Sometimes difficult decisions have to be made. Describe a decision that you, or someone you know had to make and explain the consequences. (16 marks)
It was a beautiful, sunny and serene Sunday morning. Birds were chirping cheerfully; clouds were scudding across the sky as if they were rushing to heaven. My friend Natalie and I, we went to the local shopping centre: Wesley Square, determined to find the best dress for our trip to Greece next month. My heart raced repeatedly at the thought of going to Greece because the water there was as clear as crystals and palm trees stood tall like skyscrapers.
Excitement gripped me as my imagination took over…
Surprisingly, the shops were flooded with people of all age: babies, teenagers and even the elderly people! Feeling drowned, suffocated and helpless, we rushed out of the shop with relief.
In a blink of an eye, my watch glared at me angrily as it read ‘1:00pm’. I felt despondent, desperate and disappointed that I had yet to claim my victory. Shooting a glance at my friend, she too seemed deep in thought as if she was completely engulfed.
Lingering on the street like lost puppies, we hunted for our dream dress hungrily but to my dismay, we were rewarded with despondence once again. Suddenly, the air became thicker and the ground started to vibrate violently. What was happening? The ground cracked open like animals being dissected, leaving behind a long fissure fixed on the ground. People screaming. Children crying. Cars hooting. Everything was chaotic.
The vibration escalated to an extent that we could no longer stand and lean against the glass window for support. Natalie tumbled on the ground without warning, her face a colour of bright red and filled with fright and fear. She stared at me, eyes as big as ping pong balls.
What could I do? I couldn’t do anything!
A long deep gash ran along her angelic face, smiles all stopped together and replaced by horror. Blood was everywhere. Desperately, her eyes met mine once more as if she was pleading for help. My feet were glued on the cement ground, my brain went blank- no, and it was not functioning… not at all… My hands held on the post tightly; I had to because if I didn’t, I would simply be killed.
I had no choice. I had to leave her.
Screams were substituted by siren; the ground no longer roared. Feeling guilty, responsible and scared, I casted a glance at the ground, which was now dominated by rubbles and ruins (and crimson blood too). It looked so ghastly like hell. Her ash blonde hair stained by dried red blood and her heart was reluctant to wake up. She looked like a dead flower that was to be discarded…
Many nights I was disturbed by consistent nightmares, all of which were Natalie coming back from death, brandishing a sharp pointy knives and sorrowful eyes on her face. My hands lost its magic and so is my brain.
My whole body is engulfed by pure remorse and infinite regret -because I know very well that there was a slight chance of dragging her away from hell. But I didn’t.
I didn’t save her…
Write a magazine article which persuades young people either to travel or stay at home. (24 marks)
Do you like going on holiday? Is it because you think it is somewhere you have to go once in a lifetime? Do you really think it is worth it?
Not really…
Surprisingly, the latest statistics released by the BBC show that the pass rate in university is 74% higher for those who don’t go on holiday. Isn’t that shocking? Think about it: your 10k job would be guaranteed and so are your dream house and your dream dog! That sounds really enticing doesn’t it? Not going on holiday would mean that we have a successful, brilliant and ideal job. So why risk it?
Teenagers nowadays are too laidback, freewheeling and frivolous. Why? Because The Guardian concluded that going on a holiday would lead to excessive indulgence afterwards, resulting in the poor attendance and performance at school. Remember that teenagers are easily influenced by others! So, we (as the most knowledgeable others) have to set a perfect example for the young generation and to achieve this, we mustn't go on holiday! Go now if you want your child to be a failure in the future. Go now if you want your child to be living off benefit when they reach their mid 30s. Go now if you want your child to be lazy, feckless and indifferent. But the most pragmatic solution is 'NO MORE HOLIDAY'!
Yes, going on a holiday can mean a wonderful time spent broadening your knowledge as well as enjoying the amazing scenery (and sunbathe on the sandy beach). But do you know that nesting sites for endangered marine turtle are removed forcibly, leaving the wretched animals homeless and desperate?
That’s inhumane, cruel and unacceptable- certainly, we shouldn’t take pleasure in something that is not right…
Also, according to ITV, the tuition fee for a university has soared to $10,000 annually.This may seem like ‘nothing’ for the billionaires; however others like you and I would find it extremely difficult to earn such huge amount of money. As a result, spending this money on holiday is not practical as you would need this to change your life. Your future is dependent on the money!
Does holidaying still appeal to you? It certainly doesn’t for me: someone who wants to succeed in life and secures a stable job. Going on holiday will destroy you and brings disasters to the poor animals. Now, I know what to do,but do you?