Write essay

It has become a trend for some people to listen to music as they study, because they believe this
activity calms the mind, which would in turn help the brain grasp more information. Other
people, on the contrary, believe it is much better to study in a completely quiet environment,
since they opine that music only distracts the mind from the information they are trying to
absorb. I am convinced that the latter option is more suitable in regard to obtaining successful
results.

Some years ago, it became trendy amongst certain type of psychologists to say that listening to
classical music – such as that of Mozart – enhanced a person’s studying skills. I think one of the
reasons for this opinion is that some people think that listening to music doesn’t require any
special attention. However, there are cases in which people say that regardless of the music they
listen to, if they do so as they study, they are unable to grasp the same amount of information as
when they study in a completely quiet surrounding. In my opinion, this happens because
listening to music and reading are two very different activities that the brain must focus on
independently, in order to carry them out correctly.

If a person really likes listening to music, for example, but also really enjoys paying special
attention to what they read, then, that person’s mind will be constantly shifting its focus from
one thing to the other if trying to do both things at the same time, and, thus, will not be able to
carry out any of the two activities successfully.

To sum up, I believe both activities should be carried out separately, in a silent environment –
avoiding other noises, in the case of music - if they are to be taken seriously.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Write essay
“Normal” societal roles for women include taking care of the children in the household. But now
that women contribute equally in outdoor responsibilities, it would be a little unfair to expect
the same amount of dedication towards the upbringing of the children.

Is it okay for men to participate and share the responsibilities of the house and make their
presence be felt more in their children's life, or should the mothers be solely responsible?

Traditional sectors of various societies have always been against the modern roles that women
now have in several aspects of life. The increasing integration of women into the economic
market is basically unstoppable. Due to these new roles, men have had to get more involved in
household activities which include being more present in their children’s lives. However, even if
women weren’t assuming new roles in society, I believe it is good for men to participate more in
household activities, especially in their children’s upbringing.

It is definitely good for men to share the responsibilities of the house and play a key role in their
children’s upbringing, because a house is the common place in which the whole family shares
experiences, and children need to know that they can count on both parents in order to deal
with everyday matters. Moreover, children who see both parents sharing household activities,
and that the mother also leaves the house to work are less prone to think that all activities are
gender-specific.

For instance, children who have grown up in houses where both parents have jobs, but in which
both parents also help around the house and take care of them, statistically develop more social
skills, since they become aware of the gender-neutral nature of most activities and jobs.

Hence, both men and women must participate and share the responsibilities of the house, and
be part of their children’s life, in order to raise socially intelligent individuals.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Write essay
What is your opinion about top executives at companies getting their employees involved in the
decision-making process?

The participation of employees in companies’ decision-making processes has been a matter of

debate for the last decades. Some people agree with employees having an active role in the
decision-making process of a company, while others believe this can lead to undesired
consequences. From my point of view, employees shouldn’t be allowed to intervene in these
matters as much as the owners or shareholders.

In the first case, it is argued that employees’ participation in the decision-making of a company
motivates them, because it makes them feel they are important for the organization they work
for; thus, it is argued that many small organizations have achieved successful results with this
strategy. Furthermore, it is held that employees’ participation creates a positive working
environment which ultimately leads to a company having higher productivity.

On the other hand, those who argue against employees’ active participation in companies’
decision-making processes argue that this situation, although it can lead to a healthy working
atmosphere, and bear higher productivity, can also pose dangers to a company, in the sense that
there are certain confidential issues which shouldn’t be discussed with employees, because the
company would run the risk of employees leaking important information to the company’s
competitors.

For example, in the 1990s, Opel, a German car manufacturer, filed a claim against Volkswagen,
because some of its top employees left the company to go work for the latter, and Opel was
afraid this could mean they had actually been working as industrial spies.

To sum up, the long-term disadvantages of letting employees take part in the decision-making
process of a company outweigh the advantages.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Around the world, solar energy is becoming a more popular source of energy for many
households. Why do you think this is so? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using
solar energy to power one’s home?
The Lifestyle has undergone many dramatic changes over a few decades. Presently, solar energy
is being used in household and getting its ground in some countries as it is known as the third
renewable energy after hydro and wind. Here, I would like to account for the advantages and
disadvantages of solar energy.

