Essay and Letter Writing Topics for SSC MTS Exam 2017

⇒ Essay Writing Topics

One Year of Demonetization – Failure or Succes?

Pollution in India – Is Delhi Safe to Breath?

Gender Inequality at Work Place

Current Status of Indian Economy.

GST Impact – Cheaper or Costlier?

Digital India – Reality or Myth?

Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan.

Natural Calamities – Are Humans Responsible too?

When will the Indian Women be Safe?

Are Reservations for Lower Class Fair?

Role of Agriculture in Development of India.

Could India become Superpower until the year 2030?

Corruption in India.

What is your definition of World Peace?

Global Warming and its Impact.

Religious or Spiritual – Who do you think you are?

Sustainable Development – Reduce, Reuse & Recycle.

Beti Bachao Beti Badhao Abhiyaan.

Role of Teachers in the Society.

Need of Computer Literacy in today’s age.

Role of Agriculture in Development of India

“I should like to slip out of the public gaze…to bury myself in the farm and devote my attention
to farming and educating.” were the lines of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation. These
lines were enough to show how agriculture lies in the soul of Indians. Agricultural prosperity
makes India one of the largest producing countries of agricultural commodities. Agriculture
stands as the backbone of Indian economy, its contributions along with industrialisation have
made India what it is now.

Even now almost 70% of the Indian population resides in rural areas and around 60 -70%
population directly or indirectly depends on agriculture for their livelihood. This clearly suggests
how deeply agriculture affects the well-being of India. Agriculture solely takes a stake in the 26%
of the India’s GPD. Agriculture helps India gain foreign revenue by making it capable of exporting
tea, tobacco, spices, coffee, etc.

Because of all the agricultural advancements, India is seen as the role model for every country,
as it ranks very high in the manufacture of groundnuts and sugarcane. It stands on the 2nd
position in the production of rice and staple cotton and on 3rd position in the production of
tobacco.

India with a total of 2.4% of the world’s land area is known in the world for its lush and green
farms where farmers slog themselves for months and pay the share to Indian Economy through
land revenues, excise duties on agro-based goods, taxes on production and sale of agricultural
machines.

Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation, but the only riches she can call is her own. The
extent to which agricultural advancements have contributed to the development of India is
immeasurable. All we need now is a thought that can revolutionise Indian agriculture to a level
that the wealthiest person in a society should be a farmer.
Indian festivals

Government scheme

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

Make in India

Startups in India
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana or PMJDY

Swachh Bharat

My favorite Sport

Goods & Service Tax (GST) –

Demonetization – Failure or Success

Pollution in Metro Cities

Gender equality in Society

Gender Equality in Work Place

Digital India – Pros and Cons

Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan

Reservations in Government jobs

Can India become a superpower?

Role of teachers in society

Computer Literacy in Digital Era

Women Empowerment

Development of Technology in India

Effects of Pollution

Climate Change

My journey to Historical Place or Monument

My favorite Film or Movie

My Favorite Book

Importance of Education

Importance of Library

Importance of Sports

Importance of Newspapers and Media

Importance of Agriculture in Indian economy

Technology – Boon or a Bane

ESSAY TOPIC- Digital India

Digital India is a program to transform India into digital empowered society and knowledge
economy. It was launched on July 1, 2015 by Hon. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Led by Department of Electronics and Information Technology (Deity), the programme

consists of three core components: First, creation of digital infrastructure as utility to every
citizen, second, to provide governance and Services on demand and third, Digital
empowerment of citizens.

It is an umbrella programme which cover many ministries and will put together many
existing schemes which would be restructured and refocused and implemented in a
synchronized manner.

Digital India aims to provide the much needed thrust to the nine pillars of growth areas,
namely Broadband Highways, e-governance, e-kranti, Information for all etc.

In order to achieve the goals of Digital India programme India has to overcome same
obstacles like shortage of funding for such a huge programme, lack of digital literacy,
awareness and threat from cyber crimes etc. The biggest challenge is safeguard sensitive
data. For this the government must pass a strong legislation to fight against data fraud and
have a aggressive policy on cyber issues.

Similarly with the collective efforts of all stakeholders, funds can be mobilized through
various means like FDIs, world Bank funding etc.

Spreading awareness and accumulation of faith in the digital system is the key area where
the government should focus first. Literacy should include digital literacy too. DISHA should
be implemented properly with proper evaluation of programme, the scheme has potential to
transform India into a digital leader in the world.

ESSAY TOPIC: SMART CITY MISSION

Smart City Mission is an Urban renewal program by the government with a mission to
develop 100 cities all over the country. The aim is to make them citizen friendly and
sustainable. It was launched by honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on June 25,
2016. The Ministry of Urban Development is responsible for implementing the mission.

Cities accommodate nearly 31% of India’s population and contribute 63% of GDP (Census,
2011). Urban areas are expected to house 40% of India’s population and contribute 75% of
India’s GDP by 2030. This requires comprehensive development of physical, institutional,
social and economic infrastructure.

Smart cities focus on their most important requirements and on the greatest opportunities
to improve lives. They tap a range of approaches – digital and information technologies,
Urban planning best practices, public – private partnerships, and policy change – to make a
difference. They always put people first. Application of ‘Smart’ Solutions is core area of
Smart Cities.

The core infrastructure elements are adequate water supply, assured electricity supply,
sanitation, including solid waste management, efficient transport, good – governance,
sustainable environment, safety and security of citizens, robust IT connectivity and
digitization, health and education etc.

These are some challenges too, like retrofitting requires huge investment and time. Smart
cities require smart people who actively participate in governance and reforms.

However, these problems can be solved and India may have many Smart Cities which
focuses on Smart solutions. For this active participation of citizens, funding from
international bodies like World Bank, participation of private players. Apart from this
independence to local bodies at city level is also paramount in recognizing need of cities in a
decentralised way.

ESSAY TOPIC: Climate Change/Global Warming

Climate of a region is its average weather. Climate change therefore, is a change in the
average weather of a region’s average rainfall or average temperature. It is important to note
that natural changes are balanced by nature itself but anthropogenic changes are going
towards unbalanced ends.

In common language we use ‘global warming’ which refers to the long-term increase in
Earth’s average temperature. Most scientists agree that most of the warming since mid-
1900s is due to the burning of coal, oil and gas. Burning these fuels is how we produce most
of the energy we use every day. This burning adds heat-trapping gases, such as carbon
dioxide, into the air. These gases are called greenhouse gases.

Realizing the problems associated with global warming almost every country has come
forward to act jointly. It was 1970s when under the leadership of united Nation countries
started taking steps to limit or reduce GHGs in the atmosphere. These steps include using
energy more efficiently and using more clear energy. Some of the major agreements are
United Nation Environment Programme, Kyoto Protocol, UNFCCC, Paris Agreement etc.

Some countries are even planning for some unavoidable impacts. For example, some coastal
areas are planning for flooding and land loss that may result from rising sea levels.

Hence we should work on prevention, mitigation and adaptation too. Active participation of
local communities, adopting sustainable practices, living styles etc can be useful in fighting
against climate change. We have to contain the temperature increase to 2°C anyhow.

ESSAY TOPIC: SKILL INDIA

India is one of the few countries in the world where the working-age populations will be far
in excess of those dependent on them. This is termed as demographic dividend, which will
continue till 2040. However, employability of Indian workers are extremely low. To tackle
this problem and harness the demographic dividend of the country skill India campaign was
launched by honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on July 15, 2015. It includes
various initiatives of the government like “National skill Development Mission”, “National
Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015”, “Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas
Yojana”, and “Skill & loan scheme”.

The campaign aims to converge and monitor all skill development schemes across the
country. It targets to train 400 million people in India in different skills by the year 2022.
Main focus is on vocational training. The campaign cover both urban and rural areas. For
rural areas Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana has been launched. Many Skill
training centres are being established across the country and participation of private
players is also being promoted. Private players can help the campaign succeed by many
ways like they can identify skill gaps, provide skill training validate or certify skill training
courses, invest in skilling etc. They can also forecast job demand in various industries. Low
level of skill development in the country is because of many factors, such as inadequate
promotion of vocational trainings at school level, inadequate training centre, lack of proper
courses etc.

Hence, success of the campaign depends upon the availability of high-quality trainers,
adequate infrastructure, effective state policies and their efficient implementation. It is time
we changed our education system and include and give importance to apprenticeship,
vocational training in our academic curriculum.

ESSAY TOPIC- Make in India

The make in India initiative was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September
25, 2014, with the primary good of making India a global manufacturing hub, by
encouraging both multinational as well as domestic companies to manufacture their
products within the country.

Led by the Department of Industrial Policy and promotion, the initiative aims to raise the
contribution of the manufacturing sector to 25% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by
the year 2020 from its current 16%.

Make in India has introduced multiple new initiatives, promoting foreign direct investment,
implementing intellectual property rights and developing the manufacturing sector. It
targets 25 sectors of the economy which ranges from automobile to Information Technology
and Business Process Management (BPM). It also seeks to facilitate job creation, faster
innovation, enhance skill development and protect intellectual property. The initiative is
built on four pillars which are New Processes, New Infrastructure New Sectors and New
Ministers.
‘Zero defect Zero effect is a key phrase associated with Make in India campaign, which
explains that the products made in India would have zero defect and zero effect on
environment, ensuring sustainable development.

However, to succeed the government has to take some steps key areas of focus are simple
and predictable tax regime, simple labour, laws skilling of the labours, higher case of doing
business, absence of red-tapism etc. Besides these, the initiative must have greater linkages
with other initiatives of the government, like SKILL INDIA START-UP INDIA, DIGITAL INDIA
etc.

The campaign has already made considerable success and if it moves forward with this pace
it will make India a global hub of manufacturing.

ESSAY TOPIC- GST : One Nation One Tax

Goods and Service Tax is a single Indirect Tax on the supply of goods and services right from
the manufacturer to the customer. It was introduced as The Constitution (One Hundred and
First Amendment) Act, 2016.

Aim of thin reform is to make India come under ‘one Nation one Tax’ regime in addition to
eradicating tax evasions, multiplicity and cascading effects of tax. Some other objectives are
to increase productivity, income Tax to GDP Ratio and revenue surplus, increase compliance
etc.

As per the Amendment Act, the GST Council will be a point form of the Centre and the States.
It is headed by Union Finance Minister and will make recommendations to the Union and
the States on important issues related to GST.

The GST would subsume version indirect taxes levied by Central and state governments.
This unified tax would help in reducing the multiplicity of taxes, mitigating cascading or
double taxation, creating simpler tax regime etc. This will also make positive uniform prices.
In addition to these benefits the tax would increase employment, attract investments.

GST has all the ingredients of modern seamless taxation system. But its success will depends
on taking on board all the stakeholders and eliminating all the irritants which goes against
the principle of GST. Different tax slots may create dissatisfaction similarly, if role of centre
and State governments are not defined clearly it may have the negative impacts on Centre-
State relations. The GST council should work collectively for smoother implementation of
their reform.

With all concerns and worries, it is still a histrionic move to make India one of the most
favourable investments and manufacturing destination.
ESSAY TOPIC-Women Empowerment

Women empowerment means enabling women to take their own decisions by breaking all
personal limitations of the society and family. It is to make them independent in all aspects
from minds, thoughts, rights, decisions etc.

In male dominated societies like India women are given limited roles, mostly domestic
responsibilities with many restrictions. Women constitute half of the population but there
has not been equality in any part of the world.

Their conditions were abysmal when sati system, child marriages were not illegal. These
systems could be made illegal by the relentless efforts of many social reformers like Raja
Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidya Sagar, etc.

TOPIC- Social Media/Cyberspace and Internet: Blessing or curse to human civilization in the
long run

Usages of social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, whatsapp etc. have dramatically
increased recently with the advancement of technology. Although, it has many detrimental
effects on the society but its positive side cannot be neglected.

Social networking sites mitigate communication gap not only in the immediate social circle
but also with friends and families in remote areas by sharing their news and updates. They
provide a rapid and effective way of interaction among people. Furthermore, many social
groups exist on such sites which help people to find persons of the same interests and
attitudes without confiding them to only geographical boundaries. It has recently been seen
that many injustice and social issues were shared in social networking sites and that made a
huge impact on authority and that has brought justice to the victims. Social networking sites
are a common ground for mass people to share their updates, views and other details. Thus
this has created a world without any boundary.

On the other hand, it is often seen that people have become disjointed and fragmented dues
to the social networking sites. Most affected are youngsters who would like to spend most of
their time on these sites. This has led dire consequences on their physical and psychological
health. Moreover, families are greatly affected by this and their social bonding is no more
present in contemporary days. People are getting addicted to these websites and thus
becoming less social in many cases. Propaganda and fraud relationship have caused many
personal and social dilemma.

To sum up, I would like to say that people have become more social and interactive by the
use of social networking sites. It gives people a sense of freedom to talk around the world
without worrying about the huge cost that incurred previously. However, it has severe
negative effects, as most of the people opt to talk using technology than meeting others in
person due to their busy lifestyle, it increases the distance in their relationship.

Topic: Demonetization: To deify or Demonise

Demonetization is the act of stripping a currency unit of its status as legal tender. On
November 8, 2016 the government announced a historic measure to demonetize the two
largest denomination notes Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000, which constitute 86% of the total cash in
circulation.

The aim of the action was fourfold: to curb corruption: counterfeiting, the use of high
denomination notes for terrorist activities; and especially the accumulation of “black
money”, generated by income that has not been declared to the tax authorities.

To fulfill the vision, the government announced that notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 were to
be deposited in the banks by December 30, 2016, while restrictions were placed on cash
withdrawals.

Some of the benefits of this reform are tax on black money, crowding out counterfeit notes,
higher tax compliance due to formal economy etc. In addition to these immediate benefits,
these are some long term benefits like making Indian economy a less-cash or cash-lite
economy. Notwithstanding its long term potential, demonetization had some short term
costs too, for example aggregate demand shock aggregate supply shock liquidity shock etc.

Moving forward, the emphasis must be on maximizing demonetization is benefits while

minimizing its costs. First step to be taken immediately is to replenish the cash shortage. In
medium term, the impetus provided to digitization must continue. For higher tax
compliance taxation regime must be simple and predictable like GST.

Hence, if we compare the merits with demerits, it will be safe to conclude that former
outweighs the latter.

After the advent of constitutions and democratic governments all over the world, conditions
of women have improved, however it is far beyond equality. Incidences of female-foeticides,
dowries, traffickings, etc are common even today.

In recent years, in India various legislations have been enacted to empower women, for
example, Sexual Harassment of women at work place Act 2013, Nirbhaya Fund, One stop
Centres, etc. Similarly many schemes targeted to empower women have been launched like
BBBP, ICDS, Women helpline, etc.

However, to make a society free from biases against women we first need to change the
patriarchal mindsets which favours male over female. For this education through mass
communication is very important. Both men and women should be made aware of their
rights and duties to promote and practice gender-equality. In addition to this, women should
have equal inheritance rights, as economically independent women are easily empowered.

At last we should always keep in mind the quote of Swami Vivekananda, “There is no chance
for the welfare of the world unless the conditions of women is improved. It is not possible
for a bird to fly on only one wing.”

ESSAY

OVERPOPULATION: CAUSES, IMPACT AND PREVENTION

Every nook and corner of India is a clear display of increasing population, whether you are
in a metro station, airport, road, highway, shopping mall, market or even in a social and
religious gathering, we find all these places over crowded at anytime of the day. Therefore
over population can be termed as an undesirable condition where the number of existing
human population exceeds the carrying capacity of Earth. According to the Indian Census
carried out in 2011, the population of India was noted down more than 1 billion. This is the
second most populous country of the world after China and it has been estimated that India
will be the world’s number one populous country surpassing China, by 2025.

The main causes leading to overpopulation of India include higher birth rate than
death rate, slow fall in fertility rate, better medical facilities, depletion of precious resources,
early marriage of girls, poverty, illiteracy, age old cultural norm under which sons are
considered the bread earners of the families. These obsolete thoughts put considerable
pressure on the parents to produce children till a male child is born, illegal migration under
which continual illegal migration from Bangladesh and other underdeveloped countries add
up to increase population density.

This cumbersome count of population brings horrible impacts with itself that includes
unemployment, manpower utilization under which the number of jobless people is on rise
in India due to economic depression and expansion activities, pressure infrastructure
resulting in lack of transportation, communication, housing, education, health care,
increasing number of slums, overcrowded houses, traffic congestion, scarcity of resources,
decreased production and increased costs leading to problem like inflation and inequitable
income distribution.

The Government of India, policy makers or leaders should initiate a bold population policy
to keep the pace of economic growth of country with the demands of growing population.

Increasing awareness for the use of contraceptives and family planning methods, sex
education, encouraging male sterilization and female empowerment, more care centres for
the poor and free distribution of contraceptives among the poor can play a major role in
controlling population. India’s strengths in the global world in various fields can’t be
ignored, whether in science & technology, medicine and health care, business and industry,
military, literature & many other appreciating fields. Experts are hopeful that by increasing
public awareness and enlisting strict population control norms by Govt will definitely lead
the way towards country’s economic prosperity & control of population.

1.Write an Essay on Rainy Season.

2.Write an essay on Mobiles.

3.Write an essay on Education And Life

4.Write an essay on Responsibilities Of Good Citizen

General Essay

Essay on Generation Gap Globalization Essay

Essay on Music Essay on My Hobby

Essay on Money Essay on Newspaper

Essay City Life Vs Village Life Essay on Leadership

Essay on Agriculture Essay on Black Money

Essay on My Dream Essay on Doctor

Essay on Who Am I Essay on Youth

Essay on Bank Essay on Man

Essay on Role Model

Education Essay

Essay on Education My School Essay

Importance of Education Essay Essay on Girl Education

Women Education in India Essay Essay on Adult Education

Essay on Ideal Student Essay on Career

Essay on My Favourite Subject Essay on Importance of Communication

Essay on India

Essay on India Essay on Indian Culture

Essay on Indian Flag Unity in Diversity Essay

Essay on Make in India Essay on Digital India

Essay on Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Essay on Start-up India Stand-up India

Essay on Cashless India Essay on Nationalism

Essay on Democracy in India India of My Dreams Essay

Essay on Fundamental Rights Essay on Freedom of Speech

Essay on Role of Science in Making India Essay on My City

Essay on Patriotism

Essay on Science & Technology

Essay on Science and Technology Essay on Internet

Essay on Computer Essay on Technology

Essay on Science Essay on Wonders of Science

Essay on Animals

Essay on Cow Essay on Tiger

Essay on Elephant Essay on Dog

Essay on My Pet Animal Essay on Peacock

Essay on My Pet Cat Essay on My Pet Dog

Essay on Festivals

Holi Essay Essay on Diwali

Dussehra Essay Christmas Essay

Essay on Ganesh Chaturthi Essay on Durga Puja

Essay on Baisakhi Essay on Raksha Bandhan

Essay on Events

Mother’s Day Essay Teachers Day Essay

Republic Day Essay Independence Day Essay

Children’s Day Essay Gandhi Jayanti Essay

World Environment Day Essay Hindi Diwas Essay

Essay on International Yoga Day Essay on Labour Day

Ambedkar Jayanti Essay

Essay on Social Issues & Social Awareness

Essay on Child Labour Essay on Cleanliness

Essay on Terrorism Corruption Essay

National Integration Essay Essay on Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Essay on Bal Swachhta Abhiyan Essay on Jan Dhan Yojana

Essay on Safety of Women in India Save Water Essay

Road Safety Essay Rain Water Harvesting Essay

Female Foeticide EssayEssay on Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

Essay on Poverty Essay on Intolerance

Essay on Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan Essay on Save Girl Child

Women Empowerment Essay Role of Women in Society Essay

Status of Women in India Essay Essay on Untouchability

Issues and Problems faced by Women in India Essay Violence against Women in India
Essay

Essay on Caste System Essay on Urbanization

Essay on Drug Abuse Essay on Peace and Harmony

Essay on Human Rights Essay on Communal Harmony

Essay on Farmer Suicides in India Essay on Unemployment

Essay on Organ Donation Essay on Dowry System

Essay on Brain Drain Essay on Population

Essay on Corruption Free India Essay on Child Trafficking

Essay on Secularism Essay on Organ Trafficking

Essay on Personalities/People

Essay on Mahatma Gandhi Essay on Mother Teresa

Essay on Subhas Chandra Bose Essay on Jawaharlal Nehru

Essay on Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Essay on APJ Abdul Kalam

Essay on Rabindranath Tagore Essay on Sri Aurobindo

Essay on Swami Vivekananda Essay on Bhagat Singh

Essay on Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel

Essay on Monuments

Essay on Taj Mahal Essay on Red Fort

Essay on Qutub Minar

Essay on Relationships

My Family Essay Essay on Mother

Essay on My Father Myself Essay

My Best Friend Essay Essay on Friendship

Essay on Teacher Essay on My Favourite Teacher

Essay on GrandparentsEssay on My Father My Hero

Essay on Importance of Friends in our Life

Essay on Sports

Essay on Sports Essay on Importance of Sports

Essay on Cricket Essay on Football

Essay on Hockey Essay on Adventure

Essay on Summer Vacation

Essay on Environmental Issues & Awareness

Essay on Environment Global Warming Solutions Essay

Pollution EssayEssay on Deforestation

Water Pollution Essay Air Pollution Essay

Soil Pollution Essay Noise Pollution Essay

Save Trees Essay Essay on Save Earth

Global Warming Essay Causes of Global Warming Essay

Effects of Global Warming Essay Prevention of Global Warming Essay

Causes and Effects of Global Warming Essay Consequences of Global Warming Essay

Green House Effect and Global Warming Essay Global Warming and Greenhouse Gas
Emissions Essay

Global Warming and Climate Change Essay Essays on Disaster Management

Climate Change Essay Essay on Biodiversity

Essay on Acid Rain Essay on Drought

Essay on Flood Essay on Recycling

Essay on Benefits of Planting Trees Essay on Importance of Tree Plantation

Essay on Waste Management Essay on Role of Human Activities in Global Warming

Essay on Proverb

Cleanliness is next to Godliness Health is Wealth

Honesty is the Best Policy Knowledge is Power

Practice makes a Man Perfect Work is Worship

Time and Tide Wait for None Prevention is better than Cure

Where there is a will there is a way God helps those who help themselves

A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Child is Father of the Man The Pen is Mightier than the Sword

United We Stand Divided We Fall Money can’t buy Happiness

Simple Living High Thinking Unity is Strength

Essay on Laughter is the Best Medicine Essay on Rome was not Built in a Day

Essay on Moral Values

Essay on Moral Values

Essay on Punctuality Essay on Discipline

Essay on Value of TimeEssay on Honesty

Essay on my Duty towards my Country Essay on Rights and Responsibilities of

Citizens

Essay on Good Manners Essay on Time Management

Essay on Ethics Essay on Kindness

Nature Essay

Nature Essay Conservation of Nature Essay

Spring Season Essay Winter Season Essay

Summer Season Essay Rainy Season Essay

Essay on Forest Essay on Water

Essay on My Garden Essay on Natural Resources

Essay on Rainy Day Essay on Seasons in India

Essay on Health and Fitness

Essay on Health and Fitness Essay on Yoga

Junk Food Essay Obesity Essay

Essay on Healthy Lifestyle Essay on Cancer

Essay on Importance of Yoga Essay on Happiness

Essay on Health Essay on Vacation

Essay on Holiday Essay on Addiction

How can we lead a healthy lifestyle ?

