Embedded Files
If you have read all the guides in this website and done the exercises I presented and explained, you are now capable of writing better texts in English!
Here, I intend to add some exercises so that you can review what you have learnt whenever you want. Notice, however, that even though I will show you the answers to the exercises, I will not explain them. If you want explanations, reread the guides.
EXERCISES
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1- The Cambridge Learner Corpus shows that even at C2 level, learners are prone to make mistakes when it comes to cohesive devices. The following 14 sentences present errors. In the first 6, you will be given two options to choose from to correct them and the mistakes will have been underlined. As for the rest of them, you will be on your own. If necessary, you can change the punctuation.
(exercise extracted and adapted from Objective Proficiency, a book published by Cambridge English)
a) I’m giving you the address of the school here if you want further information. (so that / in case)
b) Everybody will agree that a bad product is only bought once. Therefore, provided that the advertising is dishonest and misleading, it will only cheat us once when we buy the advertised product for the first time. (even if / for all)
c) Tourism will increase on the grounds that air travel will develop. (in the same way as / along the lines of)
d) On the other hand, living longer could lead to some everyday difficulties. Likewise not being able to look after ourselves. (lest /such as)
e) Even so, people ought to be more careful as not to damage the good things we have. (in case / so as not to)
f) After all, I hope you are now persuaded to spend the money on a computer room. (Otherwise / In conclusion)
g) Although the nice atmosphere, it’s a little bit noisy.
h) We got on really well, despite that I only knew a little English.
i) However it is not easy, I’m making progress day by day.
j) Despite of what she felt towards him, making him wait was a game she truly enjoyed.
k) Whereas one could see he was eager to talk, nothing came out of his mouth.
l) Although that, I know that I will be a good mother.
m) Even I was wrong, it didn’t make any difference.
n) He never achieved a similar success, in spite of he wrote fourteen more novels.
ANSWERS
a) I’m giving you the address of the school here in case you want further information.
b) Everybody will agree that a bad product is only bought once. Therefore, even if the advertising is dishonest and misleading, it will only cheat us once when we buy the advertised product for the first time.
c) Tourism will increase in the same way as air travel will develop.
d) On the other hand, living longer could lead to some everyday difficulties, such as not being able to look after ourselves.
e) Even so, people ought to be more careful so as not to damage the good things we have.
f) In conclusion, I hope you are now persuaded to spend the money on a computer room.
g) In spite of / Despite the nice atmosphere, it's a little bit noisy.
OR
Although the atmosphere is nice, it's a little bit noisy.
h) We got on really well, despite the fact that I only knew a little English.
OR
We got on really well, despite my knowing only a little English.
i) Even though / Although it is not easy, I’m making progress day by day.
OR
Albeit not easy, I'm making progress day by day.
j) In spite of / Despite what she felt towards him, making him wait was a game she truly enjoyed.
k) Even though / Although one could see he was eager to talk, nothing came out of his mouth.
l) In spite of / Despite that, I know that I will be a good mother.
m) Even though / Although I was wrong, it didn’t make any difference.
n) He never achieved a similar success, in spite of writing / having written fourteen more novels.
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2- One of the two most relevant persuasive techniques in writing is the usage of rhetorical questions. Below, you will find an essay about modern art and music. You must insert the following rhetorical questions into it.
(exercise extracted and adapted from Objective Proficiency, a book published by Cambridge English)
a) Is the world of contemporary music any better?
b) Yet is there genuine technical skill in Damien Hirst’s sheep, pickled in formaldehyde?
c) What has happened to good judgement and common sense?
d) So should we look again to nature to provide us with the beauty that we crave?
e) Have these composers really nowhere left to go?
(1) In my opinion, the art world lacks both. It has, moreover, abandoned its traditional role, that of being pleasing to the senses. Modern artists are merely out to shock, to be sensationalist. Bound up with this ruthless modernism is intense commercialism. Prices are inflated by urban galleries and urbane collectors, whose ‘discerning’ purchases appreciate by the day, as mediocre artists are successfully hyped as the latest Andy Warhol or Georgia O’Keeffe.
(2) Here, too, we are no longer given works we can enjoy, but ‘difficult’ music with no discernible melody, that jangles the nerves and leaves us with a dreadful headache.
(3) Yet perhaps I am making the very same mistake as contemporary critics of Georges Seurat’s, who shunned his masterpieces and saw him die at the age of 31, poor and unappreciated. Maybe in another twenty years, the music that I personally cannot fathom will be regarded as safe and conventional; the art installations seen as old hat.
(4) The jury’s still out. Living in our post-industrial society, the vast majority of today’s artists and musicmakers fail to give us any beauty in their work, exhibiting only their own creative frustration. (5) Or at least, as Andy Goldsworthy has proved, art could be transported to a more meaningful setting, where commercialism does not hold sway.
ANSWERS
(C) What has happened to good judgement and common sense? In my opinion, the art world lacks both. It has, moreover, abandoned its traditional role, that of being pleasing to the senses. Modern artists are merely out to shock, to be sensationalist. Bound up with this ruthless modernism is intense commercialism. Prices are inflated by urban galleries and urbane collectors, whose ‘discerning’ purchases appreciate by the day, as mediocre artists are successfully hyped as the latest Andy Warhol or Georgia O’Keeffe.
(A) Is the world of contemporary music any better? Here, too, we are no longer given works we can enjoy, but ‘difficult’ music with no discernible melody, that jangles the nerves and leaves us with a dreadful headache.
(E) Have these composers really nowhere left to go? Yet perhaps I am making the very same mistake as contemporary critics of Georges Seurat’s, who shunned his masterpieces and saw him die at the age of 31, poor and unappreciated. Maybe in another twenty years, the music that I personally cannot fathom will be regarded as safe and conventional; the art installations seen as old hat.
(B) Yet is there genuine technical skill in Damien Hirst’s sheep, pickled in formaldehyde? The jury’s still out. Living in our post-industrial society, the vast majority of today’s artists and musicmakers fail to give us any beauty in their work, exhibiting only their own creative frustration. (D) So should we look again to nature to provide us with the beauty that we crave? Or at least, as Andy Goldsworthy has proved, art could be transported to a more meaningful setting, where commercialism does not hold sway.
