Cambridge IELTS Book 2 Essays

2. Millions of people every year move to English-speaking countries such as Australia,

Britain or America, in order to study at school, college or university. Why do so many
people want to study in English? Why is English such an important international
language?
Why do so many people want to study in English?
1. English is the most commonly spoken language in the world. One out of five people can
speak or at least understand English!
2. English is the language of science, of aviation, computers, diplomacy, and tourism. Knowing
English increases your chances of getting a good job in a multinational company within your
home country or of finding work abroad.
3. English is the official language of 53 countries. That is a lot of people to meet and speak to.
4. English is spoken as a first language by around 400 million people around the world.
5. English is the language of the media industry. If you speak English, you wont need to rely
on translations and subtitles anymore to enjoy your favourite books, songs, films and TV
shows.
6. English is also the language of the Internet. Many websites are written in English you will
be able to understand them and to take part in forums and discussions.
7. English is based on a simple alphabet and it is fairly quick and easy to learn compared to
other languages.
8. English is not only useful it gives you a lot of satisfaction. Making progress feels great.
You will enjoy learning English, if you remember that every hour you spend gets you closer
to perfection.
9. Since English is spoken in so many different countries there are thousands of schools around
the world that offer programmes in English. If you speak English, therere lots of
opportunities for you to find an appropriate school and course to suit your academic needs.
10. Because its fun! By learning English, you will also learn about other cultures. Few
experiences will make you grow as a person more than learning the values, habits and way of
life in a culture that is different from yours.
Why is English such an important international language?
1. Its the most commonly spoken language in the world
Depending a bit on how you count, in addition to the approximately 400 million native speakers,
English is understood and/or spoken by 1-1.6 billion people. With over a quarter of the world
speaking the language, theres always someone to practice with, especially when you travel.
2. Its the language of international business
With world business headquarters, predominantly in the financial hubs of the UK and USA,
English has long been the default language of trade. Therefore, English is the dominant business
language and it has become almost a necessity for people to speak English if they are to enter a
global workforce, research from all over the world shows that cross-border business
communication is most often conducted in English. Its importance in the global market place
therefore cannot be understated, learning English really can change your life.
3. Most movies are in English
Hollywood is a powerhouse of global entertainment, so its natural that English would become
the main language for movie-making. Sure, the movies are often dubbed over or subtitled but
theyre really best enjoyed in the language in which they were intended.
4. Its easy to learn
This is debatable depending on who you speak to, but its generally accepted that English isnt
the most taxing language to get to grips with. The vocabulary is simple to grasp and it has
developed throughout different languages regarding its evolution. Therefore, many speakers of
those languages can see where concepts in English originated from and fast adapt to understand
the basics of English.
5. It helps you understand other languages
English has a long and fascinating history that spans wars, invasions and influences from around
the globe. Cultures that have helped shape modern English include Romans, Vikings and the
French. For this reason, its a hybrid language comprised of Latin, Germanic and Romance
elements.
6. You can say things in a hundred different ways
One of Englishs best assets is its flexibility: you can often find many different ways to explain
the same thing thanks to its wide range of vocabulary. Its said to have well over 750,000
words (depending a bit on how you count some generous estimates put that number at 1
million) and is adding new ones every year.
7. It can be used around the world
English is also hugely important as an international language and plays an important part even in
countries where the UK has historically had little influence. It is learnt as the principal foreign
language in most schools in Western Europe. It is also an essential part of the curriculum in far-
flung places like Japan and South Korea, and is increasingly seen as desirable by millions of
speakers in China. Therefore, if you have the basics of English language you can make yourself
understood in nearly every corner of the world.
8. Its really flexible
Non-native English speakers who learn it as a second language often comment on how many
ways there are to say things. Thats because English doesnt discriminate you can use it
however you like. Countries like Singapore have taken this concept to heart, inventing an
entirely new type of English called Singlish that has absorbed facets of other languages like
Chinese and Malay.
9. Its the language of the internet
Most of the content produced on the internet (50%) is in English. So knowing English will allow
you access to an incredible amount of information which may not be otherwise available.
10. It continues to change
Selfie, Hash tagging, Blogging, Smasual, etc. All these words are new to the English language
but have already become valued members of the lexicon. More than any other language, English
continues to evolve and absorb new words that branch out often untranslated into other
languages. Every year approximately more than 1.000 new and approved words are added to the
Oxford Dictionary. This tremendous development is the result due to technology, Social Media
and how people spontaneously coin new words during daily life.

