Writing
Topic
There
were many changes in the twentieth century. What do you think is the one change
in the twentieth century that is most important to remember? Include specific
reasons to justify your choice.
☆Let’s
think
The questions
of the same type as today’s topic are as follows:
♦What invention in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for
people in your country?
♦What discovery in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for
people in your country? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
(Note: The difference between discovery and invention is that you discover something
that has existed all the time but you did not know it was there till then,
while you invent something that did not exist before. For example, Newton discovered
gravity while Bell invented a telephone.)
Neither of the superlatives in these questions, most
important and most beneficial, has the article “the.” This means that you do
not have to decide the most important change in the 20th century.
There are some most important changes that happened in the last century, and
you are supposed to pick up one of them and explain why it has the highest
level of importance.
It is rather easy to think of the answer for this type of
question. For today’s question, you can easily come up with changes like the development
of the information technology. Probably the difficult part is to explain why,
but remember, the hints are in the questions. In this case, the hints are the
words “change” and “most important.” They are related to great moments in
history: the story of before and after the change/invention/discovery. What is
expected in your essay is probably the description of how great the impact of
something was, in other words, in what way and how much it has changed society and/or
the environment.
Also, let’s not forget the superlative, “most important to
remember.” It requires you to show why you think the change you have chosen is
more important to remember compared to other changes. The changes should have
been dramatic and unprecedented. They should have turned the world upside down
or profoundly changed our perceptions or thoughts. It might be a good idea to use
these kinds of expressions and give specific examples to prove it. For example,
the advent of the Internet has caused an irreversible change; it has become the
infrastructure of our life, making the world dependent on it.
☆Hints for points
♦The rapid
development of technology
Technological breakthroughs had happened before, but it was in the
20th century that the rapid development of technology happened and the lives of
people changed dramatically. Nowadays, thanks to convenient electronic appliances,
people can have more extra time than they did one hundred years ago and use it
to do things other than daily chores. The development of technology enabled
people to enjoy creative activities, the most sophisticated activities of
humankind, which was possible only for the few privileged people before. The
changes were good for the most part, but since they happened in a short time,
people did not have time to adapt to it or consider the influence of it. As a
result, the people in the 20th century left some negative assets to coming
generations, such as pollution, global warming, threat of uncontrolled nuclear power,
new types of crimes and so on. The first three are especially unprecedented in
that they could wipe out mankind.
♦The invention and
prevalence of the computer and the Internet
For the first time in history, people’s lives depend on machines
now, and this happened in the 20th century as a result of the invention and
spread of the computer. Also, no other technology has changed our lives in such
a large scale than the Internet.
♦The influence of the
airplane
The rapid development of commercial airplanes in the 20th century
might be compared to the domestication of horses. It has made the world smaller
and dramatically changed people’s lives. It has enabled people to visit other countries
for study, on business, or on vacation easily and at low cost. Also, trade has
become quicker because of faster distribution using planes.
♦The invention of
TV
The invention of TV has given people a new source of information and
a new tool of entertainment. TV has made it possible for people to learn through
moving pictures with sound what is happening in remote areas or in places they
cannot usually go into. People started watching news shows instead of reading
newspapers or listening to the radio. TV-watching became a new entertainment.
People started sharing more information than before. At the same time, TV made
it easier for governments and corporations to control people’s thoughts.
♦The shift of
hegemony
The two world wars ended imperialism of the old world. People
learned it hard way that peaceful coexistence is basic to the prosperity of
humankind. Although international relationships do not always follow this idea,
efforts are made to compromise and cooperate and no nation can invade and
occupy another country without criticism anymore. At the same time, America has
become the most powerful country in the world. Replacing England after WWI, it
has played the leading role in politics, business, and culture. Its military
bases, trading posts, and pop culture cover all over the world now. China gained
power at the end of the century, but still its GDP is second to that of the US
and its military power is one-tenth of that of the US.
♦Globalization
The development of transportation and communication allowed
corporations to do business worldwide. They can now build their branches and
factories in other countries, import cheap materials from other countries, and
sell their products anywhere on this planet. As a result, people all over the
world use the same kind of things in their lives, and share more information
than before. At the same time, it is inevitable that languages and cultures of
minorities are lost in this change.
☆Let’s
make a point
Before writing your essay, let’s write about the points you
are going to make by answering the following two questions.
Question 1 What is
different before and after the change?
Sample response:
I think the advent of the Internet is most important to remember in the last 100 years.
Before the
Internet, the information was something that was provided by authorities
in limited amounts.
However, now thanks to the Internet, most information on this planet has become available
to anyone. Also, it has become possible for anyone to provide information to
the public quite easily.
Your
response:
I think … is most important to
remember in the last 100 years.
Before …,
However, now thanks to …,
Question 2 What
makes the change more important than other changes?
Sample response
The change
brought by the Internet is most important to remember in that it has
become the infrastructure of the world.
OR
Its impact on our society was so
great that no one in our society now live absolutely independent
from the Internet.
Your short response:
The change brought by … is most important
to remember in that…
OR
Its impact on our society was so
great that …
☆Essay for ideas and expressions
Barron’s Writing for the TOEFL iBT, p. 338
There were many
important changes, both technological and cultural, during the twentieth
century. In my opinion, the most important of these is the advances that were
made in medical science. The development of vaccines and antibiotics, increased
access to health care, and improvements in surgical techniques are all things that
improved, and saved, the lives of people all around the world.
Vaccines and
antibiotics have saved the lives of many people. Fifty years ago, many people
became crippled or died from polio. Now the polio vaccine is available
everywhere. In the past, people could die from even simple infections. Now
penicillin and other antibiotics make it easy to cure infections.