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3- Make the structure of the following sentences parallel.
(exercise extracted and adapted from https://owlcation.com/humanities/Easy-Faulty-Parallelism-Examples-and-Exercises)
a) Drunk drivers are thoughtless and take the lives of other people in their own hands, risking their own lives, think about only their own pleasure and fun, and never considering the consequence of their actions.
b) Police enforcement should be responsible for service in the community by safeguarding the property of people who live in the community, in order to protect the innocent from crimes and to ensure that all people have their constitutional rights getting respect.
c) When my husband takes another job in California, I will be staying here in Texas to pack, let the children finish up their school year, fly out to find a house (while my mom comes here to take care of the kids), and begin my new life by driving with all the kids in the car to California while the moving van is taking all of our stuff.
d) In order to convey the information correctly to the crowd, the police officer was speaking loudly, he told people where they should be standing, repeating information so they would remember and gesturing.
e) My roommate and I this afternoon are going to be eating lunch at my downtown favorite, a pizza place, then until our friend Sandy is out of work we will study in the library, meeting up at the dorm with our sorority sisters from Tri-Delta is our next plan, and then all of us will be eating the gourmet popcorn my mom just sent me and we are planning to binge-watch the latest Netflix episodes of our favorite show.
ANSWERS
a) Drunk drivers are thoughtlessly taking the lives of other people in their own hands, risking their own lives, thinking only about their own pleasure and fun, and not considering the consequences of their actions.
b) Police enforcement is responsible for serving the community, safeguarding the property of people in that community, protecting the innocent from crimes, and ensuring that all people's constitutional rights are respected.
c) When my husband takes another job in California, I will fly out to find a house (while my mom comes here to take care of the kids) and then stay in Texas to pack up our house and let the children finish up their school year, then drive to California with all the kids while the moving van takes all of our stuff.
d) In order to convey the information correctly, the police officer spoke loudly to the crowd, told people where they should stand, repeated the information to help people remember, and gestured.
e) This afternoon, my roommate and I are going to eat lunch at my favorite pizza place downtown, study in the library until our friend Sandy is free from work, meet up with our Tri Delta sorority sisters back at our dorm, and binge-watch the latest Netflix episodes of our favorite show while eating the gourmet popcorn my mom just sent me.
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4- What is the correct form of this sentence? "The dismissed workers were marching along the main street, chanting slogans, considering their boss and they sang songs."
(exercise extracted and adapted from https://owlcation.com/humanities/Easy-Faulty-Parallelism-Examples-and-Exercises)
ANSWERS
1. Thinking about the unfairness of their boss, the dismissed workers marched along the main street chanting slogans and singing songs.
2. Remembering their boss, the dismissed workers were marching along the main street, chanting slogans and singing songs.
3. The dismissed workers were marching along the main street, chanting slogans, and singing sarcastic songs about their boss.
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5- Identify the two words that are used below so as to structure the counterargument.
"The Internet presents disadvantages, chiefly when it comes to addiction. Admittedly, social media allows individuals to communicate at erstwhile unforeseen speeds. However, people nowadays have become addicted to scrolling down and viewing other people’s feeds."
ANSWERS
"The Internet presents disadvantages, chiefly when it comes to addiction. Admittedly, social media allows individuals to communicate at erstwhile unforeseen speeds. However, people nowadays have become addicted to scrolling down and viewing other people’s feeds."
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6- Identify whether the nature of the following essay is argumentative or expository.
Undoubtedly, dietary supplements can often play an important role when it comes to health. Some vitamins can be taken alongside something else so as to provide an individual with a surplus of health benefits. One noteworthy combination that is not very common is vitamin A with Omega 3. Little do people know that these share some common benefits; thus, by taking one alongside the other, the aforementioned are more effective.
Firstly, let us mention the benefits they have in common. Both vitamin A and Omega 3 help prevent eye diseases. This means that someone whose intake of these is higher has the odds in their favor as far as maintaining good sight is concerned. Also, even though research is being carried out to confirm this for sure, signs point to the fact that both promote brain health. Therefore, one who takes supplements with those are more likely to have better memory and learn things faster, as the aforesaid enhance the brain’s ability of acquiring and storing information. Both boost the immune system as well, which means they make you less prone to get sick. Furthermore, as far as skin benefits are concerned, Omega 3 allows your body to produce more collagen, whilst vitamin A prevents breakouts.
Secondly, there are two relevant benefits which are exclusive to either. Omega 3 helps prevent heart diseases in the long run. Ergo, it is crucial to introduce it to one’s diet from a young age. Moreover, vitamin A supports cell growth, which is vital.
Altogether, dietary supplementation is essential to maintain health. One combination which is often overlooked is that of Omega 3 with vitamin A. However, this combination presents numerous benefits and is worth giving a try.
ANSWERS
The essay is expository.
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7- Identify whether the nature of the following essay is argumentative or expository.
Undeniably, many pupils who have studied in advance prior to an exam fail to show their actual capability owing to varied factors, such as anxiety and stress; whereas continuous assessment relies on the teacher’s biases.
A student might dedicate greatly to studying for an exam throughout a whole year in order to indeed learn the subject and still, due to many reasons, fail. Unlike the aforementioned situation, in case another student wishes to pass that same exam, he or she could simply memorize a bunch of useful facts for the exam and forget them all in a short period of time. Is it fair that someone who really learnt something fails a test while somebody else temporarily memorizes information and passes?
Obviously, continuous assessment is flawed. Proof of this is teachers may have a soft spot for some students, thus being lenient with these, or perhaps even be harder on those they dislike. Furthermore, if a student has an older sibling, he might receive assistance at home. That way, teachers do not assess 100% genuine content produced by the student. Conversely, exams evaluate students individually.
The way I see it, albeit susceptive of bias, the continuous method of assessment is the most appropriate, taking into account the fact that the surplus amount of stress disturbs the examinee, hence altering their result. I believe, however, that it is possible to mix both methods of evaluation. As long as exams are a minor part of the assessment process, it can work properly.
