HERE ARE 18 STUDENTS ESSAYS EDITED:
1. Describe the place where you live and say whether you like it or not.
I’ve lived in Khemisset city all my life and it has never lost its unique charm in my eyes. Although it is small and lacks a lot of facilities and infrastructure I prefer it to other places.
One reason I prefer it is climate. In Khémisset the weather is often mild and temperate. It is not very cold in winter and not very hot in the summer. It is a salubrious weather and protects me from allergies and some other illnesses that I may catch in coastal or big cities.
Another reason to prefer Khémisset is its size. It is a small city with less stressful traffic jam. This means also fewer fumes and less car noise. There are almost no factories either. This makes the city cleaner than the big metropolitan ones. Living in a small city, as well, allows me to know most people here and be known. However, in big cities people suffer from loneliness and solitude.
The third reason why I like this city is its rural feel. Most people here are simple peasants. I like their condor, innocence, and simplicity as well as their straightforward character. The peasant nature of the city, too, allows me to be in contact with nature and live the four seasons and missing none.
My last, but not least, reason for preferring Khémisset over other cities is language. People speak Berber, a language I speak poorly. I understand it well and try my best to master it because it’s part of Moroccan culture and we do not have to neglect it.
My final opinion, though, is that I like Khémisset because of all the reasons stated earlier but one day I’ll have to experience life in other bigger cities, here or abroad. Then I’ll be in a better position to compare and judge.
One reason I prefer it is climate. In Khémisset the weather is often mild and temperate. It is not very cold in winter and not very hot in the summer. It is a salubrious weather and protects me from allergies and some other illnesses that I may catch in coastal or big cities.
Another reason to prefer Khémisset is its size. It is a small city with less stressful traffic jam. This means also fewer fumes and less car noise. There are almost no factories either. This makes the city cleaner than the big metropolitan ones. Living in a small city, as well, allows me to know most people here and be known. However, in big cities people suffer from loneliness and solitude.
The third reason why I like this city is its rural feel. Most people here are simple peasants. I like their condor, innocence, and simplicity as well as their straightforward character. The peasant nature of the city, too, allows me to be in contact with nature and live the four seasons and missing none.
My last, but not least, reason for preferring Khémisset over other cities is language. People speak Berber, a language I speak poorly. I understand it well and try my best to master it because it’s part of Moroccan culture and we do not have to neglect it.
My final opinion, though, is that I like Khémisset because of all the reasons stated earlier but one day I’ll have to experience life in other bigger cities, here or abroad. Then I’ll be in a better position to compare and judge.
2. What are the advantages and drawbacks of cell phones?
Cell phones are something that people have with them all the time nowadays. It’s a very personal communication media. The proliferation of mobile phones and the popularity of text massaging is a double-edged sword.
On the positive side, it allows people to get in touch with one another. It gives them a way of checking in with each other or summoning help in an emergency.
Besides, cell phones have made far away places closer. You can talk to anyone on this planet from your mobile phone as if they are a few meters away.
Also, cell phones provide us with an opportunity to communicate cheaply with SMS text messages. One can chat or send and important messages via SMS service without being charged a big sum.
In addition, voice mail service allows us to always stay in contact. You can always get your message through to the other person by recording it in the voice mail. This way you save time since you don’t have to retry again and again.
Moreover, cell phones have a lot of other uses. They can be used as an address book, as a memo, as a calculator, as a stopwatch, as a tape recorder as a camera etc. It is this multi-use and practicality that make its popularity, plus the fact that it is easy and handy.
On the negative side, cell phones may be used badly. They can contribute to risks the way they contribute to safety. Cell phones may be used to disturb people by ringing them up at night, at work, in holy places such as mosques. They can be used to track down people and threaten them. Also, people may receive unwanted calls as well as bullying messages and immoral pictures (sex). In addition, people complain they have no privacy: anyone can easily find you whenever they want.
So, cell phones are a necessary evil in modern times. We should regulate their use and learn how, where, and when to use them. They have to serve us and not enslave us.
On the positive side, it allows people to get in touch with one another. It gives them a way of checking in with each other or summoning help in an emergency.
Besides, cell phones have made far away places closer. You can talk to anyone on this planet from your mobile phone as if they are a few meters away.
Also, cell phones provide us with an opportunity to communicate cheaply with SMS text messages. One can chat or send and important messages via SMS service without being charged a big sum.
In addition, voice mail service allows us to always stay in contact. You can always get your message through to the other person by recording it in the voice mail. This way you save time since you don’t have to retry again and again.
Moreover, cell phones have a lot of other uses. They can be used as an address book, as a memo, as a calculator, as a stopwatch, as a tape recorder as a camera etc. It is this multi-use and practicality that make its popularity, plus the fact that it is easy and handy.
On the negative side, cell phones may be used badly. They can contribute to risks the way they contribute to safety. Cell phones may be used to disturb people by ringing them up at night, at work, in holy places such as mosques. They can be used to track down people and threaten them. Also, people may receive unwanted calls as well as bullying messages and immoral pictures (sex). In addition, people complain they have no privacy: anyone can easily find you whenever they want.
So, cell phones are a necessary evil in modern times. We should regulate their use and learn how, where, and when to use them. They have to serve us and not enslave us.
3. Write a biographical essay about a famous person.
Shakespeare, the greatest English actor, poet and playwright of all times was born on April 26, 1564, in England and died on April 23, 1616.
His father John Shakespeare was a glove maker and a leather craftsman. Mary and John Shakespeare had 8 children, but most of them died and William was the only one to be famous.
Shakespeare probably began his education at the age of six or seven at the Stratford Grammar School but did not go to Oxford or Cambridge like other famous people. He learnt, in addition to English, Latin and studied Latin authors like Seneca, Cicero, Ovid, Virgil, and Horace He also worked for a butcher, in addition to helping his father in his shop. At the age of 18, he married an orphan named Hathaway (26 years old). They had two daughters and a boy but the boy died early.
