l. What are the threats for the natural environment? What can an individual do to protect it?
One of the most important problems is air pollution. Air is contaminate mainly by exhaust gases emitted into the atmosphere. Because of global warming and ozone layer there is a danger that many places on the planet.
The next problem is water pollution. Some factories contaminate rivers or seas. Because of tanker leaks as oil soi1ls make the water in many regions unfit for any use.
I think that we have to do something to protect the natural environment. We can give financial support to poorer countries. Plant more trees or protect jungles and forests. We can use bicycles instead of cars and educate the public about the importance of recycling to reduce air po1lution. We have to limit use of chemicals in industry and fine factories which pollute seas or rivers.
The decrease the risk of self-destination it seems necessary to take some forceful steps to dean up the world's environment or otherwise man has little chance to survive.
2. Discuss the role of television the contemporary world. Do you think that internet will replace TV in the future?
The twentieth century has made television a very popular form of entertainment. Television plays a large role in our life. First of all it's the most important source of information about what is happening in every corner of the world. It informs us about wars, political or cultural events accidents and crimes.
Television provides entertainment of every kind. We can listen to good music, watch interesting films, cartoons, sport or scientific programs.
TV increases our knowledge about the world, people, their culture and traditions. It offers us different courses, for example an English course cooking and gardening.
Informations in television may be subjective. Television may lie and finally we don't know the truth. Additionally public TV says different things than private TV.
Now, I would like to go to the second question, it's about internet. Internet is a new thing but it will be still progress.
Internet has many applications. For example, quick access to different kind of information. If we go to a holidays, we will check where is the accommodation, what we can sightseeing. In internet we can have a bank account, we can buy different things or send an email. If we are bored. we will play by network in our favourite games or talk on a chat with our friends.
Unfortunately internet is still very expensive. Watching television is cheaper than internet. Thanks to it, television will be the major source of entertainment and information for a long time.
At the conclusion I would like to add, that internet has many advantages and disadvantages. But we needn't give up this simplification of our life.
I think, that internet won't replace television in the future, because we will use them each other.
3. Europe is getting united. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this phenomenon.
Advantages:
The EU is democratic family; committed countries are trying to work together. The institution
was established, because people after Second World War were afraid that
some big evil tike this can happened again. The purpose is to protect Europe and their
citizens. With such an organization the Europe can compete with other major populations. When countries are willing to cooperation the continents still rising in the power in every branch. Getting united can cause the increase the economic growth, the most important factor in economy. the future can become easier. No individual Europe country is strong enough to go it alone in world trade. The EU cooperates with NATO in order to protect military and strategies interests developing European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP). Fight with terrorism and organized crime, mean that polices of all countries has to work closely together. Economic foundations: single market (the reason is the need of operate on bigger market. it helps to find a new costumers), the same currency. Open borders for members of EU. When citizens become victims of cataclysms, floods, fires.. they can get financial support from the budget of EU and other countries, which are able to help.
Skeptical people:
In Europe every country has own culture, language, tradition, some people are afraid
that uniting of continent can mixed them all together, that they can loose identify. But they who are against this argument say that, the citizens should care about their own customs etc. so this is impossible to forgot about them.
Some people think that the price in less developed country can increase, that students will be educated in Poland, for Polish money, in order to take the next step and work out of borders, for bigger money.
Enthusiastic:
The EU helped this country which was communist to adjust to new way of life, sometimes by gave them financial support.
Disadvantages:
Things like safety and security can never be taken for granted. Every step in diplomatic brings new opportunity, but also risk Countries can become enemies, very easily. It's always probability that process of united Europe can end quickly, because of big differences between nations, like in point of view. For example support for operation U.S.A in Iraq, terrorism.
4. Crime is a growing problem in many countries. What are the most common kinds of crime?
Discuss the main causes and suggest what could be done to reduce high crime rate.
At present one of the biggest problem we are facing in rising crime. Many people just don't feel safe, especially in big cities and after dark, although many crimes are committed in broad daylight. Mass-media keep informing us about different kinds of crimes which are committed everyday. All kinds of crime can be divided into two main categories: serious crimes, such as murders, burglaries, frauds or rapes and so-called petty crimes, such as shoplifting or pick pocketing. There are some reasons why people break a law. It is believed that some criminals come from pathological families in which they often have grown up in extreme poverty and have been forced to steal or beg to have something to· eat. Another reason is unemployment. In such a situation some people start committing petty crimes just to survive.