Altogether, although finding the perfect assessment method is impossible, it is necessary to know every method is a two-edged-sword. In other words, acknowledging the advantages and disadvantages of each is the right path.
ANSWERS
The essay is argumentative.
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8- Read the following persuasive essay. Then, identify its introduction, development, conclusion, and topic sentences. Also, point out as many cohesive devices as you can in order to assess its cohesion and subsequently determine whether the text is coherent or not. Moreover, underline words which you think give you hints to characterize the style. Lastly, formulate a general idea for the text and write its topics (including the implicit ones).
Undeniably, the amount of traffic in big cities is a serious issue. In metropolises such as the one in which I live, cars and trucks daily flood the streets, causing difficulties to those who inhibit it. There are measures, though, which could be taken in order to alleviate the aforementioned difficulties.
First and foremost, it is of utmost importance to comprehend the reason behind the increase of traffic in the town so that we can take action to revert the situation. Perhaps, that is happening owing to the decaying number of unemployed people in the city, which gives more people the opportunity of earning money and thereby buying vehicles. Moreover, mayhap, the lorry traffic increase has been happening due to the new industries in the city. That would cause a bigger necessity of transportation of goods.
One major issue caused by the excessive amount of traffic in the town is the noise pollution. Without a doubt, it is hard to live in a place where you have to hear trucks in the street and cars honking all the time. Another type of pollution caused by traffic is air pollution. Thus, it is crucial that we either decrease the number of total vehicles commuting simultaneously, or adhere to the objective of becoming “greener” and buy environmentally friendly cars. Furthermore, a problem all of us surely constantly have to deal with is that with too many vehicles in the street at the same time, it is hard to get to places quickly.
Indeed, there are some measures that can be taken with the goal of reducing traffic. One of them is innovative street designs. In other words, we could build streets that allow drivers to have more flexibility; that way, if the main street has too much traffic, drivers can choose to go to side roads which lead to the exact same destination, but through a different route. Another possible solution is more people taking buses to school and to work, since instead of multiple cars taking multiple people to the same place, multiple people can go to a common place in one vehicle. Additionally, were people to pay extra fees to drive at rush hours, not only would fewer people drive when there is a peak of vehicles in the streets, but also the money could be used to build the side roads I talked about previously.
Altogether, traffic can cause issues to the community. Hence, it is vitally important that we take action to attempt to tackle it. If we neglect our duty of doing so, the population’s quality of life will be negatively impacted.
ANSWERS
INTRODUCTION:
Undeniably, the amount of traffic in big cities is a serious issue. In metropolises such as the one in which I live, cars and trucks daily flood the streets, causing difficulties to those who inhibit it. There are measures, though, which could be taken in order to alleviate the aforementioned difficulties.
DEVELOPMENT:
First and foremost, it is of utmost importance to comprehend the reason behind the increase of traffic in the town so that we can take action to revert the situation. Perhaps, that is happening owing to the decaying number of unemployed people in the city, which gives more people the opportunity of earning money and thereby buying vehicles. Moreover, mayhap, the lorry traffic increase has been happening due to the new industries in the city. That would cause a larger necessity of transportation of goods.
One major issue caused by the excessive amount of traffic in the town is the noise pollution. Without a doubt, it is hard to live in a place where you have to hear trucks in the street and cars honking all the time. Another type of pollution caused by traffic is air pollution. Thus, it is crucial that we either decrease the number of total vehicles commuting simultaneously, or adhere to the objective of becoming “greener” and buy environmentally friendly cars. Furthermore, a problem all of us surely constantly have to deal with is that with too many vehicles in the street at the same time, it is hard to get to places quickly.
Indeed, there are some measures that can be taken with the goal of reducing traffic. One of them is innovative street designs. In other words, we could build streets that allow drivers to have more flexibility; that way, if the main street has too much traffic, drivers can choose to go to side roads which lead to the exact same destination, but through a different route. Another possible solution is more people taking buses to school and to work, since instead of multiple cars taking multiple people to the same place, multiple people can go to a common place in one vehicle. Additionally, were people to pay extra fees to drive at rush hours, not only would fewer people drive when there is a peak of vehicles in the streets, but also the money could be used to build the side roads I talked about previously.
CONCLUSION:
Altogether, traffic can cause issues to the community. Hence, it is vitally important that we take action to attempt to tackle it. If we neglect our duty of doing so, the population’s quality of life will be negatively impacted.
Not only is the text both cohesive and coherent, but it also presents a style with a formal tone, which is appropriate in this case.
Posteriorly formulated general idea:
Excessive traffic is a problem in big cities because it causes difficulties to the population; thus measures which could alleviate the issue must be taken.
Topics:
- Excessive traffic is a problem in big cities;
- Reasons behind the substantial amount of traffic (implicit);
- Difficulties caused to the population due to excessive traffic;
- Measures which could alleviate the issue.
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9- You will find a long text below. You must highlight the crucial information in it in order to answer a question about it afterwards. Also, underline the thesis statement and identify the text's point.
Preventing childhood obesity: a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted solution.
Nowadays, the problem of kids’ obesity prevention has become quite serious. The younger generation seems to spend far more time with their friends online than they do going out and staying active. Furthermore, their diet is filled with sugary treats, fatty and processed foods. One of the most effective ways to help kids avoid obesity is by encouraging exercise, because getting regular exercise is extremely important in maintaining good health. Thus, the importance of exercise, and the health risks that come along with obesity, are things that should be taught to children from a young age.
As such, it's important for kids to grow up knowing that exercise is good for their health. Moreover, teaching children to eat nutritious foods while they're growing can help improve their diet and lifestyle for the rest of their lives. Hence, health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease are much less likely to develop.
The problem of kids’ obesity prevention is serious and requires the utilization of preventative tactics to be successful. Some simple, but effective strategies are having more accessible and affordable gyms and fitness centers where kids can play and exercise. But it's important to not only teach them the importance of exercise, but also create a supportive environment where they feel comfortable trying different activities until they find something that they enjoy. Additionally, parents should encourage and support their kids to be more physically active. And finally to ensure that kids get the proper foods and vitamins, families with kids should have access to more healthy meals. If those things do not happen, more children will struggle with obesity and other health issues that can arise from it, like heart diseases.
