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Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Working at home using computers or telephones is better than working in the office.sample answer (431 words):The global world of work has seen radical changes in recent years, among which telecommuting, or working from home, stands out as the most remarkable brainchild of this technological age. An increasing number of people choose to complete their work from home and communicate with their offices using computers or telephones. While this may seem like a better option for workers and their employers, there are a number of drawbacks lurking behind the benefits of this development.A major disadvantage is that telecommuting blurs the line between your leisure time and your work. For most people who work in the office, they have fixed office hours, for example from 9am until 5pm. Anytime outside of that period, except for some rare occasions when they have to work overtime, is considered free time or family time. However, when people start to work from home, they may feel unable to escape their work or separate their life at home from their work. They may start to check their work email first thing in the morning, or they may work late into the night. And because getting to work is so easy without having to commute to the office, they may actually be working longer hours than their office counterparts. Another disadvantage is that the quality of work may suffer because of the reduced face-to-face interaction with other employees or supervisors. An important element in the successful operation of a company is effective communication between co-workers. This communication is not simply making a few telephone calls or sending a few emails. It involves face-to-face discussions, brainstorming, persuasion or even arguments where innovative ideas and strategic decisions are created. This kind of work atmosphere can never be created in a home environment no matter how sophisticated the technology is. Finally, once people start working away from the office, there is a decreased sense of working for an institution but instead an increased sense of working for a task or a product. Therefore, workers may feel less loyal to a company and more inclined to change jobs or work part-time or on contract, as long as it can provide reasonable pay and a flexible work schedule. Working in the office, on the other hand, often gives people a sense of belonging, a feeling that they are part of a larger group. Apart from the disadvantages already mentioned, there are also drawbacks including loneliness, isolation, the initial high cost of setting up, domestic distractions and interruptions etc. Therefore, this modern, seemingly attractive mode of working is actually not as efficient and rewarding as working in the office.

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7851Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Your job has more effect on your happiness than your social life does.

Happiness is commonly associated with pleasure and contentment. These are fairly subjective states of being, and their causes are equally subjective. However, when it comes to work or social life, employment clearly has the greater effect on happiness. Whether a job provides a social life, supports it, or interferes with it, it is tightly bound to happiness.

For many people, work is their source of happiness in life. They follow their passions and don’t regard what they do as work. Their co-workers become their friend group, merging social life and work life into one. They often have jobs that make an impact on the world, and offer them contentment and self-fulfillment. These impassioned people see an outside social life as inconsequential, and they willingly and consciously give it up in favor of work they love.

A job that regularly interferes with a normal social life creates an unbalanced life and lessens happiness. Hourly workers must often work overtime or on holidays, interfering with planned activities. Salaried workers frequently bring their work home with them, or they worry about their work responsibilities while at home. Others have to report to work at a moment’s notice any time of day or night. Some jobs require employees to work away from home for months or even years at a time. Conversely, an active social life rarely imposes on happiness gained from work.

Positively or negatively, work has the greater influence on happiness. Passion-filled people draw happiness from their work. People whose jobs fund diverse life experiences receive happiness indirectly from their work. Those whose work encroaches on their personal lives also have their


happiness impacted, albeit negatively. Work clearly has a more powerful connection to personal happiness than a social life does.

7855

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: it is impossible to be completely honest with your friend.

下面是可以参考的三个理由用于论证“It is possible to be completely honest with

your friend.“

1. You can be completely honest with your friend because a true friend will appreciate you sharing true feelings and honest opinions with them, no matter how unpleasant they may sound. Most people prefer to be told the truth rather than to be cheated. On the other hand, if you do not give honest opinions or truth to your friends but later your friends find out about this, they will be extremely disappointed, which is extremely risky to your friendship.

2. Even if a relationship is somehow damaged because one of the friends is too honest, this relationship can be later repaired as long as a friend is willing to forgive the other. Many friends are willing to show forgiveness, and friendship after understanding and forgiveness is even stronger and more enduring. So you don’t have to keep the truth from your friend to avoid breaking your friendship because you can always expect your friend to eventually understand and forgive you.

