Portfolio task 6

A single global currency

Some people believe that trade and travel would be easier with a single, global currency.
It may seem a superficially attractive idea but on closer examination it seems extremely naïve.

First, what are the attractions? Well, obviously travelers would not have to queue to exchange their own currency for that of the country they are travelling to. In addition, international trading would be easier, more stable and more predictable, which would be attractive, in many ways, to the world’s stock exchanges. Many countries find it harder to export when their own currency is much stronger than the currencies of those nations they wish to export to. Finally, of course, there is the view that a single currency would promote international harmony and cooperation.

How real are these touted gains? Travel would certainly be easier without doubt but
how much easier? We can at present take $US to almost any country in the world. International trade might be simplified but there would also be many drawbacks.
If a country is in economicdifficulties, one way out is to alter its exchange rates; this
would not be possible with a single currency. Above all, the idea that rich and poor
countries can share the same currency is basically impractical. We need only to
look at the present (2011-13) euro crisis to see that even the relatively affluent
countries of the eurozone are struggling to share the same currency.

Overall, the idea of a single global currency seems driven by the same utopian vision
of world harmony that inspired the creation of a so-called international language,
Esperanto, about a century ago. That didn’t work.
Neither would a single global currency.

275 words

Portfolio task 5

Visitors to Australia

The line graph shows the number of visitors to Australia by overseas residents from 1975 to 2005. The table shows which countries these visitors came from.

The overall trend in the line graph is a steady increase from 8.8M in 1975 to just over 30M in 2005. There is no fluctuation. Where did all these visitors come from? Again there is no change in the overall pattern. Most visitors in 1975 came from Japan, 3.2M, and most in 2005 came from the same country, 12M, a three- to four-fold increase. There was a similar increase for the next country, South Korea, 2.9M to 9.1M. Europe, Britain, the USA and China were the next, respectively, in number of visitors in both 1975 and 2005. The biggest increase was European visitors, over four times as many and the smallest from China, under three times.

There was a steady increase in the number of overseas visitors to Australia in this 30-year period. The percentage increase from the 6 countries in the table was remarkably similar.

171 words.

A balanced diet

A balanced diet is the key to a healthy life.

There is a lot of truth in this statement. Eating too much food of a certain type can lead to obesity which can be life-threatening. There are, however, other factors which contribute to a healthy life.

First, let us look at why a balanced diet is so important. Too much food that is high in fat or sugar content can lead to obesity which can be hazardous to health. On the other hand, avoiding entirely food which is often associated with high fat content, such as red meat, will deprive us of important ingredients, for example iron, which are essential for a healthy life. Salt is a good example: we need salt but not to excess. The answer is to find the right balance.

A balanced diet is thus vital. But there are other factors which lead to healthy living. Regular exercise, for example, contributes hugely to physical and mental well-being. A clean and healthy environment also adds to the quality of life, as does mental stimulation. A balanced diet is important but is not everything, and there is a danger in becoming a slave to food fads.

Recent research in the UK suggested that eating red meat increases the chances of developing certain cancers; but, in moderation, most doctors would say red meat should be part of a balanced diet. Two front-page headlines in US magazine Time in the 1980s are instructive. One labelled salt as the great killer; another, some time later, said salt was a vital ingredient of a balanced diet. Neither headline was wrong. The trick is finding the right balance. Other factors mentioned above, such as regular exercise, also contribute to a healthy life.

289 words

Argument essay: mobile phones/driving

Should using mobile phones while driving be banned?
There is a lot of research which suggests that using mobile phones while driving is the cause of a growing number of traffic accidents.

There are of course two sides to any argument. Having a mobile phone with you in the car is, in fact, a very sensible precaution. For example, women driving alone at night are at risk and knowing they can use their mobiles to summon help in an emergency is an important security factor. Similarly, if you are driving in a remote area, for example in the desert here in the UAE, it’s essential to have a mobile to get help if you break down. In reality, your life could depend on it.

Having said all this, there is no reason why you should use your phone while actually driving. It is always possible to find a safe place to stop before answering or using your phone. There is very little doubt that using a phone while driving, even a hands-free device, is a major distraction. It is very difficult to do two things safely and simultaneously if one of them is driving. Driving today requires maximum concentration. It has become a major problem worldwide, so much so that dozens of countries have outlawed the use of handheld phones while driving. In the UK, indeed, it is estimated that 90% of public responses have been in favour of such a ban.

Having your mobile with you in your car is a sensible, perhaps even necessary, precaution. However, you should always find a safe place to park before using it. There is overwhelming evidence that phoning and driving at the same time is a major cause of accidents worldwide.

289 words

Portfolio task 2

The first chart shows what motivates students of different age groups to study. The second chart shows the support they receive from employers, in terms of time off and help with fees. Both charts refer to the UK.

The main reason younger students study is to improve their career prospects. For those under 26, the percentage is 80, for those aged 26-29, 70%, and for those in their 30s, just under 60%. For those in their 40s, an equal number study for interest as for career, 40%. Over the age of 49 career factors motivate less than 20%, while 70% study for interest. Students under 26 receive most employer support, over 60%. The lowest support is for those in their 30s, just over 30%. Employer support rises to nearly 40% for those in their 40s and over 40% for those over 49.

The youngest age group studies overwhelmingly for career reasons and this group also receives the most employer support.

160 words

Portfolio task 1

This table gives information about the sales of a small, downtown restaurant in an American business district, in a particular week in October.

For lunch sales, Monday to Friday, working days, the figures are very consistent, varying from $2,375 on Thursday to $2,595 on Wednesday, the busiest day. Lunchtime sales on Saturday were lower, at $1,950, as this is a weekend when many businesses are closed. For dinner, sales were similar for Monday to Thursday evenings, between $3,500 and $4,000, but there was a marked increase on Friday night, $4,350, probably due to people celebrating the start of the weekend. On Saturday evening, takings dropped to $2,950, perhaps because most regular customers work in the business district.

Lunch sales were highest on Wednesday and lowest on Saturday. Dinner sales were highest on Friday evening and, again, lowest on Saturday night. The restaurant was closed on Sunday, which is the quieter day of the American weekend.

155 words

Line graph

World population growth

The line graph shows population growth in richer and poorer countries between 1750 and 2150. It is based on the United Nations World Population Prospects, the 1998 Revision, and estimates by the Population Reference Bureau.

In 1750 the total world population was less than one billion and the population of less developed countries was three or four times greater than that of more developed countries. By 2000 the total figure was 6.1 billion, but only about 1 billion were in the more developed countries. The estimate is that by 2150 the total world population will be well over 10 billion but the total for the more developed countries will remain at about one billion and may even fall slightly.

It is estimated that the total world population will increase dramatically over the next 150 years but that this growth will be entirely in the less developed countries .

153 words.