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writing 8 Benefits of Reading (or Ways Reading Makes You Better at Life) 27 Comments Last updated: December 17, 2014 Photo by celeste The public library is a phenomena that to this day I still can’t get over. Free knowledge, for anyone. Literally, anyone. I can’t think of an equivalent other than going to a clothing store, “checking out” an outfit, wearing the outfit and returning it in four weeks, free of charge. Except books are so much better than clothes. Recently I’ve been on a huge reading kick, checking out anything I can get my hands on in the library. (I’m writing a guest post on ZenHabits to detail some of the best stuff I’ve found, so more on that later.) I’ve found that no matter what I read, the act of reading every day has helped me in nearly every aspect of my life. Here are a few of my favorite ways that reading has improved my quality of life, and will definitely improve yours. 1. Enhanced Smarts Wow, this may be the most obvious statement of the post, right? Well, it turns out that reading helps in almost every area of smarts. Those that read have higher GPA’s, higher intelligence, and general knowledge than those that don’t. In Anne E. Cunningham’s paper What Reading Does for the Mind (pdf version), she found that reading, in general, makes you smarter, and it keeps you sharp as you age. No matter what you’re wanting to do or become, you can’t do it without more knowledge. Reading is an excellent way to get where you’re wanting to go. 2. Reading reduces stress When I’m reading a book, my mind shifts gears. Where I might have a had a stressful day, a book can easily distract me. Fiction is fantastic for this. Reading an awesome fiction book is perfect right before bed time. Though sometimes it’s hard to put the book down if it’s really good. Still, you’ll be relaxed ;)
writing Benefits of Reading (or Ways Reading Makes You Better at Life) Last updated: December 17, 2014 27 Comments Photo by celeste The public library is a phenomena that to this day I still can’t get over Free knowledge, for anyone Literally, anyone I can’t think of an equivalent other than going to a clothing store, “checking out” an outfit, wearing the outfit and returning it in four weeks, free of charge Except books are so much better than clothes Recently I’ve been on a huge reading kick, checking out anything I can get my hands on in the library (I’m writing a guest post on ZenHabits to detail some of the best stuff I’ve found, so more on that later.) I’ve found that no matter what I read, the act of reading every day has helped me in nearly every aspect of my life Here are a few of my favorite ways that reading has improved my quality of life, and will definitely improve yours Enhanced Smarts Wow, this may be the most obvious statement of the post, right? Well, it turns out that reading helps in almost every area of smarts Those that read have higher GPA’s, higher intelligence, and general knowledge than those that don’t In Anne E Cunningham’s paper What Reading Does for the Mind (pdf version), she found that reading, in general, makes you smarter, and it keeps you sharp as you age No matter what you’re wanting to or become, you can’t it without more knowledge Reading is an excellent way to get where you’re wanting to go Reading reduces stress When I’m reading a book, my mind shifts gears Where I might have a had a stressful day, a book can easily distract me Fiction is fantastic for this Reading an awesome fiction book is perfect right before bed time Though sometimes it’s hard to put the book down if it’s really good Still, you’ll be relaxed ;) Greater tranquility Reading can soothe like no other Given that I’m a pretty high-energy person, reading forces me to sit and be still This daily act of making myself be quiet and still has been nothing short of miraculous for my anxiety and my “fidgety factor” Lisa Bu has a fantastic TED talk about how reading can open you mind It’s only minutes and well worth a watch Improved analytical thinking That’s right, ladies and germs Cunningham’s studies have found that analytical thinking is boosted by reading Readers improve their general knowledge, and more importantly are able to spot patterns quicker If you can spot patterns quicker, your analytical skills receive a boost Increased vocabulary It’s no secret that reading increases your vocabulary and improves your spelling, but did you know that reading increases your vocabulary more than talking or direct teaching? Reading forces us to look at words that we might not have seen or heard recently at the pub In fact, language in children’s books are likely to be more sophisticated than your average conversation Increased vocabulary is especially crucial for bloggers or writers All successful writers will tell you that in order to write well, you need to read Every day You’ll be surprised at the words you start incorporating into your writing A beefier vocabulary isn’t just for writers though Knowing what other people are saying and using the perfect words to convey your feelings is a critical part of being a better human Better listeners are more successful in life (Side note: If you’re concerned with your well-being at previously mentioned pub, you might lay off the more obnoxious terms you’ve picked up.) Improved memory I have an awful memory Just ask my fiancee I usually can’t remember what I’ve eaten for breakfast, let alone things like names and addresss Yet I’ve been finding that I can remember stuff much easier when I’ve been reading consistently Do I have any scientific data to match this up? Not really But I’d say it’s a pretty safe bet that reading has somehow given me memory mojo Improved writing skills This isn’t much of a stretch, considering that reading improves vocabulary and critical thinking I feel like a better writer, as I’m constantly surrounding myself with works from people who are better than me That’s why English classes in High