Lời giải ĐỀ THI IELTS 08/12/2018
Lời giải Task 1:
The graphs illustrate the proportion of trains delayed or cancelled in October and November.
Overall, it is clear that the percentage of trains which ran late in October fell over the period, whereas it rose in November. In contrast, the percentage of trains cancelled reached a peak in October.
During the first two weeks of October, the proportion of trains running late increased from 20% to 30%. It then fell to 10% and about 2% in weeks three and four, respectively. However, there was a steady increase in November in the pecentage of trains which ran late, to 10% in the first week, and then a dramatic rise in week two, reaching a peak of almost 60% before falling to 40% in week three.
In terms of trains cancelled, the first two weeks in October witnessed a sharp increase from 1% to a peak of 7%, respectively. This figure fell to 1% again in week three and rose to 3% in the fourth week. In November, the proportion of trains cancelled increased from 1% to 5% in the first two weeks, then decreased slightly to 4% in week three.
189 words
Written by NgocBach
Lời giải Task 2:
It is true that in contemporary society many people would like to balance work with other commitments and leisure time. While this is not easy to achieve, it is possible to overcome some of the obstacles and enjoy a more balanced lifestyle.
There are two aspects of work which make huge demands on employees today. Firstly, the modern working environment can be extremely stressful. Even if employees have a desk job, they may have to cope with a heavy workload, leaving them exhausted at the end of the day. Then, time must be spent commuting home where there is cooking to be done, cleaning and looking after children. Secondly, the workplace is very competitive, and few people are able to pursue a successful career. Many workers put in extra hours, to improve their promotion opportunities and move up the career ladder.
However, there are solutions which will contribute towards a better work-life balance. In terms of work, it may be better to have no career ambitions and, instead, to have a steady job with supportive work colleagues. To avoid rush hour traffic jams, flexible working hours would make commuting easier and quicker. From the perspective of life outside work, people would then have the time and energy to take up sport or gentle exercise. The British, for example, love to walk their dogs. Instead of earning high salaries to spend on consumer products, workers could earn less and enjoy simpler lifestyles, with more time for their families or friends.
In conclusion, although it is difficult to achieve the right balance between work and other parts of life, it is possible to do so by living more simply with less work-related stress.
281 words
Written by NgocBach
Ghi chú
Vocabulary from work:
- working environment
Meaning: the conditions that you work in
Example: If work is to be enjoyable, then a friendly working environment is essential.
- a desk job
Meaning: a job in an office, where you sit and work all day at a table or desk
Example: Many young people enjoy the excitement of a dangerous profession to the boring routine of a desk job.
- a heavy workload
Meaning: a lot of work that an individual employee has to perform
Example: While some people enjoy the challenge of a heavy workload, others find too much work very stressful.
- to pursue a successful career
Meaning: to have a series of jobs in a particular area of work, with more responsibility as time passes
Example: While many people wish to pursue a successful career, for others it is more important to find work which is interesting and enjoyable.
- promotion opportunities
Meaning: chances to move to a more important position in a company or organisation
Example: Perhaps the most important factor when choosing a job are the promotion opportunities.
- to move up the career ladder
Meaning: a series of stages by which you can make progress in your career
Example: Ambitious employees look for a job in which there is a chance to move up the career ladder.
- to have no career ambitions
Meaning: to have no wish to be successful or to move up the career ladder
Example: Those who are content to do the same job and have no career ambitions are often happier in their work and do not suffer from stress.
- to have a steady job
Meaning: to have a job which you are unlikely to lose, but which is usually the same routine
Example: Although some people prefer to change jobs, others prefer to have a steady job and a set daily routine at work.
- supportive work colleagues
Meaning: people that you work with who give you help and encouragement
Example: A very important aspect of job satisfaction is having supportive work colleagues.
- flexible working hours
Meaning: hours of work that can be changed by agreement between the employer and the employee
Example: For some employees, flexible working hours are more important even than a high salary.
Vocabulary from transport:
- rush hour traffic jams
Meaning: the time when most people are travelling to or from work/school, and so there is too much traffic on the roads
Example: If factories and offices introduced flexible working hours, this would help employees to avoid rush hour traffic jams to get to or from their place of work.
Vocabulary from sport:
- to take up sport
Meaning: to start doing a sport
Example: Governments should provide sports facilities to encourage more people to take up sport.
- to take gentle exercise
Meaning: to do exercise which is not physically demanding or tiring
Example: Even the elderly can keep fit by taking gentle exercise, like jogging or even a walk in the park.
Other vocabulary:
- commitment [noun]:
Meaning: a thing that you have promised or agreed to do, or that you have to do
Example: She is busy next week with commitments for marking exam papers.
- to cope with [phrasal verb]:
Meaning: to deal successfully with something difficult
Example: Desert plants cope with the dry conditions very successfully.
- to put in [phrasal verb]:
Meaning: to spend time or effort doing something
Example: He is putting in hours and hours of revision before the exam next month.