You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
What distinguishes young people from their parents’ or grandparents’ generation is a lack of physical exercise. Today’s generation are spending far too long playing computer games, chatting aimlessly on social networking sites or simply watching TV, and too little time being active.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model answer
Young people today are often reprimanded by their parents for living a passive lifestyle. In my country, for example, young children in particular are criticized for spending too long interacting with technology rather than being outside playing sports, climbing trees and doing all the other activities their parents claim they enjoyed as children. To what extent are these comments deserved?
On the surface, they would appear justified. There is a whole industry that encourages children to lead a sedentary lifestyle, for example sitting in front of a PC or games console. Dedicated satellite or cable TV channels for young people offer the chance to sit idly watching one programme after the next, often repeats of something that was on the day or week before.
However, it can also be argued that young people are adapting to the society they live in, a completely different place to the world their parents grew up in. Firstly, the roads today are far busier than they were in the past, which makes it very difficult for children to play outside. Secondly, children are often restricted from being outside by parents who have become overly concerned about dangers they imagine exist outside their four walls. Finally, it has to be said that many parents use the technology they complain about as a way of keeping young children occupied.
I think children today are less active and that it is something we should be concerned about. However, it is wrong to put the blame on technology. Children should be encouraged more to take up sports at school and parents should be more willing to support their children in exploring the outside world.
(276 words)