3. Many people are unwilling to present their honest opinions to a friend because they think that confronting their friends with the truth may be too harsh or too embarrassing. However, there are always other ways to mildly presenting the truth to your friends, e.g. by writing an email or text message to your friend. This is a good way to maintain honesty while preventing the risk of destroying friendship.

下面是根据这三个理由写出的完整范文：


Complete honesty is difficult under any circumstances. People are often afraid to freely express their opinions and feelings in a relationship, because they don’t want to lose the connection. A good friendship allows you the freedom to be yourself. You can be honest in your friendships, because most people prefer the truth, they forgive easily, and they accept nearly anything if it is presented with kindness.

You may be reluctant to be honest with a friend at times, but remember that people prefer the truth to being betrayed or made into a fool. A true friend will appreciate your honesty, even if it feels unpleasant at the time. By sharing your true feelings and honest opinions, your friend will learn to trust you. She will value having someone she can count on to be honest. The greater risk to the friendship is being dishonest. Once your friend loses trust in you, it may be difficult to earn it back. Dishonesty can have a far more negative effect on friendship than honesty.

If honest opinions and true feelings damage the friendship, you can rely on forgiveness. Most friends are willing to forgive each other when they think they have been wronged. Maybe you learn a lesson about how to be honest in a nicer way. Maybe your friend learns to be less sensitive to other people’s opinions. Either way, forgiveness strengthens the friendship and makes it more durable. Don’t hold back the truth to avoid losing your friend, because a true friend will eventually understand that you have her best interests at heart and forgive you.

Honesty can be delivered to a friend in a non-threatening way that makes him more open to receive it. Many times friends avoid telling the truth because they think it is too harsh. They don’t want to hurt or embarrass a friend. It is possible to deliver an honest message if it is done with compassion and understanding. Offer the truth to a friend in the form of an idea or a question. “Maybe you were….” “Have you ever thought of…?” “What if you…?” This approach gives the friend the opportunity to come to the truth himself without you telling him what to think or what he should do. It is honest, but gentle. Besides, you may be mistaking your opinion for the truth anyway.

It really is possible to be completely honest in a friendship, but you have to be willing to trust that your friend will appreciate your honesty. You need to learn to deliver an honest opinion in a considerate way, and to believe in your friend’s capacity to forgive you when you get it wrong.


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下面是一篇参考范文，但是请注意，这篇文章有些偏题，写完才发现（汗！）。但一些关于 friendship的关键词句的表达方式还是可以借鉴的，请大家看的时候注意一下：Complete honesty is difficult under many circumstances. People, concerned about how other people perceive them, willingly lie to protect their image. However, in a genuine and enduring friendship, friends allow each other to be honest and true to themselves. This kind of relationship based on complete honesty is possible as long as each friend possesses courage, responsibility, and forgiveness.

If friends are courageous enough, they are willing to share the truth about even the smallest things. Your friend asks your opinion of a terrible poem she wrote. He wants to know if you were invited to a party he wasn’t. She says she hates someone you like and asks if you agree. He wants to know if a particular girl is interested in him when you know she isn’t. She’s mean to her mother in front of you, and it embarrasses you. Being honest when you know it means hurting your friend’s feelings takes courage.

If you are completely honest in your friendship, there will be a lot of opportunities for you to both learn to take responsibility for your own feelings. When you are angry that she couldn’t use her employee discount for your purchase, jealous that she won the award you thought was yours, or sad that she chose a different college than you did, those feelings are your own. She is not responsible for changing the circumstances of life to suit your feelings. Conversely, you are not responsible for her feelings. This doesn’t mean you can’t have compassion for one another, it means that you don’t need to fix the situation.

Forgiveness will undoubtedly play a big part of a completely honest friendship. When you care enough about a person to commit to this level of honesty in the friendship, feelings will get hurt. Mistakes will be made. Forgive him if he talks about you behind your back out of anger. Ask for forgiveness if you lie to him to avoid doing something he wants you to do. You will both get many opportunities to forgive and be forgiven, but with each new situation you will both learn a little more and your friendship will grow a little stronger.


Being an honest person in your friendships will help you develop other characteristics of courage, responsibility, and forgiveness. Let your friendships be safe places to become a better person. Be courageous and don’t sacrifice honesty to friendship; you can have both.

