Population -Urbanisation

Section 1: Population -Urbanisation.

1. In general, people are living longer now. Discuss the causes of this phenomenon. Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.

2. Factors affecting population growth and effects of population control programme.

* Factors affecting population growth:

      - The level of medical care available.
- The availability of food
- Attitudes to family size.
- The rate of death amongst children and adults -> unconfident that their children will survive.

*Aims of population control programme:

* Mortality [mɔ:'tæləti]  s tử vong ;  số người chết trong một thời gian nào đó; tỷ lệ tử vong; tử suất (cũng) mortality rate   ;  infant mortality was 20 deaths per thousand live births ;  tỉ lệ tử vong ở trẻ em năm 1986 là 20 trẻ trên 1000 trẻ ra đời   ;  số lớn người chết do dịch bệnh, thiên tai....; số người chết

- Reduce child mortality by better medical care available
- Effect: In long term, giving parents more confidence that their children will survive.
- Make family planning information and services accessible.
- Encourage the idea of small families

3. In the late twentieth century, the proportion of the world's population living in cities has increased substantially. People have moved in ever-growing numbers from rural to urban areas. As migration from rural areas to cities continues, it is inevitable that the infrastructure in these cities will collapse. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

4. The world is experiencing a dramatic increase in population. This is causing problems not only for poor, undeveloped countries, but also for industrialised and developing nations. Describe some of the problems that overpopulation causes, and suggest at least one possible solution

* Suffer ['sʌfə] ngoại (v)  trải qua hoặc chịu (cái gì khó chịu) to suffer a defeat    bị thua ; to suffer a pain    bị đau đớn  we suffered heavy losses in the financial crisis   chúng tôi bị tổn thất nặng nề trong cuộc khủng hoảng tài chính   dung thứ, chịu đựng ;   nội động từ  ( to suffer from / with / for something) đau; đau khổ; bị  sa sút tồi tệ  : trade is suffering from the war    sự buôn bán bị trì trệ vì chiến tranh  ; your studies will suffer if you play too much football    việc học tập của anh sẽ sa sút

* Consequences:
- In poor countries it is difficult to provide enough food to feed even the current number of people. In addition, education to limit the number of children per family is not always successful.
- Poorer countries usually have a lot of unemployment too, and an increase in population simply makes the situation worse.
- The environment also suffers when there are too many people living on the land.
- In rich, industrialised and developing countries it is very difficult for governments to provide effective public services in overcrowded cities.
- Moreover, there is usually a great deal more crime, which is often due to high rates of unemployed. Further large increases in population only cause more overcrowding, unemployment and crime.

* Solution:
- Everywoman who is pregnant, but who does not want to give birth, should be allowed by law to have an abortion.
- Governments must educate people to limit the size of family.
- In China, couples are punished financially if they have more than one child. This may seem cruel, but the “one –child –policy” is beginning to have an effect ( có tác dụng) in the world’s most populous nation. Eventually, similar policies might also be necessary in other crowded nations such as India, for example.

5. Some governments say how many children a family can have in their country. They may control the number of children someone has through taxes. It is sometimes necessary and right for a government to control the population in this way.

    Do you agree or disagree?

* Reasons for government to control the population:
   Condemn [kən'dem]  kết án, kết tội, xử, xử phạt  ; to be condemned to death    bị kết án tử hình ;  chỉ trích, chê trách, lên án, quy tội ; do not condemn him before you know his motives  :  đừng vội chỉ trích hắn trước khi anh biết rõ động cơ của hắn ;  (nghĩa bóng) bắt buộc, ép  I am condemned to lie on my back another week  :  tôi buộc phải nằm ngửa thêm một tuần nữa  ;  tịch thu (hàng lậu...)

- In the past, populations were partly regulated by frequent war and widespread disease, but in recent years the effects of those factors have been diminished.
- Countries can be faced with a population that is growing much faster than the nation’s food resources or employment opportunities and whose members can be condemned to poverty by the need to feed extra mouths.
- Popullation control as a means of raising living standard.

* Solution:
- The best approach would be to work by persuasion rather than compulsion.
- Clearly, this whole area is a very delicate personal and cultural issue. Many people feel that this is not a matter of the state. They feel this is one area of life where they have the right to make decisions for themselves.
- This could be done by a process of education which points out the way a smaller family can mean an improved quality of life for the family members, as well as less strain on the country’s, perhaps very limited, resources.

Section 2: Animal - Zoo

1. To what extent is the use of animals in scientific research acceptable?       Should we use animals in scientific experiments?

