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Global Problems
It is reported
that billions of dollars are spent on space exploration projects
every year. Some people believe that this money should be used
to solve problems on Earth.
People are explorers by nature and space has always attracted
them. But is it wise to spend so much money on space exploration
projects when we have so many problems on Earth?
In my opinion, space exploration is very important to mankind.
Firstly, satellites are used for radio, television, and other
electronic communication. Satellite television provides us with
a great number of channels, mobile phones facilitate
communication, GPS that uses radio signals from satellites can
show you your exact position on the Earth. Secondly, thanks to
space equipment we can learn the weather forecast and predict
different cataclysms. What is more, people have always dreamed
of reaching other planets and finding other forms of life. So I
think that the more money is spent on space exploration
projects, the more people learn about the universe and their own
planet.
On the other hand, a lot of people say that it is better to
solve the problems on Earth first of all. Unfortunately, we face
a great number of problems nowadays: environmental pollution,
the greenhouse effect, global warming, acid rain, ozone
depletion, overpopulation and many others. People pollute lakes,
rivers, seas and oceans. They destroy forests, kill rare
animals, pick up herbs and flowers, envenom soil and make the
air foul. The world's population increases faster than the food
supply. Each year millions of deaths occur from starvation,
especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
To conclude, I think we must solve problems on Earth first. To
my mind, people can do without satellite television, but they
will hardly be able to live without food, clean drinking water,
fresh air or electricity.
Some people
approve of multiculturalism. However, others have a negative
attitude to it.
The modern world can be called multicultural due to racial,
cultural and ethnic diversity. Through the process of
globalization and immigration modern society has become a
mixture of different nations and cultures. However, different
people have different attitude to multiculturalism.
Personally, I believe that multiculturalism supports the ideals
of a democratic society in which every person is free and equal
in dignity and rights. It leads to understanding, friendship and
respect among racial and ethnic groups. All people are equal
which enables them to participate fully in the social, cultural,
economic and political life irrespective of their race,
religion, colour of skin or origin. What is more, thanks to
multiculturalism we can enjoy foreign goods, food, music, ideas,
technologies and practices. To my mind, the positive attitude to
multiculturalism plays a very important role in the fight
against all forms of extremist action.
But unfortunately, some people have a negative attitude to
multiculturalism as they believe that it erodes social
stability. People's prejudices and fears may lead to racial
discrimination, social conflicts and violence. I strongly feel
that it is wrong to think that one's own race or ethnic group is
more important than others and that its culture is superior to
the culture of other groups.
To conclude, people should be understanding and tolerant of
multiculturalism because it helps us create a united and
harmonious society where every member enjoys equal rights.
Our
grandparents say their way of life was much more secure.
However, young people have more life opportunities nowadays.
A lot of elderly people like talking about good old days and
they often say that life in the past was much better than life
today. But is it really so?
Personally, I think that modern life is more satisfying than the
life in the past. Firstly, nowadays there are different
technical devices that make our lives easier and save our time.
Every day we use computers, laptops, i-Pods, digital tape
recorders, GPS navigation systems and so on. The mobile phone
and the Internet have made communication much easier. Secondly,
travelling has become faster and more convenient. Thirdly, young
people have more opportunities to receive good education and to
find a well-paid job nowadays. In any city there are a lot of
educational establishments and a great number of firms which
need qualified specialists. Besides, there is a wide choice of
entertainment in a big city.
However, modern life is full of dangers. The Internet causes
addiction and the loss of social interaction. Technical progress
harms the environment. People suffer from acid rains, the
greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, the extinction of rare
animals and plants and other calamities. Overpopulation is
another reason for environmental problems as the more people
there are on Earth, the more they pollute. Thousands of people
are infected with AIDS and other incurable diseases every day.
What is more, modern life is full of stress.
To sum up, modern life has its advantages and disadvantages. On
the one hand, it is eventful and it gives us more life
opportunities. On the other hand, it is rather dangerous and
full of problems. Anyway, I prefer the excitement of the
present.
Everybody
knows that smoking is dangerous and it must be banned. However,
more and more people smoke today.
It is not a secret that smoking ruins people's health.
However, statistics show that millions of men, women, teenagers
and even children practice smoking.
I have always wondered what makes people light up a cigarette.
Smoking is extremely dangerous. Nicotine is a drug that causes
addiction like heroin. Smoking causes a lot of serious diseases
such as many forms of cancer, heart attacks, asthma, bronchitis
and many others. People who smoke have yellow teeth, bad breath,
dry skin and premature wrinkles. What is more, smokers do harm
to the health of those people who surround them.
But in spite of all warnings, people continue smoking. Some of
them say that they like the taste or smell of cigarettes or
because it helps them steady their nerves and think. Others say
that it helps them make friends and feel relaxed in a company of
smoking people. For many children and teenagers smoking is the
first step out of childhood. But I strongly feel that it is
silly to begin smoking in order to show off.
