Contents
24 topics:
1. Advertising
Positives of Advertising
Advertising is
a key part of modern business
Companies need
to tell customers about their products
Advertisements
inform us about the choices we have
Advertising is
a creative industry that employs many people
Without
advertising we would have less choice
Without
advertising there would be higher unemployment
Advertising is
a form of modern art
People enjoy
adverts
Negatives of Advertising
Advertising
manipulates people
It aims to
persuade people that buying a product will make them happier
Advertisers
focus on selling a brand image
They use
glamorous, successful people
We now live in
a consumer culture
We are
persuaded to follow the latest trend
We are
encouraged to associate certain brands with a higher status
Advertisers
often aim their marketing at children
Children can
easily be influenced by advertisements.
Children put
pressure on parents to buy them things
Opinions about Advertising
Advertising
should be regulated
Advertising
aimed at children should be controlled or even banned
Unhealthy
foods should not be marketed in a way that attracts children
Products that
can be risk to healthy should display warnings
In some
countries it is illegal to advertise cigarettes on television
Warnings must
be displayed on cigarette packets
However,
advertising is necessary in free market economies
It creates
demand for products
Governments
should only censor false information or products that are harmful
2. Animal rights
Arguments for Animal testing
Animals are
used in important scientific research
It is
necessary to do medical tests on new drugs
Animal testing
helps to advance medical and scientific knowledge
Many important
medical discoveries involved experimentation on animals
Researchers
aim to minimize the suffering that animals experience
Testing for
the cosmetics industry is now banned in many countries
Arguments against Animal Testing
The benefits
of research using animals do not justify the suffering caused
There are
alternative methods of research
The lives of
animals should be respected
Humans have no
moral right to do experiments on animals
Arguments for Vegetarianism
Vegetarians do
not eat foods that are produced by killing animals
Many people
choose a vegetarian diet for moral or health reasons
A healthy diet
is possible without eating meat
It is
unnecessary to kill animal for food
A vegetarian
diet may reduce the risk of disease like cancer
Many people
question the treatment of animals in factory farms
Arguments against Vegetarianism
Vegetarians do
not eat a balanced diet
In many
cultures, meat is the main ingredient in traditional meals
Meat-eaters
argue that animals are below humans in the food chain
It is
completely natural for us to kill them for food
Our aim should
be improve farming methods
Farms should
produce organic food
Positives of Zoos
Zoos paly an
important role in wildlife conservation
They can help
to protect endangered species
Zoos allow
scientists to study animals and their behavior
Zoos are
educational, interesting and fun
Children, in
particular, enjoy learning about animals
Zoos provide
job opportunities.
Negatives of Zoos
Zoo animals
are kept in artificial environments
They are kept
in cages or have limited space
Zoo animals
rely on humans
They lose the
freedom to hunt for food
They best way
to save endangered species is by protecting natural habitats.
Some people
believe that zoos are unethical
Zoos exhibits
animals with the aim of making money
We have no
right to use animals for entertainment and profit.
3. Cities
Reasons for Urbanization
People move to
cities in search of job opportunities
Cities offer
greater employment possibilities and a higher standard of living
People migrate
to cities from the countryside
Traditional
activities like farming need fewer workers nowadays
Negatives of City Life
Life in cities
has its drawbacks
The cost of
living is higher than in rural areas
Some people d
not manage to find work
Housing is
usually much more expensive
Homelessness
and poverty are common on cities
There is a gap
between rich and poor
Life in cities
can be extremely stressful
There are
problems like traffic congestion and crime
Cities lack a
sense of community
People do not
even know their neighbor
Cities are
sometimes described as “concrete jungles”.
Pedestrian Areas
Pedestrian zones
in city centre can improve the local environment
Banning cars
encourages people to walk or cycle
Many European
cities have built bicycle lanes
Dependence on
cars is linked to health problems like obesity
People who
walk or cycle regularly are generally healthier
Pedestrian
areas are safer and more attractive for both residents and tourists
4. Crime
Police and Crime Prevention
The job of the
polices is to catch criminals
They must also
prevent crime and make communities safer
There should
be an increase in the number of police officers on the streets
Police
officers should be seen as part of the community
They should be
involved with education and prevention
The police
should be in close contact with schools
They should
focus on young people who have dropped out of school.
These
teenagers may become involved with gangs
Punishments/Prisons
Fines are used
as punishment for minor crimes
If the crime
is more serious, prison is the most common punishment
Some criminals
pose a threat to society
They are put
in prison to ensure the safety of other citizens
Negatives of Prisons
Criminals are
put together
They make
friends with other offenders
Many prisoners
re-offend when they are released
A criminal
record makes finding a job more difficult
Rehabilitation
Another aim of
prisons is rehabilitation
Prisoners
receive education of vocational training
Prisoners
should learn personal skills and specific job skills
Punishment
could make prisoners’ behavior worse
Rehabilitation
aims to make them better citizens
Rehabilitated
prisoners are less likely to re-offend
Capital punishment
Supporters say
that capital punishment deters crime
Fear of the
death penalty stops people from committing offences
The death
penalty shows that crime is not tolerated
It is a form
of revenge
The cost of
imprisonment is avoided
The offender
cannot pose a threat to others
Against Capital Punishment
Innocent
people could be wrongly convicted and executed
Crime rates
are not necessarily reduced
Many criminals
do not think they will be caught
Capital punishment
is not a good deterrent
Executing
prisoners creates a violent culture and encourages revenge
We have no
right to take another human life
Community service
Community
service is a way to reform offenders
It could be a
solution to prison overcrowding
It avoids the
cost of imprisonment
It makes
offenders useful in their local communities
They are
required to clean streets or talk to school groups
Offenders
repay their community
They avoid the
negative influence that prison can have
Against community service
Community
service is not a sufficient punishment
Criminals
should be locked up, away from their victims
Crime in the Media
Crime is one
of the main subjects of most news programs.
