Section B Set 1 Questions

SET 1 Section B A. You have 1.25 hours for this paper (which is allocated 18% of the total subject mark).\ B. It is suggested that you spend some of the time on planning and proofreading. C. Write legibly and make neat corrections wherever necessary. D. DO NOT USE YOUR REAL NAME IN ANSWERING ANY OF THE QUESTIONS. If you wish to use a name to identify yourself, then use ‘Chris Wong’. E. Write about 500 words on ONE of the topics.

1. Some parents in Hong Kong were unhappy about the changes to the medium of instruction that the Education and Manpower Bureau imposed on primary and secondary schools. Consequently, they opted to send their children to international schools rather than Government schools. You think this trend is not beneficial to society, parents and students. Write an essay explaining why you oppose this trend. Discuss the effects of the trend on society, parents and students, and give reasons to support your argument.

2. Violent video and computer games are reputed to have a negative effect on your children and teenagers. It is thought that these games desensitize users to violence and may be a contributing factor to the increasing trend of bullying in schools. Critics of these games have suggested banning them for people under the age of 18. Write an article for the school magazine expressing your view EITHER for OR against this suggestion. Give at least three reasons to support your view.

3. More and more people are using the Internet as their primary means of social interaction – chatting, playing online games, documenting their lives in a weblog, or reading and commenting on other’s weblogs. Although users argue that the Internet is a good way to make new friends, psychologists argue that heavy Internet use can lead to isolation, and should not be seen as a substitute for real– life social interaction. Your teacher has asked you to write an essay discussing the advantages and disadvantages of social interaction via the Internet. Write the essay, ending it by giving your own opinion.

4. Each year, local universities admit a small number of non–local, mostly mainland Chinese, students into their undergraduate programmes. Since the implementation of this scheme, professors and employers have given positive feedback on the quality of the students. Plans have been drawn up in each university to increase the proportion of non–local students to ten per cent of the total student population. Write an article for your school newsletter expressing your view EITHER for OR against this proposition. Give at least three reasons to support your view.