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Question: Research indicates that nowadays some consumers are much less influenced by advertising than in the past. What do you think are the reasons for this? Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
Sample answer
Recent studies suggest that modern consumers are becoming less influenced by advertising compared to previous generations. There are several reasons behind this shift, and I believe this is largely a positive development for society.
One key reason is the rise of digital awareness. People today, especially younger generations, understand how marketing techniques work and can easily recognise exaggerated or misleading claims. Another factor is the availability of online reviews and user-generated content. Instead of trusting advertisements, consumers rely on real experiences shared on social media platforms, YouTube reviews and e-commerce ratings. Additionally, the overwhelming volume of advertisements across websites, apps and billboards has led to “ad fatigue,” where people simply ignore commercial messages because they see them too often.
I believe this trend is positive because it encourages companies to be more transparent and ethical. When consumers no longer fall for unrealistic claims, businesses are forced to improve the quality of their products rather than relying on flashy marketing. Moreover, people make better purchasing decisions when they rely on independent reviews instead of traditional advertisements. However, a small drawback is that new or small businesses might struggle to attract customers without strong advertising power, but overall, the benefits of informed and critical consumers outweigh this limitation.
In conclusion, consumers today are less affected by advertising due to greater digital awareness, access to online reviews and exposure to excessive marketing. This development is largely positive, as it promotes honesty in the market and empowers people to make wiser decisions.
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Question: Today, more and more students are deciding to move to a different country for higher studies. Do you think the benefits of this outweigh the problems?
Sample Answer
In recent years, an increasing number of students have chosen to pursue higher education abroad. Although studying in a foreign country may present several challenges, I believe that its advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages.
One of the most significant benefits of studying overseas is the exposure to a global environment. Students are able to interact with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, which enhances their communication skills, broadens their perspectives and helps them develop greater cultural awareness. This kind of international experience is highly valued by employers, as companies today operate in a globalised world and look for candidates who can adapt to different cultures.
In addition, foreign universities often provide better academic opportunities, modern facilities, and advanced research options that may not be available in the students' home countries. Access to world-class education increases their knowledge, improves career prospects and opens doors to international job markets. Many students who study abroad also become more independent and responsible, as they have to manage their finances, accommodation and daily routines without the support of their families.
However, moving to a different country for higher studies is not without problems. Students may experience homesickness, cultural shock and language barriers, which can affect their mental health and academic performance. Moreover, studying abroad is often expensive, and many students struggle with tuition fees and living costs. Despite these challenges, most students eventually adapt to the new environment, and financial issues can be managed through scholarships, part-time jobs or educational loans.
In my opinion, the advantages of studying abroad far outweigh the disadvantages. The long-term academic, personal and professional benefits significantly surpass the temporary difficulties students might face initially. The skills and experiences they gain often lead to better career opportunities and personal growth.
In conclusion, although studying in a foreign country can be challenging, the positive outcomes such as improved education quality, global exposure and better career prospects make the experience highly worthwhile. Therefore, the benefits clearly outweigh the problems.
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Reading Practice
The history of tea
The story of tea begins in China.
According to legend, in 2737 BC, the Chinese emperor Shen Nung was sitting
beneath a tree while his servant boiled drinking water, when some leaves from
the tree blew into the water. Shen Nung, a renowned herbalist, decided to try
the infusion that his servant had accidentally created. The tree was a Camellia
sinensis, and the resulting drink was what we now call tea. It is impossible to
know whether there is any truth in this story. But tea drinking certainly
became established in China many centuries before it had even been heard of in
the West. Containers for tea have been found in tombs dating from the Han
Dynasty (206 BC—220 AD) but it was under the Tang
Dynasty (618—906 AD), that tea became firmly established as
the national drink of China.
It became such a favourite that during the late eighth
century a writer called Lu Yu wrote the first book entirely about tea, the Ch’a
Ching, or Tea Classic. It was shortly after this that tea was first introduced
to Japan, by Japanese Buddhist monks who had travelled to China to study. Tea
received almost instant imperial sponsorship and spread rapidly from the royal
court and monasteries to the other sections of Japanese society.
