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GAP YEAR
A gap year is an experiential semester or year "on," typically taken between high school and
college in order to deepen practical, professional, and personal awareness.

Gap Years originally started in the United Kingdom in the 1970's as a way to fill the 7 or 8 month
gap between final exams and the beginning of university. The intention in the UK for that time
was to contribute to the development of the student usually through an extended international
experience.

Gap Years came to the United States in the early 1980's through the work of Cornelius H. Bull,
founder of Interim Programs. Since its transition to the United States, Gap Years have taken on
a life of their own - now embodying every manner of program and opportunity imaginable, both
domestically and internationally, all with the shared purpose of increasing self-awareness,
learning about different cultural perspectives, and experimenting with future possible
careers. Since their broader acceptance into the American system of education, they have
served the added benefit of ameliorating a sense of academic burnout. In fact, in a recent study,
one of the two biggest reasons Gap Year students chose to take a Gap Year was precisely to
address academic burnout.

Since the 1980's many articles have been written about Gap Years, but perhaps most notably is
the article primarily attributed to Harvard's former Dean of Admissions, William Fitzsimmons
entitled "Time Out or Burn Out for The Next Generation." Since then, numerous books and
articles have been written, most famously: "The Gap Year Advantage" by Rae Nelson and Karl
Haigler. Please refer to our Reference Section for other great books and articles about Gap
Years in the US.

PRO: It'll make your resume look pretty snazzy

A gap year can provide a person with valuable new skills that any employer will be impressed
by. Cultural awareness, organization, and an ability to work independently are just some of the
skills that are gained by taking a year out.

CON: You'll be a year behind

This can be a tough one for many people. They wave as their friends all trek to college and start
their new lives and they are left behind. They can’t start their new adventure yet because they
don’t have the cash. This is easily offset by working hard and saving cash quickly in order to jet
off as soon as possible.

PRO: You'll meet new people

On a gap year it’s impossible not to meet new people. Throughout school and college we are
surrounded by the same folks but taking a gap year allows us to discover others, make new
friends, and interact with people from all walks of life.

CON: You'll be homesick

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It’s something that hits most of us at some point. Whether you're missing family, friends or
simply home comforts, you may find yourself wondering why you chose a life on the road. But
fear not! The joy of travel is that there is always somebody to meet and something to do. Power
through and you'll be glad you did.

PRO: You'll have tons of stories

After spending a year away the stories will mount up; these can be great conversation starters
in the interview room, at parties or, simply just to look back on and remember.

CON: It's a risk

Sure it is! But where do we get in life if we aren’t willing to take risks? This is what makes a gap
year so exciting; not knowing what to expect is all part of the adventure. The key is to take care
and travel with common sense. Fun fact: I've yet to meet a gap year traveler or career breaker
who "regretted" their decision to hit the road.

PRO: It’s a long escape from the daily grind

A gap year, for most people, is the period of non-traditional life that you'll ever have. It is often a
once in a lifetime experience and the chance to escape the daily grind. However, if planned
right, it will also be an educational opportunity of growth and other benefits and not just a
"vacation" or year off. A gap year should be a year on.

CON: It can be expensive

This depends on the destination and the duration of the trip but, chances are, when taking a gap
year you’re going to spend quite a bit of cash. The best way to fund a gap year is to work and
travel at the same time. It’s also a good idea to plan trips independently as this will cut costs
dramatically – for the first time traveler this may be a little difficult and paying extra for the help
of someone to do it for you might be a good idea.

PRO: It’s a great way to learn

A gap year will provide you with much more than any classroom setting ever can. We can learn
a lot in the classroom, but it isn’t until we put it into practice in the real world that we really
understand what’s going on. A gap year lets us learn as we do and there’s much more room for
new experiences to enter our lives.

We will also learn a lot more about ourselves and who we are as people; sometimes an
experience during a gap year can knock you a bit but you’ll learn just how much you can deal
with when you really have to. Whether volunteering, studying, or just traveling, you're bound to
learn a ton.

CON: It can be stressful

Booking vaccinations, getting tickets and insurance, visas and accommodation sorted; all this
and the adventure hasn’t even begun. It does get easier as you get used to life on the road but
there will always be situations that will test your stress levels to the max.
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Planning independently can be tough, whether it’s language barriers, currency, or trying to work
out the public transport systems, so sometimes it’s good to kick back, spend a little more and let
someone else do the hard work. Doing formalized programs are a great way to get situated and
meet like-minded folks. Just be sure read reviews first!

PRO: You'll look after yourself

Some people might put this in the cons list; who wants to look after themselves if they can rely
on Mom and Dad to help them out? But the truth is we’ve all got to stand on our own two
feet at some point and the sooner we can learn how to do this the better. Going on a gap year
can also help us get used to life on a budget, which is great preparation for college.

CON: There's the potential to waste a lot of time

Many people think their trip will begin as soon as they finish school and kind of just wait for
things to happen. This is not the case - as soon as the decision to have a gap year is made, the
planning and saving needs to begin. If this is done then the gap year really can begin as soon
as the school year is finished.

However, by not planning carefully many people find weeks and months passing by before they
can even step onto that first plane.

PRO: It’s a break from traditional education

Many people who enter college straight from school regret their choice of course within the first
two years. Taking a break from education and going away for a while gives us the chance to
really consider what the right course is. Not only this, but a gap year can provide a renewed
vigor for study and a more focused approach to learning.

CON: You're no longer a student

It’s a pretty big deal, going from school into the real world. It can be a big shock getting used to
this new way of life. Many people prefer to take this transition a little more slowly by studying or
doing an internship abroad.

PRO: You'll learn a new language

There’s no better way to learn a new language than to live in the country that speaks it. Being
immersed in a foreign language means that all of the new words that are learned can get put
into practice straight away. People who live in native speaking countries of their target language
are able to pick up the basics much faster than people who stay at home. You'll be a foreign
language pro in no time!

