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

Topic 7: Aircrafts have been increasingly used to transport fruits and vegetables to some 
countries where such plants hardly grow or are out of season. Some people consider it a 
good trend, but some people oppose it. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
 
(more goods and lower prices) (Relieve food supply stress/food shortage);
(participation in the world economic globalization process), (win-win situation);(export products 
with competitive advantages);(conducive to expanding export and attracting foreign capital);
(the freight transport industry) (made available at an affordable cost)
(pose threats to domestic firms and jobs), (impact the manufacture of essential goods) ;
(perishable crops), (hard to preserve); (rely excessively on imports) (trade deficit);
( unaffordable to the general public)
There has been a steady increase in the demand for imports throughout the world in 
recent years, including those perishable items, such as fruits and vegetables. Despite the boom 
in this business, importing agricultural products is very often criticized as unnecessary and 
extravagant, especially when air freight is involved. The criticism was correct in the past, but 
at the present time, there are indications that this trade activity has brought various benefits.
At first, it is important to note that contrary to popular belief, imports are now 
increasingly affordable to the general population. Thanks to the rapid development of the 
freight transport industry, air travel has become an economical mode of transport, resulting in 
the subsequent decrease in the cost of importing. Meanwhile, technical advance in the food 
processing industry has made it much easier to preserve fresh fruits and vegetables over a 
long-haul air flight. Because of the wide availability of imported crops, there are more 
varieties in the food market, leading to the drop in the price of imports. The supply of 
products in the market is less likely to be influenced by seasonal factors, and an adequate 
intake of nutrition is guaranteed for the general population throughout the year.
Another fact to note is that import and export normally go hand ill hand, and a country 
that imports goods from other countries does not necessarily suffer a loss. Trade is not 
unilateral but bilateral. Some countries are noted for an agrarian economy, while others 
specialise in manufacturing industrial products. Countries differ in their product structures 
because they have dissimilar natural resources, climates, and geographical features. By 
adopting an enlightened policy and promoting trade activities with other countries, a country 
can facilitate the exchange of goods, services and capital with the rest of the world and 
promote economic development. 
On the negative side, some countries might become addicted to importing goods and 
overlook the possibility of developing a self-contained economy. Scarcity of resource or lack 
of technology might disable a country from producing crops to feed its population, but it 
cannot be taken as an excuse for relying heavily on imports. 
Government funding in scientific research can make it possible to achieve a breakthrough 
and increase the yield, thereby resolving food supply crisis.
Countries are therefore advised to promote international trade and to develop their own 
industries simultaneously. Positive attitudes toward importing goods from other countries 
demonstrate a government's stance on the international trade, although the government should 
also prevent itself from relying on imported goods.
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1. Perishable=easy to rot 
2. Boom=rapid growth=sudden increase=expansion=surge
3. Extravagant=wasteful=luxurious
4. At the present time=at present=currently
5. Indication=sign=hint
6. Variety=selection
7. Go hand in hand=be closely connected=be inseparable
8. Unilateral=one-sided
9. Enlightened=liberal=open-minded
10. Overlook=neglect=ignore
11. Self-contained=self-reliant=self-sufficient
12. Scarcity=deficiency=shortage=dearth=deficit
13. Yield=harvest=the amount of crops produced
14. Simultaneously=at the same time
15. Stance=position=stand
 
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