TOEFL Reading Test 1 Section 2: The Origins of Theater

 The Origins of Theater

1. In seeking to describe the origins of theater, one must rely primarily on speculation, since there is little concrete evidence on which to draw. The most widely accepted theory, championed by anthropologists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, envisions theater as emerging out of myth and ritual. The process perceived by these anthropologists may be summarized briefly. During the early stages of its development, a society becomes aware of forces that appear to influence or control its food supply and well-being. Having little understanding of natural causes, it attributes both desirable and undesirable occurrences to supernatural or magical forces, and it searches for means to win the favor of these forces. Perceiving an apparent connection between certain actions performed by the group and the result it desires, the group repeats, refines and formalizes those actions into fixed ceremonies, or rituals.

2. Stories (myths) may then grow up around a ritual. Frequently the myths include representatives of those supernatural forces that the rites celebrate or hope to influence. Performers may wear costumes and masks to represent the mythical characters or supernatural forces in the rituals or in accompanying celebrations. As a people becomes more sophisticated, its conceptions of supernatural forces and casual relationships may change. As a result, it may abandon or modify some rites. But the myths that have grown up around the rites may continue as part of the group's oral tradition and may even come to be acted out under conditions divorced from these rites. When this occurs, the first step has been taken toward theater as an autonomous activity, and thereafter entertainment and aesthetic values may gradually replace the former mystical and socially efficacious concerns. 

3. Although origin in ritual has long been the most popular, it is by no means the only theory about how the theater came into being. 

Storytelling has been proposed as one alternative. Under this theory, relating and listening to stories are seen as fundamental human pleasures. Thus, the recalling of an event (a hunt, battle, or other feat) is elaborated through the narrator's pantomime and impersonation and eventually through each role being assumed by a different person. 

4. A closely related theory sees theater as evolving out of dances that are primarily pantomimic, rhythmical or gymnastic, or from imitations of animal noises and sounds. Admiration for the performer's skill, virtuously, and grace are seen as motivation for elaborating the activities into fully realized theatrical performances. 

5. In addition to exploring the possible antecedents of theater, scholars have also theorized about about the motives that led people to develop theater. Why did theater develop, and why was it valued after it ceased to fulfill the function of ritual? Most answers fall back on the theories about the human mind and basic needs. One, set forth by Aristotle in the fourth century B.C., sees humans as naturally imitative--as taking pleasure in imitating persons, things, and actions and in seeing such imitations. Another, advanced in the twentieth century, suggests that humans have a gift for fantasy, through which they seek to reshape reality into more satisfying forms than those encountered in daily life. 

TOEFL Reading Test 1 Section: 1. Groundwater

 Groundwater

1. Groundwater is the word used to describe water that saturates the ground, filling all the available spaces. By far the most abundant type of groundwater is meteoric water, this is the groundwater that circulates as part of the water cycle. Ordinary meteoric water is water that has soaked into the ground from surface, from precipitation (rain and snow) and from lakes and streams. There it remains, sometimes for long periods, before emerging at the surface again. At first thought it seems incredible that there can be enough space in the "solid" ground underfoot to hold all this water. 

2. The necessary space is there, however, in many forms. The commonest spaces are those among the particles-- sand grains and tiny pebbles--of loose, unconsolidated sand and gravel. Beds of this material, out of sight beneath the soil, are common. They are found wherever fast rivers carrying loads of coarse sediment once flowed. For covered North American during the last ice age steadily melted away, huge volumes of water flowed from them. The water was always laden with pebbles, gravel, and sand, known as glacial outwash, that was deposited as the flow slowed down. 

3. The same thing happens to this day, though on a smaller scale, wherever a sediment-laden river or stream emerges from a mountain valley onto relatively flat land, dropping its load as the current slows; the water usually spreads out fanwise, depositing the sediment in the form of a smooth, fan shaped slope. Sediments are also dropped where a river slows on entering a lake or the sea, the deposited sediments are on a lake floor or the seafloor at first, but will be located inland at some future date, when the sea level falls or the land rises; such beds are sometimes thousands of meters thick. 

