Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
New neighbours have recently moved in, but they are making a lot of noise at night while you are preparing for your exams.
Write a letter to your neighbours. In your letter:
- explain that they are preventing you from studying well
- suggest what they can do to improve the situation
- tell them when you will have completed your studies
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear…
Write at least 150 words.
Dear neighbour,
First of all, let me welcome you to the neighbourhood. I am sure you will enjoy living here.
However, I do have a concern that I would like to address with you. I am currently in the final semester of a course I have been attending at the local college, and in the coming weeks I will be sitting the final examinations. In order to prepare, I find it essential that I have both a quiet place to study and am able to get a full night’s sleep, yet the volume of your music during the evening and night is causing some issues for me as I am unable to concentrate or sleep soundly.
I am not suggesting that you stop playing your music, but I would be grateful if you could lower the volume after about 10 p.m., and perhaps also shut your windows? My examinations will be over by the 18th, but until that time I would be appreciative of a little consideration.
Your neighbour,
Mark Smith
(171 words)
Task 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
International air travel has a negative impact upon the environment and should therefore be restricted.
Do 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.
There are many strong arguments to be made in favour of any measure aimed at increasing environmental protection, yet imposing limitations on flights may not be the best solution, as will now be discussed.
Primarily, although air pollution is a significant factor, reducing travel by air would not necessarily reduce travel. Instead, people would likely rely even more on motor vehicles, even for longer journeys. This could actually lead to higher rates of pollution. To illustrate, it could potentially take over 300 private vehicles to transport the same number of passengers as can be carried on one flight.
Another issue to be considered is that air travel, although undertaken for many reasons, is a common method of transportation for business people. Reducing the number of flights may result in fewer business trips, which could then lead to less business, especially at an international level. Although this may be advantageous for the environment in the short term, it would not be a positive move for the global economy in the long term.
However, it could be argued that reducing flights may encourage business to be transacted in different ways, especially with increasing technologies. Yet this must be balanced with the environmental impact of discarded and obsolete communication devices, which could arguably pose an equal or greater ecological risk.
To conclude, although there is an impact on the environment, restriction on air travel does not offer the most appropriate solution to the problem. The best way forward is not limitation but research into cleaner, more environmentally friendly ways of air travel.
(285 words)