There are multifarious points to shore up advantages of solar energy. Firstly, solar energy helps in
controlling global warming, for example, wide use of petrol and oil in vehicles and factories
create massive pollution whereas solar energy is totally pollution free. Hence, it is environment-
friendly. Besides, solar energy reduces the electricity bill as we generate power from the sun.

Secondly, there cannot be a monopoly on solar energy. For instance, the sun provides its energy
equally to the whole world as a result, and every individual can occupy its energy according to
their needs. Therefore, it is a secure resource of energy for every person. Apart from this, solar
energy creates more jobs for unemployed people. They can start manufacturing solar lights,
heater, and so on. Nevertheless, there are some disadvantages of solar energy as well.

Numerous point can be mentioned to criticize the solar energy, the biggest being unavailability
of sunlight round the clock. Consequently, overcasting also reduce the chances of energy
generation during the winter days. Also, the storage is also a big concern as it is difficult to store
a large amount of energy for a long time. Consequently, it appears costlier to deploy solar energy
system for a common man.

To recapitulate, solar energy helps to conserve other sources of energy and makes it surplus.
Government should encourage such type of technology to uplift the living standard as well as to
save the environment from global warming.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Write essay

You will have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise an essay about the topic below. Your response
will be judged on how well you develop a position, organize your ideas, present supporting
details, and control the elements of standard written English. You should write 200-300 words.
Write your answer in 200-300 words.

Cars come in all different shapes and sizes. Some prefer a large one, while others a compact one.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type and which would you prefer?

When it comes to buying a car, people should consider which type of vehicle is suitable for them.
The size of a car is an important factor. I personally prefer smaller sized cars because it consumes
less fuel, is more economical, and is rather appropriate for urban areas.

Since smaller cars are lighter than large ones, their engine needs to produce a lesser amount of
force. Consequently, their fuel usage is moderate compared to heavier vehicles. The lesser the
amount of fossil fuel consumed, the lesser the amount of greenhouse gas is released into the
atmosphere. In addition, green cars do not emit noxious exhaust gasses and are produced in
order to minimize their energy consumption. This makes small cars even more favorable,
specifically to people who are environmentally-conscious.

Furthermore, considering the expense of filling up a gas tank, lower needs for fossil fuel in small
cars lead to relatively lower expenditure. The amount of money saved up in this way can be
spent on, for example, going on a trip or renting a good apartment.

Finally, a small car is very convenient for urban areas because it takes less space. Finding parking
is very easy when the full length of a car is less than two meters. Parking a large car in a fully
packed parking area is a nightmare. Moreover, city traffic is often heavy, especially during rush
hours. A small-sized car will manage better to squeeze its way out of a traffic jam.

In summary, car manufacturing should respond to the needs of all potential customers. However,
for urban dwellers, like me, the best choice of automobile is the one with an economical engine
which can easily maneuver in crowded streets.

Write essay

The world is becoming a smaller place because of globalization. Some people dread that culture
will inevitably disappear as a result. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people agree with the idea that Television would deprive local communities of cultural
distinctiveness. Others disagree. For the following reasons, I believe that this notion may be
misunderstood. First, it may be an opportunity to reevaluate one’s own culture; second, culture
may be further developed by practices from other cultures.

To begin with, whereas globalization makes people similar on the surface, a trend in
rediscovering one’s own local culture has been surging. Homogeneity, that some people fear, is
no more than one aspect of globalization. In order to see this point clearly, let us use an
example. Japanese sake which is a traditional alcoholic beverage has been drunk by choice by
young people since the beginning of the 21st century. As such, sales of sake have soared in
recent years. This example shows that traditional culture is being embraced by young people
even in the globalized world.

In addition, various cultures around the world may be incorporated into one’s own culture. In
fact, we can observe this easily in modern society. Let us take Japanese sake again as an
example. The technique in making Japanese sake has not changed since ancient times. With the
introduction of sommeliers from the French, who judge everything from the taste to the smell of
alcohol, the quality of Japanese sake has improved dramatically. This example reveals that the
emergence of practices from other cultures can improve one’s own culture.

As mentioned above, I do not agree that globalization takes away cultural originality. This is
because it would be a chance to reevaluate one’s traditional culture, and it is an opportunity to
develop one’s own culture as well.