Co-education.

 Q. With changing trends in education like all other aspects, co-education is becoming increasingly common. What do you think are the positive and negative aspects of this development?

Change is inevitable. Life goes through a continuous process of change and education is no exception. In ancient times, women were not allowed to receive education and men were sent to schools called Gurukuls. With the passage of time, education became common and males amd females were sent to different institutions. However, nowadays, co-education is gaining popularity, this refers to the boys and girls studying in common schools and classrooms. In the paragraphs further, I will discuss the positive and negative aspects of this trend.

To begin with, co-education is necessary today and there are numerous reasons for the necessity of co-education. Boys and girls think differently, generally boys are logical and girls are emotional, with regular interaction, a better understanding can be formed between them. Also, it generates a healthy competition between them and there will always be appreciation of perspectives, strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, co-education gives confidence to girls as they are treated as equals. This is of great significance in a patriarchal society like ours and it emphasizes the role of education for women. Another great benefit is that friendship, teamwork and mutual respect develops between both the genders as they are involved in multiple activities together and this makes way for open-minded individuals who can easily adapt to the highly globalised society.

However, there are some demerits of co-education. Attraction towards the opposite gender can hamper concentration of students in studies and they may get involved in unethical activities with each other. Besides this, unnecessary arguments may take place due to difference of opinion and it may create an unhealthy atmosphere resulting in negative feelings for each other.

To sum up, I would like to say that like most other things, co-education has both merits and demerits but merits outnumber the demerits and co-education is very beneficial for the betterment of society.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

Co-education is studying of girls and boys together // In ancient times, only boys were sent to schools // Later, separate schools were there for boys and girls // Nowadays, Co-education prevails // It has several positives and drawbacks // should be promoted keeping in mind its merits.

VOCABULARY:

Co-education: studying of both genders together // patriarchal: male-dominated // benefit: merit, advantages // drawback: demerit, disadvantage

RELATED QUESTION:

What are the benefits and disadvantages of mixed sex education? Do you think this system is suitable for the kind of culture you live in?

Work from home.

Q. Due to advancement in technology, it is possible to work from home. Some people say that this benefits the employees more than the employers. To what extent do you agree or disagree ?

The development in science and technology has made things possible which were once unimaginable. Working from home is called telecommuting or teleworking. People no longer need to go to the traditional workplace to do their work and this, in the opinion of some people, benefits the workers more than the companies they work for. I will discuss my views in the succeeding paragraphs.

To commence with, the privilege of working from home serves several advantages to its employees. The first benefit is that it helps workers to save time and money as they do not need to spend on travelling to work. Another is that working at home provides a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere and people can spend more time with their families without any compromise on their work. People normally spend most of their time in offices. Thus, the household chores and time with children can be managed along with work leading to better family bonding. Furthermore, employees also have the merit that they can decide when to start or stop work or take a break because the efficiency of every individual is different like some people can work efficiently in the morning while others are more efficient when they work in the evening.

Moving further, the stress added to the lives of the individuals due to traffic woes can also be avoided. This keeps the individual stress-free and active for longer periods of time. However, I think the only possible advantage that it offers to the employees is they save space, electricity and infrastructure costs. 

To summarize, I would like to say that working from home is a blessing of technology and it definitely has greater advantages for employees than for employers.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

Working from home is called telecommuting or teleworking // One of the blessings of advancing technology // Saves commuting expenses, frustration of traffic jams, provides calm atmosphere, flexible working hours to the employees // Less advantageous for the bosses, only saves resources like water, electricity.

VOCABULARY:

Advantage: merit, benefit // telecommuting: teleworking // blessing: boon // greater: more // employers: bosses // employees: workers

RELATED QUESTIONS:

Telecommuting has become the new trend in the working arena. What are the some of the advantages and disadvantages of this? // The possibility of working from home is further making people lazy and dependent. This is another move in the direction of making man a slave of technology. How far do you agree/disagree to this statement?

Studying history is a waste of time.

Q. Some people think that studying history is a waste of time, whereas others think it is essential to learn history. Discuss both sides and your opinion. 

The word History is derived from combining his and story. It is the study of the story of mankind and refers to the study of past events, particularly human affairs. History mostly includes events, places or people and their relation to one another at a given time period. It is one of the many important subjects taught and studied at all levels of education. Some people view the study of history as an important dimension of education, on the contrary, others consider it as an unnecessary subject. I will cast light on both views and also my opinion in the writing that follows. 

