The idea that a marriage should be arranged by the parents of the couple, or by other members of the family, is quite acceptable in some societies, yet completely out of the question for others. It all depends on your cultural expectations.
In so-called western societies, it is very unusual for marriages to be arranged. Most young people would not welcome the idea that their parents have the right to choose their partner for life. They feel that arranged marriages deny them their fundamental right to choose, even if they make a bad decision.
However, if we are honest about it, we might acknowledge that some parents organise their children’s lives in such a way that they are likely to meet and marry partners the parents approve of. It could be said that this is, to some extent, similar to an arranged marriage. It is always better when families support the relationship and welcome the grandchildren.
People for whom arranged marriages are the custom, often argue that the likelihood of the marriage lasting is greater when it is set up in this manner. Parents can be assured that their children are joining a family of similar standing and cultural background, and this, in the long run, makes for a more stable society. If your parents’ marriage was arranged, and has worked well, then why should you question the custom?
The important thing to ensure is that people are never forced into a marriage which will make them unhappy or lead to an unequal relationship where one partner is exploited by the other. This applies in all societies and situations.
(269 words)
Comments (not part of the essay)
The first paragraph introduces both systems.
The second paragraph gives views against arranged marriages, supported by reasons.
The third paragraph concedes that some western marriages compare to arranged marriages.
The fourth paragraph argues in favour of arranged marriages and supports this view.
The final paragraph concludes that both systems should result in happy marriages.
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Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Friends play an important role in my life and I would have difficulty living without them.
Friends play an important role in my life and I would have difficulty living without them. First they support me in a number of ways: by providing advice when I need it and good company when I want to go out and enjoy myself. These are the aspects of friendship that are easy to define. Other aspects are less easy to explain but there is often a bond between friends that keeps them together. It results in some of the very strong features of friendship such as the ability to accept each other’s faults and forgive certain behaviour that might otherwise be considered irritating.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The Eiffel Tower is situated close to the Seine River in Paris
The Eiffel Tower is situated close to the Seine River in Paris. It is a metal structure that is 324 metres high and weighs 10,100 tonnes. The tower has been a tourist attraction since 1889, when it was built, and there are 1,665 steps that can be climbed in order to reach the two viewing platforms.
There are now plans to build below the foundations of the tower. These plans include the development of five underground levels that will incorporate the tower’s ticket office, shopping facilities, a cinema and museum and two floors of underground parking.
Although details have yet to be finalised, the principle is that the five floors will be connected by two vertical passenger lifts on either side of the tower. In addition, the floor immediately below the tower, which is planned to house the ticket office, will also consist of a large room with a glass ceiling so that visitors can look directly up at the tower itself.
(162 words)
Para 1 – describes the tower and what it is used for.
Para 2 – outlines the planned future levels and what they will be used for.
Para 3 – gives further details of the proposed construction.
There are now plans to build below the foundations of the tower. These plans include the development of five underground levels that will incorporate the tower’s ticket office, shopping facilities, a cinema and museum and two floors of underground parking.
Although details have yet to be finalised, the principle is that the five floors will be connected by two vertical passenger lifts on either side of the tower. In addition, the floor immediately below the tower, which is planned to house the ticket office, will also consist of a large room with a glass ceiling so that visitors can look directly up at the tower itself.
(162 words)
Para 1 – describes the tower and what it is used for.
Para 2 – outlines the planned future levels and what they will be used for.
Para 3 – gives further details of the proposed construction.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The Hawaiian island chain is located in the Pacific Ocean
The Hawaiian island chain is located in the Pacific Ocean. It is formed of volcanoes and the active ones are at the south-east tip of the archipelago, where Hawaii itself is located.
It is believed that the chain began to form nearly 80 million years ago. Each island started to evolve after an eruption on the sea floor. First, a ‘hot spot’ existed on the ocean bed, which let out a plume of material called magma. This magma may originate as deep as 2,883 kilometres below the ocean bed. Next, further eruptions took place, which built up the volcano. Eventually it emerged above the surface of the ocean.
Since that time, the spume of magma has remained static as the Pacific tectonic plate moves in a north-west direction across it at a speed of 7-9 centimetres per year. As it moves, a volcano forms as it passes over the hotspot and then becomes inactive when it has passed it.
(159 words)
Para 1 – describes the subject or topic of the question.
Para 2 – describes how a volcano is formed in the sea.
Para 3 – explains why a chain of active and inactive volcanoes has formed.
It is believed that the chain began to form nearly 80 million years ago. Each island started to evolve after an eruption on the sea floor. First, a ‘hot spot’ existed on the ocean bed, which let out a plume of material called magma. This magma may originate as deep as 2,883 kilometres below the ocean bed. Next, further eruptions took place, which built up the volcano. Eventually it emerged above the surface of the ocean.
Since that time, the spume of magma has remained static as the Pacific tectonic plate moves in a north-west direction across it at a speed of 7-9 centimetres per year. As it moves, a volcano forms as it passes over the hotspot and then becomes inactive when it has passed it.
