IELTS Writing Task 2: using a dictionary

Don't forget that a good English dictionary should be a key tool as you prepare for the IELTS test. Here's an example of how a dictionary can help you:

The other day I received a message from a student who asked why I wrote "the media are" instead of "the media is" in one of the sentences in my ebook.

Instead of trying to answer this question myself, I simply copied the relevant section from my computer's dictionary. Here's what it says:

media
usage: The word media comes from the Latin plural of medium. The traditional view is that it should therefore be treated as a plural noun in all its senses in English and be used with a plural rather than a singular verb: the media have not followed the reports (rather than ‘has’). In practice, in the sense ‘television, radio, and the press collectively’, it behaves as a collective noun (like staff or clergy, for example), which means that it is now acceptable in standard English for it to take either a singular or a plural verb.

Comments

[aziz]

dears, are you still donig the whatsapp group for study? and is there any group for 20th may exam?
thank you

[L]

Thanks Simon. I have seen that 'people' always get plural verb. Can it be treated like 'staff'?

[Shilpa]

Sir,

I have one query. Are question papers for IELTS UKVI - academic and IELTS academic on a particular date same or different? Is IELTS UKVI test tougher than IELTS (without UKVI)?

Thank you

[elmo]

@L the answer is here:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/people

This is precisely the point that Simon is making: the answers are in a good dictionary.

[elmo]

@Shilpa There is information on this toward the bottom of this web page:

https://admissiontestportal.com/en/pages/2-about-ielts/9-which-ielts-test-should-i-choose/

[Shilpa]

Thank you elmo

[Gerel]

Dear Simon,
According to your suggestion, i was mostly preparing myself for questions like 1. To what extent do you agree or disagree.2. Discuss both views and give your opinion. And it was becoming easier for me to build the skeleton for these questions of course thanks to your teaching. However today i read one Task 2 question and wanted to write and essay. However i cant build my skeleton and i dont know how to build my skeleton.

The topic is: As the world becomes technologically advanced, computers are replacing people at more and more jobs. What are some job positions that may be lost because of computers? What are some problems that may result from this situation?

I see this topic as Discussion+opinion. But am having trouble with planning the essay. Can you help me and give me some suggestions on that/
Thank you

[Firdavs]

Dear Simon!

Let me ask you one question please.
What is the correct spelling? fontain or foUntain?

[Shilpa]

Hi Gere,

Here I am giving my structure for body paragraph 1 and 2, however, Simon sir is the best person to answer you.

There are two main Qs in this essay : So this is an essay of two Qs. Usually we have been asked problems and solutions. But here, instead two different Qs are asked.

Body para 1 : What are some job positions that may be lost because of computers....

We can include various fields of our daily life.
1 in banking : teller machine
2. Reception counter : telephone answering machine
3. for travelling : automatic machines for tickets

These are some points come in my mind at the moment. I am sure you have better ideas than mine.

Body paragraph 2 : What are some problems that may result from this situation?

1. increased unemployment
2. effect on individual and society
a. individual : financial problem to sustain
oneself and family, consequently,
psychological problem

b. Society : increased crime rate and so
unhealthy nation

These are few points came in my mind at the moment when I tried to answer this essay.

Better ideas are welcom.

Shilpa

b. Society

[ayesha]

some people think that governments should spend on arts like theatre and music .while others think it is a complete waste of money.. what is your view..
in such a question do we need to discuss both ideas n then give our opinion or is it just an opinion essay..
please answer my exam is in a day.. thanks in advance

[ayesha]

some people think that governments should spend on arts like theatre and music .while others think it is a complete waste of money.. what is your view..
in such a question do we need to discuss both ideas n then give our opinion or is it just an opinion essay..
please answer my exam is in a day.. thanks in advance

[Shilpa]

@ Ayesha, according to me , It is a agree/disagree type of essay

your answer should be according to what stand do you take..... whether you,

1.completely agree, or
2.completely disagree,or
3.partly disagree, or
4.agree on both component of the statement

[Dong Nguyen]

yes. there are both ways of using this.
the media are and was. you can use this words in either two ways.

[Shi]

Hi
where can I find this dictionary？
Thanks

[Kim]

@shi Compare:
http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/work

http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/work_2

There are also dictionaries for English learners by Cambridge and Collins

[Achu]

Hi Simon
I have a question about the example that can be mentioned in the body paragraph. Whether I can include any study result or else any survey report as an example to support my view point.
Thanks in advance

[Achu]

Can any one pls correct this
Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programmes ( for example working for a charity, improving the neighbourhood or teaching sports to younger children)
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many schools compel their students to take part in unpaid community services and I completely agree with the idea of many to make the unpaid community service as a compulsory prt of high school education

Indulging in unpaid community services is of immense of help for students as they can learn many important life skills and helpful in maintaining good qualities. For instance, working in a charitable organisation helps to develop the qualities like empathy, caring, and sharing towards the fellow being , which are necessary to live in a society. In short, unpaid community service in schools is undoubtedly beneficial for students and it need to be made compulsory.

Moreover, community services are intended for the welfare of the society and as a member of the society each person should have certain responsibility towards the society. In fact, schools are breeding grounds where societal responsibility can be taught better than home because students learn things with great interest when they are with peer group. So in schools unpaid community services should be made as an inevitable part of high school programmes.

In conclusion , unpaid community services is of many advantages for school children and hence it need to be included in high school programmes.