TOEFL question #21: Some high schools require all students to wear school uniforms. Other high schools permit students to decide what to wear to school. Which of these two school policies do you think is better? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
I. There are schools which require school uniforms and those which do not. I feel that school uniforms should be required. Uniforms give all students equality, identity and pride.
II. Uniforms give students equality a. All students do not have the same financial resources and can’t afford expensive clothes. Uniforms make it more equal among the rich and poor students. b. For example: Student may want to wear designer clothes which some can afford but others can’t. It would be very obvious who was poor and who was not.
III. Uniforms give identity a. Students feel a sense of belonging when everyone has the same uniform b. Students can tell who is from their school and who is not according to the uniform.
c. Others can tell which students are from which schools and if someone is not behaving well, others will know which school that person is from.
IV. Uniforms give pride a. If a sports team does well, students can feel proud together of that accomplishment b. If a student is a good musician, others can feel proud that they are his/her classmates c. Students can “advertise” their school just by wearing their uniforms and be proud of the school they attend.
V. Overall, I think wearing uniforms is a good thing. Students can feel equal to one another. They can feel a sense of identity and pride that they wouldn’t be able to feel as well if they didn’t wear uniforms.
TOEFL question #22: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People are never satisfied with what they have; they always want something more or something different. Use specific reasons to support your answer.
I. I feel that people are rarely satisfied with what they have. Most