(159 words)
Para 1 – describes the subject or topic of the question.
Para 2 – describes how a volcano is formed in the sea.
Para 3 – explains why a chain of active and inactive volcanoes has formed.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The table shows two sets of related information
The table shows two sets of related information: the relative cost, in pounds, of renting a property with one, two or three bedrooms in three different suburbs of London and an indication of the kind of annual salary you would need to be earning to rent in these areas.
Of the three areas mentioned, Notting Hill is the most expensive with weekly rents starting at 375 pounds, (salary approximately 100,000 pounds), and rising to 738 pounds per week for a three-bedroom property. To afford this, you would require a salary in the region of 200,000 pounds per annum. Alternatively, Fulham is the cheapest area shown with rents ranging from 215 pounds per week for a one bedroom property to 600 pounds per week for a three-bedroom property. To rent in this area, salaries need to be somewhere between 57,000 and 157,000 pounds, approximately, depending on the number of bedrooms required. For those able to pay in the middle price range for accommodation, Regents Park might be a more suitable district.
(171 words)
Para 1 – tells the reader what they will learn from the table.
Para 2 – provides some details which illustrate the main thrust of the data but avoids quoting every detail.
Of the three areas mentioned, Notting Hill is the most expensive with weekly rents starting at 375 pounds, (salary approximately 100,000 pounds), and rising to 738 pounds per week for a three-bedroom property. To afford this, you would require a salary in the region of 200,000 pounds per annum. Alternatively, Fulham is the cheapest area shown with rents ranging from 215 pounds per week for a one bedroom property to 600 pounds per week for a three-bedroom property. To rent in this area, salaries need to be somewhere between 57,000 and 157,000 pounds, approximately, depending on the number of bedrooms required. For those able to pay in the middle price range for accommodation, Regents Park might be a more suitable district.
(171 words)
Para 1 – tells the reader what they will learn from the table.
Para 2 – provides some details which illustrate the main thrust of the data but avoids quoting every detail.
Monday, March 26, 2012
A total of 1510 people said they watched the soap opera
A total of 1510 people said they watched the soap opera. Just over half these people were in the 21-25 age-group which comprised a total of 758 viewers. This was the largest age-group. Seventeen per cent of the viewers were in the second-largest age-group, (26-30), which had a total of 258 people. There was a similar number of viewers aged below 20. After the age of 30, the numbers fell significantly. The 31-35 age-group made up just under 10 per cent of the viewers and there were 76 people in the 36-40 age-group who said that they watched the programme. Only just under per cent of the viewers were over 40. Obviously the programme appeals to young people the most.
(only 120 words – but there was no 150 word limit in this exercise)
(only 120 words – but there was no 150 word limit in this exercise)
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Sample Answer
(The first sentence introduces the topic of the pie chart and graph.)
The pie chart shows the worldwide distribution of sales of Coca-Cola in the year 2000 and the graph shows the change in share prices between 1996 and 2001.
(The second paragraph describes the pie chart. As there is not a lot of data in the pie chart, it is possible to mention it all.)
In the year 2000, Coca-Cola sold a total of 17.1 billion cases of their fizzy drink product worldwide. The largest consumer was North America, where 30.4 per cent of the total volume was purchased. The second largest consumer was Latin America. Europe and Asia purchased 20.5 and 16.4 per cent of the total volume respectively, while Africa and the Middle East remained fairly small consumers at 7 per cent of the total volume of sales.
(The third paragraph describes the graph and outlines the trend over the five-year period. Note that not all the data is mentioned. No obvious conclusion can be drawn from the data.)
Since 1996, share prices for Coca-Cola have fluctuated. In that year, shares were valued at approximately $35. Between 1996 and 1997, however, prices rose significantly to $70 per share. They dipped a little in mid-1997 and then peaked at $80 per share in mid-98. From then until 2000 their value fell consistently but there was a slight rise in mid.2000.
(166 words)
The pie chart shows the worldwide distribution of sales of Coca-Cola in the year 2000 and the graph shows the change in share prices between 1996 and 2001.
(The second paragraph describes the pie chart. As there is not a lot of data in the pie chart, it is possible to mention it all.)
In the year 2000, Coca-Cola sold a total of 17.1 billion cases of their fizzy drink product worldwide. The largest consumer was North America, where 30.4 per cent of the total volume was purchased. The second largest consumer was Latin America. Europe and Asia purchased 20.5 and 16.4 per cent of the total volume respectively, while Africa and the Middle East remained fairly small consumers at 7 per cent of the total volume of sales.
(The third paragraph describes the graph and outlines the trend over the five-year period. Note that not all the data is mentioned. No obvious conclusion can be drawn from the data.)
Since 1996, share prices for Coca-Cola have fluctuated. In that year, shares were valued at approximately $35. Between 1996 and 1997, however, prices rose significantly to $70 per share. They dipped a little in mid-1997 and then peaked at $80 per share in mid-98. From then until 2000 their value fell consistently but there was a slight rise in mid.2000.
(166 words)
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