As I mentioned earlier, one way we can prevent obesity in kids is by helping them become interested in good eating habits. A way to help them do this would be to provide incentives if they make an effort to eat healthy foods and avoid junk food. For example, if kids make choices that are low in sugar and fat, we could offer them small amounts of money in return. Another thing we could do is make healthy foods easier to find and purchase while out in public. This is currently a very difficult task because many fast-food restaurants are readily available to serve cheap food which is loaded with sugar and saturated fat.
Finally, the last factor which has recently risen to become one of the leading causes of kids’ obesity is stress. Stressful situations in a person's life can cause them to turn to food for comfort, and if this happens too often, people can gain weight quickly. Ergo, we need to look at the source of the stress for both children and adults and work on better solutions to handle it so that we can help prevent future cases of children developing unhealthy relationships with food. What is more, we know that lack of sleep also makes us more likely to make unhealthy food choices. So it's important to get adequate sleep!
In conclusion, the problem of kids’ obesity is a growing issue and, in order to prevent this in the future, we need to focus on preventative tactics for kids from an early age. We must give them the resources and knowledge they need to make smart food and exercise choices, and we should also work to better address the other factors that lead to kids developing unhealthy relationships with both food and exercise. This way, we can create a healthier future where all children have the opportunity to live long, happy, and healthy lives. Indisputably, we as a society need to take action right now before it's too late!
What is a way the author suggests to encourage kids to develop healthier eating habits?
ANSWERS
Preventing childhood obesity: a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted solution.
Nowadays, the problem of kids’ obesity prevention has become quite serious. The younger generation seems to spend far more time with their friends online than they do going out and staying active. Furthermore, their diet is filled with sugary treats, fatty and processed foods. One of the most effective ways to help kids avoid obesity is by encouraging exercise, because getting regular exercise is extremely important in maintaining good health. Thus, the importance of exercise, and the health risks that come along with obesity, are things that should be taught to children from a young age.
As such, it's important for kids to grow up knowing that exercise is good for their health. Moreover, by teaching children to eat nutritious foods while they're growing can help improve their diet and lifestyle for the rest of their lives. Hence, health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease are much less likely to develop.
The problem of kids’ obesity prevention is serious and requires the utilization of preventative tactics to be successful. Some simple, but effective strategies are having more accessible and affordable gyms and fitness centers where kids can play and exercise. But it's important to not only teach them the importance of exercise, but also create a supportive environment where they feel comfortable trying different activities until they find something that they enjoy. Additionally, parents should encourage and support their kids to be more physically active. And finally to ensure that kids get the proper foods and vitamins, families with kids should have access to more healthy meals. If those things do not happen, more children will struggle with obesity and other health issues that can arise from it, like heart diseases.
As I mentioned earlier, one way we can prevent obesity in kids is by helping them become interested in good eating habits. A way to help them do this would be to provide incentives if they make an effort to eat healthy foods and avoid junk food. For example, if kids make choices that are low in sugar and fat, we could offer them small amounts of money in return. Another thing we could do is make healthy foods easier to find and purchase while out in public. This is currently a very difficult task because many fast-food restaurants are readily available to serve cheap food which is loaded with sugar and saturated fat.
Finally, the last factor which has recently risen to become one of the leading causes of kids’ obesity is stress. Stressful situations in a person's life can cause them to turn to food for comfort, and if this happens too often, people can gain weight quickly. Ergo, we need to look at the source of the stress for both children and adults and work on better solutions to handle it so that we can help prevent future cases of children developing unhealthy relationships with food. What is more, we know that lack of sleep also makes us more likely to make unhealthy food choices. So it's important to get adequate sleep!
In conclusion, the problem of kids’ obesity is a growing issue and, in order to prevent this in the future, we need to focus on preventative tactics for kids from an early age. We must give them the resources and knowledge they need to make smart food and exercise choices, and we should also work to better address the other factors that lead to kids developing unhealthy relationships with both food and exercise. This way, we can create a healthier future where all children have the opportunity to live long, happy, and healthy lives. Indisputably, we as a society need to take action right now before it's too late!
The text's point is childhood obesity and its author suggests that parents offer their children small amounts of money so as to encourage healthy eating habits.
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10- You are going to read a long text. You must highlight only the information relevant to answer the questions. Then, identify the text's point and its author's intention with it.
(A)
Undoubtedly, the current era is extremely technological. We have gotten to the point of developing devices that are capable of interacting with other devices. As a matter of fact, they are called smart devices.
(B)
According to Wikipedia: “A smart device is an electronic device, generally connected to other devices or networks via different wireless protocols such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, NFC, Wi-Fi, LiFi, 5G, etc., that can operate to some extent interactively and autonomously.” Thus, we may say that, as well as, for instance, Google Home, some smart devices are smartphones, smart vehicles, and smartwatches.
(C)
Some may think all smart devices must include AI (artificial intelligence). However, even though the name says “smart”, some smart devices do not incorporate AI.
(D)
As a rule, if a device is capable of both processing data and communicating with other devices, it can be considered a smart device. We may mention demonstrating such fact smart refrigerators. As data processing, besides exhibiting the expiration dates of edibles in order to make us eat fresh food, they show whether the water filter needs changing or not. Along with that, as far as communicating with other devices is concerned, they are capable of setting a grocery list that syncs to our smartphones. Moreover, we can use our smartphones to turn the ice maker either on or off. Not only all that, but also, some time ago, an occurrence went viral. A teen (Dorothy) claimed she had posted a tweet via her smart refrigerator. As stated by The Guardian: “‘We don’t know if Dorothy actually used an LG smart refrigerator to tweet, but yes – it is possible to access Twitter via the web browser on select LG smart refrigerator models,’ an LG spokeswoman, Taryn Brucha, said.”
(E)
Smart devices can deeply change our lifestyles. With smart thermostats, our heating and air conditioning systems would automatically adapt to the weather. With smart bulbs, we can adjust the light according to the time. With smart locks, our houses and safes would be safer. Furthermore, with the appropriate monitoring systems, not only can incidents be decreased, but also energy costs, since some monitoring systems are capable of automatically turning off electrical equipment in case of inactivity. Also, as affirmed by Wenjie Gong: “In health care domain, IoT has made huge improvements.” Soon, it is going to be possible to identify illnesses remotely.