Shakespeare played in London theaters (1592) before joining a group of actors called “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men” in 1594. They later became wealthy and built their own theater across the Thames, south of London, which they called “The Globe”. William Shakespeare wrote 38 plays (Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, the Merchant of Venice, and Much Ado about Nothing….), 154 sonnets and 5 other poems.
In his dramatic works, Shakespeare has provided insights into human nature which equal those of the greatest modern psychologists. Hundreds of expressions, sayings and proverbs that we use every day originated in Shakespeare’s plays. “ To be or not to be that’s the question” , “ All’s well that ends well” , “ Cowards die many times before their deaths” , and “ We have seen better days” , “ Fair play”.
His father John Shakespeare was a glove maker and a leather craftsman. Mary and John Shakespeare had 8 children, but most of them died and William was the only one to be famous.
Shakespeare probably began his education at the age of six or seven at the Stratford Grammar School but did not go to Oxford or Cambridge like other famous people. He learnt, in addition to English, Latin and studied Latin authors like Seneca, Cicero, Ovid, Virgil, and Horace He also worked for a butcher, in addition to helping his father in his shop. At the age of 18, he married an orphan named Hathaway (26 years old). They had two daughters and a boy but the boy died early.
Shakespeare played in London theaters (1592) before joining a group of actors called “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men” in 1594. They later became wealthy and built their own theater across the Thames, south of London, which they called “The Globe”. William Shakespeare wrote 38 plays (Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, the Merchant of Venice, and Much Ado about Nothing….), 154 sonnets and 5 other poems.
In his dramatic works, Shakespeare has provided insights into human nature which equal those of the greatest modern psychologists. Hundreds of expressions, sayings and proverbs that we use every day originated in Shakespeare’s plays. “ To be or not to be that’s the question” , “ All’s well that ends well” , “ Cowards die many times before their deaths” , and “ We have seen better days” , “ Fair play”.
4. Write an essay outlining the causes and consequences of Divorce.
Money is the one thing that people say they argue about most in marriage, followed by children. However there are as many causes as there are cases of divorce. In this game of revenge children become the pawns.
Many studies place money or financial problems as the cause number one. Couples who cannot make ends meet or whose wages and salaries do not allow them to provide for a good living find it difficult to stay wedded. This can be worse if the wife or husband (sometimes) is too demanding.
Second, infidelity is another cause. The spouse, for example, may become too ugly. Love life, on the other hand, may no longer be exciting because the expectations or needs of one or both are not met.
Addictions and substance abuse is cause number three for divorce. I mean the use of drugs and alcohol. This may result in physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
Also, lack of communication between couples may be another cause. Poor communication can bring a dramatic change in marriages. How they argue is more important than what they argue about. Talking and expressing one's feelings and ideas may save marriages.
The consequences of divorce fall mostly on children. It has devastating, long-term effect on them psychologically and emotionally. Divorce happens at a time when kids need stability and support.
Spouses, especially women, suffer from divorce because it is often followed by a “crisis period” typically lasting for years. These crises can be emotional, economical or have to do with parenting which results in different disorders for children.
Eventually, the main factors that make a marriage work are a combination of the three C’s – communication, compromise, and commitment, with a little bit of concession.
Many studies place money or financial problems as the cause number one. Couples who cannot make ends meet or whose wages and salaries do not allow them to provide for a good living find it difficult to stay wedded. This can be worse if the wife or husband (sometimes) is too demanding.
Second, infidelity is another cause. The spouse, for example, may become too ugly. Love life, on the other hand, may no longer be exciting because the expectations or needs of one or both are not met.
Addictions and substance abuse is cause number three for divorce. I mean the use of drugs and alcohol. This may result in physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
Also, lack of communication between couples may be another cause. Poor communication can bring a dramatic change in marriages. How they argue is more important than what they argue about. Talking and expressing one's feelings and ideas may save marriages.
The consequences of divorce fall mostly on children. It has devastating, long-term effect on them psychologically and emotionally. Divorce happens at a time when kids need stability and support.
Spouses, especially women, suffer from divorce because it is often followed by a “crisis period” typically lasting for years. These crises can be emotional, economical or have to do with parenting which results in different disorders for children.
Eventually, the main factors that make a marriage work are a combination of the three C’s – communication, compromise, and commitment, with a little bit of concession.
5. What are the causes and effects of pollution?
Modern World suffers many headaches: Wars, famines, earthquakes, droughts, pollution to name only a few. Pollution which is a cause to other problems has a litany of causes which seem unlikely to be beaten in the near future.
Human beings are the first to blame for pollution. It is their cars that emit the fumes that pollute the air. It is their factories that release the harmful elements in the atmosphere (lead, dioxin, toxin…..) It is human beings who throw rubbish, sewage, oil etc into the waters (rivers and seas). It is humans who cut down millions of trees which produce oxygen and medicine for us. It is us, people, who are responsible for wars that destroy life on land, air and sea and leave poisonous nuclear substances to kill living things for thousands of years to come.
This pollution is responsible for numerous lethal diseases and makes people vulnerable to others such as asthma, allergies, and all chest illnesses. It is also the cause of erosion, droughts, global warming, ozone layer hole, and the worst is yet to come.
To save what is left we have to act quickly, swiftly and altogether. A detailed research is necessary to establish what actions should be taken to properly fight and face pollution. However, education is the key to protecting our environment.
From my viewpoint, people have to be educated into the harmful effects of pollution at schools, through campaigns, and advertisement on the media to sensitize everyone and make them aware of the dangers of pollution .Also, encouragement should be used as well as punishment.
Human beings are the first to blame for pollution. It is their cars that emit the fumes that pollute the air. It is their factories that release the harmful elements in the atmosphere (lead, dioxin, toxin…..) It is human beings who throw rubbish, sewage, oil etc into the waters (rivers and seas). It is humans who cut down millions of trees which produce oxygen and medicine for us. It is us, people, who are responsible for wars that destroy life on land, air and sea and leave poisonous nuclear substances to kill living things for thousands of years to come.