  Substitute ['sʌbstitju:t]  ( substitute for somebody / something) người thay thế, vật thay thế

  Distress [dis'tres]  nỗi đau buồn, nỗi đau khổ, nỗi đau đớn

  Anaesthetize [ə'ni:sθətaiz]   làm mất cảm giác , gây tê, gây mê

- Most scientific research has to rely on the results of animal experiments. Other alternatives, such as computer modeling, that could replace animals are very limited. Some people think that using animals in scientific experiments is immoral and cruel.
- From my point of view, only animals can fulfill the requirements of scientific experiments in a real world. For example, some medical universities use dogs as a substitute to allow students to be trained in their surgical techniques. Most people understand that we cannot use humans in experiments because it may be harmful and dangerous for humans. In other laboratory experiments, scientist often use animals like rats, frogs and rabbits to observe the results because only these animals have a similar organs as humans. Therefore, we can not deny that animals contribute a lot to the development of science.
- Although it seems impossible to replace animals in scientific experiments, we should not give up on these matter. Furthermore, we should try our best to reduce the use of animals in scientific experiments. In addition, we should try to reduce pain and distress of the animals during the experiments. For example, we can anaesthetize them before doing any experiments.
- To summarize, we should put more effort into finding the better alternatives than using animals in experiments. In the mean time, we could improve our abilities to reduce the suffering of the animals in the experiments.

2. Many people have a close relationship with their pets. These people treat their birds, cats, or other animals as members of their family. In your opinion, are such relationships good? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

 3. Some people think that human needs for farmland, housing, and industry are more important than saving land for endangered animals. Do you agree or disagree with this point of view?

       Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Pollinate  ['pɔləneit]   thụ phấn, làm thụ phấn

Fragile ['frædʒail]   dễ vỡ, dễ gãy, dễ hỏng; mỏng mảnh, mỏng manh (đen & bóng)             

fragile happiness  hạnh phúc mỏng manh ;    yếu ớt, mảnh dẻ    fragile health   sức khoẻ yếu ớt

* Disagree:
- There is a delicate balance of nature. Of one small part is removed, it will effect all the other parts.
- Our environment has been affected by the absence of certain animals. Certain flowers are pollinated by butterflies which migrate from Canada to Mexico. Some of the breeding grounds of these butterflies was destroyed. Now these flowers are disappearing from certain areas. We will no longer be able to enjoy their beauty.
- The quality has been changed. America used to be covered with giants trees. Now we have to visit them in one small park. Rain forests around the world are being cut down to make room for humans. We will never be able to see or study this fragile ecosystem.
- I would encourage us humans to look for other alternatives for our farmlands, housing and industries. We have alternatives, the animals do not.

4. Are our zoos cruel to wild animals? Discuss.

5. We should not keep marine mammals in captivity. Agree?

6. Zoos are sometimes seen as necessary but not poor alternatives to a natural environment. Discuss some of the arguments for and/or against keeping animals in zoos.

 Platypuses  ['plætipəs] platypuses  (đ vật học) rái mỏ vịt (thú nhỏ có lông, có mỏ (như) vịt, chân có màng, đuôi bằng, đẻ trứng (như) ng lại cho con bú ở Uc)

Zoos are common places for people around the world. Animals are kept in zoos for several positive reasons: entertainment, education and conservation. On the other hand, zoos also cause some problems for animals, such as restrictions in their freedom or the destruction of the “wild” character of animals. This essay will discuss advantages and disadvantages about keeping animals in zoos.

Firstly, zoos are entertaining and interesting places for children. Virtually all children like to see animals in zoos. These are good places for families to relax. Zoos are not only interesting places for children, but they also give a chance for people who live in big cities get close to nature.

The next point is the scientists can research animals’ lives when they are kept in zoos easier than they are still living in forests. Scientists can study animals’ relationships, their life cycle, or their habits. In addition, researchers can learn how animals take care of each other such as how mothers look after their offspring. (hậu duệ). Moreover, researchers have acknowledged the importance of how to breed animals, which can reduce animal extinction.

Furthermore, endangered animals such as tigers, lions can be kept in captivity. Some animals that risk extinction might still exist because they are kept in safe from hunting.

However, zoos are not suitable for animals because they are kept in the limited area, in limited food for a long time. They may lose their freedom and their socialization with other animals. Besides, some animals have lost their “wild” character. For example, tigers might lose their hunting skills; platypuses might die because they are not used to live in limited areas.

Also, zoos cost a lot of money for land, animals’ food and labours. This may charge expensive entrance fees for people who want to go into zoos.