School make you read “the classics” That’s why art students learn to copy masterpieces, so they know what creating something incredible should feel like The more you read, the better of a writer you’ll become Helps prioritize goals Many times we’re certain we know what we “really want” in life Yet I’ve found that activities like reading show me things I didn’t know about myself My mind will drift to things that I’d really like to do, and it isn’t long that these little lapses in reading start to cycle The same sort of goals keep popping into my head, allowing me to see what I really want to For example, I’ve been playing music on a consistent basis, but I’ve always wanted to produce and distribute my own music As I’ve been reading, I’ve found that song ideas and other general thoughts on music keep popping into my head It’s my times reading that have really pushed me into giving music a serious go When you remove yourself from your work environment, you’ll start to see things that you might really want to do, that you’re not doing yet Reading gives you a chance for your to wander No time to read? No money for books? If you think that you don’t have enough time to start reading, you’re wrong How I know? Because we make time for the things that are important to us How much TV you watch? How much time you spend trawling the web? You could easily replace reading with those activities If you’re worried about the cost of books, check ’em out at the local library Most libraries take advantage of the interlibrary loan system, so you can check out nearly any book on the planet I also use Worldcat to find libraries in the area that might have my book There’s really no excuse to start reading on a regular basis The benefits far outweigh the costs, and more knowledge never hurt anybody SPORT If I get the chance and nothing unusual happens, I would like to start playing basketball soon This is a sport that fascinates me a lot and after 4-5 months when I will finish my graduation, I will start playing this game on a regular basis In fact some of my neighbours already play this game every evening in a nearby basketball playground and all I have to is start playing with them They are very close to me and they’ll definitely welcome me to join their team I will need to buy a pair of sports trousers and shoes and spend some money to start playing it Actuality the expense is very low and that wouldn’t be a problem for me to start the activity Though I often watched this game on television or in our local play-ground, I never played it myself May be I was bit anxious about the performance or skill of mine in this game and that’s why I have not started it yet I planned to start playing it when I was in grade 9, but because my family had to move to a new city, I could not start it This is a game that fascinates me and since I often watch it on television, I have a great passion about it Two of my previous attempts to start playing this game were ruined and I feel somehow that has enhanced my interest about this game even more I need to shape my body and I found it would be a great game to so That’s the most important reason I want to start it as soon as possible Model Answer 1: In our daily life, we communicate information through lots of different media like: internet, television, radio, books, cell phone, film etc We are living in such a time when information is one of the most important issues and the information technologies as well as the communication media greatly influence our lives The rapid-growing websites and TV channels are many of few little examples how media are spreading to make information easily accessible All the media for information interchange have advantages and disadvantages and not all can attract all types of audiences Comics, books, radios, televisions, film and theater are all very powerful media for communicating information In my opinion books, televisions and film among those aforementioned six media are most effective Books are the witness of history and the main source from which we gain knowledge From very ancient period till now books are working as the light-house for our society In our early age, we gather most of our knowledge, skills from books It opens new horizons in front of us The writer writes down their experiences, imaginations, knowledge, explanation etc about each and every issue of our lives Books are the long lasting protocol to make a bridge among writers and readers However, all are not happy to read books They expect something easier and more vivid Music, radios, films etc are more appealing to them Television is another powerful media Watching television is a part of our daily lives Most of the people who have a TV set, watch programs, news etc with apt attention It is a strong medium for Government and other organizations to send their messages to the mass population Program representatives also broad cast the people's view and opinions about different controversial issues in TV programs However, this medium has lots of demerits and bad impacts Government and politically biased organizations often send negative and misleading news Again young people watch different satellite channels and try to adopt the alien culture which is really harmful for the culture and tradition of a country Films are audio-visual representation and can catch the attention of people from different geographical locations, races and cultures A good film can shape someone's morality and doctrine and the film-makers with their huge amount of money, are so careful to make their films realistic and eye-absorbing Every film has a direct or potential message or moral On the contrary, some films also bring a wrong message to us For example, protagonists are always smoking in the films and it seems that smoking is a good and smart habit It causes many younger people imitate them smoking In conclusion, I would like to some up that books, televisions and films are the most powerful and effective