Surprisingly, quite a large number of delinquents come from rich and respectable families. Sometimes boredom at home makes young people try out some forbidden but exciting experience.
If we want to reduce high crime rate, many different measures should be taken. First of all the law should be more severe. I think that quite often Polish judges are too lenient, especially in case of rapes and harassment of children. Besides, criminals shouldn't be pardoned as often as they are now. Quite often they commit crimes again just after leaving prisons. I think that a death sentence should be re-introduced for some kinds of crimes, such as murders.
I also think that the number of police force should be increased and they should be better equipped as they are now.
5. Most countries have abolished capital punishment. What are the arguments for and against it? What forms of punishment can replace prison sentences?
Capital punishment is a major penalty which is lawful inf1iction of death (killing people). This punishment is applied whenever awful crimes are being commit.
There are several ways to inf1ict the death penalty e.g. lethal injection, electric chair, firing squad and hanging.
In America, Asia( e.g. China, North Korea, Singapore, Thailand) and the Middle East (except Israel) most countries still retain the death penalty for certain crimes and impose it with varying frequency. In USA situation is a bit different because different states have different law. Some of states retain death penalty but some abolished it. One of the states which are still retain capital punishment is Texas. Between 1980- 2000 in Texas were executed 254 men and 2 women. In Europe almost all governments· abolished death penalty and replaced it by life imprisonment. But rising crime rate causes that they· consider restoration of death penalty.
What are arguments for death penalty?
l. The major argument is incapacitation of the criminal. It is obvious that capital punishment permanent1y removes' the worst criminals from our society. This make our environment safer. The dead criminal can't escape from prison and most important- he can't commit any further crimes.
2. Next argument which is mentioned by pro capital punishment campaigners are costs.
For all time when inmate is in prison government must pay money for him- money from our taxes. There are many more valid purposes to spend our money e.g. education, developing industry etc.
3. Retribution/revenge is next reason for restore or retain death penalty. Many of us want that the murderer suffer in proportion to offences that he made. Many of us takes principal "an eye for an .eye" in favor of death sentence.
4. Deterrence.
Some people says that death penalty deter potential offenders. Some of them make studies on criminals. Supporting this studies we could see a relation between crime rate and retaining or restoring capital punishment. Restoring death penalty makes that crime rate is going down.
Arguments anti-death penalty campaigners ..
1. Blindness of justice. Sometimes convicting somebody we can't be for 100% sure that we convicting right person. Let we imagine that we put to death someone who is innocent? We can't bring back his life.
2. Redemption of blames. Very often many criminals which are in prison realized that they were wrong. They want give something back to society. They want redeem themselves. Death penalty take away this chance.
3. Religion is last but not least. Our Christian forbidden us to kill anybody. Only God can give life and only him can take back life. We are not allowed to kill. We have to forgive even when it is hard to do.
6. What personal qualities make a good boss, colleague and employee?
If we want to achieve success and to be good at anything we must have some specific qualities.
We should have some general qualities which are required in any kind of job are: competence, honesty and hard working.
For being a good boss some qualities are necessary. We should be decisive, in other words we have to be able to make quick decisions. We must have the ability to take risks but only when it is necessary. A boss should be able to being a leader so he has to have the ability to make his staff follow him.
In my opinion good colleague should be ready to help because we never know when we will need his help. Good colleague has to be sociable and friendly because then he will be on friendly terms with other co-workers. He has to do always his share because in other way we can't trust him. A good colleague should have sense of humor because it make our contacts easier. And he has to be prepared to work in groups.
A good employee should have some interpersonal skills like a good boss. He should be able to communicate with other people. He has to be prepared to work 50 to 60 hours a week sometimes. He should be competent, know one's job perfectly. He has to be efficient: do things quickly, don't leave tasks unfinished. And he should have positive attitude to other people. Very important is also listening orders before acting.
7. Why are mobile phones gaining in popularity? Row are they changing our life? What are the recent technological developments in this area?
Many people especially young people have mobile phones, because it ·is very useful invention. Many people use the phones to contact with their friends and family, if they re going to be late or where they are. Others use the phone to stay in touch with friends or to discuss homework during the week.