8179

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Governments should focus their budgets more on environmental protection than on economic development.

sample answer: (393 words)

With the world economy struggling more than it has for decades, many people argue that it is time for the environment to take a backseat while governments concentrate on improving their citizens’ financial situations. In my opinion this is an irresponsible approach in the long-term as it is always important for governments to protect the environment.

Secondly, it has been stressed for decades that it is important to save the world for future generations. It is only now that people are experiencing financial difficulties that they are reconsidering their priorities, a hypocrisy which may have serious consequences. Governments often bend to popular opinions that will get them re-elected, but perhaps these opinions are temporary and will change once the economic crisis is over. Of course we hope that the economy will improve soon, but perhaps by that time it will be too late for the environment to recover, so governments need to think to the future.


Finally, no country exists in a vacuum; how one country treats the environment has a great impact on others. For example, countries that create a lot of pollution are contributing to global warming, with disastrous consequences across the world. Therefore, each government has a wider responsibility and it is essential that they work on increasing clean industry and raising environmental awareness to protect life on a global scale.

Ultimately I disagree that governments should focus their budgets more on economic development than on environmental protection. However, it is not a case of choosing one above the other. Instead they need to consider how the two can go hand-in-hand, by investing in environmentally-friendly industries and co-operating with other countries to improve economies and maintain the environment worldwide.

8704

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is not necessary for university students to attend classes as long as they can pass their examinations.

sample answer (447 words):

With today’s technological advances and the wide variety of means for learning, it is now possible for students to complete a course or even earn a university degree without having to attend classes. Some university students only take examinations at the end of the term because they only need a passing grade to earn the credits necessary for graduation. However, I would argue that university students need to attend lectures and classes regardless of their capability to pass examinations.

Being able to pass an examination does not necessarily mean a student has fully commanded the knowledge and skills being taught in the classroom. Many examinations focus on testing students’ memorization of basic facts only; they do not measure how well the students have understood a concept or how well they can apply that concept in real-life situations. Classroom teaching, on the other hand, provides the lecturer’s explanation and analysis on the topic being studied, so by taking classes students are able to truly understand what they are learning. We can take the example of a


medical student, who has completed every required examination successfully, without taking the majority of the lessons. A smart student indeed, but he is not likely to become a trusted doctor or a reliable pharmacist when he enters the medical profession.

Classroom experience is valuable for students’ future jobs. The collegiate level of learning is entirely different from learning at the elementary and secondary education level. Collegiate level learning requires a large amount of collaboration among students. For example, students need to have group discussions during class or work on a group project after class. Those experiences teach them how to listen others’ ideas and how to work within a team, which are vital job skills to have in any work environment in the present society. A student who is only good at taking exams but is not able to work with others well is not likely to be welcomed in the job market. Furthermore, the skills in learning to proofread, work on rough drafts, etc. are also extremely useful as students will learn first-hand how to work through the process once they are in the job field.

Anyone can memorize a few facts and figures and pass an examination, but to pass the class and walk away with not only the book knowledge but also the skills to learn how to apply these concepts should be the goal of every collegiate level learner. Making adult choices in life are a lot harder than most teens truly can grasp, but having some guidance from peers and professors while learning along the way can provide valuable insight into the various real life decision-making skills.

8295

Which way do you think is the best for a student to make new friends? 1. joing a sports team 2. participate in community activities 3. traveling

sample answer（410 words）


Friendship is an important aspect of life at all stages, but particularly so for young people. In youth, people forge friendships that have the potential to last a lifetime. Even though childhood friends are often separated as adults by distance and the demands of life, they nonetheless maintain a special bond with the friends they had when they were young. There are many ways for young people to make friends. One way is by participating in some sort of community activity. Another way is to travel and meet many different kinds of people. One particularly effective way to make friends, however, is by joining a sports team. By playing sports, one can meet a variety of people, work cooperatively with them, and develop the kind of rapport that comes from struggling to achieve success.

By joining a sports team, one is sure to meet a broad range of people who share similar interests. Depending upon the type of team, one might meet dozens of new people, many of whom could be potential friends. In order to develop friendships, people must have regular contact with each other. Sports teams generally meet several times a week, thereby giving people ample opportunities to get to know one another.