(F)
When it comes to vehicular automation, it is no different. Although not exceedingly popular, there are already many self-driving cars that work flawlessly. IoT allows those cars to gather much information regarding traffic and navigation. Autonomous vehicles have radar, GPS, sonar, and inertial measurement units. Tesla has been working on driverless cars for some time now and they have been showing results. As well as that, Waymo has done something never done erstwhile. It has become the first service provider that offers taxi drives with self-driving cars (in Phoenix, Arizona). In terms of benefits, they can enhance the independence of people with disabilities and seniors.
(G)
Besides that, 51% of the world’s top global marketers expect that IoT will revolutionize the marketing landscape. Marketers use IoT to analyze customer buying habits across platforms, gather previously unobtainable data about how consumers interact with devices and products, gain deeper insights into where a customer is in the buying journey, provide real-time, point-of-sale notifications and targeted ads, and quickly resolve issues to close sales and keep customers happy.
(H)
As we could notice, smart devices and the connection between them (IoT) are capable of changing the world as we know it. Thus, it is undeniably concluded that our current society has already gotten extremely technological as well as connected and, still, if everything keeps going the way it has, we will, without a doubt, get even more.
In which paragraph does the author...
1- mention a misconception on the matter?
2- explain how self-driving cars work and mention their advantages?
3- draw a conclusion about the future of our society based on its current state?
4- explain how technological this era is?
5- explain and exemplify the general rule that defines whether a device is smart or not?
6- define and exemplify smart devices?
7- exemplify how marketers use IoT?
8- explain how deeply smart devices can change our lifestyles?
ANSWERS
(A)
Undoubtedly, the current era is extremely technological. We have gotten to the point of developing devices that are capable of interacting with other devices. As a matter of fact, they are called smart devices.
(B)
According to Wikipedia: “A smart device is an electronic device, generally connected to other devices or networks via different wireless protocols such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, NFC, Wi-Fi, LiFi, 5G, etc., that can operate to some extent interactively and autonomously.” Thus, we may say that, as well as, for instance, Google Home, some smart devices are smartphones, smart vehicles, and smartwatches.
(C)
Some may think all smart devices must include AI (artificial intelligence). However, even though the name says “smart”, some smart devices do not incorporate AI.
(D)
As a rule, if a device is able of both processing data and communicating with other devices, it can be considered a smart device. We may mention demonstrating such fact smart refrigerators. As data processing, besides exhibiting the expiration dates of edibles in order to make us eat fresh food, they show whether the water filter needs changing or not. Along with that, as far as communicating with other devices is concerned, they are capable of setting a grocery list that syncs to our smartphones. Moreover, we can use our smartphones to turn the ice maker either on or off. Not only all that, but also, some time ago, an occurrence went viral. A teen (Dorothy) claimed she had posted a tweet via her smart refrigerator. As stated by The Guardian: “‘We don’t know if Dorothy actually used an LG smart refrigerator to tweet, but yes – it is possible to access Twitter via the web browser on select LG smart refrigerator models,’ an LG spokeswoman, Taryn Brucha, said.”
(E)
Smart devices can deeply change our lifestyles. With smart thermostats, our heating and air conditioning systems would automatically adapt to the weather. With smart bulbs, we can adjust the light according to the time. With smart locks, our houses and safes would be safer. Furthermore, with the appropriate monitoring systems, not only can incidents be decreased, but also energy costs, since some monitoring systems are capable of automatically turning off electrical equipment in case of inactivity. Also, as affirmed by Wenjie Gong: “In health care domain, IoT has made huge improvements.” Soon, it is going to be possible to identify illnesses remotely.
(F)
When it comes to vehicular automation, it is no different. Although not exceedingly popular, there are already many self-driving cars that work flawlessly. IoT allows those cars to gather much information regarding traffic and navigation. Autonomous vehicles have radar, GPS, sonar, and inertial measurement units. Tesla has been working on driverless cars for some time now and they have been showing results. As well as that, Waymo has done something never done erstwhile. It has become the first service provider that offers taxi drives with self-driving cars (in Phoenix, Arizona). In terms of benefits, they can enhance the independence of people with disabilities and seniors.
(G)
Besides that, 51% of the world’s top global marketers expect that IoT will revolutionize the marketing landscape. Marketers use IoT to analyze customer buying habits across platforms, gather previously unobtainable data about how consumers interact with devices and products, gain deeper insights into where a customer is in the buying journey, provide real-time, point-of-sale notifications and targeted ads, and quickly resolve issues to close sales and keep customers happy.
(H)
As we could notice, smart devices and the connection between them (IoT) are capable of changing the world as we know it. Thus, it is undeniably concluded that our current society has already gotten extremely technological as well as connected and, still, if everything keeps going the way it has, we will, without a doubt, get even more.
1- C
2- F
3- H
4- A
5- D
6- B
7- G
8- E
The text has as its point smart devices and its author's goal with it was to explain what they are and how they impact our lives.
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11- Explain why the following conclusion is ineffective.
"That’s my essay and I am not changing my mind. What do you think?"
(exercise extracted and adapted from https://www.cascadia.edu/services/tutoring/documents/Writing%20Effective%20Conclusions.pdf)
ANSWERS
First of all, it is way too short of a conclusion. Second, it is a terrible idea to say anything along the lines of "That's my essay", so that should be avoided at all costs. Third, asking the readers what they think in the conclusion is, as a rule, inadequate. Lastly, there is no reference to the text whatsoever. In other words, it is impossible to know the text's point.
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12- Read the following conclusion. Then, think of three words or expressions which could be used instead of "In conclusion".
In conclusion, depression affects more people now than ever and it is thus paramount that society as a whole be aware of how we can alleviate such issue. Its symptoms, such as feelings of helplessness and worthlessness, not to mention loss of interest in socializing and hobbies, are often ignored and, as a consequence, depressed people are not accurately diagnosed. Only when people are aware of this will humankind see any improvements.