The mass media
focus on violent and sensational crimes
This lead to
fear of crime among the public
Sensational
stories attract more viewers or readers
The media
report crime stories in order to increase their audience
5. Education
Benefits of education
Education
gives people knowledge and skills
People with
qualification are more likely to find work
They can earn
a higher salary
They can
contribute positively to society
Schools aim to
teach young people moral values such as tolerance and sharing
Schools
prepare children to be members of a society
Benefits of Studying Abroad
Foreign
institutions may offer better courses
Many students
want to attend a prestigious university
The best
universities employ teachers who are experts in their fields
Qualifications
gained abroad can open the door to better job opportunities
Living abroad
can broaden students’ horizons
Overseas
students are exposed to different cultures and customs.
They become
more independent
They are
responsible for cooking, cleaning and paying bills
They will
learn a foreign language
Drawback of studying abroad
Living and
studying abroad can be difficult
Students have
problems with paperwork such as visa applications
The language
barrier can be a problem
Students have
to find accommodation and pay bills
Studying in a
foreign language is challenging
Living alone
in an unfamiliar culture can cause homesickness
Technology in Education: Advantages
Technology is
a powerful tool to engage students
Technology can
make lessons much more interesting
Students can
do research using online resources
Students can
study at their own place
Adults can
take distance learning courses
Students can
study whenever and wherever they want
Students also
learn skills which are useful for their future jobs
For example,
they learn to write reports using a word processor
Technology in Education: Disadvantages
People rely
too much on computers
Young learners
do not become proficient in some basic skills
They use word
processors and spelling may suffer
People should
be able to write a letter by hand
Technology is
no substitute for a real teacher
Learners need
a structured course
An experienced
teacher knows what materials to choose
Computers are
expensive to maintain and can be unreliable
Technology in Education: Opinion
Institutions
should supplement traditional teaching with the use of technology
Technology is
part of everyday life
It can enhance
a teacher’s lessons
Students can
use online resources to help with homework
Students must
still learn to write by hand
They should
still use traditional sources of information such as books
Education in Developing countries: Problems
Children often
have to work from an early age
There are no
schools in many areas
Families do
not have access to books or computers
Literacy rates
are often low
People in
developing countries need knowledge and skills
Education is
the key to improving the economy of these countries
Education in developing countries: solutions
Developed
countries could help developing nations by providing money
They could
invest in schools and technology
They could
supply the funds to build schools and pay for teachers
Children need
to have access to free schooling
Computer
equipment could be donated
The Internet
can expose students to a world of knowledge and information
Governments
should make education compulsory for all children
They should
encourage parents to send their children to school
Governments of
developed and developing countries must work together
Higher education: Advantages (also see “benefits of
education”)
There are many
benefits to going to university
A degree can open
the door to better employment prospects
Economies are
becoming increasingly knowledge-based
Most jobs
require specific knowledge and skills
Skilled
workers are needed for sectors such as information technology and engineering
Repetitive
manual jobs are now done by machine
Many factories
have moved to developing countries
Higher education: Disadvantages
A healthy
economy needs a wide range of workers
Some manual
workers will always be needed
A university
degree is not necessary for many service professions
Practical
training is more important in some industries
In the UK, for
example, there is currently a shortage of plumbers
Their services
are therefore becoming more and more expensive
Advantage of Home-schooling
Some parents
decide to educate their children at home
Some families
live in isolated areas with poor transport
Other parents
are not satisfied with local schools
Parents can
respond to what their children need and how they learn best
One-to-one
lessons allow much faster progress
The child can
work at his or her own pace
Discipline
problems are avoided by home-schooling
Disadvantages of home-schooling
Most parents
do not have the time to educate their children at home
One parent
would need to give up work
School
subjects are normally taught by up to ten different teachers
Most parents
do not have the necessary knowledge or resources
Private tutors
are expensive
Children will
miss out on the social experience that school offers
At school,
children learn how to get on with each other
Home-schooled
children may lack social skills
Schools offer
a better overall educational experience
Bad behavior in schools: causes
Bad behavior
is due to a lack of structure and discipline
There are too
many children in some classes
Large classes
are difficult to manage
May disruptive
students come from an unstable family background
Other parents
are too lenient and spoil their children
Some children
are used to getting whatever they want
Schools can do
very little if they are not supported by parents
Bad behavior in schools: solutions
Schools need a
clear code of conduct
Schools need a
clear set of rules about behavior
They need to
create a positive working atmosphere
Teachers must
have the power to punish disruptive students
Schools should
remove difficult children from lessons
Schools need
to work closely with parents
Discipline
could be lacking at home
Parents must
support the school rules
They should
take responsibility for their children’s behavior
Corporal Punishment: Opinion
Corporal
Punishment is not a good idea
Physical
punishment is a way of controlling children using fear
This does not
promote trust between adults and children
Children who
are punished physically may become shy or resentful
Corporal
punishment creates an atmosphere of fear and anger
Single Sex Education: Advantages
Some people
believe that male and female students should go to separate schools
This is often
for religious or cultural reasons
Discipline
problems might be avoided by separating boys and girls
Boys and girls
may learn in different ways and have different needs
Student at
single-sex schools often get better exam grades.
Single-sex Education: Disadvantages
Separating
boys and girls is unnecessary
It is
unhealthy in terms of children’s social development
Many
coeducational schools are extremely successful
A mixed-sex
environment is more representative of real life
Coeducational
schools provide children with better social skills for adult life
Advantages of
Streaming (grouping children according to ability)
Some schools
separate students according to their academic ability
Teachers can
work at the right speed for their students
Teachers can
plan more suitable lessons
High-level
groups may progress faster
Lower level
groups can benefits from a slower pace
Some teachers
and parents support streaming for these reasons
Disadvantages of Streaming
Grouping by
ability may have a negative impact on students
Children do
not want to be seen as less intelligent than others
Streaming
could damage students’ self esteem
They may lose
motivation
Students from
wealthier families tend to be better prepared
Children from
poorer families may receive less support from parents
Mixed ability
classes encourage everyone to achieve their potential.
