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

Topic 16: Only government action can solve housing shortages in big cities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Housing shortage has become a serious urban social issue in many parts of the world. It has been argued that only when the government has taken actions, can demand for homes be fulfilled. Yet to the best of my knowledge, the government alone cannot cope well with housing shortages.

One of the main objections to government intervention is that it would hamper the private sector and simultaneously pose a huge burden upon the state. In countries where the government is on a tight budget and the homeless population is large, the involvement of private property developers is required and recommended. Not only does it release the government from the burden of funding large-sized construction programmes but it also fosters the housing industry. Given its role in attracting public consumption and accelerating economic development, the housing industry should be at the mercy of the market, rather than the government.

Another drawback of state control over the housing market is that it could result in the stagnancy of construction quality, functionality, facilities and other aspects of housing. Apartment blocks or other residential constructions would be built in a similar pattern and the cityscape would be monotonous. Excessive uniformity, especially in the size and number of rooms, will fail to meet comprehensive requirements raised by citizens on properties.

Despite these objections, government intervention is essential in some segments of the market and can render more resistance to citizens. Single parents, the people with disabilities and other disadvantaged people are among those who are not ready to afford commercial housing. UK-government can provide them either with housing allowance to purchase their private properties or directly with economical houses.

As indicated above, in addressing homelessness and inadequate housing, the joint effort of both government and private sector is required. While government intervention would impede the property market and negatively influence the supply and demand relationship, government assistance is essential for low-income families and vulnerable individuals in need of housing.

1. 
   objection = opposition = argument against
   
2. 
   at the mercy of = reliant on
   
3. 
   monotonous = repetitive
   
4. 
   uniformity = sameness
   
5. 
   comprehensive = wide-ranging = ample
   
6. 
   intervention = interference = involvement
   
7. 
   segment = sector = section
   
8. 
   allowance = subsidy = payment
   
9. 
   joint = combined-shared = united
   

Topic 17: There are social, medical and technical problems associated with the use of mobile phones. What form do these problems take? Do problems of using mobile phones outweigh the benefits?

Across the world, especially the wealthier parts, the mobile phone has taken the place of telephone as an electronic telecommunication device, with the majority of the adult, teenager and even child owning one. As this technology has become rife, its drawbacks, which can be seen from social, medical and technical perspectives, deserve people's greatest attention.

Similar to many other hi-tech products, such as computers, mobile phones have detrimental effects on users' health. For example, long-time heavy phone users seem to be more prone to certain types of cancers, although evidence to date is inconclusive. Another lethal health concern is the link between mobile phones and road accidents. It is argued that motorists have a much higher risk of collisions and losing control of the vehicle when driving and talking on the phone simultaneously, despite sometimes using hands-free systems.

When the mobile phone has brought considerable convenience, people's obsession with convenience has meanwhile caused enormous disturbance. That's why the use of mobile phones has been prohibited in many public places, such as libraries, theatres, hospitals and even transports, such as trains, buses and aircrafts. Speaking at increased volume is considered impolite or even offensive. In schools, students are required to switch off cell phones before the class begins because mobile phones are responsible for a high amount of class disruptions.

When its downside persists, the mobile phone has proven indispensable in modern life. It is handhold, lightweight, portable and multi-functioned, allowing users to send text messages, exchange music files, make voice calls, browse Internet, and so forth. Meanwhile, within twenty years, mobile phones are expected to be more pervasive as technical advances and mass manufacture will make them low-cost personal items. Given those factors, the mobile phone will continue to perform its role as a key social tool, by which one keeps in touch with others much more easily than did the generations before.

As suggested above, the contribution of the mobile phone to the society is prominent and people's dependence on it for communication is an irreversible trend, although it has a number of problems that should be well handled.

1. 
   device = equipment = appliance = instrument
   
2. 
   rife = widespread = prevalent = ubiquitous = predominant = rampant
   
3. 
   prone to = susceptible to = vulnerable to
   
4. 
   lethal = fatal = deadly = life-damaging
   
5. 
   motorist = driver = car user
   
6. 
   collision = crash = accident
   
7. 
   disturbance = annoyance = interruption
   
8. 
   disruption = interference = distraction
   
9. 
   pervasive = prevalent = omnipresent
   
10. 
    irreversible = permanent = irrevocable = unalterable