PRO: It doesn’t have to be a year

A gap year can be as short or as long as people want them to be. Some choose to take some
time out, get a job and save some cash before heading off, this way they can have a great
experience without worrying too much about their funds. Others want a longer time away and
leave as soon as they have a feasible amount - this means they’re always watching what they
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spend but they’re able to travel longer and fit more in. Most people who travel this way will find
work abroad to fund their trip.

PRO: You'll become more mature

People who take gap years often report that their family and friends say ‘you’ve changed’ when
they return home, but it’s never in a bad way. A gap year introduces a person to so many new
ideas and experiences it’s probably impossible not to change in some ways. Taking a gap
year can put you in situations that many people (who never leave their own country) will never
face.

Will You Take a Gap Year?

There’s no denying that spending time abroad will enhance your resume, give a young person
valuable new skills and ensure the experience of a life time. The advantages of a gap year can't
be touted enough. But, a gap year is not for everyone and there are other things you can
consider -- especially for individuals who are new to traveling, the gap year disadvantages may
present huge stumbling blocks.

Whatever you choose, remember that any time spent traveling abroad will be life-changing.
Also, just do it. No, seriously. This is that "sign" you've been waiting for.

EDUCATION LOAN
An education loan makes it possible for students to pursue academic studies of their choice in
premier institutions, even if they or their family cannot afford it at that time. Apart from the
benefits, any loan or debt comes with its set of drawbacks, and an education loan is no
exception. To allow you to make an informed decision, here are some of the advantages and
disadvantages of taking an education loan:

Features and advantages of education loan

Makes education accessible

The world is becoming increasingly specialized and complex, and education is evolving to meet
those needs. Students today can choose from a wide range of specialized courses and
programs at all levels – graduate, post graduate degree, diploma, vocational training – in India
and abroad. But with these advancements, education has also become very expensive. An
education loan, with its deferred repayment schedule, makes it possible for deserving students
to chase their dreams without having to compromise due of financial difficulties.

Easily available
You can get an education loan quickly and easily. Almost every nationalized and private bank
offers a variety of education loans for different tenures and courses. The loan papers are
processed in about 15-30 days of applying. You can also log on to the NSDL e-Governance
portal Vidyalakshmi (www.vidyalakshmi.co.in) to explore your options. Once you register and fill
up a form, you can apply to three banks at a time. Over 39 banks with about 70 loan schemes
are available on the website.

Specialized loan schemes

Whether you want to study abroad or in India, do a professional course or a vocational training
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program, attend a government college or a premier private institution, you can find an education
loan that suits your needs. Banks offer a wide range of loans for different courses and
institutions with different interest rates, tenures and loan amounts. In case you want to extend
your studies, you can even opt for top-up loans.

Repayment moratorium
This is one of the best features of an education loan. You need to start repaying your student
loan only one year after completion of course or six months after you get a job, whichever is
earlier. The moratorium period gives you the relief that you need, to focus on your studies and
to find a good job once you complete your course. The bank charges simple interest during the
moratorium, and this amount is added to your principal amount when you start repaying. If you
pay interest during the moratorium period, you can get 1% interest concession.

Interest rate benefits

Banks offer education loans at lower interest rates than personal loans. Female student
applicants get a 0.5% concession in the interest rate. If you are seeking admission to a premier
institution and have a good academic record, you may be able to negotiate a lower interest rate.
If you are a borrowing below Rs.4 lakh, there is no margin to be paid and you do not have to
provide collateral. You also get a tax benefit on the interest component of your loan for eight
years or till you pay off the loan, whichever is earlier.

Disadvantages

Stringent eligibility criteria

Unfortunately, just because you think you are a deserving student doesn’t mean you will
automatically get an education loan. Banks have their criteria for deciding a borrower’s eligibility.
And if you don’t satisfy those criteria, you may have to pay higher interest or you may not get a
loan altogether.

Margin requirement and interest rates

For loans above Rs.4 lakh, you need to arrange money for the margin amount to be paid by
you, which can go up to 15% of the loan amount. Although interest rates are lower than
personal loans, they can still be pretty steep for some borrowers (they usually range from 11-
17%). The simple interest adds up during the moratorium period which is added to your principal
amount when you start repaying the loan. If you have a floating interest rate and the interest
rate rises, then your debt burden also increases.

Repayment pressure
For some reason, if you are unable to complete your studies on time or do not get a job quickly,
then the repayment pressure can escalate. A delay in repayment can make you liable to pay
late payment fees and additional interest charges. These will increase the already existing
pressure to repay. This also adds pressure on the co-applicants, usually your parents. The bank
may or may not offer you an extension. All of this might negatively affect your credit score,
making future loans expensive.

TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION
Technology is one of the most valuable tools that we have available at our finger tips every day.
You can do virtually anything with your smart phone, tablet, or computer. From seeing what time
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a movie starts, ordering a pizza, and paying your bills the possibilities for technology are
endless. And not only are they endless, they are constantly improving to make the things we
have to do everyday easier. It sounds pretty awesome right? That thought might change when
you put our youth and their education into the mix. Many people believe that the abundance of
technology in our schools is hindering students ability to think for themselves and learn old style
methods of research. People who support the use of technology in the class room argue that
they no longer have to. It’s a touchy subject, that cannot be solved just by an analysis, but
learning all of the advantages and disadvantages of having technology in the classroom can
certainly give you a well rounded and informed opinion.
Advantages of Technology In Education
1. Parent’s Peace of Mind
Cell phones now allow us to stay in contact with our friends and family anywhere that we are. It
is how students communicate problems and emergencies with their parents when they are at
school as well.
2. The Information Highway
Any answer to any question can be found with a few clicks of the keys on the computer or smart
phone. Powerful search engines allow an organized and simply way to find the answers that
students may need for assignments or projects.
3. Broaden The Mind
Before the internet, children knew what their family taught them. This caused their political and
religious views to be the only ones that the children knew. Having access to the technology will
expose them to things outside of their parents interests and help them to form their own
opinions.
4. Brings Some Fun Into The Classroom
Learning the same exact way from the same person every day can really get…boring. This
boredom turns into a lack of motivation in the students. When they are able to integrate
computer learning into their normal schedule, they become much more excited to learn.
5. Applicable Education
In the working world, in nearly every job you may take, you have to know how to operate a
computer. Teaching this skill in children early will give them an advantages and a learning curve
for when they are adults.