6. Environment
Global warming
Gases such as
carbon dioxide trap heat from the sun
This causes
global temperatures to rise
This process
is known as the greenhouse effect
Human activity
is a major factor in the rise of the greenhouse gases
Factories and
vehicles produce emissions and exhaust fumes
Many
developing countries are becoming industrialized
The number of
cars on our streets is growing
Cheap air
travel is allowing more people to fly
Effects of Global Warming
Global warming
will have a significant impact on our planet
Rising
temperature will cause melting of the polar ice caps
Sea levels
will rise
We can expect
more extreme weather conditions
Flooding and
droughts may become more common
Impacts of
humans on the environment
The increasing
world population is putting pressure on natural resources
Fossil fuels
like oil and gas are running out
We are
destroying wildlife habitats
We have cut
down enormous areas of rainforest
This has led
to the extinction of many species of animals and plants
Solutions to environment problems
Governments
could introduce laws to limit emissions from factories
They should
invest in renewable energy from solar, wind or water power
They could
impose “green taxes” on drivers and airlines companies
Government
campaigns should promote recycling
Natural areas
and wild animals should be protected
Individuals
should also try to be greener
We should take
fewer flights abroad for holidays
We should take
public transport rather than driving
We should
choose products with less packaging
We should
recycle as much as possible
Waste/rubbish
The amount of
waster we produce has increased
This problem
is a result of our consumer culture
Products are
not made to last
If something
breaks, we throw it way and buy a new one
Advertisers
encourage is to buy the newest fashions
Packaging is
an important part of selling
Most foods are
sold in non-biodegradable plastics packaging
The amount of
household waste is growing
This waste
ends up in landfill sites
Litter
People do not
think about the consequences of dropping rubbish
They assume
that somebody is pad to clean the streest
Plastic
packaging does not break down easily
Most of the
litter seen on streets is fast food packaging
Recycling and other solutions
Companies
should make goods that last longer
They should
not use so much packaging
Governments
should be stricter, about waster produced by companies
They should
put legal limits on packaging
Consumers
should avoid buying over-packaged products
We should
recycle and reuse useful materials.
There are
collection banks for glass, paper and plastic bottles
Households can
use several rubbish bins to separate waste
Recycling
saves energy and raw materials.
Nuclear Power: Positives
There are
several benefits to build more nuclear power stations
Fossil fuel
like oil and gas are running out
Nuclear power
is a sustainable energy source
It can be used
to produce electricity without wasting natural resources
It could be
replace the use of natural resources like coal, oil or gas
Nuclear power
stations are cleaner than fossil fuel power stations
They could
help to reduce carbon emissions that cause global warming
The risks of
accidents are being reduced
Nuclear Power: negatives
Opponents of
nuclear power worry about the safety of power stations
The building
of new nuclear power stations is unpopular
Nobody wants
to live near one
Nuclear waste
disposal is a significant problem
There is
currently no way to decontaminate radioactive material
People worry
that terrorists could steal radioactive materials
It is safer to
produce energy from solar, wind or water power.
7. Family
Family size
Families in
many countries are not as large as they used to be
We tend to
live in small nuclear families rather than large extended families
Parents tend
to have fewer children
Young children
are no longer expected to work
Nowadays both
parents often work
It costs so
much to bring children up
It is more
difficult to raise a large family
Working
parents (also see “gender” topic)
Children and
their parents seem to be less close nowadays
Parents spend
less time with their children
Women
traditionally stayed at home to cook, clean and look after children
Nowadays both
parents often work full time
Children may
be left alone, or with nannies or babysitters
Busy parents
have less contact with their children
Many families
no longer eat meals together
Children spend
more time with friends or surfing the Internet
Negative effects on Children
The lack of
closeness in families can have a negative effect on children
Many parents
have no idea how their children spend their time
Friends,
television and the Internet become the main influence on children’s behavior
Teenagers are
influenced by peer pressure
Some of them
join gangs
Juvenile
delinquency is on the increase
Parents should
be more involved with their children’s upbringing
Young people
need positive role models
Divorce
In the past,
divorce was unacceptable
It was
considered to be embarrassing for a family
People stayed
together for religious or family reasons
Divorce is
more socially acceptable nowadays
It has become
much more common
Divorce can be
extremely stressful
Lone parents
may face financial difficulties
Many single
parents have to rely on benefits paid by the state
Divorce can
have a negative effect on children
Children from
single-parent families are more likely to get lower grades or drop out of
school.
The rise in
divorce rates may be connected to some social problems
Care for Old people
Caring for
elderly people was traditionally the responsibility of families
Adults had to
look after their elderly parents
A woman’s job
was to stay at home taking care of her family
Nowadays,
fewer elderly people are looked after by their relatives
Residential
homes provide care for large number of elderly people
Some families
are unable to look after elderly relatives
Families tend
to be smaller these days, and women often have full-time jobs
Cares homes
provide a professional service for senior citizens
Nurses are
better trained than family members
Care for Old people: Opinion
The best form
of care for the elderly depends on the family situation
It depends on
whether family members have the time resources
We all have a
responsibility towards the older people in our society
Governments
should invest money in facilities and training for care workers.
8. Gender
Gender and education
Men and women
should have access to the same educational opportunities
Males and
females should be accepted onto courses according to their abilities
It is wrong to
discriminate against students because of their gender
Gender should
be irrelevant in education
Student’s
achievements should depend on hard work and individual merit
In the UK,
there are similar numbers of male and female students in higher education
Gender and work
Men and women
should have access to the same professional opportunities
Both man and
women should be able to pursue a career
They should
earn equal salaries
They should be
employed according to their abilities, qualifications and experience
Traditionally
women have been restricted to certain roles
They were
often employed as secretaries or receptionists
Nowadays, a
range of occupations is available to both sexes
Career success
depends on individual merit
Women’s and Men’s roles in the Family
Some people
argue that a mother should not work
She should
stay at home and bring up her children
The father
should be the breadwinner of the family
Others believe
that both parents should share these responsibilities
Working women
can take maternity leave during and after pregnancy
Many mothers
continue to work after this period
Many fathers
and mothers share their parenting and domestic responsibilities
They
contribute equally to childcare, cooking and cleaning
Some women
many have better career prospects than their husbands.
