Writing is the most difficult skill

Men who learn English as a foreign language often say that writing is more difficult than any other skills. As the fact of the matter, most native speakers of the language have to make their efforts themselves to write accurately and effectively even on what they are well aware of. Needless to say, it is not easy at all for a non-native speaker to do something that an average native speaker usually considers a difficult job to do. Here are three reasons which, in my opinion, can answer the question why writing becomes the most difficult skills.

Firstly, writing requires good grammar. A non-native person has to remember a large number of rules in structure which are quite different from their own language. This is a very big problem if he or she learns the grammar with an English native teacher at the beginning. The teachercannot help to point out the distinct differences between the two languages. In this case, the learner must figure out the differences themselves and even outline some rules to convert from their own language to the target language.



Secondly, people are often known to spend less time to write than to listen, to speak and even to listen. Learners learning the language in their country are proved to read more than any other skills while learners learning overseas must listen to the language most of their time. In any cases, they spend little of their time for writing. It is clearly known that an average person spend the most for listening, the second most for speaking, then reading and finally writing.


Thirdly, when students of English as a foreign language write something, they have a big question in mind whether what they write is correct or incorrect. Who can answer the question for them and help them recognize the mistakes. It is, in many cases, the teacher who is teaching them and is ready to give them a hand. The problem however I want to mention is that the teacher does not have enough time to correct for all of them if there are more than ten students in the class. When the teacher corrects the writing for just some of them, the other students cannot recognize their own mistakes. Without correction, the mistakes may be repeated many times and become bad habits which are hard to adjust.

In conclusion, writing is the most difficult skill that learners of any foreign language may face. To be good at it, learners must give much effort.

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Why people should go to university?

People go to universities for a variety of reasons. Improving knowledge while learning in university is often believed the most important one. Consequently, they can apply the knowledge in their future jobs. Some attend primarily to establish new friendships in such an environment, or to spend their new lives far from home with the thought of being mature. On the contrast to those aforementioned, others can have opportunity to study what they are interested in. However, most cases agree that career preparation is the most driving force for students to enroll in a college or university.



First of all, one can acquire certain knowledge. In general, knowledge that a person gain can be used fairly well in this field while it can be unsuitable to apply in the other one. As a result, it is the knowledge only gained in a long-term trial in university which brings one a real confidence to choose a worthwhile job. Further more, bright ideas or great practical creativities a person comes up with are often related to what he or she has already mastered. With such ideas or creativities, work will be more fascinating and interesting. In other words, university is a good place for career preparation.

The next reason is seeking friendships. Undoubtedly, good friends who are at the same age and have the same hobbies can be easily found in campus. Let us consider the advantages of establishing a new friendship. Obviously, making friends in university can help one learn and live much harmoniously. Moreover, college friends may be long stayed even after university’s time. Friends from university can exchange knowledge and experience in the dealing problems while working. Some of those friends may be found as partners in business. Thus, friendship is career preparation.

Additionally, living away from home is also career preparation. This new environment is a hardship for some students to live. Meanwhile, it challenges others. Some find it as a valuable life experience and enjoy it. Whatever it is, a student must put himself or herself partly or totally on his or her own foot. Students become more and more responsible for their lives and for themselves. They start to penetrate how hard their parents work to meet their demands of lives. It is often seen that students earn money for their college tuition. Those away-from-home experiences assist them in getting used to dealing with problems in their lives or their future careers in particular.

Lastly, specialized knowledge on a certain field of study a person is most interested in plays a major role in one’s decision to attend a college or university. Nowadays it is essential for a key employee to have professional education and remarkable working skills. Therefore, students go to university to have specialized knowledge with a hope that in the future they can find an ideal job as their expectation.

In conclusion, although there are four typical example reasons why people should go to university, they lead to the only main one. That is career preparation which is what pushes a very large number of people around the world to attend colleges and universities.

Labels: People attend college or university for many different reasons (for example, new experiences , career preparation, increased knowledge) . why do you think people attend college or university ? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

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Why should we have good manners?

Good manners are important to live happily among people. Withoutgood manners we are only slightly better than animals.