So at this stage in the history of tea, Europe was rather
lagging behind. In the latter half of the sixteenth century there are the first
brief mentions of tea as a drink among Europeans. These are mostly from
Portuguese who were living in the East as traders and missionaries. But
although some of these individuals may have brought back samples of tea to
their native country, it was not the Portuguese who were the first to ship back
tea as a commercial import. This was done by the Dutch, who in the last years
of the sixteenth century began to encroach on Portuguese trading routes in the
East. By the turn of the century they had established a trading post on the
island of Java, and it was via Java that in 1606 the first consignment of tea
was shipped from China to Holland. Tea soon became a fashionable drink among
the Dutch, and from there spread to other countries in continental western
Europe, but because of its high price it remained a drink for the wealthy.
Britain, always a little suspicious of continental trends,
had yet to become the nation of tea drinkers that it is today. Starting in
1600, the British East India Company had a monopoly on importing goods from
outside Europe, and it is likely that sailors on these ships brought tea home
as gifts. The first coffee house had been established in London in 1652, and
tea was still somewhat unfamiliar to most readers, so it is fair to assume that
the drink was still something of a curiosity. Gradually, it became a popular
drink in coffee houses, which were as many locations for the transaction of
business as they were for relaxation or pleasure. They were though the preserve
of middle- and upper-class men; women drank tea in their own homes, and as yet
tea was still too expensive to be widespread among the working classes. In
part, its high price was due to a punitive system of taxation.
One unforeseen consequence of the taxation of tea was the
growth of methods to avoid taxation—smuggling and adulteration. By the
eighteenth century many Britons wanted to drink tea but could not afford the
high prices, and their enthusiasm for the drink was matched by the enthusiasm
of criminal gangs to smuggle it in. What began as a small time illegal trade,
selling a few pounds of tea to personal contacts, developed by die late
eighteenth century into an astonishing organised crime network, perhaps
importing as much as 7 million lbs annually, compared to a legal import of 5
million lbs! Worse for die drinkers was that taxation also encouraged the adulteration
of tea, particularly of smuggled tea which was not quality controlled through
customs and excise. Leaves from other plants, or leaves which had already been
brewed and then dried, were added to tea leaves. By 1784, the government
realised that enough was enough, and that heavy taxation was creating more
problems than it was words. The new Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger,
slashed the tax from 119 per cent to 12.5 per cent. Suddenly legal tea was
affordable, and smuggling stopped virtually overnight.
Another great impetus to tea drinking resulted from the end
of the East India Company’s monopoly on trade with China, in 1834. Before that
date, China was the country of origin of the vast majority of the tea imported
to Britain, but the end of its monopoly stimulated the East India Company to
consider growing tea outside China. India had always been the centre of the
Company’s operations, which led to the increased cultivation of tea in India,
beginning in Assam. There were a few false starts, including the destruction by
cattle of one of the earliest tea nurseries, but by 1888 British tea imports
from India were for the first time greater than those from China.
The end of the East India Company’s monopoly on trade with
China also had another result, which was more dramatic though less important in
the long term: it ushered in the era of the tea clippers. While the Company had
had the monopoly on trade, there was no rush to bring the tea from China to
Britain, but after 1834 the tea trade became a virtual free for all. Individual
merchants and sea captains with their own ships raced to bring home the tea and
make the most money, using fast new clippers which had sleek lines, tall masts
and huge sails. In particular there was a competition between British and
American merchants, leading to the famous clipper races of the 1860s. But these
races soon came to an end with the opening of the Suez Canal, which made the
trade routes to China viable for steamships for the first time.
Questions 1-7
Complete the sentences below with words taken from Reading
Passage 1
Use ONE WORD for
each answer.
Write
your answers in boxes 1-7 on your
answer sheet.
1Researchers
believed the tea containers detected in 1.....................
from the Han Dynasty was the first evidence of the use of tea.
