INTRODUCTION TO IELTS TEST NGUYN KHC THC – UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES – THE UNIVERSITY OF DANANG Email: KHACTHUC.PRO9X2009@GMAIL.COM Facebook: FACEBOOK.COM/KHACTHUCPRO 1 DANANG 2014 1. Today, the high sales of popular consumer goods reflect the power of advertising and not the real needs of the society in which they are sold. To what extent do you agree or disagree? CAM 6 In modern society, millions of companies produce billions of products and the role of advertising is quite obvious. Ads help consumers to find the goods or services of their needs. However, do our needs grow equally fast as the number of products? Some market analysts insist modern commercials are not merely matchmakers of a product and a consumer, but actively interfere with buyer’s desires, developing artificial needs. Undoubtedly, advertisement guides people through the market, serves those who do not have time to learn differences between goods. These products are probably the same, but loyalty to a particular brand, formed by a commercial helps make a choice. When a person buys one mobile phone out of 50 models, he thinks he made his choice himself. But that was a commercial who told him about the features of this phone. Nevertheless, ads not only inform us about new goods, but force people to want them. This can be even useful, for example for someone who suffers from back pains and without commercials he would never imagine there are new mattresses which could ease their pains. Unfortunately, promoters now operate our minds more aggressively. Commercials no longer promote products, but lifestyles. They told us to purchase things just because they are fashionable or up to date with the image of successful person. And we buy new cars, gadgets and clothes in order to match this image and not because old ones are no longer usable. Personally I think that high sales of popular commodities are the result of new promotional technologies. The best illustration of that is that everyone now is concerned mostly about how a new mobile phone will reflect his personality, a new shirt – his image, or will a new car make colleagues feel jealous. INTRODUCTION TO IELTS TEST NGUYN KHC THC – UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES – THE UNIVERSITY OF DANANG Email: KHACTHUC.PRO9X2009@GMAIL.COM Facebook: FACEBOOK.COM/KHACTHUCPRO 2 DANANG 2014 2. Over the past 50 years, young people gain status and power but old people have lost. What is the cause and is it a good development or bad development? To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? The knowledge-based society witnessed great changes over the past decades. Many young people have taken the place of the old ones and gained political and financial power in the world. Bill Gates, the director of Microsoft, Tony Blaire, Prime Minister of Britain and Bush, President of the USA give us vivid illustration. From my point of view, the trend is natural and inevitable. Young people are energetic and vigorous. Most of them have received formal education in university, where they acquired abundant knowledge and experience, which are quite essential to their future career. Compared with young people, old people's knowledge is out-dated, which does not fit in with the development of the current society. Old people react more slowly than young people, who can always make quick judges and prompt decisions. Furthermore, young people are more open-minded than old people who have a tendency of conservation. Therefore, young people can adapt themselves to the changeable world more easily. Obviously, this trend brings about both advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, young leaders and powers can inject vigor and new hopes to the world, which not only benefits the development of global economy, but also establishes multi-lateral relation between the countries in the world. On the other hand, young people still lack adequate experience and skills to deal with sophisticated national problems and international relations. As a result, many young leaders in the world are often criticized for lack of tactics by old people. Some young people are very radical when faced with trouble. They still have a lot of things to learn. Generally, old people should offer young guys opportunities to practice their abilities and talents. At the same time, young people should learn from old ones modestly and make themselves more admirable. INTRODUCTION TO IELTS TEST NGUYN KHC THC – UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES – THE UNIVERSITY OF DANANG Email: KHACTHUC.PRO9X2009@GMAIL.COM Facebook: FACEBOOK.COM/KHACTHUCPRO 3 DANANG 2014 3. Some people think history has nothing or little to tell us, but others think that studying the past history can help us better understand the present. Please discuss the two views and give your own opinion. History refers to all the things that happened in the past, especially the political, social, or economic development of a nation. Literally, everything, including a nation, a city, a town, a subject, a business, and even a product, has its unique history. Some individuals are of the opinion that studying past history is useless today but others believe it is very essential to know history to better understand the present. I intend to discuss both sides of the argument in this essay. Undoubtedly, the present is the continuation of the past. Therefore, studying the past history can enable us to better understand what is going on around us. For example, if we are equipped with relevant knowledge of history, it will be easier for us to understand the evolution of mankind. It would also tell us how we progressed and reached where we are today. We would also know how technology developed step by step. History can serve us as a guide because of which we do not repeat the mistakes of yesteryears. We also get inspiration from the great men of the past through history. Those opposed to the study of history argue that the past was very different from the present and we cannot apply that knowledge to the present. For example, they say that the French Revolution and the freedom struggle of India have no need to be learnt because those situations will never arise again. What they forget is that this knowledge makes us realise the importance of liberty and self governance. Opponents of the study of history also claim that history has nothing to do with professionals such as architects and accountants. I believe they would be better in their professions if they know something about the history of architecture or that of accountancy. As a matter of fact, you are supposed to demonstrate some evidence of historical ability if you want to pursue almost any career. To sum up, studying the past history cannot only deepen and widen our knowledge but also help us develop the power of analysis. Thus, we are able to look at what is happening at present from a historical perspective and better understanding. It has been rightly said by Cicero “History is the witness of the times” INTRODUCTION TO IELTS TEST NGUYN KHC THC – UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES – THE UNIVERSITY OF DANANG Email: KHACTHUC.PRO9X2009@GMAIL.COM Facebook: FACEBOOK.COM/KHACTHUCPRO 4 DANANG 2014 4. 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 INTRODUCTION TO IELTS TEST NGUYN KHC THC – UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES – THE UNIVERSITY OF DANANG Email: KHACTHUC.PRO9X2009@GMAIL.COM Facebook: FACEBOOK.COM/KHACTHUCPRO 5 DANANG 2014 5. 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. . features of this phone. Nevertheless, ads not only inform us about new goods, but force people to want them. This can be even useful, for example for someone who suffers from back pains and without. Therefore, studying the past history can enable us to better understand what is going on around us. For example, if we are equipped with relevant knowledge of history, it will be easier for. time and see to it that home work and chores are done before playing INTRODUCTION TO IELTS TEST NGUYN KHC THC – UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES – THE UNIVERSITY OF DANANG Email: