Task 1:
The bar shows the percentage of people going to cinemas in one European country on different days.
- Level: Medium
- Type: Bar chart
1. Sample
The chart illustrates the proportion of people visiting a cinema during seven days of the week in a European nation from 2003 to 2007.
It is clear that there were only small fluctuations in people’s preference of which day to go to the cinema over the examined period. People in this country tended to go to the cinema on the weekend rather than on Monday to Friday.
In 2003, 40% of people went to cinemas on a Saturday, compared to 30% on Friday or Sunday each. On the other days, the proportion of movie-goers was higher on Tuesday, at 20%, while the lowest figure can be seen on Monday, at only 10%.
Over the next four years, the percentage of people going to the cinema on weekends increased slightly to 45% 35% for Saturday and Sunday respectively. Similarly, Thursday and Monday became more popular among cinema-goers, with about 2% more people choosing these days. However, fewer people went to see movies on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the figures falling to 19% and 9% respectively. Finally, the proportion of movie-goers choosing to go to the cinema on a Friday remained at 30% during the three examined years.
(196 words)
2. Vocabulary
- Cinema-goers = movie goers (n)
- Small fluctuations (n)
- To remain (n)
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Task 2:
Research shows that business meetings, discussions and training are happening online nowadays.
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
- Level: Medium
- Topic: Business
- Keywords: Business meetings, discussion, training; online.
- Type: Discussion essays
1. Sample
Holding business meetings and training via the internet has gained enormous popularity in recent years. Although the drawbacks of this are varied, in my opinion, the benefits are greater.
On the one hand, conducting meetings and training sessions online may have some major disadvantages. The first drawback is the technical limitations that participants may have, which may reduce the effectiveness of discussions or meetings. For example, the elderly may find it hard to understand and make use of latest programs and software, while other participants may lose track of the progress of a meeting due to a slow internet connection or platform malfunction. The second disadvantage is the lack of face-to-face interaction which is often considered as the key to a successful meeting or training session. While online attendants may be easily distracted by other interesting, yet non-productive online activities, the physical presence of hosts or trainers would no doubt provide a more engaging and active meeting or training session.
However, I am convinced that the advantages of virtual meetings are more significant. Compared to traditional face-to-face meetings, those held online consume much less time and money. In the past, attendants had to make long trips just to meet with other employees from other branches, however with online meetings, all team members can join the conference from any place, without the need to travel. Another advantage of online communication is that members who join meetings and training can share and organise files and presentations easily and conveniently. The files can also be edited or revised by other members, facilitating collaboration within the whole team.
In conclusion, it seems that the merits of virtual meetings and trainings are more significant than the downsides.
(282 words)
2. Vocabulary
- To gain enormous popularity in:
- The technical limitations
- To make use of something
- Slow internet connection and platform malfunction
- The lack of face-to-face interaction
- To be the key to something
- To be distracted by something
- To facilitate something
