2004_03_Session_A_sample speeches

A. Do you think there is life elsewhere in the universe?

The universe is so vast, and there are so many stars and planets, it would be very strange indeed if this were the only planet sparked life. When we talk about alien life, most people first think of the “little green creatures” that we see on TV and in films. But scientists are challenging this rather naïve view and are searching other planets for alien life in the form of any simple microorganism. In recent years, the search for extraterrestrial life has begun on Earth. We have discovered life flourishing in even the most inhospitable places, such as in deep underground caves devoid of sunlight, or around volcanic fissures on the ocean floors. If life can thrive even in these harsh environments, it is reasonable to assume that equally unusual environments on other planets can also support life. For example, on one of Jupiter’s moons, Europa, there is volcanic activity underneath deep oceans, a situation that is remarkably similar to what occurs on Earth. Even if there is no life to be found on Europa, there are still many more planets to explore-billions of them.

But scientists are challenging this rather naïve view and are searching other planets for alien life in the form of any simple microorganism. In recent years, the search for extraterrestrial life has begun on Earth. We have discovered life flourishing in even the most inhospitable places, such as in deep underground caves devoid of sunlight, or around volcanic fissures on the ocean floors. If life can thrive even in these harsh environments, it is reasonable to assume that equally unusual environments on other planets can also support life. For example, on one of Jupiter’s moons, Europa, there is volcanic activity underneath deep oceans, a situation that is remarkably similar to what occurs on Earth.

Even if there is no life to be found on Europa, there are still many more planets to explore-billions of them.

B. What will Japan be like in 10 years from now?

During the next ten years, Japan is unlikely to see anything that resembles the massive social transformation that took place during the previous decades. The economic success of the 70’s and the 80’s brought about a steep rise in the standard of living of the people, while the overspending that took place in those years meant that in the 90’s, the people experienced many hardships associated with corporate and government structuring. Ten years from now, I do not believe that Japan will be very different from what it is now. Economically, there will probably be a period of slow, steady, recovery but in all likelihood, it will have little impact on people’s live. Socially, the demographic shift to an older population will be the principal catalyst for change. Shops will carry more products for mature consumers, taxes will have to be higher to support an expanded welfare system, and the education sector will shrink as the number of school-aged young people declines. Finally I predict that Japan will play an ever-larger role in international peacekeeping operations. The nation’s tradition of “check-book diplomacy” no longer satisfies its allies, and although many citizens will oppose a new, more active foreign policy, Japan will soon be obliged to send military personnel abroad.

During the next ten years, Japan is unlikely to see anything that resembles the massive social transformation that took place during the previous decades.

The economic success of the 70’s and the 80’s brought about a steep rise in the standard of living of the people, while the overspending that took place in those years meant that in the 90’s, the people experienced many hardships associated with corporate and government structuring. Ten years from now, I do not believe that Japan will be very different from what it is now. Economically, there will probably be a period of slow, steady, recovery but in all likelihood, it will have little impact on people’s live. Socially, the demographic shift to an older population will be the principal catalyst for change. Shops will carry more products for mature consumers, taxes will have to be higher to support an expanded welfare system, and the education sector will shrink as the number of school-aged young people declines. Finally I predict that Japan will play an ever-larger role in international peacekeeping operations.

The nation’s tradition of “check-book diplomacy” no longer satisfies its allies, and although many citizens will oppose a new, more active foreign policy, Japan will soon be obliged to send military personnel abroad.

C. Who should provide public services-the government or private-sector corporations?

In an ideal world, the government would take care of all civil services. It would ensure that tax revenues were distributed fairly throughout the country and that the nation’s limited resources were used wisely. Unfortunately, we cannot trust our government to do this. Apart from the many scandals and corruption we see in the news, the fact that the government cannot “go out of business,” means that public funds can easily be misallocated. It seems that only when the mismanagement or corruption is dramatic enough to get reported in the mass media, do bureaucrats lose their jobs. In contrast, private corporations operate on a philosophy of maximizing efficiency. Corporations are responsible to shareholders, workers are held accountable for their actions, and it is understood that the public utilizes services if it is satisfied with the service. Therefore, even though making a profit is their primary objective, private corporations make the most of the available resources in order to offer a better service.

Unfortunately, we cannot trust our government to do this. Apart from the many scandals and corruption we see in the news, the fact that the government cannot “go out of business,” means that public funds can easily be misallocated. It seems that only when the mismanagement or corruption is dramatic enough to get reported in the mass media, do bureaucrats lose their jobs. In contrast, private corporations operate on a philosophy of maximizing efficiency. Corporations are responsible to shareholders, workers are held accountable for their actions, and it is understood that the public utilizes services if it is satisfied with the service.

Therefore, even though making a profit is their primary objective, private corporations make the most of the available resources in order to offer a better service.

