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Science & Technology
Technology is an important part of our lives. We use computers and other electric
equipment at work and in the home. However, some people believe we rely too much on
machines, and that the more technology improves, the lazier and weaker humans will become.
Technological advances are changing our lives very rapidly. Nowadays we can't do without such
gadgets as mobile phones, PCs, digital tape recorders, air conditioners, fax machines and so on.
Many people feel ill at ease without their laptop computers or GPS navigation systems.
In my opinion, technology facilitates our lives and saves our time. Computers help us do the most
difficult sums and investigate complicated data. People do business, communicate and do the
shopping via the Internet. It is much easier to do housework nowadays, thanks to electric equipment
such as microwave ovens, washing machines and so on.
However, many people say that technology makes us lazier and weaker. For example, such
technological developments as the telephone and the Internet have made communication much
easier, but they can cause the loss of social interaction. A lot of people prefer communicating through
a keyboard rather than face to face. That is why people don't meet as often as they did in the past. A
lot of people are fond of watching TV and playing computer games. They spend hours in front of the
screen. They have no time to read books or to communicate with their friends. They move less, speak
less and they even think less. Of course, such way of life does much harm to their health.
To sum up, people should continue to develop technology, but they must do it wisely. Otherwise
we may regret it in the future.
Some people say that technical devices do more harm than good. However, others think
that it is impossible to live without computers or mobile phones nowadays.
Nowadays people can't imagine their lives without different technical devices. Every day we use
computers, laptops, mobile phones, i-Pods, digital tape recorders and so on.
I have always wondered if our lives could be better without these technical devices. Personally, I
can't do without my computer as it helps me study. For example, it helps me prepare reports and
create beautiful presentations. Besides, the computer is a great source of entertainment. I often play
computer games, watch films or listen to music. The Internet helps me learn the latest news, access
useful information, communicate with my friends and what not. A mobile phone is a vital part of my
daily life. It gives me an opportunity to be reachable everywhere and to keep in touch with my friends.
However, many people say that technical devices enslave those who use them. Besides, they do
much harm to our health. For example, if people spend much time in front of the screen, they have
problems with their eyesight and sleep. They don't go out or exercise, they feel exhausted and
depressed. Computer games can cause addiction and make people aggressive. As for mobile
phones, they use electromagnetic radiation which can influence our health in a negative way.
To conclude, I would prefer a technological way of life to a natural one, though it has a number of
disadvantages. In my opinion, modern society can't do without progress and technology. People can
avoid the risk to human life and health if they use technological devices wisely.
Mobile telephones have become very popular nowadays. However, some people say that
their use should be restricted.
Mobile phones have changed people's lives. They give us an opportunity to stay in touch and to be
reachable everywhere. It is very comfortable, especially for the busy modern lifestyle. So, the mobile
phone has become a vital part of our daily lives and it is difficult to imagine how people lived without
mobile phones in the past.
In my opinion, the mobile phone is a very useful device. Thanks to it, I can access people I need to
speak to and I can never miss anything important. If I need some help, I just call my friends and they
rush to rescue me. If I have a meeting and I'm late, I can send an SMS with my excuses. It is very fast
and convenient. What is more, with the help of my mobile phone I can access the Internet, send and
receive photos and video, play games, listen to music and what not.
However, mobile phones have some disadvantages. Firstly, they deprive people of privacy and it is
almost impossible to relax with your mobile phone on. Secondly, many people are worried about the
harmful influence of mobile phones on their health. Mobile phones use electromagnetic radiation.
Scientists say that there is no significant health effect from mobile phone radiation. But still it is better
not to use your mobile phone too often.
To sum up, a mobile phone is very useful because it gives us the freedom of movement. It has
made communication much easier. But we shouldn't forget that a face-to-face conversation is much
better than just a telephone talk.
Most people are used to sending e-mails and SMS messages. But others still prefer
traditional paper letters or phone calls.
Nowadays more and more people are sending e-mails and SMS messages, while others say that it
may lead to the loss of social interaction.
Personally, I communicate with my friends through e-mails and SMS messages. To my mind, they
have a number of advantages. Firstly, both e-mails and SMS messages are rather cheap and quick.
Secondly, they are non-intrusive. In comparison with a call, they do not interrupt a person if he or she
is in the middle of a meeting and can't answer you right now. Besides, there are no standard rules for
writing e-mails and SMS messages, and a lot of words can be shortened. Their objective is to convey
a comprehensible message as quickly as possible. That is why traditional rules of grammar, spelling
and punctuation are largely ignored.