medias for communicating information Idea Generation for this IELTS Essay: Essay Type: Comparing the advantages & disadvantages + Discussion Main question of this IELTS Essay: A Pick three most effective media for communicating information B Compare advantages & disadvantages of these three media for communicating information C Explain why these three media are most effective for communicating information Comic: Advantages: 'Comic' as a media for communicating information • Comic books provide information in the most interesting and interactive way to the readers • It is more efficient for kids who are yet to start reading big books • Comics are often very effective to convey information and to produce an aesthetic response to the readers • Readers of comic books find it very easy to remember the information delivered by stories and cartoons in comics It is less time consuming to read a comic • Comic books provide information to the reader in the most interesting and interactive way • Comics represent the oldest continuous form of communication in history and a much revered form of communication between generations • Comics can transcend language and cultural boundaries • Comics and comics’ techniques could be used in various types of business and technical communications When Google launched its Chrome Web Browser the accompanying technical documentation was a widely distributed comic book The visitors guide for the European Organization for Nuclear research is also a comic and that proves the efficiency of comics to educate people • Comic readers not have to spend a lot of time on reading This is preferred by many readers who not like reading pages after pages Disadvantages: 'Comic' as a media for communicating information • While reading comics readers often not pay attention on the main information due to irrelevant cartoon or story • It can be a waste of time for reader who wanted to receive useful information from comics • Comic books are often published based on pure fiction and imagination and might have negative effects on the psychology of young kids • However, because of the simplicity of comic books, they can only communicate short information • Not as much informative as books are Books: Advantages: 'Books' as a media for communicating information • Books are very instructive and effective in conveying information as they comprise the writer's thought and life experience and are usually written over a longer period of time • Book is a significant media to receive information ranging from basic skills to professional knowledge • Reading books helps us to nourish our mind and keep us moving forward in a positive direction • A reader always has a wide range of choices to pick a book based on his/ her interest • Books are ever lasting while the basic formation of other media changes a lot over the time • Readers pay more attentions while reading a book and that is why they can learn better from reading • Books are the accumulated version of history, knowledge, experience and wisdom Books have endless offerings and stories to bring out the best of creative readers • Reading books can give us an insight into many different cultures, and civilizations • The secret to a successful life is knowledge and information The answers to nearly all our problems and query are documented in text somewhere • Books can stimulate and excite a reader’s imagination as well as arouse his curiosity, thus bringing out the creative oneself • Books help to articulate our thoughts and reading books improve our vocabulary and communication skill • Reading books is like peeking into the minds of the greatest people - A book is like a conversation with the writer and reading many books gives us an insight into the thinking process of different writers • Intercultural understanding will be developed by reading more related books Humans will become more familiar with demographic of nations as they read more books about them • Individuals will have a better comprehension, grammar, communication skill, and more variety of vocabularies • Readers always have a wide range of options to read books that would entertain and interest them • Books are portable and people can access it from almost anywhere Disadvantages: 'Books' as a media for communicating information • Books are not always attractive to many people For those people books are not the greatest source of information and knowledge • It required more patience and time to read books • Book production requires cutting down trees which has a negative impact on our environment • Information presented on books could be outdated in many cases • Sometimes a writer can instill an ideology to a reader and can influence his thinking in a negative way • People have to have high level of literacy to read some specific and advanced books Radio: Advantages: 'Radio' as a media for communicating information • Accessible in anywhere and anytime, during driving or travelling • Radio is less costly than the other media devices, like TV Unlike TV, which users have to pay a monthly payment for cable, Radio does not need this cost • It is available in the rural areas as well • Have less detrimental issues Disadvantages: 'Radio' as a media for communicating information • No access to any visual features which TV has • Less being developed compared to TV or other media devices Every year, new versions of TV, like introducing of smart TVs, have led users to be satisfied more, while there are no any significant changes in the technology of Radio • Less accepted by the new generation Film: Advantages: 'Film' as a media for communicating information • Becoming familiar with other cultures by watching movies • Watching films is a kind of entertainment People have less stressful lifestyle by watching more films • Some films improve viewers’ relationships Family films are the best ones helping families to have a better communication Disadvantages: 'Film' as a media for communicating