The modern society consists of more people than it did in the past. These people are of various cultural, racial, religious and professional backgrounds. It therefore requires great powers of endurance and abilities of mixing with people. Good manners enable one to tolerate the disagreeable attitudes of others to a great extent. They also help to promote friendship among the people around.

If one has good manners, that person is respected by those who associate with him or her. Having good manners, however, does not mean that being polite, understanding, and sympathetic when not only outside but also inside his or her home. There are many people who are very kind and polite to people outside their homes, but within their own homes they are worse than the devil himself. Such people do not really have good manners.



Having good manners means being good to others. Our speech and habits as well as our behavior should not hurt the feelings of others or cause them any inconvenience. We should not also talk ill about others or boast about our achievements or personal possessions. We must not laugh at the weaknesses and failures of others. Further, if we are angry we must try to use words in such a way that others are not offended.

If we have all these qualities, we will have more friends and well-wishers. We will also have less trouble from others, and those who associate with us will also learn how to behave well. In this way, our good manners will help to spread better understanding and good-will among others. Thus, we can live a happier life. It is for all these reasons that we should have good manners.

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Women between career and family life

Many decades ago, women rarely went to work outside their house. Instead, they usually stayed at home and did the housework. Nowadays, women still play the role of a housewife but more and more women, especially the young ones, attend a school, get some training and become a member of the national work force. There is no doubt that it is not easy for any of them to have ‘two jobs’ at the same time – one at work and one at home. In other words, it is almost impossible for them to be an ideal wife, s devoted mother and a competent employee at the same time. Therefore, it is quite often that they have to choose between their career and their family life. The paper/this essay is about the problems facing today’s women. These problems are not easy to solve at all.

The women of the first type I would like to mention here usually stay single. In other words, they may be successful at work and earn enough money to support themselves and even their relatives; however, they are considered as the ones who lose, not win at all, in the battles for love, for marriage and for the so-called ‘common’ life. They lead an unusual life – the life of ‘a spinster’. Their society accepts them for humanitarian reasons; but, to tell the truth, these ‘never-married’ women have never been accepted emotionally. And this is my own destiny.



Those of the second type face their own problems: they have to depend on their husband financially, and almost certainly they suffer from the lack of up-to-date pieces of information on social life, competition at work, recent changes and reforms in community, etc. All of these prevent them from being a hearty friend, an attractive lover or a reliable comrade. In other words, in spite of their devotion to bringing up their children, taking great care of their husband and doing almost all of the housework, these ideal housewives are still in danger of failing to go along with their husband and of being betrayed emotionally and even sexually. Some of my former friends at high school are nothing but the second-class citizens both in the society and right in their household.

The women of the third type are both lucky and unlucky in their own ways. On the one hand, they are lucky enough to get married and to be able to give birth to at least one child. In addition, they do not belong to the ‘unemployed’ or the so-called ‘housekeepers’. Together with their husband and child(ren), they can build up a common life that all human beings have ever been aiming at and dreaming of. On the other hand, they suffer from doing two jobs simultaneously. It is extremely painful for any woman to combine her successful married life to her established professional career. My elder sister is a typical example of the third type of women. She has almost no time even to sleep! And sometimes I wonder whether it is worth it.

The eighth of March is famous as a day for all the women in the world in general and in Vietnam in particular. That special day contributes to reminding anybody of the real problems facing today’s women. Although we, as women, have been trying our best with what we have in life, we do need some more help and great sympathy form you – those who belong to ‘the fraternal world.’

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Why I like to go to school

School is a good place to learn things. In school, one can meet boys and girls form a variety of homes. Consequently, school is really an interesting place.

In school, pupils can acquire good knowledge of different kinds of subjects such as, Mathematics, Literature, Biology, Chemistry and many others. Learning much makes them cleverer and wiser. When they grow older, they will become good people.

In school, pupils learn how to have good behaviors towards elders as well as one another. Teachers always explain and give lecture on the importance of good manners. They also talk about how to develop good manners and behavior.

Again, pupils learn all kinds of games to develop their bodies and minds. They learn to be good, brave and hard-working and to think for themselves. They also learn to depend on themselves. All this helps to build up character which is very important to everyone.