Paternity
leave and “househusbands” are becoming more common
Traditional
gender roles and gradually changing
Families can
divide roles and responsibilities in the most convenient way.
9. Genetic Engineering
Positives of genetic engineering
Genetic
engineering is the practice of manipulating the genes of an organism
It is used to
produce crops that are more resistant to insects and diseases
Some
genetically modified crops grow more quickly
Some drugs and
vaccines are produced by genetic engineering
It may become
possible to change human’s genetic characteristics.
Scientists may
use genetic engineering to cure diseases.
Inherited
illnesses would no longer exist
Genes could be
changed before a baby is born
It could also
be possible to clone human organs
We could all
have replacement body part
Humans could
live longer, healthier lives
Negatives of genetic engineering
There are
ethical concerns about human genetic engineering
Parents might
want to choose their children’s characteristics
This would be
unnatural
It would be
unacceptable in most religions
Soldiers could
be cloned from the genes of the strongest people
Clones might
be used like robots to do certain jobs
Clones might
even be developed just for organ replacements
Society and
human evolution would change completely
Currently,
human genetic engineering is prohibited
Genetically-Modified
(GM) foods: Advantages
Farmers can
produce crops that grow bigger and faster
Some GM crops
are more resistant to disease or insects
This could be
important for food production in developing countries
Faster growing
cereals, fruit and vegetables will mean more profit
GM foods can
be modified to look perfect
They may be
more attractive to customers
Genetically-Modified
(GM) Foods: Disadvantages
There may be
risks involved in the genetic engineering of foods.
GM crops might
change whole ecosystems
Food chains
could be broken if crops are resistant to predators
Organic foods
are produced without chemicals or genetic modification
Organic
farming may be slower and more expensive
However, the
environment is not damaged by fertilizers or pesticides.
10. Global issues
Problems in
developing countries
Developing
countries face a range if problems
Standards of
healthcare and education are low
Life
expectancy is usually lower than in developed countries
There is a
lack of infrastructure, employment and good quality housing
Many people
are forced to live in poverty
Food, drinking
water and basic medicines are in short supply
How to help
developing countries
The best form
of help for developing countries is development aid
Richer nations
can help by investing in long-term projects
Governments
and charities can help by building new houses and schools
Globalization
may also help developing countries
Multi-national
companies can creating jobs in developing countries
On the other
hand, many people emigrate to find work in richer countries
They often sand
money back home to their families
This money
helps to improve the standard of living in developing countries
Immigration
Some people
move to another countries in search of a better life
Many
immigrants come from less developed countries
Richer,
industrialized countries may offer opportunities for employment
Free
healthcare and schooling are available in some developed countries
Other people
migrate to a foreign country to improve their academic qualifications
Positives of
immigration and Multi-cultural societies
From an
economic perspective, immigration can be extremely positive
Many
immigrants have skills that are needed in the country they move to
Immigrants who
find work contribute to the economy of their new country
Many
immigrants send money home to help family members
Immigration
also creates cultural diversity
People of many
different nationalities learn to live together
This can help
people to become more open-minded and tolerant
Negatives of
Immigration
Some people
believe that immigrants take jobs that should go to local people
Some immigrant
workers work longer hours for less money
Companies
might pay lower salaries to immigrant workers
Unemployment
rates could rise if there are too many immigrants
Opinions about
Immigration
Immigration
can help the economy of a country
It can create
multi-cultural societies
However,
immigration needs to be controlled
In many
countries, immigrants need visas or work permit
Governments
should stop companies from exploiting immigrant workers
Foreign and
local workers should have the right to equal pay and conditions
Positives of
Globalization
Business of
becoming increasingly international
Multi-national
companies do business across the world
Companies like
MacDonald’s can be seen on high streets in most cities
Goods are
produced in one country and sold in many others
A global
economy means free trade between countries
This can
strengthen political relationships
Globalization
can also create opportunities for employment
It encourages
investment in less developed countries
It could
reduce poverty in the developing world
Negatives of
Globalization
Globalization
is not always beneficial to everyone
Companies can
move to countries where labour is cheap
This creates
redundancies, or job losses
Employees
cannot be confident that they have stable jobs
Companies
sometimes exploit their employees in developing countries
Global trade
creates more waste and pollution
The future of
Globalization
There should
be global regulations for salaries and working conditions
Governments
should impose laws to protect the environment
11. Government and Society
What
governments can do
Governments
provide public services like healthcare and education
They support
people who are living in poverty or unable to work
Governments
raise money by taxing working people
They can spend
money on resources and campaigns
They can
introduce new laws
They can
impose taxes
They can raise
people’s awareness of issues (e.g climate change/healthy eating)
They can
influence people’s habits and opinions
They can create
jobs
They can
regulate the activities of companies such as banks
They can
provide resources for schools
They are also
responsible for the security and well-being of their citizens
They control
armed forces and police forces
Public
services
Governments pay
the salaries of public sector workers like police officers and teachers
The necessary
money is raised by taxing people’s income
Free education
and healthcare may be provided by the state
Some
governments control public transport systems and even TV channels
In other
countries, these services are provided by private companies
Some people
believe that competition between private companies is good
It helps to
improve quality while bringing prices down
Other people
think that essential services should be free
Governments
should pay for them
Censorship:
Opinion
Governments
can censor what public sees or reads in the media
To a certain