4. In lowland country almost any spot on the ground may overlie what was once the bed of a river that has since become buried by soil; if they a re now below the water's upper surface (the water table), the gravels and sands of the former riverbed, and its sandbars, will be saturated with groundwater. 

5. So much for unconsolidated sediments. Consolidated (or cemented) sediments, too, contain millions of minute water-holding pores. This is because the gaps among the original grains are often not totally plugged with cementing chemicals; also, parts of the original grains may become dissolved by percolating groundwater, either while consolidation is taking place or at any time afterwards. The result is that sandstone, for example, can be as porous as the loose sand from which it was formed. 

6. Thus a proportion of the total volume of any sediment, loose or cemented, consists of empty space. Most crystalline rocks are much more solid; a common exception is basalt, a form of solidified volcanic lava, which is sometimes full of tiny bubbles that make it very porous. 

7. The proportion of empty space in a rock is known as its porosity. But note that porosity is not the same as permeability, which measures the ease with which water can flow through a material; this depends on the sizes of the individual cavities and the crevices linking them. 

8. Much of the water in a sample of drain from it if the sample is put in a suitable dry place. But some will remain, clinging to all solid surfaces. It is held there by the force of surfaces. It is held there by the force of surface tension without which water would drain instantly from any wet surface, leaving it totally dry. The total volume of water in the saturated sample must therefore be thought of as consisting of water that can, and water that cannot, drain away. 

9. The relative amount of these two kinds of water varies greatly from one kind of rock or sediment to another, even though their porosities may be the same. What happens depends on pore size. If the pores are large, the water in them will exist as drops too heavy for surface tension to hold, and it will drain away; but if the pores are small enough, the water in them will exist as thin films, too light to overcome the force of surface tension holding them in place; then the eater will be firmly held. 

Questions

1. Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 1 about the ground that we walk on? 

        A. It cannot hold rainwater for long periods of time. 

        B. It prevents most groundwater from circulating.

        C. It has the capacity to store large amount of water. 

        D. It absorbs most of the water it contains from rivers.

Answer: C. 

2. The word "incredible" in the passage is closest in the meaning to

        A. Confusing

        B. Comforting

        C. Unbelievable

        D. Interesting

Answer: C. 

3. The word "out of sight" in the passage is closest in meaning to-

        A. Far away

        B. Hidden

        C. Partly visible

        D. Discovered

Answer: B.  

4. According to paragraph 2, where is groundwater usually found?

        A. Inside pieces of sand and gravel

        B. On top of beds of rock

        C. In fast rivers that are flowing beneath the soil

        D. In spaces between pieces of sediment

Answer: D. 

5. The phrase "glacial outwash" in the passage refers to

        A. Fast rivers

        B. Glaciers

        C. the huge volumes of water created by glacial melting

        D. the particles carried in water from 

Answer: D.

6. All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 3 as places that sediment-laden rivers can deposit their sediments EXCEPT

        A. A mountain valley

        B. Flat land

        C. A lake floor

        D. The seafloor

Answer: C.

7. The word "overlie" in the passage is closest in meaning to 

        A. Cover

        B. Change

        C. Separate

        D. Surround

Answer: A.

8. The phrase "So much for" on the passage is closest in meaning to 

        A. that is enough to about

        B. now let us turn to 

       C. of greater concern are

        D. this is related to 

Answer: A.

9. The word "plugged" in the passage is closest in meaning to 

        A. washed

        B. dragged

        C. filled up

        D. soaked through

Answer: C. 

10. According to paragraphs 6 and 7, why is basalt unlike most crystalline forms of rock?

        A. It is unusually solid.

        B. It often has high porosity.

        C. It has a low proportion of empty space

        D. It is highly permeable

Answer: C.

11. What is the main purpose of paragraph 7?

        A. to explain why water can flow through rock

        B. To emphasize the large amount of empty space in all rock

        C. To point out that a rock cannot be both porous and permeable

        D. To distinguish between two related properties of rock

Answer: C. 

12. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage?

Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information. 

        A. Surface tension is not strong enough to retain drops of water in rocks with large pores but it strong enough to hold on to thin films of water in rocks with small pores.

        B. Water in rocks is held in place by large pores and drains away from small size pores through surface tension.

        C. Small pores and large pores both interact with surface tension to determine whether a rock will hold water as heavy drops or as a thin film.

        D. If the force of surface tension is too weak to hold water in place as heavy drops, the water will continue to be held firmly in place as a thin film when large pores exist. 

Answer: A. 

13. Look at the four squares that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit?

What, then, determines what proportion of the water stays and what proportion drains away?

    A. 

    B.

    C.

    D.

Answer: A.

14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points. Much of the ground is actually saturated with water. 

        A. Sediments that hold water were spread by glaciers and are still spread by rivers and streams.

        B. Water is stored underground in beds of loose sand and gravel or in cemented sediment.

      C. The size of a saturated rock's pores determines how much water it will retain when the rock is put in a dry place.

Answer choices:

     D. Groundwater often remains underground for a long time before it emerges again.

     E. Like sandstone, basalt is a crystalline rock that is very porous

     F. Beds of unconsolidated sediments are typically located at inland sites that were once underwater. 

TOEFL Speaking Section

  Task 1: Independent

You will be asked a general question about your life or opinions.

Preparation Time: 15 Seconds

Response Time: 45 Seconds

Topic: Some people believe that television has had a positive influence on society. Others believe it has had a negative influence on society. Others believe it has had a negative influence on society. Which do you agree with and why? Use details and examples to explain your opinion. 

Sample Answer 1: 

In my view, television has a positive effect for the modern society. Firstly, it offers us an efficient and convenient way to get the latest news and deep analysis on big event. You can directly see what has happened around the entire world just in your home. Moreover, television also has brought us a visual enjoyment and broadened our knowledge by different types of programs. I can learn English skill from CCTV10. focusing on education, or enjoy the movie from CCTV 6, film program. Finally, television can release job seeking pressure at some extent, by providing a job chance for people who are willing to be engaged in related career. 

TOEFL - Speaking Section

 Task 1: Independent

You will be asked a general question about your life or opinions.

Preparation Time: 15 Seconds

Response Time: 45 Seconds

Topic: Talk about a book you have read that was important to you for some reason. Explain why the book was important to you. Give specific details and examples to explain your answer. 

Sample Answer 1:

The most helpful book for me is the famous English novel "Jane Eyre" written by Charlotte Bronete. The heroine called Jane Eyre is outwardly of poor appearance but plucky, she poses great courage and indomitable spirit to battle against unfair fortune as the governess to the daughter of attractive Mr. Rochester. That story happened on Jane does encourage people to challenge fate and take a positive and independent attitude to fight for freedom and equality, thus allowing access to our own happiness. That is also why I think this book, Jane Eyre, is so important to me. 

Sample Answer 2

The book that was important to me was an instruction manual on how to pronounce English. When I was a middle school student, I did not speak English very well. I always confused the Chinese pronunciation with the English pronunciation, and I was frustrated with that. So I used this book to practice a lot. And there was also a video with this book, so I watched the video, I practiced and imitated the pronunciation. Now I have improve my English and also gained some confidence because of the book. 

Sample Answer 3

Recently, I read a book named keep the aspidistra flying written by George Orwell. The book influences me a lot because the story has something that touches my heart. .The story talks about a man who wants to be a poet and who abandons many well-paying jobs to pursue his dream of being a poet. I have a similar experience of quitting a very good job in order to be a writer. Also, the man in the story is lack of money to because he works as a bookstore assistant and thus has very low salary. He lives in a shabby apartment and sometimes have no money to buy food. Again, I've got similar experience. I once lived in a cramped apartment alone and had no money. The book is important to me because it touches me and gives me encouragement to persist. 

TOEFL New Format

 The Four Sections

• Reading Section

        - 54 or 72 minutes

• Listening 

        - 41 or 57 minute

• 10 - minute break
• Speaking

        -17 minutes

• Writing

        -60 minutes

Total 3.00 hours or 3.30 hours will need to finish the test.       

Reading Section

• 3 or 4 passage

            - ~700 words

            -18 minute per passage

            -Not separated 

            -10 question per passage

• Similar to University text books

        -Science, History, Humanities etc. 

Listening Section

• 5 or 7 recordings

        -3 or 4 lectures

            *~ 5 minutes each with 6 question
            * Similar topics to those in the reading section
        - 2 or 3 conversation
            *~3 minutes each with 5 questions 
            *about living on campus    

Break 

• exactly 10 minutes
• can't go back to test early

Speaking Section

• 4 tasks
• Always the same order
• Task-1: Independent -Just Speak
• Task-2: Integrated- read, listen and speak. 
• Task-3: Integrated - read, listen and speak. 
• Task-4: Integrated-listen and speak

Writing Section:

• 2 essays

        -Integrated: read, listen and write

• 3 minutes to read, ~3 minutes lecture

        - Write for 20 minutes

• Compare and contrast lecture with reading            

TOEFL Writing: 1. Why go to University?

Sample  Answer 1. 

I strongly believe that everyone should attend university. Entering university is at the same time a so much promising step into a world of opportunities as long as it is accompanied by a strong will and desire for distinction. The quality and diversity of opportunities and the spread spectrum of choices higher education can provide us is the core motive for everyone intending to attend university. I will try to examine below the specific reasons for entering university according to which I think are the most common viewpoints nowadays.

First let us look at what a person can typically gain from a successfully study at a university. It is a diploma and/ or a degree. This is by default leading to a more distinct, respected, well paid profession. Nowadays unemployment crisis is troubling not only the poor countries but the developed western countries as well, so that the ease of finding a job may play an important role in the decisions people are making. 

Another important reason is that people want to get more education. University provides a higher level of education and has all these resources and facilities for people who crave knowledge. Learning is the key to everything that we want to improve. So, higher education helps us widen our understanding and increase our intellectual ability. 

Apart from the points I made above there is also a well known fashion all over the world that is called career preparation. Many people attend university in order to seek either a career in business. It is believed that the ideas, opportunities, qualifications, in-depth knowledge and expertise in science areas often make attending university may only be the beginning of a sequence of moves someone can make in order to accomplish what he thinks best for his career. 

Finally, I cannot oversee the fact that many times studying at a university also means living in a city far from home. New responsibilities always appear but they do not become serious drawbacks. In contrast, the new sense of freedom and independence a young man can experience or thinks he will is thought of a something of great importance. One thing is for sure though, there is chance for everyone in the community of a university to meet people, make new friends and know individuals of great importance. 

Last but not least I wish to say that the purpose of university is to harvest knowledge and to  being educated, so it is obvious that everyone can find a reason for attending university. 

Sample Answer-2

University is no longer a fresh word to people nowadays. Since the beginning of this century, more and more youngsters choose to enter university after they have completed the study in high schools rather than to join the army or become an apprentice. Therefore, it is kind of interesting to find out the reason behind. 

First of all, students can only learn fundamental knowledge during high school while they are able to focus on their own interested majors in universities. This period is the key to knowledge accumulation, which  will contribute a lot to the future of an individual. Moreover, university is no doubt the symbol of high education. It offers more than pure knowledge. A degree from a university gives people certain identity that makes them stand out among their competitors. It can be seen from the fact that most international companies t will only hire those who have at least a Bachelor's degree in China. 

But, as far as I know, sincere dreams might also be the reason for university or college. For instance, in the 60s and 70s, people in China experienced hard times. Many of them had to give up advanced education and take up the burdens of life at their early age. Now, as they became parents or even grandparents, their dream for university education had no doubt realized by their younger family members. Those young people, as reported, often study vary hard to fulfill the expectations of two generations . 