Disadvantages of Technology In Education

1. Access To Inappropriate Content
The biggest concern when it comes to the use of technology in schools is how easy
pornographic, violent, and other inappropriate materials can be accessed and viewed. This
could cause big problems if the material is shared with other students while in the classroom.
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2. A Disconnected Youth
This harmful effect of technology has already come to light in today’s world. People are attached
to their screens almost 24/7, which is causing an entirely new set of social issues to pop up.
This translates into the school system in a bit of a different way, however. More and more
students are experiencing social anxieties when it comes to face to face interactions, but are
perfectly fine socializing online.
3. The Cyberbullying Trap
Giving students access to anonymous accounts and endless contact avenues can only lead to
trouble. Cyber bullying has become a real and in our face problem among young people today.
This harassment has no end, which includes the class room. There is also no way to monitor or
discipline students who are involved.
4. Inevitable Cheating
While have an easy access to information may seem like a great thing, it can become a real
problem in a test taking environment. Cell phones have made cheating easier than ever. You no
longer have to figure out how to write all of the answers down, you can just look them up!
5. A Major Distraction
Attentiveness drops drastically in the classroom when students have their cell phones or other
technologies out. The focus shifts from their teacher and education, to whatever they are
looking at, playing, or doing on their phones.

SCHOOL UNIFORM
School uniforms are nothing to new to most of the world’s public and private schools, but in the
United States, the use of uniforms in public schools is almost unheard of. The way that students
dress may seem insignificant to the learning environment, but it absolutely plays a large role.
There are strong supporters and arguments for both sides of this issue, but in order to truly
understand the conflict, you must understand all of the benefits and consequences that come
from implementing a mandatory school uniform.

The Advantages of School Uniforms

1. Helps To Prevent Bullying

Clothes are a status symbol in schools. Many students who are unable to afford the newest
fashions or name brand clothing are ostracized and made fun of. School uniforms puts
everyone on an even playing field and prevents this type of bullying from happening.

2. Aids In Identifying Students

If a child is kidnapped, lost, or runs away from school or a school function then they can be very
easily identified by their uniform. Most schools have a unique uniform, which helps them to keep
better track of all of their students.
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3. Promotes School Spirit

If every single day, every person in the school is sporting their schools colors and mascots, then
a feeling of unity and togetherness is inspired. This helps with the overall moral of the student
body and ignites a higher sense of school spirit and pride.

4. Eases Morning Routines

Knowing exactly what you are wearing for the day, and having no other choice, greatly reduces
the amount of preparation and time that is required on getting ready for school in the morning.
This helps to reduce stress in the students and parents, as well as allow for a more restful night
sleep.

5. Helps Prevent Gang Activity

Gangs use colors and symbols in order to identify themselves as members. Every year, there
are many crimes involving drugs and violence that happen in our schools because of gangs.
School uniforms prevent theses gangs from putting themselves on display.

6. Can Be Money Saving

The pressure to buy children, especially the older ones, trendy and expensive clothing is huge
for parents. School uniforms are often much cheaper than buying an entire wardrobe of trendy
fashion.

The Disadvantages of School Uniforms

1. Interferes With Creativity And Self Expression

Clothing is a big way that people express who they are and their personal style every day.
School uniforms strip students of this right and can make them feel like they are being
oppressed.

2. Comparison Is Inevitable
School uniforms require all of the students to wear the same outfits than they will compare who
looks better in that outfit. This is especially true for girls, who are always comparing themselves
to each other.

3. Cause Resentment Among Students

The majority of students do not want uniforms. If they are forced to wear them, without taking
into consideration of the way that they feel about the situation, then they will begin to resent the
school and the administration. This could cause behavior problems throughout the school.

4. Undermines a “Free Education”

Public school is a government service that is there to educate children, at no cost to their
parents. By making school uniforms mandatory, you are requiring parents to shell out money for
school uniforms in order for their children to attend school. This contradicts the idea of a free
education system.

5. Hinders Self Thinking

With school uniforms, young students do not have to learn to make appropriate clothing
decisions. This could interfere with their transition into adulthood, especially when having to
choose appropriate work attire.

6. Merely a Band Aid On a Bigger Problem

Opponents to school uniforms believe that they are simply a way to try to solve a much bigger
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problem. Attendance rates and performance in public schools have been lowering every year.
This is due to a wide variety of problems that plague the halls of schools, but the clothing that
the students are wearing plays a very small role.

OPEN SPACE
What is Open Space/Green Space?
Open space is any open piece of land that is undeveloped (has no buildings or other built
structures) and is accessible to the public. Open space can include:
 Green space (land that is partly or completely covered with grass, trees, shrubs, or other
vegetation). Green space includes parks, community gardens, and cemeteries.
 Schoolyards
 Playgrounds
 Public seating areas
 Public plazas
 Vacant lots

Open space provides recreational areas for residents and helps to enhance the beauty and
environmental quality of neighborhoods. But with this broad range of recreational sites comes
an equally broad range of environmental issues. Just as in any other land uses, the way parks
are managed can have good or bad environmental impacts, from pesticide runoff, siltation from
overused hiking and logging trails, and destruction of habitat.

Lack of community and public access to safe open and green space is a critical area of concern
for urban residents in New England.

City parks and Green Areas/ open spaces improve our physical and psychological health,
strengthen our communities, and make our cities and neighbourhoods more attractive places to
live and work.

But too few people are able to enjoy these benefits, especially in metropolitan cities. Low
income neighborhoods populated by minorities and recent immigrants are especially short of
park spaces. From an equity standpoint, there is a strong need to redress this imbalance. Urban
Planners and Urban Designers believed the parks would improve public health, relieve stresses
of the urban life, and create a democratizing public space where rich and poor would mix on
equal terms. By the mid 20 century, city parks and big green areas fell into decline as people
inner cities for the suburbs.

