Establishment of superstores has resulted in closure of small shops. Is it a positive or negative development? - Ielts Essay

Establishment of superstores has resulted in closure of small shops. Is it a positive or negative development?

 

Ielts Essay - Establishment of superstores has resulted in closure of small shops

It is an undeniable fact that mushrooming of large departmental stores has led to shutting down of small outlets. This is being considered as  extremely beneficial for multiple parties even though there are others who are quite cynical.

Opening of supermarkets has ushered the concept of going shopping into a new era; people now find it very convenient to go and buy things of almost every imaginative type - ranging from groceries and cosmetics to electronic equipment and apparel - under one roof.  They, no more, need to uselessly roam around in huge markets exhausting themselves while looking for different commodities since most of the large stores have different departments that do not only sell different goods but also offer a wide variety for disparate choices and tastes.

Moreover, large shops with sprawling carpet areas cater to a cross-section of consumers, from  diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, who can covertly shop for anything that suits budget and needs without letting anybody else know. This aspect has come in handy for people who are conscious about their social status, since most of large stores are located away from the usual neighborhoods, people now can buy anything - even on discounts and not let their peer discover anything.

However, this phenomena does have a dark side too, as now people are no more able to save money like they did when they shopped at small outlets. Whenever people would shop at smaller stores, they would get some merchandise on credit - since they enjoyed personal rapport with the shop-owners, who would oblige without much complaints and formalities and take balance in installments.

In a nutshell, I feel, despite big sprawling shopping centers having some shortcomings, they are going to spread further as they offer many benefits too. 

Small shops in towns and villages are closing and replaced by big stores. Explain your opinion. - Ielts Essay

Small shops in towns and villages are closing and replaced by big stores. Explain your opinion.

 

Ielts Essay - Big Shops and Small Shops 

Nowadays, it is quite common to see new mega markets or branches of some big retail chains opening up around, regardless of area - urban or rural, but are the large stores superseding smaller outlets, is a point to be pondered deeply. 

It is undeniable that large format stores are being seen future of retail. Slowly but steadily, the crowds at the  small stores are thinning, thus making it hard for small scale businesses, with limited investments, to survive onslaught of large shops.  The reasons are quite obvious as large shops offer consumers a much wider  choice, in terms of merchandise types, prices, and brands. This is causing disenchantment, among buyers, from the local shops, which cannot offer anything comparable to mega stores.

Moreover, smaller outlets may soon become a thing of past as more and more investors are now choosing franchisees of big retail chains over independent ventures. In the times of worsening economic conditions, investors want to be assured that their money would not only remain secure but also guarantee fair returns. This can only be had if they opted for an arrangement that promises more fresh and zero dead stocks - without additional investments. This business model can only accessed if one chooses to become a franchisee of large chain stores.

However, many are optimistic that small scale outlets would survive, regardless of multitude of investments involved. The fashion of shopping at conventional stores refuses to  fade away since many feel that mega stores belong to an elite crowd that has an abundance of money and time to waste, and thus they still cling to the smaller neighborhood stores.

Hence, I feel even though many may feel that small format stores will cease to exist, that may never happen. Small-scale shops have existed and are still there as they address a different segment of market though these two format will tend to co-exist.

Some people say job satisfaction is more important than job security. Others believe that we cannot be expected to enjoy the job continually and having a permanent job is more important. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. - Ielts Essay

Some people say job satisfaction is more important than job security. Others believe that we cannot be expected to enjoy the job continually and having a permanent job is more important. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Ielts Essay - Job Security or Satisfaction 

What do most employees seek, contentment at work, or secure employment, has never failed to invite profound arguments from various quarters of society. 

Being contented at work has always been accorded paramount importance; it is the primary factor that inspires workers to work dedicatedly, and churn out higher productivity. People working at various levels of an organization feel that whatever they do should yield a feeling of happiness and pride, a sense of achievement - they should be doing a work that matches their credentials and abilities. This aspect pushes many to work independently in an occupation of their liking, for they know that this would help them to innovate and also excel.

Furthermore, employees regard contentment as a major factor behind their sticking to a job. Many switch jobs if they feel that the organization they are working with does not have too much to offer, or if future prospects for further progression are too bleak. Their constant striving for more and more happiness is fuelled by many factors: financial aspects; and chances of promotion to the higher ranks; and last but not the least, the survival prospects of a business in the future.

But, there are others who feel that today, in an era of lean economic period, people have started looking for work that has certainty connected to their place in an organization, as joining such an concern would help them to plan their future better and with more surety. Professional aspirations apart, individuals feel that they first need to fulfill their social and family obligations before embarking onto a mission of realizing their professional dreams since it would give them freedom from worries back home.

Henceforth, I feel that both factors are equally important in these challenging times. 

Many people think that every individual is responsible for their own healthy lifestyle, others believe that governments should take care of it. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. - Ielts Essay

Many people think that every individual is responsible for their own healthy lifestyle, others believe that governments should take care of it. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.  