ANSWERS
(Disclaimer: these are just a few of the possible answers.)
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13- In each of the groups of words below, one word may be misspelled or no words may be misspelled. Correct the wrong ones and ignore the groups in which none of the words are incorrectly written.
(exercise extracted and adapted from https://gato-docs.its.txst.edu/slac/Subject/Writing/Spelling/Spelling-Exercises/Spelling%20Exercises.pdf)
1. fuzzes, laundrys, sufficient
2. turkeys, trophies, arrival, armies
3. acrage, analysis, dosage
4. acompaniment, played, interviewed
5. privilege, excelling, eighth
6. adolescence, contemporary, ninty
7. athletic, conscious, mathmatics
8. performence, fiery, recede
9. leisure, familiar, proffessor
10. undoubtly, experience, succeed
11. seize, acceptance, grammer
12. pleasant, slyly, watches
13. accidentally, embarass, intelligence
14. prejudice, preferred, lieutenant
15. payed, characteristic, intelligence
16. sergeant, noticable, deceit
17. particuler, arbitrarily, attorneys
18. neither, acknowledge, goverment
19. permmit, referring, foreign
20. halves, accross, attendant
21. subtle, judgement, ancient
22. said, envirement, interest
23. realize, alleys, acheive
24. preference, convenient, releif
25. awkward, considerably, neccessasry
26. activity, aproach, familiar
27. quantity, couragous, niece
28. irresponsible, concuring, vein
29. accumulate, benefit, fourty
30. surprize, audience, proceed
31. acquire, condemm, interpret
32. recommend, required, conscience
33. forfiet, appreciate, extremely
34. protein, accomplish, fasinate
35. seperate, diaries, receipt
36. athlete, careful, marriage
37. analyze, decision, occurence
38. sophmore, supersede, conceit
39. thieves, agressive, occasion
ANSWERS
1. laundries
2. none
3. acreage
4. accompaniment
5. none
6. ninety
7. mathematics
8. performance
9. professor
10. undoubtedly
11. grammar
12. none
13. embarrass
14. none
15. paid
16. noticeable
17. particular
18. government
19. permit
20. across
21. judgment
22. environment
23. achieve
24. relief
25. necessary
26. approach
27. courageous
28. concurring
29. forty
30. surprise
31. condemn
32. none
33. forfeit
34. fascinate
35. separate
36. none
37. occurrence
38. sophomore
39. aggressive
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14- Correct the mistakes in the paragraph below.
(exercise extracted and adapted from https://gato-docs.its.txst.edu/slac/Subject/Writing/Spelling/Spelling-Exercises/Spelling%20Exercises.pdf)
George new that he shouldn't drink alchohol on a wedsday night, especially since his govermnet proffesor had schedualed an important exam on thrusday. However he beleived he would loose his friends if he didn't go out with them. The pressure to fit in with his peers was worst then the fear of bad grades. To be popular among his friends, one had to be either a musclar athelete or a wild and crazy drinker. George realy could not concieve how it was posible for a student to consume huge quanities of liquor and still suceed in school. Maybe the drinkers were just more briliant than he was. He didn't even enjoy the passtime of spending ours in a bar trying to persue a temperary feeling of excitement and "fun." Somehow he expected the cheif of campus security to catch him and the university administration to expell him. But George didn't posses enough courage to express his opion to his friends. He was certian they would tell him to mind his own buisness. Also, he did't want to be seperated from his friends so he planed to meet them at a local restaraunt, have a few drinks, leave early, take some asprin, and spend a few ours studing for the exam.
ANSWERS
George knew that he shouldn't drink alcohol on a Wednesday night, especially since his government professor had scheduled an important exam on Thursday. However, he believed he would lose his friends if he didn't go out with them. The pressure to fit in with his peers was worse than the fear of bad grades. To be popular among his friends, one had to be either a muscular athlete or a wild and crazy drinker. George really could not conceive how it was possible for a student to consume huge quantities of liquor and still succeed in school. Maybe the drinkers were just more brilliant than he was. He didn't even enjoy the pastime of spending hours in a bar trying to pursue a temporary feeling of excitement and "fun." Somehow he expected the chief of campus security to catch him and the university administration to expel him. But George didn't possess enough courage to express his opinion to his friends. He was certain they would tell him to mind his own business. Also, he didn't want to be separated from his friends. So he planned to meet them at a local restaurant, have a few drinks, leave early, take some aspirin, and spend a few hours studying for the exam.
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15- Correct the following paragraph.
(exercise extracted and adapted from https://www.uts.edu.au/sites/default/files/HELPS_grammar_review4_answers.pdf)
In this article, we will provide conceptual definitions of four vanity-related traits, develop selfreport measures of the traits, and have extensively validated these measures. We then demonstrated the relevance of the traits to a number of consumer-related behaviors. Last, we offer a discussion with implications for future research.
ANSWERS
In this article, we will provide conceptual definitions of four vanity-related traits, develop self-report measures of the traits, and extensively validate these measures. We then demonstrate the relevance of the traits to a number of consumer-related behaviors. Lastly, we offer a discussion with implications for future research.
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16- Correct the following paragraph.
(exercise extracted and adapted from https://www.eslwriting.org/wp-content/Editing-Exercises-6.pdf)
did you no that a person can live with out food for more than a hole month a person can only live four about won week with out water we need water more then we need food. 97% of earths water is in the oceans. Just 3 % of the earths water can bee used two drink. 75% of the worlds fresh water is frozen in the North and South polar ice caps?
ANSWERS
Did you know that a person can live without food for more than a whole month? A person can only live for about one week without water. We need water more than we need food. 97% of Earth’s water is in the oceans. Just 3 % of the it can be used to drink. 75% of the world’s fresh water is frozen in the north and south polar ice caps.
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17- Correct the following letter.
Good morning
I was writing to notify you that my company need finding qualificated staff in Canada. My companys name has VitAl or VA and we are an international certified vitamin supplement producer and seller.
We need staff to make marketing campaign Canada. Ergo, suitable workers would prefer have either an English or Marketing degree. Nonetheless, someone with an undergraduate degree in the area who has more then a decade of experimentation in marketing is just like welcome.