When playing sports, one develops a special rapport with other team members that comes from the struggle of competition. Sports games are often very intense, with each team member giving all of his or her energy towards winning the game. In the process of working together to gain a favorable outcome, team members develop a kind of cohesion that is conducive to forming lasting friendships.

While there are certainly many ways of making friends, playing sports is among the most effective. One can meet many new people, have regular contact with them, and develop the kinds positive and constructive relationships that come from working together to accomplish a common goal. In doing so, one has the potential to make lasting friendships that will be of great value throughout life.


8337

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Nowadays it is easier to maintain good health than in the past.

sample answer （495 words）：The need to maintain good health has always been a serious concern for people throughout human history. Although attitudes and understandings about what good health is have changed over the centuries, people at all times and places have known that being healthy is vitally important not only to the quality of one’s life, but also to the overall productivity of society. Achieving and maintaining good health is easier today than it has been in the past for three reasons. First, people have greater knowledge about health-related matters than they did in previous centuries. Second, people in many countries have greater access to health care than they did in the past. Third, there is greater interest among people in active lifestyles than in earlier times.

In addition to increased knowledge, people also have greater access to health care services than in the past. While it is true that, in several places around the world, many people do not have adequate medical care, the modern world still offers more health care options today than at any other time in history. As noted above, widespread immunization has caused many diseases, like polio and smallpox, to disappear entirely. Also, there is more attention to preventative care, with annual physical examinations and


check-ups used to identify potential health problems. There are also a growing number of drugs and medications that can be used to treat diseases and fight infections.

Another reason it is easier to maintain good health today is that there is greater interest among people in sports and exercise. An active lifestyle is important to staying healthy. A regular fitness regimen, whether it involves playing on a sports team, running, bicycling, or some other activity, is essential to maintaining a proper weight and keeping one’s body physically fit. In many countries, fitness clubs and gymnasiums are widely available to those who wish to make regular exercise a part of their lives.

Even though there are greater opportunities for people to cultivate good health today, individuals must still take personal responsibility for their well-being. Increased knowledge and greater access to health care are important, but ultimately individuals must practice healthy habits on a daily basis. No amount of knowledge will be helpful unless one is willing to put that knowledge into action. The rewards for doing so are numerous, not the least of which are longevity, greater prosperity, and a higher overall quality of life.

8885

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is more important for schools to fund their students’ social activities than to improve students’ meals.

sample answer by www.doufublog.com (396 words)

Nowadays, schools are responsible for much more than just supplying an academic education. They also have to look after their students’ physical health and mental well-being. While this covers several very important areas, for me the most important is funding their social activities.

The first reason for this is that it is essential that students do not see their school solely as a place to study. If this is the case, they will soon become bored and unenthusiastic about the institution in general and their


academic studies in particular. When social activities such as dances, plays, and excursions are funded, students’ interest in the school will increase. They will be proud of their school and want to achieve high results in all areas, including their grades, to raise its reputation. Furthermore, the activities will bring students together and build new friendships, making everyday life much more enjoyable and improving the general atmosphere.

Finally, providing healthy and substantial meals is the responsibility of a child’s family, and it is something that most parents are able to provide. However, many parents find social activities difficult to get right. The mothers and fathers of shy or awkward children struggle to help them socialize, while those of rebellious teenagers find their children difficult to control and are either too lenient or too strict. The school, on the other hand, is more experienced at dealing with these problems and can help everyone to integrate.

In conclusion, funding social activities should be made a priority for any school. They are extremely beneficial to academic motivation, help students acquire new skills, and provide a safe but fun environment for them to make friends and grow as people.

8927

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Nowadays, neighbors depend on each other less than they did in the past.


There is no doubt that times have changed enormously over the last few decades and that we are more in touch with the wider world than ever before. However, does this mean we are less dependent on the people who live nearest us? In my opinion it does.

Firstly, many of the things we used to rely on our neighbors for are now available round the clock from other sources. For example, we would go to our neighbors if we ran out of something like milk or bread, but now many shops are open for very long hours, from small supermarkets, to gas stations, to 24 hour pharmacies. We used to depend on our neighbors to protect our houses by noticing strangers in the area, but now we have cameras and more complicated burglar alarms to take their place.

