interaction with the teachers. This is extremely helpful for gaining a quick grasp of a subject, especially if it is being approached for the first time. Classroom lectures are more educative and enlightening than mere reading of written courseware due to the direct interaction between the students and the teachers. The student not only masters the contents of the prescribed lessons, but also gains a deeper insight into the subject as the teacher elucidates from his own experiences. If there are any doubts in the mind of the student, the teacher can readily offer the necessary clarifications. If he has not been able to fully comprehend any particular aspect of the lesson, he can request that it be explained to him again. Each student can also learn from the clarifications provided by the teacher in response to the doubts or questions. of some other student. Students can also help each other through the exchange of ideas and information, after the class hours. Studying and working together in a group also increases the level of inspiration and quest for achievement.

Secondly, one learns in a more disciplined atmosphere. One has to attend the classes regularly and in time. This results in a more focused and systematic study. This leads to better preparation for the examinations and consequently better results. Also, one can easily access reference books and other valuable reading material from the University Library.
Apart from the academic curriculum, the student also gains by useful participation in other extra-curricular activities like sports, competitions, contests and the like. This enhanced level of participation in the activities of the university helps him to broaden his skills, and derive better emotional satisfaction. It also increases his scope of acquaintances leading to better interaction at the social and academic levels. All this helps in the sharpening of his communication skills and the overall development of his personality. He acquires more self-confidence and poise. He develops better team spirit and learns the art of working with others in a group. His perspectives on life become broader and the horizon of his thinking much wider.

Another great advantage that accrues to the university student is that of campus placement opportunities. Many reputed companies approach the good universities with offers of campus placements for their students. This is a great boon for the students, as they have the ready opportunity of direct interaction with the company managements or their recruiting agents. They are thus saved from the uncertainty and hassles of a later job hunt.

Thus, a university education is certainly packed with several privileges.

Because of the global economy, many goods including what we use as daily basic produced by other counties have to be transported for a long distance. To what extent do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Written by Surjit

The global economy refers to the increasing integration of a fragmented national market for goods and services into a single global market. Kenichi Ohmae (1989), a Japanese consultant, calls global economy as the borderless world. There are many advantages and disadvantages of transporting goods over a long distance. In my opinion, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Adam Smith, the Scottish economist and philosopher, stated that countries traded, because they had an absolute advantage. One nation’s workers could produce a given product more efficiently than workers in other countries. Rather than produce those products that it could produce but poorly, a country could specialize and exchange those products it produce efficiently for those produced efficiently by another country and, therefore, increase its overall wealth. The braking down of global barriers allows companies to benefit from the largest and cheapest workforces, raw materials and technology.

Other advantages that companies benefit from include: the opportunity for smaller companies to expand globally quicker, having more choice when recruiting a workforce and lastly the opportunity to target a large customer base. A global economy would also help in promoting international co-operative and piece. If countries are dependent upon one another’s economic success then armed conflict would be less likely.

One disadvantage of transporting goods and services across nations is that it has lead to the emission of green house gases. It has also resulted in the loss of domestic jobs as certain labor-intensive industries tend to shift their production from developed countries to developing countries where wages are lower.

To put it in a nutshell, it can be said that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages as we get more variety, more options, and it improves relationships between countries.

Rote Learning

Rote Learning
Written by Surjeet singh

Rote learning is also known as memorization by repetition. Rote memorization is a term for fixing information to memory through sheer repetition. Rote learning is simply necessary in some areas. A child learns the ABCs by rote learning, long before he or she knows why.

Rote learning is also necessary in learning some languages like: Chinese, Urdu etc. For instance, students of the Chinese language utilize rote learning to memorize thousands of non-alphabetic symbols. Moreover, rote learning methods are routinely used when quick memorization is required, Such as learning one line in a play or memorizing a telephone number. Another area where rote learning is widely used is in the mastery of knowledge. Examples of school topics where rote learning is frequently used are - the periodic table in chemistry, multiplication tables in mathematics, anatomy in medicine, case or statutes in law, basic formulae in any science etc. Finally, if exam papers are not well designed, it is possible for someone with good memorization techniques to pass the test without any meaningful comprehension of the subject.

The main disadvantage of rote learning is that it is boring and extremely limited. Meaningful learning refers to the concept that the learned knowledge is fully understood by the individual and that the individual knows that specific fact related to other stored facts. For understanding this concept, it is good to contrast meaningful learning with the much less desirable, rote learning. So, rote learned knowledge cannot be applied to other areas. Finally, the main disadvantage of rote learning is that it is short lived and forgotten soon.

In conclusion, Rote learning and meaningful learning are their own meaning their own definitions. Rote learning and meaningful learning are not comparable, both have their own advantages and disadvantages, both are equally important in their ways and so instead of opposing each other, both should complement each other.

Some people say that it is the responsibility of individual to save money for their own care after they retire. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Some people feel that it is better to save for the future, while others feel that one should spend money to enjoy the present. Which view do you support and why? Use specific reasons and/or examples to support your answer. ( From M.J. Ashok essay book)

I certainly support the first view. One should most definitely put aside some money for the future, and not fritter away everything to enjoy the present. One should always remember that the present would one day transform into the future, and when it eventually does, it should be safe and secure. Of what purpose is enjoyment today, if it becomes the cause of misery and worry in the future? It is so easy to spend, yet so difficult to save. Wisdom dictates that one must be discreet and stingy to save for the future. Let us consider why it is so important to save.
The mortality rate has come down and the span of life is generally longer, but the period of earning is comparatively limited. Nobody knows how long he would live, but the age of retirement is generally fixed. One cannot work indefinitely. Therefore, during his earning span, he has to make sure that he puts aside enough money that will hold him in good stead in his later years, when he will be able to work no more. Further, the requirements in old age are sometimes more than a person's needs during the period of his youth. Deteriorating health translates into higher medical bills and hospital charges. Being weak and infirm, one needs to spend more on commuting. He will need to hire assistants to help in the house.
Next come the needs of the family. One has to provide for the education and marriage expenses of the dependent members of the family, like children and even grandchildren. One has to pay one's insurance premiums, and even for the day-to-day needs of the younger members of the family, till such time as they are employed and earning.
One may incur extra expenditure on leisure activities. People generally travel more after retirement to meet their relatives and friends who may be settled and staying far away from them. Thus, there are so many needs that would surface in the future. Some may be quite unexpected and traumatic like accidents in the family, which may entail high expenditure. There would be the usual expenses on house maintenance and repair, and the payment ¬of personal and property taxes.
Therefore, it is imperative that a person plan wisely for his future. If he has save enough, he can sit back and enjoy peace and comfort in his later years and even witness the smile of joy on the faces of his children. If he has saved not, then the journey ahead would be dreary and dismal indeed.