As there are many pupils in a school, there is also much to learn from them about the people who live around us. Each pupil comes from a different kind of home. Some pupils come from poor families; some come from rich families; some have no parents; some have good parents and some have careless parents. Therefore, mixing with pupils from such a variety of homes helps one to learn a lot about human affairs.

It is for all these reasons that I like to go to school.

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What science has done to make our lives easier and more comfortable?

Nowadays science has made great progress in every aspect. More and more wonderful machines invented by scientists have rendered a man’s life much easier and more comfortable.

In fact, the century we are living in has been called the machine age. We feel the presence of science whenever we go. And the benefits it has brought to mankind are boundless.

First, science has brought comfort to human mental life. The most wonderful invention of science is, in my opinion, the electronic computer. With lightening speed, an electronic computer can help us solve lots of thorny problems which took man quite a very long time to do with his brain.

Second, science has made our material lives easier. It takes a housewife a few minutes to prepare breakfast if she has enough modern facilities. Eggs are cooking on the electric stove, bread is being toasted in an electric toaster and coffee is being made in an electric coffee maker. From the electric refrigerator she takes a can of orange juice and opens it with an electric can opener. Breakfast is ready in very short time.



Third, science has brought about the shortening of space. Different means of communication and transportation have been increasingly invented and improved. We are no longer slaves to the universe as we used to be but masters of the whole air and sea areas by means of aeroplanes and steamships. In the future, we hope we will enjoy an interplanetary traveling by missiles. Telegraph, fax, radio, television are man’s victories over the obstacles of time and space.

Fourth, science has contributed to the mutual understanding of mankind and the prosperity of commerce and trades once the distance between nations has been shortened. The world is getting smaller and smaller. Men all over the world regardless of their races, religious and traditions need to sit closely together, discussing international affairs for the sake of peace and welfare of the world.

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when I am angry

Different people react differently when they are angry. They also react differently in different situations. When I am angry, I will sulk, shout or cry, depending on who I am angry with.

When my parents reprimand me for something which I feel is not my fault, I will shut myself in my room. I will refuse to talk to anyone, even to my granny whom I am very fond of. Sometimes I also throw things around and mess up the whole bedroom.

When my brother and I quarrel with each other, I will scream and shout at the top of my voice. If I cannot beat him verbally, I will kick him. As a result, I usually end up crying because he is much bigger and stronger.



When I am angry with a friend, I will not talk to her until she apologizes to me. My stubbornness has caused me to lose a few good friends in the past.

I know that I am intolerable when I am angry. Therefore, I have been trying to control my temper. However, I have not been very successful. I still need to put in more effort.

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Which part of your country would you prefer to live in?

Being a man quite interested in Nature, I would like to settle down in Hue Old Capital for the rest of my life because it is in this beloved city that I can perceive clearly the rotation of the universe: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, each season with its own beauty and attractiveness.

When Spring arrives, flowers and leaves come out in buds. Long icy months of winter actually give way to spring days full of warm sunshine. Warm coats and woolen sweaters of different colors worn in winter are now being washed and dried off and put in the wardrobes waiting for the next winter to be put on again. In spring the sky in Hue seems higher and clearer. White clouds drifting on high reflect in The Perfume River, looking just like silk ribbons.



Hue is well-known for her attractive Perfume River. On a certain Spring evening if you sit by the Perfume River you will be enraptured by her tender beauty and fantastic gracefulness.

Warm Spring passes by and burning summer arrives. The extreme heat of summer days in Hue fortified by the sultry wind from Laos makes you feel suffocated and annoyed but a leisurely walk along the Perfume River banks or a visit to Thuan An seashore with its fresh air and cool water will drive away your feeling of unpleasantness at once.

Summer comes! Summer comes! The pupils’ hearts are beating wildly with joy. A long year of study has just passed and the examinations have just been over. They are all delighted to welcome summer in the gorgeous colors of flamboyant blossoms and in the cheerful chirps of cicadas. Summer entertainments are waiting for them ahead.

