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Showing posts with label IELTS Essays. Show all posts
IELTS Essays
Stress is a problem that can have detrimental effects on
many people’s lives, and there are various factors in modern society
responsible for this. However, there are ways to limit the potential impacts.
The modern world we live in today presents
us with many issues that we did not have to cope with in the past. Firstly,
there are issues of terrorism that we are constantly confronted with in the
media. Whether these are real or not, we are led to believe our lives are in
constant danger, be it flying on a plane or travelling on public transport.
Climate change is another worry that everyone has to face. The results of a
significant rise in temperatures could radically affect our ways of life, and
our children’s too. There are also more health issues to be concerned about
than in the past, with rises in alzheimer’s, diabetes, and stroke to name but a
few. All of these concerns can result in stress.
Tackling such problems will not be easy,
but there are measures that can be taken. Governments and the media could play
their part by ensuring that instead of persistently bombarding us with such
negative images and information about the world in which we live, we are given
more positive stories too. However, given this is unlikely to happen, we need
to develop our own strategies to distract us from these influences. Of course
exercising regularly is one thing we should do as this has been shown to
increase endorphin levels and lead to feelings of happiness. Sleeping enough
helps us to recuperate and restore our body. Finally, eating properly can
improve our health and result in less worry about potential diseases.
All in all, although there are many
factors around us today which lead to stress, we can take steps to reduce it.
Given that the strains we face in modern society will likely get worse,
ignoring it is not an option for many people.
IELTS Essays
Many countries around the world are becoming richer as they
develop and at the same time these countries are seeing a reduction in the size
of the family unit. This essay will discuss the reasons for this phenomenon and
examine some of the possible effects it will have on society.
One of the principal reasons for smaller
family units is birth control. As a country develops and becomes richer, birth
control becomes more readily available. This may be due to a rise in the number
of medical clinics or the distribution of free contraception. The result of
this is that people can choose family size. Another important factor is the
rise in the levels of education that occur as a country develops, which means
that women are more educated and more likely to be working. Consequently, many
will want to delay having children and so will likely have fewer in the
long-term.
This can impact on society in a number of
ways. One positive effect is that the population will fall, which will likely
result in less poverty as there will be less competition for scarce resources.
The parents can also provide a better education to their children as it will
cost less, which will benefit society as a whole. A possible negative impact is
that there will be fewer younger people in the workforce in the future, thus
making the sustainability of future economic growth less certain.
In conclusion, family size has fallen due
to birth control and education, and this can impact on debt, access to
resources, and economic growth. Regardless of any impacts, this trend is likely
to continue as countries around the world develop and become wealthier.
IELTS Essays
Medical studies have shown that smoking not only leads to
health problems for the smoker, but also for people close by. As a result of
this, many believe that smoking should not be allowed in public places.
Although there are arguments on both sides, I strongly agree that a ban is the
most appropriate course of action.
Opponents of such a ban argue against it
for several reasons. Firstly, they say that passive smokers make the choice to
breathe in other people’s smoke by going to places where it is allowed. If they
would prefer not to smoke passively, then they do not need to visit places
where smoking is permitted. In addition, they believe a ban would possibly
drive many bars and pubs out of business as smokers would not go there anymore.
They also argue it is a matter of freedom of choice. Smoking is not against the
law, so individuals should have the freedom to smoke where they wish.
However, there are more convincing
arguments in favour of a ban. First and foremost, it has been proven that
tobacco consists of carcinogenic compounds which cause serious harm to a
person’s health, not only the smoker. Anyone around them can develop cancers of
the lungs, mouth and throat, and other sites in the body. It is simply not fair
to impose this upon another person. It is also the case that people’s health is
more important than businesses. In any case, pubs and restaurants could adapt
to a ban by, for example, allowing smoking areas .
In conclusion, it is clear that it should
be made illegal to smoke in public places. This would improve the health of
thousands of people, and that is most definitely a positive development.
IELTS Essays
Undertaking scientific research is imperative if countries
want to progress and compete in a globalized world. However, the funding and
controlling of this research remains a contentious issue. In my opinion, the
government should have the predominant responsibility for this.
One of the first issues is the knowledge
that we gain from research. If governments are responsible then they are driven
by the need to make advances in knowledge in order to improve people’s lives.