A healthy lifestyle means maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet as well as engaging in
sports or other fitness related activities. A healthy diet alone however is inadequate to
ensure a healthy body as physical activity helps to keep one in shape and free of sickness
and disease.

According to the World Health Organization, only one in ten people exercise regularly and a
majority do not follow a healthy diet. The main culprit is our penchant for junk food as can
be seen from the popularity of fast food chains and other western eateries. even local foods
such as fried noodles, friend rice and snacks and savories are laden with fat and calories.
Thus, consuming this type of food on a daily basis can contribute to weight gain. Overweight
and obese people suffer from many health complications such as diabetes, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol and even cancer.

Hence, the emphasis on healthy lifestyle should start at a young age. Parents must urge their
children to eat more vegetables, fruits, juices, wholemeal and wholegrain foods. Many
parents, due to time constraint, usually find the easy way out by cooking two-minute
noodles or heading towards the nearest fast food joint for quick meal. They do not realize
however that sets the stage for an unhealthy lfestyle for their children who quickly become
addicted to such foods. Thus, parents can counter this problem by cooking or preparing
meals that do not take up time such as cheese sandwiches, soup, stir friend vegetables or
buy pre-packed meals from supermarkets which can be warmed up in the microwave oven.

Dining out usually involves eating heavily and unhealthily. Most of us are prone to ordering
deep fried food and oily dishes as opposed to steamed or baked food. Thus, though eating
out is unavoidable, parents of children and adults as a hole should order fresh food and
foods that are nutritious and not laden with oil, fat or sugar. Once a pattern of healthy eating
is established, it would be easier to carry through such a lifestyle and for the children to
follow suit.

School canteens must be urged to sell only highly nutritious food and drinks. Vending
machines that sell soft drinks and drinks that are spiked with sugar should be banned.
Hence, school going children would be exposed to healthy eating form young.

Daily exercise is vital. In fact, schools should implement Physical education on a daily basis
rather than twice weekly. Only the minority are actively involved in sports. Most students
are sedentary and prefer to concentrate on their studies as they consider indulging in
physical activities a waste of time. By enforcing regular exercise daily, these students would
be exposed to the importance and benefits of exercise.

Many parents and adults do not allocate time for physical activity. A large number of them
work long hours and return home late thereby depriving themselves of the benefits of
exercise. Parents must lead an exemplary life which can benefit their children by increasing
awareness on the health benefits of exercising regularly. Bringing their children for walks in
the morning or evening is a good start to achieve this goal. They should become members of
clubs which have swimming pools and gym facilities. During the weekend, the family can
strengthen their bond by adjourning to clubs for exercise and a healthy meal after that.

In short, leading a healthy lifestyle is a conscious decision. One can ignore that and lead a
life that exposes one to many healthy hazards. it is important to recognize that a healthy
living ensures a longer life span as well as a life free of disease and complications.
How can schools play a role in producing well-rounded individuals ?

Schools play an important role in imparting knowledge and producing individuals with high
moral and ethical values who contribute to our country's development.

However, there have been accusations that Asian schools are not churning out well-rounded
individuals. The main culprit they say is the education system which is heavily exam
oriented and although students excel academically, they are not good in sports or extra
curricular activities. even straight As students are considered only paper smart lacking
common knowledge or even skills-based knowledge. Thus, schools play a vital role in
ensuring its products are not only academically well qualified but also confident, intelligent
and have multiple skills.

The most important step schools should take with the cooperation of the Education Ministry
is to place less emphasis on scholarly achievements and examination grads. Currently, due to
heavy stress on examination results, many, if not all, student study to excel academically
rather than have a balanced approach to studies. they study had and attend tuition classes
so that they are able to get straight As in all the subjects. This leaves them little time to
indulge in extra-curricular activities or sports. Thus, a markedly different way of grading
and assessing students should be adopted like in the West. In order to produce well rounded
individuals, grades should be given for assignments, extra curricular activities as well as
involvement in sports. Ideally, only 50% of marks should be allocated for examination and
the rest for participation in non-academic activities. This would produce students with a
innovative, intelligent and creative personality as progression in school would not be based
solely on examinations.

In addition, a system should be introduced to make it compulsory for students to volunteer

with community-based organizations such as orphanages, centers for the disabled and
other social non-governmental organizations. Assignments related to involvement in these
organizations can form part of the examination system. Thus, students will be compelled to
participate in various kinds of extra curricular and sports activities, under the guidance of
their teachers of course. That would ultimately enable them to acquire people's skills such
as communication and writing skills through the ability to interact with others and engage
in stimulating discussions.

Study environment can be made less mundane and monotonous by introducing outdoor
learning experience. More emphasis on outdoor learning activities rather than those
confined to classroom activities should be made part of the regular teaching method.
Students thus, will acquire interest in their studies and would be able to expand their
general knowledge Schools would stop churning out "book worms" and diffident students.
Rather, this novel approach would produce students who are smart, intelligent, bold and
inquisitive.

In all, the task of producing well rounded students and hence, individuals lay heavily on the
shoulders of the education ministry and teachers. It is the step in the right direction towards
creating a generation that is inquisitive and smart. these individuals can then contribute
tremendously to our nation's development and standing in the world.

The effects of pollution and how students can help to reduce pollution ?

Pollution means contamination and there are many different types of pollution such as
environmental pollution and noise pollution. Environmental pollution is the biggest
challenge facing humanity as pollution of the air and sea directly affects our lives. The
human existence can come under threat if pollution level increases to hazardous level. In
fact, some country frequently faces the haze-related pollution yearly due to wild fires in
their neighboring country aggravated by the practice of open burning in our country.
Factories too are culprits as they emit pollutants and hazardous waste substances either
into the air or into the sea. The increasing number of vehicles which emit the dangerous
carbon monoxide and green house gases add to the danger we face from pollution.

The earth's atmosphere is constantly being exposed to hazardous materials due to rapid
development and human activity to advance their lives. The industrial west like America and
Europe is the biggest culprit as they are the world's biggest polluters.

Students can play a ole in helping to reduce pollution and create a healthy atmosphere for us
to engage in activities without fear for our health. They can contribute to reducing the
emission of harmful gas into the air by either walking or cycling to school. Most students go
to school either by car or school bus and the carbon monoxide released by these vehicles is
very harmful when breathed in large quantities. it can even cause deaths. Those who stay at
a distance from their school should either car pool or use the services of a school bus. This
can drastically cut down emissions from vehicles especially during peak hours.

Open burning is another major source of air pollution. Burning rubbish openly releases
many harmful chemicals and gases and thus, should be avoided altogether. many adults
themselves are unaware of this. It is the duty of students to spread this awareness and even
set an example by tying up garbage or garden refuse in garbage bags to be collected by
council workers.
Smoking too pollutes the atmosphere. The number of smokers in the country has not
declined despite nation wide campaigns against smoking. Smoking among students has
become a trend and thus, it is vital that these students top smoking to ensure an
environment free from cigarette smoke. The later causes cancer and heart diseases among
others.

In addition, students can play their role as responsible citizen by reporting to authorities if
they come across vehicles spewing out smoke on the roads or factories emitting smoke and
hazardous chemicals into the atmosphere. Immediate action would stem this problem as
there are many factories use the river as an outlet to channel their dangerous waste
materials.

Hence, each student has a role to play in reducing pollution. The latter is already
contributing to global warming which threatens our existence in the not-too-distant future.
The understanding of the dangers of pollution has to start at a young age and students
especially are well poised to live a life that is pollution free as well as spread awareness on
the importance of a safe future.

Do you agree the widespread influence of western culture among students corrupt them
morally ?

It is very hard for Easterners to resist Westernization. The influence of western ideas and
culture is widespread namely in dressing, mannerisms, food, books, entertainment and even
education. However, western culture can also corrupt a person morally especially young
people.

There are many aspects of the western culture that are deemed not suitable for Asians
namely its sense of fashion, moral values regarding pre-marital sex, pornography and wild
entertainment. The young mind is easily influenced and corrupted. When one enters
shopping complexes, restaurants and other public places, the first thing that catches one's
attention is the way the young dress. Many follow the fashion nuances of the west with little
regard to Asian values and perspectives related to modesty. Many young teenagers can be
seen clad in low cut tops, low waist jeans and in short very revealing outfits. They mimic
western style of clothing as well free intermingling of sexes.

This situation has led to many undesirable consequences. Chief among them is the practice
of free sex among students. The Asian values of saving oneself for marriage or until the right
person comes along is discarded and considered archaic. Since many teenagers lack
awareness on safe sex, they expose themselves to unwanted pregnancies, sexually
transmitted diseases such as AIDS, gonorrhoea, syphilis and other life-threatening disease.
WE read newspaper reports almost on a daily basis on how unborn babies are being
dumped in toilets, houses of worship, hospitals and other public places. There are yet many
students who upon finding themselves pregnant resort to abortion. The later can be fatal if
not done by professional gynaecologists. Many charity organizations report of teenagers
coming for advice when they find themselves jilted by their boyfriends. There are also many
reports on teenagers contracting STDs and other dangerous diseases.

Another strong influence of westernization is in the arena of entertainment. Teenagers find

it exciting and fulfilling when they visit video arcades, discotheques, nightclubs and other
places of entertainment. Thus, they expose themselves tot he morally deficient elements at
this kind of places. Apart from picking up bad habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol and
other behaviors unsuitable for people of such a young age, these teens also expose
themselves to abuse and exploitation. Many young people have admitted to being sexually
abused this way by friends or strangers who spike their drinks with drugs only to awake
next morning in the bed of strangers.

Thus, though not all elements of westernization corrupt young people morally, the latter
seem more susceptible and even naive with regards to western influence in the arena of
entertainment, fashion and behavior. Many teenagers demand unfettered freedom without
realizing the consequences o their behavior which brings harm to them. In their desire to be
westernized, they acc

Money is the key to happiness". Do you agree ? Why ?

Money is of course very important for human beings to lead a decent and satisfying life.
unlike animals and plants, money defines the existence of human society as we cannot live
without it. Money is an important exchange for food, shelter and clothing.

Many people believe that money si the root of all evil. But contrary to that, I believe and
agree that money is the key to human happiness. it has become indispensable in our lives
when humans began using money for exchange of goods and services instead of he barter
trade which was popular hundreds of years ago. Humans work to earn an income that
would enable them to bring food to the table, clothe themselves as well as indulge in
pleasures that can be obtained only through money.

When we are able to afford goods and services, it inevitably grants us a lot of happiness,
satisfaction and stability in our lives. In many poor countries such as Africa, Cambodia, Laos,
Vietnam and others, millions live in misery due to extreme poverty. They are deprived of
happiness, dignity and a sense of direction n their lives as they live from hand to mouth and
their future is at best uncertain. Thus, it would be foolish to think that money causes
distress, and is the root cause of immorality and evil behavior. On the contrary, most of us
earn an income through legal means which allows us to maintain a good standard of living.
it enable us to travel for holidays and have access to good food, medical facilities, and a
lifestyle that grants us much happiness and satiety. Many parents admit that they slog at
work so that thy could provided comfort and stability to their offspring. Money especially
comes in handy when a family member is stricken with a disease and cash is needed for
treatment.

Unhappiness results when we are denied the above. Many families struggle to make ends
meet and the lack of money almost inevitably sows seeds of unhappiness. They are exposed
to continuous bickering, quarrels and ultimately, misery.

There are of course those, due to greed for more material wealth, resort to illegal means to
become rich quickly. They commit robberies, murders and cheat to get ahead in lives.
However, this does not grant them the happiness or the peace of mind. In the case of robbers
and murders, the constant threat by the law enforcement authorities closing in on them,
creates jitters and a life full of uncertainties and fear.

Hence, money would always be looked at as the most or at least one of the most important
keys to happiness. it has become a part of what defines us as human beings as it allows us to
live a life of dignity, happiness and contentment.

"Health is wealth". To what extent would you agree ?

The saying "health is wealth" is very apt as good health comes from a good physique that
enables one to enjoy the pleasures and manage challenges of life. health here comprises the
mental and the physical.

Thus I agree that good health is actually wealth as it allows one lead an existence without
being hampered by disabling circumstances such as disability (both mental and physical),
medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer and other potentially fatal diseases. A disabled
person faces a lot of challenges n life including having to depend on another for basic needs
and perform simple tasks. The situation is even more daunting if you are paralyzed and
mentally unfit to lead a normal existence. One would not be able to earn an income
becoming a burden to family and friends (though the latter are usually encouraging and
supportive).
Many cancer patients and others who suffer from debilitating sickness spend huge amounts
of money for treatment. In addition to that, they have to undergo very painful medical
procedures. A cancer patient for example typically has to undergo chemotherapy and
radiotherapy which have undesirable side effects such as vomiting, hair loss, weaknesses
and other unpleasant symptoms. Despite all that, there is no guarantee that one would
survive such sickness.

Thus, our good physical and mental well being provides us the opportunity to enjoy life
without any hindrances. The "wealth" one derives from good health is actually a life free
from circumstances that afflicts us in some way and hence, affects our happiness and
comfort.

There are many people in this world who are extremely wealthy but due to poor health, they
are unable to enjoy their material coins. Their daily performance is hampered by physical
and mental incapacitation and hence, they can be actually considered "poor". A materially
poor man or woman but rich in terms of health actually can be termed as "wealthy' as he or
she is not hampered by sickness. the later does not have to fork out money for treatment
and can enjoy a peaceful and blissful life.

In short, good health si wealth as no amount of money can cure one of terrible sickness.
Good health ensures a fulfilling and enriching life.

Religion

Religion plays an important role in the lives of majority of human beings. Humans compared
to animals or plants are endowed with a sense of spirituality and yearning for a close
contact with our creator. Irrespective of our religious background and faith, religion is
considered an essential part of our lies as a source of inspiration, morality, and comfort and
provides solace during times of trouble or grief.

However, although religion provides a moral code on how to live a peaceful existence and
helps one to deal with problems, it can be misused. In fact most of the troubles in the world
stem from religious fanatism or extremism. Religious fanatics take their religious ideology
to extremes and in their desire to propagate the teachings of their faith and ensure all the
religious principles are adhered to, they resort to violent methods. The bombing of the
World Trade Center in New York in 2001 is a perfect example as well as the killings of
Muslims in Gujarat, India in 2002 ad the Bali bombing in that same year. Thousands of
innocent lives were lost in these tragedies.

Despite religion teaching tolerance, acceptance, good deeds and moral values, these fanatics
hijack their own religion for personal ends. Religious fundamentalists are to a certain extent
irrational as they defy universal values of respect, freedom of belief and other fundamental
human rights. it is almost an impossible task to encourage them to think about the rights of
others -- all they care about is to achieve their goals through killings and destruction. There
is little respect for other faiths and human values as they consider the former as infidels
who deserve "God's" punishment.

Religion too can be abused. many so-called religious leaders have exploited religion to their
own ends and the sad irony is that many of us have fallen victims to such irrationality. In
multicultural and multi-religious nation, there is a vital need for them to understand, accept
and practice tolerance vis a vis other faiths. Thus, it is very important that we inculcate
respect for other faiths and do not stray into fundamentalism which would ultimately
destroy the harmony in the country.

Children should be exposed to the multi faiths in the country. They should be encouraged to
learn about other religions, their principles and commandments. This would to an extent
allow the younger generation to appreciate various beliefs that exist in the country. the
government too must play its part. Any form of religious extremism should be resisted and
those caught inciting religious hatred put behind bars.

Friendships

Friends are very important in our lives. Friendships are easily formed when we are young
and do not demand too much out of it. According to studies and research, humans tend to
form highest number of friendships at kindergarten and primary level. However, one tends
to have less friends as one grows older and wiser. This is because we realize there are good
friends and bad ones.

The saying that a friend in need is a friend indeed is very apt in this scenario because good
friends are those who are reliable and trustworthy. at a younger age, our demands are not
too high regarding friendships as we rely mostly on our parents, siblings and relatives for
important things. The friends we formed at this age are merely considered playmates rather
than companions and confidants. Thus, our expectations of them are not high.
More serious friendships are formed when one enters puberty and achieves certain level of
maturity. the latter allows one to forge fellowship with those who share the same interests,
passion as well as similar moral and religious values. Thus, it is not surprising to observe
that in some Asian country, mature students at the upper secondary level have friends of the
same ethnic and religious backgrounds. At the university level, it is even more apparent.
Even the Ministry of education has voiced concern over this phenomenon where
polarization is prominent. The Indians, Chinese and Malays hardly mix with each other and
are seen usually in the company of their own kind.

One of the main reasons for polarization among university students is that as they reach a
certain level of maturity, common binding factors such as religion, customs and traditions
play important role in selection of friends or mates. In addition, since majority of these
students come from rural backgrounds where there is not much cultural interchange, they
feel rather awkward to forge friendships with students of other races. However, this does
not mean the students are racist or suffer from superiority complex. Thus, the university
should introduce more programs that allow cultural and religious mixing and
understanding of the other.

Nevertheless, in the working world, a different scenario prevails. One finds Indians, Chinese
and other races forging stable and long lasting friendships. This is most probably due o the
fact that to be productive in one's work, one has to believe in team work. The latter actually
enhances the bond between the workers and eventually long lasting friendships are formed.
In fact, this situation has even led to many inter racial marriages between the three major
races. the products of the intermarriages are very unique as they have friends and relatives
from both ethnic backgrounds.

Media

Media refers to mass media such as broadcast media, print media and the web media.
Television and radio are considered broadcast media while newspapers, magazines and
journals are known as print media and internet news, the web media. The media is an
important source of information through its news segments, entertainment and allows for
exchange of ideas, suggestions and comments.

Consumers nowadays have a variety of media outlets compared to a few decades ago. The
advent of the Internet and services provided through it, has enabled many of us to gain
access to instant and a variety of news and entertainment. In fact, the presence of Internet
also has led to creativity among the young consumers with the latter setting up personal
websites, blogs and others. It has inadvertently led many students to take advantage of the
prevalence of information by copying and plagiarizing writings from the internet news.
While the internet has been hailed as the most important advances humankind has made in
the 20th century, it is nevertheless open to abuse and exploitation that presents danger to
humans.

However, although most of us get our news through the media as many of us have little time
to read books or journals, the news presented to us can be biased and one sided. During the
invasion of Iraq in 2003 by the United States and its allies, casualty figures of their military
personnel were highlighted and hardly any news on the figures for Iraqi civilians and its
military personnel. News reported on websites appears more reliable and transparent
though one has to be careful about the accuracy of the facts reported. the media news too
can misrepresent information to serve the objectives of certain people or authorities in
power.

In many Asian nations, there are limits to press freedom. Although the media is allowed to
present news and its views as well as perspectives, it is barred from providing news that can
potentially create unrest and violence. The government has instituted the Official Secrets
Act and Internal security act that allows it to detain anybody including those working in the
media for inciting racial or religious violence. However, there is still a degree of freedom in
these countries' press compared to other more conservative countries. we have access to
news from all around the world and readers are invited to send their views and
contributions to be published in the media.

The media is not only an important source of news and opinions but also entertainment.
Most young people usually turn on the television for movies, MTV and other entertainment
programs. the adults however, prefer news and more educational programs.

Thus, the media plays an important role in our lives as we cannot envisage a life without the
daily reporting of national, regional and international news. It would be like returning to the
Stone Ages. However, consumers must ensure the news reported in the media is accurate
and not one-sided by looking at its contents critically and voicing their views on certain
issues.

Examinations — good or bad ?

"Examinations" - This is a word that causes sleepless nights, a word can change a cheerful
person into a nervous wreck. So, what are examinations, and how can they be any good?
An examination can be defined as a detailed inspection or analysis of an object or person.
For example, an engineer will examine a structure, like a bridge, to see if it is safe. A doctor
may conduct a medical examination to gauge whether a patient is healthy. In the school
context, it is the students who take the examinations. These are usually a series of
comprehensive tests held at the end of each term, year or, in the case of public examinations,
after a few years.

One of the main purposes of school examinations is to improve the quality of education.
From the results of the examinations, the teachers and planners of the curriculum will be
able to gauge the extent to which the students have acquired the knowledge and skills of the
course material. This would, first of all, provide an evaluation of their teaching methods, so
they can improve them, if necessary.

Examinations are also used as a yardstick for measuring the capability of the candidate, for
further education or employment. For example, examination results are the main criteria
when selecting students for entrance into universities. It is assumed that the examination
results would indicate whether or not the student will be able to handle the course. In the
case of employment, it is felt that the examination results will indicate whether or not the
job seeker has the skills or intelligence to handle the job.