This pollution is responsible for numerous lethal diseases and makes people vulnerable to others such as asthma, allergies, and all chest illnesses. It is also the cause of erosion, droughts, global warming, ozone layer hole, and the worst is yet to come.
To save what is left we have to act quickly, swiftly and altogether. A detailed research is necessary to establish what actions should be taken to properly fight and face pollution. However, education is the key to protecting our environment.
From my viewpoint, people have to be educated into the harmful effects of pollution at schools, through campaigns, and advertisement on the media to sensitize everyone and make them aware of the dangers of pollution .Also, encouragement should be used as well as punishment.
6. Why do some people fear modern Technology?
Today we are living in the Age of Technology but some people do not like, trust, or want to use technology, especially computers. So we either accept these changes and move with the times, or we resist and become technophobes.
Technophobes are anxious because the environment in which they live and work is changing. Most fears are expressed by a strong physical reaction. Technophobes suffer feelings of self doubt and anxiety. They often feel insecure and obsolete. Some worry that they will lose their job because they cannot keep up with the times. In more extreme cases, technophobes convince themselves that technology will take over the world or that humans will be controlled by computers and robots.
In most cases technophobes belong to older generations who were not brought up playing with computer games and cell phones .They have never sent a text message or heard of an iPod. Not only do they not possess a DVD, they still have not worked out how to use their VHS .These examples seem to validate the old saying, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. It is understandable that techno-phobia exists. Experts in the field of technology are becoming younger and younger .Traditionally information and knowledge has been passed down from older generations to younger generations. Now it’s the other way around. And that’s what upsets the elders.
If ignorance is, in most cases, the cause of techno-phobia, then it follows that knowledge and learning is the way to rectify the situation. What technophobes need is information. Simple computer classes often prove highly successful, especially where the student groups are made up of peer groups, like-minded people of a similar age who are willing to learn but who have no desire to be patronized by fellow students who are twenty years younger and possibly quicker on the up-take.
To sum up techno-phobia results from ignorance and the only way to remediate it is by teaching the elder. This is because if you know it you won’t fear it.
Technophobes are anxious because the environment in which they live and work is changing. Most fears are expressed by a strong physical reaction. Technophobes suffer feelings of self doubt and anxiety. They often feel insecure and obsolete. Some worry that they will lose their job because they cannot keep up with the times. In more extreme cases, technophobes convince themselves that technology will take over the world or that humans will be controlled by computers and robots.
In most cases technophobes belong to older generations who were not brought up playing with computer games and cell phones .They have never sent a text message or heard of an iPod. Not only do they not possess a DVD, they still have not worked out how to use their VHS .These examples seem to validate the old saying, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. It is understandable that techno-phobia exists. Experts in the field of technology are becoming younger and younger .Traditionally information and knowledge has been passed down from older generations to younger generations. Now it’s the other way around. And that’s what upsets the elders.
If ignorance is, in most cases, the cause of techno-phobia, then it follows that knowledge and learning is the way to rectify the situation. What technophobes need is information. Simple computer classes often prove highly successful, especially where the student groups are made up of peer groups, like-minded people of a similar age who are willing to learn but who have no desire to be patronized by fellow students who are twenty years younger and possibly quicker on the up-take.
To sum up techno-phobia results from ignorance and the only way to remediate it is by teaching the elder. This is because if you know it you won’t fear it.
7. Write an essay about a film you have seen
I didn’t have class last Friday afternoon, so I accepted my friend’s invitation to go the movies. “Amok” was on at the Royal cinema which is my favourite place to watch good films.
“Amok” is a film made by the Moroccan producer, Souheil Ben Berka with a crew made of Moroccans, Europeans, Americans, and Africans. Meriam Makeba and Robert Leisol played the leading roles.
The story takes place in South Africa: one day a black school teacher left his village and went to visit his sister in the big city of Johannesburg. There he was chocked and appalled by the terrible conditions in which the black people live. He saw poverty, misery, unemployment, violence, discrimination, prostitution and a lot more.
This film is worth seeing because it is a smashing one describing the life of the blacks under the apartheid regime in South Africa. The actors, too, are excellent and their performance is good and convincing. Besides, the music performed by Meriam Makeba, herself, is sad but expressive. I liked it a lot.
My final opinion, though, about the film is that some parts are too violent but it shows the harsh reality of the blacks in a rich but racist regime.
“Amok” is a film made by the Moroccan producer, Souheil Ben Berka with a crew made of Moroccans, Europeans, Americans, and Africans. Meriam Makeba and Robert Leisol played the leading roles.
The story takes place in South Africa: one day a black school teacher left his village and went to visit his sister in the big city of Johannesburg. There he was chocked and appalled by the terrible conditions in which the black people live. He saw poverty, misery, unemployment, violence, discrimination, prostitution and a lot more.
This film is worth seeing because it is a smashing one describing the life of the blacks under the apartheid regime in South Africa. The actors, too, are excellent and their performance is good and convincing. Besides, the music performed by Meriam Makeba, herself, is sad but expressive. I liked it a lot.
My final opinion, though, about the film is that some parts are too violent but it shows the harsh reality of the blacks in a rich but racist regime.
8. What is terrorism and how can we fight it?
Terrorism is the use of violence for political reasons. This includes any use of violence for the purpose of putting the public in fear.
Terrorists typically reject democratic means of change, like elections, and believe that only violence can bring about their political goals. So, terrorists often strike out at ordinary, innocent people - even children. They want to show that the government cannot protect its own citizens.
Radicalism or terrorism is an ideological movement and political approach that is foreign to Islam. When examined closely, these radical groups, it becomes clear that they are using a compilation of Communist/Marxist slogans and methods.
Terrorism, then, is one of the greatest dangers facing mankind and which has to be fought before it engulfs the world. Firstly, people should be willing to cooperate and give up some of their freedoms to be secure from terrorism (checkpoints, inspections of identity…). Secondly, we should make change in the law to increase police powers. Thirdly, we have to reduce the sentences of convicted terrorists if they volunteered useful information. Fourthly, we need to fight illiteracy, poverty, and unemployment to prevent young people from joining terrorist groups who promise a better life.