Over the past decade, interest in city parks and green areas has revived. Government and civic
groups around the country have revitalized run down city parks, community open spaces, built
greenways along rivers, and planted gardens in vacant lots.

Strong general evidences show that when people have access to parks, they exercise more.
Regular physical activity has been shown to increase health and reduce the risk of a wide range
of diseases, including heart disease, hypertension, colon cancer, and diabetes. Physical activity
also relives symptoms of depression and anxiety, improves mood, and enhance psychological
well being. Beyond the benefits of exercise, a growing body of a kid shows that contact with
natural world improves physical and psychological health.
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Many studies have shown that parks and open space increase the value of neighbouring
residential property. Growing evidence points to a similar benefit on commercial property value.
The availability of park and recreation facilities is an important quality of life factor for municipal
corporations choosing where to locate facilities and for individuals choosing a place to live.
Green space in urban areas provides substantial environmental benefits. Trees reduce air
pollution and water pollution, they help keep cities cooler, and they are a more effective and less
expensive way to manage storm water runoff than building systems of concrete sewers and
drainage ditches.

City parks and open spaces also produce important social and community development
benefits. They make inner city neighbourhoods more liveable; they offer recreational
opportunities for at risk youth, low income children, and low income families. Access to public
parks and recreational facilities has been strongly linked to reductions in crime.

In short the community gardens increase residents sense of community ownership and
stewardship, provide a focus for neighbourhood activities, expose inner city youth to nature,
connect people from diverse cultures, reduce crime by cleaning up vacant lots, and build
community leaders.

## The Value of Parks

The value of Parks and Green spaces are illustrated based on the following four factors:
-Environment: The Parks protect and conserve biodiversity. They play a vital role in keeping
the air and water clean, counteracting the damaging effects of pollution. Parks offer refuges for
species and buffers against the impact of climate change.

-Health: Parks are inspiring and pleasant places to exercise and improve physical and mental
wellbeing for today’s sedentary society that is more vulnerable to stress, mental health issues
and obesity than before.

-People and Communities: Parks are places to meet and celebrate with family and friends.
They are inclusive and accessible. They are venues for community festivals, events and sports
activities. Parks are the scene of excitement, refreshment, relaxation and solitude.

-Economy: Neighbourhood, city and regional economies benefit significantly from parks. They
stimulate the recreation and tourism industries, and are significant sources of employment for
local communities with a range of associated economic benefits.
Traditionally the value of Parks, particularly the economic value, has not been estimated and
thus the cost of failing to maintain these assets has not been fully considered by us. The entire
city’s assets Brick and mortar, intellectual property, institutions, social networks etc. must be
maintained or they will deteriorate. Our parks are no exception. Continued investment brings
benefits with a social, cultural and environmental value as well as economic returns.

## Environmental Benefits of Parks and Green Areas/ Open spaces

-Pollution Abatement and Cooling: Green space in urban areas provides substantial
environmental benefits. The tree generates oxygen, provides air pollution control, recycles water
and controls soil erosion.

In an area with 100 percent tree cover (such as contiguous forest stands within parks), trees
can remove from the air as much as 15 percent of the ozone, 14 percent of the sulphur dioxide,
13 percent of the particulate matter, 8 percent of the nitrogen dioxide, and 0.05 percent of the
carbon monoxide.
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Trees and the soil under them also act as natural filters for water pollution. Their leaves, trunks,
roots, and associated soil remove polluted particulate matter from the water before it reaches
storm sewers. Trees also absorb nutrients created by human activity, such as nitrogen,
phosphorus, and potassium, which otherwise pollute streams and lakes.

Trees also act as natural air conditioners to help keep cities cooler, mitigating the effects of
concrete and glass that can turn cities into ovens under the summer sun. The evaporation from
a single large tree can produce the cooling effect of ten room-size air conditioners operating 24
hours a day.

-Controlling Storm water Runoff: Trees more effectively and less expensively manage the
flow of storm water runoff than do concrete sewers and drainage ditches. Runoff problems
occur because cities are covered with impervious surfaces such as roads, sidewalks, parking
lots, and rooftops, which prevent water from soaking into the ground. Trees intercept rainfall,
and unpaved areas absorb water, slowing the rate at which it reaches storm water facilities.

## Public Health Benefits of Parks and Green Areas/ Open spaces

Contact with nature enriches our psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Parks are
places of adventure and challenge, exercise, peace and quiet, recreation, gathering and
relaxation. In them, we find a sense of enjoyment, strong community spirit and wonder in nature.
Parks offer a range of recreation activities to bring families and friends together in appealing
places.

-Physical Activity Makes People Healthier: “People can substantially improve their health and
quality of life by including moderate amounts of physical activity in their daily lives”. The health
benefits appear to be proportional to the amount of activity; thus, every increase in activity adds
some benefit.

-Access to Parks Increases Frequency of Exercise: Many studies show that when people
have access to parks, they exercise more. When people have nowhere to walk, they gain
weight. Obesity is more likely in un-walkable neighborhoods, but goes down when measures of
walk ability go up: dense housing, well-connected streets, and mixed land uses reduce the
probability that residents will be obese.

-Exposure to Nature and Greenery Makes People Healthier: Beyond the recreational
opportunities offered by parks, many studies show that contact with the natural world improves
physical and psychological health. Horticultural therapy evolved as a form of mental health
treatment, based on the therapeutic effects of gardening. The activity is also used today in
community-based programs, geriatrics programs, prisons, developmental disabilities programs,
and special education programs.

## Social Benefits of Parks and Green Areas/ Open spaces

Among the most important benefits of city parks-though perhaps the hardest to quantify-is their
role as community development tools. City parks make inner-city neighborhoods more livable;
parks offer recreational opportunities for at-risk youth, low-income children, and low income
families; and parks provide places in low-income neighborhoods where people can experience a
sense of community.