However, does the school examination system provide an accurate yardstick of the
candidate's ability? Albert Einstein, at the age of 16, took the entrance exam to the Swiss
Federal Institute of Technology, but failed and so was rejected by this elite school. Yet,
Einstein went on to develop the theory of relativity and quantum theory, winning the Nobel
Prize in Physics at the age of 42. Other examples of famous achievers who failed in school
examinations would include Winston Churchill, Thomas Edison and Bill Gates.

One may also question whether the present examination system results in better teaching in
schools. In fact, some teachers are so pressured to produce good examination results that
they are forced to practise poor teaching methods. They may race through the syllabus,
ignoring the fact that the weaker students have not grasped some of the concepts. Some
other teachers may concentrate on popular examination topics, ignoring the topics which
are rarely tested in the examinations.

Pressure to succeed in examinations may also be detrimental to the students. They may be
so filled with anxiety and stress that they do not enjoy their school years. They may be
studying only to get good examination results, rather than a rounded education. Some of the
weaker students, who cannot seem to achieve good examination results, may lose interest in
their studies. In extreme cases, students may be so frustrated or disappointed in their
results that they may consider ending their lives.
In conclusion, I realise that examinations are necessary and useful in many areas of our
lives. However, within the school system, they should be given less emphasis or conducted in
a different way. Furthermore, educationists, employers and students themselves should be
reminded that examination results may not provide the best assessment of an individual's
talents and capabilities.

Describe an unforgettable incident that you saw on your way home from
school

Dark rain clouds were gathering in the sky. I was cycling as fast as I could to get home before
the downpour. When I felt a few big drops on my head, I decided to head for a bus stop,
about a hundred meters away. As I was nearing the bus stop, I saw a lady rushing towards it
from the opposite direction, tugging a little boy behind her. The little boy was finding it hard
to keep up with her, so, finally, she just picked him up and carried him.

Suddenly, a motorcycle roared past me, almost knocking me down. "Hey! Are you mad!" I
shouted at the motorcyclist. He turned to look at me, and for a split second, I saw his face -
cruel, glaring eyes and menacing expression. However, he just sped on. Then, I realized that
he was heading right for the woman and little boy!

"Watch out! Watch out!" I shouted. I saw the lady turn to look at the motorcyclist, dismay
etched on her face.

In an instant, the motorcyclist had reached the lady. He stretched out an arm and grabbed
hold of her handbag, hitting her on the back at the same time. The impact sent the lady
hurtling forward. The mother and child fell on the road, landing right in the path of a van.

"Stop! Stop!" I screamed at the van driver, waving my arms wildly in the air. Thankfully, the
driver had seen what was happening. With a squeal of brakes, the van stopped a few meters
from the spot where the mother and child lay sprawled on the road.

I saw the lady crawling on the road towards the wailing child. There was blood all over
them. Tossing my bicycle to the side of the road, I ran to help them. By the time I got there,
the van driver had reached them. He was cradling the child and examining his limbs.
"I think your little boy is all right. Nothing is broken," he said. "How about you? Do you feel
pain anywhere?"

"Please help me. I am pregnant," the lady replied, weeping.

"Don't panic. You'll be all right. I'll take you and your son to hospital," said the man.

The lady could not walk, so the man carried her and settled her in his van. I carried the
whimpering child to the van. The man asked me to go along with them so that I could help
make the police report. I realized that, by this time, the motorcyclist would have gone far
from that spot, with the lady's handbag.

A few days later, I was told that the lady had suffered only minor injuries from the incident.
She had some rather deep cuts on her face and limbs, and her knee was twisted. Thankfully,
her unborn baby was unharmed. The snatch thief was never apprehended and I doubt I will
ever see him again. However, I will never forget the menacing look he had given me.

'School children should not have long holidays'. Do you agree ?

R-i-i-i-ng! The bell signaled the beginning of the six week long school holidays. The pupils
burst into a loud cheer, thinking of the break they would have from dreary school lessons.
"Freedom!" they shouted. The teachers heaved a soft sigh of relief. They would also be glad
for the freedom that the holidays will bring.

Teachers have a very stressful job, keeping a classroom of children in the seats for a whole
school day. Some of these children may be hyperactive, some may be badly behaved or
uncontrollable. Their own parents may be unable to cope with just one of them, yet teachers
have to deal with as many as forty children at a time. Furthermore, a teacher's job is tedious
and monotonous. They have to prepare lessons day in and day out, standing in front of one
class after another. The long holidays will give them a chance to relax and recharge their
batteries. Furthermore, teachers can attend courses during the long holidays. These courses
will give them more ideas, skills and inspiration.
Long holidays also give a break to the children, who active by nature, are cooped up for
hours in a stuffy classroom. Then, after school, they are faced with piles of homework. On
top of that, some children have to attend extra tuition in subjects they are weak in, or extra
lessons in piano, violin, or guitar, ballet, or martial arts.

With so many structured activities, some children have no time to choose their own leisure
pursuits. They have no time to "stand and stare". They also lack the time to bond with their
family members, and relatives. The long holidays would give them the opportunity to go on
holidays with the family; perhaps they can even spend time with relatives who live far away.
They can also take part in other enriching activities, such as educational trips to a foreign
country, or attend youth camps, such as Outward Bound, which will help in character
development.

Yet, we have to take a realistic view at the other side of the argument. How many families
can afford to send their children on overseas field trips or courses like the Outward Bound?
In fact, in many families, the parents will be out working all day, and the children will be left
unsupervised. This may be dangerous for younger children. As for older children, they may
be drawn to undesirable and anti-social activities, like theft, gangsterism, gambling and
drugs. Furthermore, for some children, school provides their only exposure to academic
learning. Thus, the long period away from their studies may cause some children to regress
badly in their academic skills.

So, in conclusion, long holidays are beneficial for some people and not so good for others.
The teachers, who need a break from a stressful and tedious routine, will definitely welcome
the break. Long holidays will also give opportunities to children from privileged homes to
take part in enriching out-of-school activities. However, long school holidays may be
detrimental for children from less privileged homes. In my opinion, for the good of the
general public, schools should not have very long holidays. Or, if long holidays are to remain
a part of the school year, certain activities or services should be provided for less privileged
children to keep them occupied in a safe and useful way.

Ways of Curbing Inflation

The price of goods and services seems to be increasing year by year. Nevertheless, there is
much that we consumers can do to fight this seemingly unending inflation. How do we go
about it ?
First and foremost, we can start at our very home. Eat more often at home and cut down on
eating out. After all, own cooked food is tastier, cleaner, and healthier with less oil and
additives. If hawkers have fewer customers, they are sure to think twice when they want to
increase the price of food. They may even reduce the price to attract customers.

Next, encourage school-going children to bring home-cooked food to school. In doing so,
children will avoid eating junk food or unwholesome food sold in school canteens. It is good
for their health. Working adults can also bring own food to work although this may not be a
popular practice.

Now let's tackle your shopping spree. Buy in bulk at a lower price. If possible, share with the
others when buying in bulk. It would be a good idea to set up cooperatives to cater to
consumers' needs. Members have a lot to gain in terms of cheaper and quality goods and
services.

Of course, consumers should avoid compulsive spending, especially when the hypermarkets
offer cheap sales and contests. Before you go shopping, it would be advisable to prepare a
shopping list so that you will not buy unnecessary items. In fact we should spend less in
times of inflation.

It would be a good idea to grow own vegetables at our backyard. After all, it is a good
pastime and you will enjoy the very vegetables that you grow, knowing that they are fresh
and free of pesticide or herbicide. Plants like chillies, brinjals, okra Mid others are easy to
grow.

When coming to fruits, preference should be given to our local fruits. Perhaps you can even
grow your own fruit trees, like guava, papaya. and mango. Eating more local fruits instead of
imported ones will help in foreign exchange.

Last but not least, we should not waste. This is especially ii) when we organise parties or
even wedding dinners. We often loud that there is plenty of food left and all this will go to
waste. I lit% c, ills for a better planning and budgeting.

If we are serious in fighting inflation, and meticulously carry out some of the ways suggested
above, we will certainly help stabilise the price of goods and services.

he Person I Admire Most

The person I admire most is my father. My father is a man of medium built and height. He
runs a small textile shop on Arab Street which provides the family with a good and steady
income. But, my father actually came from a very humble background.

My father was born to a poor family in Malacca. My grandparents could not even afford to
send my father for higher education. After completing hsi studies in his village, he helped
my grandfather in the padi fields.

At the age of eighteen, father decided to leave the village and head to the city in search of
work. He found work as a peon in a small textile company. He was very hard-working and
his superiors were pleased with him. They advised my father to continue his studies by
taking part-time classes. He took their advice and enrolled himself in evening classes. He
learnt English and other subjects n these classes.

After a few years, he got himself a diploma from his studies. Very soon afterwards, he was
promoted and sent to manage the Singapore branch. My father was never a spendthrift and
he never drank or smoked. He met my mother when he came to Singapore and they were
married the following year. My eldest brother was born a year later.

My father had only worked for that one company. He constantly improved himself and grew
with the company until he was appointed as one of the company's directors. When the old
patriarch who founded the company had passed away, his two sons decided to sell the
Singapore branch to my father. And so, my father finally became the boss of the very firm for
which he had worked for.

My father is truly my role model. He has given the family everything it needs. He sets himself
as an example for us to follow. He is never angry without a good cause and is always
cheerful, kind and helpful and I hope that, by his example, I would grow up to be like him,
too.

Jogging and Its Benefits

Jogging is fast becoming a regular exercise routine found in most neighborhoods. Doctors
and nutritionists advise their patients to jog, for jogging brings many benefits. It increases
stamina and helps us to keep fit and healthy. But for me, jogging is also a fun activity that
gives me great pleasure. I enjoy breathing in the fresh air of the early morning, listening to
the songs of the birds and seeing the beauty of nature through the first rays of the sun.

I began jogging when I was twelve years old. My elder brother asked me if I wanted to join
him for a jog around the neighborhood and I agreed. we jogged for about fifteen or twenty
minutes. At the end of the run, I was panting and felt very tired.

The next day, my brother asked me out for a jog again. I was somewhat reluctant to join him
the second time. My brother sensing my thoughts assured me that it would get easier day
after day and that I eventually I would enjoy jogging.

Needless to say, I went for a jog for the second time, and then a third and from then on there
was no quitting. I fell in love with this activity. Gradually we increased the distance we
jogged. First we started with one kilometer, then increased it to one and a half. Little by
little, we increased the distance as our stamina improved. Now, we jog five kilometers daily !

Needed Inventions

Since young I have been fascinated by works of science fiction. I have read all the novels and
stories of famous science fiction writers such as Arthur C. Clarke and Jules Verne. My
favorite television programs have been the likes of "Star Trek", "Space 1999" and "Battlestar
Gallactica".

Since the beginning of time, man had used his inventive faculties to create machines to make
life easier. We now have machines that would have been thought to be children's fantasies at
one time.

We now have jet planes that can transport people from one corner of the globe to the other
in a matter of hours where our forefathers could have to spend months or even years to
cover the same distance. with the advent of the computer and Internet, information can be
sent and received by millions of people all over the world. In deed, the last fifty years had
seen such a rapid progress in science like never before in the entire history of mankind. So,
it is not a mere fantasy of mine to see certain inventions coming into being in the future. I
have many in mind but the following three are what I consider to be of utmost importance.

First, I would like to see improved household appliances. There are already mixers, grinders
and cookers. But I would like to see the integration of these machines into one. I imagine a
machine where all the ingredients are placed into different compartments. The front of the
machine would have a menu with selection buttons. All the user would need to do is to press
the button for the meal she wants and the machine who do the rest. The machine would
perhaps be a model based on the one featured in the futuristic cartoon show "The Jetsons".

Then, I would like to see the transportation systems portrayed in "Star Trek" become a
reality One would only need to stand in a 'transporter' and be sent to the place he wants to
be. Roads would become a thing of the past and the precious land could be made full use in
building residential and recreational facilities.

Finally, home based education. We have already seen the changes in the past twenty years
since the introduction of the personal computers and the widespread use of the Internet. A
further refinement on this technology and there would not be a need for schools. Pupils can
study at home through computer-based teaching systems or they may study through the use
of virtual reality. they would just have to put on their virtual reality headsets and they would
find themselves in a virtual classroom where they can study the subjects of their choice.

These are the inventions that I would like to see in the future. They may seem far-fetched or
even impossible today, but then, so did the possibility of flight a mere century ago.

A Natural Disaster

Describe what happened when a natural disaster struck unexpectedly.

It was December 26th, 2004. People were in a holiday mood for a number of reasons. It was
the day after Christmas, a Sunday. In Malaysia, schoolchildren were also enjoying their end-
of-year holidays.

On Penang island, the hotels were fully-booked and people thronged the beaches. Besides
Malaysians, holiday-makers came from all over the world to the resort hotels in Ferringhi
Beach and Tanjung Bunga. The Dillon family had come all the way from Europe to escape
from the coldness of winter. They had arrived the night before but were up early to swim in
the sea and eat a late breakfast in the Crystal Restaurant on Fisherman's Pier.

While enjoying their Asian breakfast in a cosy private room facing the water, they saw a
strange sight through the glass windows. People were gathering on the beach and pointing
at the sea which was receding quickly into the horizon. Some people were excitedly picking
up shell and even fish that had been exposed. Then Mr Dillon heard the Japanese man at the
table next to theirs shouting `Tsunami! Tsunami!'. The Japanese man and his family jumped
from their seats, gesticulating wildly to everyone, and dashed for the exit. Although no one
understood Japanese, Mr and Mrs Dillon sensed that their lives were in danger.

All of a sudden a gigantic wall of water came crashing through the restaurant windows,
knocking over every person and object. Mr Dillon and his wife grabbed their two children's
hands. However, Tom Dillon's little hand slipped from his mother's grip and he was tossed
by the waves. By some miracle, somebody saw his head bobbing above the water and
snatched him up in time. Just as forcefully, the waves pulled back, tugging along whatever it
could. Fortunately, the Dillons and everyone else in the restaurant had escaped onto drier
ground. They dashed out to the street, shaken and bruised by he onslaught of the tsunami.
The children, overcome by shock at first, burst into tears. Everyone literally trembled with
fear.

The survivors tried to go as far inland as they could. They had to trudge in thick mud all the
way. Seeking refuge in a hill-top hotel, some even tried to check in there instead of returning
to their beachfront accommodations.

The devastating tsunami of 26th December 2004 killed more than 60 people in Malaysia. Its
seismic force was most destructive in Aceh in northern Sumatra, the western part of
Thailand, parts of Sri Lanka, and India. There were also casualties in Somalia, the Maldives
and Myanmar. Altogether, about a quarter of a million people were killed, thousands went
missing, and more than half a million lost their homes. Never has a natural disaster
traumatized so many nations.

he Dangers of Smoking

You find that many of your friends have taken up smoking. It is affecting their health. Write
an article for your school newsletter on the dangers of smoking.

Smoke that kills

A smoker can easily be identified in any group. Not only does he reek of stale smoke, he also
has bad breath, much to the dread of non-smokers. However, the effects of smoking are far
more insidious than the offensive smell associated with smokers.

Cigarette smoke contains many toxic substances like carbon monoxide, nicotine and
carcinogens that not only cause irreparable damage to the smoker, but also to those around
him who inhale the smoke.

Carbon monoxide reduces blood capacity to carry oxygen, thus causing fatigue and panting
even with the slightest physical exertion. The lack of oxygen in the body acts as a catalyst
that accelerates the aging process, causing wrinkles.

Nicotine contained in cigarette smoke reduces the activity of the brain and nervous system.
It also raises the risk of high blood pressure. Nicotine causes the contraction of blood
vessels and decrease of blood supply. This ultimately leads to heart attacks.

Smokers are at a higher risk of developing certain kinds of cancers because cigarette smoke
contains carcinogens. Long-time smokers often develop cancers of the mouth, larynx and
lungs.

Smoking not only endangers the smoker himself but also those who inhale secondary smoke
-- smoke exhaled y smokers. In view of the many dangers of smoking, more smoking
cessation programs should be introduced to smokers.

insidious spreading gradually without being noticed but causing serious harm

catalyst something that causes change

larynx voice box

The benefits of exercise

As students, most of us lead sedentary lifestyles. We spend most of our time in

claustrophobic classrooms and homes. With loads of homework, assignments and exams,
exercise seems to be a monotonous chore. The increasing demands made upon us by our
studies, exams and the high expectations of our parents and teachers leave us with little
time for pleasure and leisure. The need to exercise becomes a bitter pill to swallow.
Nonetheless, health experts prescribe exercise as a prerequisite for along, healthy life -- a
life free from diseases and ailments.

Physical exercise not only stimulates and develops muscles, it has a host of other benefits.
Regular exercise can prevent obesity. When we exercise, our bodies burn up all the extra
calories which would otherwise be converted into fat and lead to unwanted bulges. Being
overweight also carries with it a number of other health problems, so, exercising not only
keeps us trim, it also keeps away weight-related problems.

Exercise improves blood circulation which, in turn, provides constant nourishment to the
millions of cells in our body. When physical exertion takes place, the rate of breathing
increases. Thus, the capacity of blood to carry oxygen is increased. At the same time, it helps
the body to get rid of harmful carbon dioxide.

Vigorous exercise also eliminates modern-day stress. The number of people suffering from
insomnia is on the rise. The increasing pressure and nagging worries of work and study
often keep us awake at night. For many of us, the dawn of a new day brings no cheer.
Exercise can be instrumental in helping a person obtain a more relaxed sleep. A tired person
will be refreshed and high-spirited after a good night's sleep. A few hours of exercise will
help in getting sound sleep and is the perfect, soothing balm for a tired body and a restless
mind.

Increasing affluence has caused changes in our eating habits. we indulge in rich food, high in
calories and cholesterol. Medical evidence substantiates the fact that exercise can
significantly lower the levels of sugar and cholesterol in our bodies. In other words,
consistent physical activity can actually provide relief from ailments such as hypertension,
diabetes and heart disease.

There are many benefits to be gained from exercise. A person who exercises regularly has
good health and more vitality compared to someone who does not exercise.

Laughter is the best medicine

'Laughter is the best medicine'. No one can attest to the fact better than my grandfather. At the
ripe old age of 92, Grandpa is a picture of health. Even though Grandpa's life was often filled
with misfortune, he never lost his zest for life.

Having lost both his parents at the tender age of five, Grandpa was brought up in an orphanage.
Despite this, Grandpa was always in high spirits. He started working at the young age of 16. He
started work as a laborer and later, a gardener. His honesty and diligence got the attention of his
employer who soon asked him to take care of his large orchard. Grandpa saved whatever little he
could. Then, when he had accumulated enough money, he bought a piece of land and planted
rubber trees.

When rubber prices dropped during the economic slump, he was force to sell his land. He
became an odd-job laborer. He took up one job after another. Little wonder then that he became
a jack-of-all-trades. Realizing that a rolling stone gathers no moss, he sought greener pastures.

He moved to LA and worked as a restaurant helper. Today, he is the owner of the very restaurant
he worked for.

Grandpa has a fine sense of humor. He is always the first one to break the ice on any occasion.
His witty remarks and jokes would have everyone in stitches. Anyone else in Grandpa's shoes
would have many reasons to moan and groan about how unfair life has been. Even when fate
dealt heavy blows, Grandpa was one who never gave up. 'Give life everything you have got and
life will give its bet back to you,' he would always say.

Apart from the occasional bouts of flu and fever, grandpa never suffered from any major ailment.
Laughter, he would attest, is the elixir of life. Whenever I got to him with a problem, he would
just laugh. his laughter is so infectious that I would soon join in. If anyone were to ask him why
he laughs so much, his answer must surely be, 'Why ? Because laughter is the best medicine !

Preventing truancy

Truancy tops the list of misdemeanors by our students. Almost every day, students are caught
playing truant. Although it is not a serious problem, it must be nipped in the bud.

Truancy means being absent from school without a valid reason. Students play truant for
number of reasons. Most of them play truant because of negative peer influence. they follow
their friends who skip school. Financial problems can also cause a student to stay away from
school. This explains why students who play truant are mainly from the lower income groups.
Learning problems is another cause of truancy. Students who find academic subjects difficult or
boring would prefer to play truant. Some students who are addicted to drugs or alcohol will
frequently be absent. The fear of bullying or harassment may also cause timid students to play
truant.

If left unchecked, truancy can lead to juvenile delinquency and numerous other negative
outcomes. Youths who play truant have an increased risk of dropping out of school. School
dropouts are more likely to be unemployed as prospective employers are concerned about
attendance of their potential employees. Regular school attendance is also important for
academic success. If a student often plays truant, he may fail in his examinations. Students who
play truant also have low self-esteem and become social misfits.

To curb truancy, initiatives must be taken. Prevention is the key. Early intervention can tackle the
problem. Students who often skip classes should be given counseling. Parents should check with
teachers and school authorities periodically to monitor students' attendance. Police patrols will
also deter repeat offenders.

Advertisements

The mass media is flooded with advertisements of every kind. One only has to flip through the
pages of magazines or newspapers or sit through a television program to see the wide coverage
that advertisements receive in terms of space and time. Companies fork out large amounts of
money just to advertise their products or services.

What, the, are the benefits of advertisements ? Advertisements offer a wide variety of options to
both potential buyers and sellers. Through advertisements, employers can recruit workers.
People who wish to put up their properties for sale can find buyers or vice versa.

Although there are grouses about advertisements, the numerous benefits of advertisements
remain undisputed. Advertisements are the lifeblood of many television and radio stations.
Many companies build a reputation for their products through advertisements. Sometimes
companies sponsor major sporting events and help in the development of sports in the country.

Advertisements inform the public about the wide array of products that are available in the
market an dhow much they cost. Customers can compare the prices and merits of the different
products and then decide which product to buy. Advertisements help increase the sales volume
of products. In this way, companies expand their business and enjoy economies of scale.

As with most things in life, advertisements can be both a bane or a boon. Nevertheless, in my
opinion, the advantages of advertisements far outweigh the disadvantages and it is up to the
discerning public to discard the advertisements which do not profess the truth.

Natural disasters

Natural disasters are natural events that cause the loss of lives and property. Sometimes
hundreds and thousands are killed, and millions of dollars of property are destroyed. What are
these events and what causes them ?