This is because they are accountable to the public and the research is paid for
by taxes. On the other hand, private organizations are driven by profit. This
may mean that some research that could be valuable to society may not begin
because there is no monetary gain.
Another disadvantage related to this is
the research process. When the funding for research comes from the same
organization that can be expected to gain from a favorable outcome, there is a
strong potential for biased results. Taking drugs companies as an example,
governments usually require rigorous trials for new drugs that can take many
years. The companies have large amounts of money invested in such research and
the need for positive results is paramount. It is difficult for a scientist to
remain impartial in these circumstances. However, if this is controlled and
funded by governments, their accountability means that such conflicts of
interest are less likely to occur.
On balance, I would argue that although it
is not realistic to remove all opportunities for privately funded research,
governments should have the main responsibility for the monitoring and
controlling of this. Strong checks and balances need to be in place to ensure
future research is ethical and productive.
IELTS Essays
Access to computers has increased significantly over recent
decades, and the number of children playing games on computers has increased
too. This essay will consider the positive and negative impacts of this and
discuss ways to mitigate against the potential negative effects.
With regards to the positive effects,
playing computers games can develop children’s cognitive skills. Many
popular games require abstract and high level thinking skills in order to win,
skills that may not be taught at school. For example, children need to follow
instructions, solve complex problems and use logic in many of the games that
are currently popular. Such experience will be beneficial to a child’s
progression into an adult.
However, concerns have been raised about
the prolific use of computer games by children, much of this related to the
violence they contain. The problem is that in many of the games children
are rewarded for being more violent, and this violence is repeated again and
again. For instance, many games involve children helping their character
to kill, kick, stab and shoot. This may lead to increased aggressive feelings,
thoughts, and behaviours.
In order to minimize these negative
impacts, parents need to take certain steps. Firstly, some video games are
rated according their content, so parents must check this and ensure their
children are not allowed to have access to games that are unsuitable.
Parents can also set limits on the length of time games are played.
Finally, parents should also take an active interest in the games their
children are playing so they can find out how they feel about what they are
observing.
To sum up, there are benefits of computer
games, but there are disadvantages too. However, if parents take adequate
precautions, the severity of these negative impacts can be avoided.
IELTS Essays
Over recent years, more and more people have been attending
university and arguments have persisted as to whether students should pay for
this privilege not. Although there are convincing arguments on both
sides, I strongly believe that it should be free.
One argument put forward in favour of
charging students is that education is becoming more expensive to fund as
universities grow in size. Consequently, making students pay may maintain
standards and ensure the quality of the teaching. In addition, it is
argued that most students benefit from university in terms of higher paid jobs,
so it is fair that they pay for at least some of the cost, especially given
that the majority of students attending university are from the middle
classes. Last but not least, in many countries, there is a shortage of
people to do manual jobs such as plumbing and carpentry, so making university
more expensive may encourage people to take up these jobs.
However, there are a number of arguments
in favour of making university education free for all. Firstly, it will
encourage more people to attend and this will benefit society. This is because
it will lead to a more productive and educated workforce. Research has
generally shown that those countries that have a better educated population via
university have higher levels of innovation and productivity. In addition,
there is the issue of equality of opportunity. If all students are required to
pay, those on a low income may be dissuaded from attending, thus making it
unfair. The reason for this is that they will likely not be able to secure
financial support from their family so they will be concerned about the debts
they will incur in the future.
In conclusion, I am of opinion that all
education should remain equally available to all regardless of income. This is
not only fair, but will also ensure that countries can prosper and develop into
the future with a well-educated workforce.
IELTS Essays
Over recent years there has been an enormous increase in
the amount of air traffic around the world resulting in various problems, and a
major cause of this has been the growth of low-cost airlines. Although
some people believe that taxes should be increased for air travel, I disagree.
Those that support taxing airlines believe
that this will result in a reduction in this type of travel and thus solve the
problems of pollution, noise and construction. This is because a tax would make
the cost of travelling more expensive, which will, they claim, lead to a
decrease in demand. Proponents of this solution believe that taxes are
fair because everyone has to pay them and it is a workable solution that will
have the additional bonus of providing an income for the government.