Hot summer days end; then cool autumnal days start. Autumn comes together with dead leaves falling, falling on every path. The sky turns extremely blue. Cool breeze lulls us to a sound sleep. Autumnal moonlit nights in Hue look so marvelous! The sky is perfectly blue and clear. The full moon spreads a glittering light over Vi Da hamlet luxuriant with gardens of areca palm-trees and bamboo hedges. In the stillness of the peaceful night a song on Hue heard from a far, distinctly and then indistinctly mingled in the moonlight creates a fair land on earth.

Then incessant rains of winter put an opaque veil over Hue city. Persistent rains and icy chill urge visitors to leave Hue immediately, but do not hurry please, my dear visitors. Hue residents have a miracle to retain your wandering steps. Bowls of hot beef noodles seasoned with pimento and red pepper can keep you from the icy atmosphere or packets of dried peanuts eaten during the nights help you to prevent from getting numb with biting coldness.

Everybody has once visited dear old Hue will keep sweet memories of this ancient Capital for ever and to me, I deeply regret having spent a short time in my dear old city but I still nurture happy and sad recollections of Hue for years and long for a reunion day with my beloved Hue again.

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What means of traveling you choose for your trip?

When you are on holiday and intend to go to the seaside or travel abroad as a tourist, you should first of all decide on the means of traveling.

You can travel by train, by ship, by car and of course, by plane.

Traveling by plane is more comfortable, more convenient and much quicker than any other method. But not everybody likes it. Some people say they do not see very much of the country they go to. Trains are good enough for them. They enjoy the movement and the excitement of railway stations, the shouts of porters pulling and pushing luggage along the platforms and the sight of trains ready to start.

Some holiday-makers are all for traveling by sea. Of course, one can watch the sun rise and set, which is an unforgettable sight. For people who get seasick, a sea voyage is out the question.

If you go by car, you may spend part of your holiday moving from place to place. You can stop wherever you like.

Whatever means of traveling you choose, it is advisable to book accommodation in advance. You can book tickets yourself or do that through telephone.

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What is a gentleman?

A gentleman is a gentle man. In this connection, the word “gentle” means “noble”, as it does in the phrase “of gentle birth”. So, originally, a gentleman was one who, by birth and training, belonged to the upper classes. He was of noble blood. Then, because the social manners of the upper classes were refined, as compared with those of the lower classes, anyone who knew how to behave in polite society came to be called a gentleman. So gentlemanliness came to refer to outward behavior. A man who behaved like a gentleman was a gentle man.

In his description of a gentleman, Cardinal Newman goes much deeper than this. His definition of a gentleman is, “One who never inflicts pain”. “This description”, he says, “is both refined and, so far as it goes, accurate”. “The true gentleman”, he goes on, “carefully avoids whatever may cause a jar or a jolt to the others – all class of opinions, or collision of feelings, restraints, or suspicion, or gloom, or resentment; his great concern is to make everyone at ease and at home. He has eyes on all his company; he is tender towards the bashful, gentle towards the distant, and merciful towards the absurd… He makes light of favor while he does them, and seems to be receiving when he is conferring. He is patient, forbearing and resigned”.



Good manners, the manners of a gentleman, may be superficial, and sometimes they may be a little insincere; but they are as necessary to the continuance of society as oil to the smooth working of a machine. And with people who have naturally kindly hearts, politeness is neither insincere nor artificial. For the essence of good manners is consideration for the feelings of others, surely this is a virtue. Someone has called good manners “surface morals”, because the essence of true morals is unselfishness.

A true gentleman, then, is a fine character. His politeness and courtesy go far deeper than mere outward behavior. They spring from goodness of heart. He instinctively thinks of the feelings, the comfort and happiness of others before his own And so there are true gentlemen, nature’s gentlemen, to be found even among the poor and ignorant, who, though they have never had the chance of learning the rules of etiquette in polite society, have kind hearts. These are God’s own gentlemen.

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What do you think the value of being a vegetarian?

Man needs food to live. Food can be classified into two groups - vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Man perhaps started as a non-vegetarian because we know ancient times man hunted for food. Then he learned to eat fruits. Much later he mastered agriculture and began growing grains to make food and these were used as supplements to meat. In most of the countries even today non-vegetarian food forms the major part of the normal diet.