Question-5: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? In my country, young people have a better life today than their parents enjoyed when they were young. Use reasons and examples to support your answer.

The world has changed in many since my parents were young. In my opinion, my lifestyle is superior to the one they enjoyed at that time. I feel this way for two reasons, which I will explore in the following essays. 

First of all, my generation enjoys a lot more leisure time, which makes our lives more fulfilling and enables us to follow our passions. People today take longer vacations and have more paid time off from their jobs than either of my parents did while they were still employed. Similarly, we have much shorter working days than they did. For example, nowadays I receive five weeks off from my job each year. I can schedule these holidays as I wish, and even use all of my vacation days at the same time. As a result, I have been able pursue my love of travel. Unlike earlier generations, I have been able to maintain steady professional employment for my whole life so far, and have also been able to visit every continent on earth. My parents, in contrast, were only able to travel following their retirement. At that time, however, their age and physical conditions limited their range of experiences. 

Secondly, society provides many more opportunities for women and minorities these days . In the past, disadvantaged groups had a tough time achieving personal and professional success. While this is still something of a concern, it is now much easier for members of such groups to follow their dreams. My own experience, is a compelling example of this. When I was a young woman I was encouraged to attend university and later enter the workforce. On the other hand, my mother was expected to raise children and be a homemaker. She dreamed of being a business executive and making a lot of money, but her parents and teachers discouraged her from doing that. Unlike me, she was pressured to give up all of her professional aspirations. Her example demonstrates why my life is preferable to the life which she lived when she was young. 

In conclusion, I strongly believe that I have an easier and better life than my parents had jus a few decades ago. This is because I enjoy much more leisure time than they did, and because women today have many more opportunities than they did in the past. (392 words). 

QUESTION-04: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement ? People in today's world have become too dependent or automobiles. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

 Over the last few decades, as automobiles have become affordable for more and more people, cars have become a very controversial topic of discussion. I am of the opinion that people in the modern world have become far too reliant on automobiles. I feel this way for two main reasons, which I will explore in the following essay. 

To begin with, many people have become disinterested in the amount of pollution that their vehicles create. It is a well-known fact that automobiles are one of the biggest sources of deadly greenhouse gases, which are the main cause of global warming. However, it seems that many individuals simply do not care about how much damage they do by driving their cars. For example, my uncle drives an extremely large sport utility vehicle to work every day, even though he commutes alone. This vehicle is not 

energy efficient, and I think that he ought to take a carpool to his office instead of using it. When I asked him why he continues to drive such a harmful vehicle he responded that even though he is aware of how much fuel it uses, he does not care because of how happy it makes him feel to drive an expensive car. This example demonstrates how neglectful many members of modern society have become as a consequence of their love of automobiles.  

      Secondly, out current obsession with automobiles has caused public transportation systems to be neglected by government officials. Because people are obsessed with their personal vehicles, governments have felt justified in failing to develop bus and rail networks. My city, Toronto, is a compelling example of this. Despite being the largest city in Canada it has only two subway lines and just a handful of underdeveloped bus routes. While this frustrates me quite a lot, most people simply do not care and, regretfully, the issue is never considered of even studied by out municipal government. If more people were to demand better public transportation, of course the government would snap into action and improve the local system. The fact that this has not happened makes it evident to me that out current dependence on automobiles has resulted in a lower quality of living for many people in Toronto. 

         In conclusion, I strongly believe that people today are too dependent on automobiles. This is because out love of driving has contributed to global warming, and because it has resulted in shoddy public transportation systems in major cities. (412 words ) 

    

Tartan: The misunderstood icon of 'Scottishness'

 By Norman Millar

26th May 2021

Tartan is updating its image in the 21st Century, with new patterns exploring issues around climate change, homelessness - and World War Two dive bombers, writes Norman Millar

More resonances cling to tartan than perhaps any other fabric. It's a stirring visual expression of both history and geography, as well as innovative design and self-expression. "There are many ways in which you can make a tartan distinctive and imbue it with personal or collective meaning, "says Rosie Waine, William Grant Foundation research fellow at National Museums Scotland. "Throughout its history, tartan has been used to express political viewpoints, as well as familial, regional and national identities; It has been viewed as tame and conservative by some; bold, brilliant and radical by others." 

