It is not important to know about what a politician does in his personal life.
It may be difficult sometimes for a politician to escape scrutiny of his or her private life. The more popular a politician is the more people want to know how that politician behaves in private. Many people believe that paying such close attention to a politician’s personal life is justified. In my view, the public should not care a lot about how a politician behaves in private life.
For one thing, a politician’s private life does not necessarily reflect what he or she will do when entrusted with power. They think what happens in a politician’s private life has a significant impact on his or her approach to governing. In some cases people who govern us may demonstrate exemplary moral standards in their personal life. They may never have extramarital affairs or do anything that questions their integrity. However, how they use power has nothing to do with family life. Let us take, for instance, the Nazis. Some of them were trustworthy people who never cheated on their spouses. They cared for their families and loved their children but went to work every day to kill and torture those whom they considered inferior to Aryans. Thus, we should not exaggerate the importance of misdeeds somebody demonstrates in his or her personal life.
Second of all, a politician’s achievements may simply outweigh the inadequacies in his or her personal life. The positive impact that a politician has on society may be so immense that people will still like him or her and turn a blind eye to some personal acts that go beyond social norms. For instance, most Canadians praise Tommy Douglas, who set up the free health care system in Canada. Douglas’ popularity towers over all other well-known Canadians. Although I know nothing at all about his personal life, Douglas is a clear example of the extent to which political accomplishments may outshine indecent behavior in private life.
In conclusion, we should not be so judgmental when it comes to politicians. It is important to judge a politician by political achievements in public life rather than by personal shortcomings in private life.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
TOEFL essay
Sometimes it is important to do things that you do not want to do.
It has been noted ironically that almost every medicine or anything that is good for the health tastes bad. In contrast, tasty food usually is detrimental to the health. The same is true for many things we usually prefer not to do. However, we have to do these things because they have a positive impact on our life.
Let us take, for instance, regular medical check-ups. One of the most unpleasant and fearful things, which a lot of people postpone to the last moment, is a visit to the dentist. For many people this fear stems from their early childhood, when a dentist and pain meant the same thing. Nevertheless, it is a very well known fact that regular check-ups keep your teeth in a good condition. If you get into the habit of avoiding regular visits to the dentist, you will soon suffer the consequences. You may end up needing to get some of your teeth removed because they can no longer be saved. Moreover, the cost associated with the treatment of teeth in a neglected condition is usually high. This is a clear example of why some things need to be done even though we look for any possible excuse to avoid doing them.
Going school is yet another example of something we all have to do but sometimes do not enjoy. For example, many students know that not all required classes are always interesting. Sometimes a particular course may be so boring and unrelated to their major that they would like to drop it. However, they still have to take the class and learn the material. It may be very important to learn to appreciate that subject just for a while in order to pass the exam and not hurt your grades. In some cases, good grades are really important. A graduate school may deny you admission because of a not-so-impressive academic performance.
In conclusion, it goes without saying that we all should sometimes do what we do not like doing. The reality of life is not always pleasant, and we are never asked whether or not we like what it has to offer. We would be wise not to shirk important things such as school or health.
It has been noted ironically that almost every medicine or anything that is good for the health tastes bad. In contrast, tasty food usually is detrimental to the health. The same is true for many things we usually prefer not to do. However, we have to do these things because they have a positive impact on our life.
Let us take, for instance, regular medical check-ups. One of the most unpleasant and fearful things, which a lot of people postpone to the last moment, is a visit to the dentist. For many people this fear stems from their early childhood, when a dentist and pain meant the same thing. Nevertheless, it is a very well known fact that regular check-ups keep your teeth in a good condition. If you get into the habit of avoiding regular visits to the dentist, you will soon suffer the consequences. You may end up needing to get some of your teeth removed because they can no longer be saved. Moreover, the cost associated with the treatment of teeth in a neglected condition is usually high. This is a clear example of why some things need to be done even though we look for any possible excuse to avoid doing them.