The earth is a dynamic entity that is undergoing changes all the time. Normal changes such as
those occurring to the weather and the seasons are part and parcel of living. We live our lives
according to these changes regardless of whether we like it or not. However, sometimes the
forces of nature cause great and drastic changes, and for us puny human beings, the effect can
be disastrous.

There are many types of natural events that can spell disaster for us. They include earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, droughts, tidal waves, tsunamis, fires,
landslides, and avalanches.

The earth crust is made up of a number of plates that sit on a sea of lava beneath. At some
places on the crust, lava, ash, smoke etc breaks through and the result is volcanic eruptions.
Sometimes the eruption is so violent that it destroys living things that are near it. The eruption
of Vesuvius in 79 AD destroyed the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. In 1883, the
catastrophic explosion of Krakatoa off the west coast of Java generated tsunamis that killed
hundreds of thousands of people in Indonesia. In 2004, underwater volcanic eruptions in the
Indian Ocean caused tsunamis that again killed hundreds of thousands living nearby.

The plates of the earth crust are not static. They push and grind against one another producing
earthquakes that sometimes cause widespread destruction to the affected area.

In addition to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, other natural phenomena also brings
destruction. In Malaysia, the Northeast monsoon rains that come around December bring floods
to the east coast of the peninsula. In Australia, bushfires in summer destroy vast tracts of land.
Snowstorms in the polar regions of the earth cut the residents from the rest of the world.
Droughts in parts of India and Africa cause famine and tragedy.

No place on earth is totally free from disaster-causing events. We can only do our best to deal
with these events when they occur. People and property are inevitably destroyed. Those who
survive pick up the pieces and contiThe destruction of the rainforest

Rainforests make up some of the most valuable resources we have, yet they are being destroyed
in massive proportions. Many medicines, foods, natural insecticides and oil producing trees are
found in the rainforest.

The rainforest also holds endless possibilities for useful, undiscovered resources. These could
include cures for disease and new food crops that will be wiped out before they are found
because of the destruction of the rainforests.

The rainforest is also home to millions of species of animals, plants and insects as well. It is
estimated that five out of six rainforest species have never been seen. This adds up to millions of
organisms that have never before been encountered. This demonstrates that more species live in
the rainforest than any other ecosystem on earth, and we are obliterating their on habitat.

The rainforest is also a big producer of the world's oxygen supply. When we destroy the
rainforest, we are destroying our own oxygen supply. Massive destruction of our precious
rainforests is caused by logging, colonization due to overpopulation, and cattle ranching.

The first major cause of mass destruction of the rainforest is logging. There can be as many as
200 different species of trees on one acre of land.
This high number of different species of trees means there is only a few commercially valuable
trees per acre. Trees considered commercially valuable are mahogany and tropical cedar. These
trees and used for panelling, and building boats an furniture.

Loggers must bulldoze roads through the forest to find enough of these valuable trees to make a
profit. This consumes many other trees that are in the way of the road. The trees in the
rainforest are connected a the top with vines, so when one commercially valuable tree gets cut
down, on average 17 other non-commercially valuable trees fall down with t. Because of these
practices, the logging industry can eradicate 30 percent of a rainforest where only a few
commercially valuable trees were cut down. At this rat, they will be able to clear out whole
rainforest sin a few years. After the loges themselves destroy so much rainforest, the roads they
leave behind induce the next phase of rainforest destruction: colonization.

Another major cause of mass rainforest destruction is colonization. Roads left behind by loggers
make the rainforest accessible to farmers looking for a place to live and grow crops. Farm
families clear and burn the remains of the forest to plant crops to keep and sell. These families
clear more land than they need to show others that they own it and have "developed" it. These
colonists are forced to move to the rainforest because there is no room anywhere else for them
to live.

Most of the land is owned by large corporations, so families feel lucky if they are fortunate
enough to have their own land in the rainforest. Population growth forces the people to move to
the rainforest. Even if farm families can get their own plot of rainforest land, it is not long before
they have to move again and clear out more rainforest. Rainforest land loses nutrients quickly
after it has been cleared, and it soon becomes eroded and infertile. Since crops won't grow after
this happens, farm families willingly sell the bad land to commercial companies. These
companies then use the acquired land to form large produce export plantations or cattle
ranching: the most destructive form of land use.

The final major cause of mass rainforest destruction is cattle ranching. Cattle ranching in the
rainforest yields very low amounts of beef, but it is replacing farming that was more productive.

Cattle ranching yields 91 pounds of beef per acre per year, where as corn yields 5,000 pounds
per acre per year. This is a very inefficient use of the land, and is also bad for the economy. After
five to ten years of mediocre beef yields; erosion, weeds and loss of fertility force the ranchers to
look for more land. The ranchers keep moving farther into the rainforest and clearing more land
in a big cycle. Also, raising cattle requires less labor, so there are fewer jobs. The people without
jobs are just more people who wan to move to the rainforest. The land just keeps getting cleared
and burned until there is no rainforest left.

The rainforest gives us so much, and has so many possibilities, yet we are clearing and burning it
down. Animals, plants and insects are being eradicated at the rate of 1,000 species per year. If
the rainforest keeps being destroyed at the current rate, it is 10,000 species will be wiped out
per year. If we want to save the earth, we must start with the rainforests. They are the
connection between man and nature, and if the human race wants to save the planet, the first
step is saving the rainforest. The rainforests are the most valuable renue living.

Waste management is our responsibility

Write an article for your school newsletter on the various waste disposal methods and their pros
and cons.

Hong Kongers generate about 15,000 tons of waste daily. If this mountain of waste is disposed of
properly, then we have little to worry about. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Litter is strewn
all over the country -- in car parks, empty lots, back lanes, drains, rivers -- practically everywhere.
the sights are all so familiar, the stench is overpowering, yet we display our indifference. The
crux of the problem is attitude.

In response to this, the government has begun a recycling campaign as a long-term measure to
ensure the efficient management of waste. Recycling involves the separating of rubbish -- metal,
glass, plastic and paper. the waste is then taken to collection centers which turn the waste
materials into reusable products. Recycling is an efficient method of reducing waste without
polluting the environment. It also cuts down the use of raw materials and energy required to
produce new products.

Other waste disposal methods come with attendant risks to health and the environment. One of
the most common methods of waste disposal is landfills where waste is dumped and left to
decompose. While landfills are convenient and cheap, they release toxic gases. Landfill gas can
kill vegetation. Methane, a greenhouse gas, is released when landfill waste decomposes and this
also contributes to global warming. Besides, decaying waste also attracts pests such as rats and
carrion-eating birds.

Waste materials can be burned in incinerators. When waste in burned, carbon dioxide and other
hazardous air pollutants are released into the atmosphere. Thus, although this method is a
convenient and quick way of getting rid of waste, it has its disadvantages as well.

Now that we all realize the environmental degradation that ensues from the country's waste, let
us be more responsible citizens. The more waste we generate, the more we have to dispose of
and the more waste we dispose of, the more money we will have to pay. We have no choice but
to heed the government's call to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Social ills among teenagers

Make a speech in the topic of the contest 'Social ills among teenagers'.

Good evening, honorable judges, teachers and friends.

I am glad to have been given this opportunity to talk to you today. The title of my speech is
'Social ills among teenagers'. A lot has been said about the deviant behavior of teenagers. Our
education system, the media, teenagers themselves and their parents have been blamed. here is
no need to point an accusing finger at any particular group, but keeping mum over the issue is
tantamount to condoning it. Our youths are our most valuable assets. They are the future
leaders of the nation. The harm has already been done and it is now up to us to undo it.

One of the main reasons why our youths go astray may be the lack of parental supervision.
Nowadays, both parents go out to work. Children are left in the care of foreign maids and child-
minders. As a result, they are faced with the threat of the disintegration of the family values and
thus, the rising trend in social ills and crimes among teenagers. Parents should closely monitor
the activities of their children and be understanding.
When parents are often too busy pursuing their own careers to spare some thought for the
welfare of their children, children grow up with little religious or moral guidance. When they do
not get love and attention at home, they seek attention from others who may or may not come
from similar backgrounds. Thus, the social ills affecting our youth may be a reflection of a much
larger problem, such as the disintegration of the family unit.

Ladies and gentlemen, the media may also play a part in the moral degradation among
teenagers. Television programs which show violence and sex and glorify other negative aspects
should be restricted. There should also be stricter enforcement of the ban on pornographic
material.

Teenagers with little or nothing to do during their spare time usually take to the streets.
Therefore, recreational facilities such as those found in sports complexes should be available to
all youths. at present, existing recreational facilities seem to either be exclusively for the rich or
for older people. the establishment of teen clubs and community centers, that do not charge
high fees and that specially target teenagers, should be given top priority.

In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, everyone, including religious, educational and social
institutions, as well as individuals and the media, must cooperate with the authorities to combat
the social ills afflicting our teenagers. It is important that people, especially youths, do not get
into the rut of moral decay. There should be a thorough study of the problem before a proper
strategy can be mapped out to channel our youths towards healthier lifestyles.

Thank you for your kind attention and have a nAn environmental problem

Write an article about an environmental problem in your country.

Acid rain occurs when harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide
react with rain. This type of rain damages trees, crops and buildings. Industries and power
stations release a lot of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. Exhaust fumes and open-air burning
release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. When these gases enter the atmosphere, they mix
with rain water to form acids like carbonic acid, sulphuric acid and nitric acid. They then form
acid rain.
Acid rain occurs as a result of pollution. Acid rain is thus common in large towns like Bangalore,
New Delhi, Mumbai. This is attributed to rapid industrialization and urbanization in these areas.
However, acid rain is by no means confined to these areas as it may be carried by wind to other
areas.

Acid rain has many adverse effects. Lakes and rivers cannot sustain aquatic life if acid rain flows
into the water. It will also lead to a reduction in crop yields. There will also be irreparable
damage to forests and wildlife. Being corrosive, it can cause extensive damage to buildings. An
example of an important building that has been corroded by acid rain is the Taj Mahal of India.
Acid rain cal also affect human beings. Skin problems such as rashes and itchiness, hair loss and
respiratory problems have been linked to acid rain. Heart and lung problems can also be
aggravated by it.

Acid rain affects the biodiversity of the ecosystems. As lakes, streams and other freshwater
bodies become more acidic, the number and types of fish and other aquatic plants and animals
that live in these waters decrease.

Acid rain causes poisonous metals to seep into underground drinking water sources, thereby
making it unfit for human consumption.

When acid rain falls in forest areas, it releases toxic metals such as lead and zinc which cause the
stunted growth of trees and plants. In this way, acid rain brings about slower growth and the
ultimate death of forests.

Scientists agree that the burning of fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas is a major cause of acid
rain. Thus, industries which use fossil fuels such as the automobile, paper and chemical
industries should reduce emissions of harmful gases, which will in turn reduce the acidity of rain.

Conservation of wildlife

Write a speech on the measures that should be taken to preserve wildlife

Good morning, teachers and friends. Never has a wildlife faced such great threats of extinction
as in the last few decades. We bulldoze forests to make way for concrete jungles, depriving many
species of the flora and fauna native to their habitats. We dump all types of waste into our rivers
and seas, doing irreparable damage to freshwater and marine species. We hunt for sport and use
animal parts to cater to our exotic tastes. All our actions are resulting in the dwindling of wildlife.
We are losing plant and animal species at an accelerated rate.

Ladies and gentlemen, what can we do to stop this massacre ? Firstly, wildlife trade should be
banned. The authorities should strictly prohibit the sale of animals and animal parts whether it is
for medicinal or for other purposes. Forests are habitats for numerous species of flora and fauna.
Dwindling forests means dwindling wildlife. Therefore, forests should be preserved.
Promulgating laws alone will not be an effective deterrent. Offenders should be punished. The
authorities should invoke the full weight of the law to make offenders cease their illegal trade.

For wild life species that face the threat of extinction, the authorities should make a concerted
effort to conserve them. The creation of forest reserves and animal sanctuaries will prevent
animal and plant species from being wiped out. The success of the Sepilok Orangutan
rehabilitation Center is Sabah is a clear example of how effective such conservation programs
are. Similarly, the establishment of marine parks can protect both marine life and their habitats
from being destroyed.

Scientific research can single out threats to flora and fauna species and also discover ways of
tackling these threats effectively. Monetary incentives such as grants from the government will
encourage scientific research. the mass media and television programs like National Geographic
can instil awareness in the public on the need to preserve biodiversity. Coverage of wildlife
issues should be increased.

The public, too, should play its part. As green consumers, we can refuse to buy products that
make sue of animal parts.

If the authorities, the private sector and the public play their part, we can put a stop to practices
that endanger wildlife.
How to reduce pollution

Write a speech on ways of reducing pollution which is to be delivered during assembly on World
Environment Day.

Good morning teachers and friends. In conjunction with World Environment Day, I would like to
give a talk on the ways of reducing pollution.

Pollution was once thought to be the inevitable price of modernization and industrialization.
Today, efforts to reduce environmental pollution are slowly gaining momentum.

First of all, existing laws and regulations aimed at reducing pollution should be strictly enforced.
Toxic waste and fumes from industries are among the major causes of pollution. Instead of
indiscriminate dumping of waste and unchecked emission of toxic fumes, industries should be
equipped with proper waste-treatment systems. The move towards installing catalytic converters
and using lead-free petrol is also commendable, as exhaust fumes from vehicles contribute
greatly to air pollution. The Department of Environment and the Road Transport Department,
respectively, should ensure that industries and vehicle owner comply with environmental
regulations.

Another important step to curb pollution is to educate the public on the effects of pollution and
how they can help protect the environment. Many people are still ignorant of the effects on the
environment due to the use of materials such as aerosol sprays with cholorofluorocarbons,
which destroy the ozone layer, or disposable plastic products, which are virtually indestructible.
Many people also do not know that plastic, glass and paper can be recycled and thus prevent
pollution by reducing waste. when the public is better informed, efforts to reduce pollution will
be more effective.

Lastly, we should buy environmentally safe products and these should be reasonably priced to
be attractive to the average consumer. For example, not many consumers are aware of the
existence of biodegradable products and their benefits in cutting down environmental pollution.
furthermore, many consumers who would be interested in buying recycled or environmentally
friendly products are put off by the high prices charged for them. As such, there should be more
encouragement for consumers to buy environmentally friendly products.
Reducing pollution requires efforts by all parties concerned -- the government, industries and
consumers. Stricter control, more public awareness and reasonable pricing for 'green' products
will all help in reducing pollution in the country. So ladies and gentlemen, let us do our part in
reducing pollution.

Capital punishment

The death penalty should be abolished. Do you agree ?

The death penalty or capital punishment is still being practiced in many countries. Criminals who
are put on the death row include those who are arrested for drug trafficking and those who
commit murders.

In Asia, death by hanging is the most common method of capital punishment. Among the
countries, lethal injections, electrocution and death by a firing squad are more common.

Should the death penalty be abolished ? The proponents for the death penalty feel that the
punishment meted out to a criminal should reflect the seriousness of the crime. If this line of
argument is followed, then a person who kills deserves to die. In other words, a person who
takes another person's life, forfeits his won right to live.

Another argument is that the death penalty is an effective deterrent to crime. If murderers and
drug dealers know that they will be punished by death, they will be less likely to commit the
crimes.

The main purpose of capital punishment is to isolate criminals from society so that they will not
have the opportunity to repeat their crimes.

Whatever the reasons are for defending the death penalty, I feel that it is an archaic form of
punishment that has no place in a modern, civilized world.

It is true that crimes of a serious nature deserve severe punishment. But taking a person's life in
return is equivalent to taking revenge or 'an eye for an eye'. Two wrongs do not make a right.
Hence, when we put criminals on death row, we are stooping to their level. Instead, if a serious
crime is committed, the criminal should be sentenced to life imprisonment. By spending the rest
of their lives in prison, these criminals would have time to reflect on their misdeeds and repent.

No matter how careful and fair the judicial system is, the possibility of perjured testimony and
human error always remains too real a threat to be brushed aside. If a member of the jury makes
a mistake, a person can be falsely accused of a crime. If the death penalty is meted out to a
person who did not commit the crime, then the sentence cannot be revoked.

It is not true that the threat of capital punishment reduces the number of violent crimes because
most crimes are committed on the spur of the moment or under the influence of drugs or
alcohol. Many offenders, therefore, do not think about the consequences of their crimes.

Preventing crimes from happening is the most effective way to deter crime. Increased
surveillance or police patrols, an increase in the number of police officers and a strict control on
the availability of weapons are more practical alternatives in the practice of crime prevention.

For these reasons, capital punishment should be abolished.

alk on road safety

As chairperson of the school's organizing committee, you have been asked to give a talk to other
students on road safety.

Boys and girls, a very good morning to you. In conjunction with 'Road Safety Week,' I wish to give
a talk on why road accidents occur and the ways to reduce them.

News about road accidents and road accident fatalities always appear in printed and electronic
media. In many cases, schoolchildren are the victims. It is for this reason that our school has
decided to launch a 'Road Safety Week' campaign with the aim of raising awareness among the
students on the need to be more responsible and cautions while on the road.

Why do road accidents occur ? According to police statistics, much of the carnage on the roads
could have been avoided if road users had exercised patience and caution. Instead, drivers tend
to speed, drive recklessly and race on the roads. Motorists are responsible for various other
misdemeanors such as weaving in and out of traffic and not paying heed to road conditions.
Sometimes road conditions such as the existence of potholes can cause accidents. Another
major cause of accidents is the poor maintenance of vehicles. Vehicles with brakes and lights
that do not function properly are potential hazards to other road users. Long-distance public
transportation drivers can also cause accidents if they drive for long periods and are tired.

Summonses and penalties are ineffective in curbing road accidents. Stiffer penalties such as
increasing fines and suspending driving licenses of offenders should be introduced. If a motorist
causes an accident, the authorities should confiscate his driving license and suspend him from
driving for a certain period of time. Stricter enforcement of traffic rules by the authorities will
reduce the number of accidents.

Only roadworthy vehicles should be allowed on the roads. Vehicles which break down often
should be taken off the roads. There is also a clarion call from many quarters to increase the age
limit for new drivers. This is one way of getting young motorists off the roads.

If we do not want accidents to happen, then it is time we changed our driving and riding
attitudes. Motorists must ensure that they are courteous on the road and that their vehicles are
roadworthy. There should be more awareness campaigns aimed at inculcating good driving
habits, especially among schoolchildren.

When road users ensure their vehicles are roadworthy, respect the law and think about their
safety as well as that of others, then the number of fatalities can be reduced.

Civil service or government employment

What are the advantages and disadvantages of employment in the civil service ?
Employment in the civil service refers to employment in the government sector as opposed to
the private sector.

What attracts the job seeker to the government sector ad not to the private sector ?

Firstly, there is the job security factor. Once an applicant is successful in being offered
employment, he is well assured of being employed as long as he does not create anarchy or
break too many General Orders. Even if he is guilty of a few indiscretions, he will most probably
get away with it without any serious repercussions. At the most, he will be given verbal then
written warnings, even counseling. Sometimes he is downgraded and his job is not at stake. The
starting pay may be low and promotions are few and far in between, but with Cuepacs, the
umbrella body for civil servants unions, speaking up for them, there are provisions for bonuses
and pay revision. In a nutshell, the job is his for life.

Unlike the private sector, it is not so stable. The work ethics are more stringent and employees
have been known to be dismissed for the flimsiest reasons. Then, there are the uncertainties
when companies downsize followed by retrenchment or businesses go bust. The plus factor for
the private sector is the higher starting pay, higher bonuses, quicker promotions and better
increments based on performance. The work is more challenging and stimulating. The minus
factor for private sector employees is the growing trend to employ contract not permanent staff.

Secondly, there is the pension. To make it even more attractive, the employee has the option of
choosing either to stay a contributor to the EPF (after the probation period) or go for the
pension scheme. If he opts for the pension scheme, he has an income for life and if survived by a
wife, it is hers too for life.

Thirdly, there is the additional perk of almost free medical treatment for life for himself, his wife
and his children who are minors.

Admittedly, there are some private companies that do offer medical subsidies but with certain
medical panels only.

Next, comes the relaxed working environment. Almost all government departments are air-
conditioned or quite conducive. Although there is the clock-in and clock-out routine, there is
little urgency in the government departments.

Similarly, the conducive working conditions do exist in the private sector. However, the relaxed
working environment is not so apparent, in fact the private sector is like a pressure cooker for
performance is linked to profits and contracts. Employees are under pressure all the time to
perform.

Finally, the most appealing factor about government service is that the employees are in a
privileged position. The public go to them for help. They endorse, approve or reject applications
and appeals, interpret existing laws and regulations: the power is in their hands.

In the private sector, due to competition between similar brand product and service providers,
the employees have to ensure that their clients are well treated and well served. After all, the
consumer is always right.

Having looked at the pros and cons, we can now understand why people are lining up to join the
government service despite detracting facts like low pay and poor pension. Applicants for
government jobs look to other factors to be a part of the government machinery. However, if
complaints about the public sector are anything to go by, there has to be a change in the
mindset of those joining the public service. As the Prime Minister says, "We do not need Little
Napoleans."

In conclusion, it depends on the individual to decide where to serve: in the government or

private sectors. If you are thinking of security, then go for government service. If you are thinking
of challenges, opt for the private sector. An employee in whichever sector who does an honest
day's job and who sometimes goes beyond the call of duty will receive his rewards in more ways
than one.

Retention vs automatic promotion

How would you advise a friend who has been given the option of either being retained because
of unsatisfactory results or being automatically promoted as is the norm ?
I believe it would not be fair to him if I state my stand without presenting an objective view of
the situation.

To begin with, I would present the advantages of remaining in the same form for another year.
After that, I would look at the disadvantages of being promoted to the next level.

In the first place, retention gives him the opportunity of relearning all that he had learnt
previously. Furthermore, his previous learning would be further reinforced with relearning and
revision. Compared to other learners of the same age, he needs extra time to learn and to
understand. What is more important is that he becomes more confident. Besides, he knows all
the stuff; therefore, he just needs to apply them.