In the opinion of some people, history is a waste of time because first and foremost, it is tedious to learn dates, names of people and places which are not even useful in everyday life. Also, if one could learn past mistakes, even then history would not have comprised of repeated mistakes like the world wars. Another concern is that very old curriculum are taught in most schools which which includes contemporary history in very small amounts. This is not relevant to the world in which people live today. Moreover, modern epoch is that of science and technology, so laying emphasis on such subjects is of more use rather than learning something which is done and dusted. 

On the other hand, some think teaching of history is vital for education due to plethora of factors. The major reason is that it helps the generation of today to understand its culture and traditions which are being followed since ancient times. It also creates a sense of belonging to our roots. In addition to this, important events like the Holocaust, teach people about the horrific tragedies which occurred in the past, to remember those who were killed and to ensure that a tragedy of such colossal magnitude does not repeat. Last but not the least, it also shows the patterns of behaviour and lifestyle along with their outcome which help to avoid the negative ones and follow those which are beneficial.

To wrap up, I would say that though a few people underestimate the importance of history but in my opinion, it is one of the most important subjects ever taught at any level or in any form of learning.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

History is the study of past events // it is a waste of time since it is a repetition of mistakes // it has very little reference to the modern world of science and technology // it is beneficial because it keeps individuals connected to their roots, teaches about culture and traditions // it makes people remember sacrifices, horrific tragedies so as to avoid such occurrences in the future.

VOCABULARY:

Tedious: boring // emphasis: stress // colossal: huge // magnitude: extent // underestimate: underrate

RELATED QUESTIONS:

History has been much a taught and learnt subject since ages. Do you think advantages of studying history outnumber its disadvantages? // According to some people, boring subjects like history have little relevance in today’s world and should therefore be replaced by modern ones which lays more stress on science and technology. Do you agree or disagree ?

To some people schools only focus on making their students fit for works, whereas others believe that the primary aim of schools is holistic development of the individual. Give your opinion and cite any relevant examples.

 Q. To some people schools only focus on making their students fit for works, whereas others believe that the primary aim of schools is holistic development of the individual. Give your opinion and cite any relevant examples. 

Schools are considered as temples of learning and play an immense role in the life and future of every individual. In the formative stage of life, every human being spends maximum time at school. Teaching of skills, manners, etiquettes along with shaping of an individual’s personality in many ways is done in school. Some people opine that the main aim of schools is to train individuals to become suitable for a profession, whereas others deem that schools are responsible for the overall development of individuals. I support the latter view which has been explained in the subsequent essay. 

To initiate with, a child at the age of four enters school for formal education and these days even 2 to 3 years old go to play school. Often parents are seen trying to secure admission for their wards in the best possible and reputed schools, this explains that schools are not aiming only at teaching skills and making one fit for work but also at making one a completely responsible and well developed citizen. First of all, there is no doubt that schools not only teach the skills to read, write and do arithmetic but people also learn about places, nature, interaction, friendship, team work, respect, cooperation, etcetera in the school. Also, a school makes individuals ready to be future caretakers of this planet. It is a privilege to study in a good school and understand the roles one has to play as a member of the society in which he lives, grows and ultimately dies. Moreover, schools teach important things which are the building blocks and necessary to do much in life like critically analyze, read, perform mathematical functions etcetera. I agree that these are important to make individuals fit for work but the same time, they make people develop attributes essential to live.

Furthermore, it is sure that schools do not impart education to produce robotic citizens but human beings who are fully grown, developed, learned and skillful. Therefore, I do not find it appropriate to call schools, centres are producing trained workers. Besides this, schools provide exposure to activities, ideas and fields of knowledge that one may never otherwise encounter. They also help learners to learn discipline, patience, preservance and hard work. To add to this, man is a social animal and cannot survive by knowing how to work only, there are several other important traits which are necessary for his existence and learning or imbibing these is to a large extent, done in a school.

To conclude, I would say that different people have different opinions but I strongly believe that schools play a role in producing asset-like individuals who are perfect workers and dutiful members of the society in which they live and grow.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

Schools are temple of learning // Aim of schools is overall development // schools produce properly shaped individuals // They do not aim at producing machine like humans, only fit to work // All important traits like patience, cooperation, punctuality etcetera are learnt in schools // Apart from basic reading, writing, valuable exposure is provided // schools primarily aim at producing asset-like individuals in society.