Finally, as a reminder, Islam considers any attack on innocent people as a major crime. They are not Muslims those who adopt the “fanatical rage of the Time of Ignorance” (Qur’an).
Terrorists typically reject democratic means of change, like elections, and believe that only violence can bring about their political goals. So, terrorists often strike out at ordinary, innocent people - even children. They want to show that the government cannot protect its own citizens.
Radicalism or terrorism is an ideological movement and political approach that is foreign to Islam. When examined closely, these radical groups, it becomes clear that they are using a compilation of Communist/Marxist slogans and methods.
Terrorism, then, is one of the greatest dangers facing mankind and which has to be fought before it engulfs the world. Firstly, people should be willing to cooperate and give up some of their freedoms to be secure from terrorism (checkpoints, inspections of identity…). Secondly, we should make change in the law to increase police powers. Thirdly, we have to reduce the sentences of convicted terrorists if they volunteered useful information. Fourthly, we need to fight illiteracy, poverty, and unemployment to prevent young people from joining terrorist groups who promise a better life.
Finally, as a reminder, Islam considers any attack on innocent people as a major crime. They are not Muslims those who adopt the “fanatical rage of the Time of Ignorance” (Qur’an).
9. Why do people move to the cities? What are the causes and consequences of this drift?
A lot of people emigrate from the country to the city. This drift has a lot of causes as well as effects.
The first cause, in my opinion, is drought. Severe droughts have not only ruined the crops in Morocco but also left people with very little or no water for them and for their crops and animals. So, lack of water in the country means unemployment.
Secondly, work is hard in the country because poor peasants have no machinery. Most of them work more than ten hours a day and do not have any vacation at all.
Thirdly, there is a shortage in schools in the Moroccan country side. That's why the farmers prefer to move to the city so as to give their children good education.
Fourthly, the country in Morocco lacks good infrastructure and services. There is no electricity, no roads, no hospitals, no recreational or sporting facilities…
Because of all these and other things a lot of people prefer to drift toward the cities. This immigration has, however, a lot of consequences. Among these are: these people often settle in the outskirts of the cities where housing is not adequate: no electricity, or tap water, or hygiene.
Also children often find it hard to adapt to the city life and may not continue their education in crowded classes in the outskirts of the cities where these families settle. So, they drop out of school and turn to drugs, crimes, and violence.
Transportation, as well, is a problem here. Buses and taxies are often crowded and uncomfortable. So these immigrants just jump "from the frying pan into the fire"
To conclude, I think, providing people in the country with good infrastructure and creating jobs for them in the country is the only way to encourage people to stay there.
The first cause, in my opinion, is drought. Severe droughts have not only ruined the crops in Morocco but also left people with very little or no water for them and for their crops and animals. So, lack of water in the country means unemployment.
Secondly, work is hard in the country because poor peasants have no machinery. Most of them work more than ten hours a day and do not have any vacation at all.
Thirdly, there is a shortage in schools in the Moroccan country side. That's why the farmers prefer to move to the city so as to give their children good education.
Fourthly, the country in Morocco lacks good infrastructure and services. There is no electricity, no roads, no hospitals, no recreational or sporting facilities…
Because of all these and other things a lot of people prefer to drift toward the cities. This immigration has, however, a lot of consequences. Among these are: these people often settle in the outskirts of the cities where housing is not adequate: no electricity, or tap water, or hygiene.
Also children often find it hard to adapt to the city life and may not continue their education in crowded classes in the outskirts of the cities where these families settle. So, they drop out of school and turn to drugs, crimes, and violence.
Transportation, as well, is a problem here. Buses and taxies are often crowded and uncomfortable. So these immigrants just jump "from the frying pan into the fire"
To conclude, I think, providing people in the country with good infrastructure and creating jobs for them in the country is the only way to encourage people to stay there.
10. Why more women should go out to work.
Though to work or not to work is a decision women should make with their spouses and family, I personally think that there are various reasons women should not stay at home.
To begin with, the man’s salary is not enough to cover all the household expenses and make ends meet. You have to have two to get by. You need two incomes to survive in today’s troubled economy, hence the need for extra income and a second pay-check.
Also, It's selfish for women in this troubled economy to depend and rely on their spouse for support: There's nothing worse than seeing some poor guy working 60 hours a week while his wife sits at home and spends his money.
Besides, women should contribute to society in some way even if they are wealthy enough to live on one income...working for spending money, volunteering, etc. Women should work to pass time and to make money. It's an insult to the women in today's world who do have to work, raise kids, and do all the other little things that need to be done.
Moreover, housewives become overly dependent on the men in their lives, which make them vulnerable. Women should not be denied of having career aspirations. Women need to have the skills and ability to support themselves if they need to.
All in all, women should work if they want to but men and women should then share all the responsibilities of the house and children 1/2 and 1/2. Men should help raise the kids and do housework and women should make some money.
To begin with, the man’s salary is not enough to cover all the household expenses and make ends meet. You have to have two to get by. You need two incomes to survive in today’s troubled economy, hence the need for extra income and a second pay-check.
Also, It's selfish for women in this troubled economy to depend and rely on their spouse for support: There's nothing worse than seeing some poor guy working 60 hours a week while his wife sits at home and spends his money.
Besides, women should contribute to society in some way even if they are wealthy enough to live on one income...working for spending money, volunteering, etc. Women should work to pass time and to make money. It's an insult to the women in today's world who do have to work, raise kids, and do all the other little things that need to be done.
Moreover, housewives become overly dependent on the men in their lives, which make them vulnerable. Women should not be denied of having career aspirations. Women need to have the skills and ability to support themselves if they need to.
All in all, women should work if they want to but men and women should then share all the responsibilities of the house and children 1/2 and 1/2. Men should help raise the kids and do housework and women should make some money.
