, MOD E L E 5 5 A Y 5 257
Gifts are important to us because they remind us of the special people, events, and
interests of our lives. They are a way of surrounding ourselves with our past.
162
MA
Some famous athletes and entertainers earn millions of dollars every
year. Do you think these people deserve such high salaries?Use specific
reasons and examples to support your opinion.
Famous athletes and entertainers earn a lot of money and they deserve it. They .,
work hard to achieve fame, they provide us with good entertainment, and they give up'
their privacy in order to do this. I think they deserve every cent they get.
Fame doesn't just appear overnight,· people have to work hard to achieve it. If
someone has a lot offame now, it means he has spent years working hard to develop his
talent. He has spent a lot of time at low-paying jobs in order to get experience and
recognition. He continues to work hard now in order to maintain his talent and fame.
Just like anybody else,famous people deserve to be rewarded for their hard work.
Athletes, actors, and musicians provide us with entertainment. On weekends, most
of us attend at least one sporting event or movie or concert. After watching afamous
person perform, we might even be inspired to learn toplaya sport or a musical instru-
ment ou.rselves.Famous athletes and entertainers help us make good use of our free
time. They deserve to bepaid for this. '
Famous people suffer a loss ofprivacy. Since we admire them, we want tofeel as if
we know them. We want to know how they live and what happens in their daily lives.
Therefore, journalists follow them all the time in order tofind out the details of theirpri-
vate lives. These details, true or not, are published in magazines all around the world.
This is a big disadvantage to being famous. Earning a lot of money can, in part, com-
pensate for this.
Famous people work hard to entertain us, and then they lose their privacy. They
contribute a lot to our lives. They deserve to earn a lot of money.
~~<:i.
163

• answer.
-: ," ',: " ., =,-'$
Our health is the only thing we really have in the world. You can take away our
money, our house, or our clothes, and we can survive. Take away our health and we
will die. That is why I eat healthfully, exercise regularly, and keep up my social life.
Eating healthfully is imponant to maintain health. I try to avoid foods high in fat
such asfrenchfries or cookies. I also rarely eat meat. I eat a lot offruits and vegetables
because they are full of vitamins. I try to cookfoods properly so that they don't lose their
nutrients.
Exercise is another pan of staying healthy. I either walk or ride my bike everyday.
A few days a week I work out at the gym, and on weekends I usually play tennis with
my friends. I enjoy exercise so it isfun and easy for me to do it. It helps keep me strong
and it is good for my heart, too.
Friends are an imponant pan of ones health. Friends help keep you happy and
help you deal.with stress. Studies have shown that emotional health is related tophysical
health. Spending time with my friends helps keep me emotionally healthy.
, By eating healthfully, exercising regularly, and spending time with my friends, I
can keep both my mind and body healthy. Fonunately, I like to do all these things so
I am avery healthy person .
•
M
165
EX
You have decided to give several hours of your time each month
improve the community where you live. What is one thing you willto improve'your community? Why? Use specific reasons and details toexplain your choice.
))
Volunteering afew hours each week is an important way of investing in the future
of our society. I choose to spend my time helping children learn to read. Developing
_______________________________________________________________________IL
MOD EL E 5 5 A Y 5 259