Increased access to
health care has also improved the lives of millions of people. In the past,
many people lived far from hospitals or clinics. Now hospitals, clinical and
health centers have been built in many parts of the world. More people have the
opportunity to visit a doctor or nurse before they become very sick. They can
be treated more easily. They are sick less and this leads to a better quality
of life.
Improved surgical
techniques make it easier to treat many medical problems. Microscopic and laser
surgery techniques are more efficient than older methods, It is easier for the
doctor perform them, and easier for the patient to recover. Surgery patients
can return to their normal life more quickly now than they could in the past.
Everybody needs good
health in order to have a good quality of life. Advances in medical science
have improved the lives of people all around the world. They are improvements
that are important to everyone.
Writing
Topic
There
were many changes in the twentieth century. What do you think is the one change
in the twentieth century that is most important to remember? Include specific
reasons to justify your choice.
☆Let’s
think
The questions
of the same type as today’s topic are as follows:
♦What invention in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for
people in your country?
♦What discovery in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for
people in your country? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
(Note: The difference between discovery and invention is that you discover something
that has existed all the time but you did not know it was there till then,
while you invent something that did not exist before. For example, Newton discovered
gravity while Bell invented a telephone.)
Neither of the superlatives in these questions, most
important and most beneficial, has the article “the.” This means that you do
not have to decide the most important change in the 20th century.
There are some most important changes that happened in the last century, and
you are supposed to pick up one of them and explain why it has the highest
level of importance.
It is rather easy to think of the answer for this type of
question. For today’s question, you can easily come up with changes like the
development of the information technology. Probably the difficult part is to
explain why, but remember, the hints are in the questions. In this case, the
hints are the words “change” and “most important.” They are related to great
moments in history: the story of before and after the change/invention/discovery.
What is expected in your essay is probably the description of how great the
impact of something was, in other words, in what way and how much it has
changed society and/or the environment.
Also, let’s not forget the superlative, “most important to
remember.” It requires you to show why you think the change you have chosen is
more important to remember compared to other changes. The changes should have
been dramatic and unprecedented. They should have turned the world upside down
or profoundly changed our perceptions or thoughts. Use these kinds of
expressions and give specific examples to prove it. For example, the advent of
the Internet has caused an irreversible change; it has become the
infrastructure of our life, making the world dependent on it.
☆Hints for points
♦The rapid
development of technology
Technological breakthroughs had happened before, but it was in the
20th century that the rapid development of technology happened and the lives of
people changed dramatically. Nowadays, thanks to convenient electronic appliances,
people can have more extra time than they did one hundred years ago and use it
to do things other than daily chores. The development of technology enabled
people to enjoy creative activities, the most sophisticated activities of
humankind, which was possible only for the few privileged people before. The
changes were good for the most part, but since they happened in a short time,
people did not have time to adapt to it or consider the influence of it. As a
result, the people in the 20th century left some negative assets to coming
generations, such as pollution, global warming, threat of uncontrolled nuclear power,
new types of crimes and so on. The first three are especially unprecedented in
that they could wipe out mankind.
♦The invention and
prevalence of the computer and the Internet
For the first time in history, people’s lives depend on machines
now, and this happened in the 20th century as a result of the invention and
spread of the computer. Also, no other technology has changed our lives in such
a large scale than the Internet.
♦The influence of the
airplane
The rapid development of commercial airplanes in the 20th century
might be compared to the domestication of horses. It has made the world smaller
and dramatically changed people’s lives. It has enabled people to visit other countries
for study, on business, or on vacation easily and at low cost. Also, trade has
become quicker because of faster distribution using planes.
♦The invention of
TV
The invention of TV has given people a new source of information and
a new tool of entertainment. TV has made it possible for people to learn through
moving pictures with sound what is happening in remote areas or in places they
cannot usually go into. People started watching news shows instead of reading
newspapers or listening to the radio. TV-watching became a new entertainment.
People started sharing more information than before. At the same time, TV made
it easier for governments and corporations to control people’s thoughts.
♦The shift of
hegemony
The two world wars ended imperialism of the old world. People
learned it hard way that peaceful coexistence is basic to the prosperity of
humankind. Although international relationships do not always follow this idea,
efforts are made to compromise and cooperate and no nation can invade and
occupy another country without criticism anymore. At the same time, America has
become the most powerful country in the world. Replacing England after WWI, it
has played the leading role in politics, business, and culture. Its military
bases, trading posts, and pop culture cover all over the world now. China
gained power at the end of the century, but still its GDP is second to that of
the US and its military power is one-tenth of that of the US.
♦Globalization
The development of transportation and communication allowed
corporations do business worldwide. They can now build their branches and
factories in other countries, import cheap materials from other countries, and
sell their products anywhere on this planet. As a result, people all over the
world use the same kind of things in their lives, and share more information
than before. At the same time, it is inevitable that languages and cultures of
minorities are lost in this change.
☆Let’s
make a point
Before writing your essay, let’s write about the points you
are going to make by answering the following two questions.
Question 1 What is
different before and after the change?
Sample response:
I think the advent of the Internet is most important to remember in the last 100 years.
Before the
Internet, the information was something that was provided by authorities
in limited amounts.
However, now thanks to the Internet, most information on this planet has become available
to anyone. Also, it has become possible for anyone to provide information to
the public quite easily.
Your
response:
I think … is most important to
remember in the last 100 years.
Before …,
However, now thanks to …,
Question 2 What
makes the change more important than other changes?
Sample response
The change
brought by the Internet is most important to remember in that it has
become the infrastructure of the world.
OR
Its impact on our society was so
great that no one in our society now live absolutely independent
from the Internet.
Your short response:
The change brought by … is most
important to remember in that…
OR
Its impact on our society was so
great that …
☆Essay for ideas and expressions
Barron’s Writing for the TOEFL iBT, p. 338
xxx
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