11. What are the advantages and disadvantages of modern technology?
Technology can be defined as science applied to practical purposes. It is easy to think about the advantages of modern technology, but what about its disadvantages? Technology today has made life easier and quicker but also dangerous.
Modern technology makes life easier for people. For example, microwave ovens cook food easily. Dishwashers wash all dirty dishes and dry them. Moreover TVs, personal computers, cell phones and the internet have enhanced the welfare and wellbeing of people worldwide. These have provided various ways of entertainment, have improved people’s lives, helped hem to communicate, and offered them ways to get to distant parts of the world in little time.
Also, modern technology saves many innocent lives. Medical science is very progressive and vastly available today. Many life-saving discoveries are all thanks to modern technology. Without brain scanners, fetal monitors, endoscopes, lasers, radioactive chemicals and computers, a lot of people would struggle with their health.
On the minus side modern technology has come up with deadly and dangerous weapons such as poison gas bombs and nuclear bombs. And while many people live in horrible conditions and famine, governments spend a lot of money on developing weapon industry. Besides, the weapon machinery pollutes the globe and endangers our environment.
In addition, modern technology has made us so dependent on it that we feel lost without it. We feel helpless, defeated, and lost if our machines break down. We, also, become so addicted to these tools that we loose all real interpersonal relationships.
Modern Technology also creates financial problems in families because it has dangled before their eyes a litany of expensive gadgets they cannot afford. Thus, the push-button dreamworld raises people’s material expectations to an unrealistic level. Some people, then, may turn to crime and corruption to increase their material wealth.
Eventually, everything that we use in life is good or bad depending upon the use. It contributed immensely to the overall experience of humankind; to our material comfort and well-being and to our greater understanding of the world we live in. However, we must balance the use of technology with the possibility we may be crushed by these new ways of doing things.
Modern technology makes life easier for people. For example, microwave ovens cook food easily. Dishwashers wash all dirty dishes and dry them. Moreover TVs, personal computers, cell phones and the internet have enhanced the welfare and wellbeing of people worldwide. These have provided various ways of entertainment, have improved people’s lives, helped hem to communicate, and offered them ways to get to distant parts of the world in little time.
Also, modern technology saves many innocent lives. Medical science is very progressive and vastly available today. Many life-saving discoveries are all thanks to modern technology. Without brain scanners, fetal monitors, endoscopes, lasers, radioactive chemicals and computers, a lot of people would struggle with their health.
On the minus side modern technology has come up with deadly and dangerous weapons such as poison gas bombs and nuclear bombs. And while many people live in horrible conditions and famine, governments spend a lot of money on developing weapon industry. Besides, the weapon machinery pollutes the globe and endangers our environment.
In addition, modern technology has made us so dependent on it that we feel lost without it. We feel helpless, defeated, and lost if our machines break down. We, also, become so addicted to these tools that we loose all real interpersonal relationships.
Modern Technology also creates financial problems in families because it has dangled before their eyes a litany of expensive gadgets they cannot afford. Thus, the push-button dreamworld raises people’s material expectations to an unrealistic level. Some people, then, may turn to crime and corruption to increase their material wealth.
Eventually, everything that we use in life is good or bad depending upon the use. It contributed immensely to the overall experience of humankind; to our material comfort and well-being and to our greater understanding of the world we live in. However, we must balance the use of technology with the possibility we may be crushed by these new ways of doing things.
12. Would you like to live in the country or in the city? Why?
Some people think the country is better than the city and others take the city for granted. However, both the country and the city have advantages and drawbacks.
In the country, the air is clean, the water is pure and the environment is beautiful while most cities choke in their own filth and pollution. Also, people there are friendly. A friendly smile while passing is standard in the country and it’s sincere; whereas, in the city few people smile at you. In fact, they are likely to regard you with suspicion if you smile at them. Besides, people in the country enjoy more tranquility than those in big cities. There is less noise and life is calm and relaxed. Once on foot in the city, you find yourself in an ant colony, or a cage with too many rats. As for food, it is fresher in the country. Farmers sell fresh produce, which they bring straight from the fields, at their stand just around the corner. Moreover, the city is rife with violence and crimes: Many thefts and murders often take place in the city.
On the other hand, the city has its own benefits. City residents have greater access to health care. When a person falls ill there are good government and private hospital in the city to get treatment. Also, children living in the city can get a good education, because there are better schools in the city than in the village as well as libraries. Besides, people in the city can lead a comfortable and enjoyable life and have access to more social and cultural events. There are a lot of facilities and necessary infrastructure: movie theaters, hotels, clubs, electricity, running water, means of transport etc. Moreover, city dwellers have more job opportunities and possibilities for making money as well as opportunities to progress in their life.
Both the country and the city have special qualities. Our choice –whether to live in a rural or urban area - will depend on factors such as personality, mood, background, habits etc. We should also try to create a world having advantages of both lives.
In the country, the air is clean, the water is pure and the environment is beautiful while most cities choke in their own filth and pollution. Also, people there are friendly. A friendly smile while passing is standard in the country and it’s sincere; whereas, in the city few people smile at you. In fact, they are likely to regard you with suspicion if you smile at them. Besides, people in the country enjoy more tranquility than those in big cities. There is less noise and life is calm and relaxed. Once on foot in the city, you find yourself in an ant colony, or a cage with too many rats. As for food, it is fresher in the country. Farmers sell fresh produce, which they bring straight from the fields, at their stand just around the corner. Moreover, the city is rife with violence and crimes: Many thefts and murders often take place in the city.
On the other hand, the city has its own benefits. City residents have greater access to health care. When a person falls ill there are good government and private hospital in the city to get treatment. Also, children living in the city can get a good education, because there are better schools in the city than in the village as well as libraries. Besides, people in the city can lead a comfortable and enjoyable life and have access to more social and cultural events. There are a lot of facilities and necessary infrastructure: movie theaters, hotels, clubs, electricity, running water, means of transport etc. Moreover, city dwellers have more job opportunities and possibilities for making money as well as opportunities to progress in their life.