The phones are very fashionable. Young people compare different types, ringing tones and programs. Thanks to mobile phones we can calls and send text messages or even photo. Mobile phones link us with the internet so we can receive many information. What is more, thanks to mobile phones we can paying for bus ticket or getting information about what is at our cinema and paying for the tickets.
Owning a mobile phone isn't a sing of how much money we have but it is a means of keeping in touch, because people out alone feel safer if they can reach family and friends quickly
8. Many people are fascinated with the idea of working abroad. What problems will they probably have to face?
Since we are a member of European Union more and more people are going to work abroad. In same countries like United Kingdom we can work legally. But the most people work illegally. The Polish go out to Germany, United Kingdom or Denmark. Sometimes people find announcement in newspaper, they make an appointment, pay same money and then their employer disappear. Sometimes they get to country but there is no work for them.
Sometimes we don't know our employers and we don't know how they will treat us.
We can live in horrible conditions or we can be humiliated. Sometimes people go to work abroad but they don't know language so they can't communicate with other people. They can't go shopping or tale a room in a hotel.
When we want to go abroad we should' find address our embassy because when we have some problem we can call them.
When we work somewhere illegally we can be deceived and don't get money for our work.
Even when we buy up health-giving insurance we have o pay when something happen
In same countries people don't want to employ workers from other countries so we can earn less money than workers from country in which we will be working. We have to remember that we can earn more money than in Poland but our life there will be more expensive than in Poland so before a trip we have there same meals or we have to find a hotel and restaurant.
9. Compare various means of transport.
People since their birth have been forced to move. In the course 01' time, the way to school, university or other institution is becoming longer and longer and sometimes it is impossible to go on foot.
We live faster and faster and we can't waste time on slow traveling, so we take advantage 01' various means of transport. Nowadays planets, ships, trains, buses and cars help us to easily reach our destinations.
One of the most popular means 01' transport in Poland is a car. We use it both in work and for fun whenever we have to cover a long distance. The car is comfortable and quite fast but sometimes it causes trouble, for example driving a car across big cities in rush trans is difficult.
Nowadays having a car is necessary and life without it or alternative means of transport wouldn't be possible. However, for the sake of high operating costs such as high price 01' fuel and insurance, people look for other cheaper means of transport.
Moreover, high number of cars pollute air environment, so busses and trams have become the most popular means of transport in the cities. They are cheap and quite comfortable. In the city moving by train is sometimes faster than by car because of crowded streets,
If more people used public transport, we would avoid traffic congestions and the air would cleaner.
Others means of transport, very popular in Poland is a train. Many people living in the suburbs use community trains to get to work every day. Trains are the most economical for them, because they have to cover long distances per a day. Also when we go on holiday or on business trip we take a fast train, because it offers us larger space and higher comfort than a car or bus. Modem trains have become faster, safety and more comfortable thanks to better tracks and innovate technologies such as tilting carriages. The fastest and the most comfortable mean of transport is the plane. Choosing the plane we save ... which would be lost If we choose a bus or a car. Bow ever the plane is the most expensive kind of transport.
10. What is the point of learning?
In my opinion learning means gaining knowledge. All the people have been learning for all life. Even when we are babies we are learning how to eat, talk or move. As children we are watching our parents and other children and we are learning something for them. I think that the point of learning can be different for every men. For somebody it can be widening knowledge for someone else to can manage in difficult situations or someone can do it only for fun. I think that the older we are the more things we want to learn. That is why mature people have so many interests. They are learning foreign languages, using computer or skiing. But also young people like to learn. But very rarely they like to learn at school. I think that not before when we choose degree subject our learning has meaning because we are motivated by our interests. And at high school we have to learn everything.
But if somebody is about 15-20 years old it is the best time to learning because when we really become interested in something we can commit it with our work. For example when we decided to go for scuba diving lessons and we will like gives us satisfaction for our all life.
I think that one of the reason why we are learning is thinking about all, the parents want to answer on questions their child because they want to prepare their children to adult life. We are learning because we are thinking about our future and we Wlll1t to have a good job. Learning can teach us tolerance and respect for other people.