Secondly, he has to improve on his study skills and techniques. I believe that an additional year
at the same level would polish his learning abilities. In addition, not being in an examination
class, there is less pressure. He has more time to study at his own pace. Be doing so, it would
enable him to perform without any pressure. Once he does just as well as his form mates, his
zeal for learning would return. His achievements would raise his own self-esteem.

Thirdly, different children develop physically and mentally at different rates. No two persons are
alike. Einstein and Winston Churchill were not brilliant students in school. One became a famous
scientist and the other a much-admired politician. Some people are late developers and some
are early bloomers.

I have presented the three advantages of retention. Now, I shall give my views on automatic
promotion.

The first disadvantage is that another level means new materials to be learnt. He has not yet
truly comprehended the old materials that he learnt the previous year. The crux of the matter is
that whatever is learnt in one year is the basis for the next year's work. A weak foundation can
bring about a tumble. Not only has he to study hard, but he can also find it nerve racking. It
cannot be doubted that when an average student finds it difficult to understand, what more a
struggling student ?
The second disadvantage is, he has no time to brush up on his previous year's work for he has
loads in the current year to understand and to learn. Undeniably, he may find it such an uphill
battle that he loses courage and just surrenders. That cannot be allowed to happen. A student
must see light at the end of the tunnel for him to continue to persevere in spite of great odds
against him. Giving him a second chance of "recouping" his losses would set him on the road to
success.

Thirdly, no two persons learn, understand, retain and assimilate then regurgitate at the same
constant. There are too many variables and preconditions and hypotheses.

Having presented both views: the advantages and drawbacks, I have to let him decide for
himself. He has to take into consideration his own sense of humble pride and his particular
talents besides all the other factors. There is no shame in accepting his shortcomings and bravely
acting on them. There is no wrong or right decision. It is right for that moment in time. Then only
can he make a decision which should assist, not hinder, his progress

Online shopping

Online shopping is better than conventional shopping. What are your views ?

The Internet has revolutionized the way we do our shopping. The businessman regards the
Internet as a modern effective tool for business transactions. Online shopping is the act of
purchasing products or services over the Internet.

Let us compared online shopping to traditional or conventional shopping. Online shopping,

particularly during a festive holiday season, alleviates the need to wait in long lines o search
from store to store for a particular item. Conventional shopping in the brick and mortar building
entails leaving the home to jostle with the traffic, crowds and long queues.

What are the advantages and benefits of online shopping over conventional shopping ?
First, there is the convenience of being able to shop 24 hours a day for any type of product
imaginable. The ability to shop from home allows many people (the elderly, the disabled, young
mothers) to still purchase the products and services they need. Then it is more comfortable,
doing it in the comfort of your home, instead of running around in the store. Online shopping
allows you a 24/7 shopping time. you can surf the Internet at any time of the day and buy your
goods. You can find and buy products from all over the world.

Second is that goods are often cheaper as the seller does not have the costs of running a shop.
You have the opportunity to compare as many products and prices as you want without having
to spend the time and money to travel between several different shops. You get cheaper deals
and better prices with discount coupons and rebates thrown in.

Third, you will also be able to read reviews y previous buyers and select your purchases with
additional information from satisfied customers. The photographs and illustrations help you
choose and recommendations from others help you decide.

Like in other forms of business, there are disadvantages too.

First, online shoppers face fraud and security concerns. It has also been widely criticized for
being very insecure. Even with the latest security ware, hackers still manage to find a way to
steal your data. Online shoppers should first familiarize themselves with online stores and how
they protect their data before going on an online shopping spree.

The majority of online shoppers are unaware of various hacker attacks, phishing scams, and how
they affect them. Not knowing how to keep yourself safe is the biggest disadvantage of online
shopping. despite warnings from Snopes and other cyber "police" sites, the store may be a scam
put up to gather people's credit card data and social security numbers.

Second, online shopping puts you at a disadvantage. You can't see and feel first hand or try for
size your purchase. You take the word of the description of the product which is usually cleverly
crafted by online stores to make it sound appealing to people. There is no hands-on inspection,
nor visual or physical impact for product suitability. Only when it arrives at your address, do you
have the opportunity to check the purchases for what it is advertised as. The greatest rip is the
inaccurate transactions which could result in no savings or additional expenses to the buyer. this
is probably one of the biggest disadvantages of online shopping that turns many people off.

Third, there is no means for you to check for full cost or hidden cost not until something
unexpected happens. Online shops do not always list the other additional charges. All these
hidden costs: handling fees, packaging costs, shipping or transit costs, replacement costs, return
costs, fluctuating currency rates, can add up to quite an exorbitant sum. Are they borne wholly
by the buyer ?

There are many other online issues which are more technical in nature: usage of the computer,
slow online connectivity, viruses and time zone differences. Other aspects would be personal to
buyer: credit card payment, no cash transactions, immediate gratification, invalid warranties, no
refunds and non-delivery of purchases.

In summary, the main advantages of shopping online are convenience and cost savings, while
the main disadvantages are security risks and reduced hands-on purchase gratification.

In conclusion, to benefit truly from online shopping, one has to be an intelligent experienced
Internet user as well as a streetwise e-commerce online sh

Protect the ecosystem

Explain how the ecosystem has been endangered. What human activities can and have
endangered the ecosystem ? What can be done to ensure a balanced ecosystem ?

Human beings depend on the ecosystem to survive. Plants, animals and humans interact with
one another in the environment. Misuse and overuse of earth's resources can cause negative
effect on the ecosystem.

There are many human activities that can and have caused negative effects on the ecosystem.

In the first instance, there is the deforestation or clearing of natural forests. In the name of
development, land is cleared for construction projects, mining, timber production, building of
dams and draining of wetlands

Such activities result in flash floods, landslides and soil erosion. Wild animals are robbed of their
natural habitats. With less trees, there is an increase in carbon dioxide but a decrease in oxygen
production.

Man's need for food keeps on escalating. In the second instance, farmers use excess chemical
fertilisers: nitrate, phosphate, herbicides and pesticides.

What follows next is the excess fertilisers are washed into lakes and rivers, thus stimulating algae
growth. At the same time, the water quality in these waters is affected and fish die. Overuse of
herbicides and pesticides produce toxic that affects the food chain which filters into agro-based
food products, ending up in the human body.

In the third instance, man's switch from agricultural to industrial based economic activities, from
horse drawn carriages to motor vehicles, and open burning have produced various air pollutants.

In the air there is invisible carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, oxides of hydrogen, carbon particles,
lead and carbon monoxide. We get smog (eg. the yearly haze) and acid rain. Then we experience
heat because of the greenhouse effect and ozone depletion.

In the final instance, man dumps domestic and industrial waste. In addition, we have an
improper and inadequate sewage system.

The ecosystem (the air and the waters) is endangered with chemical-polluted waters or micro-
organisms that are dangerous to health as well as emitting foul and stale smells.

What can we do to ensure a balanced ecosystem ? Concerted effort is needed to develop and
manage a viable system to protect the ecosystem.
First, there should be enforcement of environmental laws. Implementation of laws to control
pollution eg. Environmental Quality Acts 1974 (water quality) and1989 (waste treatment) should
be strictly enforced, without fear or favor.

Second, there should be the preservation and conservation of the forest. Where deforestation
has taken place, it should be followed by reforestation. In areas where land has been laid bare,
there should be preservation of soil through the use of good farming techniques.

Third, further to agricultural policies, there should be biological pest control.

Next, every citizen, from the young to the old, should be educated on the benefits and ways of
recycling, reusing, reducing and renewing in and of the environment.

Last, but not least, technology has to be stringently and systematically applied to the ecosystem.
There should be catalytic converters to clean up the gases released. There should be more
people using unleaded petrol and even better, biofuel. There should be more sewage treatment
plants.

In conclusion, knowing about the abuses of the ecosystem while implementing steps to ensure a
balanced ecosystem is not enough. What is more urgent is for constant co-operation plus action
by all Earth's residents.

Examination stress (types, diagnosis & solutions)

How do you deal with Examination stress ?

Hello, Examination ! Your name is Stress !

What is examination stress ? It could be defined as a type of heightened anxiety affecting a

candidate before, during and after an examination.

It is a common issue dealt with by students throughout their academic life. Stress is a normal
human feeling that is part of life and can often serve as a god form of adrenaline. Stress is your
mind or body's natural response to what it views as a threat. When threatened, your body
triggers a number of physical (somatic), emotional and mental (cognitive) reactions. Each
category is connected to the other, so anything that can be done to lessen one reaction will
lessen the impact of the other two categories.

The butterflies in the stomach, the sweaty clammy hands, the urge to visit the toilet, the weak
knees, the unreasonable panic attacks: these are vital signs of stress.

The two types: anticipatory stress experienced while studying and thinking about the ifs, and
situational stress experienced during the examination itself, can cause loss in concentration,
physical distress and emotional upset. These outcomes could affect performance excellence.

How is one able to diagnose the stress and act on it to maximize performance ? The sufferer
notes the triggers that create stress. He charts his physical, mental and emotional reactions to
better analyze his ability to overcoming stress.

Symptoms of stress vary from person to person. Some students are mildly affected and exhibit
few symptoms, while others experience severe reactions. Physical, mental and emotional
symptoms are seen before, during and after the examination. They run the whole gamut from
appetite changes to excessive tiredness, stomach cramps, dry mouth, fainting and vomiting.

Examination stress is more common than most students realize, and the symptoms are generally
the same for almost all students who experience it. Certain people are more prone to stress
attacks. Almost everybody feels a certain degree of stress. However, the intense worrier,
perfectionist, ill-prepared learner, masters of avoidance, procrastinators are likely to be more
highly stressed. Sometimes a vicious circle comes into play.

Examination stress can be a real problem, especially when the stress reaches a height where
nervousness takes over and the candidate cannot even focus on the test questions and do his
best. However, there are steps you can take to keep stress at a manageable level.

Traditional strategies such as developing improved studying and examination-taking skills can
make a significant difference. Stress management and physical health care enable the sufferer to
lessen his stress level.

Examination stress is often treated using conventional prescription medicine. While there is a
place for prescription medication, consideration and caution should be taken regarding possible
side effects.

There are also many herbal and homeopathic remedies which can help maintain harmony,
health, and systemic balance in the brain and nervous system, without side effects or sedation.

In dealing with stress, there are Dos and Don'ts. The many Don'ts include not to be negative or
rushed or be influenced by those more stressed than you. The Dos include positive statements,
natural breathing techniques and believing in yourself. After all, it is just an examination !

On the Test Day itself, be fresh and alert, think of past successes and put things into their right
perspective with success visualization.

A little stress helps. Heightened stress paralyses. One can have no stress, too little or too much
stress. In the first instance, the candidate is overly confident. In the second instance, the
candidate is spared much stress. In the third instance, the candidate is a bundle of nervous
energy. Which category do you fall into ?

See you soon, Examination. Goodbye, Stress !

film review: 'Avatar"

You like watching futuristic films. Write a review of the film.

The film, Avatar is directed by James Cameron. It stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen
Lang, and Sigourney Weaver. The cinematography is in the hands of Mauro Fiore with Joe Letteri
handling the special effects and music by James Hormer. This action film runs for 2 hours and 43
minutes.

The film tells the story of a paraplegic marine, Jake Sully, played by actor Sam Worthington. After
Jake's twin brother dies, he is asked at the last minute to go to a new planet called Pandora in his
brother's place. Jake is sent on a special mission, along with his new virtual avatar body (so that
he looks like the natives), to integrate himself with them and gain their trust.

Jake meets Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) a member of the Navi, the indigenous, primitive humanoid race
that resides above a plot of land on Planet Pandora. The US Army lands on Pandora, an earth-
sized satellite in outer space, to mine its valuable minerals from Pandora's soil. But before their
objective is established, the army has to fight with the peace-loving inhabitants of the alien
world of Pandora. Giovanni Ribisi's Parker Selfridge, the company executive has the choice of
peace or superior firepower.

After several weeks of learning their ways, Jake begins to develop feelings for the big blues, and
even finds himself falling in love with Neytiri.

But Selfridge has no time for pleasantries. He has a battle-hardened colonel (Lang) just waiting
to unleash military hell, and Jake has given them just enough information to begin their
campaign.

Two groups of people lead the invading humans. The character Dr Grace, played by actress
Sigourney Weaver, leads the kind-hearted scientists. Their mission is to learn and understand
Pandora's physical environment and also learn about the Navi and how to possibly relocate them
in a humane way. Colonel Quaritch played by actor Stephen Lang, leads the warriors. Their main
goal is to destroy and kill the

Pandora Navis and their land.

However, Jake finds himself leaving his human colleagues and joining the indigenous race of life
forms in their battle for survival.

Avatar has received attention because it is the first film to be released in 3D. The 3D effects were
smooth and mesmerizing. They made the file come to life with the feeling that the breathtaking
scenery was directly in front of you and that you were there with the characters and among the
landscape.
Avatar truly marks the coming- of-age of 3-D cinema with its pure technology, special. effects,
beautiful finesse, aesthete, shock, fearfulness and eye for detail. The director's vision inside the
Pandora is a pure art that is made more beautiful with the tall and wide eyed people, lush
greenery and the post-modern creatures. With its simple straightforward narration, the movie's
evergreen romance between. a human and an alien blended beautifully with the strong anti-war
statement, giving Avatar its simplicity and heart.

Director and Screenwriter, James Cameron has no doubt created a burly and visually thrilling
appeal to save the world, before it is too late. Cinematography by Mauro Fiore is excellent and
the special effects by foe Letteri are truly mind blowing. Music given by James II pier goes off
smoothly with the flow of the movie. Both Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington perform their
roles excellently and have shaped up the warm love story of the Navi woman and the blue
skinned human avatar perfectly.

I enjoyed the film for its uniqueness, its storyline of survival set against power and violence. I
would rate it 8/10. If you like futuristic films with a dash of incredulity plus romance and 3D
magic, Avatar is for yo

The problem of deforestation.

Thousands and thousands of acres of lush rain forests are cleared each year to make way for
development. The once beautiful and spectacular forests are reduced to barren landscapes. This
is for the sake of development, for the advancement of man.

Yet, what happens when trees are felled? Firstly, the earth is left vulnerable to soil erosion. The
heavy tropical rains will carry away the rich topsoil, and the land without its topsoil will no
longer be fertile. Slowly but steadily, the lush vegetation will give way to wasteland.

Secondly, the flowing water will not only wash away the topsoil but will deposit it in the rivers.
As a result, the rivers will become shallower. Consequently, floods will become frequent in the
area. Thousands of people will suffer in these floods.
Another point to note is that forests are home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna. Animals
and plants live in symbiotic relationships in the balance of nature. Man destroys this balance
when he flattens the forests to the ground. Where do they go then, the great and tiny
inhabitants of these forests? Nowhere. They die. If this goes on, the food chain will be disrupted.
As creatures dependent on the food chain, man is ultimately destroying his own sources of food
through the destruction of rain forests.

When forests are a distant memory, a shocking fact will hit us full force. Mankind will be thrown
into a state of unimaginable suffering and agony. What I am talking about is the lack of oxygen.
While cutting down a tree to add yet another piece of luxurious furniture to Man's already
opulent lifestyle, people forget that they are also cutting down our supply of oxygen.

Trees absorb the carbon dioxide breathed out by living creatures, reprocess it and, in the end,
produce the life-sustaining oxygen. Without trees, where will this oxygen come from? Will we
process it in factories? Will a time come when man will be fighting for the very air he breathes?

Furthermore, the excessive carbon dioxide will also effect a change in the micro-climate and
raise the region's temperature. There will be a greenhouse effect on earth; warm air and
radiation will be trapped under the earth's atmosphere. Then, as the earth's temperature rises,
the ice in the polar caps will melt, raising the sea level. Great floods will hit the lower-lying areas.

As you can see, it is a vicious cycle. A change in our environment will trigger off another change
which will trigger off yet another. This is why we. should keep the balance of nature. This is why
we ought to preserve our forests. This is why environmentalist groups are pressurizing
governments to reduce the felling of trees and the clearing of forests and to be serious about
replanting forests.

With the support of ordinary citizens like you and me, they will get the attention of the people in
power. We can also help by planting trees. Members of this beautiful planet must be united. By
preserving our forests, we are preserving ourselves.

Should our school examination system be abolished ? Give reasons for your stand.
From primary school to the end of their tertiary education, students face the daunting task of
preparing for examinations every single year. So much time and emotion is poured into
preparing for examinations.

Advocates of the system contend that annual examinations are a good way of training children
for the stress of life after school - where deadlines and sales quotas need to be met, and work
completed methodically and with minimum fuss.

Government examinations are also said to be the necessary yardstick for measuring the
capability of each person for further education or employment.

Yet, are examinations an accurate yardstick? A person's true abilities may not be shown by
written examinations. Take Winston Churchill, for example. He was a school dropout and yet he
became one of England's greatest statesmen, a national savior in World War II. Clearly, some
talents and forms of ingenuity go undetected in examinations.

Another problem related to our system of examinations is that teachers become too "exam-
orientated". They race through the syllabus so that they can cover everything in it in time for the
examinations regardless of whether their students have understood the material. The weaker
students often end up the victims in this race -- they are left far behind the rest of the class. They
become more and more discouraged as they understand less and less of the lessons, to the point
that they hardly care if they pass or fail. Sadly, this attitude will be carried with them into adult
life.

What about the "swots"? Well, speaking as one, I confess that I often wonder whether it is worth
it. We rush from one tuition class to another and we spend most of our time studying for tests
and examinations, or doing our homework. All through the school semester, we only have one
thought in mind: to excel in the examinations. Is this really living?

A related point is that some students are so occupied with their studies that they do not develop
their potential in other fields. It is true that there are many clubs and societies in the school.
However, many students just do not have the time to make full use of these extracurricular
activities. They have to study, study, study. So, our emphasis on examinations is indirectly
producing people who are only trained to study and reproduce facts rather than well-rounded
individuals.

In conclusion, while I realize that it will be impossible to do away with all examinations, I feel
that they should be given less importance within the school system. For example, instead of
basing entry qualifications on one examination, students should also be evaluated through the
cumulative marks of tests and assignments. Furthermore educationists, employers, parents and
the students themselves should always be reminded that the results of examinations are not
equal to the sum of the net worth of the individual.

hould one aim of education be the development of talent in such fields as music, art, drama?

It is only a tiny minority who are born without a talent in one direction or another. Even these
people are usually employable. It seems logical, in general, that one aim of education should be
to develop latent ability, whatever that ability may be.

However, the pressure from educational theorists today is to concentrate teaching on

preparation for employment. Parents, also, feel that the priority for their children is to become
equipped to earn a good living. Governments urge concentration on certain subjects, so that a
pool of labor can be formed which can move easily into specialized training. These essential
subjects include English, or another international language, since these languages possess
technical vocabularies and also equip young people to travel overseas in the course of their
work. The other favored subjects arc mathematics, the sciences, the use of computers and other
office machinery, engineering, and general handwork. Given proficiency in some or all of there, it
is a short step to useful employment. Modern job opportunities lie in the fields of the service
industries, i.e. banking, insurance and stockbroking, technology and the manufacture of
sophisticated products, research and development and computers. Governments see these
occupations as essential to national wealth creation, and therefore crucial to the general
improvement of the national standard of living.

There will always he young people more interested in the arts than in the sciences. The arts are
usually bracketed under the general heading 'liberal studies'; they include history, languages and
literature, philosophy, politics and economics, social and environmental studies. Some require
exact knowledge and serious study, while others are 'soft options'. In any real sense they are
totally unproductive, and modern education has spawned a brood of these non-subjects. It is
small wonder that both governments and parents discourage some of them nowadays. We live
in a real world. Yet the reverse of this coin is the necessary enrichment of the culture of all
countries in successive generations. What is material success if there is nothing to engage the
artistic side of our nature in our spare time?

Perhaps the greatest concept of education originates in the European cultural renaissance in
Italy, and dates back to the late Middle Ages. It is the development of the whole person. Perhaps
the modern version of 'mens sana in corpore sano', a 'healthy body in a healthy mind', still has
its place. So even attention to sports training is justifiable.

So music, art and drama must all have their place in the curriculum, even if this is not a prime
place. Every country has its own artistic heritage, and it would be tragic if that heritage were lost
through neglect. Yet this is not merely a matter of conservation. Artistic pursuits have now
become international and offer brilliant careers to gifted young people of every country. It is
clear that those with this kind of talent should be encouraged.

Write a critical account of the newspapers and popular magazines produced in your country.

In a democratic country, every aspect of the popular press is constantly under review by
parliament and the general public; ownership, management, political shade, production method
and freedom under the law are factors perpetually in dispute.

This essay attempts to comment on the press in Britain. It excludes the multiplicity of learned
and technical journals which cover every imaginable private interest ranging from theology to
karate, from motor cars to bee-keeping. These are not controversial.

In Britain newspapers are privately owned by wealthy individuals or consortia. Foreigners are
free to buy in. Australians such as Rupert Murdoch own several nationals; however, any attempt
by one person or group to buy an excessive number of titles would be denounced in the House
of Commons and probably be brought before the Monopolies Commission. The government
neither owns nor controls the press. Hence the freedom of the press remains a jealously
guarded privilege. How therefore is the situation saved from the irresponsible individual?

Language. English, French, Russian, German and Italian are international languages. They have
the capability of dealing with modern technology. English has been taught for decades in schools
all over the world as the second and sometimes the first language. Politics may dictate that
English is given less prominence. However, trade, industry and technology nowadays demand
two-way travel, and a lingua franca is essential. So to preserve the national language it is
necessary for schools to give both it and the international language about equal prominence.

Dress. Clothes which are native to a country have evolved in relation both to climate and to
artistic tradition. It is tempting for both men and women to adopt foreign styles imported by
those who visit or settle for commercial and industrial reasons. International fashion affects
choice of dress, particularly among young people. In a free country it may be wrong to dictate
what people shall wear. However styles can be heavily influenced by the personal choice of
prominent men and women. It would be a great loss if all countries assimilated to the styles
traditionally worn either in the West or the Eastern bloc.