extent censorship is necessary
We should use
censorship to protect children from violent images
Some computer
games involve killing people or committing crimes
The Internet
also needs to be controlled
Many websites
show pornography and violence
There should
be age limits for websites and computers games
Parents need
to take responsibility for checking what their children watch
It is
impossible for governments to control everything we see
Video cameras
in public places
The use of
CCTV is becoming widespread
Video cameras
have been installed in many public places
They are
supposed to protect us and deter criminals
Many people
think that this surveillance violates our privacy
The
authorities could build databases with our pictures and identities
We should not
be treated like criminals
Smart cards:
Positives
Governments
will probably introduce a digital identification card system
Smart cards
will have benefits and drawbacks
They could
help to reduce crime
They could
hold personal information, such as DNA
Digital bank
cards could contain fingerprint information
It would be
very difficult for criminals to use a stolen card
It would be easier
for police to identify people and catch criminals
Smart cards:
Negatives
Many people
are worried about losing their privacy
Governments
could store all our personal and medical information
This
information could be used by insurance companies
Employers
could check our health records
People with
Disabilities
People with
disabilities should be treated the same as everybody else
They should
have the same rights as other people
They should
have access to the same jobs as other citizens
Discriminations
against disabled people is illegal in many countries
Ramps and
lifts for wheelchairs should be installed in public buildings
Support
teacher can be employed to help children with learning difficulties
12. Guns and Weapons
Why guns
should be legal:
In some countries,
people are allowed to own firearms
Individuals
have the right to protect themselves
People can use
guns in self defence
This deters
criminals
Why gun
ownership should be illegal:
There is a
risk of accidents with guns
The number of
violent crimes increases when guns are available
Criminals may
be armed
The police
then need to use guns
Suicide rates
have been shown to rise when guns are available
Guns create
violent societies with high murder rates
Why polices
should use guns
Many criminals
use weapons
The threat of
a gun can deter criminals
Police
officers can forces a criminal to surrender
It is easier
to arrest someone and avoid physical violence
The police may
shoot violent criminals in self defence
They can
protect the public
They can shoot
an escaping criminal who poses a serious danger to the public
Why police
should not carry guns
There is a
risk of accidents and mistakes
The police
might shoot an unarmed criminal or an innocent person
Accidents can
happen in public places
There are
several alternatives to guns (e.g tear gas, sprays and electric shock weapons)
Only special
police units should use guns
Arm Trade:
Positives
The export of
arms, or weapons, is an extremely controversial issue
Governments of
rich, industrialized countries sell arms to each other
This industry
creates jobs and wealth
The trade of
weapons may improve relationships between governments
Arms Trade:
Negatives
Weapons may be
used in conflicts and wars
The supply of
arms could be responsible for deaths
Governments
are promoting war in order to make a profit
Rich countries
can influence the politics of other nations
Nuclear
weapons
Nuclear
weapons are capable of destroying whole cities
A nuclear war
between two countries would destroy both countries
Nuclear
weapons are used as a deterrent
They prevent
wars from starting
Nuclear
weapons: Opinion
Nuclear
weapons should be prohibited
Governments
should limit the production of nuclear weapons
There is a
danger of nuclear weapons being obtained by terrorists
Nuclear
weapons cannot be used against terrorist organizations
Armed Forces:
Positives
Armed forces
provide security and protection
They deter
military attack by another country
They can also
be sued to maintain peace within countries
They can be
sued to give the police extra support
Soldiers are
also used to help in emergency situations, such as after a natural disaster
Armed forces:
negatives
Armies require
a lot of funding from governments
Too much money
is spent on weapons and military technology
This money
could be spent on schools, hospitals and other public services
13. Health
Diet
The human body
requires a balanced diet
An unhealthy
diet can cause various health problems
Obesity,
diabetes and heart disease are on the increase
Many people
nowadays rely on fast food or pre-prepared meals
These foods
often contain too much fat, salt and sugar
They are cheap
to buy and very easy to prepare
Many young
people have grown up on a diet of convenience foods
Populations in
developed countries are increasingly overweight
Exercise
Regular
exercise is essential in maintaining a healthy body
Exercise burns
calories and helps to build healthy bones and muscles
Doctors advise
exercising at least three times a week for 20 minutes
Most people
nowadays lead a sedentary lifestyle
We tend to
walk less and do desk jobs
Most adults
relax by watching television
Children play
video games rather than doing outdoor sports
In the past,
people were more active in their jobs and at home
Government’s
Role
Governments
have a significant role to play in reducing obesity
More and more
people, including young children are seriously overweight
They are at
risk of heart disease and diabetes
This situation
will increase the burden on hospitals and taxpayers
Hospitals rely
on the government for money and resources
Governments
should promote a healthy diet and regular exercise
There should
be more time for sports on school timetables
Unhealthy junk
food should be banned from school menus
People need
information about what foods contain
Food packaging
must show the food’s nutritional content
The British
Government recommends eating five portions of fruit and vegetables per day
State Health
system: advantages
Good
healthcare should be available to everyone for free
State
healthcare is paid by the government using money from taxes
Everyone has
access to the same quality of care and treatment
Private
healthcare is unfair because only wealthy people can afford it
The National
Health Service in the UK provides free healthcare for every resident
Private
Healthcare: advantages
State
hospitals are often very large and difficult to run
Private
hospitals have shorter waiting lists for operations and appointments
Patients can
benefit from faster treatment
Many people
prefer to pay for more a personal service
Patients have their
own room and more comfortable facilities
Alternative
medicine: Positives
People are
increasingly using alternative medicines to treat illnesses.