11. Why do people practice sports? What kinds of sport are most popular? Would you make any sport illegal?
I think that sport is very important part of life for many people. More and more people take care of their health so they practice sport.
There are many reasons why people practice sport. First1y they do it for health. When we hear from a doctor that our health conditions are very bad we try to change our lifestyle for healthier so we eat healthy food, practice sport and stop with our addictions.
Secondly we practice sport because we want to have nicer outline. Specially after winter we do some sport because we want to look better in summer. We take care of our out1ine because sometimes it is necessary in work and thanks to it we feel better. Sometimes people practice sport for money. If we do it professionally it is our livelihood. People sometimes practice sport for relaxation. When we have much free-time we can use it to take care of our outline. Practice sport can be a way for spending time with friends. Specially men often play football or basketball. When we are on holiday with friends we can do some exercises for example diving or climbing. Thanks to it we can see new places. Some people practice sport because they want to check their possibilities. They want to prove them or someone else that they can do it.
I think that the most popular kinds of sports is football or cycling. In Poland there are more and more playing fields and sports complex. Very popular kind of sport is also swimming, running. Some kinds of sports are popular because we don't have to pay for them, for example climbing or running.
I wouldn't do any sport illegal because I think that when something is illegal more people begin to interest it. And in my opinion there aren't any so dangerous that we have to make illegal.
12. What is the role of the press in the contemporary world?
In the contemporary world press have a lot of roles. In my opinion the first and the most important function of the contemporary press is informative function. We are living in the times of globalization, and there is a lot of event all over the world, which have an influence on our life. For example the situation on the Middle East have an influence on price of petrol and oil based products.
Political relations between country influence on economy of this country, and they can destabilize currency.
All these daily news we can find in newspaper. In daily newspaper we also can find information concerning scores of games for example football, basketball, tennis, and we can find information about cultural events in our city. In daily newspaper we can find also weather forecast.
Another function of press is providing entertainment. Almost in every newspaper, weekly and monthly, we can find crosswords, feature articles and gossips concerning well-known persons for example actors, actresses, singers and politicians.
Next function of contemporary press is giving advices. Monthly newspapers are usually thematic magazine including information and advices concerning specific topic. For example "Row to build a house", "Row to furnish your flat" etc.
I must mention popular science press. In such periodical or magazine we can find a lot of interesting information concerning our hobbies or our work. So such press can help us in our work or to develop our hobbies. In the contemporary world there is a lot of sources of information for example television, radio and internet, but r think that the press is the most
. popular source of information. The newspaper have a lot of advantages. We can have the most recent information without using any electrical device. We can take the newspaper everywhere for example to train, to plane or we are waiting in queue to physician or to dean's office. In my opinion the newspaper is still the basic source of information for many people, because it is easy to get and is cheap.
13. Do men and women have equal rights in Poland and in other countries? Do they have the same job opportunities?
The question of the equality of men and women in public and family life has never been seriously debated in Poland. Consciousness of discrimination and employee rights is very low among women but women' s consciousness of their liberties has grown. Women are increasingly able to identify the instances and comprehend the nature of discriminatory practice.
In Scandinavia countries culture and equal rights are on the highest level. Women's rights aren't observed in some countries as much as expected. In some societies, religion and tradition can be used as a barrier for equal rights. For example, the Bangladesh government tried to hide behind laws to deny women equal rights. In Pakistan honor killings directed at women have been done for the slightest reasons. In the worst positions are women from countries like Turkey or Egypt where women rights are very low. There are different types of problems all over the world that women face, from the wealthiest countries to the poorest.
Most employers and employees are still convinced that the free market system grants the employer the right to unlimited freedom in hiring his or her staff. Women applying for a position are expected to be better educated and have better qualifications than the males. Frequently, employers stereotypically see women as a mother and housewife and will discriminate against them in their first interview by asking questions about their family life, rather than professional qualifications. Employers do not make secret that they prefer to employ men, as men are considered to be more stable workers in the context of the length of employment. Often employers express their preference in interviews; women are asked their age, marital status, and plans for the future. In addition, employers, contrary to the law, often request a non-pregnancy certificate or a dec1aration that a woman will not become pregnant for some time. Despite the laws protecting the employment of pregnant women, many women are fired during pregnancy.