In summary, zoos are interesting places to people of all ages and zoos are also safe places for some species of animals. Yet, zoos’ owners should look after all animals and give them enough food and suitable captivity, as this will give being better advantages for animals’ lives.

7. Zoos are both necessary and entertaining. -above
8. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A zoo has no useful purpose. Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.

Section 3: Environment

1. Problems and solutions

• Rain forests:
- solution: governments in rainforest countries need to plan and work together. They should also protect certain areas and plant new forest.
• Energy:
- at the moment, 94% of the world’s energy comes from fossil fuels. There’s enough coal for the next 300 years, but oil is only enough for next 50 years. What happens then? Well, one answer is nuclear energy. But after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, many people think nuclear power isn’t safe.
- The green solutions: they all use natural energy already in the environment:
- Wind energy
- Solar energy
- Wave energy
- Geothermal energy (from hot rocks under the Earth)
• Acid rain:
- solutions: Industrial countries should control their levels of pollution. This is already happening in some parts of Europe.
• Widelife:
- Animals are a part of the environment, too. Millions of them are killed or treated cruelly by man every year. There are five main groups:
- Animals used for scientific research: rabbits.
- Animals killed for sport; foxes.
- Animals killed for fur, skin: crocodies.
- Animals – their environment are in danger: glorillas.
- Animals kept in cruel conditions on farm: chicken, cows.
- solution: groups like Greenpeace have already helped to stop whale hunting. Now, they want to stop fur hunting, too -> they believe in animal rights. Animals shouldn’t suffer. The cruelty must stop.

2. Why is protecting environment important?

• We need a healthy environment in order to survive so we must protect it. We need to protect the environment now to help prevent health problems, to maintain the ecosystem and to preserve the earth for our children.
• Pollution from factories and cars can cause damages to the environment. Moreover, pollution cause health problems, particularly for children and the elderly who have weaker immune system. We need to ensure that there are controls on the amount of pollution when possible so as to prevent health problems caused by breathing dirty air.
• We also need to pay attention to the ecosystem. Trees, plant life, and people all depend on each other. An unhealthy environment can have harmful effects on the ecosystem. For example, if a plant dies because of changes to the environment and that plant is food for an animal, that animal won’t have any food. If human uses that animal as a food source there could be big problems.
• If we do not respect our environment now, it will continue to get worse and our children will suffer the consequences. They wouldn’t have the same quality of air to breath or natural beauty to admire. That would be sad.
• Without clean air to breath, a healthy ecosystem and a future for our children the human race would not survive. That is why protecting our environment is important.

3. "Action such as recycling cannot be left up to the good will of the individual. It must be forced on us by government."

 Discuss this statement and suggest how governments can encourage people to be more aware of environmental issues.

* How can the government encourage/force us to recycle?
• new laws
• introduce fines
• provide special collection services for different types of rubbish
• promote recycling through a media campaign
• teach children about recycling and environmental issues at school.

   * Why should we recycle?
    • too much rubbish - nowhere to put it
    • using up important resources too quickly
    • rubbish causes pollution,

            e.g. plastic which is not biodegradable. [,baiɔdi'greidəbl]  có thể bị vi khuẩn làm cho thối rữa

* What are the disadvantages of government legislation to encourage/force people to recycle?
• people wouldn't need to think about the environment - they just follow the law
• may be an expensive policy
• checking and fining people who don't recycle would be expensive to do, so the government might have to raise taxes to pay for it

* Why don't people recycle without government law?
• it is easier not to recycle - people are naturally lazy
• people are not aware of environmental issues

* Where do people recycle a lot?
• Germany, for example.

* How much should the government fine people who do not recycle? 3 - add to the other ideas above
• High fines to make people do it.

* Who should check if people are recycling? The police? 
• very difficult point - police are too busy
• maybe local council officials

4. To what extent is the continuous use of fossil fuels acceptable given the evidence of global warming?

5. To what extent should economic planning be influenced by the need of environmental conservation?

6. Many parts of the world are losing important natural resources, such as forests, animals, or clean water. Choose one resource that is disappearing and explain why it needs to be saved.

    Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

* What are examples for the loss of such important resources?
- forests.
- Animals
- Clean water
* Why they are being lost?
- due to human beings’ activities like: exploration for natural resources.
- Polluted environment
- What is the obvious example? Give evidence
- Our trees.
- Hundreds of thousands of arces of trees disappear in countries all around the world.
* What is the reason?
- Trees are used for fuel.
- Trees are destroyed to build housing developments and shopping centers.
* Why this resource is important?
- Trees are essential to our survival. They are a major part of the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process in which green plants use carbon dioxide to produce oxygen, and oxygen is something all of us need. The fewer trees there are, the more this affects our ability to breath.
- Trees are also important in the development of many medicines. Many drugs come from the leaves of certain trees, along with other herbs and plants.
- Trees are important to soil conservation. This is why you’ll usually see trees lining a field. Tree roots help keep the soil in place, and are also a factor in water distribution deep beneath the ground.
- Trees provide so much pleasure.
* What can be done to protect this disappearance?