We need 15 staff employees and the advantages of working for range of it being a highpaying job to benefits such as health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as paid family leave and retirement plan boost. Moreover, they will only require to work 4 days per week, give employees some flexible. Still, everyday the least two people must be working and all 15 of must gather in one weekday a weekly meeting.
Please write back as soon you are having some options of people who were suitable for the job with light of the aforementioned requirements.
Respectful,
Bernardo Quaresma Guedes Santos
ANSWERS
Good morning
I am writing to notify you that my company needs to find qualified staff in Canada. My company’s name is VitAl or VA and we are an internationally certified vitamin supplement producer and seller.
We need staff to make marketing campaigns in Canada. Ergo, suitable workers would preferably have either an English or Marketing degree. Nonetheless, someone with an undergraduate degree in the area who has more than a decade of experience in marketing is just as welcome.
We need 15 staff employees and the advantages of working for us range from it being a high-paying job to benefits such as health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as paid family leave and retirement plan boost. Moreover, they will only be required to work 4 days per week, giving employees some flexibility. Still, everyday at least two people must be working and all 15 of them must gather on one weekday for a weekly meeting.
Please write back as soon as you have some options of people who are suitable for the job in light of the aforementioned requirements.
Respectfully,
Bernardo Quaresma Guedes Santos
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18- Is the following paragraph coherent?
When I was young, my uncle bought me a bike. Then, I saw a bird building a nest while I was travelling to New York. Although he had not eaten supper, my mother went to the doctor and Donald Trump lost the elections. What is more, I saw a comet!
ANSWERS
No, it is not.
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19- Read the text below to answer the questions.
(exercise extracted and adapted from https://info.edmentum.com/rs/780-NRC-339/images/12thGrade-English-V2-Workbook.pdf)
Fossil Hunting
(1)
Dinosaurs roamed the Earth millions of years ago on every continent, which suggests that dinosaur fossils would be easy to find. However, they only exist in certain types of rock, so you have to know which type you're looking for.
(2)
Rocks are divided into categories corresponding to how they were formed. Metamorphic rocks form when any type of rock is altered by tremendous pressure or heat. Igneous rocks are made when hot volcanic magma cools down and hardens. Sedimentary rocks form when "sediment" (particles of rock or organic material) compresses as it piles up over time. It is this last type that provides the right environment for fossils to form.
(3)
Many of the most significant dinosaur fossil finds came from dinosaurs that died and were covered with sediment soon after (such as from a sandstorm or by sinking into mud). This is the perfect situation for fossils to develop. The skin and organs decompose very fast, but harder areas like bones and teeth stay intact. As time passes, more and more sediment piles on top, which turns to rock. Water passing through it contains minerals, which gradually replace the chemicals in the dinosaur bones. The result of this process is a copy of the original, made of something like rock—a fossilized version that will last for eons, allowing us to study the remains long after the original matter is gone.
I- Classify the underlined words according to the relationships they establish between sentences.
however -
so -
and -
or -
as -
such as -
but -
like -
the result of this -
after -
II- What sentence best summarizes the above selection?
a) There are different types of rock where fossils can be found, though sedimentary is most common.
b) Although dinosaurs lived on all the continents, fossils have only been found on a few.
c) The best dinosaur fossils are found in sedimentary rock that began to form soon after the dinosaur's death.
d) Fossils are formed when water passes through the rock, replacing the original matter with minerals.
III- Which sentence best summarizes the third paragraph?
a) The softer parts of dead animals decompose first, while teeth and bones last much longer, enabling archaeologists to study multiple creatures from prehistoric time periods.
b) Fossil hunting is a pastime even amateurs can enjoy, as evidenced by the thousands of tourists who visit dinosaur fossil beds around the world each year.
c) Dinosaur fossils are made when sediment piles over the animal, minerals from water replace the bones' chemicals, and a rock-like substance forms.
d) Water is the key element in the formation of fossils, as it flows through rock and brings minerals that slowly come to replace the bones' chemicals.
ANSWERS
I- The types of relationship are:
however - contrast
so - result
and - addition
or - alternative
as - simultaneousness
such as - exemplification
but - contrast
like - exemplification
the result of this - result
after - time
II- C
III- C
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20- Read the text below to answer the question.
(exercise extracted and adapted from https://info.edmentum.com/rs/780-NRC-339/images/12thGrade-English-V2-Workbook.pdf)
Baseball: A Real Game Changer
Over the centuries, the rules of various sports have been altered to make the sports fair, logical, and more challenging, thus changing the very idea of certain sports as people once knew them. One of the sports to change the most is the classic American pastime of baseball.
The American version of baseball draws its roots from rounders, a British sport similar to cricket. It is thought to have been brought to the Colonies by the mid-1700s. In this pre-baseball version of the modern sport, the batter hit a ball and ran the bases, similar to any baseball game you might watch on television. However, the number of bases on the field was not yet established, so a player might run one, two, three, four, or even five bases depending on the game. Not only did the batter have to avoid being tagged out (similar to the contemporary rules), he needed to avoid being "plugged"—hit with the ball by another player—a dangerous rule banned in subsequent versions of the game.
For example, pitching was underhand (more like softball than baseball). In addition, a batter was considered out if the ball was caught on one bounce, as opposed to the contemporary rule of leaving the ball in play until the batter is tagged or safely reaches a base. The standard of nine innings had not yet been established either, with victory awarded to the first team to score 21 runs (referred to as "aces" in Cartwright's era). The hazards of plugging were not yet fully realized, so this practice was still permitted.
Although the fundamental idea of baseball has remained the same for centuries, the rules and regulations have undergone significant and vital changes. It is fun to wonder what other alterations will be made to popular, modern-day sports over the next few centuries, and what future sports fans will think of the 21st-century versions.
Which of these sentences would make the best topic sentence for paragraph 1?
a) The world of sports is constantly evolving.
b) Baseball fans are a particularly die-hard group.
c) Not all changes to sports have been good ones.
d) Baseball has always been popular in the U.S.
ANSWERS
A
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21- Read the text below to answer the questions.