Secondly, we now have more means of communication than in the past, and it is much easier to reach other friends when we need help. If we have an accident, for example, we can easily call the cell phone of a close friend or family member rather than try to reach a neighbor for help. Furthermore, our friends are able to come to our assistance much more quickly now that more people have cars. In the times before cell phones, it would have been harder to make contact and then taken a long time for them to get to us without direct transportation.

Finally, we have gradually chosen to depend less on our neighbors. In today’s society people tend to be less trusting of people we do not know well. We build communities with people who share our interests rather than those who live near us. In addition, in the past people stayed in the same home for years, whereas now many of our lives are more transient, so there is little reason to get to know our neighbors well and come to trust them.

In conclusion, the combination of changes to technology, communication and everyday culture mean that we do depend on our neighbors less than in the past. This is partly because we choose not to, and partly because a lot of us do not see the need. To me, it seems sad that we no longer build close, reliable relationships with the people who live close by, and perhaps we should make the effort to do so.

8101


Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Working at home using computers or telephones is better than working in the office.

sample answer (346 words):

As human society has developed, methods of working have evolved for increasing efficiency. Today, many people maintain that the traditional mode of working in an office does not fit the demands of modern life. Many people prefer working at home using computers and telephones. However, working in an office has irreplaceable functions and definite merits.

First, working in an office benefits people by allowing them to focus their energy. The environment in which people perform activities is important. For example, studying is often most efficient when it occurs in class, running is often faster on an athletic track, and driving is more rapid on a highway. Similarly, work tends to be more efficient and professional in an office. People typically feel that they should do work when they are in an office surrounded by colleagues. In contrast, when working at home, people experience less pressure to perform. The environment of home makes

people more relaxed, thereby reducing the efficiency of work. (剩余段落VIP

用户登录后可阅读）Second, working in an office makes communication among coworkers more personal. Communication is a significant aspect of working. By communicating in person at work, one can form relationships and receive important information. Relationships and information are crucial to a person’s career. When interacting face to face in an office, people have opportunities to gain critical information about their trade and market that they would not have if they worked at home.

Moreover, working in an office is convenient and can cut down on unnecessary expenses. An office has a full set of working accommodations. Workers can use any appliance they need in an office, whereas if they work in home, they may have to buy their own equipment. In this way, working at home wastes money and resources. Furthermore, professionals in some fields cannot buy their own equipment. For example, doctors cannot buy all the tools they need. Therefore, working in an office is convenient.


It cannot be denied that working at home has certain advantages, such as developing fast and unlimited in scope. However, compared with working in an office, it has more drawbacks.

8360

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Students can get as many benefits from organization or club activities as they can get from their academic studies.

sample answer:

Students today tend to lead very busy lives. They must attend classes and do all sorts of schoolwork, but they also have numerous opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities such as clubs and student organizations. Much disagreement exists among people as to the role that extracurricular activities should play in a student’s life. Some argue that a student’s focus should be solely on academics. Others, however, maintain that a student needs to be involved in extracurricular activities in order to lead a well-balanced life. There are many benefits that come with being involved in a student organization or club in addition to those that come from doing well in academics. Among them are opportunities to develop good social skills, lasting friendships, and practical skills that, although not taught in academic classes, are nonetheless important to success in life.

A second benefit of participating in extracurricular activities is the opportunity to make friends. Lasting friendships are an invaluable part of living a happy life. Quite often, a classroom setting is not the best environment for making friends, as students are expected to concentrate on


the instructor and focus their attention on the subject being taught. By contrast, a club is a much more relaxed and casual setting, and there is usually more time to socialize. Clubs also bring people together who share similar interests, which is important when forming friendships.

A third benefit of extracurricular activities is that they often allow students to develop practical skills that may be useful later in life. For example, a student who participates in a debating club has many opportunities to practice the skills of effective reasoning and persuasion, which could be of great value in a future career. Similarly, a student who belongs to a service organization will learn much about caring for members of his or her community, and the need to help others who are less fortunate.

The principal goal of education is to bring students into adulthood with all of the skills they need to function effectively in society. This means being well rounded. One must be proficient in various academic subjects, but one must also be adept at working with others and cooperating towards a common goal, as these are aspects of daily life. The most effective approach to education is one that balances all of these needs. Students, therefore, are well advised to work hard on their academic studies, while also making time for participation in activities outside of the classroom.

