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.

Famous personality, not of your country

·         I know of many famous personalities, but here I would like to talk about Barack Obama

·         Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States.

·         He is the first African American to hold the office.

·         He is about 49 years old.

·         He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States.

·         His father Barack Obama, Sr., is from Kenya and his mother is from Kansas.

·         He is married to Michelle Obama and has two daughters Malia and Sasha.

·         Obama is a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School.

·         Obama's presidential campaign began in February 2007.

·         He won his party's nomination, against Hillary Clinton.

·         In the 2008 general election, he defeated Republican nominee John McCain

·         and was inaugurated as president on January 20, 2009.

·         Obama is also the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

·         He has respect for variety of cultures.

Favourite book from childhood

·        I have read many books in my childhood – like story books, comics and so on

·        But here I would like to talk about a book that is very special to me even today

·        The title of the book is Grimm’s fairy tales

·        The book is written by W.C.Grimm

·        This book was gifted to me by my mother on my tenth birthday

·        She bought the book from an exhibition

·        This book has many fairy tales

·        To name a few – the frog prince – the sleeping beauty – snow white and the seven dwarfs and so many more

·        Even today I flick through the pages of the book when I am free.

·        The pages of the book have turned yellow but still the book is very special to me

·        I remember I was very possessive about the book

·        I never used to give it to anybody

·        Sometimes I used to take it to school also

·        Once I took part in a story telling competition and I got first prize

·        I told the story of The Frog Prince

·        The stories are very interesting and meaningful

·        Along with the text there are many pictures also

·        I have covered the book with glazed paper

·        Every night before going to bed, I used to read one or two stories

·        My brother also used to read stories from this book

·        This book inculcated in me the habit of reading

·        You know ma’am, nowadays the habit of reading is going down in children

·        My mother always inspired me to read books

TV programme that you did not like

·       Well, I live watching TV

·       In fact whenever I get free time, I glue myself to the TV screen

·       I watch a few daily soaps and some reality shows

·       The recent programme I saw and did not like was – Raaz pichle janam ka – which means the mystery of the past life

·       I saw the programme last week when I went to visit my cousin

·       There I saw it for the first time

·       My cousin never misses any episode

·       The programme was telecast on NDTV Imagine at 9.30 p.m.

·       The program was hosted by mr Ravi Kishan

·       He hosted the programme very nicely

·       As per the program, a person can peep into his past life

·       I did not like it because it appeared very unrealistic to me

·       Moreover, the past is over and there is no fun digging into past life

·       I also feel that such programmes can breed superstitions

·       Such programmes are not my cup of tea

·       Later on I came to know from my cousin that the programme has been withdrawn

·       Maybe it did not appeal to the masses

Interview( Lucky Basra - Jan 2010)

-       What is your full name?

-       How shall I call you

-       May I see your identification

-       Where do you come from

-       Describe your home town

-       What is your favourite weather and why

-       How do you get weather forecast

-       Do you know your next door neighbour

-       Is it beneficial to know your neighbour

Cue Card
Talk about a place / town / city you have visited

-       Where is it

-       How often you go there

Discussion
- what is the weather like in your home town

-       What sounds you hear in cities

-       What sounds you hear in villages

-       What facilities should be there in cities

-       What facilities should be there for relaxation in cities

-       Are people healthier in cities or villages

-       Where do you go for relaxation