Both the country and the city have special qualities. Our choice –whether to live in a rural or urban area - will depend on factors such as personality, mood, background, habits etc. We should also try to create a world having advantages of both lives.
13. What are the benefits of humor?
According to Wikipedia, humor is the tendency of particular cognitive experiences to provoke laughter and provide amusement. It is a birthright, a natural part of life, which has multiple benefits mentally, physically, and socially.
Victor Borge said that Humor is the best medicine. People who laugh on regular basis have lower standing blood pressure than people who don’t. Laughter exercises almost the entire body and stimulates both sides of the brain. It boosts the immune system making us stronger and better able to fight diseases. It protects the heart, reduces stress, and fosters instant relaxation. It also releases pent-up feelings of anger and frustration and makes us feel good.
Socially, humor is the shortest distance between two people. Humor initiates conversation and generally builds a more trusting atmosphere. Humor unites us, reduces our hostility, deflects criticism, improves our moral, and eases tension, especially when we laugh together. Humor is enjoyed best when shared with others. Our works, marriages, celebrations, friendships, all need humor. Laughs and smiles also help us avoid loneliness by connecting with others who are attracted to genuine cheerfulness.
To develop a sense of humor and make it part of our every day life we need to take life lightly and seek out funny people. We also need to hang out with children more often to enhance our playfulness and add humor to our life. Besides, we have to watch comedy DVDs and TV shows, read comic authors and jokes, and spend less time with very serious people. Most of all, we need to count our blessings.
Eventually, we need to learn to see hope in the midst of sadness though not all people have the same taste in humor Because humor is the best medicine for both the mind and body. So, keep laughing and you will live better, healthier and maybe longer.
Victor Borge said that Humor is the best medicine. People who laugh on regular basis have lower standing blood pressure than people who don’t. Laughter exercises almost the entire body and stimulates both sides of the brain. It boosts the immune system making us stronger and better able to fight diseases. It protects the heart, reduces stress, and fosters instant relaxation. It also releases pent-up feelings of anger and frustration and makes us feel good.
Socially, humor is the shortest distance between two people. Humor initiates conversation and generally builds a more trusting atmosphere. Humor unites us, reduces our hostility, deflects criticism, improves our moral, and eases tension, especially when we laugh together. Humor is enjoyed best when shared with others. Our works, marriages, celebrations, friendships, all need humor. Laughs and smiles also help us avoid loneliness by connecting with others who are attracted to genuine cheerfulness.
To develop a sense of humor and make it part of our every day life we need to take life lightly and seek out funny people. We also need to hang out with children more often to enhance our playfulness and add humor to our life. Besides, we have to watch comedy DVDs and TV shows, read comic authors and jokes, and spend less time with very serious people. Most of all, we need to count our blessings.
Eventually, we need to learn to see hope in the midst of sadness though not all people have the same taste in humor Because humor is the best medicine for both the mind and body. So, keep laughing and you will live better, healthier and maybe longer.
14. Write a descriptive essay: talk about an experience, an event, a place, or a person.
Cultures, traditions and ceremonies differ from country to country. The Moroccan wedding ceremony is special, rich and quite elaborate. The wedding ceremony I attended in my hometown last weekend is no exception.
The ceremony took place in a very large villa which had been built for various celebrations. It was excellently furnished and nicely decorated. It includes embroidered couches, nice sofas, and comfortable upscale furniture.
There were large set tables surrounded by ten chairs each. The light from chandeliers above added to the beauty of the atmosphere. The waiters in their white shirts and black slacks and bow-ties were extremely attentive, very courteous, and friendly. At 9 o’clock, the guests started to arrive. They were dressed up to the finest. Men were wearing their most expensive and most beautiful attires. Most women dressed up to the nines. They were wearing gorgeous Kaftans or Takchitas or Djellabas – all Moroccan traditional robes. Suddenly the sound of drums and trumpets and the ecstatic singing filled the air. The guests stood up and craned their necks to see the entering bride. Many began to dance to the tone of the music of the orchestra. The bride and the groom greeted the audience with smiles and hand gestures. Dressed in her Moroccan wedding gown of brightly colored silk and embroidered with gold, the bride hand in hand with her husband walked in slowly followed by three women. The latter are in charge of beautifying the bride and changing her into various traditional outfits. They had adorned her with heavy jewelry and darkened her eyes with kohl. Her hands and feet had also been painted with the henna the night before by a special artist who had used intricate floral and geometric design in the presence of friends and relatives.
After the bride and the groom had sat on their throne facing the guests, the waiters served them milk and dates. The orchestra sang all kinds of Moroccan pop songs. From time to time the bride and groom would go out to change their attire. They wore clothes that represented each region of Morocco: Fassi, Sussi, Rbati and Zemouri clothes. Whenever they changed clothes the band would sing the songs of that region.
Midnight was time for dinner. They served various sumptuous dishes. There were more than three helpings. At 4 o'clock, the band was still playing. Then, the waiters served tea and cakes. It was a breakfast for me. I wished the new couple good luck and a blissful marital life. I was sleep-deprived and tired. So, I left.
The ceremony took place in a very large villa which had been built for various celebrations. It was excellently furnished and nicely decorated. It includes embroidered couches, nice sofas, and comfortable upscale furniture.
There were large set tables surrounded by ten chairs each. The light from chandeliers above added to the beauty of the atmosphere. The waiters in their white shirts and black slacks and bow-ties were extremely attentive, very courteous, and friendly. At 9 o’clock, the guests started to arrive. They were dressed up to the finest. Men were wearing their most expensive and most beautiful attires. Most women dressed up to the nines. They were wearing gorgeous Kaftans or Takchitas or Djellabas – all Moroccan traditional robes. Suddenly the sound of drums and trumpets and the ecstatic singing filled the air. The guests stood up and craned their necks to see the entering bride. Many began to dance to the tone of the music of the orchestra. The bride and the groom greeted the audience with smiles and hand gestures. Dressed in her Moroccan wedding gown of brightly colored silk and embroidered with gold, the bride hand in hand with her husband walked in slowly followed by three women. The latter are in charge of beautifying the bride and changing her into various traditional outfits. They had adorned her with heavy jewelry and darkened her eyes with kohl. Her hands and feet had also been painted with the henna the night before by a special artist who had used intricate floral and geometric design in the presence of friends and relatives.