8776

When you are assigned an important presentation for work or school, do you prefer to work on it right away so that you can work on it a little bit every day, or wait until you have a good idea about the presentation?

sample answer by www.doufublog.com （400 words）Everybody takes a different approach to preparing any kind of assignment, from essays to presentations. Some like to begin as soon as they learn about the project, while others wait for inspiration to strike. There are benefits to both of these, but personally I prefer to start quickly, for several reasons.


Firstly, it is best to start while the topic is fresh in my mind. When left for a few days, my enthusiasm for the subject dims, and maintaining enthusiasm is vital to giving a good presentation. If I immediately make notes of my thoughts and opinions, on the other hand, my interest stays alive. This also ensures I do not forget or neglect any instructions given by a manager or teacher, or any information I have learned from a prior lesson or meeting.

Very few people do their best work in a short space of time. We need breaks to give our minds a rest, so the majority of people will get better results if they work on an assignment a little every day. It is certainly beneficial for me to write a draft that I can re-evaluate later, as reading it with fresh eyes can provide a new perspective. Furthermore, giving a presentation requires more than good content and wording. It means putting across your ideas effectively, with good timing and delivery. Re-reading my work from the previous day helps me to hear how it actually sounds and how it can be improved.

Ultimately, I know myself and I have learned from past mistakes. If I delay beginning my preparation, I will procrastinate indefinitely and have to work very quickly on the night before the presentation is due. I have therefore learned to set on-going deadlines, deciding what I want to achieve on each day and ensuring that I do not try to cram all the work into a few hours.

8768

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Young people nowadays do not respect their teachers as much as they did in the past.


sample answer by www.doufublog.com， 414 words

The educational system has changed drastically in the last few decades. One result of those changes is that today’s students do not respect their teachers as much as they did in the past. In part, this trend can be attributed to the decline of corporal punishment, a change in the learning environment, and to the prevalence of high-paying jobs that do not require an education.

Furthermore, contemporary classroom curricula have expanded hugely since the mid twentieth century which allows a student’s individual talents and skills to emerge freely. Students and teachers have much more interaction using applied technologies that help students grow intellectually. The rapport between teachers and students may lead many students to place themselves at an equal rather than subordinate position with their teachers. Students in this kind of learning environment tend to view respect as unnecessary. By contrast, in classical education in the past, classroom teaching was rigid, unimaginative and often indoctrinatory, which demanded students to act with respect toward teachers, even if the teachers were unpleasant or not good at their jobs.

Finally, many high-paying jobs in the present day do not require an education. Entry level positions in the natural gas industry, for example, do not call for advanced degrees because most of the work is manual labor. Thus, students are convinced that they will not need any of the skills that educators teach. The material is rendered useless and so is each student’s respect for the one who imparts it (the teacher).


Unfortunately, teachers are not respected as much as they once were. It does not benefit anyone when teachers are stripped of their authority and respect. They may become powerless to penalize disobedient students, less effective when imparting knowledge, and the appeal of high-paying manual labor positions undermines the role that education is meant to play in students’ lives.

8912Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Teachers’ performance should be evaluated by students rather than by other teachers.

sample answer by www.doufublog.com (400 words)

Teachers have one of the most important jobs in the world, passing knowledge and inspiration to generation after generation. However, no teacher is perfect, and as in any job their performance must be evaluated throughout their career. In my opinion, the best way to find out what kind of teacher they are is to go directly to the students.

The first reason for this is that students see their teacher at work all the time, and how they explain different topics on a day-to-day basis. Other teachers, on the other hand, only come to observe lessons from time to time, perhaps once a term. On these occasions the class teacher can organise their timetable so that they are teaching about something they are very familiar and comfortable with, hoping to give the observer a good impression. For example, an English teacher who is very experienced and good at teaching vocabulary but not good at giving explanations of complex grammar is fairly likely to avoid a lesson which includes a lot of grammar. Of course, on the other hand, a teacher might be made very nervous by observations and give a lesson that is inferior to their typical work.

