1.In many countries, schools have severe problems with student behaviour.

What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can you suggest? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Poor student behaviour is a major problem faced by schools across the globe especially in the western world. This is due to (this can be attributed to) certain sociological and psychological problems that are encountered, while bringing up children. Both parents and teachers should play a responsible role in tackling (handling, solving, dealing with) this problem effectively. Parents today have too many responsibilities, other than (apart from) looking after the affairs of their families, which has resulted in children getting less attention and care. Parents need to inculcate (instill) good values in young children and discipline them at an early age, or else (if not) it would result in disruptive (unruly) behaviour at home and in school. In many instances, children are left alone in the company of television sets, computer screens and toys, and consequently, (as a consequence, as a result) they fail to develop (lack) interpersonal skills and human values, which they learn by interacting with their parents and siblings. Furthermore, parents provide them with many material comforts, which can sometimes (may) make them selfish and greedy. Children who come from such family backgrounds (would) often create many problems for teachers and their schoolmates. Parents should never shy away from (shirk their responsibility of) spending quality time with their children on a regular basis, which would help them to monitor their childrens behaviour and give suitable advice whenever there is a need. Another reason for problematic behaviour among children is that teachers lack effective training in dealing with children who have various behavioural and psychological inadequacies (problems). Children, who come from broken or problematic families, in order to ventilate their frustration, often create problems in schools, which can only be tackled by trained teachers or counsellors. Many teachers become defensive and show little tact when children show such behavioural abnormalities. Erratic handling of such problems can result in (lead to) aggravating the issue. I believe that this problem can be effectively addressed if parents and teachers are trained in scientific ways of dealing with children. Schools should appoint specially trained counsellors, who can assist teachers in dealing with problematic children. As mentioned above, both parents and teachers have a crucial role to play in normalising the behaviour of children in schools. Scientific ways of handling children with troublesome behaviour can go a long way in dealing with them efficiently.

2. As populations grow and cities become more crowded, there is

The objections to skyscrapers are unfounded as they are found to be the only remedy for the ever increasing demand for space for housing and other purposes. Although certain social as well as physical dangers are attributed to such buildings, they remain the most beneficial invention of man concerning the organisation of space within the geographical limitations of a particular area, especially cities. The most important benefit of skyscrapers is that maximum space can be made available within a limited geographical area. As price for land is skyrocketing especially in big cities and its availability is does not increase, this seems to be the only solutions for people to own space at moderate expenses. If one takes the example of a city like Bangalore in India, where the land prices are very high, huge buildings are erected within the city limits for residential as well as commercial purposes. This saves huge amount of money and land for individuals and organisations, which can used for other purposes. Large areas are not available in big cities and hence people can operate businesses and live within the city limits. Another important benefit of skyscrapers is that it gives an outstanding look to the skyline of big cities, which means that most of these buildings are constructed in an aesthetic fashion. Such high rise structures usually give a magnificent look to the city compared to smaller buildings. If you would examine the landmarks of most of the cities, they are certainly these high rise buildings. For instance, the Opera House in Sydney and the destroyed World Trade Centre in New York are examples of such architectural wonders. Many architects believe that taller buildings have greater scope for architectural liberties. There are people who believe that such buildings are always at a greater risk of crumbling down, which can cause enormous damage to life and property. Moreover, living within the limited space make life congested with more people and cars making the city congested. These are minor distractions in the face of the enormous benefits that such multi-storey buildings can bring. In conclusion, sky scrapers are here to stay and people are constructing more and more such buildings and enjoy their benefits.

3.Most developed countries spend a large proportion of their health budgets on expensive medical technology and procedures. This money should be spent instead on health education to keep people well. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. The idea of diverting the money assigned for expensive medical technology and procedures towards health education will not ensure the health of the people. Firstly, health education has only a limited role in dealing with a large number health related problems. For example, in order to treat patients who meet with serious accidents huge expenses are required to diagnose and perform medical procedures. Many diseases like cancers and strokes cannot be avoided just by educating people about preventive measures. Furthermore, there are many diseases that are hereditary, like heart ailments and psychiatric problem which require expensive treatment. Secondly, in spite of continuous awareness programmes through the media or education, many people do not have the discipline to keep away from unhealthy practices. An ideal example would be the increasing popularity of fast foods, which can cause many life style diseases like blood pressure, cardiac problems and diabetes, especially among the young. Educating people about taking precautions against diseases is definitely an important aspect of ensuring the health of the people, but greater importance should be given to treatment of people who are affected by diseases. On the other hand, health awareness programmes have made great contributions in reducing spread of many epidemics like small pox, bird flu and other viral infections. People have realised the importance of living in a hygienic environments in order to keep away from many common ailments. The prevention of AIDS has been made possible through the world wide awareness programme undertaken by WHO and similar organisations. Greater allocation of funds is required in this area of healthcare but it should not be at the expense of reducing the expenses involved in expensive medical technology and procedures. In conclusion, the present system of giving greater budgetary allocation to expensive medical care is reasonable.