Going school is yet another example of something we all have to do but sometimes do not enjoy. For example, many students know that not all required classes are always interesting. Sometimes a particular course may be so boring and unrelated to their major that they would like to drop it. However, they still have to take the class and learn the material. It may be very important to learn to appreciate that subject just for a while in order to pass the exam and not hurt your grades. In some cases, good grades are really important. A graduate school may deny you admission because of a not-so-impressive academic performance.
In conclusion, it goes without saying that we all should sometimes do what we do not like doing. The reality of life is not always pleasant, and we are never asked whether or not we like what it has to offer. We would be wise not to shirk important things such as school or health.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
TOEFL essay
An educated person is an intelligent person.
It may be easy to assume that an educated person is always an intelligent person. However, this is not necessarily the case. There are people who are educated but show little or no sign of intelligence. Their intelligence simply does not reflect their education. This is because education and intelligence are two completely different things.
First of all, an educated person is one who has acquired a certain amount of knowledge from books or from other people. This person may have a deep understanding of a particular subject and be able to say a lot about the things she or he has learnt. However, this fact itself does not necessarily mean that you are dealing with an intelligent person. This person may not exhibit intelligence at all. For instance, a friend of mine is an avid reader. He devours books one after another at a remarkable speed. He knows so many things that I can hardly imagine how it is possible for a brain to retain such a vast amount of information. However, his erudition does not help him when it comes to everyday matters. It seems he never applies his knowledge, never takes advantage of it, and never assimilates/uses it in a way to develop something truly original.
In addition, it is obvious that an intelligent person is someone who is capable of solving problems. There are many examples of people who are not well educated yet act in a conspicuously intelligent manner and can find solutions that most educated people have simply overlooked. A lot of educated people are unable to pick up on things that an innately intelligent person can. For instance, Michel Dell, who is, without a doubt, a very gifted businessman, dropped out of university as a freshman when he came up with a new approach to selling personal computers. He has earned billions of dollars. He has taken advantage of an idea that a giant company like IBM simply ignored.
In conclusion, the fact that a person is educated should not be the only indication of his or her intelligence. Intelligence is a characteristic that allows one to capitalize on acquired knowledge and distinguishes him or her from what many people, ironically, call a “walking encyclopedia”.
It may be easy to assume that an educated person is always an intelligent person. However, this is not necessarily the case. There are people who are educated but show little or no sign of intelligence. Their intelligence simply does not reflect their education. This is because education and intelligence are two completely different things.
First of all, an educated person is one who has acquired a certain amount of knowledge from books or from other people. This person may have a deep understanding of a particular subject and be able to say a lot about the things she or he has learnt. However, this fact itself does not necessarily mean that you are dealing with an intelligent person. This person may not exhibit intelligence at all. For instance, a friend of mine is an avid reader. He devours books one after another at a remarkable speed. He knows so many things that I can hardly imagine how it is possible for a brain to retain such a vast amount of information. However, his erudition does not help him when it comes to everyday matters. It seems he never applies his knowledge, never takes advantage of it, and never assimilates/uses it in a way to develop something truly original.
In addition, it is obvious that an intelligent person is someone who is capable of solving problems. There are many examples of people who are not well educated yet act in a conspicuously intelligent manner and can find solutions that most educated people have simply overlooked. A lot of educated people are unable to pick up on things that an innately intelligent person can. For instance, Michel Dell, who is, without a doubt, a very gifted businessman, dropped out of university as a freshman when he came up with a new approach to selling personal computers. He has earned billions of dollars. He has taken advantage of an idea that a giant company like IBM simply ignored.
In conclusion, the fact that a person is educated should not be the only indication of his or her intelligence. Intelligence is a characteristic that allows one to capitalize on acquired knowledge and distinguishes him or her from what many people, ironically, call a “walking encyclopedia”.
Friday, September 4, 2009
TOEFL essay
Instant food has improved our quality of life by making it quicker and easier to prepare meals.