The other way that teachers judge each other’s work is by looking at test scores. However, this is a very fallible system. Every class is different; they might be working at a lower or higher level than usual because of individual intelligence or motivation, not because of something particularly bad or good that the teacher has done. It is only the students who know how much the teacher is contributing to their progress.

Some people would argue that students are less qualified to evaluate their teacher’s performance because they


have less experience of doing so. However, with some guidance from school staff I believe every class would give extremely valuable evaluations. This would then be shared with senior teachers, who could help the class teacher improve their work accordingly.

9031

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The rules that the whole society today expect young people to follow are too strict.

sample answer by www.doufublog.com

In my view, the rules that society as a whole expect young people to follow are not too strict. I can’t possibly agree that today’s generation have strict rules because their attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs are far removed from the expectations of traditional society. Society should actually establish and enforce stricter codes of conduct for these young people.

Today, young people’s attitudes are either negative or indifferent to the rules of society, and they need some adjusting. Young people should be required to follow some general rules of society, such as respect for their parents, teachers and elders, refrain from using profane language in public, and avoid being exposed to drugs, booze, and the bad kids.

If we do not put the bad behavior in check that young people exhibit today, we will soon have nothing but lawlessness reigning in our society. For example, young people will be able to do anything that they want to do, and there will be few, if any consequences, in place to deal with the behaviors. Already, young people walk around with their underwear showing, listening to music laced with profanity, drinking and smoking in public, and showing no respect for rules. Without a doubt, young people misunderstand how a civilized society should operate.


In conclusion, the rules of society are meant to help improve young people’s attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs about the way that society runs, and their role in it. I do not believe the rules are too strict. In fact, I believe that as a society, we are falling short in our responsibilities to young people. Our lack of enforcement of even simple rules, not strict ones, has created a generation of young people with a sense of entitlement.

9044

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? In the past young people depended on their parents for making decisions. Today, young people are better able to make decisions on their own.


I agree that young people today are better able to make decisions on their own, because they have more knowledge, experiences, and resources. Therefore, when compared to young people in the past, today’s young people do not depend as much on their parents to help them to make decisions. They know how to make many different types of decisions, they have had experience in going through decision making processes, and many resources are available to help them make informative decisions on their own.

First of all, young people have a strong background knowledge on how to make many different types of decisions, such as how to choose their own style of clothes, the kind of foods they like, what movies they prefer, who should they trust to be their friends, and what books they like to read. Making day to day decisions gives young people skills and experiences to


use in the decision making process. The decision making process requires considerations before making a final decision.

Next, the experiences that young people have in going through the decision making processes helps them to determine the pros and cons of their choices. A process is a way of thinking and doing something to achieve the desired results. For many young people, they like to have input into the possible choices available to them. Participation in a decision making process validates young people’s ability to make decisions on their own.

Finally, when examining the resources that young people can access today, compared to years ago, young people today can get information and advice with a call or a click. The Internet has numerous websites that provide details about decisions that young people are most interested. For example, they can learn how to apply for college, how to get scholarships and grants, what are the best schools for their major interest. Getting the latest up-to-date information and facts available ensures that young people can make timely decisions on their own very quickly.

All in all, the evidence strongly supports my position that young people are in a better position to make decisions on their own, because they have more knowledge, experience with the decision making process, and tons of resources online and offline that can assist them in making informed decisions alone without depending on their parents. While some decisions that young people made in the past are still left up to them today, the important thing is that young people are more empowered to decide for themselves.

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Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents should spend more time playing games or sports activities with their children rather than helping them with school work.


When examining whether parents should spend more time playing games and sports activities or helping with school work, it’s really not difficult to


decide. School work supports classroom instruction—the backbone of learning. Therefore, I disagree with the statement that parents should spend more time playing games and sports activities with their children rather than helping them with school work. I think when school work is assigned, it should be a parent’s priority to see that their children practice, study, and understand it.

To begin with, parents have a responsibility to his or her child’s education, so they should oversee that their children finish the required school work in time. Teachers assign homework for a reason, and parents should know that their help is required to ensure that children practice their homework, whether it’s math problems, spelling words, vocabulary definitions, or reading exercises. For instance, parents who oversee their children’s homework send a strong message to them that homework is important and must be completed before any time is allowed for playing games or sports activities. Children get their clues from parents about their value of homework in the home.