7. The environment is the most important issue in the world today. Discuss.
8. The United Nations should be given a stronger role in global economic management in order to ensure that the world’s resources are used wisely.

In the twentieth century, many countries have been developing their economies and improving the standard of their people’s living. The “Tiger economies” of East Asia provide a very good example of this. At the same time, it is true that there are some environmental problems with development, such as air and water pollution, and the cutting down of large areas of rain forest in some countries.

I do not think the UN is the best organisation to take on a management role to try and find a balance in such matters. It has become clear in recent years that the UN is not very good at managing its own affair. Some people sent to work for UN seem to have more interest in their own advancement than in serving the greater cause of mankind. As a result there have been serious problems with waste and inefficiency in the work of the UN.

I would argue that problems of development and of conservation have to be solved by the countries concerned. As standards of living rise in the developing economies, people in those countries will start to fight against pollution and demand a better standard of living. These countries will eventually follow a path like that of the developed countries and issues of conservation will become increasingly important.

The best role that the UN can play is to help countries get together to sort out problems of mutual interest which cross national borders. There are also special global problems, such as the hole in the ozone layer, where the UN can provide a forum for countries to seek common solutions. But this is a very different matter from giving the UN a stronger role in global economic management.

9. The forests are becoming smaller and the planet is more polluted everyday.”

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of economic development. (250 words)

What’s the connections between bad sides of economic development and environmental issue?
- First, and most importantly, economic development of many countries makes massive problems, which damage the environment.
- For example, if some countries have a good economy, they will want to spread the prosperity to outside countries. Therefore, sometimes they have to cut down a forest to build buildings or factories. As a result, the forests are now becoming smaller.
- Moreover, there are many kinds of industries, such as chemical or petroleum industries that cause the planet to be polluted everyday.
So we should not overlook these problems while we are developing an economy.

10. To what extent should industry be made to pay for environmental pollution?
11. To what extent can individuals ensure that the environment is protected from pollution?
12. Some people believe that the Earth is being harmed (damaged) by human activity. Others feel that human activity makes the Earth a better place to live. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

13. Human beings are rapidly destroying the planet earth

14. What are activities of human beings which destroy the planet earth?

- Pollution
- Polluted the air and land.
- Cars and factories are very dirty -> dangerous for people, wildlife and the environment.
- 2 serious pollution problems are:
- Acid rain: this happens when gases and chemicals mix with water in the air. The mixture travels for hundreds of miles and finally falls back to earth. Because “Acid rain” contains a lot of chemicals - It kills fish and trees.
- The Greenhouse effect: gases and chemicals are the reason for this problems, too. Some of them stay in the air like a blnket around the world. Because of this blanket, the Earth’s climate is changing and getting hotter.
- Desserts: soil erosion:
- More people -> fewer trees -> greater use of land -> thinner soil -> erosion -> famine.
- Water: in the developing world, clean water is rare -> dig deep wells.
- Rain Forest: in the last 40 years, half of the world’s forests have dissappeared. If this continues for the next 40 years, millions of specis of plants and animals will become extinct. And that’s just the beginning.
- Why is the crisis happening?
- Because developing world farmers don’t have enough land for places growing food and places living.
- Rich countries depend on rain forest products.
- Modern life in the developed world depends on rain forest products. These includes:
- Mineral
- Wood
- Medicine
- rubber
- effects of the crisis:
- the world’s rainforests are facing a total disaster. Some scientists says it’s even worse than the effect of nuclear war.
- The rainforest fires in Africa are so big that they appear in sattellite photos. But it’s not just a question of diappearing of tribes, trees and species.
- It’s a question of climat, too. Out planet needs healthy rainforests to contrl its temperature. Without them, the greenhouse Effect will just get worse and worse.
- Used most of the Earth’s oil, gas and coal.
- Completely killed more than 500 kinds of animals, birds and plants.
- 2030: 25% of animals, birds, fish and insects may be extinct.
- Reasons:
- Pollution: millions of animals die every year because man has polluted their natural home or habitat.
- Hunting: man hunts and kills millions of animals every year.
- Environment itself:
- smaller: man cuts down more trees, build more road, uses more land for farming ->fewer jungles, fields and forest for wild life.
- Made and used atomic bombs.
- Grown in numbers from 1 billion ( 1830) to more than 6 billions today.
- natural resources: water source, biological source, energy resources are harmed by human’s exploration:
- strip mining devastate whole regions, leaving bare and useless ground.
- Deforestation removes old growth trees that can’t be replaced.
- Too much fishing may harm fish populations to the point where they can’t recover
- Overpopulation:
- Many areas suffer too much development
- Economic development
 pollution to environment
- traffic congestion.
- polluted air (emission from factories)
- polluted water (waste from companies and communities)
- Waste present everywhere: barrels of industrial waste, radioactive waste.
- What have human beings done to make the earth a better place?
- rescue and build the explored resources.
- Rehabilitate the earth.
- In the last 20 years there has been a Green revolution.
- Today, many scientists and world leaders realize that the earth is in danger.
-> It is really very simple: Either we stop killing the Earth or we will kill ourselves. We need a cleaner, healthier planet.