CD (4)-11

A. Are you for or against human cloning?

I am against human cloning for two main reasons. The first is a medical reason. I believe that our scientific knowledge is not quiet complete. It takes many attempts to create a perfect clone and it would be very troubling to see human embryo aborted or deformed babies born. The second reason is ethical. There are still too many unanswered questions about how people will treat clones and why we need to make clones at all. Further, there still seems to be a lot of ignorance in the general public, about what clones actually are. If someone dies, you cannot “replace” them with a clone. Two clones who are given different upbringings may turn out to have quiet different opinions and ideas. However, that’s not to say we shouldn’t continue research and debate in this area. Maybe, as our society becomes more familiar with cloning, we will adjust psychologically and ethically. For example, intro-vitro fertilization may have been strongly opposed by previous generations, but it is accepted today. Similarly, future generations may welcome cloning as a natural part of the human lifestyle.

I am against human cloning for two main reasons.

The first is a medical reason. I believe that our scientific knowledge is not quiet complete. It takes many attempts to create a perfect clone and it would be very troubling to see human embryo aborted or deformed babies born. The second reason is ethical. There are still too many unanswered questions about how people will treat clones and why we need to make clones at all. Further, there still seems to be a lot of ignorance in the general public, about what clones actually are. If someone dies, you cannot “replace” them with a clone. Two clones who are given different upbringings may turn out to have quiet different opinions and ideas. However, that’s not to say we shouldn’t continue research and debate in this area.

Maybe, as our society becomes more familiar with cloning, we will adjust psychologically and ethically. For example, intro-vitro fertilization may have been strongly opposed by previous generations, but it is accepted today. Similarly, future generations may welcome cloning as a natural part of the human lifestyle.

B. Is our pace of life too fast?

We often hear in the news that stress is a major killer. The modern lifestyle leads to various medical conditions, such as strokes and breakdowns. If we were to place the blame on any one factor, it would have to be on the incredibly fast pace at which we lead our lives. Part of the problem is technology. We are always “on call”, because of our email accounts and mobile phones. Good transport links and communication networks mean that workers are now expected to travel to more places and perform more tasks than ever before. While it is true that technology has created a wide array of so-called “labor-saving devices,” very few of us, in fact, have leisure time. Consumer choice is another part of the problem. We spend hours looking around shops or browsing on the Internet to decide on which phone or dishwasher to buy. Then to make matters worse, we lose more time learning how to use what we have purchased. Even a short holiday involves collecting brochures, and then reading through them to decide where to go and how to get the best deal. On coming back to work after the trip, we not only have to catch up with the projects we left behind, but we must also deal with all the extra work that has accumulated while we were away.

We are always “on call”, because of our email accounts and mobile phones. Good transport links and communication networks mean that workers are now expected to travel to more places and perform more tasks than ever before. While it is true that technology has created a wide array of so-called “labor-saving devices,” very few of us, in fact, have leisure time. Consumer choice is another part of the problem. We spend hours looking around shops or browsing on the Internet to decide on which phone or dishwasher to buy. Then to make matters worse, we lose more time learning how to use what we have purchased. Even a short holiday involves collecting brochures, and then reading through them to decide where to go and how to get the best deal.

On coming back to work after the trip, we not only have to catch up with the projects we left behind, but we must also deal with all the extra work that has accumulated while we were away.

E. Does university education prepare young people for real life?

Preparing young people for real life is not something that universities are very concerned about. The university curriculum educates students in the sciences and the liberal arts. Some courses are academic and some courses are useful for future careers, but few of them teach students about the practicalities of life. However, university life does not provide a setting for students to engage in various extra-curricular and social activities that go a long way toward preparing them for real life. For many young people, their years at university will be a time when they live apart from their families, join drinking parties, develop adult relationships, and travel both in their own country and abroad. This is a time when they can have part-time jobs and learn to manage their own finances. And perhaps this will be a time when their youthful mistakes will not have serious consequences, but will offer important lessons for the future. Many students find that starting a full-time job is very difficult and that they need to develop personal and business skills in order to adapt to their new environment, but their experiences during university may at least help point them in the right direction.

Preparing young people for real life is not something that universities are very concerned about. The university curriculum educates students in the sciences and the liberal arts.

Some courses are academic and some courses are useful for future careers, but few of them teach students about the practicalities of life. However, university life does not provide a setting for students to engage in various extra-curricular and social activities that go a long way toward preparing them for real life. For many young people, their years at university will be a time when they live apart from their families, join drinking parties, develop adult relationships, and travel both in their own country and abroad. This is a time when they can have part-time jobs and learn to manage their own finances. And perhaps this will be a time when their youthful mistakes will not have serious consequences, but will offer important lessons for the future.

Many students find that starting a full-time job is very difficult and that they need to develop personal and business skills in order to adapt to their new environment, but their experiences during university may at least help point them in the right direction.