-Reducing Crime: Access to public parks and recreational facilities has been strongly linked to
reductions in crime. Recreational facilities keep at-risk youth off the streets, give them a safe
environment to interact, and fill up time within which they could otherwise get into trouble.
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-Recreation Opportunities (The Importance of Play): For small children, playing is learning.
Play has proved to be a critical element in a child’s future success. Play helps kids develop
muscle strength and coordination, language, cognitive thinking, and reasoning abilities. Play
also teaches children how to interact and cooperate with others, laying foundations for success
in school and the working world.

-Creating Stable Neighborhoods with Strong Community: Green spaces build community.
Many studies shows that residents of neighborhoods with greenery in common spaces are more
likely to enjoy stronger social ties than those who live surrounded by barren concrete.

## Economic Benefits of Parks and Green Areas/ Open spaces

Parks bring measurable direct and flow-on economic benefits to local, regional and national
economies. These economic benefits enable communities to function and prosper, allowing
them to build social cohesion, social capital and healthy communities.

-Increased Property Values: “The real estate market consistently demonstrates that many
people are willing to pay a larger amount for a property located close to parks and open space
areas than for a home that does not offer this amenity,” The higher value of these homes means
that their owners pay higher property taxes.

-Tourism Benefits: A park often becomes one of a city’s signature attractions, a prime
marketing tool to attract tourists, conventions, and businesses.
Organized events held in public parks-arts festivals, athletic events, food festivals, musical and
theatrical events-often bring substantial positive economic impacts to their communities, filling
hotel rooms and restaurants and bringing customers to local stores.

## Conclusion
Those of us are lucky enough to live near parks, open spaces, and green ways know the joys
they bring: the calming views of trees and green lawns, the singing of birds, the fresh air, the
scent of flowers. Overwhelming evidence demonstrates the benefits of city parks. They improve
our physical and psychological health, strengthen our communities, and make our cities and
neighborhoods more attractive places to live and work. But now a day’s too few people are able
to enjoy these benefits. The lack of places for regular exercise has contributed to the epidemic
of obesity among adults and children, an epidemic that will have dire consequences on both our
health and our finances.

We as a professionals and citizens need to join the effort to bring parks, open spaces, and
green ways into the neighborhoods where all can benefit from them. While government plays a
vital role in the creation of public parks, governments cannot do the job alone to maintain
numbers of such large parks. We have to come forward and help the government (may be at
community level) by making small committees or trusts to maintain the parks/ green spaces
within our community.

Working together, we can help many more people and our next generations to experience the
joys of jogging down a tree-lined path, of a family picnic on a sunny lawn, of sharing a
community garden’s proud harvest. We can create the green spaces that offer refuge from the
alienating city streets-places where we can rediscover our natural roots and reconnect with our
souls.
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AVIATION POLLUTION
In 2011, approximately 200 million passengers passed through mainland UK airports. This was
a return to growth, following a recent period of decline in passenger numbers and air transport
movements between 2007 and 2010. Government forecasts predict that this will rise to 255
million in 2020 and 313 million in 2030.

Airport operations are an important factor in our economy, for tourism, imports, exports and
business. However, these benefits must be weighed against the impact air travel is having on
the quality of life of increasing numbers of people and on the local and global environment.
Noise and air pollution – both from aircraft and from airport ground operations – are a problem
for those who live, work and study around airports.

The most immediate impact of aircraft is noise – whether it is the regular rumble of international
jets or the buzz of microlights and light aircraft on sunny afternoons. The noise from airborne
aircraft is related to air speed. Any fast-moving components, such as propellers and compressor
blades, generate noise, as do the exhaust gases of jets. Aircraft are also responsible for an
increasing proportion of air pollutant emissions, both at local and global level.

The Government has set up the Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, to look at
long-term airport capacity issues in the UK. The Commission is examining the scale and timing
of any requirement for additional capacity, focusing in particular on aviation hub issues, and
identifying how any need for additional capacity should be met in the short, medium and long
term.

The Commission is due to publish its interim report, assessing the most credible options for
providing any new airport capacity, by the end of 2013. Criteria that the Commission is using to
identify options include strategic, economic, surface access and environment. Environment
criteria include air quality and noise. The Commission’s final recommendations are expected by
summer 2015.

AVIATION NOISE
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is responsible for drawing up aviation noise
standards with the European Civil Aviation Conference, and UK standards are set in
accordance with these.

Currently the Government only has direct responsibility for aircraft noise management at
Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. Measures introduced to reduce noise include Noise
Preferential Routes and restrictions on night flying. Maximum noise limits for departing aircraft
are set and monitored and noise insulation schemes are in operation. Noise from aircraft on the
ground is the responsibility of the airport operator. To comply with the EU Environmental Noise
Directive, operators of airports with over 50,000 movements a year have been required to draw
up Noise Action Plans (under criteria set for this 15 airports are designated in England, three in
Scotland and one in N Ireland).

Noise limits have been introduced at the designated airports to cover the period 0700h – 2300h.
Airport companies are responsible for monitoring compliance and breaches are subject to a
financial penalty. Night flights are restricted between 2300h – 0600h and airports are given
quotas of the number of night movements of noisier aircraft allowed to land during these
periods.
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Environmental Protection UK believes that any developments or alterations to the UK aviation

infrastructure, air operations or flight scheduling, should not result in an increase to the night-
time or day-time noise exposure of either the general population or of individual communities.
Where an increase in exposure is unavoidable, a full package of mitigation measures should be
offered to those affected, and the costs of such measure should be met by the aviation industry.

AIR QUALITY
Aircraft engines generally combust fuel efficiently, and jet exhausts have very low smoke
emissions. However, pollutant emissions from aircraft at ground level are increasing with aircraft
movements. In addition, a large amount of air pollution around airports is also generated by
surface traffic.

