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

Topic 70: Many people are afraid of leaving their houses because of the spread of crimes. 
Some think that more actions can be taken to prevent crime from occurring, but others 
think little can be done. What is your opinion?
 
(fear of reprisal) ;
(improve the physical security of vulnerable targets) ;
(directed patrol, surveillance);
(job, housing, education, healthcare );
The rise in the crime rate in the past decades has fuelled public worries about the rapidly 
declining safety of their communities. Some people take the position that little can be done to 
prevent themselves from victimization. As opposed to this general pessimism, many people, 
however, maintain that in combating crime, people should adopt a proactive approach. I side with 
both of them.
The first point to support this is that the government can increase intervention, including 
launching anti-crime public campaigns, enforcing new laws, and providing education. A civilized 
society is characterized by a high literacy rate and a low crime rate. The negative relationship 
between these two parameters implies that one will be away from a life of crime if given the 
access to education. Another method relies on the combination of imposing tougher laws and 
training a more effective police force. Not only does it penalize those offenders but it also deters 
prospective criminals. Moreover, the government can capitalize on the mass media throughout the 
country to alert the public to the threat of crime and teach citizens self-defense techniques.
For individual citizens, many crimes can be nipped in the bud, if they keep vigilant at crimes 
and are brave enough to fight back. It is particularly true in cases where burglars break into houses 
without an alarm system, and shoplifters target those shops that are not under the surveillance of 
security camera. In simple terms, it is people's negligence that causes them to fall prey to the 
criminals. On other occasions, criminals are pampered by people's cowardice. If they possessed 
courage to chase criminals or at least report to the police on a crime, there would be fewer 
victims.
To tackle crime, as indicated above, requires the commitment of nearly all members of 
society, from the government to ordinary citizens. Although there might not be a great deal one 
can do to prevent crimes from occurring, it is not entirely helpless. Solutions exist somewhere 
always, but wait to be found and practiced.
 
1. Fuel=increase=invigorate=stimulate
2. Position=stance=attitude=opinion=view
3. Victimization=persecution
4. Combat=fight=struggle with
5. Side with=agree with=support=be in sb's camp
6. Characterize=typify
7. Parameter=factor
8. Combination=mixture
9. Tough=strict=rigid=stringent
10. Nip crimes in the bud
11. Vigilant=watchful=wary=alert= cautious=attentive
12. Pamper=spoil
13. Cowardice=spinelessness
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