A question about report introduction In the scope of the training of my writing skills, I am writing a report about public transport system. It goes quite smoothly, but I cannot come up with an appropriate introduction :( I would like to start it with something like that: "The main purpose of this report is to tell about the public transport in our town and assess whether it meets local people's demands". Maybe it is not so bad, but for some reason, I don't like "tell" here. The writing is supposed to be on Advanced level after all :) Could you please put forward some suggestions how I can convey the same idea in the more formal way? (for example, with "present" or "outline" or whatever). Many thanks!

An essay (the best ways to produce healthy food) Hello All, Could you please share your opinion about an essay below? I am especially concerned about collocations and choosing of words. Any corrections, suggestions, and criticism would be much appreciated. Thank you! The task: "Which is the best ways of producing healthy food in a cost-effective way?" __________________________________________________________________________________ It can be hard to believe but one hundred years ago starvation was a serious threat to a vast majority of people around the world. Although the problem has not been completely resolved yet, it goes without saying that the modern situation is much better than it used to be. Nowadays the more and more people put a quality of food into perspective. Is it possible for an average person to keep a healthy diet? And what is the best way of producing healthy food? The most obvious solution is to produce food in the same way how it used to be in the past, without chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Indeed, what can be better than a tomato grown in your own garden? However, it is not so trivial if we are talking about mass producing. Everybody who has ever cultivated vegetable or bred animals are aware of efforts which should be put in it. In result, the food produced in this way might be so expensive that only few people afford it. This is why I consider this idea rather unrealistic. Therefore, we should contemplate different approaches. The modern science provides us with a great deal of opportunities. As it was discussed before, a lot of labor is supposed to be involved in producing organic food, but it definitely can be substituted with modern fertilizers which can help the plants to grow. The same can be said about the breeding of cattle - special feed will definitely make the task easier. Many people are concerned whether the crops and meat received in this way could be healthy. To guarantee that, the government institutions should keep their eye on manufacturers to ensure that they do not violate existing laws and standards which have to be strict. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that the organic food is definitely the best choice provided you can afford it. But if we want to resolve the problem of starvation, there is no way we can avoid using pesticides.

A report (CAE task) Dear All, Could you please share your thoughts about a piece of writing below? It is a report which I wrote in the scope of working on my writing skills. Sometimes I feel good about the results, but unfortunately, it is not the case now as I find it to be a bit artificial :( Therefore, any suggestions and criticism would be much appreciated. The topic is here: ____________________ You have just completed six months in a new job. In preparation for a progress meeting, you have been asked to write a report to your manager. Your report should explain what you feel you have achieved in the job so far, describe any problems you have had, and suggest any future training that would be suitable. ____________________ The purpose of this report is to outline the major accomplishments during the first six months of my working in the company. It also comprises the challenges which were posed during this period and puts forward suggestions about training and courses which may help to raise working effectiveness in future. Achievements The initial objectives which were set a half a year ago included: - meeting deadlines - at least four completed projects during the first year - high level of collaboration No deadline has been missed so far, and our team has already completed two projects. It means that we have enough time to achieve the goal of four projects by the end of the period. Talking about collaboration, I put a lot of effort to be a team player which resulted in friendly relationships with my colleagues. Therefore, I consider meeting the expectations to be my main achievement. Difficulties There were a couple of issues which I had to tackle during my first month. As a junior specialist, I lacked the working experience and found it hard to adapt to working conditions. Nevertheless, my colleagues helped me to cope with it, and I am glad to say that all the difficulties related to adaptation have been left behind. Possible improvements Taking into account that the company has a branch in Brazil, I firmly believe that attending Portuguese language courses can make my work much more effective as now I have to ask for help in case I need to communicate with Brazilian office. Conclusion To summarize it up, I would like to assure you that I am highly determined to hone my professional skills and met all the demands to be a valuable member of the team.