The main pollutant of concern around airports is nitrogen dioxide (NO2). NO2 is formed by
nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from surface traffic, aircraft and airport operations. PM2.5 is
also of concern, since particulate emissions from jet exhausts are almost all in this fine fraction.
NOx in the lower atmosphere contributes to the production of ozone; ozone in the lower
atmosphere is a pollutant, and contributes to global warming. Nitrogen oxides from high-altitude
supersonic aircraft are thought to damage the stratospheric ozone layer, the protective layer
that filters out harmful radiation from the sun.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) sets international standards for smoke and
certain gaseous pollutants for newly-produced large jet engines; it also restricts the venting of
raw fuels. The latest standards came into effect in 2013 and apply to engine types certified after
this date. Reductions in emissions from aircraft engines have generally been lower in recent
years than in other sectors, where technologies such as selective catalytic reduction and
exhaust gas recirculation have been employed. There are also increasing numbers of larger
aircraft movements, which have disproportionately higher emissions than smaller aircraft.

Environmental Protection UK believes that no developments or alterations to the UK aviation

infrastructure, air operations or flight scheduling should result in a breach of the EU limit values
or UK air quality objectives, or worsen current breaches. Emissions considered must include
direct emissions from aircraft, air-side service vehicles and plant, and the surface access
required for airports.

Aviation is also a significant source of carbon dioxide emissions, and presents a major threat to
Government targets in terms of emissions growth. This is for three reasons, firstly aviation is
predicted to grow significantly, secondly emissions at altitude however are thought to have a
greater effect on climate change than those at ground level, and finally there is no practical
alternative to kerosene fuelled jet engines currently on the horizon. As other sectors reduce
emissions aviation is therefore likely to become responsible for a far larger proportion of global
climate change emissions.

ADDRESSING AVIATION POLLUTION

Environmental Protection UK is concerned at the potential impact of the apparent ‘predict and
provide’ approach that is being taken to air travel in the UK and we would like to see the
environmental impacts caused by any expansion reduced or avoided. We will be following the
recommendations of the Airports Commission with interest.

We would like to see aviation policies developed in a way which is consistent with the approach
used for other transport sectors, and aviation should be fully bedded into an integrated transport
policy, rather than being treated as a separate issue.
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The Government should also seek to reduce the environmental and social harm arising from
aviation through a balanced programme of progressive introduction of improved technology,
better operational practice and demand management. Where new infrastructure is required, or
where existing capacity is expanded, the mitigation of further environmental and social harm
should be seen as a key priority.

Action to reduce the environmental and social harm caused by aviation will require international
cooperation. The Government should adopt a leading and active role in international debate,
particularly within the European Union, and should encourage the development of radical and
innovative solutions.

Environmental Protection UK has been lobbying the Government on aviation pollution, and
responded to the consultation on the Draft Aviation Policy Framework, with the response below:

SURFACE ACCESS
Planning development to meet the projected increased demand in passenger air traffic is also a
cause for concern. While emissions from road vehicles are expected to decrease, this will be
offset by growth in surface access movements around airport. Increasing capacity in more rural
areas will lead to the erosion of tranquillity, loss of habitats for wildlife and increased surface
traffic.

The environmental impact of aviation must include the impact of surface access to airports, and
given that passengers, employees and goods often travel considerable distances to reach
certain airports, this must be considered across the widest possible geographical context.
Where any airport infrastructure development occurs, either as new build or extension to
existing infrastructure, surface access infrastructure must be planned, funded and delivered as
an integral and wholly necessary part of the project. It should therefore be a condition of any
new airport infrastructure development that the necessary surface access infrastructure be in
place in its entirety before the airport facility comes into use.

COST AND TAXATION

Under international law, aviation fuel for international flights is exempt from taxation, which
means air travel is relatively cheap. This also reduces the incentive for airlines to invest in more
efficient aircraft. Aircraft operators are included within the European Union Emissions Trading
Scheme. They could be further incentivised via fuel tax (which could be levied for domestic
flights). This could:
 ensure airlines pay for the pollution they cause, like other transport operators
 encourage the development of more fuel-efficient aircraft
 help reduce the demand for air travel as other options become more competitive
 be consistent with UK pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from airport
operations

Policy should progressively seek an equitable cost/taxation basis across all modes of transport.
In particular, all possible attempts should be made to ensure that the costs of aviation fully
include the environmental and social costs, in accordance with the “polluter pays” principle.

The Government should also acknowledge the fact that the tax free status of aviation fuel
effectively acts as a subsidy for the aviation industry, and should therefore fully factor this into
its economic analysis of the costs and impacts of the industry.
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Some people believe that air travel should be restricted because it causes serious
pollution and uses up the world's fuel resources.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own
knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words.

Model Answer :

Air travel has become highly popular and it can easily bee understood if we only look at the
upcoming and departed number of flights in a busy aviation. Since the air travel saves a great
deal of time, most of the business persons today chose air travel prior to any other root.
Travelling through the air has many advantages as well as many disadvantages. In my opinion,
important air travel should not be restricted but when the air travel becomes a mean of luxury
then it must be restricted.

At first, no other route can take a business person so fast that an air transport can and people,
especially opulent business executives use this route to reach the destination fast. Then,
travelling to a far destination or a distant country, air transportation system is a must. For
instance, travelling from India to the USA is quite impossible through road, ship or in any other
vehicle and people in these cases have no alternative than to using an airway.

But nowadays it has become a fashion for people to use airways even for a very short distance.
Air transportation systems are using a large portion of world's reserve fuel and affecting the
environment by polluting it. So restriction should be applied in these cases. For example: if a
destination takes only 2-4 hours in road then the idea of travelling through air is pointless and
highly extravagant. A government should apply strict rules so that an aviation company can
distinguish a true business executive and a tourist and give the business person the option to
travel through the air and encourage the tourist to take an alternative route.
(Approximately 275 words)
With the growth in aviation, the majority of people are more likely to travel abroad to spend their
leisure time in the special occasions. One of the most tangible influences of this phenomenon is
the exponential increase of thousand airlines which provide low-cost carrier, and it is argued as
the trigger of environmental catastrophes on a global scale such as air pollution and lack of
fossil fuel. As a result, critics claim that air travel should be controlled to preserve the natural
ecology. While it is believed that air travel provides more benefits in terms of time consuming
and reasonable prices, people also have to consider the negative side of this transportation.
Supporters of the aircraft deliberate that air planes are by far the fastest mode of transport
which connects all of parts in the world by hours. Before the invention of aviation, people used
ships to travel for trading and travelling in other countries, but it took more than a month to
reach a destination. In 20th century, when air planes have been invented, many counties
choose this mean of transport to export food such as vegetables and fruits to places where they
are not in season or cannot be grown. For pragmatic instance, New Zealand exports fresh milk
and apples to developing countries, Africa and India, using air planes only around 12 hours.
Consequently, some food could be exported faster and would not deteriorate in the worldwide
distribution.