However, there are a number of reasons why
this is not the right course of action. Firstly, a tax is not fair because
it will adversely affect people on lower incomes. Such a tax would have
to be a fixed amount paid equally whether you are rich or poor, which means
that those on lower incomes would find it more difficult to travel, but it
would likely have little effect on the lives of those with a higher
income. In addition, such a tax would not work. For
example, we have seen taxes increase in most countries on cars, but this has
had little affect, with car use continuing to grow.
To sum up, it is evident that introducing
heavy taxes on air travel is not fair or workable. If we continue to
explore alternatives, we can continue to enjoy the benefits that air travel
offers.
IELTS Essays
Probably the most worrying threat to our planet at the present
time is global warming. This essay will examine the reasons why global warming
is occurring and discuss some possible solutions.
The predominant factors resulting in the
warming of the earth are the emissions of CO2 and deforestation. CO2, which damages
the ozone layer, comes from several sources, but the most problematic are those
coming from the burning of fossil fuels from power plants. This
releases thousands of tones of CO2 into the atmosphere every year. Another
cause of these emissions is the burning of gasoline for transportation, which
continues to increase because of our demand for cars and also our increasing
worldwide consumption, resulting in an increasing need to transport goods.
Also, forests store large amounts of carbon, so deforestation is causing larger
amounts of CO2 to remain in the atmosphere.
Nevertheless, there are potential ways to
solve these problems, or at least reduce the effects. Firstly, governments need
to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and promote alternatives.
Plant-derived plastics, biodiesel, wind power and solar power are all things
that are a step in the right direction, but governments need to enforce the
limits on CO2 emissions for the polluting industries in their countries for
these to be effective. Also, individuals can play a part by making lifestyle
changes. People should try to buy cars with the best fuel economy, and only use
their car when really necessary. They can also switch to energy companies that
use renewable energy rather than fossil fuels. Finally, small things like
buying energy efficient light bulbs, turning off electricity in the house, and
planting trees in the garden can help.
To conclude, although global warming is a
serious issue, there are steps that governments and individuals can take to
reduce its effects. If we are to save our planet, it is important that this is
treated as a priority for all concerned.
IELTS Essays
In many countries, particularly places like Asia, skin
whitening products are incredibly popular and provide huge profits for the
companies involved in their sale. This essay will examine the reasons why
people use these products and the effects this has on people’s health and on
society.
The principal reason that people use skin
whitening products is because whiter skin is seen to be more desirable than
darker skin. To understand why, we need to firstly look at history. In ancient
times, those people of a higher status tended to stay indoors, whilst people of
a lower status worked outside, usually farming. As a result, those people who
were indoors had much lighter skin, which means that whiter skin is now
associated with having a higher status than dark skin. Another reason, which is
partly related to this, is the desire for the ‘Western’ look. For example,
plastic surgery to creat western eyelids and noses is common in Asia, and the
white skin is part of this. These beliefs and images are also perpetuated in
the media, with adverts showing people with white skin as more successful and
attractive.
However, despite the fact that having
whiter skin may improve a person’s self-esteem, these products can have
negative effects. Regarding health, there are reports that people are harming
their skin permanently as some products bought over the counter have
prescription-strength ingredients. For instance, some contain steroids or
toxins which can severely damage the skin and other parts of the body. In terms
of society, there are also detrimental effects. Such behaviour perpetuates the
belief that ‘white’ is better than ‘black’, and thus those with darker skin may
experience discrimination.
In conclusion, people use whitening
products due to the fact that white skin, usually through the media, is
portrayed as more desirable. However, steps should be taken to change
this image as the drawbacks of this are clear, with potentially dangerous
consequences for people’s future health and society as a whole.
IELTS Essays
It is evident that, at present, people are spending a
considerable amount of time on the Internet, and thus spending less time with
real people. I strongly agree that although this use of the Internet has
greatly increased the level of communication available, it has also had
detrimental effects on the amount and type of social interaction that takes
place.
The benefits of the Internet in terms of
increased communication are clear, with people connected across the globe. In
the past, communication was only possible by phone or mail, which entailed time
and expense. It also usually meant just keeping in contact with those people
already known to you. With the internet, this has changed dramatically. Email
and social networking sites such as Facebook and MSN have created online
communities that are global in scale, and they have fostered communication
between people and countries that we would not have thought possible in the not
too distant past.
