An international magazine has recently published a feature entitled "Higher education is valuable for a young person's future as it provides more opportunities." The editor has asked readers to submit letters describing their own or someone else's experiences on the topic. You should also assess the extent to which higher education is a valuable experience for young people. Write your letter using around 200 words.
Sample Answer
Dear Editor,
I am writing with regard to the (1)_____________ (DEEP) feature you have recently published on the value of education for a young person’s future. It is a (2)_________________ (THINK) topic and I wish to share my opinion on the matter.
I would like to use the (3)______________ (HAND) experiences of my Aunt Sophie as an (4)________________ (ILLUSTRATE) example of the (5)_____________ (COMPLEX) of the issue. Aunt Sophie had always been (6)_______________ (PASSION) about physics and (7)_______________ (EXCELLENT) in the subject so it seemed (8)____________ (PERFECTION) (9) __________ (NATURE) that she would (10)___________ (VIGOUR) pursue a degree and (11)_____________ (SUBSEQUENT) a post-graduate degree in theoretical physics. (12)_____________ (FORTUNE), on (13)____________ (COMPLETE) of her studies, she found that very few jobs were available for a theoretical physicist. Having searched (14)_______________ (SUCCESS) for several years, she then (15)______________ (WILL) accepted a job as a secondary school
physics teacher. In this case, her advanced degree did not provide her with (16)______________ (GREAT) opportunities than her first degree. However, she learned a great deal from this (17)__________ (VALUE) experience, has never expressed any regret, and maintains that she finds teaching extremely (18)__________ (REWARD).
(19)____________ (TAKE) the above into (20)____________ (CONSIDER), I believe that while a higher education should (21)________________ (THEORY) lead to more opportunities, that is sometimes not the case. Job (22)_______________ (AVAILABLE) depends on the needs of the society and positions that require highly (23)____________ (SPECIAL) skills, while (24)___________ (DESIRE), are limited. Sometimes experience gained working in the real world could place someone higher on the career ladder than someone who invested the same time in (25)_________ (FAR) education. On the other hand, (26)_______________ (TRANSFER) skills gained in education can always be applied and would be a (27)___________ (PRICE) asset in most positions.
To conclude, I feel that the choice of whether to pursue higher education must be considered (28)_____________ (CARE). This (29)_____________ (RICH) experience should be (30)_____________ (TAKE) out of interest for a subject and for the personal (31)_____________ (GROW) it offers, with the (32)________________ (REALISE) that it may not result in an easier (33)_______________ (HUNT) experience. Thank you for considering my views, and I hope they have been of interest.
Yours faithfully,
Mark Smith
KEY
1. in-depth
2. thought-provoking
3.first-hand/ hands-on
first-hand: obtained or experienced yourself. E.g. to have first-hand experience of poverty.
hands-on: doing something rather than just talking about it.
E.g.
hands-on computer training
to gain hands-on experience of industry
a hands-on style of management
4.illustrative
/ˈɪləstrətɪv/, /ˈɪləstreɪtɪv/, /ɪˈlʌstrətɪv/ helping to explain something or show it more clearly. Explanatory
/ɪkˈsplænətri/
E.g.
an illustrative example
5. complexity / complexities
6. passionate
7. excelled
8. perfectly
9. natural
10. vigorously
11. subsequently
/ˈsʌbsɪkwəntli/
afterwards; later; after something else has happened.
E.g.
The original interview notes were subsequently lost.
Subsequently, new guidelines were issued to all employees.
He subsequently became chairman of the party.
12. Unfortunately
13. completion
the act of finishing something.
E.g. On completion of the building, they make a final inspection.
14. unsuccessfully
15. willingly/unwillingly
willingly: in a way that shows you are happy or pleased to do something or that you do not object to doing something.
E.g. People would willingly pay more for better services.
unwillingly: in a way that involves someone doing something they do not want to do.
E.g.
"Yes, all right. I'll go," she agreed, somewhat unwillingly.
They are being unwillingly dragged into the debate
16. greater
17. invaluable/valuable
18. rewarding
19. Taking
20. consideration
21. theoretically
/ˌθɪəˈretɪkli/
22. availability
23. specialised
24. desirable
25. further
26. transferable
/trænsˈfɜːrəbl/
that can be moved from one place, person or use to another.
E.g.
This ticket is not transferable (= it may only be used by the person who has bought it).
We aim to provide our students with transferable skills (= that can be used in different jobs).
27. priceless
extremely valuable or important
E.g.
a priceless collection of antiques
priceless information
Our family photos are priceless.
28. carefully
29. enriching
30. undertaken
undertake: undertake something to make yourself responsible for something and start doing it. Sp. asumir, emprender.
E.g.
to undertake a task/project
University professors both teach and undertake research.
The company has announced that it will undertake a full investigation into the accident.
31. growth
32. realisation
33. job-hunting
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.