In addition, the availability of cheap air travels allows many holidaymakers to visit abroad for
vacations over last decades. According to a survey published in the Times magazine the
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proportion of travellers who prefer travelling other countries increases to around 70% in 2014,
and it goes hand in hand with an increase of annual income of low-cost airlines which is more
than 35% compared to previous year. Air travel leads people to get novelty of other challenged
vacations.

On the other hand, the detrimental effects of this development are the impact on the
environment. Firstly, a study records that there are more than hundred international and
domestic flights which require more than thousand litters of fuel every day. As the time passed
by, the natural environment is absorbed to produce more fuel while there is prevention to limit
this activity. In the linear relationship of this condition, burning of fossil fuel in terms of oil will
add significantly to this problem as just one flight releases large amounts of carbon dioxide and
other gases into the environment and damages the layers of ozone. It can be concluded that the
development of aviation contributes the biggest contribution of climate change as the global
problem.

In conclusion, the development of air travel in the recent years has its own merits and demerits
for environment. In the glance, air travel benefits people to commute between different regions
sooner whereas people are blame for environmental influences which are more important
issues so that the restriction should be implemented to reduce damages. From my perspective,
using air travel for travelling should be controlled, and green taxes should be increased to
control low-cost airline companies as a novel solution.

LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGE

One strives to learn a foreign language for a variety of reasons. A teacher in a multilingual
school has to have the ability to reach out to students of different cultures. Migrants lessen the
impact of adjustment if they have made an effort to learn the language of their new country in
advance. Learning a foreign language enables bridging of social barriers. A person gets to enjoy
social and economic benefits, as well as the mental benefits of learning a foreign language

Here are some reasons why you should learn a foreign language.

1) Learning a foreign language boosts brain power.

A foreign language is a whole new system with distinct rules, etymology, and meaning, which
are just a few of the complexities of a language. Learning a new one puts the brain to task by
recognizing this new language structure. As the brain works out meaning and makes full use of
this new arsenal to express ideas, it sharpens skills on reading, negotiating, and problem-
solving.

2) A person’s ability to multi-task is developed.

Multi-tasking is stressful to those who are not skilled at it. People who are multilingual are
proficient at slipping from one tongue to another, one language system to another totally
different language mechanics. This is a very distracting and demanding work, not only for the
tongue and language faculties, but especially for the brain. People who have developed this are
highly proficient multi-taskers and commit very minimal error when juggling various activities.

3) The onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s is stalled.

With other factors held constant, several researches suggested that multilingual adults
experienced the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia at a later age of 75 compared to
monolingual adults who had the first signs at age 71. The studies were conducted with other
variables such as gender, overall health, educational level, and economic status, but there were
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no significant results that contributed to the mentioned diseases as significantly as the number
of languages spoken.

4) Memory is improved.
The more the brain is used, the better its functions work. Learning a new language structure
entails familiarizing with vocabulary and rules, and applying these memorized information into
communication. This strengthens memory because the brain has built its ability to associate
information with mnemonics and retains information better. Hence multilingual people have
brains that are more exercised and quick to recall names, directions, shopping lists.

5) The mind becomes keener.

A study conducted in Spain showed that polyglots, or multilingual people, have alert and keen
minds.
They easily spot anything that is irrelevant or deceptive. The study was conducted comparing
multilingual and monolingual subjects; and the former notably had the edge. The discipline that
they developed in studying an unknown subject has molded them to become more
perceptive. Thus, they learn to be critical-thinkers.

6) Polyglots are seen to display improved decision-making ability.

The decision-making ability becomes an easier process for multilingual people.Aside from the
rules and vocabulary that go with learning a foreign language, there are nuances and vernacular
expressions that a student of language frequently judges for appropriateness and hidden
meanings. Decision-making becomes more prudent and discriminating.

7) The first language is improved.

A student of foreign language is exposed to a whole new language structure and makes him
more conscious of vocabulary, grammar, conjugation, idioms, sentence construction,
comprehension and conversing. Learning this new mechanics is usually done juxtaposed with
English, or the first language. Hence, students become more aware of English and develop a
good ear for listening to the subtle gradations of each language. The first language is usually
not as thoroughly studied, for the simple reason that it’s a given. But with the new language on
the other side, a student finds it important to look at English with more interest.

8) Performance in other academic areas is enhanced.

Because the brain is made to operate differently, it develops a variety of cognitive skills. Studies
show that the benefits of learning a new language included higher scores on standardized
exams in math, reading comprehension, and vocabulary by multilingual students compared to
the scores of monolingual students. These were observed in ACT and SAT exams. Continued
immersion was known toincrease IQ and develop innovativeness in students.

9) It makes a person more flexible and open to other cultures.

Since a language is a doorway to a particular culture, learning a new language enables a
person to have a broader understanding of that race or culture. Opening up to a culture allows
you to be more flexible and appreciative of other ways of doing and looking at things. As a
result, if you are multilingual, you have the advantage of seeing the world from different vantage
points. In today’s interconnectedness, this is a valuable tool.

10) Foreign language expands career potentials.

With universal unemployment problems, a multilingual ability is definitely a competitive edge
over others. It is an ability that tells of a person’s intelligence, flexibility, openness to diverse
people, and decision-making skills.
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And these are just bonuses to the evident ability to communicate in several languages and
cross cultural barriers.

