Writing Practice Test 94

There is a clear correlation between the litres of beer consumed per capita and number of alcohol related deaths. The table shows that the greatest beer consumption in 2002 was to be found in Czech Republic, Germany and Austria, and that each of these regions also had by far the largest litres of alcohol related deaths in 2005. Czech Republic, with the greatest beer consumption per litre, namely over hundred and thirty for 2002, also experienced well over one million litres alcohol-related deaths by 2005. The region with the second highest beer consumption was Germany, with nearly 107 litres, and it also recorded the second highest number of alcohol-related deaths, namely 1.185 million.

In all regions except Canada it can be seen that the higher beer consumption, the higher the alcohol-related mortality rate. It is interesting that in Canada, with the lowest level of beer consumption, at 86 per capita, the mortality rate was the high as in Ireland, namely 0.58 million, although in the latter the consumption level was high. Clearly other health or economic factors must be involved. It is also interesting to note that in each case the number of female death was significantly lower than that of males, which seems to be a reflection of the fact that in general far fewer women than men drink. 

(220 words)

It is generally believed that children nowadays are granted more freedom than those in the past. While I think, to a certain extent, they do have the freedom to do some things that their parents and grandparents were probably not allowed to do in the past, I do believe they are in fact being put in a different cage that only exists in modern society.

Indeed, children nowadays have fewer boundaries in several aspects of their lives which were once considered inappropriate. Compared to 30 years ago when kids who dyed their hair were considered rebellious, school children nowadays are able to attend school with whatever hair color they choose, since most modern schools have relaxed their rules regarding students’ appearance. Furthermore, some parents who are less strict with the way they raise their children even go so far as to let their kids decide almost everything affecting their lives, from what to eat for breakfast to which secondary school they will study at. Therefore, it is not an overstatement to say that children in this day and age are technically treated like adults, given the amount of leeway they are granted.

However, the 21st century has established other confinements that restrict children’s freedoms. Firstly, the fear of insecure surroundings has made parents hesitant to let their children out of their sight or control. Playing football with the neighborhood kids is no longer a beautiful image in parents’ eyes since they have become too concerned with the possibility of their children being kidnapped or murdered, and therefore, many parents arrive at the conclusion that it is better to have their children by their protective side. Secondly, children these days tend to confine themselves to the virtual worlds of computer games and social networking sites. They voluntarily narrow their worlds to a handful of platforms, like Instagram, Facebook and online games, with their lives centered around updating their status, posting selfies and being involved in online virtual warfare, and as a result, they are becoming enslaved to such platforms.

In conclusion, children these days are indeed free of some restrictions, however have to deal with other issues related to modern times. Good parenting should aim to give children both extended freedom and, at the same time, protect them from other potential hazards that lurk in our modern day societies.

(388 words)