Social customs. These are most easily lost. Traditions in respect of births, marriages, deaths,
agricultural festivals, attainment of manhood and womanhood and all other indigenous customs
must be maintained if a country's culture is to be preserved. Again, this requires the help of
government by way of positive encouragement in the shape of leadership and the granting of
paid holidays or time off work without loss of income.

Arts and crafts. In developing countries there is often a strong input of foreign consumer goods.
Every country has its own indigenous products, ranging from household utensils to clothing,
sandals and shoes, leather goods, pottery, pictures etc. Despite balance of trade requirements
there must be some control over imports of consumer goods and encouragement to continue
buying goods of local manufacture. This may mean government subsidies to keep cottage
industry financially viable. The continued production of all these items is crucial to the
preservation of a country's culture.

Way of life. The traditional roles of men and women are always threatened by the working hours
demanded by imported industry and commerce. The agriculture-based work-cycle is easily lost
in the five-day nine-to-five working week required when labor is transferred from the land to the
factory or office. So also is traditional village housing when new housing is built near the major
work places. Inevitably a new Westernized pattern involving shared household duties is imposed
and when traditional male and female domestic roles are modified by the new job requirements.
Little can be done about this. The upgraded status of women has come to stay.

Religious observance. Enlightened governments always ensure religious freedom and declare
national holidays so that the major festivals of all religions may be observed. Taken in aggregate,
this free time may be excessive and compromises may have to be reached. Whatever one's
personal faith there is little doubt that strong religious conviction continues to exert a beneficial
social effect. The bad features of Western culture, the break-up of family life, drug abuse, sexual
promiscuity, resulting in AIDS, and crime and anti-social behavior can be blamed, at least
partially, on the breakdown of religious faith.

Literature, music and drama. It goes without saying that governments should encourage the
support of all three, if necessary by financial subsidies. They all contribute to the richness of
indigenous culture.

In peacetime, basically by a body called the Press Council. The government or the individual can
complain about unfair reporting, the disturbance of personal privacy by journalists, sacrilege,
immorality and other abuses. Editors usually take note of this body. The laws of libel of course
apply. Material sensitive to national security can be stopped by legal injunctions, sometimes at
the order of the Speaker of the House of Commons. In wartime, sensitive material is banned by a
'D Notice'. Otherwise editors can print material which they know will result in libel suits, and
sometimes do so. Circulation benefits offset court damages.

The powerful unions, SOGAT and the NUJ, have hitherto controlled not only printing methods,
but also to some extent editorial attitudes, but recently their power has been broken. Fleet
Street in London had been hidebound by overmanning and antique printing methods. Rupert
Murdoch set up a modern establishment in Wapping, north of the River Thames, and manned
his printing works behind barbed wire by non-union labor. Thus he remained viable financially
and was free in his editorial comment. Violent picketing continued for a year, but Murdoch set a
trend which is being followed by other nationals. His methods were unpopular, but they were
direct and effective.
Newspapers in Britain are subdivided among major national dailies and local papers. Evening
papers are on sale actually from l0 a.m. and are aimed at commuters. Many provincial papers
are weeklies, and sell on local news combined with some national comment.

The national dailies and Sunday papers, with their color magazines, all have a political bias,
based in the paper's history and tradition. These range from Communist papers such as the Star,
to right-wing dailies such as the Express and the Sun, so that every shade of opinion is catered
for. Such a wide spectrum gives the public a wide choice. In most cases their reporting is fair and
factual, though naturally their political interpretations of both home and foreign affairs vary
widely. All, including the establishment dailies, the Times and the Telegraphs compete for
circulation in various ways. Many run competitions and games of chance. Some seek exclusives
to increase sales. The gutter press prints soft-sex photographs and goes in for lurid reporting. All
contain news, sport, politics, leaders, features, letters and advertising. At about 25p they are
mostly good value for money.

Apart from technical journals, magazines in general have lost their hold on the British public
because they were largely pictorial. The television has overtaken them. However, women's
magazines are as popular as ever. They range from the intellectual -- feminist to the
establishment social scene to the traditionally bland and non-controversial women's interest
types of periodical.

How important is foreign trade to your country?

Discounting the most primitive countries, foreign trade is important to all countries. Even
primitive countries need it to some degree. Where peoples have been content with the produce
of the land, the herd and the flock, there have always been itinerant traders, e.g. the Arabs who
skirted the Sahara from Egypt to the Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, Nigeria etc. They brought brass,
ivory and woven goods to be exchanged for local artifacts. Modern communications have
introduced more sophisticated needs even to primitive tribes. Chiefs and leaders have traveled
and sometimes been educated in Western and Westernized countries.

Every country has a currency, a gross national product, and a sum of capital raised out of
taxation. The currency has a strength related to other currencies with which it is grouped. That
strength depends on keeping a fair balance between imports and exports. Where exports
outweigh imports the currency becomes relatively strong, with two good results and one bad
one.

The individual has good purchasing power. Foreign investment is encouraged by high interest
rates which in turn control imports. However, exported goods become too expensive, and export
trade becomes depressed. A careful government will seek a balance. Without high interest rates
a trade balance will fall apart. Imports will grossly exceed exports and there may be a run on the
currency, leading to inflation and increased unemployment.

The gross national product is derived from taxation and from the exploitation of natural
resources. Minerals, oil and gas are often licensed for development to foreign companies, thus
providing the government with a substantial extra income. A wise government will again find a
balance between liquidating debt, improving social amenity in all its forms, and dropping the
rate of taxation. The latter encourages the creation of new wealth by the individual and by the
firm, at any rate in capitalistic countries. Socialist countries eschew the free market which all of
the above implies as the means of raising the general standard of living. Instead imports,
exports, the currency, wages and the distribution of the gross national product are strictly
regulated by a bureaucracy. In the case of a despotism, the GNP is cynically used only for the
benefit of the leader and the party in power.

In answer to the question, and in the light of the above, everything depends on the country in
question.

For example, your country has an economy based in rubber tapping, agriculture and fishing.
Subsistence is no problem. Villages are traditionally self-supporting. However, there is political
unrest, because a neighboring country enjoys a much greater variety of consumer goods. The
democratic government plans to raise your standard of living in all departments Where is the
money to come from?

Much of it may come from the exploitation of the off-shore oil and gas already located by foreign
mineralogists. This is a long-term project and the income derived from concessions to foreign oil
companies will not be received for, say, five to ten years. The enhancement of foreign trade is
more short-term and realistic. Yet, there are few factories and no products capable of competing
abroad. To import what the people desire without exporting correspondingly would damage the
economy.

As a government you decide to enter the overseas electronics market. New factories will be built
in industrial areas adjacent to the big cities. Initial funding will come from the world bank.
Foreign experts will supervise the installation of machinery, institute training schemes for the
new labor force, advise on quality control and competitiveness overseas. A range of electronic
products will be available for export with a limited quantity for the home market, in two years'
time. A range of consumer perishables and durables can then be admitted.

Taxation can then be graded from a low standard rate upwards. Only then, and after debts are
repaid or serviced, can thought be given to the country's more general standard of living.

Is the telephone a curse or a blessing ?

A slightly eccentric professor of archaeology in West Africa would neither answer the telephone
nor reply to letters. As for letters, he would say, leave them long enough and they answer
themselves. As for the telephone, I consider it an unwarranted intrusion. If people want to talk
to me they can come and see me. Of course, the world could not carry on in its modern way
without the telephone, which has become an essential part of living. Yet, in some respects it can
be a curse.

Today, telephonic communication is worldwide and instantaneous. It is possible to dial people at

the other end of the world without even going through an operator. This is fine, providing the
time-differences are remembered. More seriously, in conjunction with satellite television, world
news is instantly on our screens, sometimes even as it happens. Such exposure of, usually,
unhappy events, wars, accidents, acts of terrorism etc can actually have a bad influence on the
course of a war, a hostage-taking, or a tribal massacre. When it took a British ship four months to
deliver a letter to or from, say, India, the crisis had often been settled locally, with much less
anxiety all round.

The telephone has greatly decreased the volume of mail worldwide. Some letters have to be
written, of course, but the art of private letter writing has become a dying art. Writing a good
letter means first collecting then sorting out one's thoughts, and the finished article can be
something to be proud of, a small masterpiece. And because letters today are considered of
secondary importance, mail services in many countries have greatly deteriorated.

One of the most annoying experiences in life is to be seated in somebody's office and to begin to
talk business when suddenly the telephone rings. "Oh, excuse me", says the official, "I must
answer this". Why should the telephone be given priority over the individual who has taken the
trouble to attend in person ?

The telephone can become a curse in the home, when it is abused either by the caller or by a
family member. Most countries have customary hours for mealtimes, and a caller who is
determined to speak to you at all costs will often make use of this knowledge, interrupt your
meal, and perhaps or perhaps not apologize for doing so. Small wonder that many people take
the phone off the hook when they sit down to eat.

There are the callers you can well do without. Some commercial concerns employ salespeople to
use the hard sell on the telephone, and this is becoming such a nuisance that in many cases the
problem is being brought under legal control. The worst kind of unwanted calls are abusive calls
or obscene calls, made usually to single women and often late at night. Modern telephone
systems can be made to identify the source of these calls, and this should go some way to
helping the police solve the problem.

Family members have been mentioned, and here one thinks of the commercial exploitation of
teenagers who are pressed to use chat-lines to pour out their troubles, or to talk to teenager
pals overseas. Neither occupation offers any benefit, and the parents' phone bill may become
astronomical.

Does all this mean that the telephone is really a curse? Of course not. Like any other advance in
science the telephone is neutral. If it is abused, it becomes a curse. If properly used it is a great
blessing in many ways.

To the lonely person, telephone chats are a blessing. To the disabled person, the telephone may
be the only means of keeping in touch with family and friends. To the business, the stock
exchange, and countless other features of modern life, the telephone is essential. In the police
response to crime, in fire or medical emergencies, the telephone is indispensable. In all matters
which require urgent communication and quick response, such as the locating of suitable bodily
organs for transplant surgery, the telephone is a boon. For air to ground and ship to shore
communication, the telephone is vital. Properly and responsibly used, it is a blessing.

Do you think that there is any need for change in the education system in your country?

This essay examines the current situation in England and will, if at all, apply only in part to other
countries. Educational tradition and emphasis vary widely, but the fact remains that whereas
Eastern and some Western countries are producing young people well-trained for key
employment and well-suited to modern life, England is, in 1990, signally failing to do either. How
can this decline be reversed?

First, it should be understood that there is a dual system in England. The private, or fee-paying
sector stands alongside the state, or free sector, but between the two there is a great gulf fixed.
Standards in the private sector remain very high, and produce the best results both academically
and behaviorally. A few independent grammar schools likewise succeed, and even fewer
comprehensive schools. The state sector is an almost unqualified failure. Many pupils leave
school illiterate and innumerate and are fitted only for the lowest-grade jobs. The situation is so
bad that both the Labor and the Conservative parties have education at the top of their
respective agendas.

The decline dates from the 1960s, the era of drugs, protest, pop music and the hippy outlook. All
this was a reaction against wartime restraints and disciplines, but with the coming of the new
freedoms the best of the old tradition was lost. Suddenly the 'teenager' was invented. Neither
home nor school could any longer exert discipline. In any case the old sanctions, including
corporal punishment, were made illegal. At the same time the economy was booming and there
was plenty of work, and therefore money, for young people. So parents, even if they had
ambitions for their children, were mostly powerless to instill incentive. At the same time the
teaching profession lost heart in the face of classroom chaos and often personal intimidation. To
complete the cause for decline, the educational theorists had been at work. Education became
child-centered, which means that if little Willy doesn't want to do his match, let him do what he
wants. Competitiveness, both in the classroom and on the games field, was frowned on, because
to lose, they said, made children feel inferior.

The consequence of all this was that teaching no longer attracted the best brains, and the
profession plummeted in reputation. Both political parties now vie with each other in bringing
forward plans to remedy a situation which, if not universally bad, is appalling in the densely-
populated city areas.

Ideally, education should offer the pupil three main objectives. These are: to fit well into society,
to cope with modern types of employment, and to continue with self-education after school
days. Commercially and industrially, England is becoming increasingly integrated into Europe.
That, plus national pride and pride in oneself should provide incentive enough. The latent talent
is there, but how can these incentives be imparted? And how can teacher quality and morale be
improved? Not merely by throwing money at the problem.

There should be free and subsidized creche places, since most women have to work at least part-
time. England has far too many single-parent families. Ideally there would be a return to the
traditional family. Parents should help children at home and try to fire their enthusiasm for work.
Parental partnership with teachers should be much closer.

State education should drop peripheral subjects and concentrate on the traditional teaching of
reading, writing and arithmetic in the early years. Only when they are proficient in these should
children branch out into other subjects. There should be state-run examinations at three-yearly
intervals. These would not only check the child's progress but also the teacher's proficiency. A
system of awards to both teachers and pupils could be introduced. All this implies a national
curriculum geared to the objectives outlined above.

At about age thirteen it will become obvious whether a child is suited to a science or an arts
course, or to neither. Separate provision should then be made for all three categories. Youth
Training Schemes for the third category should be greatly extended and made compulsory. There
should be more technical colleges. Craftsmen should be encouraged to take on apprentices and
the income of both should be subsidized.

The A level and university entrance systems in England are good, and should be preserved, and
steps are being taken to improve the O level examinations which are now being replaced by the
GCSE.

The present Conservative government plans to implement many of these ideas. The real
problem lies in the middle i.e. in primary and secondary education. Correct this, discard faddy
theories, and the new ideas will rapidly bear fruit. Staff will improve, and will therefore be
entitled to increased pay and better standing in the community.

What scientific or technological advances have most affected modern life in your country?

Genetic research has made rapid strides over the past few years. The analysis of genes has had a
practical effect on human medicine as well as on animal and plant life. Tendencies to physical
and mental handicap can be detected at the pre-embryo stage, i.e. during the first fourteen days
after conception. Manipulation and very early abortion are therefore possible. Opinion is divided
as to the morality of this interference. The UK government has achieved approval for genetic
research subject to stringent safeguards in its application. The breeding of animals, especially for
export, is also affected, as is the development of plants and seeds with an immunity to diseases
which previously could only be prevented by dangerous spraying.

Great strides have been made in the use of laser beams. These are extreme concentrations of
light which have great cutting and penetrative power. They are used medically, for ophthalmic
repairs to the retina, for the penetration of opacity in various contexts, e.g. astronomy and
military tactics, for public display purposes, and for cutting purposes in industrial work.

Electronics have increasingly wide uses in today's world. This development of ordinary electricity
allows its conduction in a gas, a vacuum or a semiconductor. Compact printed circuits are now
used in a wide variety of devices ranging from spacecraft to radio and TV sets, computers to
screen games and automatic chess boards. Television program changes are now effected by
small remote panels which convey recognizable signals which instruct the set itself. Garage doors
can be opened automatically by the same means. Security outside lighting around houses comes
on automatically when a person approaches within a certain distance. Electronics have
permitted a host of new devices such as the cellular telephone. These are cordless, and though
limited in range are just as efficient as the old cable version which of course is still in more
general use. The police can make reports to base or ask for immediate help in emergencies.
Business can be carried on to and from the motor car. The telephone can be used anywhere in
the house or garden.

Again, the use of radio waves has become very widespread. In biology, they are used to study
the effect of radiation on living tissue. Radiocarbon, an isotope, is used to date geological strata,
old manuscripts, archaeological artifacts, paintings etc. It is also used in genetic research, for
sonar and aircraft altimeters, for space astronomy and for the reception of signals from outer
space. Radio is crucial to today's investigation of the universe.

For many years it has been possible to convey the printed word instantaneously over long
distances by using the telephone system, i.e. the teleprinter. The use of fax or facsimile machines
using the same system to convey images very accurately to a print-out machine has its obvious
uses both for internal and international trade, and these are now very widespread. All
businesses of any size use them.

Satellites can be used for a variety of terrestrial as well as space research purposes. Using a dish
which points to the satellite, modern TV sets can receive a much wider range of channels. These
can also be received across adjacent countries' boundaries, sometimes with political
consequences. Satellites are also used for radio and telephonic communications, and have
certain military functions.

Perhaps the biggest change came about when computers became small enough to be
manageable. Today, they are used for an enormous number of purposes. On a national scale
they store and produce on demand information for all government departments. They are used
in business, in shops, in schools, in industrial production, in spacecraft, in military contexts and in
private homes. Yet, they present problems. Their memory may be lost. They are susceptible to
the new crime of computer hacking for purposes of industrial espionage or simply mischief. They
contain and sometimes disclose confidential personal information, and this may seriously
damage the individual. Yet, they have come to stay. Many schools teach their use from the
primary stage onwards. This is essential to all pupils who expect a career in any sphere above
manual work. They are integral to much modern medical work, especially in the diagnostic and
monitoring spheres.
All of these advances affect modern life, perhaps predominantly the computer. Ironically, the
concept is at least one hundred and fifty years old, but prototypes were mechanical and far too
large to be feasible in use. The first serviceable example was used for code-breaking in the
Second World War, and since those days the computer has never looked back.

Do you think that rituals, customs and ceremonies still have a part to play in
modern society?

There are several factors which appear to militate against the continuation of rituals, customs
and ceremonies in modern society. The first is the life-style norm in industrialized and
westernized countries. An agricultural existence may be hard, but it is steady and unhurried.
Modern living is fast living. Men and women work perhaps sixty hours a week in the factory,
office or shop. Food imports mean that they are less dependent on the land, so the old customs
connected with fertility and the propitiation of hostile spirits, all based in animistic beliefs, have
become irrelevant. The climate of outlook has also changed. The religious and political hold of
the old time chiefs has largely been replaced by democracy, in some cases one of the
enlightened religions, and in others a kind of hybrid of materialism and humanism. So it might
seem that the new will inevitably replace the old, inexorably if not quickly.

In some respects, ritual, custom and ceremony may have a reactionary, indeed at times
positively malevolent influence. The modern world has set certain standards of human rights, in
religion, in sexual and racial parity, in speech, in education, in political freedom, in freedom of
travel. The objective is humane behavior within countries, and international peace and co-
operation. Yet, in certain countries barbaric customs remain, especially where women are
denied equality. Suttee. The harem. Slavery. Female circumcision. The cutting off of hands for
theft. Floggings. Automatic torture, isolation and deprivation for prisoners, whether political or
criminal. There is no place for these customs in the modern world.

Yet, some customs remain good, and should not be abandoned. The custom of hospitality to
strangers, and of ensuring their safety while they stay with the host. The custom of giving to the
poor. The custom of helping one's neighbor in distress. Many customs connected with the dead,
for example the wake. This ensures solidarity with the bereaved, and has a strong therapeutic
effect. Customs connected with courtesy; behavior in public and as a guest; good manners at
table, the wearing of the correct dress for a particular occasion. Modern society would be poorer
without these things.
Much the same applies to rituals and ceremonies. Where any of these retain a helpful meaning
they are worth preserving. Of course, some have lost their original significance with the passage
of time, and should be discarded. Yet very many, particularly those connected with religion,
remain powerful for good. Religious services are more meaningful if they include music, colour
and movement, and where each action brings an article of the faith concerned vividly to life.
Much the same applies to the coronation of a monarch, where religion meets power and
authority in ceremonial. The fact that judges wear special robes, and enter court in procession,
reflects the dignity of the law. The same applies to the Speaker's procession in the UK House of
Commons. The same applies to the military ceremonies of Changing the Guard and Trooping the
color. The service for the launching of a ship recognizes the mariner's dependence on God. There
are also worthwhile ceremonies connected with receiving a degree, or being called to the bar.
Wedding and funeral ceremonies reflect happiness or sorrow and solemnity. Even the All Blacks
carry out a Maori war dance before a match, and they remain very hard to beat !

However modern, practical and enlightened modern society may be, people remain the
products of their ancestry. History has passed on a profusion of rituals, customs and ceremonies.
Some have become meaningless, or are positively inhumane, and society can do without them.
However, probably far more enrich the lives of those whose existence could easily become
barren and humdrum if the past were to be discarded.

Patriotism has no place in an international society. Do you agree ?

Traditionally, patriotism has usually been regarded as a virtue. Horace said dulce et decorum est
pro patria mori -- it is sweet and honorable to die for one's country. Sir Walter Scott wrote :

'Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,

Who never to himself hath said,

'This is my own, my native land !'

Usually, yes. Most of us have a built-in affection for the land which reared us, and to which we
owe much. Wars down the centuries prove that men and woman spring to its defense in times of
crisis.

Yet patriotism, love of country, has not always been approved when it amounts to 'my country,
right or wrong'. O'Flaherty VC, a George Bernard Shaw character, said 'you'll never have a quiet
world till you knock the patriotism out of the human race'. Of course that was Shaw in 1915,
when men were dying by the tens of thousands. Yet much earlier Samuel Johnson had said
'Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel'.

So thinkers, whether classical or relatively modern, are divided in their opinions.

We are of course dealing with today, a time in which travel and communications have advanced
with giant strides. In fact, there is a fashionable one-world concept. This outlook postulates that
humanity is one. There should be no racial, cultural or political barriers. The identities of
individual countries should disappear. Loyalty should be to the human race, not to one's country
of origin. Humanity should become a worldwide melting-pot.

Yet, since we are dealing with today, we should concentrate on realism rather than idealism. The
flaw in the one-world argument is that human nature does not change. Greed, aggression and
the inability to forget old disputes create a perpetual, unchanging barrier. Changes in outlook
rarely occur until they are enforced by catastrophe. Despite the holocaust, neo-Nazism has re-
appeared in Germany. Despite all peace-keeping efforts, Jew and Arab will never live side by side
in amity. Territorial disputes, as in Ireland, as in Yugoslavia, as affecting the Maories, the North
American Indians, the whites and blacks in South Africa, are unlikely ever to be resolved.

