The diagram below shows the life cycle of a frog.

 The diagram illustrates the different stages of development of a frog during its life cycle.

There are seven stages shown in the process, beginning with mating and ending with the development of an adult frog.

To begin with, a male and female adult frog mate.

The female frog then lays a large number of eggs in the water, shown as frogspawn.

In the third stage, the frogspawn hatches and small tadpoles emerge.

Over a period of time, these small tadpoles grow bigger and their limbs begin to form.

By the fifth stage, the tadpoles start to grow into young frogs.

Although they still live in the water, their tails are shorter than before and their limbs develop significantly.

When this young frog becomes mature, it has no tail and its four limbs are fully developed.

It is then ready to leave the water and it continues to grow in size.

In the final stage, the frog is fully adult and is ready to mate.

The cycle will then continue again.

Going overseas for university study is an exciting prospect for many people. But while it may offer some advantages, it is probably better to stay home because of the difficulties a student inevitably encounters living and studying in a different culture. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

model answer:

There is no doubt that going to study in a foreign country, with its different language and culture, can be a frustrating and sometimes painful experience.

But while overseas study has its drawbacks, the difficulties are far outweighed by the advantages.

Indeed, people who go abroad for study open themselves up to experiences that those who stay at home will never have.

The most obvious advantage to overseas university study is real-life use of a different language.

While a person can study a foreign language in his or her own country, it cannot compare with constant use of the language in academic and everyday life.

There is no better opportunity to improve second-language skills than living in the country in which it is spoken.

Moreover, having used the language during one's studies offers a distinct advantage when one is applying for jobs back home that require the language.

On a university campus, the foreign student is not alone in having come from far away.

He or she will likely encounter many others from overseas and it is possible to make friends from all around the world.

This is not only exciting on a social level, but could lead to important overseas contacts in later professional life.

Finally, living and studying abroad offers one a new and different perspective of the world and, perhaps most important, of one's own country.

Once beyond the initial shock of being in a new culture, the student slowly begins to get a meaningful understanding of the host society.

On returning home, one inevitably sees one's own country in a new, often more appreciative, light.

In conclusion, while any anxiety about going overseas for university study is certainly understandable, it is important to remember that the benefits offered by the experience make it well worthwhile.