To sum up, smoking shortens people's lives. That is why there
must be more restrictions, bans and anti-smoking advertising in
every country. Smoking must be banned in public places,
including offices, restaurants, bars and night clubs.
Our life is
full of stress. Some people say that they feel stressed almost
every day, while others think that it is possible to cope with
stress and to relax.
There are a lot of stressful events in our lives. Losing a job,
having difficulties at home or at work or just moving to a new
flat may cause stress. Besides, we may feel stressed because of
constant fatigue, physical and moral exhaustion and monotony.
Some people say that it is impossible to avoid stress. But is it
really so?
It is a well-known fact that stress may result in a real
breakdown of health. That is why it is very important to try to
avoid stress or at least to minimize it. In my opinion, one of
the best ways to cope with stress is to keep a sense of humor in
difficult situations. I think laughter is the best medicine for
all diseases. Besides, if you feel depressed, you can try some
relaxing hobbies such as yoga, swimming, bicycling, painting or
gardening.
Of course, people react to stress in different ways. Some of us
are more vulnerable to it than others. A lot of people don't
know how to cope with stress. They begin overeating, smoking,
drinking, and even taking drugs. But junk food, cigarettes,
sleeping pills and alcohol don't help. On the contrary, they
make things much worse. I believe that the best way to cope with
stress is to forget about your problems, to take breaks and to
be enthusiastic.
Unfortunately, stress is inevitable. It may have a negative
influence on our physical and mental health. But sometimes
stress helps us develop and makes us stronger. To my mind, the
main thing is not to lose control and to stay positive.
A lot of
people believe that it is impossible to get rid of poverty.
Others say that poverty can be reduced.
Nowadays millions of people live in poverty. They are
deprived of common necessities such as food, clothing, shelter
and safe drinking water. They also suffer from the lack of
access to opportunities such as education, information, health
care and employment.
I have always wondered if it is possible to get rid of poverty.
I strongly feel that it is not fair that the rich live in
luxurious houses and drive expensive cars, while the poor lack
access to health services, suffer hunger and experience mental
and physical health problems. All people are born equal. So why
do they live in different conditions? To my mind, there must be
more poverty reduction programs as well as institutions
dedicated to tackling poverty. In politics, the fight against
poverty must be regarded as the most important goal. Besides,
developed nations ought to help developing countries.
However, it is not so easy to fight poverty. Poverty may be
caused by different factors including geographic factors,
unemployment, overpopulation, war, discrimination and many
others. So if we want to reduce poverty, we must solve quite a
lot of global problems first.
To sum up, the problem of poverty remains unsolved nowadays. In
my view, governments must take some urgent measures to fight
poverty because it often goes hand in hand with crime and it may
destroy society. Anyway, poverty must be reduced for reasons of
justice and security.
Most people
are worried about the problem of overpopulation. Others think
that the situation is not as terrible as it seems to be.
At the present time the earth accommodates more than 6 billion
people. The world's population is growing so fast because people
live longer owing to better medical care and nutrition. Besides,
more babies are born, especially in developing countries. But
how can overpopulation threaten people's life on Earth?
In my opinion, overpopulation makes the standard of living
worse. The world's population increases faster than the food
supply. Each year millions of deaths occur from starvation,
especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America. If the world's
population continuous growing, it will be very difficult to
produce enough food and goods. More people need more water,
minerals, shelter and clothes. Population growth is another
reason for environmental problems as the more people there are
on Earth, the more they pollute. They drive cars, throw away
litter, cut down forests, use electricity, build roads and
plants and deplete the planet's resources.
On the other hand, in many European countries the average woman
has only one child. In many big cities fertility rates are
falling because some people think that it is rather expensive to
have a child. Most young women dream of making a career. So they
say they have much to lose by becoming mothers. As a result,
families are getting smaller and smaller.
To sum up, the real situation is not so bad. To my mind, the
problem of overpopulation can be solved if there is population
control in some countries. Anyway, nobody knows what will happen
to the human race in ten or twenty years.
Some people
are convinced that the concept of pacifism may become reality,
while others say it is a kind of Utopia.
Humans have always been competing for better life. Pacifists
believe that war and violence are always wrong. But is it really
possible to create the world where nonviolence, love and
patience rule or is it just a dream?
I strongly feel that since nuclear weapons appeared, people have
understood that war cannot be used to settle confrontations. To
my mind, the costs of war are so substantial that better ways of
resolving disputes must be found. Fortunately, some countries
have already adopted pacifism to conduct foreign policy. They
reject war and stick to a neutral role. Some pacifists say it is
necessary to establish a world government in order to prevent
and control international aggression.