Cambridge IELTS Book 3 Essays

4. Some people believe that children's leisure activities must be educational, otherwise they
are a complete waste of time. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and
include any relevant examples from your experience.
Hobbies and leisure activities can be beneficial in a variety of ways. Take a look at some of these
beneficial factors and examples of hobbies based upon the benefits you would like to reap!!
Enhance the Immune System: Being active is great for the body in helping to enhance
ones immune system. As a report from Aging Home Health Care states, Physical
activity can help prevent or maintain control in some chronic illnesses such as: heart
disease, diabetes arthritis, and even some types of cancer. Physical activity done over a
consistent period can also help in improve overall quality of life and assist in
longevity. Examples: Exercising, playing games, horseshoes, golf, bike riding, or
basketball. (All sports can be altered for different levels of physical function abilities)
Improve Flexibility: Moving can assist in stretching muscles and in turn improve
flexibility. Try doing some active hobbies such as these to get moving. Examples: Wii
Games, walking, Yoga, stretching, swimming, painting, Tai Chi or dancing.
Improve Memory: Many hobbies will challenge your mental abilities and enhance your
problem-solving skills. Most hobbies also offer mental stimulation in reference to
completing the task. Examples: Word searches, Crossword Puzzles, Brain games,
Soduko, or Card games.
Reduce stress: Most people pursue hobbies because they enjoy them, and many things
that we enjoy doing help relieve stress in our lives. Some of these ideas may also help
create a calm atmosphere to reduce stress. Examples: Cooking or baking, gardening,
taking a walk, singing, reading, or playing a musical instrument.
Improve self-esteem: Some hobbies even involve other people which can create social
opportunities and improve self-esteem! Examples: Card games, board games, shopping,
knitting, or scrapbooking.
Better Quality Sleep: Being more active during the day helps create a more restful
nights sleep. Just be sure to do more active hobbies earlier in the day so you can be sure
to have enough time to wind down before bed.
Leisure gives us a sense of purpose for living for its own sake. (Dattilo, 2002)
Leisure allows for the development of skills not only for a particular activity, but also for
those useful in other aspects of life.
Leisure facilitates independence and growth.
 Leisure experiences develop a sense of competence because it provides individuals with
freedom of choice.
Leisure allows for the discovery of who we truly are and what we can become free of
others labels and stigmas.
Leisure experiences will positively influence ones perception of himself or herself.
Leisure empowers one to clarify their values and determine what is worth doing.
First, lets look at a misconception about leisure. Leisure or free time is often narrowly
thought of as kicking back, relaxing, taking it easy. But leisure is far more.

Leisure is self-determination, identity development and empowerment. Think of how

great you felt after hitting a home run in Little League baseball or after coaching
participants for the Special Olympic Summer Games.

Leisure is social engagement and social support; time with loved ones, friends and family
filled with healing banter and laughter.

Leisure is designated time. Camping weekends and annual beach holidays come to mind,
replete with anticipation, shared memories and important time for reflection.

Leisure is distractions like lunch with friends and jokes around the office coffee pot,
times that foster positive emotions, improve mood, encourage optimism and help us cope
with daily hassles.

Leisure is ritualized and life affirming, like a wedding or college graduation. And leisure
is years of life satisfaction from collecting memorabilia, training dogs or perfecting a fly-
fishing cast.

Most important, leisure is a lifelong font of mental, physical and social health; time to
foster wellness, to protect from lifes bumps and bruises and to contribute to quality of
life. And, if this does not convince of leisures merits, leisure is big business by some
measures the worlds largest industry.

5. It is generally accepted that families are not as closed as they used to be. Give some
reasons why this change has happened and suggest how families could be brought closer
together.
The reasons for the dissolution of the central family are many: Work: families once sustained
themselves by farming, keeping the family unit in one piece, home together. Industrialization
caused the creation of cities, where manufacturing required central distribution. Family members
left for work in these cities for the money and opportunities available that cities provided to
accommodate the needs of the large population there to work and prosper. Fewer led agrarian
lives.
Eventually transportation advances led to manufacturing closer to home, but creating that
infrastructure also both required travel, and beckoned with travel. As money supplanted labor
and goods as the direct medium of exchange, people gained the desire to explore, outfit with
cash-bought goods and transportation. The social systems supporting families began to dissolve
with the advent of the industrial revolution.
Advances in communication technology made the world smaller in the sense that
communication was easier further away and faster. It also transferred knowledge, of facts and
opportunities, which led people farther afield. In short, families have lost closeness because the
protections, learning, and safety they offered were now also available in the outer world, which
was easier and faster to get to.

