I. WRITING TASK 1
The diagram below shows how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Sample Answer:
The given diagram depicts the process of producing electricity in a hydropower plant.
Overall, there are various stages in the process of generating electricity, commencing with collecting river water and finalizing with the transmission of electricity to the national grid.
During the daytime, the river current is held back by a dam in order to accumulate water in a high-level reservoir. After that, the water flows downward through an intake pipe into the lower part of the power station. During this stage, under the pressure of water, the reversible turbines are rotated to power the connected generator. Electricity generated by this generator is then transmitted via power lines to the national grid system. After rotating the turbines, the water is released into a low-level reservoir for storage.
At nighttime, the water is directed back into the power station, which makes the reversible turbines start to rotate backward. As a result, the water will be pumped up back into the high-level reservoir again to get ready for the next cycle.
II. WRITING TASK 2
Some people say that music is a good way of bringing people of different cultures and ages together.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Sample answer:
Many believe that music is an effective means of strengthening the bond between people from different cultural backgrounds and generations. From my perspective, I wholeheartedly agree with this point of view.
To begin with, music has an exceptional ability to evoke a wide range of feelings of the listeners such as sadness, anger, and happiness regardless of their country of origin. Although it is true that the lyrics of a song might be incomprehensible due to the language barrier, its melody is linguistically neutral. In fact, in order to feel the melody of a song, the listener does not need to fully understand the language in which the song is written. For example, a Vietnamese may fall in love with a Korean pop song or a Japanese may shed tears while listening to a melancholic piece of music written by an American musician. This is a clear evidence that shows music is a universal language that transcends all cultural boundaries.
In addition, music is a common ground for people to understand each other better irrespective of their age. Nowadays, it is not surprising to see young individuals are fond of the nostalgic feel of a song released years ago, and likewise, modern music genres such as hip-hop, rap, and techno are also becoming increasingly popular amongst older people. For instance, it is commonplace to see a family of different generations gathered together in a karaoke room, singing and dancing to the same song with much joy.
In conclusion, music is an important part of people’s lives and it can also act as a powerful means of uniting people of different cultures and ages.