2Lu
Yu wrote a 2.....................
about tea before anyone else in the eighth century.
3It
was 3..................... from
Japan who brought tea to their native country from China.
4Tea
was carried from China to Europe actually by the 4.....................
5The
British government had to cut down the taxation on tea due to the serious crime
of
5.....................
6Tea
was planted in 6.....................
besides China in the 19th century.
7In
order to compete in shipping speed, traders used 7..................... for the race.
Questions 8-13
Do the following statements agree with the information
given in Reading Passage 1?
In
boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet,
write
TRUEif the statement agrees with the
information FALSEif the statement contradicts the
information
NOTGIVENif there is no information on this
8Tea was popular in Britain in the 16th
century.8.....................
9Tea was more fashionable than coffee in
Europe in the late 16th century.9.....................
10Tea
was enjoyed by all classes in Britain in the seventeenth century.10.....................
11The
adulteration of tea also prompted William Pitt the Younger to reduce thetax.11.....................
12Initial
problems occurred when tea was planted outside China by the East IndiaCompany.12.....................
13The
fastest vessels were owned by America during the 19th century clipperraces.13.....................
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Question: In the past, people used to travel abroad to look for many differences from their home country. Nowadays cities throughout the world are becoming more and more similar. What are the reasons? Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Sample Answer
It is true that cities around the world are becoming increasingly alike in terms of architecture, lifestyle and commercial development. While this trend can be attributed to globalisation and technological advancement, I believe that its disadvantages are more significant than its benefits.
One of the main reasons for the growing similarity among cities is the rapid expansion of multinational corporations. International brands such as McDonald's, Starbucks and various retail chains have established outlets in almost every major city, creating a uniform urban landscape. Moreover, modern architectural styles, including glass skyscrapers and shopping malls, have been adopted worldwide due to their cost-effectiveness and practicality. In addition, advancements in communication technology have made it easier for countries to share ideas, leading to the widespread adoption of similar urban planning and lifestyle trends.
Despite some advantages, such as increased convenience and familiarity for travellers, the disadvantages are far more concerning. When cities become too similar, they lose their cultural uniqueness and historical identity. Traditional markets, local food, and distinctive architectural styles may disappear, reducing the richness and diversity that once attracted tourists. This cultural homogenisation also affects local communities, as younger generations may feel less connected to their heritage. Furthermore, the dominance of global corporations can harm small local businesses, leading to economic imbalance and loss of traditional craftsmanship.
In my view, the drawbacks of cities becoming more alike outweigh the benefits. While global uniformity may offer ease and predictability, it comes at the cost of cultural diversity, local traditions and authentic travel experiences. Preserving uniqueness is essential for maintaining cultural heritage and fostering a sense of identity among residents.
In conclusion, globalisation and modern technology have made cities increasingly similar across the world. Although this trend provides certain conveniences, its negative impact on cultural identity and local economies is far more significant. Therefore, the disadvantages clearly outweigh the advantages.
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✅ Sample Answer
One advertisement that really caught my attention was a commercial for the Apple AirPods Pro. I saw it around a year ago on YouTube when I was watching a music video. It started automatically as an ad, and although I usually skip ads, this one was so visually appealing that I ended up watching the entire thing.
The product being advertised was the latest version of Apple’s wireless earphones. The ad showed how they could cancel noise, connect instantly to any Apple device, and deliver high-quality sound. What made the advertisement stand out was the creative way it was filmed—there was a dancer moving effortlessly through different noisy environments, but every time he put the AirPods in, the background sounds would fade away.
I actually liked the advertisement a lot because it was modern, energetic, and very well edited. The visuals, the music, and the transitions were so smooth that it felt more like a short film than an ad. It didn’t feel pushy or exaggerated; instead, it showed the real benefits of the product in a very artistic way.
I felt quite impressed after watching it because it not only introduced the product but also gave a clear idea of how it could improve daily life. Even though the AirPods were expensive, the ad made them look premium and worth the investment. It definitely influenced the way I perceived the product, and for a moment, it even tempted me to buy them.
