IELTS Writing Test Date 21/8/2014

* Task 1 là Bar Chart về a European country's entertainment spending in 1998 and 2008

* Task 2:

Societies benefit from the increased contact and closer relationship with foreigners brought by international tourism and businesses. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Sample:

The world today is characterized by the free flow of information and commodity. The frequent interaction and growing interdependence among countries have ended the days of regional isolation and absolute national sovereignty, but they have also sparked off heated controversies over the positive and negative impacts that a global culture can bring into our life.

Some people say that the widening international exchanges, both in the field of business and culture, have exerted positive influences to a nation as well as its people. To begin with, they promote business cooperation among nations. For example, large multinational companies spread the latest technologies and experience around the world, and international trade has helped so many less developed economies grow. Also, they enrich people’s lives because people of one nation are given opportunities through international tourism, exhibition and fairs, TV programmes and films, etc. to enjoy the achievements of other cultures across the globe.

However, other people argue that these conditions also create the possible danger of undermining a country’s national identity. In the first place, traditional cultures might fall victim a global media and entertainment force. This is the most evident in some parts of the world where “Americanisation” is threatening the preservation of their indigenous culture. In Viet Nam, for instance, few youngsters like or understand “Hue Court Music”, the quintessence of Vietnamese culture; they go for Hollywood movies and rock music instead. Moreover, in the process of globalization, the world is getting less linguistically diverse, as a growing number of people give up their native language for the dominant language in the world – English.

From my point of view, both arguments are the true reflections of the possible consequence of an increasing economic and cultural interaction among nations. It boosts economic integration and speeds up modernization but also creates tensions between global culture and a country’s national identity. Therefore, we should take the initiative in fighting to protect our distinct culture and identity from being submerged by other cultural or economic influences.

Giải thích thêm cụm Heated controversy over …Rất nhiều đề thi viết IELTS yêu cầu thí sinh trình bày quan điểm về 1 vấn đề xã hội ở thời điểm hiện tại. Mỗi người đều có suy nghĩ và ý kiến riêng về vấn đề này nên không có đáp án mẫu. Thậm chí 1 số đề còn gây tranh cãi. Vì vậy, người ta thường dung cụm heated controversy over …trong đoạn văn mở bài.

Sau heated controversy (over) chúng ta có thể dung 1 mệnh đề bắt đầu bằng whether hoặc as to. Ví dụ:

There is a heated controversy over whether intelligent students should be taught separately.

A heated controversy has arisen as to who should be responsible for looking after the old people in our society.