11) It builds self-confidence.

Self-confidence is a natural consequence after summing all benefits of learning a new
language. By simply mastering one skill, the other faculties are developed.People tend to
gravitate around multilingual people because of their skills; others simply find the polyglots’
openness and quick-mindedness naturally attractive.

12) It aids in self-discovery and self-actualization.

It is an interesting outcome, not at all something that you list as your expected result when you
embark to learn a new language. But trying to understand a language and the heritage that
goes with it will put you in a position of self-discovery. It makes you come to terms with how you
view the world and other cultures, and have more appreciation of your own. In the end, you
come to terms with yourself, too.

E-BOOKS vs PAPER BOOKS

We are living in the 21st century which can also be called as the year of technology. Looking
back, we did so many wonderful technological advancements. From a 128MB memory card to
128GB memory card, things have changed pretty much fast. But, there are some things which
never changes. People still consider reading books as their favorite hobby and no matter how
much technology evolves, I believe reading will always find its place in their day to day life. The
passion for reading remains the same
.
Although, reading books now and reading books 5 years ago, are two different things. Earlier,
we could easily find a person reading a book while travelling in a bus or while waiting for the
train. But, now we find people drowned into their tablets / smartphones / kindles to read the
same books. So, the obvious question arises, which one is the best? In this post, we are going
to discuss about one of the biggest debates of 21st century – eBooks vs Books.

eBooks

Before going in detail about this post, let us understand what exactly is an eBook. An eBook is
just an electronic version of a printed book which can be read on a computer, a
smartphone/tablet or any such device. You have various free best eBook reader apps for
downloading as well. There are several eBook formats, but EPUB and PDF are kinda very
popular in this segment.
Amazon Kindle is considered as the best device for reading eBooks and it is specially designed
for this purpose. Kindle offers some amazing features which are not there in other eBook
reading apps. Kindle is always the first choice among users who prefer eBooks over Books.

Pros of eBooks
1. Easy to carry – Since it is a smartphone or a tablet, it can easily slip into your pockets. You
don’t need to carry them in your hands often like physical books.

2. Countless eBooks – If you own a smartphone or tab, or better, Amazon Kindle, then you
can store several eBooks in your device. Also if you are connected to the Internet then you can
get access to various novels according to your desire. But, on the other hand, it is really difficult
to carry even 10 physical books.
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3. Comfort – You can easily take notes, change the font size, magnify whenever you want and
you can even copy the content and share them on your social media or in your diary. You can
even read them in night without even disturbing other people. There is an inbuilt dictionary in so
many eBook reading apps which makes the reading experience easy and simple.

4. Eco-Friendly – You don’t affect the environment while reading an eBook. No trees are
destroyed to print the eBooks and you also save a lot of ink which eventually affects the
environment. 5. Cheap and Free – There are chances that you may find a cheaper version of
the same book but in an eBook format. Apart from that, you also gets a lot of free classic books
in many eBook reading apps.

Cons of eBooks
1. Availability – Not every book has got an eBook version. It can be a difficult task to find an
eBook for that not so famous book. And, in case you find one, it will cost you a lot for sure.

2. Eye-strain – This is the biggest con of reading eBooks. Since, you will be constantly staring
at the screen of the device, it will strain your eyes, resulting in red-eyes or itchiness in eyes.
(P.S. If you own a Kindle device, you’ll get better results, as compared to normal smartphones
or tabs.)

3. Caring – You need to be careful while reading an eBook. If the device gets dropped or if you
accidently spill any beverage on them, it will spoil the device. So, you need to be as much
careful as you can. You can’t sleep with an eBook but, you can do with a book.

4. Battery Issue – An eBook reader needs a battery to run which can discharge anytime.
Imagine you are at the climax of the book and suddenly your battery starts showing warnings
and in the next minute, it’s dead.

5. You can’t share an eBook – Remember how good it felt when you give your book to your
friend for reading and later he/she thanks you for lending such a wonderful book. Well, eBook
deprives you from this joy. Sharing eBooks through Emails and Facebook won’t give you this
much joy.

Books

Books don’t need any introduction. They are considered as some people’s best friends. They
never complain and never demand, still they help you in so many different ways. When you hold
them in your hands they give you a special feel.

Pros of Books
1. Availability – You can get books from anywhere. They are just available everywhere. Be it the
book shop at the corner or the stall near the station, you can easily get a book near your
location.

2. The Feel – Nothing can beat the feel of reading a new book. That lovely fragrance of new
book and the way you keep it with so much care and love, is just beyond eBooks. Apart from
this, books carry sentimental values too.

3. They are cheap – You can always get second hand good quality books at almost half the
price of the original books. They even have several shops exclusively for selling such books.
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4. No/less eye strain – Reading a book causes much less eye strain as compared with an
eBook. If you are reading a book with correct siting posture and at a right distance, it won’t
cause any eye strain at all.

5. Caring – You don’t need much care for books as you need with eBooks. You can place them
anywhere, can throw them on your bed, can play ball with them and you can even sleep with
them.

Cons of Books
1. Size – Books are heavy and big in size. You can only carry a book or two in your hands and
you will need a bag to carry more books which is not a good option.

2. Affects Environment – No matter how much they claim, a single book will cost so many
trees their life that you can’t just imagine. Although, recycling is an option but in the end, you are
actually contributing for Green House effect.

3. You need a light source – You can’t read a book in a tunnel or a night without a light source,
while an eBook can be read at any time of the day, same is not possible with a book.

4. Durability – Books are not much durable as eBooks. Either the ink get fades away or the
paper starts degrading. An eBook can last for almost a century but maintaining a book for even
25 years is a very difficult task.

5. Book Self – You can store 200 eBooks in a tiny memory card, but you will need a whole
room for keeping 200 physical books. There is no doubt in the fact that some debates like these
are endless. Nothing matters unless and until you are enjoying the reading part. Remember, it’s
the content which matters not the medium. So do give a try for both of them and decide it for
yourself.