himself. He has responsibilities at work that he must fulfill. Unlike a child, he can't cry
or complain to hisparents if he doesn't like something about hisjob. He has to work it .
out with his boss and coworkers, or learn to tolerate it. The world looks on ajob holder
as a responsible person.
When a person gets married, she has made thefinal step into adulthood. She is no
longer responsible only to herself; she is also responsible to her spouse and children. She
has to be mature enough to make sacrifices for them and to love them unconditionally:
She is also now considered old enough to take care of her parents when they need it.
The world looks on people as adults when they have had certain experiences. These
are experiences that give people the chance to be independent and responsible.
260 HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE TOEFL ESSAY
167
MA
Your school has enough money to purchase either computers for
students or books for the library. Which should your school chooseto buy"":':"computers or books? Use specific reasons and examples to
support your recommendation.
Our school already has books in its library and it already has computers. However,
I think buying more computers is more important than buying more books. Computers
provide access to more information than bookS, and they provide it more quickly. Also,
in this modern world, every student needs to learn how to use computers skillfully. We
need computers more than we need books.
Computers, unlike books, provide access to up-to-date information. Right now, the
riference books in our library are very outdated. ff we buy new bbOkstoday, they will
become old very quickly. Computers, on the other hand, provide the ability to access the
latest information on the Internet. They are the best tool available.
Computers alsoprovide information more quickly. Just type in a keyword and
many sources of information appear instantly on the screen. It takes much longer to
look up information in a book, and often the book you want is not immediately avail-
able. You have to wait for somebody to return it or order itfrom another library.
Computers are an important tool in the modern world, so students have to learn

At the same time, of course, we get an education in theformal sense. Study abroad is a
complete educational experience.
'169
People listen to music for different reasons and at different times. Why
is music important to many people? Use specific reasons and examples
to support your choice.
Music has been a pa11 ofpeople's lives since the time civilization began. I think
music is important because it helps us express our emotions, it helps usfeel connected to
others, and also simply because it is a beautiful thing.
Music is an expression of emotion. Music can be sad or happy, calming or agitat-
ing, angry or contented. Music can represent any human emotion. When people play or
listen to music, they feel their emotions. Often people listen to certain music because they
u0tnt tofeel a certain way. Music has a lot of emotional power.
Music helps people feel connected to each other. When people go to a concert, they
are with other people who share their musical tastes. Together they feel the emotions that
the music evokes. Also, music has always played an important part in ceremonies, from
ancient times to the present. This is because of its ability to make people feel connected.
Finally, people enjoy music because of its beauty. Music is aJt, an expression of
beauty. Whatever emotion it expresses, positive or negative, it is beautiful. Listening to
good music can be like looking at a beautiful flower or a spectacular sunset. It can be as
beautiful as anything nature gives us.
Music brings a lot to our lives in terms of emotions, connections, and beauty. No
culture has ever been without it.
170
EX
Groups or organizations are an important part of some people's lives.
I WI are groups or organizations important to people? Use specific
reasons and examples to explain your answer.
Groups or organizations are an important part of our lives because we are social
people. We like to be with people who are similar to us. The most important groups for us

Sometimes, I may just want to speak my own language. I can call my friends on
my cellphone and tell them about my new life. This will make them jealous of me. Ican
call them a lot and tell them about all the wonderful things I am doing.
For me a cellphone is a necessity. On my trip I will need it when Ifeel lonely,
when I need advice, and when I want to talk with friends. Of course, the phone bill will
be sent to my parents .
.,
172
EX
When students move to a new school, they sometimes face 1-'1 UUIt:III;:I,
How can schools help these students with their problems? Use specificreasons and examples to explain your answer.
When students go to a new school, they often have a problem fitting in. They don't
know how the school operates and they don't have any friends. The school administra-
tors, the school counselors, and the teachers can do a lot to help new students become
part oj the community.
School administrators can help orient new students to their school. They can take
the,new students on a tour of the school, showing them classrooms, the gym, the cafete-
ria, the computer labs, and other schoolfacilities. They can explain the school program
and tell the students about what is expected of them.
The school counselors can talk to new students about their goals and interests.
They should explain the school schedule and help the students choose the appropriate
classes. They should also talk about ~racurricular activities such as the school
MOD E L E S SAY S 263
newspaper, sports teams, band, and language clubs. They should encourage new
students toparticipate fn such activities because it is a good way to make friends.
Teachers can help new students the most. They explain their coursework to them,
of course. They can also encourage old students to befriendly with the n~ students
and help them learn the school system. They are with the students all day, so they are
aware if a student is having difficulties. Then they can try to help the student themselves,
or ask for assistance from the counselors or administrators.

