2017 Past Paper: Essay — Negative Trend

past-paper question

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These two simple but enlightening drawings depict sharply different attitudes toward reading. In the first, a young man sits comfortably on a sofa and boasts about owning many books, although he is not reading any of them. In the second, another young man has made a concrete plan to read twenty books during the year. The captions contrast "owning books" with "reading books."

The drawings reflect a common problem in modern society. Many people purchase and display books but seldom read them. Treating books merely as decorations defeats their real purpose: books should be read, understood, and used as a source of knowledge.

Reading regularly broadens our horizons, deepens our understanding, and strengthens the confidence and courage with which we face difficulties. It also encourages independent thought and lifelong learning.

Society should therefore foster a culture that values sustained reading rather than the mere possession of books. Individuals, too, should set realistic reading goals and act on them. After all, books are a ladder of human progress.