After the bride and the groom had sat on their throne facing the guests, the waiters served them milk and dates. The orchestra sang all kinds of Moroccan pop songs. From time to time the bride and groom would go out to change their attire. They wore clothes that represented each region of Morocco: Fassi, Sussi, Rbati and Zemouri clothes. Whenever they changed clothes the band would sing the songs of that region.
Midnight was time for dinner. They served various sumptuous dishes. There were more than three helpings. At 4 o'clock, the band was still playing. Then, the waiters served tea and cakes. It was a breakfast for me. I wished the new couple good luck and a blissful marital life. I was sleep-deprived and tired. So, I left.
15. The Effects of Cigarette Smoking (http://www.eslbee.com/effects_of_cigarette_smoking.htm)
There have been numerous campaigns against cigarette smoking communicating that this vice causes death. But a threat to health doesn’t seem to be a good reason for quitting anymore. People somehow block themselves and ignore all the information that is given to them. The purpose of this essay is to discuss three effects of cigarette smoking, besides the broadly mentioned possibility of developing cancer or dying, which are the smell of smoke, the stained teeth, and the cost of doing it.
The first effect of cigarette smoking, and probably the one that the non-smokers hate the most, is that it permeates everything around it. Smokers usually have smelly hair, breath, clothes, and, if they smoke indoors, a smelly room. The stench of cigarette smoke is very penetrating and hard to remove. Even if the person quits smoking the odor remains for a long time.
The second effect of cigarette smoking is one that most people don’t even take into consideration. It stains the teeth yellow or sometimes even brown. Since this effect is long term, most people are not aware of it when they begin smoking. The truth is that a cigarette stain is very hard to eliminate from the teeth, and it will probably end up costing a considerable amount of money. Yellow teeth are disgusting because they give an unhygienic image and make people look older.
The third effect of smoking is that it will eventually end up affecting the smoker’s personal economy. Depending on the country the prices of cigarettes can differ. But even at an affordable price the regular consumption of cigarettes will eventually take its economic toll.
These are only three out of many other effects that cigarette smoking can have, but to any sensible person they are more than enough to realize that smoking is bad. People can’t possibly be proud of calling themselves smokers. It is terrible for health as well as personal appearance. In the end, those who live in poverty, stink of smoke, and have yellow teeth are the people who are affected the most by this life threatening activity.
The first effect of cigarette smoking, and probably the one that the non-smokers hate the most, is that it permeates everything around it. Smokers usually have smelly hair, breath, clothes, and, if they smoke indoors, a smelly room. The stench of cigarette smoke is very penetrating and hard to remove. Even if the person quits smoking the odor remains for a long time.
The second effect of cigarette smoking is one that most people don’t even take into consideration. It stains the teeth yellow or sometimes even brown. Since this effect is long term, most people are not aware of it when they begin smoking. The truth is that a cigarette stain is very hard to eliminate from the teeth, and it will probably end up costing a considerable amount of money. Yellow teeth are disgusting because they give an unhygienic image and make people look older.
The third effect of smoking is that it will eventually end up affecting the smoker’s personal economy. Depending on the country the prices of cigarettes can differ. But even at an affordable price the regular consumption of cigarettes will eventually take its economic toll.
These are only three out of many other effects that cigarette smoking can have, but to any sensible person they are more than enough to realize that smoking is bad. People can’t possibly be proud of calling themselves smokers. It is terrible for health as well as personal appearance. In the end, those who live in poverty, stink of smoke, and have yellow teeth are the people who are affected the most by this life threatening activity.
16. Why people shouldn’t watch too much TV (http://www.eslbee.com/why_people_should_not_watch_too_much_television.htm)
Watching television is an experience shared by most adults and children. It is cheap, appealing, and within the reach of the general public. In this way, TV has become an important mass media around the world. Sadly, this resource isn’t used in a way that people could get the best possible benefits from it. The purpose of this essay is to persuade the reader that people shouldn’t watch too much television because the content of many TV programs is not educational; it makes people waste time that could be used in more beneficial activities; and it negatively affects people’s mental development.
The first reason why people shouldn’t watch too much television is because the content of many TV programs is not educational. Nowadays, we can see movies, series, and shows that present scenes of violence, sex, and drugs. This has established wrong concepts among the audience that influence them into having a negative behavior. Moreover, the impact this tendency has on children is worse because they grow up with the idea of a world where women must be slender and blonde to stand out, where problems can only be solved with money and violence, and where wars are inevitable.
The second reason why people shouldn’t watch too much television is because it makes people waste time that could be used in more beneficial activities. The time we spend watching TV could be applied to useful activities like exercise, reading, interacting with friends and family, activities that are a crucial for a healthy lifestyle.
The third reason why people shouldn’t watch too much television is because it negatively affects people’s mental development. According to several scientific studies, watching TV for prolonged periods of time has a negative effect over the intellectual development of children and leads to deterioration of the mental capacity in older people by causing both attention and memory problems in the long term.
In conclusion, people shouldn’t watch too much television because the content of many TV programs is not educational; it makes people waste time that could be used in more beneficial activities; and it affects people’s mental development. However, this doesn’t mean that we should ban TV, but if we are going to watch it, we should do it with moderation. Television is a resource that we should learn to use through the right selection of programs by taking an active and critical attitude towards it.
The first reason why people shouldn’t watch too much television is because the content of many TV programs is not educational. Nowadays, we can see movies, series, and shows that present scenes of violence, sex, and drugs. This has established wrong concepts among the audience that influence them into having a negative behavior. Moreover, the impact this tendency has on children is worse because they grow up with the idea of a world where women must be slender and blonde to stand out, where problems can only be solved with money and violence, and where wars are inevitable.