information • Cultural invasion can happen Young’s minds are more affected by watching other countries’ films • Addiction to watching film may be costly and time-consuming We have to pay fees for Netflix or cinema, and have less enough time to concentrate on our work • It can reduce juveniles’ study performance Instead of studying, they spend their precious time on watching plenty of films each month • Violence and sex scenes shown on movies can phenomenally increase the rate of crime among viewers [The above mentioned points should be helpful for you to generate your own ideas and then turning them in to a nicely written IELTS Essay Add any point you think we have missed in the comment section at the end of this article.] Model Answer 2: Communication media plays a vital role in today’s world It enables us to stay informed of the happenings in the entire world, provides access to real time information, and entertains us There are different kinds of media in use today, namely comics, books, radio, television, film, theatre etc Of these the most effective are television, radio and books Television, or TV for short, is an electronic device that enables us to see and listen at the same time to an act that has been recorded These can be replayed any number of times News on a TV enables us to view the current events occurring in different parts of the world Video of an event can be telecasted live as it happens through remote satellite links A TV can also be a source of education and entertainment Educational channels, such as Discovery channel, telecast several interesting programs on topics such as wildlife or solar system Other channels, such as Star movies, telecast movies throughout the day A radio is an electronic device that uses microwave communication to send and receive information Unlike a TV, a radio cannot display an image or a video, and the communication is limited to voice only Typically, a radio is used for access information such as news and live traffic updates The information is conveyed on fixed bands of microwave frequency called channels A user can set the frequency of the radio to access a particular channel Books are the one of the oldest kind of communication medium A book typically consists of several page made from wood pulp bound together A book is typically identified by a title and an author, and optionally an ISBN number which identifies a book uniquely A book usually contains a material on a given topic, divided by sub-topics in form of chapters Books are often classified by genre, which is a theme in which the topic can be classified Examples of genres include fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, mystery etc Of all the communication media available today, television, radio and books are the most important and effective ones These are also the most commonly used media in the world today, and are responsible for binding the world together (Answer by Pankaj Kohli MUSIC Describe a piece of music that you like You should say: • What is it • Why you like it • How often you listen it and explain why it is a good piece of music Sample Answer: The legendary song ‘Annie's Song’ by John Denver is a piece of music that I really like I like this song so much that every time I listen to it, I get a fresh and inspiring feeling This is probably the piece of song that I have listened several thousand times This is a song that always inspires me and I like the lyrics and the music of this song John Denver and his band Beatles are always favourite to me and their songs are in my favourite list The ‘Annie’s Song’ is a piece of work that the world will revere for a long This is one of the most rated songs of the world history and I like it for the magical tone it has I listen to music almost every day and this song is in my music player So I would say I listen to this music one in every two days on an average This particular song was sung by a gifted singer and the lyric is pretty impressive The music and vocal was just perfect to make it a legendary song I love it because of its appeal and magical power to me Describe your favourite song or piece of music You should say: • What kind of music it is • Where you usually listen to it • Why you like it and say what kind of mood this music puts you in Sample Answer: The song 'High Hopes' sung by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd band is a song I have loved always and would hear often for the rest of my life Pink Floyds is famous for their progressive and psychedelic music and high quality lyrics This song falls under the progressive rock music genre and was the 11th song of the album Division Bell I usually listen to this song in my computer and sometimes in my MP3 player with the head phone In fact I am a great fan of this music band and most of their songs are in my favorite list This song is specifically attractive for the music composition, lyrics and theme This song reminds the past and compares how greener and full of possibility it was The church bell and the lyrics make an out of the world illusion that only people who love it would realize Every time I hear this song, I can feel my childhood, the sweet memory and the greener town I used to live This is song that opens a horizon for me to visit my past I love this song from my heart This music puts me in a sad yet charming mood I feel sad that the past days won't be coming back and I won't have that childhood charm anymore On the other hand this song gives me a genuine pleasure of the memories of my childhood and all the friends and people I knew then Similar Cue Card Topics Your ability to talk about this Cue Card would enable you to talk about the following Cue Cards as well: Describe a song you often listen Describe your favourite song or singer Describe a piece of music you heard in your childhood Describe a famous song in your country Follow-up questions: What would life be like without music? Life without music would be quiet and dull