VOCABULARY:

Attributes: properties, characteristics // traits: attributes // holistic: complete, overall // Perservance: persistence // privilege: fortunate right // imbibing: inculcating, assimilating 

Related Question:

To some people going to schools is a majorly important aspect of life, whereas, others think basic skills can be learnt otherwise also. What do you think is more appropriate viewpoint? Substantiate your answer with any relevant details and examples.

Eating a balanced diet is the most important step towards a healthy life. To what extent do you agree ?

 Q. Eating a balanced diet is the most important step towards a healthy life. To what extent do you agree ?

Food is one of the basic needs of man. Clothing and shelter being the other two. A balanced diet is the one which consists of all nutrients in the right proportion. Eating a balanced diet is an important factor to live a healthy life. I totally agree with this statement and I will discuss this in the subsequent paragraphs.

To begin with, there are various advantages of eating a balanced diet which reflect its Importance for a healthy living. The first major benefit is that it contains all nutrients in the required amount, that is, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals which are of paramount importance for the body’s growth and development. Another benefit is the strong immunity provided by the balanced diet. Many diseases commonly seen to affect people of various agencies groups can be prevented by sufficient intake of required foods, thus enabling people to have a healthy lifestyle.

Moving further, a balanced diet also ensures proper mental growth and development and hence, sufficient productivity. Moreover, research has proven that people who eat a healthy diet, live longer. For instance, the Japanese ensure intake of healthy food and they are usually healthier and live long.

Another factor which proves the importance of eating a balanced diet is that absence of certain nutrients, can cause serious health issues. For example, a disorder called scurvy is the outcome of a prolonged deprivation of vitamin C. Hence, every nutrient has its own place and importance for the body and should be taken to avoid complications.

To wrap up, I would say that a balanced diet is undeniably an indispensable step towards a healthy life and everyone should eat proper meals to remain fit and dosease free.

POINTS TO REMEMBER

Food is the basic need // balanced diet consists of all nutrients in the right amount // has many advantages // keeps one healthier, helps live longer // improves immunity // ensures proper physical and mental growth // absence of nutrients causes diseases.

VOCABULARY 

Consists of: includes, comprises // Paramount: predominant // Prevented: kept // Sufficient: adequate // Indispensable: vital, essential 

RELATED QUESTION: Do you think eating a balanced diet is important for an individual’s health? How far do you agree or disagree?

Trend of Nuclear family.

 Q. In this era, the primary ties are loosening, families are not as close as they used to be and a lot of people have become habitual to this. Explain the reasons for this and discuss any possible effects, it may have on the society.

A family is the basic unit of social structure. With the passage of time, it has been observed that relationships at all levels have become tensed as compared to earlier times. This distance can be attributed to diverse contributing factors and can have several social effects. I will shed light on this in the writing that follows.

To commence with, the major reason is the growing trend of nuclear family replacing the extending or joint family system due to which family bonds are weakening. Also, according to needs of society, life is very competitive and demanding due to which youngsters have to move away from their parents at an early age to work or study. For example, some children live in hostels to ensure proper grooming, education and upbringing. This may lead to emotional estrangement of children from parents. Even in cases when parents are close to their children or stay together, they are mostly away from home as people now work for long hours to make ends meet. This means that parents spend less time with their children and it results in a gap between parents and kids. Another factor is, the use of gadgets and interaction with friends using various forms of social media leads to a drop in the frequency of face to face interactions.

This distance has obvious effects on the society. The first impact is that it weakens family bonding and this makes the family lose its meaning as a social institution. People are less fond of their family members and this brings lack of unity. Children become indisciplined and careless because they lack supervision. Children develop psychological issues due to loneliness. It also contributes to the widening of generation gap because parents do not know about the problems of children as they are unable to spend proper time with them.

To conclude, I would like to say that the present day families are becoming distanced from each other due to a plethora of causes and it has some implications on the society due to which it should be should be avoided and efforts should be made on all levels to keep the family as closely knit as possible.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

Family is the basic unit of society // Changing times are causing the family divide // long working hours, trend of nuclear families, technology, drifting away for work or study // suitable steps should be taken since it has serious consequences // loneliness, personality issues, growing generation gap

VOCABULARY:

Observed: witnessed, seen // attributed: imputed, ascribed // diverse: myraid, various // weakening: breaking // estrangement: alienation, disaffection 

RELATED QUESTION:

People, these days, are more concerned about themselves only. What are the several factors leading to the family divide and how does it impact the social structure?

