Electric Cars vs Petrol Cars

Electric cars are more environmentally-friendly than petrol cars, but their sales last year were less than 10% of all vehicles sold. Write an article of no fewer than 250 words. The first paragraph explains why the sales of electric vehicles are low, whereas the second paragraph sets out what can be done to encourage people to drive these vehicles.

 

The sales of electric vehicles have been low because electric vehicles are, when compared with petrol cars, new to the market. Customers know little about them. For example, they are not sure about their efficacy. How often do they break down? Is it easy to find a charging spot for them? Electricity might be cheaper than petrol, but what if their maintenance costs are taken into account? These are some obvious questions drivers have about electric cars; unless they are properly addressed, drivers are expected to be slow to replace their petrol cars with electric ones.

 

       To boost the sales of electric cars, the government should play a proactive role, given that electric cars are much more environmentally-friendly than petrol ones. A publicity campaign should be launched to address all possible questions drivers might have about electric cars. Emphasis should be placed on the reliability of technology used in electric cars, the expected savings of driving electric cars when compared with petrol ones, the convenience with which electric cars can be charged, with particular reference to a comprehensive network of charging stations, and the likely maintenance costs involved. Apart from the publicity campaign, the government should incentivize car owners. For example, a cash allowance set at a level sufficient enough for car owners to make a switch to electric cars should be seriously considered. The money involved should be seen as investment in building a sustainable future. With the publicity campaign and the financial incentive in place, drivers are expected to be convinced that electric cars are the way to go.

Debating Club

 

You would like to encourage your schoolmates to join the school's debating club. You are going to speak at the school assembly. Write the speech which should be at least 250 words long. The first paragraph should set out your purpose and the second one should explain why students should join the debating club.

Good morning, Principal, teachers and fellow schoolmates:

I am Chris Wong, President of the school’s debating club. I am delighted to have this opportunity to introduce the club to you and hope that after my introduction, you will join us in the near future.

You might be wondering why you should join the club. Let me explain. The club has been set up to promote debating among students. It is committed to providing a friendly environment in which members can learn various debating skills and put these skills to practice. Every Wednesday after school, practice sessions are organized on various current issues. Members are organized into teams debating the issues. They receive constructive advice and guidance from more senior members present. Apart from these sessions, the club run biweekly workshops focusing on specific skills. These workshops are particularly useful for those who are new to debating and benefit from a step-by-step introduction to what is involved in debating. Some workshops target more experienced members who wish to hone their skills.  Over the years, we have received consistently positive feedback from our members speaking highly of the value of debating: not only does it improve one’s language ability, but it also enhances one’s ability to think critically and articulate arguments eloquently. Our members have become accomplished debaters; they have also excelled in their academic pursuits. So if you wish to join us, please contact me or just send an email to debating@abc.sch. I look forward to welcoming you all to our club.

Thank you.

Neighborhood Changes

 

Your neighborhood has undergone significant changes over the past decade. Write an essay about these changes. The essay should be at least 250 words long. The first paragraph should describe the changes. The second one should explain what appeal to you and what does not.

     Over the past decade, my neighborhood has undergone tremendous changes. More people have moved in because of some major housing projects completed in recent years. The population has substantially increased from about 200,000 to nearly half a million. As part of the one of the housing projects, a huge commercial complex has been constructed. It boasts a variety of much-needed facilities, including shops, restaurants, cafes, cinemas and open spaces. It has become a magnet for locals, particularly on weekends when families and young people spend a whole day there. In the light of the population increase, the government has upgraded infrastructure. Roads have been widened to cater for more traffic flows, both from the housing projects and the commercial complex. An existing park has been expanded to provide more soccer fields, a brand-new stadium and an extension to an existing swimming pool.

     What appeals to me most is the commercial complex and the upgraded swimming pool. My friends and I love going to the complex whenever we have time because we can hang out there, be it going to our favorite restaurant – an Italian restaurant with mouth-watering pizzas and pasta – or going to the movies. Sometimes we go shopping there as we can easily hop from one shop to another; this saves us a lot of time and energy. The upgraded swimming pool is what I need most. I usually go there every evening for a few laps in the pool; this is the most relaxing exercise for me when the pressure from my studies can be overwhelming. Despite all the attractions, I hate the traffic congestion brought about by the commercial complex and increased population. It has taken longer to go from one place to another, particularly at rush hour when a ten-mile journey can take at least an hour.

My Favorite TV Show

 

Write an essay about your favorite TV show. The essay should be at least 250 words long. The first paragraph should introduce the TV show and what it is about. The second one should explain why it is your favorite.

     My favorite TV show is Britain’s Got Talent, which is a talent show competition on television. This show is a spin-off from America’s Got Talent, which has been successful in the United States.  Simply put, the show allows contestants of any age to audition for the show with whatever talent they have. During auditions, they need to impress a panel of three judges in order to secure a place in the later rounds of contest. The ultimate winner of the contest will win a cash prize and an opportunity to perform before the British Royal Family in the Royal Variety Show. The winners of the past seasons of the show have been musicians, singers, magicians, dancers and comedians. I was most impressed by one of the contestants, Susan Boyle, who sang "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables some years ago. She roses to instant fame as no one expected her, a lady from a remote Scottish village and in her fifties, to be able to sing beautifully. She later released a record-breaking album.

     The show is my favorite because the contestants always bring all sorts of talents to the show. An ordinary contestant may blow my mind when I least expect it, as in the case of Susan Boyle. This underlines the importance of never judging a book by its cover. I always enjoy watching the contestants’ performances, particularly in magic, dancing and singing. Indeed a few magicians won the contests by turning the impossible into possible and challenging our understanding of what things should be. Apart from being a good form of entertainment, the show is inspirational in that we should believe in ourselves and showcase our talents in whatever way we can and on whatever platform we have.

The Joys of Being a Teenager Growing up in Taiwan

 

You have been invited to join a panel discussion with young people from other countries. You are expected to talk about the joys of being a teenager growing up in Taiwan. Please write your speech which should be at least 250 words long. The first paragraph should be an introduction. The second one should explain the joys of being a teenager growing up in Taiwan.

I am really honored to join today’s panel discussion on the joys of being a teenager growing up in various parts of the world. I surely look forward to understanding how teenagers grow up in other countries, but I hope you are equally interested in what I am to tell you about the case in Taiwan.

The first joy that comes to my mind is definitely the fact that Taiwan is not a big country and it takes less than a day to go from north to south or vice versa, or from east to west or vice versa. For this reason, teenagers have ample opportunity to see different parts of the beautiful country or, to be specific, the beautiful island. I vividly and fondly remember many trips organized by either my school or my parents. The second joy is the delicious food. It comes in a variety of forms, but I am most attracted by night-market food. My favorites are stinky tofu, oyster omelet, and Taiwanese sausages with sticky rice. The third joy is the thriving publishing industry which publishes tons of books every year, meeting the needs of the public, not least those of teenagers. Indeed my reading habit began when I was 12 – I went to an Eslite store in Taipei and was astounded by the wide range of fantastic choices on offer. To conclude, it has been a joyful journey for teenagers to grow up in Taiwan. I am, of course, happy to answer any questions you might have.