What would we at parties besides eating and talking? That might as well be a meeting Think about the best party you’ve ever been to, how vibrant and outgoing everyone was Especially when everyone’s favorite jam came on Music helps me focus on projects when the house is soundless In the past I would drive around town aimlessly at night with nothing but music and my thoughts This helped my creativity tremendously Which is more important to you, music or TV? Although television takes up a big chunk of my life I could probably without it Music on the other hand is irreplaceable I’m thinking to myself I could read the news & also read a novel that the blockbuster movie was adopted from Consequentially, I cannot read a song Novels are famously known for being better than the movie There is no possible way to hear music in any other form It all boils down to what can be replaced and what can’t What kind of music you like? I’ve always had an infatuation with music since I was a kid My family likes to remind me of the time when I was two & I learned to say “Jackson! Jackson!” then hobble/hop around when his songs were played Although my taste for music has evolved & diversified since then, music still holds a special place in my heart I listen to all types of music & I am open to new music Having said that, as I am writing this I am listening to classical music because it helps me concentrate and be more resourceful The most common type of genre I listen to is Hip-Hop or Rap I really feel that rappers recite more contemporary poetry There are a few R&B artists I listen to regularly What musical genre you really hate? Why? I detest American Country music It has got to be the lamest and depressing music genre available to the public I cannot pinpoint the exact reason why I abhor this heinous excuse for music but I will try Country music is extremely patriotic, quite irritating America is number one when most of the people that listen to that type of music probably have never left the proximity of their area code Music CEO’s realize that white American population are losing jobs to “foreigners” so country music artists use that and say white America should love a pure America It’s a clever way to be racist When in truth no one is a True American The lyrics are too simple but try too hard to be meaningful Country music has a kind twang that I loathe It will never grow on me & I try my hardest not to judge the people who listen to country music What you think of music your parents listen to? My father has the same affection, if not more, for music as me While I was growing up I have fond memories with the family & there was always traditional or classical Iranian music playing during these moments Although I don’t have any Iranian music on my computer & never choose to listen to Iranian music I like some of it However, I am not crazy about some of today’s popular Iranian songs because they always seem to be furrowing their brows while griping about love Why humans like music so much? Without looking up scientific facts why the human species is drawn to music I can muse that music has been a part of humans since the existence of man Cavemen created drums and hopped around to the beat while circling a fire Music evokes a feeling in people & I think that at its core that is why humans appreciate music so much Why is music important to you? Music plays an important role in my life Whatever emotion I am feeling or mood I am in I pair it with music Some people listen to Adele when they are sad or Pitbull when they are happy Music is the soundtrack to my life Certain songs come on and it teleports me back to a moment while I was listening to that same song, usually a happier time too What influence you think music has on life? Music doesn’t influence me like it used to When I was 12 I started listening to hip-hop and it slightly influenced the way I dressed and somewhat how I acted Case in point, when I saw Dr Dre wearing a black fitted baseball hat, I always wore one Now I am older and music doesn’t have that type of influence on me but some music does affect my behavior or mood If I am listening up-tempo music it usually goes well with a party or my good music, whereas slower tempo music helps me relax and unwind What is the best time and place to listen to music? That’s the beauty of music; you can almost always listen to music I feel the best time to have music is in social gatherings When you are with close friends and you create a soundtrack for that occasion At the same time, a meeting where you are trying to work is not an appropriate time to listen to any kind of music; even white noise Talk about a form of exercise you used to but no longer now You should say: • What short of exercise it was • How long you did it • Why you stopped And say if you would like to it again or not why? Sample Answer 1: Ooh, it’s really fun to think about what to talk about for this topic! I can think of a great form of exercise I used to but don’t any more I’m going to tell you all about what sort of activity it was, how long I did it for and why I stopped As to whether I’d like to it again in the future, you’ll find out later The exercise I did was called Body Combat, and I loved it at the time It was a period of my life when I was working part time and studying for a post-graduate qualification simultaneously so I was pretty busy To help me stay fit and healthy I joined a local gym Knowing I find it hard to motivate myself I signed up for some classes where there would be an instructor to motivate me, and it was really by chance I ended up picking this activity It just happened to be scheduled for days and times that fitted with my work and stury timetable The classes were hilarious They were hard work, because they were extremely energetic, we worked through a number of routines to very loud music The exercises were apparently inspired by number of different disciplines and martial arts such as karate, taekwondo, tai