Second, nowadays school work tends to be increasingly difficult, so it is sometimes necessary for adults to be involved and offer certain help. Many teachers assign homework that needs intensive research or requires additional resources to complete. For example, a very popular school work is asking students to film an interesting event or experience and share it with other classmates. It is believed that this can help children learn about each other better. However, this requires parents to teach their children how to handle a video camera.

Of course, playing games or sports activities is also important for children. For example, playing chess improves children’s ability to think strategically, and playing football benefits children’s physical growth and teaches them competition and cooperation. However, it’s better for children to do these activities with other children rather than with adults because parents tend to overprotect their children so children cannot truly enjoy these activities.

Therefore, without a doubt, I maintain that parents should place working on homework above playing games or sport activities with their children. From the beginning of the school year, it should be very clear that homework is more important than playing games or sports activities, especially if there are learning deficits.


9209

Should the government support artists or should artists support themselves?


The government should support artists who contribute their skills and talents to improve their community. In my view, art is a necessity for a better quality of life. So, if the government supports artists whose works promote a better quality of life, then our environments will be more beautiful, people will be happier, and we don’t have to worry about “starving artists”.

First of all, let’s take a look at our environments. If we look outside, we can see so much beauty that accompanies nature. Skilled artists have built sculptures, painted pictures, and drawings that signify the advancements of civilization, and tell a rich story of a culture’s history. These artifacts will become an invaluable part of the history that will be passed down to generations later. Thus, the beauty that is built today will be honored tomorrow. It’s not just the beauty; it’s how we feel when we look at beauty. The good thing about art is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Second, people seem to be generally happier when they are able to visualize the things in their environment. Having something pretty to look at generally aids in improving the overall happiness level. For example, if someone is depressed, being able to see a lovely painting or drawing will instantly give them a better feeling, and sometimes a sense of hope. The government should be able to support artists who work to make their environment more comfortable and creative.

Third, an even more important reason for the government to support artists is because we have too many “starving artists” who are extremely talented, but who can’t find regular day jobs like other professions. Therefore, their income is often very sporadic, and unpredictable, so it’s really difficult to budget and make a decent living. The word “starving artists” evokes images of artists who are “dying.” However, what’s really happening is that “art


itself” is slowly dying. Therefore, governments can save art and the artists with support that stimulates the environment and the economy.

Finally, imagine a world without art. That would be a world with no beauty, and no happiness. That would be a world starving for art. Therefore, to keep our environments beautiful, whether inside or outside, on the floor, wall, or ceiling, it’s imperative that government provide some much needed support for artists who often labor long for little pay. To enable artists to share their gifts and talents and to contribute to the betterment of the community, government support of artists should ensure that we never have to live in a dull, colorless, and shapeless world.

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Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? We can learn about a person from the books and movies which this person likes.


I agree that the books and movies that a person watches can teach us about their likes and dislikes, inspirations and dreams, and fears and feelings. Books and movies are powerful teaching sources. These should never be under or over estimated. There is a saying that ‘you can’t judge a book by its cover.’ However, it’s my opinion that I can make some assumptions about the reader or the viewer—even if the assumptions are simple in nature. For example, determining the type of genre that a reader or movie watcher enjoys can only give us limited information. But, dig a little deeper, and one is sure to determine some patterns arising if you regularly review the booklists and movie playlists of a person.


Second, as a teaching source, books can show a person’s dreams and inspiration. For instance, if someone loves to read drawing books, he or she probably loves to draw, and reading these kinds of books will enable them to have a source of inspiration to practice. Let’s say someone loves reading books about houses, they probably have some kind of desire to have a beautiful home.

Third, certain kinds of books and movies can lead one to certain conclusions about a person’s fears and feelings. Fears of spiders, snakes, and other things can come forth when a person is confronted with reading or viewing some of these creatures on a movie. Even though nothing can physically do harm in a book or movie, the thoughts and feelings are likely to live inside the person for some time.

In conclusion, although a person’s complete personality can’t be judged on a book or movie alone, it can certainly give us some ideas about one’s likes and dislikes, dreams and inspirations, fears and feelings. Therefore, what one reads and watches reveals so much more information about oneself than perhaps can be imagined.


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