For example,
acupuncture can be used to treat backache
Herbal
medicines can be used to treat allergies or viruses
Many patients
report positive experiences with these treatments
Some
traditional cures have been used for hundreds of years
Alternative
medicine: Negatives
Many
alternative medicines have not been tested scientifically
They may have
no beneficial effect at all
They may cause
unknown side effects
People should
trust the opinions of qualified doctors
An illness
could get worse without treatment from a doctor
Stress
Modern
lifestyles are increasingly stressful
People work
long hours with strict deadlines
Our busy
lifestyles mean we have less time to relax
Unemployment
is a major cause of stress
Children may
be affected by their parents’ relationship problems
Tests and
exams can also cause stress
How to reduce
stress
Stress can be
reduced by taking regular exercise and eating a healthy diet
It is also
important to get sufficient sleep and make leisure time a priority
People should
work less overtime and take regular holidays
Schools have
started to employ psychologists
They can offer
emotional support to students
They can help
students to cope with exam stress
14. Housing and Architecture
State/council
housing
In some
countries the government provides state or council housing
This helps
people who cannot afford to buy their own house
It can be
argued that state housing creates dependence on the government
People should
be rely on the government to look after them
People have no
incentive to earn money and buy their own home
Council
properties are often made with cheap, poor-quality materials.
Old Buildings
Historic
buildings are part of a country’s heritage
They should be
protected
Old buildings
are often considered to be works or art
They give
character to cities and attract tourists
They show us
how people lived in the past
We identify
countries by architectural symbols like the pyramids in Egypt
Governments
should spend money on looking after historic buildings
They need
regular repairs and maintenance
New buildings
should be designed to complement them
Modern/green
buildings
Modern
buildings should be designed to be environmentally friendly
They should
use less energy and produce less waste
Modern
insulation can make houses more energy-efficient
Solar and wind
power can be used to generate electricity
Rainwater and
waste water can be recycled and used to flush toilets.
Modern glass
buildings take advantage if natural light
15. Language
English as an
international language
English is
widely used around the world
It is becoming
a global second language
It is the
dominant language of technology, science and international business
International
business meetings are regularly held in English
The most
important textbooks and journals are published in English
The ability to
speak English is a necessary skill in the modern world
Negative of
English as an International Language
If one
language is dominant, other languages may disappear
The dominant
language brings its own culture
American
culture has become popular around the world
Other cultures
may be damaged
As an
alternative to English, a new global language could be invented
It would have
no nationality or culture attached to it
This could
help to promote international peace and understanding
Esperanto is
an example of a language that was invented with this aim
16. Money
Money and
Society
Society has
become increasingly materialistic
People aspire
to earn more money
They want a
bigger house or a better car
We connect
wealth and material possessions with happiness and success
Brands like
“Armani” or ”Mercedes” are status symbols
Advertising
creates new desires and needs
It persuades
us to buy the latest styles
Positives of
Consumerism
Consumerism
creates employment
It helps to
reduce poverty
It encourages
innovation and creativity in business
We live in a
global economy
We have a
better quality of life
Negatives of
Consumerism
Consumerist
societies create more waste
They use more
natural resources
They cause
damage to the environment
Consumerism
creates a “throw-away” culture
Advertisers
tell us who we are and what we want
Wealth does
not lead to happiness
Materialism
causes greed and crime
We should
return to traditional values like sharing
17. Personality
Happiness
Happiness
means different things to different people
It can be
described as a feeling of pleasure or enjoyment
People enjoy
spending time with family and friends
Hobbies,
sports and games can be a source of fun and enjoyment
Some people
see money as a source of happiness
Other people
define happiness as something deeper
In order to be
truly happy it is necessary to live a good life
We need to
feel that we are doing something useful with our lives
Some people
get a sense of achievement from their work
Others find
happiness in bringing up their children
Religion or a
sense of purpose can also be a source of happiness
Success
People define
success in different ways
Some people
get a sense of achievement from raising a family
For others,
success is defined by wealth or status
We often think
of rich and famous people as being successful in life
Millionaires
like Bill Gates are considered to be successful
They have
risen to the top in their chosen professions
For some,
being successful means achieving personal or professional goals
They see
success as the result of hard work
Success in any
field requires long-term planning and effort
Nature or
Nurture
Some people
believe that our personalities are determined mainly by genetics
We inherit our
abilities and talents from our parents
Others think
that our education and upbringing are more important
We develop
according to the influences around us
Our
personalities and achievements depend more on nurture than nature
Many people
argue that we control our own destinies
We can shape
our own personalities
By working
hard we can achieve and goal that we put our minds to
Many
successful people are “self-made”
We are not
limited by our genetic characteristic or upbringing
18. Sport and Leisure
Arguments
against Professional/competitive sport
Sport has
become a business
Professional
sport encourages people to compete for money
Many sports
stars are only concerned about money and fame
Some athletes
take drugs in order to win at any cost
Competitors
are often selfish and rude
They are not
good role models for children
All sports
should be amateur
Sports should
be leisure activities rather than jobs
People should
do sporting activities for enjoyment and health reasons
Taking part is
more important than winning
Arguments for
Professional sport
Professional
sports are the same as any other business
Many people
are employed in the sports industry
People should
be able to use their talents to earn a salary
Sports stars
entertain millions of people
Money is
necessary to improve facilities and train athletes
The level of
professional sport is much higher than that of amateur sport
Arguments for
Competitive sport
Competition is
a natural instinct in humans
In daily life
we compete to get jobs or the highest grades
Sports are a
safe form of competition
Competition is
healthy because it pushes us to give our best
Competitors
and fans can release energy and aggression
Supporters of
teams feel a sense of belonging to a community
Opinion:
professional sport salaries are too high
Sports
professionals earn too much money
They do not
provide a vital service
Football
players, for example, earn enormous salaries by simply kicking a ball
We could all
live happily without professional football
Life would be
difficult without doctors, engineers and other vital professionals.
Society does
not seem to value these professions as highly as professional sport
Sports
salaries should be compatible with the wages most people earn
Opinion:
professional sport salaries are fair
It is fair
that the best professional earn a lot of money
Sport is a
multi-million-pound industry
There is a
large audience of sports fans
Sports on
television attract many viewers
Sports stars
have dedicated hours of practice to developing their fitness and skills
Only the most
talented among them will reach the top
A sports
career many only last 10 years
Sports fans
are willing to pay to support their teams
Sports and
Politics
Some people
think that sport and politics should remain separate
Governments
are involved in the hosting of sporting events such as the Olympics.