Both types of diets go to build the body and supply the necessary energy. In certain aspects the non-vegetarian diet may be better in that it supplies the necessary protein and fats required by the body easily. Liver content from non-vegetarian food may be helpful to keep the liver functioning well and supplies certain types of vitamins. Those who argue in favor of non-vegetarian diet point to milk which is in a sense non vegetarian and which every vegetarian takes without objection. But extreme vegetarians like Ganhi were against even milk. In fact for a very long time Ganhi went without taking milk though later he took goat’s milk on doctor’s advice. Why milk is tolerated is because it does not involve the cruelty of killing, though milking the cow at the cost of the calf may involve cruelty.



A vegetarian diet can supply all the necessary food items needed by the body except that it may be deficient in the required amount of protein in our food. Vegetables are harmless to the body compared to a non-vegetarian diet. For instance, meat, if not carefully kept and handled may carry diseases. A vegetarian diet is definitely deficient in Vitamin B and C for which a vegetarian will have to depend on a supplementary such as pills and tablets to keep up his strength.

Another point in favor of vegetarianism is man’s denture and the long intestines point to the fact that man could best be a vegetarian. Economically vegetarian food is cheap; vegetables and fruits and greens are delectable and beautiful to look at.

The argument that non-vegetarian food makes one strong is shallow. There are great intellectuals among vegetarians. Gandhi and Shaw were great vegetarians. It is a matter of habit if one could overcome being a slave to tongue, vegetables can do as much good as a non-vegetarian diet.

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What I dislike most in people

What I dislike most in people is when they do not keep their words. I have had many encounters with people who do this and I must say I find it most unpleasant.

I usually keep my word. If I find that I am not able to because of extraordinary circumstances, I make it a point to tell the person involved so that he or she will not feel let down. For example if I were to tell a friend that I will come to her house at 9 a.m. but cannot do so, I will make sure I let her know before that time so that she will not have to wait for me in vain.

However, I know from experience that many people do not keep their word. I have been kept waiting a number of times by friends who said they will meet me at certain time but come later or do not show up at all. What is worse is that they do not even apologize or say why they did not keep their word. These people then become less of a friend and more of just an acquaintance. I do not feel sorry for it. I am definitely better off without having to endure further disappointments.



It seems to me that some people simply say things without meaning what they say. They just utter words out of convenience. There is a man who replies “no problem” to any request made to him. He works as an electrician-cum-plumber. When we require his services we would ring him up and invariably his answer will be “no problem”. He always promises to come the next day but almost always he fails to show up. So we ring again and he will again say “no problem” but again he will fail to keep his words. Perhaps after a week or so he will appear to render his services. Sometimes we can wait, but more often now we get someone else to do the job. This someone else also does not usually keep his words but at least he does not say “no problem”.

Then there is an uncle of mine who is just as bad. Once he borrowed my father’s crash-helmet promising to return it the same evening. He never did return the helmet. When asked he denied that he ever borrowed the helmet. My father decided to let the matter rest as it was an old helmet not worth arguing over. It goes to show how untrustworthy a man can become. His words mean nothing. It has no value at all.

I always go by the saying “say what you mean, and mean what you say”. It seems many people can not be bothered about saying what they mean and meaning what they say. They just say anything they like and do something else. It is impossible to trust people like this. They will let you down.

It is best that we keep away from such people. However this is almost impossible to do because the whole world is filled with them. It seems to me there are more people who do not keep their words than people who do. Perhaps this is the result of living in the modern world where people are more concerned about making money than keeping their words. Money can kept in the bank, words cannot. Money can be used to buy things, words can’t.

As for me, I would rather keep my words. At least I also keep my integrity and honesty. If I do not have these two so important things, then whatever I do in the world will only make things worse, for I will have cheated and lied. I will become just another untrustworthy person that I dislike. I cannot allow myself to dislike myself.

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In your opinion, what are the lessons learned from school life?