chi and boxing It was a great way to get fit and lose weight too - calorie burning is easy as you kick and punch through the workout Although our instructor took it all very seriously, yelling at the class and ferociously demonstrating moves with high kicks and punching, those of us who attended treated it all a bit more light-heartedly I think you need a sense of humour if you are as uncoordinated as me and trying to a sequence of back high kicks and under-cut punches I’m not even sure if I’m naming the moves correctly The rest of the group felt the same as me, we often fell about with laughter as we tried to keep up with the routines, much to the annoyance and frustration of our fitness coach I went three times a week for about a year, and it was the fittest I’ve ever been I was really sorry to give it up, but eventually I finished my masters (the postgraduate course), and had to get a full time job, then there just was no opportunity to get to the classes anymore I did try one with a different instructor, but that wasn’t nearly so much fun, the new teacher was a bit too polite and it didn’t work as well Then I ended up relocating to a different area and Body Combat classes don’t seem to happen where I now live, it is such a shame I would love to Body Combat again, though I’m older and stiffer now, I don’t know if I’d be able to keep up The problem is I think it has rather gone out of fashion as an exercise format Funnily enough I was looking on the internet only last week to try and find a class that ran locally to me, but there was nothing I think Zumba – a workout to dance music -is the new craze, but I miss my entertaining combat classes and fellow classmates, those were the days! [ Written by - Lucy Marris | Careers Adviser (UK), TEFL teacher (Vietnam) ] Model Answer 2: I used to ride a bicycle almost hours per day in the evening when I was in my college but for a long I not it I had a racing cycle that I got from my elder brother as a birthday gift and after that I decided to cycling as part of my exercise It was 2012 and after 2013, I got busy with my study/ work and could not continue this form of exercise I can’t recall what was the exact reason I stopped riding the bicycle but as I remember I stop doing it either I was sick for few days or because I had final exams Either way, after I stopped it, I had not been able to restart this exercise Definitely I would like to start this exercise as this is a very effective exercise that keeps someone fit as well as refresh mentally I am planning to start this in few months and this time I would be in better hold not to quit As I recall I had been in better health when I used to this exercise I used to take my cycle and with friends used to ride the free roads beside the hills and tea gardens That was a great opportunity to spend time with friends, roaming around the city and being close to nature In my opinion that was a great outdoor activity that kept both my body and mind fresh I would certainly start this again in near future Some people are reducing their walks, however many health experts say that walking is the best exercise to maintain health Why people walk less? What might encourage people to walk longer distances? Give reason for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience You should write at least 250 words Sample Answer 1: Since ancient times, the fundamental principle to remain fit and live a healthy life is in doing physical exercises regularly These exercises not only help in attaining a good physique but it also improve the metabolism and blood circulation in the body According to health professionals, strolling daily are of great value in maintaining health but for the past few years, few people have either reduce their walk or quit it completely This essay will analyze what lead to this cause and what factors can encourage people to increase their walking yards People are walking less due to many reasons but primarily it is due to availability of transport either public or private is abundance They believe that by using transportation they can save their valuable time Weather also plays a significant role and people find it really hard to walk in hot, humid and extreme cold climatic conditions Moreover, they say that due to increased rate in street crimes they have either shortened their walk or quit it completely Furthermore, people now have access to fitness centers where they can use different equipment and machinery to walk or jog For them walking alone on streets without a partner is a boring activity In order to encourage and motivate people to walk more, one can make walking tracks covered with shades to reduce heat Walking tracks should be made more beautiful by improving the landscape of the parks such that one should feel refreshing Advertisement boards should be setup and different activities should be planned to make walking a splendid experience Government should also hold health awareness programs and should emphasize the importance of walk To recapitulate, the aforementioned highlights different factors resulting in reduced walk and suggested few recommendations how things can be improved It is medically proven that walking is a very good exercise to acquire right balance in body structure and one should it regularly ( Written by - Tauseef Raza ) Sample Answer 2: Undoubtedly, walking is a very good form of exercise and is an effective method in improving and developing health of all people But, nowadays people have less interest for walking regularly due to various reasons In addition, this essay also proposes some practical ways to promote this exercise as follows The primary reason is lack of awareness about the advantages of walking regularly among common people They always believe that walking is the completely wastage of time and energy, which can be utilized in their job sector for greater productivity For example, most of the men are working extra hours in offices to get high salary