These events
attract investment and create jobs.
The Olympic
Games are an advertisement for the host nation
They attract
huge numbers of visitors and sports fans
Wealthy
countries tend to hold these events
Developing
countries should be given the chance to become hosts
19. Television, Internet, Phones
Positives of
television
Watching
television is a good way to relax
It is many
people’s favorite way to wind down after a hard day at work
Television
programs can be entertaining and enjoyable
Viewers have
access to a huge variety of entertainment channels
Television
brings the best comedians, musicians and actors into our homes
Programmers
can also be informative and educational
News coverage
makes the public aware of events around the world
Documentaries
can make learning more interesting
Negatives of
Television
Television is
having a negative impact on society
Some people
link violence on television with crime rates in the real world
Children copy
the behavior they see on the screen
Children are
less healthy because they spend less time palying
Advertisers
direct their marketing at children
Most programs
do not require much thought
Watching TV is
a waste of time
Opinions about
Television
Television has
many benefits
However, it
can be addictive
Children
should play outside rather than sit in front of a screen all day
Behaviour
shown on TV can influence people
Parents should
choose carefully what their children watch
Children
should not be exposed to violence, swearing or sexual images
Advertising
during children’s programs should be strictly controlled
TV companies
should make more positive, educational programs
Positives of the
Internet
There are many
advantages to using the Internet
It gives us
instant access to information on almost any subject
Shops and
other services are now available online
People can buy
goods and services from the comfort of their homes
The Internet
is starting to replace other forms of entertainment
It has
revolutionized communication
We can keep in
touch by email or instant messenger services
Video
messaging is becoming common for business meetings
Negatives of
the internet
Many websites
contain offensive content
Some sites
show violent or sexual images
Parents find
it difficult to control what their children see online
They do not
always know who their children are chatting to
With so many
websites it is difficult to search for good information
Criminals
increasingly use the Internet to steal people’s money
Internet
compared to newspaper and books
Newspapers and
books are now published online as well as in print
We can read
the news in any language from any country in the world
It costs
nothing to publish or access information on the Internet
The Internet
allows anybody to publish their own writing
Newspaper
articles and books are written by professionals
Professionals
produce better quality writing than amateur
People still
buy newspapers and books because they are portable
People do not
like reading from a screen
Positives of
Mobile Phones
The mobile
phone is the most popular gadget in today’s world
Mobile phones
have revolutionized the way we communicate
We can stay in
touch with family, friends and colleagues wherever we are
Users can send
text messages, surf the Internet, take photos and listen to music
Mobiles have
also become fashion accessories
Negatives of
Mobile Phones
Mobiles phones
can be a problem in some public places
Ringing phones
cause disturbance in cinemas and school lessons
Some people
are not aware that others can hear their conversations
Mobile phones
may also interfere with electronic equipment
Their waves
could cause damage to our brains
Mobile phones
can also be a dangerous distraction
Using a phone
while driving reduces the driver’s concentration
Mobile phones
are a popular target for thieves
Opinion about
Mobile Phones
The benefits
of mobile phones outweigh the drawbacks
We need to use
these phones with care
20. Tourism
Positives of
Tourism
Tourism is a
popular leisure activity
People go on
holiday to relax and have fun
Tourists can
experience different cultures
They can
sunbathe on beaches or go sight-seeing
Travelling
abroad opens our minds
We can learn
to speak other languages
The tourist
trade is vital for some economies
It creates
employment in services like accommodation, transport and entertainment
Some areas
rely on tourism for their income
Tourists spend
money
Tourism
attracts investment from multi-national companies
It helps to
improve the standard of living
Low-cost
airlines are making it cheaper to travel abroad
Negative
effects of tourism
Tourism can
have a negative effect on the natural environment
The building
of facilities and infrastructure can destroy the habitat of wild animals
Beautiful
beaches are spoilt by the building of hotels
Tourism
creates pollution and waste
It puts
pressure on local resources
Local
traditional and cultures may be endangered
A rise in the
cost of living affects local people
The price of
goods, services and housing may increase significantly
The future of
tourism
Government
should introduce laws to protect natural environments and local cultures
Tourism should
have a low impact on wildlife
Renewable
resources like solar or water power should be used
Waste should
be recycled
Local
businesses such as farms should be supported
21. Traditional vs Modern
Losing
traditional skills
Because of
industrialization and global trade, many traditions have disappeared
Global
advertising encourages everyone to buy the same products
Most products
are now made in factories
Machinery has
replaced skilled human labour
Factory work
is boring and leaves people feeling unfulfilled
Goods are
produced very quickly and in large numbers
Products are
cheaper, which means that more people can buy them
Examples
Clothes are
mass produced in standard sizes
People wear
similar clothes, rather than traditional costumes
Jeans and
T-shirt are now worn throughout the world
Historic
buildings took skilled craftsmen years to build
Modern
concrete, steel and glass buildings are built in only weeks or months
There are
fewer people who can create hand-made goods
Traditional
customs
Traditional
customs are still important during weddings and religious festivals
People wear
traditional costumers and eat special foods
It is
important to maintain our different cultural identities
We should
celebrate festivals, teach traditional skills and protect historic places
22. Transport
Traffic
problems
Traffic
congestion is caused by commuters travelling to work
Most people
live in the suburbs outside city centre
Commuters tend
to travel at the same time of day
They tend to
travel alone
Cars and road
space are not used efficiently
This causes
traffic jams during the rush hour
Traffic
solutions
In order to
reduce traffic we should change our working habits
The internet
can now be used to connect people
More people
could work from home
Meetings can
be held as video conferences
Workers could
be given flexible timetables
Another
solution would be to tax drivers
Workers should
share their cars and travel together
In London, for
example, there is a congestion charge
This helps to
raise money for better public transport
Public
transport needs to be reliable and efficient
Positives of
Public transport
We need to
reduce our dependence on cars
Parking a car
can be extremely difficult in big cities
Well-designed