Whether one’s school-days are happy or the reverse, depends a good deal on the character of the school in which one’s lot in cast; for schools are of all kinds good, bad and indifferent. But most schools nowadays are respectable, and some are very good; and most of us look back upon our school life as, on the whole, a happy time. Of course, a small boy who first goes to school (especially if it is a boarding-school) does not at the beginning feel very happy. He is surrounded by unfamiliar faces and the life is very different from what he was used to at home, and he feels lost and homesick, and badly wants his mother. But he soon settles down; and when he gets used to the new conditions, he will feel comfortable and happy enough.


Of course, there are draw backs, and even dangers in school life. There are always back sheep in every flock. A boy sometimes gets led away into bad habits by vicious companions. And when the discipline is over-strict and the masters unsympathetic, a sensitive boy may suffer much. But on the whole the influences of school life are healthy and good.

For one thing, the strict discipline of a school has a healthy effect upon growing boys. At home a boy is too often coddled and allowed too much of his own way; but at school he has to obey. And there he learns the good old useful virtues of punctuality, regular method, the best use of time, diligence, and prompt obedience. Boys may not like these; but they are thankful for the lessons afterwards, when they become men.

Then a boy cannot live in a community of boys without, as we say, getting the rough angles knocked off. Boys in their social life out of class and in the hostels discipline each other. A schoolboy soon gets such faults as conceit, priggishness, cowardice, meanness, and unsportsmanlike behavior, knocked out of him by the ridicule, criticism, and even rough treatment of his companions.

It is often at school that life-friendship are made. Boys soon get to know one another, and form fast friendship, that in after life are a great joy and source of strength to them.

The school games also develop a lad’s manly qualities, and not only make him physically strong, but also teach him “esprit-de-corps” and the true spirit of sportsmanship.

So when school-days are over, a boy feels miserable and really regrets as he has to leave the school he joined.

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War and peace

Since the time men learned to live in communities, in the remote past, wars have been fought at regular intervals in various parts of the world. In fact, the history of the human race is mainly a record of the battles and wars fought in the past between communities and nations.

Wars are caused mainly by human greed and ambition. In the early days of men's existence, many communities lived a very hard life, owing perhaps to the lack of geographical advantages or intellectual ability. As a result, the prosperity of other communities aroused their greed and envy, and wars between communities became inevitable. One side fought to conquer the prosperous communities in order to gain control of the means of prosperity, and the other side fought to defend its independence and way of life. With the passage of time, the communities developed into nations, and wars were fought on a bigger scale; but the basic causes of war remained the same. It was only occasionally that battles were fought with other aims such as the capture of a woman to satisfy the sexual of a conqueror or ruler.

However, success in wars stirred the ambition of many nations. Wars were then fought for domination and extension of power. Several small nations soon came under the dominion of a powerful country, which then developed into an Empire. The Roman Empire, for example, was created mainly by conquest. Even the personal ambitions of some individuals have been the cause of wars at times. The ambitions of Napoleon and Hitler for world conquest caused many battles, in which millions of people, young and old, gave their lives.

The devastation caused by wars, however, has always aroused the conscience of several nations, and attempts have been made by such nations to prevent wars in the future. Their leaders have met at various times, in the course of history, to discuss peace and to find a way of removing the causes of war. It is this urge that led to the creation of the United Nations, after the failure of the League of Nations, which today is doing its utmost to maintain peace between nations.

But the desire peace has instead led to further wars, for peace often demands the destruction of the ambitions of those who begin wars. The wars begun by Napoleon and Hitler could be ended only by fighting further wars to destroy these men, who have been responsible for the greatest sufferings in the history of the world. Human ambition, however, is indifferent to the lessons of history. In times of wars, men seek peace; but when there is peace, there are attempts to begin wars. Once a war is begun, however, those responsible for it are crushed in the end. Yet ambitious countries and individuals are still trying to extend their power. but they are being opposed by those who love peace. Thus, wars will continue to exist, while at the same time attempts will be made to attain peace in the world.

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"Water is important to all living things". Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your opinion.

Without water no living thing on the earth could survive. We need water to quench our thirst, water our lands to grow crops or to keep the animals and fowls in our homes alive. Even the plants and insects in all parts of the world need water to live.