That said, there is no doubt in my mind
that this has had negative impacts on social interaction. People, especially
the younger generation, spend hours of their time online, chatting and on
forums. Although this can be beneficial, it is certainly not the same as real
interaction with human beings and does not involve the same skills. It is
important that children have and maintain real friendships in order to develop
their own interpersonal skills. Not only this, it can also have negative
effects on local communities if people are spending most of their time
communicating online and not mixing in their neighbourhoods, and possibly lead
to feelings of isolation for those individuals who do not have a ‘real’ person
to turn to in times of need.
To conclude, I believe that the internet
has undoubtedly been beneficial, but there are good reasons to be concerned
about social interaction in our societies. It is therefore important that we
maintain a balance between our online life and our contact with real human
beings.
IELTS Essays
Most foods that are purchased these days in small stores
and supermarkets have chemicals in them as these are used to improve production
and ensure the food lasts for longer. However, there are concerns that these
have harmful effects. In my opinion, the potential dangers from this are
greater than the benefits we receive.
There are several reasons why chemicals
are placed in food. Firstly, it is to improve the product to the eye, and this
is achieved via the use of colourings which encourage people to purchase food
that may otherwise not look tempting to eat. Another reason is to preserve the
food. Much of the food we eat would not actually last that long if it were not
for chemicals they contain, so again this is an advantage to the companies that
sell food as their products have a longer shelf life.
From this evidence, it is clear to me that
the main benefits are, therefore, to the companies and not to the customer.
Although companies claim these food additives are safe and they have research
to support this, the research is quite possibly biased as it comes from their
own companies or people with connections to these companies. It is common to
read reports these days in the press about possible links to various health
issues such as cancer. Food additives have also been linked to problems such as
hyperactivity in children.
To conclude, despite the fact that there
are benefits to placing chemicals in food, I believe that these principally
help the companies but could be a danger to the public. It is unlikely that
this practice can be stopped, so food must be clearly labeled and it is my hope
that organic products will become more readily available at reasonable prices
to all.
IELTS Essays
Issues related to animal experimentation are frequently
discussed these days, particularly in the media. It is often said that animals
should not be used in testing because it is cruel and unnecessary. This
essay will examine the arguments for and against animal testing.
On the one hand, the people who support
these experiments say that we must do tests on animals. For instance,
many famous lifesaving drugs were invented in this way, and animal experiments
may help us to find more cures in the future. Indeed, possibly even a cure for
cancer and AIDS. Furthermore, the animals which are used are not usually
wild but are bred especially for experiments. Therefore, they believe it is not
true that animal experiments are responsible for reducing the number of wild animals
on the planet.
On the other hand, others feel that there
are good arguments against this. First and foremost, animal experiments
are unkind and cause animals a lot of pain. In addition, they feel that many
tests are not really important, and in fact animals are not only used to test
new medicines but also new cosmetics, which could be tested on humans
instead. Another issue is that sometimes an experiment on animals gives
us the wrong result because animals’ bodies are not exactly the same as our own.
As a consequence, this testing may not be providing the safety that its
proponents claim.
In conclusion, I am of the opinion, on
balance, that the benefits do not outweigh the disadvantages, and testing on
animals should not continue. Although it may improve the lives of humans,
it is not fair that animals should suffer in order to achieve this.
IELTS Essays
Most nations around the world have at least some, or
possibly many, old buildings such as temples, churches and houses in their
cities, villages and surrounding areas which have historical significance. In
my opinion, it is very important to maintain these, but this does not mean
progress should stop.
Preserving certain old buildings is
important for several reasons. Firstly, these structures provide an insight
into the history of our countries, showing us how people many centuries ago
lived their lives. Without them, we could only learn by books, and it would
undoubtedly be sad if this were the only way to see them. Many of these buildings
are also very beautiful. Take for example the many religious buildings such as
churches and temples that we see around the world. Not only this, but on a more
practical level, many of these buildings provide important income to a country
as many tourists visit them in great numbers.
However, this certainly does not mean that
modernization should be discouraged. I believe that old buildings can be
protected in tandem with progress. For example, in many circumstances we see
old historic buildings being renovated whilst maintaining their original
character, and being used for modern purposes. Also, in no way does history
hinder progress, and in fact it is the opposite. By studying and learning about
our history, we understand more about the world we live in, and this helps us
to build a better future.
