Letters / You rented an apartment for a holiday last year and you were happy with it [4]

You rented an apartment for a holiday last year and you were happy with it although there was a problem with it. You want to rent it again this year, write a letter about

　　1) why you were happy with it
　　2) what was the problem
　　3) give information of the details and dates you required.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to rent one of your apartments for my upcoming holiday.

In fact, I rented an apartment from you during my holiday last year, and was really delighted with the service I received. If my memory serves me right, the number of the room that I stayed was N123. On my arrival there, I was happy to find that the apartment was more spacious than I had thought. On top of that, the south-facing bedroom overlooked a lovely flower-filled garden. The apartment was even equipped with cooking appliances, which enabled me to cook healthy meals instead of eating out.

However, there was a trivial problem. I found the Internet access was not reliable as expected, because the link went down occasionally. I suppose the culprit might be the net cable, which appeared a bit worn out. So it is better for you to replace it with a new one.

Despite the Internet issue, everything else was perfect during my stay there, as I mentioned above. Therefore, I would like to book a rented accommodation with you for this holiday, which starts on 7th of this month and ends on 15th. You can reach me at 13778455624.

I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours faithfully
John Smith

Writing Feedback / Growing numbers of people tend to buy things in supermarkets rather than at small, local stores. [4]

Nowadays, more people prefer to shop in supermarkets rather than in small shops and local markets. Why do you think this is? Is it a positive or negative development?

It is true that people in growing numbers tend to buy things in supermarkets rather than small stores and local markets. There are a variety of reasons for this trend, and I believe it has both benefits and drawbacks.

Supermarkets are gaining increasing popularity for various reasons. Perhaps the most important one is that they provide customers with a wider variety of products at lower prices. This is because supermarkets normally purchase items in bulk from suppliers, which means they are likely to enjoy discounts to a large extent. In other words, supermarkets can afford to lower the prices of their products to attract consumers. Besides, with strict regulations and effective management, supermarkets are able to keep their products fresher than those sold in small stores and local markets, which sometimes sell products that exceed shelf life. Also, supermarkets usually have large parking lots available to attract car owners, who normally have more buying power. Without these facilities, small stores and local markets pale in comparison with supermarkets.

Apart from facilitating citizens by providing them with better products and services, supermarkets also bring some drawbacks with citizens' preference for supermarket shopping. First of all, with more people going to supermarkets, small stores and local markets would be driven out of businesses, which would lead to unemployment. Besides, small stores and markets are usually located near residential areas. If they disappeared, residents would have to drive long distances to find a supermarket, rather than going to a local convenience store within walking distance. This can significantly bring people inconvenience, which is particularly true for elderly people or those who cannot drive or ride.

To sum up, there are a host of reasons for people's preference for shopping in supermarkets, and I firmly believe this trend has both positive and negative effects.

Letters / IELTS WRITING TASK1: Your friend wants you to take care of her child in the weekend [3]

Your friend wants you to take care of her child in the weekend. Write a letter to the friend:
express your willingness to this request;
give some suggestions when they come and leave;
introduce the activities you have planed.

Dear Alice,

I am glad to babysit your little Jane in the weekend while you are away on a trip abroad. She is so cute that I have been missing her very much since the first time I met her at your home.

Before you send Jane here, I suggest that you bring some of her favorite clothes and toys, just to make her feel at home. You know, kids may feel nervous in a totally new environment, and their belongings will soothe them and make them feel more at ease. Besides, it is better to bring some baby diapers that Jane uses daily. Since my kid Mary is one year older than Jane, her diapers will probably not suit Jane.

As I told you before, there is a newly-built zoo nearby, which is open to the public last week. It will be, therefore, a perfect time for Jane and Mary to have fun during the weekend.

Enjoy your trip!

With Love,
Beth

Writing Feedback / IELTS WRITING TASK2: Robots' benefits and drawbacks to human society [2]

Some people think that robots are very important to human's future development. Others think that they are dangerous and have negative effects on society. Discuss both opinions and give your personal view.

Humans have promoted heated debate about the widespread use of artificial intelligence in various areas. While some argue that robots pose a threat to society as a whole, I believe that robots are playing an increasingly important role in human's development.

There are various reasons why people believe that robots can be harmful or even dangerous to society. The main worry about robots is that they may compete for job openings with human employees, especially in labor-intensive industries, thus leading to job loss or layoff among workers on society. This concern is understandable since these automatic machines normally mean higher productivity and lower cost compared to human beings. Another fear raised about robots is that they may someday be able to self-replicate themselves and form massive armies, which will threaten the survival of humankind.

In spite of these arguments, I believe that robots can contribute much to human's development. Firstly, robots can be used to perform tasks which are risky or heavy for humans, such as planetary exploration and coal mining. After all, machinery is expendable while human life is precious. Besides, companies have developed robots which can do tedious household chores, ranging from vacuum cleaning to floor mopping. Thanks to these modern gadgets, housewives (or househusbands) can be exempt from time-consuming housework, and thus spend more quality time with their spouses. But it's in the area of medicine that robots may have their biggest impact. Medical robots are widely used to perform surgery, and nano-robots are expected to help slow the aging process one day. If this comes true, the life expectancy of the future generation will be considerably lengthened.

In conclusion, although there are some concerns about robots that should be taken into account, I personally believe that robots bring more benefits than drawbacks to human's future development.