Far from being a dyed-in-the-wool slice of historic Caledonian kitsch, tartan design is very much alive and well in the 21st Century - as evidenced by the stream of new examples recorded each year at the Scottish Register of Tartans. And the range of inspirations is as diverse as the designs.

Take the 2021 design entitled COP26 - A New Dawn, a dazzling creation providing a textile take on the hugely important global climate change summit due to be staged in Glasgow this November. Designed by Brian Wilton - former director of the Scottish Tartans Authority, and a leading light in contemporary tartan design - it is typical of the new wave of tartans drawing inspiration from social and historical issues. 

"I always try to base some of the geometry of a new tartan on an historical tartan so that, somehow it's rooted in the past , and has a little bit of history clinging to it. It isn't just an johnny-come-lately produced for fulfilling a transient need," says Wilton.

Question-4: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People in today's world have become too dependent on automobiles. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Over the last few decades, as automobiles have become affordable for more and more people, cars have become a very controversial topic of discussion. I am of the opinion that people in the modern world have become far too reliant on automobiles. I feel this way for two main reasons, which I will explore in the following essay. 

To begin with, many people have become disinterested in the amount of pollution that their vehicles create. It is a well-known fact that automobiles are one of the biggest sources of deadly greenhouse gases, which are the main cause of global warming. However, it seems that many individuals simply do not care about how much damage they do by driving their cars. For example, my uncle drives an extremely large sport utility vehicle to work every day, even though he commutes alone. This vehicle is not energy efficient, and I think that he ought to take a carpool to his office instead of using it. When I asked him why he continues to drive such a harmful vehicle he responded that even though he is aware of how much fuel it uses, he does not care because of how happy it makes him feel to drive an expensive car. This example demonstrates how neglectful many members of modern society have become as a consequence of their love of automobiles. 

Secondly, out current obsession with automobiles has caused public transportation systems to be neglected by government officials. Because people are obsessed with their personal vehicles, governments have felt justified in failing toe develop bus and rail networks . My city, Toronto, is a compelling example of this. Despite being the largest city in Canada it has only two subway lines and just a handful of underdeveloped bus routes. While this frustrates me quite a lot, most people simply do not care and, regretfully, the issue is never considered of even studied by our municipal government. If more people were to demand better public transportation, of course the government would snap into action and improve the local system. The fact that this has not happened makes it evident to me that out current dependence on automobiles has resulted in a lower quality of living for many people in Toronto. 

In conclusion, I strongly believe that people today are too dependent on automobiles. This is because our love of driving has contributed to global warming, and because it has resulted in shoddy public transportation systems in major cities. (412 words) . 

Question-3: Grades encourage students to work harder at school. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

 It is critically important that students work as hard as possible when they are at school. Personally, I believe that teachers can motivate students to work hard by giving them grades. I feel this way two reasons, which I will explore in the following essay. 

To begin with, students who are graded achieve more comprehensive knowledge of academic subjects. When a student has an opportunity to earn grades, he will spend more time working on his assignments and will therefore absorb more information and will achieve more comprehension. On the other hand, students who do not have to worry about their grades won't work very hard and will only superficially understand their subjects. My own experience as a student is a compelling example of this. During my sophomore year I had to complete a major assignment in a political science class I was taking. According to the course syllabus, the assignment would make up about half of my total grade in the class, so I approached my work with diligence and care. I wrote and amazing speech and spent hours preparing for it I am sure that students all over the world today are motivated to work hard by the chance to achieve high grades from their professors. 