Problems of growing population.

Q. The ever-growing population of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Identify one or two serious ones and suggest ways in which the government and individuals can tackle these problems.

Over-population, also termed as population boom or population explosion refers to the unexpected growth in the number of people. There are several countries across the globe which are bearing the burnt of this rapid rise in the number of people. I will discuss a few serious issues being caused by this and the possible measures which can be taken by the authorities as well as the individuals.

To begin with, overpopulation leads to overcrowding which means poor quality of life. There is an increased pressure exerted on the resources because of which the standard of housing is not up to the mark. Poorly heated or damp conditions prevail in accomodations which cause many health problems such as bronchitis and the like. Another problem is increase in criminal activities as those who lack basic necessities like housing may resort to theft. In addition, the environment also gets degraded as due to the pressure of providing food to so many people, forests are cleared and converted into agricultural fields. Absence of appropriate sanitation to support the increased population causes diseases. 

However, there are certain steps which can be taken by both the government and individuals to tackle the problems posed by overpopulation. First of all, the government should make strict laws to control population. This can be done by providing incentives to people with a single child. Also, if possible, adequate housing facilities should be provided with proper sanitation by the government. Citizens should also actively with responsibility. People should only give birth to children keeping in mind their resources and financial conditions.

To conclude, government and citizens can both come together and join hands to combat this problem and minimize its negative effects on society before it grows to massive proportions and is tough to handle.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

Overpopulation: excessive growth in number of people // Causes: low standard of living, poor housing, improper sanitation, stress on civic amenities // Government can frame laws // Incentives should be given to people with a single child // Adequate housing, sanitation should be ensured for all // Citizens should also behave responsibly to handle this problem.

VOCABULARY:

Overpopulation: population boom, population explosion // incentives: bonuses // amenities: comforts, conveniences // government: authorities, regulatory body // control: curb, tackle // degraded: lowered in value // measures: steps

RELATED QUESTION:

The activities of man have impacted the environment deeply. What are the results of man’s activities and what measures can be taken by the government and citizens.

Problems linked to internet

 Q. The internet has brought a sea change in the way information is shared and consumed, but it has also created problems that did not exist before.

What are the most serious problems linked to the internet and what solutions can you suggest?

One of the greatest inventions of science and technology is the internet. Being a boon, it has caused revolutionary changes in the method of exchange of information and has at the same time, been a cause of several problems. It is a blessing in disguise. However, there are solutions to problems caused by excessive use of internet. I will shed light on the problems and possible remedial actions in the following writing. 

To commence with, there are several dangers posed by the internet. They access to obscene websites by children, exposing them to inappropriate material is a major cause of concern. Also excessive use of internet is making children lazy and limiting their mental growth and development. Another problem posed by the internet is online frauds. The cases of cyber crimes are on the rise. People can gain access to private messages or can misuse photographs, etcetera by illegal means. There are many cases of business websites falling prey to criminals and this is a direct outcome of the excessive use of the internet. In several cases, some information or messages can be misunderstood and lead to straining of relationships. People sometimes do not understand  the exact message which is being conveyed to them and tend to take these messages negatively.

However, every problem can be dealt with by taking appropriate steps. The government should ensure a proper legislation and control in order to prevent the young generation from using inappropriate websites. Parents should also keep a check on the activities of their children and limit their internet use. Access to certain websites should be regulated by computer programs because sometimes, children may not know the difference between good and bad. Another way to prevent the problem is to send precise messages to people to avoid misunderstanding and also prefer complete words over abbreviations. Last but not the least, high security measures should be used on websites to ensure protection against any misuse like hacking to decrease the causes of cyber crime.

To conclude, I would say that the Internet is a great help to mankind and it should only be used within limits so that its benefits can be promoted and even if some problems caused, they should be dealt with effectively.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

Internet, great blessing to mankind // Revolutionary changes in communication // Some problems are also posed // Access to vulgar sites // Hacking and other cyber crimes // Limits mental growth of children // Stringent laws // Highly secure websites // Limited access to sites, regulated by programs // Parents need to monitor activities of children // Necessary steps to deal with problems // Use internet only for good.