We also need water to produce electricity and to carry out goods or trade. Electricity is very important for our comforts today. Almost everything that we use in our homes today depends on the use of electricity. In the same way, water also helps to transport many or the goods that we need for our homes. Ships, rafts and boats carry many things from distant lands and help to exchange goods between one country and another. Transport by water is easier and cheaper than by air or land.


But water has also caused sorrow and hardship in all parts of the world. Floods and heavy rains have destroyed crops, lives and property through the centuries and caused much sorrow everywhere.

Yet, water is so important that all living things, including the tiniest creatures, will continue to struggle to get it whenever or wherever they can.

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There is no place like home

Home! Home! There is no place like home. This saying always makes a deep impression on my mind whenever I think of it.

My home is the sweetest, the loveliest and the best place in the world. In spite of its shabbiness, I still prefer it to any beautiful places on the globe. I would sacrifice all the comforts and luxuries of a modern building in a distant place in exchange for the simple dwelling place, my sweet home!

Fancy we are away from home for a long time. How can we forget the place where we were born and brought up in the tenderness and love of our beloved mother? Nothing cannot prevent us from recalling pleasant and cozy evenings spent by the fire-place during winter beside our dear ones. We are tied to our home by bonds of affection and love: our mother is always ready to accede to our wishes and look after our daily needs, and our father willing to sacrifice everything to make us happy and comfortable.



All people, in any case, in any places or in whatever position they may be, once far from their homes, are expecting to return to their warm hearths. The very thought of home fills them with deep emotion and serene bliss. They are looking forward to enjoying the cozy atmosphere of their families, seeing their relatives, their friends and their playmates again. The famous sycamore in front of the house, the lake alive with fish and radiant with lotus flowers are closely associated with their early childhood.

Uncle Ho, after many years of exile and imprisonment in China, after his release when reaching our boundary, picked up a piece of earth in his hand, kissed it and cried with joy. The sailors, sailing across the sea, foster bright hopes of returning to their sweet homes on land, the warriors fighting the enemies in the battlefield are equally attached to the bracing atmosphere of their homeland.

In fact, a man, whatever his occupation may be, loves his hearth and home tenderly. It is his cradle, his nursery, his school and his paradise on earth.

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The worst accident I have seen

I have seen many accidents. The worst of them was one in which three persons were involved. I still remember that accident very clearly.

That day, I was traveling in my uncle’s car. Suddenly, a car, running at great speed, overtook our car. There was only one person in it, the driver himself.

My uncle at once told me that very soon that car would cause an accident. That my uncle was right was proved shortly. We found the car inside a big river. It had crashed through the railings of the bridge over that river. The driver was still trapped in the car. No one tried to help him, though there was a big crowd around. On the bridge itself, a young lady and a small girl were lying unconscious with blood all over their bodies. The right hand of the lady was missing and the girl’s head was badly injured. Their bicycle was crushed. Soon, an ambulance arrived and took the lady and girl to the hospital. There was a lot of blood on the bridge.



It was indeed a very ugly sight. I felt very sorry for all those who were involved in the accident. But what actually happened to the man in the car still remains a mystery to me.

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The unselfish devotion of a housewife

The housewife has always been among the unappreciated lot. Her unflagging devotion to her husband, children and grandchildren has always been taken for granted. She slaves all day as wife, mother, nanny, cook and housekeeper without any thoughts of rewards. Her only satisfaction lies in the harmony that her hardwork creates in the family.

Her main duty lies in creating a comfortable environment so that the breadwinner can come home from work to relax. She becomes the sympathetic listener of all his problems at the office. She dusts, vacuums and sweeps all day. Her hobbies normally include knitting, sewing and flower making for the purpose of creating a more delightful home. She mends his favorite shirt time and time again without grudging. Her only gratification comes from those casual compliments she receives for the delicious dishes she serves which involve so much preparation and work.

Little children are quite lost without their dear mummies. The mother nurses the tiny, helpless infant. She cares for, feeds, washes and cloths the baby. She gets up several times in the middle of the night just so that her baby is soothed and comfortable, rocking and singing to her baby the old, lovely lullabies.