An essay about additional courses in secondary school Dear All, Could you please share your opinion on an essay which I wrote in the scope of my preparation for the upcoming CAE Exam? It will take place in two weeks, so I would really appreciate any feedback. Thank you! The topic: "What courses should be included in secondary schools' curricula"? I chose to discuss two options: "Ancient Greek and Latin" and "computer course". While discussing additional disciplines which might be considered to be included in secondary schools' curricula, people usually stick to two different approaches. Some of them claim that being well-educated is second to none in terms of importance, whereas others contradict that practical skills are more prominent. For instance, what is more important: deep knowledge of Ancient Greek and Latin or honing computer skills? First of all, it goes without saying that it is vital for everyone to be able to hold a conversation on different topics. Taking into account that in many aspects modern culture derives from Ancient History, we can conclude that some additional knowledge on this topic would not be excessive for anyone. On the other hand, it is also obvious that it cannot help pupils to move up a career ladder unless they are competent workers. Now I suggest putting computer skills into perspective. Why is it hard to exaggerate the importance of it? The answer is very simple: today you can hardly find a job which does not involve using a computer. Not only has it become the main working instrument, but also it is the most convenient way of obtaining new information, knowledge and, therefore, skills. Even domestic chores have become much easier nowadays. On the Internet, we always can find a new recipe or watch how to hammer a nail on Youtube. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that under no circumstances do I want to diminish the importance of Ancient Greek and Latin. However, I am confident that being handy with a computer is indispensable for modern people.

An essay (The ways of increasing participation in sports) Dear All, Could you please have a look at a piece of writing below? It is an essay, which I wrote in the scope of my preparation for the CAE exam. There are several collocations and grammar structures which I am a bit unsure about, so I would really appreciate any suggestions and corrections. The topic is "The ways of increasing participation in sports". Modern people are continuously losing their interest in sporting activities. There are different reasons for this including a lack of free time and spreading of various gadgets. As a result, the government has to face a formidable challenge: to revive the popularity of sports. What can be done to achieve this goal? According to popular belief, famous athletes are able to help to tackle the issue and, therefore, should be involved in the process. Taking into account that some of them are as popular as top star singers and actors, it can really increase motivation among teenagers. On the other hand, senior citizens are not likely to be influenced in this way. In addition, this method can be used only for most popular kinds of sports as not every famous sportsperson is a well-recognized celebrity. Still, it goes without saying that such participation may bring positive results. However, advertising should not be limited in this way, so I suggest putting it in a wider perspective. First of all, we must ask ourselves: why are people so reckless when it comes to sporting activities? Why do they prefer to be a couch potato rather than going to a gym or playing soccer? I believe that it is mostly due to the fact that they are not aware of benefits which can be brought by the active lifestyle. Not only does it help to be physically fit, but it will definitely have a positive effect on mental activities. Therefore, the government should consider every possibility to promote the healthy lifestyle and show advantages of being physically active. In conclusion, I would like to say that although famous sportspeople can provide assistance, it is definitely not enough. What is really important is to make people understand that it is they who really need it.

A report (CAE Task) Dear All, Could you please share your opinion about a text which I wrote in the scope of the preparation for my upcoming CAE Exam? Tasks of this type are quite difficult for me, so I would really appreciate any feedback. It is a report on the events organized by the entertainment committee (which I am supposed to belong to, according to the task) during the last year. Thank you! The aim of this report is to provide details about the most noticeable events which were set up by the entertainment committee during the last year. It also comprises impressions of participants about the event itself and its organization. Chess tournament This year we decided to make the registration open and free. Not only did we invite skilled players, but amateurs and novices were encouraged to participate too. As a result, about two hundred people were involved in the affair. Taking into account brilliant organization, almost every participant was delighted with the experience. Marathon Another major event was a long-distance race. Similarly to the previous year, everyone who desired to contest was welcome to do it. Unfortunately, due to the inclement weather, we had to cease the competition two hours after the start. What was even worse is that several people complained about their health condition, so I would suggest organizing an obligatory medical examination before the future events which might be demanding to physical conditions and endurance. A career day The purpose of this event was to outline the factors which can affect moving up a career ladder. Qualified psychologists were invited to participate in the event which had a conference format. According to a survey conveyed next day among the participants, people were generally pleased. There were, however, several complaints about lunch and air-conditioning system. In order to avoid these issues, we may consider a different place for such an event in the future. In conclusion, I would like to say that despite the fact that some improvements in the organization are still possible, most of the affairs met positive response.