Secondly, grades motivate students because they are a way to determine which people in a group are objectively most intelligent. Grades are assigned in a systematic way, so they clearly demonstrate which students in a class where students merely got a "pass" or "fail" at the end. Since only a moderate amount of effort was required to pass the class, I completed my assignments and presentations quite halfheartedly. In contrast, when I took a graded class on the same subject in my junior year, I spent hours in the library researching my papers so that I could show my professors that I was intellectually superior to my classmates. This may appear somewhat shallow, but in today's competitive academic environment it is absolutely necessary for people to distinguish themselves.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that grades encourage students to learn. This is because they force students to learn as much as possible, and because they give young learners a way to distinguish themselves from their peers. (412 words) . 

Question-02: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is better to use printed materials such as books and articles to do research than it is use the internet. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

It is critically important that students use the best available resources when they do research. In my opinion, it is far better to use printed materials than online sources. I feel this way for two reasons, which I will explore in the following essay. 

To begin with, printed materials such as books and articles are more reliable than websites. This is because websites can be edited by anyone in the world, regardless of whether or not they are qualified academics. As a result of this, even articles in popular online encyclopedias often contain incorrect and biased information. My own experience demonstrates the danger of relying too heavily on online sources of information. Two semesters ago, I was assigned a research paper in a freshman biology class. I cited data that I found on Wikipedia which later turned out to be completely incorrect. This data was so hopelessly wrong that my professor spotted it immediately, causing me to fail the assignment and receive a fairly low grade in the class at the end of the semester. If I had taken the time to compare what I had read online to a book or a scholarly article, I would not have included it, and would not have received such a terrible score in the class. 

Secondly, books are superior to online articles because they cover topics in much detail. Textbooks are significantly longer than online articles, so they are more useful to students. Students who use them when doing projects can also look at the detailed indexes which they include to focus on very specific topics. 

For example, I was assigned an essay last semester in a history class and the very first book that I consulted contained a long description of both the underlying causes and ling-term effects of the historical event I was writing about. In contrast, most of the online articles that I consulted contained little more than superficial facts and dates. I based my research on the book rather than these articles, so I was able to write a very insightful paper. 

In conclusion, I strongly believe that printed information is more useful than online resources. This is because books and printed journals are less likely to be biased or contains errors, and because books provide a superior level of detail. (383 words). 

Question-01: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? "Overall, the widespread use of the internet has a mostly positive effect on life in today's world." Use reasons and details to support your opinion.

Most People agree that modern technology affects society in many different ways. In my opinion, access to the internet is enormously beneficial to both individuals and communities as a whole. I feel this way for tow reasons, which I will explore in the following essay. 

To begin with, online investigation reporting helps to explore political corruption and keep politicians honest; In the past, there were only a limited number of news outlets, which often had deep connections to powerful politicians. As a result, they were extremely hesitant to criticize them. These days. however, there are many independent publications on the internet that are willing to expose political misbehavior. For example, an online magazine recently published a story revealing that the mayor of my hometown had taken bribes from a property developer. The report was so detailed and well-researched that the mayor had no choice but to resign. Although the evidence was not difficult to locate, only this independent website was willing to write about it. This example demonstrates how the Internet helps to strengthen democracy in the modern world. 

Secondly, people are more motivated than ever to become politically active because they can freely exchange ideas online. In countries all over the globe, people use social networking services to share their ideas and opinions. While in the past people might have thought that they were alone in their beliefs, today they realize that others share their ideas. My own experience demonstrates this concept. When I was a university student, I learned that a municipal part near my apartment was going to be demolished to make room for a massive parking lot. This bothered me a lot because I enjoyed spending my free time in the park. At first I thought that there was nothing that I as an individual, cold do to stop this from happening. However, I later joined a Facebook group dedicated to opposing the plan. When the members of the group learned how many people in the city loved the park we were happy to get together and enthusiastically protest in front of city hall until our voices were heard. I am convinced that finding each other on that social networking platform gave us the courage to actively protect out park.  

In conclusion, I strongly believe that the internet has a positive effect on our lives. This is because online journalism strengthens our democracy, and because social networking sites encourage people to get involved in local politics.