Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution

problems.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
What other measures do you think might be effective?
There is no doubt that traffic and pollution from vehicles have become huge problems, both in
cities and on motorways everywhere. (1) Solving these problems is likely to need more than a
simple rise in the price petrol. (2)
While it is undeniable that private car use is one of the main causes of the in traffic and
pollution, (3) higher fuel costs are unlikely to limit the number of drivers for long (4). As this
policy would also affect the cost of public transport, it would be very unpopular with everyone
who needs to travel on the roads (5). But there are various other measures that could be
implemented that would have a huge effect on these problems. (6)
I think to tackle the problem of pollutions cleaner fuels need to be developed (7) . The
technology is already available to produce electric cars that would be both quieter and cleaner
to use (8). Persuading manufacturers and travelers to adopt this new technology would be a
more effective strategy for improving air quality, especially in cities (9).
However, traffic congestion will not be solved by changing the type of private vehicle people can
use. To do this, we need to improve the choice of public transport services available to
travelers. For example, if sufficient sky trains and underground train systems were built and
effectively maintained in our major cities, then traffic on the roads would be dramatically
reduced. Long-distance train and coach services should be made attractive and affordable
alternatives to driving your own car for long journeys.
In conclusion, I think that long-term traffic and pollution reductions would depend on educating
the public to use public transport more, and on governments using public money to construct
and run efficient systems.

Formal examinations are the only effective way to assess a student’s performance.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
What other ways do you think is suitable to assess a student’s performance?
Students always need to be evaluated after a course. In most institutions, formal examinations
are the most common means of assessing a student’s performance. However, assessing
students’ ability is likely to need more than this traditional method.
While it is undeniable that formal examinations are important in that schools often use the
results to rank their students in the class, its applications are suitable for theory subjects such
as Math and Philosophy only. There are other measures that could be applied in education to
assess students’ performance and ability as effectively.

Page | 1
When it comes to a subject which requires both theory and practice, some students are better at
doing experiments than doing caculations. It means that they earn low marks in theory exams
but their marks in doing experiments were not good at all. Marking according to how well
students do experiments makes them feel equal and they could even try more to improve their
theory part. Therefore, I think that marking students’ experiments should be an effective way to
assess their performance and ability. That only formal examinations are applied in such subjects
means educators and teachers do not assess their students’ performance fully enough.
In addition, in order to be well-rounded, students must develop other necessary soft skills such
as presentation and group discussion ones. Teachers ought to evaluate their students through
these skills so that they could have the most comprehensive assessment of their students’
abilities. Assessing a performance only by examinations poses a risk that learners may only
focus on academic achievements, which may lead to their lacking in other important skills.
In conclusion, I think that evaluating students through doing experiments and soft skills are as
effective as giving them marks in formal examinations. Assessing students only through exams
are suitable in some cases only.

Children should begin learning a foreign language as soon as they start school.
Foreign languages are necessary for people in modern society. Some argue that children
should start to learn a foreign language as soon as they attend schools. Doing so could have
repurcussions for these children.
Firstly, forcing small students to begin another language once they go to schools would certainly
have an impact on them. They are too young and during childhood, they still need close friends
who play with them all the time. Attempting some foreign language at this time means that
children have to spend more time learning instead of playing around. Thus, these children
cannot enjoy their childhood thoroughly. In addition, during this time, children still need to learn
their mother tongue, so forcing them to spend time for a new language may not be possible,
especially for those who are bad at language. Thus, learning a foreign language might prove
difficult.
Nevertheless, there would also be clear benefits. It is very likely parents whose little children
start a new language at such an age will enrol on courses for them. These classes can include
kids who are the same age, so it is good for them to make new friends. Furthermore, while it is
true that children who start a new language at such an early age can feel their childhood
unsatisfying, their future jobs in their later life are bound to be successful. There are more and
more international companies who need workers with high level command of English or some
other languages. Making children learn these foreign languages once they attend schools are
reasonable in that languages need time to practise.
In conclusion, I completely agree with this proposal. Although the idea may have some initial
difficulties, and some may resist it, its long-term benefits will make up for any short-term
problems.

Page | 2
THEME 3.
6. Attending a live performance (for example, a play, concert, a sporting event) is more
enjoyable than watching the same event on television.

Page | 3