However, a lot of people say that sending an e-mail or SMS message is not the same as writing a
letter. Paper letters are usually intimate and long. They give you an opportunity to tell your friends or
relatives all the latest news and to express your feelings. As for e-mails and SMS messages, they are
often short and impersonal. You can't see the sender's handwriting, you can't feel the crisp paper and
you are not likely to re-read these messages. But I still believe that sending e-mails and SMS
messages is more effective than writing letters.
To conclude, when we are short of time, e-mails and SMS messages are the best way of
communication. But if we want to give or learn more detailed information, letters or phone calls are
better.
The Internet has revolutionized the way people live and work. However, some people think
it has more drawbacks than advantages.
The Internet is a great source of information and entertainment for many people. It has made
possible new forms of social interaction and has become a major source of leisure.
Personally, I can't imagine my life without the Internet. Thanks to it, I have an opportunity to access
news, documents, images, sounds, video, games and sports reports, to make friends, to book tickets
and to purchase different things online. There are a lot of different sites for pupils, students,
gardeners, engineers, bankers, people who are fond of music, cinema, sports and even for disabled
people. What is more, the Internet has revolutionized the way people communicate. Sending
electronic text messages is much faster and easier than writing letters. People use e-mail to stay in
touch with friends worldwide.
However, there are still a lot of people who think that the Internet has too many disadvantages.
Internet-addiction is a topical problem nowadays. Spending much time in front of the screen becomes
a kind of obsession for many people. The symptoms of Internet addiction include sleep deprivation,
decreased physical activity and social interaction with others. People who spend most of their time in
the virtual world forget about the real one. They neglect their relatives and ruin their families. Besides,
there is a lot of rubbish online and you can't always trust what you read on the web.
To sum up, the Internet becomes dangerous when it is misused. But if it is used wisely and
moderately, it helps you work, study or entertain and saves plenty of time.
Internet dating is becoming more and more popular. However, many people say that
meeting people online is dangerous.
Nowadays a lot of young people feel that meeting people online is just the same as meeting in a
bar. Many of them make friends online and even fall in love with their virtual interlocutors.
To my mind, it is silly to trust a person you have never seen. You can never be sure that you
communicate with the individual whose personal information and photos you see. For example, a
"young" boy may turn out to be a 50-year-old man. Besides, it is very dangerous to give detailed
personal information to complete strangers. Your online friend may be a swindler or even a murderer.
So meeting such a person in real life may be extremely risky.
On the other hand, some people say that internet dating has many advantages. Firstly, it is easier
for shy people to chat through a keyboard than face to face. Secondly, you can search the Internet
when you are not busy. Besides, you can talk to lots of people at the same time and you can have
several online boyfriends or girlfriends. One can list all his or her romantic requirements and then find
exactly what he or she wants. But I still believe that face-to-face dating is much better.
To sum up, internet dating may help you find love. If you don't meet someone in real life, it seems
like a great alternative. But Internet daters must be cautious because you never know what you are
going to get from online romance.
Various social networks have aroused great interest among Internet users. However, some
people say that they have a lot of drawbacks.
Social networks are very popular among users of different ages and professions. But many people
are concerned about the influence of social networks on their lives.
Personally, I think that social networks have a lot of benefits. Firstly, they link together users of the
Internet who have common interests and give people an opportunity to look for old and new friends, to
build communities, to send messages and to share news and pictures. There are other sites which
allow classmates from school or university to keep in contact with each other. Secondly, many people
use social networks to communicate and exchange personal information for dating purposes. Thirdly,
social networks are being used by teachers and students. Teachers often help pupils with homework
and post assignments, tests or quizzes. Social networks also serve to foster teacher-parent
communication. Parents can ask questions without having to meet teachers face to face. Finally,
some people search for job opportunities with the help of social networks.
However, some users are worried about data theft and viruses. The problem is that many people
give out too much personal information that may be passed to third parties for different purposes. To
protect user privacy, social networks allow users to choose who can view their profile or contact them.
This prevents unauthorized users from accessing, adding, changing, or removing personal information
and pictures.
To conclude, the popularity of social networks continues growing because more and more people
find it easier to communicate digitally. What is more, millions of people use them for fun as well as for
business and educational purposes.
Artificial intelligence performs quite a lot of jobs nowadays. However, many people are
worried about computers doing the same things that people can do.
In the 90s and early 21st century artificial intelligence achieved its greatest success. Today clever
machines are taught to think and make decisions. But is it safe that artificial intelligence is invading
the world?
To my mind, computers and robots are very helpful. There are more and more jobs which humans
leave to robots such as exploring another planet, defusing bombs or just doing boring household
chores like cleaning. Computers can perform a lot of functions: they can control cars and planes, give
us the news or compose music. Many factory jobs are performed by industrial robots nowadays. It has
led to cheaper production of various goods, including automobiles and electronics. Artificial
intelligence has successfully been used in a wide range of fields including medical diagnosis, stock
trading, robot control, law, scientific discovery and toys.