To conclude, I believe that it is very
important to protect and preserve old buildings as we can learn about our
history as can others from other countries. Such knowledge can also help us to
understand how to modernize our countries in the best way.
IELTS Essays
Some people believe that animals should be treated in the
same way humans are and have similar rights, whereas others think that it is
more important to use them as we desire for food and medical research. This
essay will discuss both points of view.
With regard to the exploitation of
animals, people believe it is acceptable for several reasons. Firstly, they
think that humans are the most important beings on the planet, and everything
must be done to ensure human survival. If this means experimenting on animals
so that we can fight and find cures for diseases, then this takes priority over
animal suffering. Furthermore, it is believed by some that animals do not feel
pain or loss as humans do, so if we have to kill animals for food or other
uses, then this is morally acceptable.
However, I do not believe these arguments
stand up to scrutiny. To begin, it has been shown on numerous occasions by
secret filming in laboratories via animal rights groups that animals feel as
much pain as humans do, and they suffer when they are kept in cages for long
periods. In addition, a substantial amount of animal research is done for
cosmetics, not to find cures for diseases, so this is unnecessary. Finally, it
has also been proven that humans can get all the nutrients and vitamins that
they need from green vegetables and fruit. Therefore, again, having to kill
animals for food is not an adequate argument.
To sum up, although some people argue
killing animals for research and food is ethical, I would argue there is
sufficient evidence to demonstrate that this is not the case, and, therefore,
steps must be taken to improve the rights of animals.
IELTS Essays
The cloning of animals has been occurring for a number of
years now, and this has now opened up the possibility of cloning humans too.
Although there are clear benefits to humankind of cloning to provide spare body
parts, I believe it raises a number of worrying ethical issues.
Due to breakthroughs in medical science
and improved diets, people are living much longer than in the past. This,
though, has brought with it problems. As people age, their organs can fail so
they need replacing. If humans were cloned, their organs could then be used to
replace those of sick people. It is currently the case that there are often not
enough organ donors around to fulfil this need, so cloning humans would
overcome the issue as there would then be a ready supply.
However, for good reasons, many people
view this as a worrying development. Firstly, there are religious arguments
against it. It would involve creating another human and then eventually killing
it in order to use its organs, which it could be argued is murder. This is
obviously a sin according to religious texts. Also, dilemmas would arise over
what rights these people have, as surely they would be humans just like the
rest of us. Furthermore, if we have the ability to clone humans, it has to be
questioned where this cloning will end. Is it then acceptable for people to
start cloning relatives or family members who have died?
To conclude, I do not agree with this
procedure due to the ethical issues and dilemmas it would create. Cloning
animals has been a positive development, but this is where it should end.
IELTS Essays
Over the last ten years, western societies have seen close
to a 20% rise in the number of children who are overweight. This essay will
discuss some reasons why this has occurred and examine the consequences of this
worrying trend.
The main cause of this problem is poor
diet. Over the last decade there has been a prolific increase in the number of
fast food restaurants. For example, on nearly every high street there is a
MacDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut. The food in these places has
been proven to be very unhealthy, and much of the advertising is targeted at
children, thus ensuring that they constitute the bulk of the customers of these
establishments. However, it is not only due to eating out, but also the type of
diet many children have at home. A lot of food consumed is processed food,
especially with regards to ready-made meals which are a quick and easy option
for parents who are working hard.
The effects of this have been and will
continue to be very serious. Firstly, there has been a large increase in health
related diseases amongst children, especially diabetes. This debilitating
illness means a child has to be injected with insulin for the rest of their
life. Not only this, very overweight children often experience bullying from
other children, which may affect their mental health. The negative stigma of
being overweight may also affect self-esteem.
To sum up, it is evident that there are
several causes of obesity amongst children, and a variety of negative effects.
Society must ensure steps are taken to prevent this problem from deteriorating
further.
IELTS Essays
Many countries of the world are currently experiencing
problems caused by rapidly growing populations in urban areas, and both
governments and individuals have a duty to find ways to overcome these
problems.
Overpopulation can lead to overcrowding
and poor quality housing in many large cities. Poorly heated or damp housing
could cause significant health problems, resulting in illness, such as
bronchitis or pneumonia. Another serious consequence of overcrowding is a
rising crime rate as poor living conditions may lead young people in particular
to take desperate measures and turn to crime or drugs.
