Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
Your friend has recently moved overseas for a new job.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
- ask about life in the new country
- ask about the new job
- tell them what’s been happening at home
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear…
Write at least 150 words.
Hi John,
I’m glad to have your address because I’ve been wanting to write to find out how you are settling in. How’s life in Spain? How are you coping with the language? I hope you’ve managed to find somewhere to live and are settling in well. I’m sure it won’t take you long to get to know a few people!
So how’s the new job going? Is it as good as you thought? You were so excited when you left – I hope it turned out to be as exciting as you had in mind!
It’s been quite quiet here since you left. David and Mary have finally got engaged, but they don’t have immediate plans for the wedding, and my Dad has finally retired, but nothing much else of interest has been going on.
Everyone here told me to send their regards when I wrote. We’re all still thinking of you and hope you’re keeping well,
All the best,
Tonia
(162 words)
Task 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Many people believe that we have become a ‘disposable’ society, throwing things away rather than repairing them and reusing them.
Why do you think that is?
What are some of the possible problems this can cause?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words.
Modern society has become characterised by constantly renewing and replacing items rather than maintaining and keeping them. There are a number of factors that can be attributed to this trend, along with a number of significant concerns, as will now be presented.
One of the main points is the pace at which new technology is introduced into the market. It is commonly accepted that a personal computer has a limited lifespan, depending on the amount of use it has. Meanwhile, the technology involved rapidly changes, meaning that products can become obsolete very quickly.
The other change that has had a significant impact on our interest in retaining items is that craftsmanship, and its associated costs, has meant that many people are opting to purchase cheaper. An example of this can be seen with household furniture. Only a few generations back, a solid wooden table, hand built by carpenters, would be expensive but would also last to become an antique. These days, cheap, mass produced furniture is available instead.
As for problems this can cause, the main issue here would be one of waste. The average person produces over 500 kilogrammes of waste each year, and this includes electronic goods less than ten years old. Once better models are available or problems begin to arise, most people simply discard these items and purchase new ones. In turn, many societies are facing an additional problem in that we no longer take care of our possessions as previous generations did.
To sum up, societies now generally prefer to replace rather than repair, and unless there is a return to more traditional, more durable items, this is a trend that is likely to continue.
(259 words)