4. Some children find learning history at school very exciting, but many others think it is very boring. In what ways can history be brought to life for all school children. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Although history forms a significant portion of the school curriculum, many students find it not very interesting either because they need to remember many dates and facts or they believe that it is not relevant to their life. Teachers can adopt a number of ways to make history alive and interesting to students. One of the best ways to make history exciting to students is to take them to historical sites and museums where they can have a direct experience of the objects of history. For instance, when teaching about the rulers of the past, they can be taken to ancient palaces and similar archaeological sites. This can increase the curiosity of students in history and make it attractive for them. Subsequently, students would show greater interest in gaining such information. Another important method to attract students attention is to encourage them to conduct research in history, using the internet and other resource materials. Historical movies and documentaries also can generate interest among students about history. This will help them to familiarise with events and figures of yesteryears. Students can also be asked to do projects on specific areas of history by producing posters and information booklets. Teachers can help students to interpret the events of today using similar happenings from history, which would make them understand the relevance of history in their daily lives. If teachers take a special interest in engaging students in such activities, I believe that history will never be a boring subject for them.

5. Some people feel that young people face more pressure today than the equivalent age groups did in previous generations. Others think they have a much easier life than their parents did. What is your opinion? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. You should write at least 250 words. Answer The youth of the previous generations, I believe, did experience greater pressure compared to the present generation of young people, owing to several economic, social and professional issues they encountered. In the past, the economic condition in many families, especially in developing countries like India, was not as stable as it is today. Hence, the physical, educational, professional and recreational needs of young people were not sufficiently met. For instance, if a young person wanted to pursue higher studies, it was often not possible as it was not affordable to many families. On the other hand, it is much easier for todays children to get higher education because of the better economic situation in modern families. Therefore, the level of stress experienced by todays young generation is comparatively less. Secondly, even in professional fields, todays youth have greater opportunities, in securing a job or moving from one to another. For example, if you would take a country like India, in the last few years the economic progress achieved by the nation has created enormous job opportunities for the educated youth. In contrast, many young people a few decades ago experienced a great deal of stress because of the lack of job opportunities, in spite of their educational qualifications. The economic freedom enjoyed by the young generation of the present age has helped them to lead a more comfortable and relaxed life. However, one should not ignore the fact that young professionals today experience enormous stress at work due to stiff targets, demanding deadlines and long working hours. The challenges are intense even in competitive examinations to get into professional courses. Nonetheless, compared to the past, the present young generation experience lower levels of stress and lead an easier life.

6. Governments make many rules to protect people from danger, for example, by making people wear seat belts in cars or not allowing smoking in public buildings. However, many people believe that there are too many rules nowadays. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Governments have the responsibility of ensuring the safety of their citizens by imposing certain restrictions that might seem unnecessary. Although it may restrict their freedom to a certain extent, experiences have proved that many dangers have been averted by imposing these safety measures. Rules and regulations cause minor inconveniences to people but it should be weighed against the safety aspects of individual and social living. It is a reality that hundreds of accidents are caused due to drunken driving. Since there are many rules against driving under the influence of alcohol, many accidents that could cause great damage to human life and property, are avoided. Those who believe that such rules interfere with their freedom pay with their own lives and that of others. The conclusion one can draw from these experiences is that people should tolerate certain inconveniences, in order to protect their lives from possible dangers. Littering and spitting in public places is considered a serious offence in Singapore, which is dealt with serious fines. People in countries like India, that do not have such strict rules on public hygiene may not realise the value of such a regulation but this has made Singapore one of the most beautiful and cleanest countries in the world. When people learn the benefits of certain restrictions, they would begin to appreciate such constrains on their freedom. However, in certain case, we may find that some rules are unnecessary and ineffective. These are only rare instances and citizens have the right to raise objections against them. Any sensible government would revoke such rules and regulations if it finds them unproductive. In general, the rules that we have are not too many but essential for the smooth functioning of any civil society. The absence of such controls would lead to chaos and confusion in public life