In theory, people are creating a "peace-loving" society. In
practice, there are still some military conflicts and tension
between different countries. Civilization is still far from
establishing a world government. What is more, the modern world
is not perfect enough to avert wars. But I'm convinced that
nonviolent action is morally superior and more effective.
To conclude, everybody wants to live in a peaceful world. That
is why people must reduce regional and international conflicts
and avoid all attributes which could tend to war. I believe that
international disputes can and must be peacefully resolved. All
in all, any violence is morally wrong.
Some people
say that gambling is just entertainment, while others are
convinced that it ruins gamblers* lives.
For centuries people have spent a lot of money trying to beat
the laws of probability. Some of us find gambling quite
innocent. But most people believe that gambling is one of the
worst temptations that exist in this world. This problem is
taking on greater proportions as gambling, especially online
gambling, becomes more popular.
I have always wondered what makes people risk their money or
possessions. Of course, everybody hopes to gain an income. Some
people even succeed in winning additional money or material
goods. Others consider gambling to be a form of recreation. They
enjoy gambling for the thrill of it, and they both have fun and
earn a little money.
But while some people enjoy the entertainment value of a horse
track or casino, others can become addicted to gambling which
threatens their financial and family's well-being. Many gamblers
are possessed by the idea of getting rich quick. They often
continue risking their money even after repeated losses. In my
opinion, an addiction to gambling is like an addiction to any
other thing. However, since it does not have any physical signs,
most people discover that their relatives or friends are
addicted only when it becomes too late. What is more, many
people say that casinos contribute to crime because some
gamblers resort to stealing.
To conclude, gambling must be banned or at least heavily
controlled. Unfortunately, quitting gambling is just as hard as
quitting smoking or taking drugs. I believe that gambling
addicts must receive medical treatment. Otherwise they may ruin
their lives and the lives of their nearest and dearest.
Some people
say that in the modern world we are losing our sense of
spirituality. Others are convinced that people still need faith.
In the past faith played a central role in people's daily
lives. But the situation is quite different today. A lot of
people never attend religious services of any kind and some of
them say they have no religion at all. But what could have
brought about such a dramatic break from tradition and how can
it influence our way of life?
I have always wondered what role faith plays in our lives. In my
opinion, faith can help people cope with difficult emotions or
moral decisions. When everything goes wrong and you feel
extremely unhappy, faith can help. I think that a person who
believes in God has courage, hope, confidence, calmness and
assuring trust that all will come out well. Faith helps people
overcome all difficulties and remain optimistic whatever
happens.
Unfortunately, scientific advances have made many people
question their religious beliefs. The terrible events of the
20th century have also made others question the existence of
God. A lot of people say that science is more important than
religion because it tries to solve the problems connected with
reducing pollution, protecting biological diversity, saving
energy and natural recourses and many others. But I strongly
feel that if we want to resolve the global crisis and to improve
our cultural, social, economic and political systems, we need
faith and spirituality.
To conclude, people need to change their attitudes, values and
beliefs. Faith can help us become kinder, more generous and
responsible. I believe that it will make our lives much happier.
Some people
prefer to escape from boring reality from time to time. Others
say that escapism cannot help them solve their problems.
People have always tried to escape from reality in one way or
another. They try to forget about bad or boring things with the
help of different activities and entertainment such as reading
books, going to the theatre, travelling and so on. But does it
help people change their lives for the better and what are the
possible consequences of escapism?
To my mind, people escape from reality for different reasons.
Some of them are dissatisfied with their lives and don't know
how to improve the situation. Others have dreams that they think
will never come true because these people lack self-confidence
and have low self-esteem. I strongly feel that if people are
dissatisfied with their lives, they must do something. To forget
about your problems and to solve them are two different things.
Nevertheless, some people prefer to follow the line of least
resistance and never to take risks. If something goes wrong,
they usually give up and never make one more attempt. They
prefer to forget about all bad things that happened to them.
Some philosophers say that escapism is not exclusively negative.
It is just a different reality. But I believe that escapism is
only for weak and indecisive people.
To sum up, those who escape from reality don't want to accept
themselves as they are. They often feel depressed and unhappy
because they are unable or reluctant to connect with the world.
I think it is better to face the reality and try to solve your
problems and overcome difficulties. Anyway, it is impossible to
escape from something all the time.
Some people
say that capital punishment should be allowed, while others are
convinced that it is unacceptable in a human society.
Capital punishment has been used for a wide variety of
offences since ancient times. Nowadays many countries have
already abolished the death penalty, but it is still used for
certain crimes in the USA, China, Japan and many Asian and
Middle Eastern countries.