This process has progressed beyond anyone's comprehension at the onset of the Industrial
Revolution, and put us where we are today. The frameworks of family, both social and moral,
still remain important to well-adjusted people, but our societies' advances, like those of
medicine, have advanced far faster than our social, scrupulous, and emotional abilities to deal
with them. This invariably leads to a longing for the nuclear family unit. We've gained so much,
though, we can't go back. All we can do is reconcile what we have, what we want, what we are
offered, and what we are capable of achieving with the feelings of expected love and and
nurturing we may have lost.
I believe the immediate answer is, wherever we are, to lavish lots of attention on family and
friends; extra attention. We are in charge of dispensing love and happiness, all of us. If we keep
this firmly in our mind as essential, we will have simply gained a larger, more healthy family.

One additional disclosure: I am an atheist. Religious-minded individuals may have substantially

more to offer that will augment what I've described, if they agree with my premises.
Cambridge IELTS Book 6 Essays
8. Some people think it would be a good idea for schools to teach every young person how to be
a good parent. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion? Describe the skills a person needs to
be a good parent.
Skills Needed for Parenting

If only there was a single, definitive parenting handbook. Even a thick textbook full of lengthy
chapters would be easier to handle than the hands-on demands of actual parenting. Since families
come from all different cultures, parenting is truly a learn-as-you-go process that cant be
standardized to fit everyones needs. No one ever said parenting was easy, but parents who are
skilled in a few special areas may find their journey to be at least slightly easier.
Financial Awareness
When people find out they are going to become parents, money becomes more of an issue than
ever before. From the expense of doctors appointments, to the cost of the birth and hospital stay,
the baby food, diapers, toys, clothes and a college education, having children is pricey. Couples
who have the luxury of planning out every pregnancy will be able to establish some financial
decisions -- such as whos going to stay with baby during the day -- in advance, but even those
couples arent guaranteed future financial security. A big part of family planning -- whether
planned far in advance or a surprise change of plans -- should involve writing down financial
goals. These should include goals for the near and distant future, as well as backup plans in case
life throws in some curve balls.
Communication Skills
Parents are the first people who shape a childs relationship with the world. They determine who
the child is in contact with, they show the child--whether intentionally or inadvertently--how to
speak and be spoken to, and they teach the child how to understand himself and others around
him. Parents with good communication skills should respect and encourage a childs uniqueness,
interact regularly with the child from birth through adolescence, encourage socialization with
others and show their child how to act in a courteous manner towards others. For example, using
polite language, making eye contact and taking turns in conversations.
Patience
While self-interest is an innate human trait, patience is a virtue that is learned over a lifetime. It
isnt always easy for a child to understand why she needs to take a bath when she would rather
be watching her favorite television show. To function in society, she will need to learn that she
wont get everything she wants unless she puts in some effort. Parents should initiate games that
require their child to take turns, give their child a small allowance so that she may earn some of
her toys, and occasionally take their child away from the gotta have it now culture of modern
technology by taking her fishing or waiting to see a shooting star. Teaching children patience can
often be a big test of patience for parents as well. They should show her what patience looks like
by politely waiting for her to throw her impatient tantrums rather than instantly screaming at her.
Discipline
Children are constantly testing their boundaries and parents need to be the ones to respond
appropriately to this testing. A 2-year-old flushing jewelry down the toilet and a teenager taking
Dads car without permission should receive age-appropriate punishments. Consistent
punishments will give them a direct understanding of consequences and allow them to set their
own boundaries as adults.
Ability to Multitask
Being a parent means becoming a Jack or Jill-of-all-trades. Parents will have to play doctor or
nurse when it comes to helping heal boo-boos and knowing when to take a child to an actual
health-care professional. Parents will also need to play the role of manager or life coach to
schedule a childs wake-up times, nap times, mealtimes, extracurricular activities and sleep
times. Parents are also teachers from day one, whether they teach their child how to count or sing
their ABCs. Children watch their parents and, in turn, parents help to teach children how to
interact with other people.
These 10, listed in order from most to least important, predict a strong parent-child bond
and children's happiness, health, and success:
1. Love and affection. "You support and accept the child, are physically affectionate, and
spend quality one-on-one time together."
2. Stress Management. "You take steps to reduce stress for yourself and your child,
practice relaxation techniques, and promote positive interpretations of events."
3. Relationship skills. "You maintain a healthy relationship with your spouse, significant o
ther, or co-parent and model effective relationship skills with others."
4. Autonomy and Independence. "You treat your child with respect and encourage him or
her to become self-sufficient and self-reliant."
5. Education and learning. "You promote and model learning and provide educational
opportunities for your child."
6. Life skills. "You provide for your child, have a steady income, and plan for the future."
7. Behavior management. "You make extensive use of positive reinforcement and punish
only when other methods of managing behavior have failed."
8. Health. "You model a healthy lifestyle and good habits, such as regular exercise and
proper nutrition."
9. Religion. "You support spiritual or religious development and participate in spiritual or
religious activities."
10. Safety. "You take precautions to protect your child and maintain awareness of the child's
activities and friends."