15. A company is going to give some money either to support the arts or to protect the environment. Which do you think the company should choose? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Why protect the environment important?
- prevent health problems.
- Maintain the ecosystem.
- Preserve the Earth for our children.
- The earth planet is now in danger w.r.t environment.
- Click here
16. Forests are the lungs of the earth. Destruction of the world''s forests amounts to death of the world we currently know. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
17. Damage of the environment is an inevitable consequence of worldwide improvements in the standard of living. Discuss.
18. Descibe an environmental problem that Vietnam has.

- The disappearing of forests.
- Deforestation rates in Vietnam have been high with net annual loss of forests estimated at 100 000 - 125 000 ha in recent years.
Reason:
- Local demands for industrial wood
- Improved market prices as part of the process of economic rationalisation.
- Trees are used for fuel.
- Trees are cut down illegally by criminals for profits.
- Forest fires in the south of Vietnam in recent months. The recent fire in Uminh (camau) forest rain in Vietnam caused more than 6000 ha destroyed completely.
- Trees are destroyed to build housing developments and shopping centers, giving places for growing foods and providing living space for new – added population.
Why this issue is important?
- Forest is the major habitat for animals, birds, plants
- Trees are essential to our survival. They are a major part of the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process in which green plants use carbon dioxide to produce oxygen, and oxygen is something all of us need. The fewer trees there are, the more this affects our ability to breath.
- Trees are also important in the development of many medicines. Many drugs come from the leaves of certain trees, along with other herbs and plants.
- Trees are important to soil conservation. This is why you’ll usually see trees lining a field. Tree roots help keep the soil in place, and are also a factor in water distribution deep beneath the ground.
- Trees provide so much pleasure.

19. What do you think can be done to solve this problem?

- Serious efforts are being made to establish forest plantations in Vietnam with a parallel program of plantings as scattered trees in home gardens, and along dykes and roadsides. have already proven to be the driving forces towards the reforestation of barren land and private tree planting in home gardens and on marginal lands alongside roads and dykes.
- Better management in forests: the forestry team need better training.
- Lauch effective campaigns to enhance mass’ awareness of the importance of protecting the forest.
- Find other alternatives from the tree –plant areas to build buildings: tall building should replace one –two floor house.
- This issue must be taken into account when developing the industry.

20. What do you think that ordinary people can do to help protect the environment?
- Take part in the process of popularizing the neccesity of protecting the environment in the mass.
- Plant trees more in surrounding living region.
- Each action must show respect to the environment protection:
- Never throw waste into wrong places
- Never make harm to the green trees.

21. Do you worry about the state of the environment in the world? Why/ Why not?
- Natural resources: water source, biological source, energy resources are harmed by human’s exploration:
- strip mining devastate whole regions, leaving bare and useless ground.
- Deforestation removes old growth trees that can’t be replaced.
- Too much fishing may harm fish populations to the point where they can’t recover
- Overpopulation:
- Many areas suffer too much development
- Economic development
 pollution to environment
- traffic congestion.
- polluted air (emission from factories)
- polluted water (waste from companies and communities)
- there are many kinds of industries, such as chemical or petroleum industries that cause the planet to be polluted everyday.
- Waste present everywhere: barrels of industrial waste, radioactive waste.
22. Speculate on the effects of environmental change on the lives of future generations.
23. To what extent is environmental damage irresistible?
24. What do you think is the most serious problem in the world?
• Why do you think so?
• What can we do as individuals to solve this problem?
25. What types of noise pollution do you hate the most?