Model answer: task 8 question one
The graph shows the number of mobile phones and landlines per 100 users, for selected countries. Overall, most of the countries included in the graph have more mobile phones subscribers than landlines.
Most European countries have high mobile phone use. The biggest users of mobile phones are the Italians, with 88 cell phones per 100 people. For example, Italy has twice as many mobile phones as landlines, with 88 mobiles per hundred people compared to 45 for landlines. Mobile phone use is low in Canada, with fewer than 40 phones per 100 people. Denmark is also unusual because it has slightly more landlines than mobile phones. However, in some countries, the number of landlines is higher than the number of mobile phones. One example is the USA, where the number of mobiles, at 50 per 100 people, is much lower than the number of landlines, at almost 70 per hundred. A similar pattern can be seen in Canada. The highest number of landlines in the graph is in Denmark, with about 90 per 100 people. In contrast, the lowest figures for fixed lines are in Italy and the UK. In conclusion, it seems that mobile phone use is higher in Europe than in North America.

E. tutoring and e. learning is becoming increasingly popular all over the world. This virtual learning platform offers great advantages for tutors and learners alike.

· Do you think its advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

E. tutoring and E. learning are very common today. This is mainly to the mounting popularity of the Net as an interactive medium. Obviously, both tutors and learners reap benefits, and in my opinion, it offers enough advantages to outweigh the disadvantages.

Online tutoring and learning offers several advantages for both the parties involved. Primary advantage is that it works 24/7 and round the year. Tutors and students can benefit each other by way of interaction, education and value addition. Secondly, it is a virtual learning experience as tutors could be from different nations, and so could students be. It is a kind of exchange. Thirdly, this is a great employment provider. Educated, employed and even retirees could make use of their free time and earn a lot of money. It is a win-win for all in more ways than one.

There are certain disadvantages for E. education though. Firstly, it is the limited possibilities for tutor-leaner face-to-face. This may dampen the spirit of learning. Secondly, accountability factor may be absent because the authenticity or veracity of information imparted may not be reliable. This may harm students and their performance. Thirdly, we cannot rule out the inconveniences it is likely to cause with regard to geographical positioning of both the students and tutors. There could be a few more pitfalls anyway.

Looking at the brighter aspects of the concept, it may be concluded that darker sides are not strong enough to counter the other. It is all a matter of how we make use of it. What is there that does not have an unpleasant side? E. education is no exception.

260 words



Model answer: task 2 Question 2
The three graphs of wheat exports each show a quite different pattern between 1985 and 1990. Exports from Australia declined over the five-year period, while the Canadian market fluctuated considerably, and the European Community showed an increase.In 1985, Australia exported about 15 millions of tonnes of wheat and the following year the number increased by one million tonnes to 16 million. After that, however, there was a gradual decline until 1989 and 1990 when it stabilised at about 11 million tonnes. Over the same period, the amount of Canadian exports varied greatly. It started at 19 million tonnes in 1985, reached a peak in 1988 of 24 million, dropped dramatically in 1989 to 14 million tonnes and then climbed back to 19 million in 1990. Seventeen million tonnes were exported from the European Community in 1985, but this decreased to 14 million tonnes in 1986 and then rose to 15 million in 1987 and 1988 before increasing once more to 20 million in 1990.
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All manufacturers and marketing organizations are found to be keeping the needs of people mounting. This is both an opportunity and a problem from a consumer’s perspective.

Discuss the pros and cons of ever mounting needs of consumers.

Keeping human needs mounting is a ploy used by manufacturers and their marketing organizations to boost sales. Though this trade practice offers some conveniences to consumers, it creates several problems as well.

Primary advantage a consumer enjoys out of such a market practice is that it brings in manufacturers and market players in the market. As a result, there is competition among manufacturers of same products and services. The benefit a consumer enjoys are many. Firstly, s/he gets great variety of products and services. Secondly, these products and services come with uniform price tags, and the same, most of the time, are affordable to all. Or, there will be greater range of products and services so that consumers can pick and choose according to their needs.

However, there are a few problems created by such a marketing ploy of keeping the needs mounting. Firstly, this tendency pressurizes consumers to be spending on and on. This will keep many consumers poorer. Secondly, it makes consumers believe that their life is incomplete without this or that thing. Actually, it is not so. This is an artificially created mindset. Third problem is it encourages consumption and a ‘use and throw’ culture. This is harmful primarily to the society and secondly to the environment. And finally, mounting needs keeps man a consumer throughout his life. He never thinks of producing anything.

Looking at the opportunities and problems, it may be concluded that manufacturer-driven market results in more problems than opportunities. However, intelligent and informed consumers can identify this ploy and act wisely. Anyways, this trend is bound to be here for ever.

260 words