Topic 1: Does increasing travels between countries enable people to learn different cultures or to

Topic 20: It is said that the fast pace of our everyday life, as a direct result of the rapid 
development of telecommunications technology and travel industry, has negative effects on 
individuals, nations and the globe. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
 
(Personal interaction reduces), (hard to maintain and improve relations with friends and family 
members), (detrimental to family life or social relations within or outside of work);
( lifestyle diseases, such as obesity, stroke, diabetes, heart diseases)
(promote trade activity across the border) ;
(Leisure lives have been enriched)
Not surprisingly, many aspects of people's daily lives have undergone considerable changes 
because of the recent development in technology. It is a particular concern that the pace of 
everyday life is becoming faster, resulting from the development in cars, air travel, 
telecommunications technology and the Internet. As well as benefits, this trend is to bring 
problems.
On the positive side, the fast rhythm of life requires people to enhance efficiency when 
working and then allows them to enjoy longer leisure time. With the advance in 
telecommunications, people can make inquires by phone, instead of travelling long distances 
Internet access makes it possible for one to perform various tasks without leaving their offices. 
Even though people have to travel every now and then for meeting business partners, visiting 
clients in other cities or other purposes, modem transport networks reduce the amount of time 
they spend on commutes.
The acceleration of the pace of life also implies the expansion of people's social circle. In the 
past, social relationships were limited by physical factors such as geographical distance and low 
mobility, but nowadays, one can travel further and get acquainted with more people with those 
technological advances, such as the railroad, the automobile and the telephone. For instance, the 
rapid penetration of telecommunications technology has made the mobile phone a key social tool 
and people rely on their mobile phone address book to keep in touch with their friends.
On the negative side, the fast-paced lifestyle is responsible for the upsurge in lifestyle-
related problems. Jobs become demanding and require workers' full commitment, resulting in 
their depression and pressure. Underneath the facade of continued contraction of official 
working hours, employees are actually working longer, primarily because fax, e-mail or other 
communication devices have made them accessible to their supervisors, colleagues and 
customers after work. They have to respond instantly to voice and email messages from others. 
Private life has to be sacrificed.
According to the facts outlined above, the doubts about the negative effects of the 
acceleration of pace of life are not well-grounded. People now enjoy greater well-being, which is 
reflected in more quality family time, less travel-related stress and close contact with friends and 
family members. However, they might have to accept frequent intrusions as a by-product of 
convenient communication.
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1. Penetration=invasion=permeating
2. Facade=disguise=cover -up
3. Contraction=reduction
4. Intrusion=interruption
5. By-product=unwanted product=anything produced in the course of making another thing
 
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