If communications, modern travel and the spread of democracy in erstwhile Communist

countries make the one-world concept a realistic possibility, other detrimental modern advances
counteract the new challenge.
Irresponsible governments are acquiring nuclear potential. The international arms trade
flourishes as liberal governments pay lip-service to control but cynically fail to take action. Freed
from the shackles of Communism, the eastern part of the Old Soviet Union is fast becoming a
series of independent states, struggling to achieve western forms of democracy, ambitious to
create market economies, careful to retain the Soviet nuclear armaments located in their
territories. The whole political thrust is towards nationalism. Not only states, but also races, as in
Yugoslavia and Iraq, wish to become autonomous. They are fiercely determined to preserve their
identities, because apart from political and economic there are also social and ethnic factors to
consider. Peoples are not readily going to sacrifice their customs and traditions.

That is why patriotism will continue to hold a strong position in the modern world for the
foreseeable future. A strong United Nations can and does prevent, or at least try to prevent
national and racial excesses of the worst kind. And if nations and races could achieve their
legitimate political and economic aims by peaceful means, if the strong would help, rather than
dominate the weak, then the time might come when wars became a thing of the past. In that
imaginary situation, the best kind of patriotism, love of country, would evoke the best from all
people in the realms of material progress, education, sport, international co-operation.

The unhappy fact, however, is that the world is bedeviled by the worst kind of patriotism - the
use of 'love of country' as a cover for excess and atrocity. Men and women are imprisoned,
beaten and tortured. A regime will try to exterminate Jews, gypsies and the handicapped. An old
man will show no remorse at having murdered ten thousand Buddhist monks. Innocent hostages
will be taken to be used as political bargaining counters. Essential foods and medical supplies will
be denied to the starving.

And all in the name of patriotism.

'Television will eventually be the death of sport'. Do you agree?

The word sport covers a multitude of activities, ranging from athletics to the field sports,
hunting, shooting and fishing; from rowing to equestrian events, from boxing to hockey and
soccer. To assert that TV will kill these off is obvious nonsense. With or without TV, the instinct to
pursue these activities will remain. Sport enhances health, builds muscle, satisfies the
competitive instinct, encourages fair play, and creates friendships and excellent social contacts
among those who share sporting interests. Since Greek and Roman times, when the Olympics
were founded, and took place, as today, at four-yearly intervals, sport in some shape or form has
always been a leisure occupation, and it will certainly take more than the downside of television
to kill it off. We will consider that downside in a moment.

First, the benefits of television coverage should be appreciated. It is undeniable that televised
sport offers first-class entertainment to those who are interested. The watcher watches in
comfort, out of the rain and the cold. It is also undeniable that some sports, e.g. golf, come
across far better on TV than they possibly can to the spectator on the spot. The cameras keep up
with the ball in its full are, underlining the outstanding prowess of the top players. Team games
can also be watched in comfort, and again with a comprehensive view of the whole pitch. The
zoom-lens gives close-ups from many angles, and the immediate play-back facility shows the
top-class players' abilities, the fouls, both accidental and professional , and the refereeing
standards. All brilliantly exposed. Sponsorship provides crucial funds to sports teams at all levels,
whether their matches are televised or not. Sponsors fund teams in proportion to television
coverage and ground attendance. So improvements to grounds and spectator facilities are made
possible, and money is provided for the purchase of star players. Finally, to be able to watch the
top players perform with apparently effortless brilliance must encourage young people to go out
and try to do likewise. Today, sponsorship provides money for the rich rewards available to stars,
and this offers an added incentive to young hopefuls.

Of course, televised sport has its drawbacks. Many people believe that ideally all sport should be
amateur, the pursuit of physical excellence for its own sake, and with no financial reward. The
film 'Chariots of Fire' highlighted a brilliant young miler. But as he moved towards Olympic status
he too had a trainer!

Was the trainer unpaid? It is certainly true that television encourages professionalism, even
among amateurs. Rugby football in the UK, the amateur game, has been forced into a league
system, which leads to star poaching. It also moves players towards demanding money,
particularly when training occupies an increasing amount of unpaid time. Stars, who lose months
every year on tours, must, realistically, be repaid. At present, amateurs are indirectly
recompensed through giving their names to newspaper articles, by writing and signing books, by
endorsements of sports goods and by appearances at functions. Television exposure is behind all
this. This is why many people basically disapprove. The line between the pro and the amateur is
becoming blurred.
Another criticism is more arguable. It is that many people are becoming sport watchers rather
than sport players. There is also the argument that the television has reduced gates at
unglamorous matches and events, and this has already led to the sale of many run-of-the-mill
clubs, or their liquidation. Moreover, the excitement of the crowd atmosphere is lost in one's
own home. As with the cinema, a visit is preferable to watching on the box .

Thirdly, there is the old Olympic ideal. This is, partly, to spread international goodwill. Today,
through satellite television, the Olympics are watched worldwide by untold millions. Does this
foster goodwill and fair play, or does it tend to nationalism, a win at all costs attitude? And it may
be coincidence, but drug abuse among athletes has grown up alongside television.

The money motivation has been mentioned. It seems not unreasonable for players, whether
amateur or professional, to be properly recompensed, but television creates stars , whether real
or bogus, and these people can demand enormous sums, out of all proportion to their
contributions and abilities. This hype is to be deplored. It does nothing for sport.

So television may be said to do as much harm as good. However, it will never be the death of
sport .

Should the press be completely free?

Under a dictatorship the press is completely under the control of the government. The
implications of this are that the authorities discard all stories unfavorable to their policies and
supplement the favorable ones with propaganda and disinformation . All this involves control of
TV and radio; in many countries, listening to broadcasts such as the BBC World Service, now
available everywhere because of short-wave satellite output, is proscribed. People are not fools,
however, and such dictatorship can lead to unrest and produce the opposite to the intended
effect.

In most democracies, there is a varying degree of freedom. In Britain, for example, the
government only steps in during wartime, apart from exerting control over stories which the
Home Office regards as dangerous to the national interest, i.e. top security information. In these
cases, a 'D Notice' forbids publication. Otherwise, and in peacetime, the press is entirely free to
publish at will, subject to the following conditions: the material must be truthful, decent, and
compatible with the laws of libel.

Libelous material of course sells newspapers and magazines, and certain unscrupulous editors
will publish for this reason alone, setting aside money to settle the damages in civil law which
will inevitably follow.

Much of this is based on a section of the people's pleasure in seeing prominent people
discredited. For example, Jeffrey Archer was awarded a half million pounds a few years ago
because his personal morals were brought into question; Elton John received substantial
damages because of a scurrilous and untrue account of the way he was said to treat his pet
dogs. The courts now tend to award according to the seriousness of the alleged offence rather
than on the prominence of the person concerned. The crux of the matter is whether the story is
true. David Mellor, a prominent secretary of state, recently had some aspects of his personal life
exposed. He did not challenge the stories, and chose to resign on the tacit admission that his
lack of judgment precluded him from parliamentary office.

A story may be defamatory, but if it is true there is nothing to stop its publication. This is the
basic test on which most editors take their decisions, and logically there is no challenging this
principle in a democracy. However, there are two classes of reporting in the British tabloid press
which have incurred much public displeasure in recent years.

The first is the invasion of privacy. After some disaster, those closely concerned are often
hounded by the press for human stories . This amounts to an unwarranted intrusion into private
grief. The more distressed the interviewee the less he or she is spared.

The second is the gathering of newshounds, the paparazzi , with their long-distance telephoto
lenses, their listening devices and their phone-tapping proclivities. These reporters dog the
footsteps of very prominent people, such as the British royals. It so happens that two royal
marriages have recently come on the rocks , with close friends of both parties involved in each
case. For some weeks these stories sold millions of extra copies of the tabloids. There was much
criticism in parliament, but nothing could be done; the stories were not denied. The editors
claimed the right to publish on the ground that the stories were true, whatever methods were
used to obtain them.
Perhaps decency is the other issue. Some men like looking at nude women, and no doubt the
regular 'Page 3 girl' sells many copies of the tabloids. The editors know exactly how far they can
go without incurring the laws against pornography.

In Britain, complaints are heard by the Press Council, a self-governing but rather toothless body.
Today there is a strong move to tighten controls by legislation, particularly in the case of
infringement of privacy, and over the methods used to obtain information, particularly trespass.
However, in any society there is always a demand for the sensational, and in a democracy
repressive legislation is unwise. Part of the health of a good system lies in editorial freedom to
criticize or applaud, and nobody should be exempted. After all, if there is nothing to bring into
the open, there is no story. On the contrary, if there is real corruption, as in the cases of BCCI or
Robert Maxwell, the press does the public a service by exposing the details.

Completely free is too sweeping a phrase. Yes, the press should be free, but subject to the
controls mentioned above. Most democracies get it almost right

As technology advances, our leisure time is increasing. Do we need to be educated in how to use
this time sensibly?

The topic statement makes a rather unreal assumption. This is that the only effect of technology
is to reduce working hours. Certainly, the old sixty-hour working week has been reduced to forty
hours in most countries, and the tendency is downwards. This of course was due in part to the
replacement of manpower by machine power although until very recently in the West, the far
more potent factor was the growing power of the trades unions. Within the past ten years,
however, this power has been demolished by a creeping world trade recession. Instead of being
forced to increase wages and reduce working hours by threat of strike action, many businesses
have either closed down or laid off massive number of workers.

In Britain this applies to all the main industrial concerns as well as smaller private businesses.
Almost all coal mines have, or will shortly close down due to the switch to nuclear power and gas
as fuels for electricity production, and the almost total disappearance of coal as the fuel for
domestic heating. In offices, computers have decimated numbers of white-collar workers.
Machinery and large-scale farming have had the same effect on agriculture. Robotry has
revolutionized car assembly, and standardized containers have eliminated the need for
manpower in the docks. Added to all this is a worldwide drop in consumer confidence, due to a
reluctance to spend in view of widespread job insecurity. The result of all this in Britain is that
unemployment stands at just under 3m, and is increasing.

So to say that our leisure time is increasing is certainly true, even though the underlying
assumption presupposes an ideal situation in which the advance of technology has had the
single effect of shortening working hours. It may be that some countries are in this happy
situation. The working week may have gone down to say twenty-five hours without prejudice to
job security or loss of income. Inflation is low. The GNP is adequate and the balance of payments
sound. Morale remains high. The population has a good basic education. All that is required is to
find the right balance between work and play. Most people are not naturally lazy, so generally
speaking the incentive to use leisure time constructively in built-in.

There are many ways in which this can be achieved, beginning at school. Most schools have a
careers adviser as a member of staff, and many education authorities employ a peripatetic
educational psychologist. Their work could be extended. There is no reason why their advice
should be limited to school progress and future job opportunities. Also, the object is to find out
the young person's true interests and capabilities. If academically inclined, the young person
could be steered in that direction. A manually gifted child could be shown opportunities in that
very wide field. Many countries could step up their coaching facilities for those who are good at
sport.

There is an old saying that 'Satan hath some mischief yet for idle hands to do'. One of the aims of
education should be to instill a liberal and humane attitude towards other people, especially
those of other nationalities and alien cultures. A current problem in West Germany is
xenophobia, caused by mass immigration from the East, and an uncertain economic future.
National socialism among unemployed youth, with its hallmarks of intolerance and violence, is
increasing. The fears of these young people are real, but their behavior shows up the basic
deficiencies of their home and educational background. In Britain, extreme elements of Left and
Right reflect their unrest by going in for petty crime and by showing hostility to the
establishment and the police.

The solution is right thinking and a positive attitude to leisure, whether that leisure is enforced
or not. This need is generally recognized, and some countries already provide a range of
opportunities. Britain offers training and retraining schemes for young people based on what
used to be called 'technical colleges'. Evening classes are available almost everywhere. The
'Open University' provides a spectrum of instruction via television. Libraries and specialized
magazines have been generally available for decades.

The solution is a matter of personal incentive combined with professional direction. The key to
both stems from parental direction and encouragement combined with enlightened schooling

In what ways have modern systems of transport and communication affected the life of your
country?

The impact of new transport and communication systems has had a more dramatic effect in the
developing than in the old world. In the Far East, this impact will vary marginally from country to
country. In the West, Britain provides some interesting changes, and it is with Britain that this
essay is concerned.

Many of the advances in Britain are due to post-Second World War developments in technology.
Most have been beneficial. Some have been questionable in their effects on the life of the
country. The old steam train poured smoke and grime into the atmosphere. Pollution and dirt
disfigured towns and indeed whole areas close to the rail network. Diesel and electricity now
eliminate this effect. However, the immense increase in road transport has brought even greater
problems. Catalytic converters are so far optional. Gases dangerous both to humanity and to the
protective ozone layer are freely emitted. Traffic jams proliferate, resulting in loss of money and
tempers. Pollution also results from noise, as anyone living near the flight paths of London's six
major airports will testify. At one time, Britain was covered by a valuable bus service network,
but most of this has been eliminated or privatized, leaving many isolated villages virtually
stranded, insofar as many people without private cars are concerned.

There is also a down side to the immense advances made in electronics over the past few
decades. Personal privacy may be invaded by phone-tapping and the planting of bugs, which
enable conversations to be picked up easily. These devices are easily obtainable. The privacy of
computers can easily be picked up easily be broken by hackers, and a whole body of new
legislation has had to be passed to counter these criminal offences.
Yet it would be unfair to deny the positive advantages of progress. The post-war period has
witnessed the building of a country-wide network of motorways, the latest being the London
orbital, the M25. Transport of goods has largely moved from rail to road. Container lorries
convey goods both internally and to and from Europe. This has helped to enhance trade within
the European Community but, like many another advance, has led to unemployment in the dock
areas, since loading and off-loading containers is largely a mechanical process. Environmentalists
criticize the proliferation of trunk and M roads, though nowadays their objections are largely
taken into account. However, rail has not been discarded. Very heavy loads, such as coal for
electricity generation, must still be moved by rail. Existing networks carry most commuters into
London; inter-city services compete with short aircraft runs; England is shortly to be linked with
the Continent by means of tunnels to France, now near completion; some lines are capable or
taking high-speed trains.

Air travel development has had a profound effect on both business and pleasure. Air-freighting
has opened up new markets, greatly facilitating the import and export of all but the heaviest
products. Production of course is governed by demand, and the tendency is towards increased
sophistication if goods are to be competitive. So the result is a shift from mechanics to
technology, from labor-intensive means of production to robotry, and from electricity to
electronics. This has meant significant unemployment, the need to establish a state benefit
system where this did not already exist, and the relocating of many work-forces. A consequence
has been urban sprawl and the establishment of new centers of light industry. A further
consequence has been environmental damage.

Air travel for pleasure has opened up the world to holiday makers. The popular venue for the
British worker is no longer the seaside town; it is the Mediterranean with its more or less
guaranteed sunshine. This loss of sterling is somewhat offset by overseas tourism in Britain.

And in the sphere of communications, speed and efficiency have been greatly enhanced.
Satellite telephone communication enables instant world-wide dialing, together with faxing, on
the same principle. Television and radio today permit instantaneous news coverage. The recent
Barcelona Olympics were a wonderful example.

All these changes tend to move governments and peoples in the direction of a one-world
concept, though without having any effect on the cause of peace and justice. The end result is
merely a sharpening of our perception of man's inhumanity to man.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of industrial development.

Over the past three decades, there has been an explosion of industrial development in many Far
Eastern countries, ranging from those with no workforce expertise to the far more sophisticated
states such as Japan and Singapore. Most countries have some natural resource to develop, be it
oil, timber, rubber or minerals and gemstones. The general process has been to exploit these
resources by importing foreign expertise and equipment. Ideally, the results have led to dramatic
increases in countries' GNP, favorable balances of trade, and the establishment of hard
currencies which attract foreign investment. All these should lead to the building of hospitals
and health centers, schools and colleges, sporting facilities and other amenities. Good wages
should permit radical improvements in living standards. Unfortunately, this only happens where
a country enjoys a reasonably democratic political system. Otherwise, in a one-party state, the
temptation is to divert new money into armaments, unnecessary extravagances and sometimes
the pockets of those in power.

Singapore and Japan are not typical of the Far East, since for decades they have been ahead of
the rest in industrial development, although keen competition has reduced their lead in the past
seven or eight years. Oil exploration in the Singapore region has dropped, and with it the
demand for the re-export of oil-related machinery, drilling equipment and metal sheets and
bars. Electronic components, diodes, photocells and integrated circuits; consumer goods such as
radios, TVs, clothing, furniture and vegetable oils have also declined, due to competition from
countries where much lower wage levels are acceptable. However, Singapore will always benefit
from its free trade zones. There are six; five for seaborne cargo and one for airborne. With their
time-limited but duty and document-free storage facilities, they will always remain an attractive
proposition. So does INTRACO, an international and paid-up trading company which has many
useful functions.

The above relates to trade as much as to industry, but the results of both are much the same. On
the industrial side, apart from the products listed in paragraph 2, mention must be made of the
great diversity of industrial products in modern Singapore; industrial chemicals, printing and
publishing, shipyard re-structuring and upgrading, aircraft repair and overhaul capabilities,
machine tools and related products, and office equipment. About 8% of the land area of
Singapore is used for farming, the main products being pork, poultry, eggs, vegetables, fish and
cut flowers.

So to summarize the advantages. Industrial proliferation generates jobs. Money can be spent on
universities, colleges, schools and training centers. State housing, mostly blocks of flats, offers
rented accommodation. Health, social and police services can be financed. Typical health
hazards, such as the anopheles mosquito, can be eliminated, and both hygiene and family
planning publicized. Above all, relatively late industrialization means that state-of-the-art
factories can be built. There is no legacy of ancient factories to modernize or demolish.

Yet all is not sweetness and light. There is something to be said for a more leisurely pace of life. A
sudden shift to urban dwelling and high-tech employment can and does, set up psychological
problems, which lead to health problems. Moreover, there was something to be said for the
semi-jungle nature of Singapore, and it would be pleasant to have a few wild tigers present.
However, the main disadvantage is that industrialization sets up living standard expectations
which depend absolutely on a healthy overseas trade. At present there is a world trade
recession. Also, surrounding countries are becoming far more competitive. Inflation and
widespread unemployment are the chief dangers.

How important is discipline in your life?

The creation or development of self-esteem is the motivation behind discipline, whether self-
imposed or not. Pride is the main factor impelling us to make the most of our lives and to fulfill
our perceived actual or potential role in society. Thus, discipline makes for self-respect. Most of
us are naturally lazy and selfish. Parents and dormitory prefects had to drag me out of bed.
Schoolmasters begged me to try to use my brains a little more. My school peers ragged me
unmercifully as I stuffed chocolates and sweets into my mouth and therefore put on fat.
However, by my early teens, two factors-conscience and outside pressures, caused me to review
my life-style. I was letting down parents and school. I decided to do some academic work, to lose
some weight, and to build some muscle.

A minority of people seem to be born with a single-minded motivation which leads them to
achieve, irrespective of outside pressures. Most of us grudgingly accept discipline exerted from
outside. This tends to sharpen our perception of what we could achieve and to appreciate its
value. So, a decision is reached, or not, as the case may be. Imposed discipline becomes
increasingly unnecessary as it is replaced by self-discipline. We begin to set ourselves standards
well beyond the minimum expected by others.
So discipline becomes important in three contexts. First, young people are inclined to emulate a
role model either in sport or academics, or even the pop scene. Second, there is a realization
that we owe something to the aspirations of parents, whose expectations spring from love.
Third, we are all the products of the society in which we live, and there is a case for saying that
we should try to put something back. Unfortunately, in some western countries, many young
people became the victims of drug and anarchic manipulators, and chose to opt out of
responsibility. In the 60s these people formed an alternative culture, and are now the parents of
some of the worst elements in the younger generation. In Britain, four out of five crimes today
are committed by teenagers. There is also a large body of so-called new age travelers who cause
nuisance all over Britain and refuse all dealings with normal society, except insofar as they
expect to live on state handouts, funded of course by the taxpayer. Since 1960, part of the
problem has been the steady erosion of the nuclear family. Another part has been the absence
of moral training in the state school system. A third factor has been urban deprivation and
unemployment. The old saying "example speaks louder than words" has much truth in it, and
the exceptions prove the rule. Self-discipline involves taking decisions. Where there is innate
weakness, however, the factors mentioned above will tip the scales in the wrong direction. Even
when the background is unexceptionable, there are isolated cases where young people go the
wrong way. This could be due to genetic weakness.

Many activities are personal rather than communal. The artist, the writer, the solo musician, the
athlete, must all set themselves targets. To achieve these means self-imposed discipline.
However, this self-discipline becomes a pleasure the more it is practiced. The novelist Trollope
earned his living in the postal service. However, his ambition was to become the most prolific
writer of the 19th Century. He achieved this by getting up early and writing 2,000 words every
day before he went off to work. He did this for most of his life.

Most people have a religion, and discipline has its relevance here, not only in the context of
regular prayer and scripture reading. Our faith is often tested by disappointment, failure, or loss
of a loved person. So there are dark periods when only discipline can save us from apostasy.
Mention must also be made of the armed services. Here, the same principle of an external
discipline designed to lead to self- discipline also applies. An obligation to national service is
usually resented by young people at the time. However, its value is nearly always appreciated in
later life, for two reasons. It will carry a person through hard as well as good times. It will instill a
sense of obligation to other people.

Moderation in all things, however. If discipline is important in your life, so be it. It is when
discipline becomes obsessive that it has real dangers. A slimming campaign may be good. When
it becomes obsessive, it may lead to anorexia. The psychological dangers of obsessive discipline
are inflexibility, serious-mindedness, pomposity, lack of humor and the loss of a sense of fun and
enjoyment. No workaholic can ever be a good family man or woman. And alienation from others
may lead to severe nervous disorders.

"Disasters bring out the best and the worst in people". Discuss.

The media keep disaster in the forefront of our minds. TV, radio and the front pages of the press
seem to revel in disaster, whether natural or man-made, because the public have a morbid
curiosity in it, providing it happens to other people. Disaster boosts TV ratings and sells
newspapers.

As we absorb the results of a civil war, a famine, an earthquake, a hurricane, an air crash, we
tend to put ourselves in the position of the victims and wonder how we would react. In such
situations, most people act instinctively, and what they do is more spontaneous than calculated.
That spontaneity is usually the subconscious reflection of character, and because life for most of
us is lived on an even keel, how we behave in emergency is largely unpredictable, unless we have
been previously conditioned to react in certain ways.