However, there are some reasons to worry about robots. Firstly, the use of robots in industry leads
to unemployment as many jobs are performed by machines. Secondly, industrial robots can be
dangerous and cause harm to human workers. Besides, many people fear that highly intelligent robots
may take over and destroy the human race. There are a lot of books and films about people losing
control over clever machines that begin to kill their creators. But I believe that it is too early to worry
because robots are still clumsy and not very intelligent.
To conclude, artificial intelligence serves to help people and make their lives easier. That is why I
think that we should promote research in artificial intelligence. But people must be careful and pay
more attention to security.
People have different attitudes to cloning. Some of them think that cloning opens new
possibilities, while others are convinced that it is morally unacceptable.
Scientists have always dreamed of reproducing exact copies of animals and even human beings.
They have already succeeded in this field and created Dolly, the first cloned sheep, and many other
animals. But the question of cloning, especially human one, still remains controversial.
Personally, I think that cloning plants and animals is rather interesting and exciting. Cloned
animals may be strong and healthy and they may produce more wool, meat or milk. Besides, cloning
will help us preserve species that are on the brink of extinction. Moreover, cloning gives people new
medical possibilities. Owing to it, scientists can create organs for transplantation and save people who
need a new heart, liver or kidneys.
However, quite a lot of people are against cloning. They say that people must not interfere in the
process of creating a new life because it is the duty of nature. What is more, scientists don't know for
sure how clones will behave and what diseases they may transmit. As for human cloning, it seems to
be dangerous and morally unacceptable.
To conclude, I think that science must develop in order to improve our lives. But people should be
more careful when they use new technologies and investigate new phenomena. So to my mind,
cloning must be used only when it is necessary to save lives and to solve important problems.
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's largest particle accelerator, is expected to
advance humanity's understanding of the deepest laws of nature. However, a lot of people are
worried about its existence.
The Large Hadron Collider has gained considerable attention from the scientific community, the
mass media and the general public. Experts say that it could change physics and our understanding
of the world. But why do many people worry that the LHC would be a problem?
Personally, I'm amazed by all the interesting theories surrounding the LHC. Scientists hope that
the Large Hadron Collider will help us answer many of the most fundamental questions concerning
the structure of space and time, extra dimensions, the nature of the dark matter and many others.
There hasn't been any advance in fundamental physics for many years, but the LHC may help us
understand how the universe works and discover new facts about it.
However, many people are against the LHC. The project costs much money and the LHC is
considered to be one of the most expensive scientific instruments ever built. Moreover, people fear
that the experiments at the Large Hadron Collider may be extremely dangerous and that it may
swallow Switzerland or even destroy the planet. In his famous novel "Angels & Demons" Dan Brown
describes antimatter created at the LHC which is used in a weapon against the Vatican. But according
to scientists, the LHC presents no danger and there is no reason for concern. I strongly feel that the
experiments at the LHC should continue because they are extremely interesting and nobody knows
what is going to be found.
To conclude, I believe that the LHC may change the face of physics forever and help answer the
questions that people have been asking since the beginning of time.
The use of polygraph still remains controversial. Some people think that this device helps
detect a lie, while others are convinced that polygraph evidence is unreliable.
It is well-known that lying causes bodily changes. A polygraph, or a lie detector, measures the
physiological stress a person endures while he or she gives statements or answers questions. The
device measures the suspect's heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate and respiration. If there is
increased activity in these areas, the suspect might be lying. However, the accuracy of the polygraph
has been contested almost since the introduction of the device.
Personally, I think that a polygraph is a very useful invention. If people believe that it can detect
lies, they try to answer truthfully. In some countries polygraphs are used to interrogate suspects and
screen new employees. Polygraph examinations sometimes help extract confessions from a
defendant.
But experts say that the accuracy of this method is questionable. According to them, if you go into
the test rested and relaxed, if you are cooperative and try to remain calm, you are likely to pass
polygraph tests. There were some cases when polygraphs failed to trap known spies. Conversely,
innocent people have been known to fail polygraph tests. That is why polygraph results are not
admissible as court evidence.
To conclude, I believe that no device or expert can detect a lie with 100% accuracy. To my mind,
polygraphs can make some people be honest, but they can also be deceived.
Some people think that science plays the most important role in the development of our
civilization; others believe that our world would be impossible without poetry.