 

Ielts Essay - Many people think that every individual is responsible for their own healthy lifestyle

Increasing girth and blurring distinction between comfortable and unhealthy lifestyles has helped push forward the agenda of ensuring a good social health index, but who should bell the cat, the state or the people,  is a big question.   

If the state dons the mantle of  ensuring a healthy lifestyle, it would be able derive a major benefit: save valuable  funds for other critical areas. It is widely accepted  that apart from defense, health care has always been a major obligation of a state, so much so that it occupies a lion's share of the annual budget. since this can either hamper or assist in raising economic productivity. A healthy population is key player in the progress of a nation; hence it is a social issue rather than being a personal matter.

Moreover, government intervention is highly critical to the well-being of populace since people, due to social and personal reasons, cannot take care of their health today. Several individuals find themselves locked up in occupations that entail mentally exhausting work, and little physical activity. This leaves them barely any time to take care of their physical and mental welfare. Besides this, shrinking disposable incomes have also fuelled apathy towards one's own health; people are unable to afford nutritious diets, as well as gym memberships.

However, some do profess that sustaining healthy mind and body is the jurisdiction of the people themselves. Until the individuals, engrossed completely in sedentary lifestyles,  do not convince themselves that they must follow a routine that ensures good health, all measures, or assistance are bound to fail and prove inconsequential.

In hindsight, I personally feel that a state should shoulder the initiative of sustaining healthy lifestyles of its countrymen, but only to a certain extent, so as not to encroach private lives. 

If countries are serious about solving traffic problems, they should tax private cars very heavily and use the money to provide free or very cheap rail travel. In what extent do you agree or disagree? Write in no less than 250 words and give relevant examples from your own experiences.

If countries are serious about solving traffic problems, they should tax private cars very heavily and use the money to provide free or very cheap rail travel. In what extent do you agree or disagree? Write in no less than 250 words and give relevant examples from your own experiences

 

Ielts Essay - If countries are serious about solving traffic problems, they should tax private cars very heavily and use the money to provide free or very cheap rail travel

Taxing personal four wheelers and funding subsidized rail travel from the revenues grossed from such levies, to keep a check on the traffic chaos, has emerged as a potent solution. Despite many lobbying for such a policy, there are voices of  dissent. 

Imposing higher taxes on the car ownership seems to be the only way of dissuading use of personal automobiles. If car users are made to shell out charges, it would become nearly impossible for many to bear the cost of owning a vehicle, which would eventually cause disenchantment from possessing one; thus helping reduce burden on the roads and alleviating congestion.

Moreover, it is often argued, when every citizen is paying taxes to the state, why should the majority suffer for the sake of a minority interest and face jams. Extra levies on personal cars could even out the things.  Any extra revenue generated could help authorities address concerns of major part of populace, and lay subsidized  or free  public transport network the disposal of people. Such a move could also act a stimulus for the ones having their personal vehicles, to use public transport.

However, there are those who term this idea as ludicrous. Offering subsidized railway services at the cost of four wheelers may seem to be a good alternative, but it is surely impractical since trains cannot cater to all the areas effectively. This would only put those, who cannot access train services conveniently, at the receiving end since individuals, with no alternative but cars to their satisfy their commuting requirements, would be overburdened by costs of commuting, and heavy levies on automobiles.  

Henceforth, notwithstanding popular belief of taxing personal vehicles to subsidize rail travel, I have all the reasons to believe that such policy would fetch little success.

Should there be a minimum school leaving age, or should students and their parents be free to decide when they leave school? Discuss and give your opinion on this in not less than 250 words

Should there be a minimum school leaving age, or should students and their parents be free to decide when they leave school? Discuss and give your opinion on this in not less than 250 words

 

Ielts Essay - Should there be a minimum school leaving age, or should students and their parents be free to decide when they leave school? 

There have been many an argument on the issue of whether the decision of leaving school at convenience should rest on kids, and their moms and dads, or should there be a minimum age for dropping schooling.

The idea of allowing pupils to stop attending schools appears to be quite ludicrous, since education imparted at the school level is highly critical for an overall development of personality of  kids. If schooling is  dropped in these formative years, it  can have an adverse impact on the future of children, as they may not be able to hone the skills - academic and soft - considered to be pivotal in helping a child grow as a rational adult.

Moreover, if kids and their parents were to decide on this matter, no one would complete formal education, especially in poor countries where child labor is rampant; and parents might be tempted to push kids into employment. This would ultimately lead to many unwarranted consequences; and may reduce the scope of appropriate employment opportunities for kids later. This would undoubtedly have a unfavorable impact on society too, since this may ultimately result in scarcity of skills required for jobs strategic to society.

However, there are voices of dissent on this issue, as many insist that continuing or not continuing schooling until a specified age should be within the purview of personal choices. Many feel that formal education is barely for namesake, and does not teach anything that could prove to be productive and helpful later. They feel that after completing high school, kids have to work harder to grab useful knowledge, so it always better not to waste time.    

Henceforth, defining a minimum age for leaving the school is necessary, as it is for the good for society.