In terms of solutions, I believe the
government should be largely responsible. Firstly, it is vital that the state
provides essential housing and healthcare for all its citizens. Secondly,
setting up community projects to help foster more community spirit and help
keep young people off the street is a good idea. For example, youth clubs or
evening classes for teenagers would keep them occupied. Finally, more effective
policing of inner city areas would also be beneficial.
Naturally, individuals should also act
responsibly to address these problems, and the motivation to do this would
hopefully arise if the measures described above are put into place by the
government. This is because it will encourage people to have more pride in
their own community and improve the situation.
Therefore, it is clear that the problems
caused by overpopulation in urban areas are very serious. Yet if governments
and individuals share a collective responsibility, then it may well become
possible to offer some solutions.
IELTS Essays
Traffic congestion in many cities around the world is
severe. One possible solution to this problem is to impose heavy taxes on car
drivers and use this money to make public transport better. This essay will discuss
the benefits and drawbacks of such a measure.
One of the first benefits of such a
measure is that the heavy taxes would discourage car owners from using their
cars because it would become very expensive to drive. This would mean that they
would begin to make use of public transport instead, thus reducing traffic
problems and pollution as well. Another benefit would be that much more use
would be made of public transport if it was improved. It is often the case that
public transport in cities is very poor. For example, we often see old buses
and trains that people would rather not use. High taxes would generate enough
money to make the necessary changes.
Nevertheless, there are drawbacks to such
a solution. First and foremost, this would be a heavy burden on the car
drivers. At present, taxes are already high for a lot of people, and so further
taxes would only mean less money at the end of the month for most people who
may have no choice but to drive every day. In addition, this type of tax would
likely be set at a fixed amount. This would mean that it would hit those with
less money harder, whilst the rich could likely afford it. It is therefore not
a fair tax.
To conclude, this solution is worth
considering to improve the current situation, but there are advantages and
disadvantages of introducing such a policy.
IELTS Essays
Over the last few decades, many cities around the world
have seen alarming increases in the levels of youth crime. This essay will
discuss the reasons for this and provide some possible solutions.
The first reason is connected with the
family. In order for a child to grow up in a balanced way, it is very important
that he or she is nurtured well by his or her parents. However, these days, it
is often the case that children are neglected. This may be because of the fact
that many parents in cities now both have to work so are often not around to
give their children support when needed. Another factor is the increasing
levels of poverty around the world. We have seen with globalization the rich
get richer and the poor get poorer, and this inevitably means that those who
are poorer will have to resort to illegal means to get what others have. Of
course, this will include the children in the poorer families.
However, there are ways to tackle such
problems. Firstly, one of the ways to combat the problem is to have stricter
punishments. Although, as discussed above, it can be outside factors that lead
to crime, it is still important to have severe punishments to deter teenagers
from crime. All too often, because they are young, the courts are too lenient.
Parents also have to take more responsibility for their children’s actions.
They too should be punished if their children commit crime.
To sum up, several factors have led to
increases in youth crime, but measures are available to tackle this problem.
IELTS Essays
These days, the government spends a large part of its
budget not only on public services, but also the arts. Although I agree that it
is important to spend money on public services, I do not think spending on the
arts is a waste of money.
There are several reasons for spending a
significant amount of the government budget on public services. First and
foremost, public services are the things such as hospitals, roads and schools,
and these things determine the quality of life that most of us will have. For
example, if the government does not spend enough money on hospitals, the health
of our society may decline. Similarly, if not enough money is spent on schools,
our children may not be properly educated. Also, it will be the poor in our
society that will be affected more if we do not spend enough on these things
because they are the ones more dependent on such services.
However, this does not mean that the arts
should be completely neglected. To begin, it is difficult for many arts
institutions to generate much profit, so without some help from the government,
many theaters and other such places may have to close. Moreover, the arts also
have an important impact on our quality of life. Many people get great pleasure
in going to see music and theatre performances so it is important that the
government assists such institutions so that they can continue to provide
entertainment to the public.
To sum up, there are clear benefits of
ensuring a large amount of investment goes into public services as this
influences the quality of life for nearly all of us. That said, I do not
believe spending money on the arts is a waste of money as this too provides
important benefits.
