Band 9 Essay 4

Question: You should spend 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Many people believe that a country’s wealth is dependent on the health of its citizens.

Other people argue that education is a better indicator of a nation’s wealth and well-being.

What is your opinion?

What are some other factors that contribute to the growth and prosperity of a country?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge

or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Answer:

It has often been said that the wealth of a nation depends on the health of its citizens.

In modern society, knowledge and education are also increasingly important factors behind

a strong economy.

In my opinion, healthcare and education are equally important priorities of a government.

Firstly, in order for a country to be economically strong, citizens must have access to good

healthcare.

If a citizen is unhealthy and weak, it can be assumed that that individual is not contributing

his or her potential energy, optimum work abilities and knowledge to his or her community.

By providing quality healthcare, a government can ensure that each citizen is as healthy

and capable as possible.

In this way, both developing and developed countries create stronger individual citizens

and, in turn, stronger nations.

Good education is equally important in modern societies.

In order for a country to advance in any area, its citizens must be educated so that they

can actively contribute new ideas to the workforce and to the economy.

For example, over the past two decades, advances in technology have helped nations like India

and China, among many others, to create strong economies and a better standard of living

for many citizens.

These advances in technology and the business opportunities created from them are directly

attributable to education.

Aside from healthcare and education, other factors also contribute to the development

of nations.

For example, abundant natural resources, positive relationships with other nations leading to

trade, efficient metropolitan infrastructures and a strong agricultural sector are all factors

which can help nations prosper.

However, I still believe that healthcare and education are the two most important priorities

of any government, because if the healthcare and education systems of a nation are effective,

then all other areas of an economy are positively affected.

In conclusion, in my opinion, quality healthcare and education systems are equally important

to the development of a strong nation.

(322 words)

Band 9 Essay 5 Question:

You should spend 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

The quality of computer language translation has improved significantly in recent years.

Therefore.

it is not necessary for children to learn a foreign language.

To what extent to you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge

or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Answer:

In recent years, computer technology has advanced significantly.

Now we can communicate with people who speak different languages with the use of computer

translation software.

Despite the development of these useful resources, I disagree that children should not learn

foreign languages, because learning another language can not only help an individual better

understand their own language, but also communicate on both personal and cultural levels.

Firstly, learning a foreign language is often a helpful way to get a better insight into

one’s own language.

For example, from personal experience, I found that learning Italian was useful in the acquisition

of more vocabulary in my native language: Spanish.

While computers can help translate Spanish into Italian, if I had exclusively used computers

to translate for me, I would not have gained further knowledge of my own and other languages,

like English and German, which also share some similar word formations.

In this way, learning foreign languages has many advantages beyond just communication.

Secondly, computerised translation software can help people translate foreign text or

even converse with a person who speaks a different language, but computers cannot communicate

on a personal or cultural level.

For example, one of my closest friends speaks Italian as a first language.

We could consult our computers to have a conversation, but our conversations are richer and more

interesting when we attempt to communicate by actually speaking to each other.

Also, we are able to share the different aspects of our cultures and home countries, the taste

of our native dishes and the expressions unique to our local dialects, all things which our

computers cannot do.

In conclusion, I disagree with people who believe that computer translation is sufficient

for communication between people who speak different languages.

I believe children should be taught foreign languages to broaden their knowledge and to

help them communicate with people of other cultures.

(312 words)

Band 9 Essay 6 Question:

You should spend 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Many people believe that strong tradition helps to civilise a nation and that governments

should therefore subsidise musicians, theatre companies, actors and artists.

Explain whether you agree or disagree with this statement and what you think governments

should do to promote the traditional cultural heritage of a country.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge

or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Answer: Many countries’ cultures are preserved by

the strong tradition inherent in the music, art and theatre of that country.

It has been argued that the government should pay to promote the uniqueness of a country’s

culture by subsidising the artists, musicians and actors which keep culture alive.

I agree that a government should fund its citizens’ cultural pursuits, since part

of a government’s responsibility includes the preservation of its people’s own unique

cultural traditions.

If a government wants to preserve and maintain the art and music which is historically traditional

to its country, then it must take steps to ensure that those traditions are valued and

fostered.

Firstly, a government can help maintain the cultural traditions of a country by using

tax money to build theatres, music and concert halls,

galleries and museums.

By providing venues for artists, musicians and actors to practice, perform and exhibit

their arts, the government is helping people come together to participate in traditional

creative activities.

Furthermore, governments could provide grants, scholarships and education to artists and

musicians who are prepared to make special contributions to the preservation of a country’s

traditional music and art.

By giving students of art and music incentives to maintain cultural traditions, governments

can promote the longevity of its people’s traditions.

For example, if a student who was interested in fine arts was offered a full scholarship

to explore and paint in tradition styles, that student would be more inclined to follow

that option than if no scholarship was offered.

In conclusion, I believe that governments should provide venues and offer grants and

subsidies to artists and musicians of traditional music and art, to maintain the strong tradition

of the country.

(280 words)