What does science have in common with poetry? Science is a product of people's intellect. Poetry
is a product of their imagination and inspiration. Science deals with bacteria, atoms, electricity,
magnetic fields and so on. Poetry deals with human feelings such as love, jealousy, hatred and
others.
I believe that the world wouldn't develop without science. The aims of science are making
discoveries and increasing human knowledge and understanding. Science deals with such areas as
the theory of evolution, the method of creation of the universe and the Earth, the origins of life and
many others. Science has already helped people answer a lot of complicated questions. With the help
of the latest achievements of science and engineering we can solve many problems and make our
lives better.
However, many people are not sure that all we need is science. Some of them are convinced that
our lives would be dull without poetry. People's feelings are so intense, that they want to express them
using beautiful language. Poetry serves to stir our imagination and to evoke emotional or sensual
responses. While reading poetry we forget about our problems and experience the poet's deepest
dreams and fears. A good poem often makes us laugh or cry. It also makes us think about other
people's feelings.
In conclusion, I'd like to say that it's rather difficult to live both without science and poetry. Science
helps develop technology and solve many problems. Poetry helps make our lives more colourful and
romantic. Besides, it helps us not to forget about human feelings, values and beliefs.
Some people think that science has nothing in common with religion, while others are
convinced that it is not so.
There seems to be an eternal conflict between science and religion. Religious people have
disagreed or are still disagreeing with scientists in different areas. Does it mean that there is a great
gap between science and religion?
To my mind, science and religion have little in common. Science is a product of people's intellect.
Religion is a product of the mystical sense and it requires some unquestioned faith. Science is based
on observation, research and experiment. Religious knowledge is gained from religious leaders,
scriptures and personal revelation. Scientists are convinced that there must be explanations for all
mysterious phenomena. It has already answered some complicated questions about bacteria, atoms,
electricity, magnetic fields and many others. Religion deals with questions which science has not
answered yet. What is the purpose of our life? Is there life after death? What happens to the soul?
However, many people say that science and religion are not as different as they seem to be. Many
scientists dedicate their lives to solving the riddle of existence. But the more they learn about the
world, the more complex and harder to grasp it seems to be. Many scientists such as Albert Einstein
or Isaac Newton were devoutly religious individuals and worked to harmonize science and religion.
What scientists call the Energy is called God by religious people. Besides, more and more scientists
are becoming religious and they are beginning to use words like "God", "soul" or "spirituality".
To conclude, one day people may realize that science and religion have a common ground and
that spiritual power is as important as scientific power.
Scientific and technical progress
The basis of scientific and technical progress of today is new informational technology which is
very different from all the previous technologies. Thanks to up-to-date software and robots, new
informational technologies can make many processes much faster and transmit information more
quickly. It is important today because the quantity of information grows rapidly.
New informational society has its peculiarities. Firstly, more and more employees work in the
sphere of service and information. Secondly, more and more huge databases appear to collect and
store the information. And finally, information and IT become goods and start playing an important part
in the country's economy.
These processes affect social structures and values.
It becomes important to learn to get new knowledge quickly and sometimes to change your
qualification. IT can first lead to unemployment, but later create even more workplaces especially for
highly qualified professionals. While the hardest work can be performed by robots and routine
calculations by computers, in the future people with the most creative minds and numerous fresh
ideas will get better career chances.
On one hand technology development gives more access to professional and cultural information
and leads to new forms of individual enterprises, but on the other hand there is a danger of total
control of private life unless special laws are enforced by the government.
Another danger is «intellectual terrorism» when computer viruses block important programs.
There are other directions of technical and scientific progress of today.
One of them is the development of new ecologically clean sources of energy using sun,
gravitation, winds or rain. New kinds of transports and new agricultural methods that do not harm our
nature are being developed today.
Breakthroughs in science have led to creation of artificial viruses for new medicines and products,
body organs for transplantation and productive soils for growing vegetables and crops. Many new
materials and technologies are being used in our everyday life.
All these innovations may have influence on our life, social relations and globally on our Earth.
The influence can be very different: from psychological and health problems of children who spend
too much time online to an opportunity to prevent genetic diseases for future generations.
But the most difficult problems the humanity faces are global problems.
The first and foremost is ecological problems: pollution of air, water and soil, exhaustion of natural
resources. Renewable natural resources such as oxygen, forests, flora and fauna do not have enough
time to regenerate. This leads to different changes in climate and nature such as depletion of ozone
layer and other things that have not been properly studied by scientists yet.
Other crucial problems include wars, epidemics, and demographic problems.
The only way to solve them is to work globally and in cooperation with other countries. And here
the humanity should find a way to use new technologies for the common good. The solution of these
problems cannot be postponed because otherwise people will have fewer chances to survive on this
planet.