The mother never forgets birthdays and always manages to whip up a cake for that special day. She remembers our first words, looks out for our first front tooth. She is always there to wipe our tears after we toddle, tumble and fall.

She is always there to teach us our numbers and alphabet. She works and wears herself out to prepare us for our first day at school. She runs out of the house at the last minute to hand to us our forgotten homework book we have left behind. She always manages to stand just outside the school gate with an umbrella so that we do not get soaked in the rain.

Her sharp eyes always watch for the first signs of cold. She waits over her children night and day worried and anxious as they go through their share of flu, measles, mumps and chicken pox. She coddles her poor sick children. Then when we are well again, she scolds us sharply for not finishing our vegetables.

She administers the timely slaps on the hand every time we get into those mischievous pranks. She angrily sends the whole lot to bed without any supper. Then she gets up in the middle of the night to pull over us our blankets and stroke our hair reassuringly.

She continues to remain her daughter’s best friend, her son’s best confidant. She nags at us with her old fashioned values and chides us for being stubborn. But she is always there when things go wrong to lend a shoulder for us to cry on.

Her grandchildren look to her as a marvelous “sugar-mummy” who spoils them with home-made toys, sweets, ice-cream and jellies. She has an infinite store of old, fascinating stories to keep us bewitched for hours. She has a marvelous knack for providing delightful old fashioned remedies to cold, cuts or broken toys.

There is indeed no tribute which is fitting to the housewife’s simple, selfless devotion to her family.

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The use of television

Television enables us to see things in distant places. It is indeed one of the most wonderful things that man has ever invented.

Television not only entertains people but also teaches people a variety of important things. Through this wonderful invention we learn about people and events thousands of miles away. Pictures taken in all parts of the world are also shown on television for entertainment as well as for instruction. Short films based on popular stories are often shown which entertain millions of people all over the world.

In some countries television is used to teach pupils and students many useful lessons. Students who cannot go to school because of transport or other problems are taught all their lessons at home through television.

As television appeals to the eye instead of the ear, people enjoy watching more than listening to the radio. Listening requires knowledge of many things, but what we see with our eyes explains that itself.

For all these reasons, there is no doubt that television will continue to be popular for a long time.

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The value of books

Deep in the heart of every good book lies the distilled wisdom of centuries. To read it is to become wiser.

Books are written for the benefit and pleasure of all those who like to read them. But they are of various types. There are books for children, as well as for adults. Some books are written for the specialists, some are written for students in the schools and universities, and many are written just for the pleasures of the mind. Indeed, the variety of books is infinite.

One of the reasons for the existence of such a wide variety of books is that the field of knowledge is very extensive. Even to grasp a small part of it one has to read several books for many years. Another reason is that different people have different likes and dislikes. The book that one likes to read, the other may not like. To meet these broad and varying needs of people for information, knowledge, recreation and aesthetic enjoyment, more and more books are being written every year.

Those who aim to specialize in a certain branch of knowledge concentrate more on the books that provide information on their particular field of study. In the libraries and book shops they look mainly for such books. But those who have no particular interest in any subject read and buy all types of books. Sometimes they buy books intended for the specialist, sometimes they buy those written for children. and sometimes if they are preparing for some examination, they buy books which give some information on their examination subjects.

Almost every book extends the knowledge of the reader and develops his intellect as well. Even if the reader does not learn any new facts from the book, he may at least learn a few new words, expressions or ideas. In fact, certain books are written mainly to acquaint the reader with the beauty of language and ideas. They do not deal with facts or actual human experiences. Books of this type provide great pleasure to the mind, and almost everyone who loves reading buys a few of such books. Books have also helped to promote better understanding among the peoples of the world. By reading books. The people of one country have come to know about the achievements of those in other countries.

Thus, books could be regarded as one of the channels of communication among men. Indeed, without books man would not have made so much progress as he has made today. By applying the knowledge that he has gained from books to practical purposes, he has made the world a pleasant place to live in. Civilization therefore owes a great debt to these inanimate things called books.

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