for the betterment of financial status, instead of doing exercise This would cause many health problems in their life later on The sedentary life style and technological development are also influencing people to walk less People are using their private cars even to visit a nearby place The lifestyle and availability of cars and other transportation system are causing this problem Moreover, people lead much more busy life due to both personal and professional responsibilities Therefore, they may not get sufficient amount of time for walking on a regular basis For instance, children have many things to study for achieving higher qualification in their academic area, whereas youngsters are forced to work full- time because of stiff target and higher competition As a result, obviously they concentrate only on duties and responsibilities rather than healthy life The city life is another reason people walk less this days They have markets, shopping malls, schools, hospitals etc near their living places and as a consequence they need to walk very little Lack of proper pavement and green environment also a hindrance in many cities However, there are some practical ways to develop interest in walking such as mass awareness, providing adequate facilities in work areas as well as in educational institutions for the greater betterment of the healthy society and so on In this way, walking exercise can be an inevitable part in everybody’s life Consequently, people would hardly have health issues namely obesity, high cholesterol level and blood pressure disorders Parents should teach their children the importance of walking and other form of exercises More strict rules should be imposed in case of using frequent private cars and the proper pavements which are safe for people to walk should be building by the government In conclusion, although it is a time consuming exercise, people have to find enough time to walking exercise for longer distance without hesitation, which would help them enormously in the long run Some think that exercise is the key to health while others feel that having a balanced diet is more important Discuss both sides and give your opinion Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience You should write at least 250 words Sample Answer 1: It is considered by some that doing exercise is important to improve health while some believe that balance diet is more vital However, in my opinion, both, exercise and balanced diet are equally essential to stay healthy, as both benefit body in different ways On the one hand, exercise keeps different body organs active and energetic One has to move different body organs while doing exercise which makes body flexible, fresh, and rejuvenated, all the time For instance, simple exercise like running, jogging, and skipping makes our body parts move constantly, and, as a result, metabolism rate increases, blood flows easily within the veins, controls blood pressure, sugar level, and other kinds of physical ailments caused due to inactiveness On the other hand, balanced diet is, too, vital to provide nutrition needed by the body If our body lacks different vitamins, for example vitamin A, we may have problem with our eyesight Similarly, different body organs need various nutrients and minerals that we get from vegetables, fruits, and other sources If we need take sufficient amount of nutrition, then, we may suffer from malnutrition that may lead to other forms of diseases Thus, balance diet is equally important to maintain healthy lifestyle In conclusion, to maintain a healthy body, disease free, one most exercise regularly, and include balanced diet in their meals, as well, to provide essential nutrients that the body needs to function well In my point of view, as exercise and balanced diet aid in improving our health in different manner we must not ignore one over the other Some say that music is as important as other subjects in schools, especially at the preschool level Do you agree or disagree? Give your opinion Give reasons for your answer and use specific examples to support your answer You should write at least 250 words Sample Answer 1: Art in the form of music, poetry and dance depicts the cultural and traditional value of a society People often regard music as nutriment for spiritual needs Few people believe that music subject is of equal significance like other subjects during pre-schools, which is laudable, but I partially agree with this statement and believe that this subject should be included at secondary level This essay will analyze the importance of music course in pre-schools and at secondary level Music plays an important role in our life It helps in reducing stress, refreshes brain and help in maintaining the right balance in the body Introducing children to music subject in their early ages is of great value It not only develops love and affection for going schools, but also improves their learning skills For instance, rhymes and poetry can easily be memorized when sung in course with background music Moreover, children who find it hard to learn different alphabets and numbers can easily overcome this weakness through rhymes played with music Music can often changes the strings of the brain which can nurture creative skills, reduce hostile attitude and develops calmness in their growing age Though one cannot deny the significance of this subject at pre-school, it will be of great value if this subject is formally introduced at primary/ secondary level During this phase, a child in undergoing through physical and spiritual transformations and music can help to curb their desires Moreover, a child now can better understand the lyrics and appreciate the music than that in pre-school Children can also acquire the skills of singing, playing musical instruments of writing lyrics which can further result in marvels To recapitulate, the above provides several plausible arguments of introducing music classes in pre-school