So what governs our reaction to an emergency? The answer is character. Character is governed
by genetic structure, by upbringing and training, and by self-discipline, or its absence. If we react
badly, we show cowardice, selfishness and indifference to the plight of others. If we react well,
our conduct reflects the opposite of these failings. In the latter case, genetic history alone may
govern our actions, but in most cases, people are poised between good and bad. It is then that
external conditioning will tip the scales in one direction or the other. Even more important than
training is love, the kind which puts others first and helps us to forget self. This is relatively easy
where our nearest and dearest are concerned, more difficult and perhaps more admirable where
the others concerned have no emotional claim on us. The old Latin tag "amor vincit omnia", love
conquers all things, is most germane to our reaction to disaster.

The Second World War gave me a vivid example of two contrasting reactions to the same event.
The house of a neighbor received a direct hit from a bomb which killed one of the daughters of
the family. The father was a sincere Christian. Most people would have shaken their fist at the
skies over Coventry which were still full of German dive-bombers. Instead, he fell on his knees
and prayed for the souls of the German pilots. The following day, what remained of his
possessions lying round the shattered house were looted. Two very different reactions to
disaster. Looting often follows the breakdown of law and order. It is never justifiable, but it may
be less reprehensible in some circumstances than others. Some would disagree, but they are
those who have never seen a disaster such as a famine. If my children were crying for food and I
had the chance to steal a bag of flour to make bread for them, I think I would steal the flour.
Would this action reflect the best or the worst in me?

There is no worse disaster than war, and the trench warfare of 1914-18 saw perhaps the greatest
slaughter of humanity of all time. Caught in machine-gun crossfire and by artillery barrages,
hundreds of thousands of men were killed or maimed in a single battle. Yet there were countless
examples of bravery and unselfishness on both sides when men would help the wounded or
engage hopeless odds with total disregard for their own survival. Some or these actions were
recognized by the award of medals and decorations. Most were not. The unknown soldier was in
some ways the most admirable product of this century.

And whether the disaster be a war, an earthquake or a hurricane, adversity tends to bring people
together in a way that nothing else can. It goes without saying that the effectiveness of a service
unit depends on the fact that every man knows he can depend on his colleague, whether he
likes him or not. Whatever the disaster, the same spirit is seen in most of the civilian population.
People open their homes to each other, offer help, comfort and encouragement in a way which
is never seen when life is easy and normal.

Cowardice accounts for most of people's worst reactions to disaster. In fact few people, if any,
are fearless. What, then, accounts for acts of bravery? The truth lies in the old Biblical saying --
Perfect love casteth out fear. Another classic example of the dual result of disaster is the sinking
of the SS Titanic in 1912. More than 1,500 people were drowned, because there was insufficient
lifeboat space. First-class passengers had lifeboat priority; some voluntarily relinquished their
seats to women sailing in the second class. Since it was a matter of women and children first ,
some men dressed themselves up as women. Thus, disaster brings out character.

Not all of us would react to disaster as we think. Self- preservation is the strongest natural
impulse of all. Indifference to self has to be a very powerful counter-impulse if we are to be
confident of behaving in the way we would hope

Eventually computers will allow people to work from home. Is this desirable?

The answer is that computers already allow some people to work from home, though clearly this
cannot apply to more than a limited number of people and a limited number of occupations. As
to whether this is desirable, the answer is philosophical as well as practical.

Computers, both analog and digital, have developed out of all recognition since the Second
World War, when they were large, mechanical, and limited in use. They were then used in
conjunction with radar for missile guidance and also for code breaking and a small range of
mathematical functions. Most of these functions are now available in a child's pocket calculator.
The application of electronics in the 50s followed by the use of the silicon chip and pre-printed
circuits widened the computer's function out of all recognition, permitting a myriad series of
voltage controls. The computer today is powerful, compact and relatively small. It combines
readily with word-processing, faxing, and the electronic creation of screen graphics, which can
be modified either by keyboard control or by electronic pen. The analog computer rapidly solves

differential equations for civil and mechanical engineering problems. The digital computer with
its card-punching function permits access to data banks, and allows the processing of records
and all the kinds of work connected with bills, orders, wages, VAT, etc. The computer today is
integral in the world of business, commerce, design, word-processing and industry in general.
Any organization from the small business upwards keeps a computer to which remote terminals
may be linked, giving access at a distance to all its functions and information.

The need for all white-collar workers to do a nine-to-five job in the office has disappeared. Today,
it is obviously possible for all workers down to lower- management level to work from home, and
as computers continue to develop, it is likely that firms will find it convenient to let an increasing
number do so. Whether this is a desirable change is a moot point.

Some visionaries anticipate the day when computers, in combination with robotry, will totally
eliminate the need for work as we know it. This may theoretically become possible, though in
any event computers could never quite eliminate the need for maintenance groups. To most of
us, however, such a prospect would be appalling. Leisure only has value by reason of its contrast
with work, and the instinct to work is a built-in part of the human make-up. The past millennia
have not adjusted our genes in this direction for nothing.

A more likely scenario is that a much higher proportion of workers will eventually be able to
operate from home. Of course, many people have always done so. The writer, the painter, the
sculptor either work in the study or in an adjacent studio. Even the professional musician
practices at home. Some of these are reclusive by nature, others not.

The majority of people are naturally gregarious. To produce their best, they need both the
company of others, and the atmosphere of work. There is an instinct to go out to the job, and
with all, save workaholics, to be able to draw a clear line between work and leisure. The benefits
of doing so are obvious. Easy association with others is confidence building. Ideas improve and
extend as they are exchanged. You cannot get the feel of a firm or institution at long range. If you
have any responsibility at all you need to be in personal touch with managers and directors, not
for ever using the telephone or the fax machine. And what about the social side, the friends
made, the office party, the human element?

To work in public demands a certain standard of dress and personal care. It would need more
self-discipline than many people have to keep up the same standards at home. Self-discipline
and the observance of good routines may come easily to some, but not all.

The reality of today's work-pattern is that when children are of school-age, wives also take on
paid employment. Perhaps the wife also would have a computer terminal and all the
paraphernalia of a modern office? Would they share facilities or duplicate equipment? How
many flats and small houses have even one room which could be turned into an office? Who
would make the coffee, cook the meals, collect the children, do the shopping and the
housework? One can foresee many sources of domestic discord!

Computers may change. Human nature does not. As a tool, the computer is vulnerable to the
enemy, industrial or personal. Hackers can wipe out records unless there is duplicated soft-ware
backup kept under lock and key. Hackers can introduce a virus.
The more one considers the implications of working from home, the less desirable the project
seems to be.

Should we be concerned about the greenhouse effect ?

First, what is this effect? Ever since the Industrial Revolution began in the 18th century, smoke
from fossil fuels, oil, natural gas and especially coal has deposited carbon dioxide in the lower
part of the earth's upper atmosphere. The effect of this has been that part of the energy of the
sun's rays reflected from the earth's surface has been absorbed by the CO2 and by water vapor
and returned to the earth in the form of heat. Thus the atmosphere is behaving increasingly like
a greenhouse. The glass allows the sunlight through but traps the heat. The consequence is what
is called global warming.

There is a school of thought which says that the result will be a change in the earth's climate,
plus an increase in nitrous oxide, methane gas and FREONS. It is predicted that by the mid-21st
century, average temperatures will rise by 5 degrees C (9 degrees F). This will result in the
melting of glaciers and the polar ice-caps. Coastal waters will rise and inundate many low-lying
countries. Food production for an increasing world population will be put at risk.

Not everyone, of course, accepts this scenario, though the quantity of CO2 in the lower upper-
atmosphere is constantly monitored, and the fact that the level is increasing is not disputed.
Whether or not the expected rise in average temperature will happen is another matter. There
have been no significant climatic changes for centuries, indeed millennia and, the opponents of
the doom-merchants argue, nature has its own methods of damage-limitation and self-
adjustment. Moreover, there are no present signs of global warming. The weather patter in
Britain, for example, is much the same as it was in Victorian days, or Roman days for that matter.
Why should it suddenly change? Coal has always been burnt and before coal, wood and
charcoal. Forest fires have always raged. Volcanoes, and explosions such as Krakatoa (1883) have
always thrown tons of noxious gases into the atmosphere. After that particular explosion, a
cloud of dust and gas drifted over Europe and darkened the sun for six months - before
dispersing naturally. A tidal wave drowned 36,000 in the Java-Sumatra area. Nature's self-
damage greatly exceeds any possible human contribution.

The fact is, however, that many people do take the greenhouse threat seriously, and there is a
cross-section of people in most industrialized countries who lobby continuously against the
continued use of fossil fuels. Whether they are right, or merely alarmist, only time will tell.
However, the fact that CO2 is on the increase is undisputed. Further, it cannot be disputed that
the greenhouse effect is a possibility, even if remote. Nuclear war is also a possibility, though
remote, but every possible step is taken by democratic countries to ensure that it will not
happen. So, therefore, should every possible step be taken to reduce, even eliminate CO2
emissions. There are already agreements in the USA and in Europe to cut down, or eliminate the
use of fossil fuels by certain target dates.

The problem is that many countries are geared to fossil rather than nuclear power sources.
Supplies of coal, and probably of oil and natural gas, are virtually unlimited. In Britain, most pits
have closed down, causing wide-spread unemployment and much consequent human suffering.
The coal lobby argues for emission cleansing and a compromise, both economic and
environmental, may be possible. It would be cheaper, they argue, than to transfer entirely to
nuclear power, whose installations may in any event cause health hazards and even the
occasional disaster.

One optimistic sign is that proponents of all power sources agree that every generation has an
obligation to preserve rather than exploit and pollute the planet. The worst culprits in the CO2
saga are the old-fashioned heavy industry plants, such as those in the Ruhr, East Germany, and
what was the Soviet Union, and the fossil-fuel fired electricity-generating stations. Much of the
old industrial plant has now been either modernized or superseded, and some countries such as
France have moved over almost entirely to nuclear power. That, in my opinion, is the way
forward.

I do not believe that in any event, the greenhouse effect would have the dire consequences
which have been predicted. Yet, it is a risk which we should not take. Modern technology has
outgrown the use of fossil fuels, and apart from any possible dangers to future generations, the
kind of world to which we commit them should be a clean, wholesome and beautiful world, as
the Creator intended.

hat changes would you like to see in today's society?

The term society has no general application. Every country differs from every other, however
subtly, so answers must relate to a particular country. This answer relates to England, not even
the whole of Britain.

Perhaps the first point to acknowledge is that in comparison with many other countries, England
has an overwhelming number of good features. Yet there are several aspects of our society
which I would like to see changed. Some of these changes could be effected immediately. Others
would take longer. Society does not exist, said Mrs. Thatcher. She was wrong. Society consists of
an aggregate of families. The first change I would like to see is the reversal of the current steady
breakdown of family life. In Britain, the monarch stands at the head of the state and of the
Established Church. In return for the privileges of their position, it has been generally expected
of the Royal Family that they set an example to the country, and in the case of the Queen this
example has undoubtedly been set. Not so, in the case of most of the other royals. In 1992 the
so-called example set by this family has been appalling. This need not be spelled out. The world
media have done this very effectively. The Queen herself described last year as an 'annus
horribilis'. Many responsible people rightly wonder about the future of the monarchy, and their
thinking tends to move in the direction of a republic. In the modern world, there is a strong case
to be made for the abolition of hereditary privilege. However, the breakdown of family life
cannot be attributed to the poor example of the minor royals. It actually stems from the
permissiveness of the 1960s. The result is much suffering caused to children and young people,
some of whom leave, or are virtually forced out of their homes, only to live in one of the
cardboard cities , or to be put into care, or to join the drug scene and commit crime.

Unemployment, currently standing at 3m plus, is another aggravating factor. The present

government has no policy to deal with this, and gives every indication of being quite indifferent
to the problem. Interim measures could be taken until the world trade recession eases. Much
work is needed on local environmental projects and on the updating of the country's
infrastructure, which has been grossly neglected for decades. This could be financed by a modest
increase in income tax, a measure which I believe would be generally acceptable. We have an
uncaring government, the result being that many once prosperous areas are now centers of
poverty and despair. Throughout the country, small businesses are being forced to close at the
rate of hundreds per day. This is because the government refuses to impose controls over rent
and leasehold increases and to reduce the swinging industrial rate. The net result of all this is
that people are reluctant to spend, because they live in fear of redundancy or unemployment
and, even worse, house repossession, in cases where heavy mortgages were taken on in better
times. The house market is a good indicator of confidence in the future. It has now been at a
virtual standstill for five years.

Thirdly, crime, especially violence. Due to the decline in religious faith and the consequent lack
of moral training in home and school, crime levels have become appallingly high over the past
few decades. Bad social conditions in many areas exacerbate the problem. Prisons are
overcrowded, so the judiciary is encouraged to minimize custodial sentences. The fundamental
remedy is a return to Christian moral standards, or those of the other great religions, now
represented among the large immigrant population. Many of them are setting the native English
a good example. The latter offer young people little help, and certainly little discipline at home,
and the reputation of teachers in the state sector has never been lower.

Much is being done to stamp out the evils of hallucinatory drugs in Britain. This country would
do well to adopt some of the draconian measures which are proving successful in some Far
Eastern countries.

In the case of child sexual abuse and violence occasioning actual bodily harm, custodial
sentences are now mandatory. This is justified, since such offences have greatly increased in
recent decades. At one time, children were safe to roam their own areas without fear of
molestation. Today, this is impossible.

Next, housing. Good neighborliness was the prime feature of pre-war terraced housing, now
replaced in many cities by tower blocks and complexes of maisonettes. These concrete
monstrosities eliminate family identity and encourage crime and vandalism. This is now realized.
Much of this post-war building is now being demolished, and domestic architecture is reverting
to old patterns. More low-cost or rentable accommodation would ease several social problems.

England welcomes immigrants, and laws have been passed to outlaw discrimination. Most
immigrants provide an enriching contribution. Their churches, mosques and temples are
acceptable to most people. However, there is a down side. Numbers have to be controlled, and
this leads to disputes. A bad mistake was to allow 'ghettoes' to be formed in the early post- war
days. An even distribution of this influx should have been made mandatory in the early days. The
basis of that is the immigrants, while preserving their social and religious identities, must also
accept and respect British traditions. Agitators operate much more easily in areas of dense
population, often inciting violence between groups in the wake of violence overseas.

To believe that all these defects in English society can be changed is to live in cloud cuckoo land.
All the same, these are the objectives which we must all work for.
 Modern methods of transport have transformed our world into a village. Is this
a blessing or a curse?

In some respects the topic-statement is true. Modern transport, especially by air, allows people
to circle the globe in a few days, or hours, if an aircraft such as Concorde is used. Thus we have
learnt to look upon distance as nothing. I can get to Paris from south-east England quicker than I
can get to central London. So, the world has become a village? If so, the comparison ends there.
In no respect does the world resemble a village community. Those who support the one-world
movement no doubt share a great ideal but are, in fact, flying in the face of history, of present
facts, and of any likelihood in the near future. Modern travel merely underlines the differences
between races and nations. Rather than broaden the mind, travel confirms national prejudices. It
may well lead to a greater international understanding, but to understand does not mean to
agree, or to forgive. Modern travel may allow great athletes to meet every four years in
friendship to discover the medal winners, but it would be naive to suppose that the Olympic
Spirit had anything to do with the reality of international affairs or could possibly have any effect
on them.

Of course modern transport cannot be blamed for the state of today's world. Like atomic energy,
it is neutral, and the blessing or the curse results from the way in which it is used.

First, the benefits. Before the invention of the electric telegraph, news of a natural disaster in,
say, an eastern country could only reach the west by steamship, so that by the time help reached
a stricken area, it was too late to be of much use. Today, information by satellite, both in reports
and pictures, is instantaneous. Response time is correspondingly quick. Modern transport planes
can carry food, water and medical supplies to where they are needed in a matter of hours.

So the modern jet aircraft can help enormously in relief work. It has also proved of great benefit
both to the business world and to tourism. Within certain weight-limits, it can be used for
overseas trade worldwide, and the vast extension of available markets is largely due to the
modern aircraft. And where business has to be done in person there are no real delays.
The aircraft has extended foreign travel, once the prerogative of the rich, to those of average
income levels in most countries, and tourism has become a major world industry. The aircraft
and the helicopter both have important search and rescue roles. Ships in distress can be readily
located and given help. The helicopter has several roles, apart from its use by the police for
searches and traffic control. Many lives have been saved in mountainous areas and at sea by
speedy removal to hospital, by immediate attention by paramedics; a jet plane can carry a
suitable human organ half across the world when a transplant is urgently needed.

Modernized and high-speed rail systems are likely to prove of benefit to many countries from the
travel and trade points of view. To take Europe as an example. Tariff barriers in the EEC have now
come down, and Europe, including Britain, has become a free-market area. In 1994, England will
be linked to Europe by a channel tunnel, and Paris or Brussels will be reached as quickly as by air.
Already, goods to and from Europe, and indeed worldwide, are transported in standardized
containers, which are picked up and moved rapidly in heavy lorries to their destinations along
new networks of motorways. The motorways also greatly ease long-distance car travel. At sea,
modern oil tankers carry their vast burdens worldwide.

Yet as with any other advance, all is not sweetness and light. In the case of the jet aircraft, one
needs only to mention the spy-plane, the bomber, the fighter, the assault helicopter, all of them
potent war weapons, and a curse to millions of helpless people worldwide. The potential for
nuclear, nerve gas, chemical and HE bombing is a curse which hangs over all our heads. The need
for ever larger airfields means the destruction of tracts of countryside. Noise and oil-pollution
make life a burden to those living nearby. In some countries, over-concentration on high-speed
and inter-city trains has led to the severe neglect of existing networks and ordinary passenger
rolling stock. In smaller countries such as England, there are now far too many cars and traffic
jams in the large urban areas, providing an almost unsolveable problem. Ease of travel allows
football hooligans and other undesirables to cause trouble overseas. Every improvement in
transport facilities helps the criminal as well as the bona-fide traveler, particularly where
immigration controls are relaxed. Immigration itself becomes an increasing problem. And at sea?
All is well with the oil-tanker until it runs aground in a storm and deposits thousands of tons of
oil along the shore-line.

So there is a case to be made of the more leisurely times, to some, the good old days . Modern
transport has reduced the

"In order that economic development and progress can take place, a country must industrialise".
Discuss
Industrialisation is the application of scientific knowledge to man's economic, agricultural, and
other wealth-generating activities. In other words, it is the conversion of the 'know-why' of
science into `know-how' for industry; it is the practical application of man's inventiveness in the
improvement of his well-being and the increase of his wealth.

Industrialisation depends on four essentials: the right idea, the right method of putting it into
effect, the right moment in time, and availability of the right materials. Machine invented with
the help of scientific know- how are used for quicker and easier production of wealth. Therefore,
it is only sound commonsense to say that the economic development and progress of a country
are dependent on its industrial growth.

There was a time when countries depended entirely on agriculture. Before the Industrial
Revolution, Great Britain too was an agricultural country. Had it not been for the wealth she was
able to amass from her colonies, she would not have become a wealthy nation depending on
agriculture alone. America at first had an economy rooted in agriculture. With the invention of
machines and with the advent of industrialisation, she made use of machines even for her
agricultural activities, apart from setting up factories and manufacturing articles for sale.

Before machines were invented, the articles required for use by man were handmade. These
articles were not produced in bulk. But machines helped man to produce articles in large
numbers.

Today machines are used virtually in all spheres of life. Agriculture, especially in Western
countries, is highly mechanised. There are machines to plough the land, sow seeds, hoe and
weed. Pesticides are often sprayed by aeroplanes and helicopters. Fertilisers produced in bulk in
factories are used for the healthy growth of plants. All these facilities afforded by mechanisation
double our agricultural production; this means increase in economic wealth and prosperity.

Industrialisation means growth of industries and better utilization of natural resources. Steel is
produced, oil is refined and other products are made with almost no physical effort. Giant
turbines are installed for the production of electricity. Human beings need not do more than just
push buttons, pull levers or supervise. All this means that more work can be (lone by fewer
people in less time and with less effort; and the production too is much more.

It is industrialisation that makes it possible for giant networks of communication to span land,
sea and air. The telegraph, radio, television and telephone carry messages from one end of the
earth to another almost as fast as the flight of human thought. The train, the aeroplane, the ship
and the car carry vast numbers of people from one place to another at an incredible speed.

The growth of human knowledge and information has been greatly facilitated by the
development of machines. The printing press had be- come so highly mechanised that books,
magazines and newspapers are produced at great speed.

All the developed countries of the world have been highly industri- alised. Great Britain, Japan,
France, the United States of America and Germany, just to mention a few of the advanced
countries, are regarded as wealthy nations because they are highly industrialised.
Industrialisation means enough manufactured goods to export, apart from self-sufficiency at
home. Exporting products means earning money.

A country that is not industrialised remains backward and poor. This is what has happened to the
underdeveloped nations of the world. Not only that these nations are not scientifically and
technologically advanced but they are dependent on the rich nations for their very existence.
Even if these nations are politically independent, economically they are not.

Industrialisation not only means self-sufficiency in essential items and progress in terms of
material wealth, knowledge, communication and transport, but also shows strength. A highly
industrialised country is militarily strong; it can manufacture its own sophisticated weapons, and
will not have to depend on stronger and more advanced nations for help in times of emergency.

Economic development is assured once the country becomes indus- trialised. But more than
economic development and wealth, industrialisa- tion marks progress. The standard of living of
the people in general increases with increasing industrialisation. We have only to look at the
agricultural workers and the factory workers, and contrast them to realise how the latter
maintain a better standard of living. A nation's prestige, her position in the comity of nations, her
economic development, her progress in terms of communication, and transport, and her military
strength are all tied up with her industrialisation. world if not to a village, at least relatively to
village size. Whether the village will ever become a happy community is another matter.

Right to freedom of expression should be an absolute right