The technological advances of the past decades have affected many aspects of human life. Indeed, not even the most mundane of tasks have been left untouched by technical innovation. Food preparation is a good case in point. Nowadays we do not need to spend so much time in our kitchens preparing meals. In my view, this time savings, without a doubt, has made our life better so that we can take full advantage of it.
In fact, it is difficult to imagine how much work was involved in preparing meals a hundred years ago. There were no supermarkets offering different kinds of preprocessed food. People had to buy many basic ingredients such as meat, vegetables, and cereals in the market and then cut, chop, boil, and stew all that stuff to make it edible. It was a tedious and lengthy process. The fate of many women of those times revolved around housework, and cooking was a major reason why they had no opportunity to liberate themselves from their daily chores.
In this day and age, however, modern life is more merciful to a woman. Thanks to the many time-saving solutions that the food industry now offers, a woman does not need to be tied up in the kitchen all the time. A typical everyday meal can be easily prepared from precooked/ready-made food products. Both men and women now can spend more time on more important activities such as building a career, playing with their children, or doing sports.
In addition, simplified food preparation has had an impact on our recreational activities too. People no longer have to take a lot of things with them to prepare their meals when on a long trip. They can rely on canned food and thus have more time to enjoy their holiday/vacation.
To sum up, instant food has changed our life in many ways. It allows us to devote our precious time to more significant business or to the things we like the most. People may now spend more time with their families, concentrate on career development, or have a great time traveling.
The technological advances of the past decades have affected many aspects of human life. Indeed, not even the most mundane of tasks have been left untouched by technical innovation. Food preparation is a good case in point. Nowadays we do not need to spend so much time in our kitchens preparing meals. In my view, this time savings, without a doubt, has made our life better so that we can take full advantage of it.
In fact, it is difficult to imagine how much work was involved in preparing meals a hundred years ago. There were no supermarkets offering different kinds of preprocessed food. People had to buy many basic ingredients such as meat, vegetables, and cereals in the market and then cut, chop, boil, and stew all that stuff to make it edible. It was a tedious and lengthy process. The fate of many women of those times revolved around housework, and cooking was a major reason why they had no opportunity to liberate themselves from their daily chores.
In this day and age, however, modern life is more merciful to a woman. Thanks to the many time-saving solutions that the food industry now offers, a woman does not need to be tied up in the kitchen all the time. A typical everyday meal can be easily prepared from precooked/ready-made food products. Both men and women now can spend more time on more important activities such as building a career, playing with their children, or doing sports.
In addition, simplified food preparation has had an impact on our recreational activities too. People no longer have to take a lot of things with them to prepare their meals when on a long trip. They can rely on canned food and thus have more time to enjoy their holiday/vacation.
To sum up, instant food has changed our life in many ways. It allows us to devote our precious time to more significant business or to the things we like the most. People may now spend more time with their families, concentrate on career development, or have a great time traveling.
TOEFL essay
The government should spend less money on space exploration.
The twentieth century witnessed tremendous breakthroughs in space exploration. Never before has humankind been able to explore our planet and other planets of the solar system with such ability. The progress has been made possible by the only institution that can afford to allocate so many billions of dollars: the government. However, nowadays some people question whether we should continue to throw away that much money on space exploration. They point out that the results are far less tangible than those of investments in other areas, and thus argue that spending on space exploration should be reduced. In my view, curtailing our space programs would be both counterproductive and short-sighted; indeed, I believe we should not only continue funding these programs, but also find ways to expand them.
First, space exploration not only satisfies scientific curiosity, but also changes our perception of life. In the middle ages, people believed that the world was flat. They had a very simple understanding of what our universe looked like. This seriously influenced many aspects of their life, such as religious beliefs, scientific inquiry, and daily activities. They could not comprehend that the structure of the universe is much more complex than their conception of it. We humans could still live in such obscurantism if there was no government funding of space exploration.