More and more people claim that modern work patterns are a source of stress. What do you think are the causes of this? Can you suggest some possible solutions?
7.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Modern work patterns have definitely led to a stress filled work environment. This could be attributed to several professional and personal issues guiding quality and productivity in modern work places. Effective management practices to deal with such situations can play a significant role in reducing the severity of this problem considerably. Firstly, capitalist free economies have encouraged increasing levels of competition in the market, which has led to a situation where companies compete with each other in order to establish the superiority of their products and services and increase profit. The major responsibility of achieving these goals would obviously be transferred to workers at various levels, who are forced to improve their skills at work. When people work in target oriented and quality conscious work places, it would naturally increase their levels or stress. Again, companies often need to deliver their services within a stipulated time frame with the required quality. To meet these deadlines, employees have to work for long hours and this can definitely lead to a stressful work environment. Strict supervisory policy of managerial staff is another prime reason for this situation. Software companies and travel agencies are ideal examples of such work practices. Scientific human resource management policies can tackle this situation quiet effectively. I believe, the most obvious solution is to create relaxed environments at work, where employees can work effectively in a comfortable manner. For example, most software companies today provide gym facilities and other sports activities for employees, which they can use during their break times. A further step would be, to reduce the hours of work, so that it may not exceed the physical and psychological capacity of workers. Another possibility is to encourage workers to use their weekends and holidays more effectively by spending with their families or for picnics. In conclusion, a certain level of stress is inevitable in todays workplaces but effective human resources policies can reduce it considerably.

8. People nowadays work hard to buy more things. This has generally made our lives more comfortable, but many traditional values and customs have been lost and this s a pity. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Essay In pursuit of material comforts, modern man strives to achieve better financial status. This may be, sometimes at the cost of ignoring traditional value systems and customs. However, I believe, although a minority falls into this category, the major portion of the society still upholds traditional values in the midst of material prosperity. It is sometimes said that respect for elderly parents, which was a traditional value does not find any place in todays families. This is purely a based on the wrong assumption that old parents should be allowed to interfere into the affairs of their children and make decisions for them. In fact, todays parents respect the freedom of their children and in turn, children are more independent and stand on their feet earlier than before. Todays children maintain a friendly relationship with their parents but that does not mean that they do not respect them. Today, respect for parents is borne out of childrens freedom and not a result of fear, which in many instances used to be the case in the past. Such attitude of todays generation is sometimes misinterpreted as lack of respect for their parents. What one can derive from this example is that traditional values remain unchanged, although their expressions may take different forms in the passage of time. Visiting neighbourhood houses used to be a favourite custom for people in the past, which helped them in fostering friendly relationship with ones neighbours. However, this is not possible today, since people are too busy as they work for long hours outside their homes to meet the ever-increasing demands of modern life. But this has been effectively compensated by the formation of neighbourhood clubs and similar groups where people meet during weekends and engage in many entertainment and social activities. This provides them greater opportunities to develop a friendly relationship with their neighbours. Mans quest for material prosperity does not always lead to the loss of traditional values, which can be clearly proved by our own experiences to that effect. Although the circumstances change, man remains the same old ethical being.

9. Euthanasia, or mercy killing, has been a controversial issue for many years. Although many people are strongly against such a practice, there is a growing demand to have it legalised. How far do you agree with euthanasia being made legal? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Although certain human right groups and religious organisations may raise objections to the legalisation of mercy killing, from a practical point of view it has enormous benefits for the critically ill patients who have no hope of coming back to normal life. In the first place, legalisation of euthanasia can save the expenditure involved in sustaining lives of many terminally ill patients, who just live with the help of sophisticated medical equipments like ventilators. It is unreasonable to spend huge amounts of money on medicines, medical personnel and equipments, since such people are unlikely to recover. Governments in many orthodox Muslim countries spend millions of dinars for sustaining the lives of patients in vegetative state, because their religious law prohibits euthanasia. In fact, the money wasted for this purpose can be used for treating other patients who can be brought back to a healthy life. Again, in certain extreme cases, it can also be end the hardships and excruciating physical and mental agony of patients who are in the last stages of certain critical illnesses like cancer. Since the law does not allow mercy killing, the last few days are often a trying time for both the patients and their close relatives and friends. Legalisation of this practice can definitely give these patients a peaceful end through a clinically assisted death. On the other hand, there are arguments that there could be incidents of illegal elements misusing this law for their personal advantage. Strict laws and proper surveillance can definitely prevent the occurrence of crimes related to this issue. Religious people who object to the legalisation of mercy killing or moral grounds should consider the practical difficulties involved in preserving a life in vegetative state. If proper guidelines are put forward by the authorities, to determine the validity of a legal euthanasia, it will prove to be a great blessing for many patients who survive just because of a life-sustaining equipment attached to their body.