The
one thing that makes the difference between my parents' generation and my
own is modern technology. When my parents were growing up, they had TV, radio,
and cars, but they didn't have the amount of technology we have now. They,didn'i have
personal computers, they didn't have satellite Tv, and they didn't have cellphones.
My parents didn't grow up with computers, but I did. They have a computer now,
but they don't use it as I do. j write all my schoolwork and keep all my files on the
264 HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE'TOEFL ESSAY
computer. My parents still like to use paper. I do all my research and get all my news off
, the Internet. My parents still use newspapers and TV Because of computers, I am accus-
tomed to having more access to information than my parents are. I am used to doing
more work more efficiently. It is a completely different way of living.
. My parents had only local TV when they were young, but I have satellite TV I grew
up seeing programs from all over the world. I am used to seeing foreign movies and car-
toonS. I have some ideas about things in foreign countries and a lot of interest in them.
Satellite TV exposes me to things that have opened up my mind. My parents didn't have
the same opportunity when they were young.
Cellphones are common now, but they didn't exist when my parents were young.
They didn't even have answering machines or voice mail. They couldn't talk topeople at .
any time or leave messages easily. I can do this. Right now it is afun part of my social
life. When I have a job it will be more important. I will be able to contact people easily
and that will make my work more efficient. Cellphones have made a big difference in
the way we work.
Modern technology has made a big difference in the way we work, in our under-
standing of the world, and in the expectations we have offriends and colleagues. It has
completely changed the way we live. The world of my generation is a different place
than it was for my parents' generation.

175
PR

the birth of the United Nations because of its attempts topromote peace and provide
basic needs topeople everywhere. United Nations Day should be a day to learn about
the UNand about our neighbors around the world, '
'The most important mission of the UN is topromote peace. The sooner we can stop
war, the sooner we can all have better lives. We need to appreciate and support the UN's
efforts to create a more peaceful world.
The UNhas done a lot of work toprovide basic needs topeople around the world.
It has health programs and education programs. Itprovides assistance to refugees.,
The UNhas done a lot to improve the lives ofpeople everywhere. This work should be ,
~~ ' ,
On United Nations Day, people should spend time learning about the work of the
UN. Schools, universities, and community organizations can have workshops and fairs
that provide information about the UN. The celebration should also include celebrating
different cultures around the world. There could befood, games, and music from differ-
ent countries. Learning about other countries is a first step toward world peace.
The United NationS has done a lot of work topromote world peace and provide
basic human needs. This work is important to all of us, It needs to be recognized, sup-
ported, and celebrated.
177
MA
A friend of yours has received some money and plans to use all of
it either
• to go on vacation
• to buy a car
Your friend has asked you for advice. Compare your friend's two
choices and explain which one you think your friend should choose.
'" .•. reasons and details to support your choice.
I advise my friend to spend his money on a car. A car is a much better investment.
It is useful, it lasts a long time, and, most of all, my friend can use it to take me places.
A car is a very useful thing. If my friend buys one, it will be easier for him'to get

tries will continue toform new alliances because of the global economy.
Family structure will also change. The traditional motherlfatherlchildren family
will no .longer be the only type. There will be more single.parent families and more fam-
ilies with adopted children. There will also be more couples who have few children or
none at all.
Whatever the changes may be, whether in the way we receive iriformation, the
way nations cooperate with one another, or the way families are defined, you can be
sure that there will be more change. Change is a constant.
are some of the qualities of a good parent? Use specific details
examples to explain your answer.
I am fortunate to have good parents, so it is easy for me to identify the qualities
that make them good. These qualities are unconditional love, trust, and respectfor me
and my brothers and sisters.
All parents love their children, but not all love is unconditional. Some parents
would not love their children if they married someone of a different religion or ethnic
group. Some parents would not love their children if they had a different sexual ori-
entation.My parents would: My parents love us no matter what choices we make for
ourselves.