Secondly, our expensive space programs have given a lot of benefits to ordinary people. There are plenty of inventions that we are used to using on a regular basis and don’t even realize that they were made possible because of space exploration. Satellite dishes, new composite materials widely used in cars and planes, and life-saving medical devices were all either direct or indirect results of space programs. If the government had not subsidized space exploration, we might not have all the conveniences of life we enjoy today.
In conclusion, the belief that the government should limit the funding of space exploration is shortsighted. Space exploration has enriched our understanding of the world we live in and has made life easier as well. The government should not cut its spending on space exploration even though some people do not understand the benefits it brings.
The twentieth century witnessed tremendous breakthroughs in space exploration. Never before has humankind been able to explore our planet and other planets of the solar system with such ability. The progress has been made possible by the only institution that can afford to allocate so many billions of dollars: the government. However, nowadays some people question whether we should continue to throw away that much money on space exploration. They point out that the results are far less tangible than those of investments in other areas, and thus argue that spending on space exploration should be reduced. In my view, curtailing our space programs would be both counterproductive and short-sighted; indeed, I believe we should not only continue funding these programs, but also find ways to expand them.
First, space exploration not only satisfies scientific curiosity, but also changes our perception of life. In the middle ages, people believed that the world was flat. They had a very simple understanding of what our universe looked like. This seriously influenced many aspects of their life, such as religious beliefs, scientific inquiry, and daily activities. They could not comprehend that the structure of the universe is much more complex than their conception of it. We humans could still live in such obscurantism if there was no government funding of space exploration.
Secondly, our expensive space programs have given a lot of benefits to ordinary people. There are plenty of inventions that we are used to using on a regular basis and don’t even realize that they were made possible because of space exploration. Satellite dishes, new composite materials widely used in cars and planes, and life-saving medical devices were all either direct or indirect results of space programs. If the government had not subsidized space exploration, we might not have all the conveniences of life we enjoy today.
In conclusion, the belief that the government should limit the funding of space exploration is shortsighted. Space exploration has enriched our understanding of the world we live in and has made life easier as well. The government should not cut its spending on space exploration even though some people do not understand the benefits it brings.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
TOEFL essay
Extroverts are better leaders than introverts
There is a widely held opinion that an outgoing personality is an indispensable characteristic that every good leader must possess. Many people believe that introverts are not able to take a leadership position in society. Their disposition is simply not suitable for this. I think this is an incorrect assumption and being a successful leader does not necessarily mean you have to be an extrovert.
First of all, there is a misconception that leaders are only those who are capable of assembling people in a group and leading them to a certain goal which not all members of the group are able to understand because they lack the characteristics of a visionary leader. Of course, a person who is talkative and is energized by other people seems to be the right candidate for this task. And this is why extroverts are thriving. They seem to be created for this role. However, I do not think we should limit the notion of leadership to the ability of managing a group of people. We should not overlook the fact that introverts can also lead the people in their own way. Artists, writers and scientists whose work involves creative thinking and requires a great deal of concentration can also establish new trends and pathways for others. These people may act out of their passion and dedication to the work they are doing. They may display signs of aloofness, but people still like them and the values they bring to the table. These inward-looking people may even change the world we live in. This is what makes the notion/idea that extroverts are inherently better leaders so shallow.
In addition, extroverts, without a doubt, outnumber introverts. They are dominant among politicians, CEO, and entertainers. We live in a world run by extroverts. It is likely the very fact that there are so many successful extroverts around has convinced people to consider them better leaders. It is hard for a person who easily gets tired of talking with people to demonstrate his or her talent for leadership. But that does not necessarily mean that this talent is somehow inferior to an extrovert’s.
In conclusion, extroverts outnumber introverts, but introverts may be good leaders too. Their leadership skills may manifest itself in a different way. But this difference should not downplay introverts’ ability to be good leaders.
There is a widely held opinion that an outgoing personality is an indispensable characteristic that every good leader must possess. Many people believe that introverts are not able to take a leadership position in society. Their disposition is simply not suitable for this. I think this is an incorrect assumption and being a successful leader does not necessarily mean you have to be an extrovert.