14. What are the main problems facing big cities?
At present in all developed countries most of people live in big cities, including capital cities. This fact is the source of many problems. The most important problem is pollution. As a rule, in every big city there is a lot of industry, both heavy and light one. All plants and factories situated there produce and emit big quantities of poisons substances and smoke which pollute the natural environment: water, air and soil. Sometimes smog is so dense that people and people with poor health are advised not to leave their homes.
Another big source of pollution is traffic or in other words, thousands of cars producing and emitting exhaust gases which pollute the air.
Many inhabitants of big cities complain about the traffic and public transport. It is commonly known that in big cities, especially in so-called rush hours there are many traffic jams which quite often make getting around the city almost impossible. They are the result of several factors, first of all, the huge amount of cars, narrow streets and poor system of traffic lights.
Another problem is the quality of the public transport. Quite often buses and trams which are the most popular means of public transport are too slow, late, not comfortable enough and overcrowded. Besides, many drivers have a lot of problems with parking their cars, especially in the city center. The next problem is a lack of safety in big cities. Mass-media keep informing us about different crimes which are committed in big cities every day. The result is that many people who live in big cities are afraid of leaving their homes, especially after dark.
15. How can computer users benefit from the Internet? 1s using the Internet dangerous in any way?
It is very easy to use from the Internet if we have computer and phone. Then we have to link in and we can use the Internet.
At present, more than 33 million people use the Internet. They use the Net to get information about things they are interested in, playing games, and socializing with other computer users. 1bis is very good way to know new people. We can do shopping without go out from our house. 1 think that Internet makes our life easier.
In my opinion using the Internet has also disadvantages, specially for children. Very often parents don't 100k after their children and children can meet other people trough the Net. They can give false name and age. They can force children to meet with them and it can be up very bad. There are some sites on which people want to find a partner. Sometimes they can meet with there matrimonial cheats. They find a woman, meet with her. They are very nice and woman fall in love with them. Than they steal her money and disappear.
When we use the Net we have to sit very close to monitor and it can be very dangerous for our eyes.
There are some sites for which we have to pay more money but it is writing in very invisible places. People watch this sites and pay huge money for this.
Using the Internet can be dangerous when we give it too much time. When somebody is already addicted forget about everything else. They don't read books, they forgot about their friends, do not go to sporting events or to the cinema But only using the Net in quantity can be harmful.
16. What is the greatest achievement of the 20th century.
I am going to talk about the greatest achievement of the 20th century. In my opinion the greatest achievements of 20th century is chain reaction and take control on a nuclear energy. It is a new source of electrical energy. Nuclear power stations don't produce any sulphur dioxide or carbon dioxide, like a coal power station. So the air is cleaner. It doesn't cause a greenhouse effect, or acid rains. Nuclear energy is the future. Resources of coal, oil, gas deplete in 30, 40 years. And a alternative, renewable energy sources produce too low energy. Nuclear power stations produce 20 percent electrical energy on the world. So without theirs it would be a energy crisis. Prices of petrol and gas grow up everyday.
Nuclear reactors are in submarines, and air-craft carriers. This ships don't have to return to the harbor for many months. In the future, the nuclear energy can be used by space exploration. Space ships could have a nuc1ear engines. The nuclear power station is better energy sources than coal, or petrol, because it doesn't need a oxygen to work.
17. Is it possible to find a mend, a partner or fall in love via the Internet? Discuss.
I think that virtual world is sometimes cal1ed our new reality. Here you can buy a car, sell a house, see the latest film, find a job or fall in 10ve - as some people say, especially those who can't live without the Internet. It seems that the number of such people is increasing steadily. This virtual world is regarded by many as the magic world where you can find anything you want, including love or as a kind of medicine against loneliness. They believe that the Internet can change their life for better and help them find a beloved person. However, in the real world it is not exactly so. The fact is that some people make a blind date via the Internet and then meet with person, face to face. And then all illusions disappear, as it often happens. The man who has introduced himself as a handsome young man appears to be a bald, fat, middle-aged man, who, in addition, is married and has several children.
That's why I think that finding a partner via the Internet is in fact a kind of 10ttery. It seems that traditiona1 ways of finding a life-long partner are much more reliable and effective.
But I think that we can find a mend via the Internet. In my opi...
matachari