The table compares the percentages of people using different functions of their mobile phones
between 2006 and 2010. Throughout the period shown, the main reason why people used their mobile phones was to make calls. However, there was a marked increase in the popularity of other mobile phone features, particularly the Internet search feature. In 2006, 100% of mobile phone owners used their phones to make calls, while the next most popular functions were text messaging (73%) and taking photos (66%). By contrast, less than 20% of owners played games or music on their phones, and there were no figures for users doing Internet searches or recording video. Over the following 4 years, there was relatively little change in the figures for the top three mobile phone features. However, the percentage of people using their phones to access the Internet jumped to 41% in 2008 and then to 73% in 2010. There was also a significant rise in the use of mobiles to play games and to record video, with figures reaching 41% and 35% respectively in 2010.

The table below gives information on consumer spending on different items in five different
countries in 2002.

Percentage of national consumer expenditure by category – 2002

 

The table shows percentages of consumer expenditure for three categories of products and services in five countries in 2002. It is clear that the largest proportion of consumer spending in each country went on food, drinks and tobacco. On the other hand, the leisure/education category has the lowest
percentages in the table. Out of the five countries, consumer spending on food, drinks and tobacco was noticeably higher in Turkey, at 32.14%, and Ireland, at nearly 29%. The proportion of spending on leisure and education was also highest in Turkey, at 4.35%, while expenditure on clothing and footwear was significantly higher in Italy, at 9%, than in any of the other countries. It can be seen that Sweden had the lowest percentages of national consumer expenditure for food/drinks/tobacco and for clothing/footwear, at nearly 16% and just over 5% respectively. Spain had slightly higher figures for these categories, but the lowest figure for leisure/education, at only 1.98%

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

42

In many major cities of the world, you will find large public buildings, both new and old. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of such buildings.

How important is it for a country to construct impressive public buildings when houses are want is really required?

Write at least 250 words.

MModel answer

(Introduction: mention that public buildings exist in all cities and towns, large and small, e.g. post office, court house, places of worship, theatre)
A public building is a building that belongs in some way to the state. The number of public buildings in any town or village will depend on the size of that community and its needs. For example, you will usually find a town hall of some sort, a school and a place of worship at the least. In larger communities there will be a police station, law courts, a library and maybe a theatre funded by the state.

(Pros: city pride, beautiful to look at, useful/necessary buildings, create a city centre.)
The desire to build impressive buildings is not new. The ancient cities of the Middle East and South America were designed with large public buildings to impress visitors and enemies and give a sense of pride. In modern times, outstanding public buildings still create a great sense of local and national pride. They are what gives a city its character and they form a social centre, a place where people like to meet.

(Cons: waste of public money, intimidating, nationalistic. Give opinion on whether they stop us from, building houses or whether they can be compatible.)
However, some people argue that governments have constructed unnecessary, and sometimes ugly, buildings simply to make themselves feel important. I tend to feel that such buildings may be a waste of public money but I am not sure we can claim that they prevent houses from being built, because these governments have often ensured that adequate housing was also available. Houses and public buildings can exist side by side.

(Conclusion: sum up the two parts to the answer. Leave the reader thinking.)
The answer lies in finding the right balance. We want to feel pride in our town, but we also want our citizens to have comfortable homes. It is hard to please everyone.