Writing Practice Test 67

The line graph gives data about the number of users of five different communication services worldwide from 1998 to 2008.

Overall, all services experienced some growth over the 10 year period, with cell phone and Internet services experiencing the most growth and becoming the most popular forms of communication.

In 1998, the figures for cell phone and Internet users started at around 5% of the population. They both increased over the remaining years, with cell phone service gaining the highest position in 2008, with more than 60% percent of the population using this type of service. This number was approximately three times as much as that of Internet service in the same year.

Meanwhile, throughout the 10-year period, little change was seen in the use of landline services, at about 15% of the population. Also, the use of mobile and fixed broadband services was minimal before 2002. The figures for these two services rose slightly to roughly 5% of the population by the last year.

(165 words)

Years ago, humans sent spacecraft to explore the universe and satellites into orbit around our planet, and life on Earth has become better and better since then. Such technology facilitates global communication, predicts weather conditions and, most importantly, brings a whole new view of the potential of our technology and engineering. With this solid foundation, sending tourists into space is within our grasp, and many believe a new tourism industry could be developed in the years to come. Our climate will be affected, but I think it is an acceptable price to bring wealth and inspiration for future generations.

Space tourism could have major consequences for the earth’s climate. The emissions from rockets are enough to increase the temperature in areas around the launch site, and some scientists have discovered that this also causes temperatures at the north and south poles to increase, leading to global warming and rising sea levels.

Space tourism however, could easily become a multibillion-dollar industry that will bring great wealth to any economy that is involved. In the past, only selected astronauts were able to fly into space, but recently other people, particularly wealthy business figures, have become curious and aspire to have such an experience. Once orbital flights are arranged on a regular basis and made available for people, a great deal of money will be paid to travel into space.

Furthermore, space tourism will inspire new generations of engineers, which comes with a promise of new technological innovations. Travelling into space was once an unreal concept until Neil Armstrong set foot on the surface of the moon. It motivated millions of young engineers and scientists to reach a new height in space technology, such as satellites and orbital space stations around the earth. If space tourism were developed in the future, more and more technological breakthroughs would be expected to come into being. In conclusion, I think the benefits from space tourism are much more significant than the harmful impact it may have on our climate.

(333 words)