(exercise extracted and adapted from https://info.edmentum.com/rs/780-NRC-339/images/12thGrade-English-V2-Workbook.pdf)
Fashion During World War II
(1) Every era has a distinct style of fashion, and many factors determine what men and women wear every day. (2) Particularly in the early 1940s, the shortage of fabric inspired people to be more creative with clothing. (3) Women who were joining the workforce because of men being away in the war had to be inventive. (4) Many items that were not considered must-haves were scarce. (5) Silk stockings were hard to come by. (6) Some women created an illusion of the seam on the back of silk stockings by drawing lines on the back of their legs with eyeliner.
I- Is the underlined cohesive device "Particularly in the early 1940s" appropriate?
a) No, because the passage is about the influence of war on fashion.
b) Yes, because it shows the lack of silk stockings in the 1940s.
c) Yes, because it emphasizes the creativity of people in the 1940s.
d) No, because the sentence applies to the role of women in all ages.
II- Which cohesive device would best be added to sentence 3?
a) With attention to,
b) On the contrary,
c) Namely,
d) Still,
III- Choose the cohesive device that best connects the ideas of sentences 4 and 5.
a) Coupled with,
b) Meanwhile,
c) All in all,
d) For one thing,
ANSWERS
I- C
II- C
III- D
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22- Read the text below to answer the question.
(exercise extracted and adapted from https://info.edmentum.com/rs/780-NRC-339/images/12thGrade-English-V2-Workbook.pdf)
High school seniors are encouraged to participate in Friday's Save the Food Bank Carnival, which will be set up outside the North parking lot of the school. Additional parking will be available on the east side of Harlon street, in front of the public library. Local volunteers from the junior league of Royse City and the rotary club will be waiting at the gate to pass out tickets. While entry to the carnival is free, there will be a small fee for food, prizes, games, and rides. All proceeds from the carnival, as well as any donations, will benefit the Royse City Food Bank.
Our wonderful cafeteria staff has prepared treats such as funnel cake, hot dogs, and cotton candy for the festivities. In addition, Mr. Haney, our school's beloved French teacher, will sing karaoke favorites at 10:30 p.m. Immediately after the karaoke, Dr. Talbot, our guidance counselor, will share excerpts from her new book Surviving the College Application Process. Show your community spirit by attending the carnival this Friday!
Now, reread this sentence from the passage:
"Local volunteers from the junior league of Royse City and the rotary club will be waiting at the gate to pass out tickets."
How should the author rewrite this sentence to correct the capitalization?
a) Local volunteers from the Junior League of Royse City and the Rotary Club will be waiting at the gate to pass out tickets.
b) Local volunteers from the junior league of Royse city and the rotary club will be waiting at the gate to pass out tickets.
c) Local volunteers from the Junior league of Royse City and the Rotary club will be waiting at the gate to pass out tickets.
d) Local Volunteers from the junior league of Royse City and the rotary club will be waiting at the gate to pass out tickets.
ANSWERS
A
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23- Read the sentence below to answer the question.
(exercise extracted and adapted from https://info.edmentum.com/rs/780-NRC-339/images/12thGrade-English-V2-Workbook.pdf)
During the spring semester, Tina will be appearing in an off-Broadway play at the Lakeshore Theater on Marlowe Street; she hopes to become an actress with the famous shakespeare players one day.
How should this sentence be changed to correct the problem of capitalization?
a) During the Spring Semester, Tina will be appearing in an off-Broadway play at the Lakeshore Theater on Marlowe Street; she hopes to become an actress with the famous Shakespeare Players one day.
b) During the spring semester, Tina will be appearing in an off-broadway play at the Lakeshore theater on Marlowe Street; she hopes to become an actress with the famous shakespeare players one day.
c) During the Spring semester, Tina will be appearing in an off-broadway play at the Lakeshore Theater on Marlowe Street; she hopes to become an actress with the famous Shakespeare Players one day.
d) During the spring semester, Tina will be appearing in an off-Broadway play at the Lakeshore Theater on Marlowe Street; she hopes to become an actress with the famous Shakespeare Players one day.
ANSWERS
D
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24- Read the sentence below to answer the question.
(exercise extracted and adapted from https://info.edmentum.com/rs/780-NRC-339/images/12thGrade-English-V2-Workbook.pdf)
Hetty didn't see her ex boyfriend at the graduation ceremony because there were two hundred fifty five students in attendance.
What is the correct way to hyphenate this sentence?
a) The sentence is correct as is.
b) Hetty didn't see her ex boyfriend at the graduation ceremony because there were two hundred fifty-five students in attendance.
c) Hetty didn't see her ex-boyfriend at the graduation ceremony because there were two hundred fifty-five students in attendance.
d) Hetty didn't see her ex-boyfriend at the graduation ceremony because there were two hundred fifty five students in attendance.
ANSWERS
C
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25- What is the name given to the type of introductory paragraph presented below? Justify your answer.
(exercise extracted and adapted from https://www.apu.edu/live_data/files/288/introductions_and_conclusions.pdf)
The life of a housecat is not always the safest of situations. In fact, domesticated cats that play outside are faced with a number of problems that are often overlooked. Most of these problems concern other neighborhood animals, which is not surprising given that the average housecat spends 40 to 60 hours outside per week. The most serious threat to the health of the housecat is the stray dog.
ANSWERS
This is a funnel introduction because it begins with a broad statement and ends with its topic sentence.
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26- Below, there is an image and a few quotations.
“An empty stomach is not a good political adviser.” –Albert Einstein
“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.” –Nelson Mandela
“Poverty is a very complicated issue, but feeding a child isn’t.” –Jeff Bridges
“Poverty is the worst form of violence.” –Mahatma Gandhi
“These days there is a lot of poverty in the world, and that’s a scandal when we have so many riches and resources to give to everyone. We all have to think about how we can become a little poorer.” –Pope Francis
“The opposite of poverty is not wealth; the opposite of poverty is enough.”
–Dr. Wess Stafford, President Emeritus of Compassion International
Using the image and the quotations as inspiration, write an argumentative essay concerning poverty in the world and how it should be tackled. It must not have more than 400 words.
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