However, in my opinion, true essence of this subject can only be met at primary/ secondary level when creative skills and thirst to something are at their highest peak ( Written by - Tauseef Raza ) Sample Answer 2: Music plays a vital role in everybody's life Some people think that music should be introduced in schools at primary level and it has the same importance as other subjects I completely agree to the statement At the earlier stages of life, children are more passionate and capable of learning skills Music, for example, is very important in life It refreshes mind and purifies the soul It not only has spiritual benefits, but also teaches how to fight anger Therefore, music, if introduced early in primary school can help develop calmness in children, when they are at their growing age On the other hand, art in the form of music, poetry, rhymes can enhance creative skills and also help in learning things For example, children can memorize poetry and rhymes better if it is played with music Furthermore, if a child is unable to learn alphabets, music can help him/her to cope up with the difficulty Above all, children love to come to school when they find a playful subject introduced to them Learning music in early stages of life can help a child master his/her skills in future and make a successful career out of it S/he understands lyrics better and develop his interest in the field further This can lead to his part of living as well as keep his passion alive forever To conclude I believe that introducing music as a subject in primary schools is a better idea, as music in early stages of life can nurture creative skills, develop calm and composed nature and reduced hostility However, true essence of the subject can be made at primary schools when there is a thirst to something People listen to music for different reasons and at different times Why is music important for many people? Use specific reasons and examples to explain you answer You should write at least 250 words Model Answer 1: Many people believe that music plays an essential part in their life For a number of reasons, some people think that music is important, and the following essay will explain them in details Firstly, a lot of people believe that music have a positive effect to human's brain development Based on some scientific researches, it is found that people who love music are more intelligent than those who not like music They could balance their emotional and logical thinking, therefore they could easily adapt to different kind of environments Secondly, it is believed that music could also affect to people's performances It is a fact that fast beat music could positively affect to athletes' performances, therefore these type of music are usually played during the training and the game session And then it is true that slow instrument music could help people in releasing their stress, therefore they are always played in relaxation places such as in the reflexology, spa or massage centres Lastly, some people are relying on music as their source of income A lot of people not realize that music industries have created a lot of job opportunities in societies Some people of relying themselves on music as their main jobs, such as being an singer, music producer, song writer and last but not least as a music teacher In conclusion, it is true that music play a vital role in our ways of life, as music can affect to our mind set and emotions And then music can also be used as a source of income as well, therefore, we must appreciate music and enjoy them [ Written by - Darwin Lesmana ] Model Answer 2: Music plays an important role in human life Reasons for listening to music and time of listening to music differ from person to person according to their life style I will elucidate the different effects of music on humans with examples in the following paragraphs Music has power to control human mind For instance, after stressful day at work I would like to listen Sitar music by famous Indian musician Mr Madhavan and that would give me a quick relaxation This is due to the fact that music wave propagate to brain and stimulates the nerves of mind There is one better example of similar kind, my colleague Mr Govind likes to hear music at work by using head phones According to his view, his brain works very sharp if he listens to music and he can finish work very quickly So, effect of music is fascinatingly differ from person to person In addition, there are a few more scenarios in which music is necessary Music is intervened in many people lives such that they could not live without it To illustrate such as, my friend, Mr Raghu, deeply habituated to listening music, in such a way, without it he could not get sleep in bed and if music stops, he wakes up immediately Let us take the case of my elder brother, he works as truck driver, continuously in driving for days and drives for thousands of kilometers So, obviously his job is monotonous and listening to music become compulsory for him In summary, from the above examples it is clear that people listen to music purposely, habitually and proves its importance in human's life [...]... What short of exercise it was • How long you did it • Why you stopped And say if you would like to do it again or not why? Sample Answer 1: Ooh, it’s really fun to think about what to talk about for this topic! I can think of a great form of exercise I used to do but don’t any more I’m going to tell you all about what sort of activity it was, how long I did it for and why I stopped As to whether I’d like... curb their desires Moreover, a child now can better understand the lyrics and appreciate the music than that in pre-school Children can also acquire the skills of singing, playing musical instruments of writing lyrics which can further result in marvels To recapitulate, the above provides several plausible arguments of introducing music classes in pre-school However, in my opinion, true essence of this