First of all, there is a misconception that leaders are only those who are capable of assembling people in a group and leading them to a certain goal which not all members of the group are able to understand because they lack the characteristics of a visionary leader. Of course, a person who is talkative and is energized by other people seems to be the right candidate for this task. And this is why extroverts are thriving. They seem to be created for this role. However, I do not think we should limit the notion of leadership to the ability of managing a group of people. We should not overlook the fact that introverts can also lead the people in their own way. Artists, writers and scientists whose work involves creative thinking and requires a great deal of concentration can also establish new trends and pathways for others. These people may act out of their passion and dedication to the work they are doing. They may display signs of aloofness, but people still like them and the values they bring to the table. These inward-looking people may even change the world we live in. This is what makes the notion/idea that extroverts are inherently better leaders so shallow.
In addition, extroverts, without a doubt, outnumber introverts. They are dominant among politicians, CEO, and entertainers. We live in a world run by extroverts. It is likely the very fact that there are so many successful extroverts around has convinced people to consider them better leaders. It is hard for a person who easily gets tired of talking with people to demonstrate his or her talent for leadership. But that does not necessarily mean that this talent is somehow inferior to an extrovert’s.
In conclusion, extroverts outnumber introverts, but introverts may be good leaders too. Their leadership skills may manifest itself in a different way. But this difference should not downplay introverts’ ability to be good leaders.
Monday, August 31, 2009
TOEFL essay
Medical care should be free for everybody.
Many countries have debated issues related to medical care, and in some countries, such as the US, this debate is ongoing. The question is this: should medical care be free or should people have to pay for it?” I think that free medical care is a much better option for several reasons.
First of all, when people have to pay for the medical care it leaves many of them without any medical treatment at all simply because not all of the people can afford it. It goes without saying that rich people have access to any kind of treatment regardless of cost. But people who have much lower incomes suffer greatly and are unable to pay their medical bills. They sometimes have no other choice than to die. There are plenty of examples of people who are denied treatment because they do not have insurance that would cover the cost of the treatment.
Second of all, free medical care is a much more effective way of providing people with treatment. This medical care is actually not entirely free. Such universal medical care is subsidized by taxes. Citizens pay small, affordable sums of money allowing medical care to be free for everybody. In my view, it is quite a fair and efficient system that brings more sense of security to the people and makes the whole nation healthier. Many countries, such as France, England, and Canada, have chosen this type of system, which has made it possible to increase the life expectancy to higher than in the US, where medical care is not free.
In conclusion, I believe that free medical care ensures that people receive medical care in times of need and this is the preferable option. Free medical care saves a lot of people's lives and creates a more humane society.
Many countries have debated issues related to medical care, and in some countries, such as the US, this debate is ongoing. The question is this: should medical care be free or should people have to pay for it?” I think that free medical care is a much better option for several reasons.
First of all, when people have to pay for the medical care it leaves many of them without any medical treatment at all simply because not all of the people can afford it. It goes without saying that rich people have access to any kind of treatment regardless of cost. But people who have much lower incomes suffer greatly and are unable to pay their medical bills. They sometimes have no other choice than to die. There are plenty of examples of people who are denied treatment because they do not have insurance that would cover the cost of the treatment.
Second of all, free medical care is a much more effective way of providing people with treatment. This medical care is actually not entirely free. Such universal medical care is subsidized by taxes. Citizens pay small, affordable sums of money allowing medical care to be free for everybody. In my view, it is quite a fair and efficient system that brings more sense of security to the people and makes the whole nation healthier. Many countries, such as France, England, and Canada, have chosen this type of system, which has made it possible to increase the life expectancy to higher than in the US, where medical care is not free.
In conclusion, I believe that free medical care ensures that people receive medical care in times of need and this is the preferable option. Free medical care saves a lot of people's lives and creates a more humane society.
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