Personally, I am not sure if capital punishment should be
allowed. To my mind, it is morally wrong to kill criminals, no
matter what they have done. The death penalty runs counter to
the principles of humanism. There is also a possibility that
innocent people will be executed and that there will be no way
of compensating them for such injustice. Opponents of the death
penalty are convinced that it is needlessly cruel and that life
imprisonment is a more rational alternative.
However, some people believe that capital punishment is morally
right if it is used for punishing murderers. Firstly, capital
punishment removes the most dangerous criminals from society and
should prove much safer for the rest of us than long term or
permanent incarceration. Secondly, the fear of death penalty may
prevent many people from committing crimes. Besides, some people
think that it is wrong to keep criminals in prison at the
expense of taxes. The government would better spend more money
on the old, the young and the sick rather than on murderers. But
can we deprive a person of his or her life? Do we have the right
to murder? I don't think so.
To conclude, I believe that the death penalty removes our
humanity. In the case of the worst criminals, this may be
acceptable but it is more questionable in the case of less awful
crimes.
The problem of
xenophobia is discussed by many people nowadays. Some of them
say that it is important to be tolerant, while others disagree
with this point of view.
I have always wondered why some people have strong fear or
dislike of those from other countries. The problem of xenophobia
is very topical nowadays. It is especially widespread in large
cities with multinational population.
Tolerance is a respectful attitude to people who differ from us.
To my mind, it is prejudice to think that some races are
superior and some of them are inferior. I strongly feel that it
is primitive and silly to divide people into types and classes.
In my opinion, we should treat another person as an equal.
However, in reality some people have a feeling of distrust and
aversion to something or someone different and unusual. They are
used to understanding those people who have the same traditions
and who speak the same language as they do. And that is why
people of other nations seem strange. Unfortunately, people's
intolerance may lead to racial discrimination, social conflicts
and violence. So we must develop mutual understanding and
respect. Besides, we should learn to make a compromise.
To conclude, tolerance is a very important element of our lives,
culture and communication. It is another word for humanity,
equality and fairness. Tolerance is very important if we want to
have happy future and global security.
It seems that
people of different nationalities will never understand each
other. However, others believe that countries can work together
to improve tolerance.
Today we live in the world of racial, cultural and ethnic
diversity. People differ in appearance, colour of skin, way of
thinking, customs and behaviour. Every race has its own culture
and its own beliefs. That is why there is often some
misunderstanding between people of different nationalities. So
the question arises if anything can be done in order to improve
tolerance.
To my mind, governments can do much to improve tolerance. Some
international conferences and meetings can be organized in order
to discuss the most vital problems of people of different
nationalities and to exchange experience. I think it is very
important to work out educational programs for universities,
colleges, schools and even kindergartens. We must teach
children, teenagers and young people to be patient, respectful
and tolerant. And of course we mustn't forget that family
upbringing is of great importance for any child, that's why
countries should think about special educational programs for
parents.
However, many people say that some misunderstanding between
people of different nationalities will always exist. Watching
the latest news on TV we can always learn about military
conflicts and racial strives. People are accustomed to cruelty
and their behaviour becomes aggressive and uncontrollable. And
if they feel angry and depressed, they want to find somebody to
blame for their troubles. So they blame people of other
nationalities and vent their anger and vexation on them. But I
think that in spite of all this, we must co-exist peacefully.
To sum up, if there is tolerance among people, we shall live in
harmony. But it will be possible only if we plunge into the
culture, religion, traditions and language of other nations.
Disabled
people are often considered to be miserable. However, some
people believe that the disabled are much happier nowadays.
Most of us think that disabled people are extremely unhappy
because they are confined to their homes and cannot perform the
same functions that we do. But others are convinced that it is
it just a stereotype.
To my mind, the lives of disabled people are easier nowadays.
Firstly, in many European countries public buildings have ramps
and toilets big enough for wheelchairs. Secondly, many companies
are not allowed to refuse a person a job on the grounds that he
or she has only one leg, or cannot speak. Thirdly, thanks to
different things like the Para Olympics disabled people's
self-esteem has risen enormously. Today they have realized their
ability to compete with everyone else. Finally, new technology
works wonders. For instance, artificial limbs enable people to
walk and run as fast as everyone else. Cars are adapted so that
people can drive them with only one leg, or even no legs at all.
However, in many developing countries there are no facilities
for disabled people. What is more, it is fashionable to be
beautiful and healthy in modern society, so a handicapped person
may become an outcast. Most disabled people suffer from
loneliness and lack of communication. Some of them become
burdens on their families because they are unemployed and depend
on their relatives. But I think that many disabled people are
very talented. They can work, support their families and
contribute to society.
To conclude, I strongly feel that disabled people have rights
just like everyone else. They are part of society and they must
never be forgotten or left behind.
Из учебного пособия
"Открывая
мир с английским языком. 150 эссе для ЕГЭ. Готовимся к ЕГЭ" Юнёва С.А. 2011г.
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