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Topic 3: Economic issues
retirement - commercial - Employment -Other economic issues

SECTION 1: RETIREMENT

1. In some countries the average worker is obliged to retire at the age of 50, while in others people can work until they are 65 or 70. Meanwhile, we see some politicians enjoying power well into their eighties. Clearly, there is little agreement on an appropriate retirement age. Until what age do you think people should be encouraged to remain in paid employment? Give reasons for your answer.
• advantages of early retirement:
- the young people have chances to work.
- Secondly, young people are more efficient than the old, because they are young and strong.
- Thirdly, young people have many new ideas about products.
- Finally, young people react more quickly than old people.
• Disadvantages of early retirement:
- One point is that old people have lots of experience.
- What is more, they can train young people.
- Moreover, if old people can continue to work, they will feel happy.
2. Businesses should hire employees for their entire lives. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. TOEFL36.
What is important consideration in today employment?
- Job performance, speed and change due to harsh competition.
- Performance: skilled workers, match with the tasks.
- Need to produce goods or services quickly -> need young people who are willing to put in long hours, be aggressive and will push themselves to do their job faster.
- Have to be innovative. Changing workforce -> bring in new ideas.
- skilled workers do not want to be tied down to one company, they want the flexibility to improve their opportunities.
- Loyalty is not practical today.

SECTION 2: COMMERCIAL

3. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Advertising can tell you a lot about a country. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. TOEFL –unavailable.
4. Some people say that advertising encourages us to buy things we really do not need. Others say that advertisements tell us about new products that may improve our lives. Which viewpoint do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. TOEFL117
What is the purpose of ad.?
- encourage customers to buy things they don’t need.
- Their primary goal is profit.
In which way can ad. persuade customers buy things they don’t need?
- Begin with children: they want to be like everyone else, they want to have what everyone has.
- Throughout our life: Advertisement define ourselves by what we own rather than by who we are. It encourages a competition of false values and shallow measurements of what matters in our lives.
What is the advantage of ad.?
- Enhance economy.
- People buy products -> other people have jobs.
- Keep us informed about new products that may actually help us in some way.
5. As the number of commercial is on the increase on our TV, many viewers feel annoyed and claim that commercials should be banned. Do you agree with this idea?