discussion text

There are differences of opinions on the Avian Flu. Some said this disease may claim 150 million deaths but there are others who said current alarm on avian flu is unwarranted as there is no proof of spreading between humans.

According to United Nation's chief coordinator on bird flu said 150 million or more could die from the disease, if a pandemic strike. One of the frightening issues for a human flu pandemic arising from avian influenza is its unpredictability.

It is difficult to estimate the death toll should H5N1 virus mutates into a form. Which can be easily transmitted between human. It is not possible to predict whether a pandemic would occur once or it would repeat. However, an epidemiologist recommended that Government should take every possible precaution the threat of bird flu, seriously.

Contrary to all dire talks about avian flu pandemic coming, an Ecologist dismissed the current panic as unsubstantiated and guess work.

Ecologists commented that H5N 1 virus still remains a bird virus and has no scientific evidences of human‑to‑human transmission. They said there are billions of people across Asia which only 118 are reported being affected by avian flu. So, how do they calculate to show that 150 million or more deaths will come from avian flu. The global panic, according to the Ecologist, is the result of “scare tactics" created by politicians, medical officers, and the media.

It is premature to predict the outcome of avian flu. Health scientist could confirm the possibility of human‑to‑human transmission. The advice is to keep calm and stay alert because if you do, you will weaken your resistance and reduce your immune system.

what does the text discuss?

• Controversies over the Avian Flu

• Negative effect of Avian Flu

• The outcome of Avian Flu

• Unpredictability of of Avian Flu

• Precaution against Avian Flu

Ecologists commented that H5N 1 virus still remains a bird virus and has no scientific evidences of human‑to‑human transmission. They said there are billions of people across Asia which only 118 are reported being affected by avian flu. So, how do they calculate to show that 150 million or more deaths will come from avian flu. The global panic, according to the Ecologist, is the result of “scare tactics" created by politicians, medical officers, and the media.

The underlined word refers to ....

• Human

• ecologists

• Medical officers

• Scare tactics

• Bird viruses

Everywhere you go nowadays, you see people using mobile phones. From school children to the people, you see them talking in the supermarket, on trains, in the street, everywhere!

So what are the advantages of mobile phones?

First of all, they are very convenient because you can phone from nearly everywhere. Another advantage is that they are really useful in emergency situations.

For example, if you are alone in your car and it breaks down, you can get help quickly. In addition, you can also use mobile to text your friends or connect to the net.

However, there are disadvantages such as the cost. Mobile phone calls cost more than normal calls. Furthermore, it can be annoying if you are on the train or a bus, and you have to listen to someone else’s boring conversation. It happens because people can contact you anywhere, at anytime, unless you switch your phone off!

In conclusion, there are both advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I feel mobile phones are a good thing because they give us more freedom and make communication easier.

What the text is about?

• Mobile phone calls cost

• How people communicate nowadays

• The reasons why people have a mobile phone

• How people use their mobile phone

• The advantages and disadvantages of having mobile phones

“Another advantage is that they are really useful in emergency situations.

The similar meaning of the underlined word is . . .

• busy

• critical

• impossible

• spare

• important

Many young people have difficulty deciding where they will live when the time comes to leave home and make their own way in the world. Among the more common alternatives are sharing a house or flat with other young people, and finding full board and lodgings in someone else's home.

Renting a house with other young people offers the advantage of a high degree of freedom and independence. On the down side, renting involves a variety of responsibilities that may be more than you wish to take on. This would mean you would be responsible for making large rental payments if one or more of the people you are sharing with should move out of the house or flat. It might also mean that you are held financially responsible if they damage the dwelling.

Finding board and lodgings, on the other hand, has significant advantages. Generally you have no responsibility for the cleaning or maintenance of the dwelling or its gardens, other than to take reasonable care of your room. However, living in board and lodging circumstances has its drawbacks too. You have less freedom and flexibility in your lifestyle.

In the end, the decision each person makes will depend on their own personal valuing of independence and of convenience, as well as their feeling of readiness for taking on the considerable financial and other responsibilities of house or flat rental.

The text mainly discusses about …

• sharing a house

• cleaning a house

• deciding where to live

• renting a house

• finding full board

Many young people have difficulty deciding where they will live when the time comes to leave home and make their own way in the world. Among the more common alternatives are sharing a house or flat with other young people, and finding full board and lodgings in someone else's home.