The second reason why people shouldn’t watch too much television is because it makes people waste time that could be used in more beneficial activities. The time we spend watching TV could be applied to useful activities like exercise, reading, interacting with friends and family, activities that are a crucial for a healthy lifestyle.
The third reason why people shouldn’t watch too much television is because it negatively affects people’s mental development. According to several scientific studies, watching TV for prolonged periods of time has a negative effect over the intellectual development of children and leads to deterioration of the mental capacity in older people by causing both attention and memory problems in the long term.
In conclusion, people shouldn’t watch too much television because the content of many TV programs is not educational; it makes people waste time that could be used in more beneficial activities; and it affects people’s mental development. However, this doesn’t mean that we should ban TV, but if we are going to watch it, we should do it with moderation. Television is a resource that we should learn to use through the right selection of programs by taking an active and critical attitude towards it.
17. Write a short autobiography.
I’m Ali from Morocco. I was born and grew up in Khemisset. My father was and still is a carpenter. My mother does not work and takes care of the house doing the washing, the cooking, and all the house chores. I am the eldest of three children: a boy and two girls. I am 18 years and I study in a secondary school called Abdellah Guennoun. It is located in the South end of Khemisset City on the way to the famous water resort of Oulmes. This small, yet beautiful school has boarding and non-boarding students. A large proportion of them speak Berber.
When I was 4 years old, I didn’t go to a nursery school like most kids but entered a Koronic instead. There I learnt some Koranic verses by heart. The Fkih, who was a friend of the family, taught me to count as well. At the age of seven, I went to a primary school named Ibn Batouta School. I studied for six years there. I was good at reading and memorizing things but I loathed writing, especially in French. Then, I moved to Moulay Smail School which is located in the city center. Most teachers were nice but a few of them were drill sergeants feared by most students. French was still my hate peeve. Three years later, I had to change school again and go to the present school. I like it a lot. The teachers are very helpful and always caring. The students are not very mischievous. They are kind and compassionate and it did not take me much to love the school.
Most of what I have learnt comes from books which I like reading, especially in Arabic. However, I owe a lot to my teachers and my parents. They taught me the importance of moral values, good manners, and patriotism.
In my free time I like reading newspapers and books, I surf the internet, and I watch some TV documentaries to widen my knowledge and enrich my vocabulary. I like travelling, as well, because I like to discover other places and make new friends.
I hope I will pass this year so that I can go to university. I have many dreams and aspirations and I hope to fulfill them.
When I was 4 years old, I didn’t go to a nursery school like most kids but entered a Koronic instead. There I learnt some Koranic verses by heart. The Fkih, who was a friend of the family, taught me to count as well. At the age of seven, I went to a primary school named Ibn Batouta School. I studied for six years there. I was good at reading and memorizing things but I loathed writing, especially in French. Then, I moved to Moulay Smail School which is located in the city center. Most teachers were nice but a few of them were drill sergeants feared by most students. French was still my hate peeve. Three years later, I had to change school again and go to the present school. I like it a lot. The teachers are very helpful and always caring. The students are not very mischievous. They are kind and compassionate and it did not take me much to love the school.
Most of what I have learnt comes from books which I like reading, especially in Arabic. However, I owe a lot to my teachers and my parents. They taught me the importance of moral values, good manners, and patriotism.
In my free time I like reading newspapers and books, I surf the internet, and I watch some TV documentaries to widen my knowledge and enrich my vocabulary. I like travelling, as well, because I like to discover other places and make new friends.
I hope I will pass this year so that I can go to university. I have many dreams and aspirations and I hope to fulfill them.
18. What do you think of today's clothing?
Obviously, there are two sides to the issue of today's clothing: good and bad. Your clothes, certainly, do project a message and say a lot about you. So, do you dress for yourself or for other people? That's the question.
To begin with, people usually make judgments based on your outfit. Imagine passing a young girl wearing a top that shows her boobs hanging out, or an extremely short skirt. Many people would see her skin and not her face. Some would say that she was trying to impress the opposite sex. Another group would look at it from the moral and religious side.
Others, on the other hand, would argue that she was enjoying her human natural right and freedom and needn't cover her natural beauty. Many others would say that she was trying to fit in with her friends.
However, clothes such as tops, very short skirts, hanging-down pants, very tight and transparent garments have more opponents than proponents. Many of them will always grin and bear it, others will always throw comments that it's 'immoral', indecent', 'licentious', 'pornographic', 'wrong', and the like.
As a youngster, I believe many young people use clothes as means to show their body. So, as a student I believe pupils and teachers should dress properly to school. Indecent clothes maybe distracting as well as promoting sexual harassment. Hence, my call for dress codes in Moroccan schools.
Considering both sides of clothing controversy, I think it should be kept within reasonable bounds; otherwise, the world would be going, little by little, down the road towards nudity. However, I don't think people should be covered from head to toe like a Moroccan sugar cone.
To begin with, people usually make judgments based on your outfit. Imagine passing a young girl wearing a top that shows her boobs hanging out, or an extremely short skirt. Many people would see her skin and not her face. Some would say that she was trying to impress the opposite sex. Another group would look at it from the moral and religious side.
Others, on the other hand, would argue that she was enjoying her human natural right and freedom and needn't cover her natural beauty. Many others would say that she was trying to fit in with her friends.
However, clothes such as tops, very short skirts, hanging-down pants, very tight and transparent garments have more opponents than proponents. Many of them will always grin and bear it, others will always throw comments that it's 'immoral', indecent', 'licentious', 'pornographic', 'wrong', and the like.
As a youngster, I believe many young people use clothes as means to show their body. So, as a student I believe pupils and teachers should dress properly to school. Indecent clothes maybe distracting as well as promoting sexual harassment. Hence, my call for dress codes in Moroccan schools.
Considering both sides of clothing controversy, I think it should be kept within reasonable bounds; otherwise, the world would be going, little by little, down the road towards nudity. However, I don't think people should be covered from head to toe like a Moroccan sugar cone.
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