transport systems are comfortable and convenient
Modern public
transport can be fast and cheap
Public
transport can help to reduce pollution in cities
Investment in
buses and trains will ease traffic congestion
Buses can be
given special lands to avoid traffic
Negatives of
public transport
Public
transport if often slow and unreliable
Metro systems
and trains are often dirty and crowded
People feel like
“sardines in a can”
Cars are much
more comfortable
Road safety
Driving while
tired or drunk is extremely dangerous
Mobile phones
can be a dangerous distraction for drivers
They draw the
driver’s attention away from the road
The use of
phones while driving has been banned in many countries
Punishments are becoming stricter
Television
campaigns are used to remind people to drive safely
Speed cameras
have become more common
Speed bumps
are another form of traffic calming
Many streets
are designed with the aim of slowing traffic down
23. Water
Importance of
clean water
Water is as
necessary natural resource
Humans need
access to clean, safe drinking water in order to live
Poor water
quality is a major cause of disease and death in some countries
Water usually
needs to be treated before we can drink it
Developing
countries often lack the means to treat and supply water to citizens
Developed
countries tend to have much better sanitation
Citizens have
access to clean tap water
Drinking water
is not contaminated by sewage or waste water
The supply of
clean water would improve public health in many developing countries
Water supply
Urban life
would be impossible without water supply systems
These systems
are massive engineering projects
Many
professionals are involved in their planning, construction and maintenance
The supply and
distribution of water are major concerns
Water is
becoming scarce in some countries
Areas that
suffer droughts often need to import water
As populations
grow, there is more pressure on water supplies
This could
lead to a water crisis
Water and politics
The supply of
water is also an important political issue
Huge amount of
water are needed for agriculture and industry
The irrigation
of crops accounts for a large proportions of water use
A water crisis
could lead to political conflicts or even wars
Argument: water should be free
Some people
believe that water should be free for everyone
Governments
should supply water to all homes at no cost
Private
companies should not be allowed to profit from this natural resource
Money from
taxes can be used to pay for water supply systems
Argument: water should not be free
If water is
free, people take it for granted
They do not
think about how much water they waste
They leave
taps running while washing or brushing their teeth
If we have to
pay for water, we will use it more responsibly
Water supply
systems are extremely expensive
Investment is
needed to maintain and improve them
Private
companies may provide a better service than governments
If they provide
an efficient service, they will make more money
They will
repair leaks to avoid losing money
Bottled Water: Opinions
Some people
carry bottles of water wherever they go
For example,
they take bottles of water to work or to the gym
They believe
that bottled water is healthier than tap water
They also
argue that it tastes better
However, other
people believe that we should consume less bottled water
Plastic water
bottles add to litter and waste problems
Companies
should not be able to make a profit from water
It is
unethical to make money by selling packaged water
There is no
difference in quality between bottled and tap water
24. Work
The benefits
of staying in the same job for life
Employees have
a stable career with one employer
They have a
good pension and health insurance
Their salaries
gradually increase
They may be
promoted within the organization
They
demonstrate loyalty
Experienced
staff can be trusted with more responsibility
They become
part of a team
There is a
clearly defined path for development
The benefits
of not staying in the same job
People often
change jobs in order to further their career
Another
company may offer a promotion or a higher salary
People who
change jobs can gain experience
They can learn
different skills
Changing jobs
is interesting and challenging
People can
retrain in a different occupation
In a
fast-changing world workers need to be flexible
People need to
develop a range of experience and skills
Self-employment
Nowadays, it
is easy to set up a company
The Internet
provides a global marketplace
Self-employment
offers greater freedom than working for a company
However, there
are risks to starting a new business
Self-employed
people may face financial difficulties
Many
businesses fail to make a profit
There is less stability
in self-employment
There are no
benefits like pensions, sick pay and holiday pay
Self-employment
involved hard work, long hours and total responsibility
Unemployment
Unemployment
is a big problem for individuals, communities and society
Some people
are unable to find a job
They may not
have the sufficient level of education or qualifications
They may find
themselves homeless
Unemployment
causes frustration and stress
Jobless people
may become involved in crime as a means to get money
The unemployed
need careers advice
Governments
need to provide vocational courses and retraining
Unemployment
benefits: positives
Some
governments pay unemployment benefits in order to help jobless people
Unemployed
people need financial support until they find a new job
By claiming
benefits they can continue to pay for their homes
The benefits
system helps to reduce poverty, homelessness and crime
Unemployment
benefits: negatives
Some people
claim benefits rather than working
They become
dependent on the government
They are not
motivated to find a job
The benefits
system is a burden on taxpayers
All citizens
should work to earn a living and support themselves
Receiving
benefits affects people’s self esteem
Work/Life Balance
It is
important to achieve a balance between work time and leisure or family time
Too much work
can result in stress and poor health
“workaholics”
may neglect their families and friends
People need to
take regular holidays
Companies
should be expect employees to work overtime
Nowadays, many
people work part-time or have flexible working hours
Technology
allow people to work from home
Many companies
provide childcare facilities
A good work/
life balance can raise job satisfaction
Happy, healthy
workers are more productive
Technology and work
Internet, fax
and mobile phone technologies have revolutionized working life
Workers can
communicate via email, online networks and video conferencing
Technology can
connect workers in different countries
It gives
people more freedom
It can also
save time and money
Some people
believe that offices could disappear in the future
Virtual online
offices may replace them
Child labour
In some
countries, children are exploited
They do
repetitive jobs for very low pay
Children are
often used in agriculture and factory work
The employment
of children is prohibited in other countries
Many people
think that children should be free to enjoy their childhood
Governments
should make education a priority
They should
build new schools
They should
supply the resources to educate children
Children need
to be given the knowledge and skills for adult life
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