Topic 1: Increasing travels between countries enable people to learn different cultures or to increase tension between people from different countries

Topic 98: The computer is widely used in education and some people think that teachers will not play important roles in the classroom. To what extent do you agree?

Computers have been favoured by more and more educators and teachers as a key component of a perfect educational environment. Its role in a traditional classroom is nevertheless a subject of debate, with myriad arguments being advanced both in support of and against its impact on the role of a teacher.

One of the major drawbacks of the computer is lack of flexibility. Due to its programmatic limitations, its teaching is uniform, repetitive, standardised and therefore unsuited to the specific needs of a student. For example, it can only answer questions which have been programmed into it but fails to answer any unusual, non-standard and unprecedented question. By contrast, a human teacher is able to respond flexibly with giving well-tailored, persuasive and inspiring answers. For this reason, a computer hardly functions as effectively as a human teacher does.

Another disadvantage of the computer, which makes it unaligned with the philosophy of the contemporary education, is its failure to interact with students. Out of technical constraints, the computer is interested in eliciting the desired response only. Students' unexpected performance, potentially exceptional and distinguished, is not recognised by the computer. It is fair to say that computers achieve nothing but make all education into an uncritical type of vocational training. Students are conditioned to absorb information without questioning and given no chance to express their personal opinions.

There are some other problems inherent in the computer-based teaching, such as inability to discipline students and failing to attend to students' emotional needs, making this model of teaching not as competent as the traditional style. However, the contribution of the computer as a teaching aid can never be underrated. It not only assists teachers to present educational materials in diversified ways but also provides repetitive drills to improve the students' command of knowledge. With the computer, the teacher can spend less time on paper work and concentrate more on the development of a student in other aspects, such as creativity and teamwork skills. It is essential to advancing rounded education.

Taking into consideration those above-mentioned characteristics of computer-based teaching, one can conclude that the computer can only serve as a teaching aid, facilitating students' interest in a topic and assisting them to take in information faster, rather than taking the place of the teacher.

1. 
   myriad = numerous = many = countless
   
2. 
   limitation = constraint = restriction
   
3. 
   uniform = identical = standardised = homogeneous
   
4. 
   unsuited to-incompatible with
   
5. 
   unusual = uncommon = atypical
   
6. 
   non-standard = irregular
   
7. 
   unaligned with = inconsistent with
   
8. 
   elicit = obtain
   
9. 
   uncritical = unsuspecting
   
10. 
    attend to = look after = care for
    
11. 
    underrate = underestimate
    
12. 
    drill = practice = exercise
    
13. 
    take the place of = replace
    

Topic 99: Although it is generally prohibited, corporal punishment persists in many families. Do you think corporal punishment is an acceptable way to regulate children's behaviours?