VOCABULARY:

Revolutionary: radical // Several: Many, numerous // Threat: danger // Posed: laid // Legislation: law making

Related Questions:

Every house in the modern house has a computer connected to the internet. Do you think this advancement is positive or negative?

Crimes by minors

 Q. Crimes by minors are on the rise in recent times. The psychologists claim that the fundamental reason for this is that children these days are lacking the social and emotional learning they need from parents and teachers. To what extent do you agree/disagree?

It is undeniable that society is undergoing a degradation of morals and values. The statistics show an ever-increasing crime rate among minors. Some people believe that insufficient social and emotional learning from parents and teachers is the cause of this problem. I do not agree to this belief as several factors cause teens to indulge in anti-social activities.

To begin, nowadays, acts like rapes, thefts and murders flood pages of newspapers and television channels and more than often, these crimes are committed by teens. The adolescents of today, are very rebellious and make it impossible for parents or teachers to imbide the necessary social and emotional learning in them which contributes to the problem of teenage crimes. However, that is not the only cause; there are several other and greater reasons which are leading to a rise in this problem. A very significant cause of this problem is economic conditions. No matter, how much social or emotional learning is given to a child, financial inequality and unemployment fuel the urge of earning money through unethical and illegal means.

Friend circle of teenagers has a strong influence on their behavior. It is rightly said, a man is known by the company he keeps. If teens have a violent, aggressive friend circle they are likely to become like that. The influence of media and movies is also a leading cause of increased criminal tendency among youngsters because a lot of movies portray that criminals are rich and are respected out of fear by others. Therefore, lack of emotional and social learning on the part of parents and teachers is not the main reason of increasing crime by minors.

To conclude, I would like to say that the reason for increase in crime amongst children is not only because of detached approach of parents or teachers towards their wards and students, more than this, other reasons have also contributed to this social problem.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

Teenagers are committing more crimes // Parents and teachers cannot be solely held responsible // Many factors like poverty, influence of media etcetera are also responsible // Friend circle has a major influence // Certain conditions are unavoidable and they always influence youngsters // Conclusively, crime is on the rise due to many reasons // Effective measures are important rather than blaming parents and teachers.

VOCABULARY:

Crime: Anti-social activities // Undeniable: sure, indisputable, irrefutable // Degradation: downfall // Teenagers: teens, adolescents, youngsters // Friends: peers // Shooting: rising // Several: numerous, innumerable, many.

Related Questions:

The violent tendency of youth is on the rise. What do you think are the possible causes and what solutions do you suggest? // The lack of social and emotional learning from parents and teachers is the number one cause of violence committed by young children. Do you agree or disagree?

Excessive use of Television and computers.

Q. The excessive use of television and computers is retarding the growth in children which is shown in recent studies. How far do you agree disagree to this statement?

Modern epoch is the one of technology and therefore it is not uncommon to see people of all age groups becoming increasingly involved in technology and its use. Among the many gifts of technology, one is television also called the knowledge box and another is computer, called a man-made marvel. These two gadgets when excessively used by children can definitely hinder their growth and development. I will cast light on the same in the writing that follows.

To begin with, it is known to all that excess of everything is bad and computers and television are no exception to it. First of all, children do not know how to balance or limit the time spent on these devices due to which their academics will suffer and it can hurt their ability to learn and retain. Also, spending time in front of these devices reduces active social interaction, children may be sitting with their family members and watching television or using the computer yet they are in their own world. Another problem related to this is that children are becoming couch potatoes and obesity is a very common problem among them. When all the time is spent sitting, then obviously thete is lack of physical and mental growth due to no physical activity.

Furthermore, young children cannot concentrate for an extended time period on their study and return to a book or homework after so many hours of playing video games or watching shows. Besides, the content being shown on television or that available on the internet can be harmful for children as they are unable to choose the right channels.

Therefore, I would conclude by saying that the time spent by children on the television and computers requires strict regulations by parents or elders as this time can be put to constructive use for the better growth of the children.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

Modern epoch is one of the technology // People of all groups are busy in television or computer // Excessive use retards the mental growth and development of children // loss of memory, reduced social interaction, suffering in academics // Obesity, children become couch potatoes // lack of physical activity leads to reduced mental growth // vulgar content is shown on television // Limited time should be spent in front of the screen.

VOCABULARY:

idiot-box: television // definitely: surely // obesity: fatness

RELATED QUESTION: 

Watching television is a waste of time for children. Do you agree or disagree?