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

Topic 102: One's character traits are strongly influenced by the place where he or she 
grew up. Discuss the impacts of an urban environment and those of a rural environment 
on a child's character development.
 
(unable to receive a decent education), (impair employability and productivity) ;
(poor upbringing)
(not well informed with new fads),
(resistant to change), (biased);
( follow convention), ( unsophisticated) ;
( altruistic), ( communal life )
(drug use ); (alcoholism), (spend more time watching television and playing computer games)
(higher competitive pressure )
(selfish and snobbish) (sensitive to impending threats);
(lack of communication) (embrace new concepts)
It is well acknowledged that healthy growth conditions in early life are the prerequisite of 
a child's positive growth patterns. For this reason, some people are concerned about the 
impacts of living in rural or urban areas on a child's character development. Below is an 
outline of the potential impacts of a rural or urban environment on a child's personality and 
behaviour.
Poverty is one of the main problems in the countryside, either entrenched or escalating, 
leading directly to poor living standards. Because of parents' limited disposable income, 
children in rural areas are less likely to receive adequate child care or comfortable housing 
than their urban counterparts. These conditions are crucial to children's physical health and 
emotional well-being. Likewise, the soaring abuse and neglect rates in rural families 
negatively influence children's character building. 
Children in rural areas are ready outlets for their parents, who feel frustrated and depressed in 
maintaining a standard of living. Raised in an environment where violence is normal and 
consequences of violence are ignored, children might grow up to be individuals who are less 
conscious of the rights of others (including family members and friends) and more likely to 
use violence.
Another problem is literacy. Low standards of education, which seem to be a defining 
characteristic of rural areas, are attributed to a mixture of factors-lack of public schools, 
children's early involvement in income-generating activities and inadequate awareness of 
education. It is quite clear that income disparity between urban and rural families leads to the 
difference in the access to education, which has a bearing on children's characters. While a 
well-educated child is confident, broad-minded, creative and cultivated, a poorly-educated 
child is inhibited, narrow-minded or even boorish.
In spite of the fact that urban children are able to receive an excellent education, it does 
not automatically mean that they will grow up without character flaws. In fact, it seems that 
they are more susceptible to bad habits and social evils. Illegal substances are more common 
among urban juveniles than among rural adolescents. Uniformity and lifelessness of outdoor 
environments is another problem. Garden settings, which are believed to have a healing 
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power for people living under great pressure, are rare in a metropolitan area. By comparison, 
children living in the country are more likely to access outdoor play, a recreation activity that 
can improve moods and prevent feelings of isolation.
Based on the points outlined above, I believe that environment has a direct bearing on 
children's character development. Poverty and illiteracy are two common features of rural 
areas and can contribute to children's negative characters. By contrast, children from urban 
areas are more likely to feel pressured and isolated, which can trigger erratic behaviour.
1. Entrenched=well-established=ingrained=deep-rooted
2. Escalating=rising=swelling=getting bigger
3. Disposable=used at will 
4. Disparity=difference = discrepancy 
5. Bearing=influence=effect=impact=relevance 
6. Broad-minded=tolerant=open-minded 
7. Narrow-minded=bigoted=prejudiced 
8. Boorish=ill-mannered=impolite=loutish=coarse=crude=vulgar 
9. Uniformity=sameness 
10. Lifelessness=dullness=insipidness=dreariness
11. Healing=curative=remedial=therapeutic
12. Metropolitan=urban=municipal
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