An essay (advantages of digital and computer technology in everyday life) Dear All, Could you please have a look at an essay below which I wrote to train my writing skills? I am going to take CAE next month, so I would really appreciate any advice and criticism. The topic is "Advantages of digital and computer technology in everyday life". The essay is focused on benefits of using technology for communications and access to information. Many thanks! It is nearly impossible to exaggerate the enormous impact of technology on the modern life. Nearly every aspect has been affected including the way we communicate with each other and what do we do to obtain the required information. I suggest we discuss this question in details below. According to a popular belief, our social life has changed drastically because of widespread of mobile devices and the Internet. Not only do people spend a great deal of time in social networks, but they also prefer to stay in touch with their nearest and dearest using the web as the Internet is often much cheaper than long-distance calling. On the other hand, audio- and video-conferences cannot give you the same sense of fulfillment like socializing in real life. Although there are some people who seem to be living on the Internet, it is still unacceptable for a majority. Now I would like to put another opinion into perspective. Do you remember how we used to search for data and information 20 years ago? Neither the Internet nor personal computers were widespread those days. In addition, the Internet itself comprised much less content than now. As a result, we had to spend hours in libraries or ask our friends to lend a book we needed in so much to complete a homework or prepare for an exam. Nowadays the situation is completely different. If you have a mobile phone with the Internet access, it basically means that you have all the world's knowledge in your pocket. Moreover, search engines provide you with a functionality to filter these data easily. In conclusion, I would like to say that although more and more people today use the Internet for communication on a regular basis, I firmly believe that modern technologies have provoked truly revolutionary changes in how we access and use the information.

A report about exchange programme (CAE writing task) Dear All, Could you please share your opinion about a piece of writing below? It is a report and as far as I am not very good with reports, I would really appreciate any suggestions and criticism. Thank you very much! Introduction The aim of this report is to tell about an exchange programme in which I recently took participation. The programme contained two main parts. Two months ago, a person from another country had stayed in my flat for a week. Ten days after that, I travelled to his country and had been his guest for one week too. In order to provide an objective picture, this report also comprises my partner's impression. (NB: if "comprises" does not work here, please tell me which word I could use here except for "include" :) ) My travel My partner (his name is John) is living in a picturesque village near mountains. For the whole week, I was enjoying breathtaking sights, fresh air, and fishing. Taking into consideration that I am living in a huge megapolis, I was elated at the change to spend several days in such a calm and quiet place. John was utterly friendly and put a lot of efforts to make my staying comfortable My partner's experience Contrary to me, John longed to visit a big city as "he had tired of living in the middle of nowhere' (it is a citation). The activities he was involved in were totally opposite to mine. We attended several theatrical performances, visited a concert of his famous band, which happened to come to our city in the time of his visit. But according to his words, the most memorable and fulfilling experience was a football game between two rival teams. He was happy to soak up the atmosphere of the derby. General impression In conclusion, I would like to say that not only did our impression meets our expectations, but they were even exceeded. I am delighted with the result and will definitely recommend my friends to participate in the programme.

An essay about reasons why young people commit crimes Dear All, Could you please have a look at a piece of writing below which I wrote in the scope of my preparation for the CAE exam? In this essay, I am discussing two reasons for which young people may commit crimes - "absence of opportunities in life" and "influence of friends". I would greatly appreciate any opinions and corrections. Thank you in advance! The situation with youth crime has become intimidating. Sadly, but less and fewer people today seem to be surprised by seeing a teenager convicted of a violation of the law. Not only does it have a great impact on young people's fates, but it also has far-reaching social and economic implications. In this essay, I am going to discuss two reasons which are considered to be the most popular factor of committing crimes among youngsters. One of them is the influence of friends. It goes without saying that generally teenagers are easily affected by their peer group. They are often afraid of being accused of cowardice and sometimes it really can be a reason for that they choose a wrong way. On the other hand, not all the cases can be described in this way. Indeed, an individual may be influenced by a group, but who were those who influenced group members before that? Taking it into account, I firmly believe that although this factor may be seen as aggravating one, it is definitely not the root cause. Therefore, I would like to put another issue into perspective. It frequently happens that teenagers just have nothing to do nowadays. They are not engaged in social activities and often do not have an opportunity to earn money due to a lack of part-time jobs. This results in absence of money and, therefore, having no chance to pay for courses or participate in activities which involve spending funds. Having a lot of free time and too much energy, they start to seek for a way to use it. Together with not seeing any prospects, it may end in being sentenced. In conclusion, I would like to express a belief that had today's young criminals been provided with more opportunities to realize their potential in the past, the modern situation with youth crime would be much better.