Renting a house with other young people offers the advantage of a high degree of freedom and independence. On the down side, renting involves a variety of responsibilities that may be more than you wish to take on. This would mean you would be responsible for making large rental payments if one or more of the people you are sharing with should move out of the house or flat. It might also mean that you are held financially responsible if they damage the dwelling.

Finding board and lodgings, on the other hand, has significant advantages. Generally you have no responsibility for the cleaning or maintenance of the dwelling or its gardens, other than to take reasonable care of your room. However, living in board and lodging circumstances has its drawbacks too. You have less freedom and flexibility in your lifestyle.

In the end, the decision each person makes will depend on their own personal valuing of independence and of convenience, as well as their feeling of readiness for taking on the considerable financial and other responsibilities of house or flat rental.

The writer’s purpose of writing the text is …

• to present two points of view about deciding where to live

• to persuade readers to rent a house with other young people

• to describe how to decide to find a rented house

• to inform readers how to decide where to live

• to explain how to find board and lodgings

What do you think about home schooling? Do you think it's a good idea concerning socialization and all? Believed to be first introduced in the U.S. decades ago, home schooling is now mushrooming in the country. This phenomenon seems to be in response to the fact that children's rights are sidelined in the arena of formal education. As an alternative education system, home schooling could become a popular choice for children of school age

Home schooling provides kids with educational opportunities that traditional public schooling has not provided. It offers a refreshing system by which students are encouraged to be creative and express themselves. Students will discover the thrill and sense of accomplishment that self-initiated learning can bring.

On the other hand, some people believe that home schooling can be inefficient and expensive. Students’ social life is, indeed, something to be concerned about in home schooling education. Most school districts make sincere attempts to keep their home schooled students active participants in the social, athletic, and extracurricular life of the school.

It is strongly recommended that parents contact home schooling resource that may be able to put them in touch with kids who have gone through home schooling and those who are currently being home schooled. Talking with them would be a great way for parents to make a more informed decision about their kids’ education.

The text mainly discusses about …

• kids’ education

• students’ socialization problem

• education problem

• an alternative education system

• popular public schooling

What do you think about home schooling? Do you think it's a good idea concerning socialization and all? Believed to be first introduced in the U.S. decades ago, home schooling is now mushrooming in the country. This phenomenon seems to be in response to the fact that children's rights are sidelined in the arena of formal education. As an alternative education system, home schooling could become a popular choice for children of school age

Home schooling provides kids with educational opportunities that traditional public schooling has not provided. It offers a refreshing system by which students are encouraged to be creative and express themselves. Students will discover the thrill and sense of accomplishment that self-initiated learning can bring.

On the other hand, some people believe that home schooling can be inefficient and expensive. Students’ social life is, indeed, something to be concerned about in home schooling education. Most school districts make sincere attempts to keep their home schooled students active participants in the social, athletic, and extracurricular life of the school.

It is strongly recommended that parents contact home schooling resource that may be able to put them in touch with kids who have gone through home schooling and those who are currently being home schooled. Talking with them would be a great way for parents to make a more informed decision about their kids’ education.

What does the writer suggest that parents do before making decision to provide home schooling for their kids?

• It's a good idea concerning socialization and all.

• Parents provide home schooling for their children.

• Public schooling education offers refreshment system.

• Parents seek home schooling resource’s information.

• Parents always keep their home schooled kids active.

“… parents contact home schooling resource that may be able to put them in touch with kids who have gone through home schooling”

The underlined phrase means ….

• known

• hang out

• connected

• concerned

• informed

The impact of globalization visibly and largely affects the politics and the economy of the country but its effect on the mindset and the culture is noticeable gradually in the way people think and react. Some of these good and bad points of this worldwide

phenomenon are obvious fromn some points. People favoring globalization state that there is a worldwide market for the companies and for the customers there is a better access to

products from different countries. Also, politics is merging and decisions that are being taken are actually beneficial to people all over the world. Cultural intermingling increases and every nation tries to know more about the other nations’ cultural preferences. In this process. we are actually coming across things that we like and in the course of time adopt it. However, there are also opponents of globalization. There is immense pressure on the employed people of developed countries who are always under the threat of their jobs being outsourced. Globalization may lead to loss of cultural identitv as western ideas are always imposed upon the eastern thoughts.

How can globalization be beneficial culturally?

• Developed countries realize the importance of education.

• Political ideas inspire people for a more democratic unity.

• Exchanges of western and eastern cultures become intensive.

• People of different cultures are aware of others likes and dislikes.

• Cultural adaption is more open and inevitable.