3. In 2014, the United Nations Volunteers (‪#‎UNV‬) programme’s groundbreaking Arab Youth Volunteering for a Better Future project called for young people from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen to share the story of how they, as volunteers, brought transformational change to their communities.
Of these, three outstanding young ‪#‎volunteers‬ per country were identified by a national selection committee and awarded during International Youth Day (IYD) A second phase followed, where a regional panel of judges narrowed the selection down further, identifying those volunteers whose initiative, innovation, and tireless energy have brought profound and lasting positive change to the lives of others.
UNV and MBC Hope, the corporate social responsibility arm of Middle-East broadcasting giant ‪#‎MBC‬ Group, celebrated these exceptional young people in Dubai, where Ahmad Alhendawi, the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, presented them with a special award.
GIVEN RECORD LEVELS OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT,, YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE ARAB REGION AND AROUND THE WORLD NEED POSITIVE ROLE MODELS MORE THAN EVER.
When young people themselves provide those role models, in those who have overcome social exclusion, underemployment and poverty to bring about positive changes in their communities and countries, the effects are even more powerful. In the next five days we will introduce you five videos featuring fifteen young volunteers from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen whose volunteer work in education, access to health care, the empowerment of women, and many other areas has had a transformational impact on the communities that they served.
Their individual stories of determination, innovation and enthusiasm are truly inspirational. They offer a glimpse into the region’s existing culture of volunteerism and demonstrate the enormous potential of young volunteers to positively influence the lives of others.These inspiring young people are the winners of the first UNV Youth Volunteering Award. The award is part of UNV’s Arab Youth Volunteering for a Better Future project, which works to strengthen the ability of youth in the Arab region to participate actively in the development of their countries.
The winners were announced following a call for submissions that was advertised widely in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen. Young volunteers were asked to share their personal experiences in the form of written stories or videos. National panels selected the top three volunteers from each country based on the development impact of their work, their innovativeness, and dedication

9. 9

10. Cairo book fair.

11. Before the internet, both adults and children would use their free time to volunteer, discover the visual arts (painting, art galleries), write or read books, or learn a new language or sport. Now with the internet, most people are no longer interested in such activities and risk not becoming “well-rounded” individuals in the future .
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Without a doubt, the internet has become an essential part of our life in modern society. Nevertheless, I personally believe that for most people the utility behind the internet is gone, and it has simply become a major distraction in their daily life.
First of all, these days it is impossible to live without modern gadgets. New technology is utilized in everyday life by millions of people around the world. We can literally do everything online- make purchases, do business, communicate with friends etc. However, do most people actually use the internet as a “learning or business” tool? Probably not. University Professors in the United States are complaining students are simply “addicted” to technology but their critical thinking skills are not improving. Class discussions are weak, and seeing a book in someone's hand is now a rare sight. Hence, unlike generations of the past, most educated adults today are unable to maintain interesting or prolonged conversations with each other because they simply do not read enough quality information. Employers and University admissions officers also complain that most people do not have enough skills or interesting information to write on their CVs. The skills and life experience one learns from volunteering and community service is one of the best kept secrets amongst successful individuals of any age. Unfortunately, most people prefer to go online in their free time and miss out on amazing and life-changing volunteer opportunities.
Second of all, the reality is most people simply do not use the internet as a “learning or business” tool. Most adults are now addicted to social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter and have an extremely difficult time focusing in general. Describing a favorite movie or book in detail has even become a difficult task. Most educators agree that learning and success in general requires a very important skill—patience. Because the internet provides answers too quickly it makes people think they are experts simply because they can access anything and everything immediately. Therefore, students no longer care to read challenging books, they rarely read long articles and they do not see the benefit of volunteering or performing community service. They can no longer focus. A successful future belongs to those who can focus, and this will be an increasingly small and rare group of people. Quite frankly, the internet for most people has now simply become a major distraction.
In conclusion, people should discipline themselves, make a conscious and honest effort to become aware of these issues and balance their time online wisely. The internet and technology are powerful tools, but we will only benefit from them when we use them in a positive and constructive way.

13. People succeed because of their hard work; luck has nothing to do with success.
Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
It is believed that people will achieve their goals and have successful careers if they work hard, and luck has no effect on it. To a certain point, I would agree that some people are successful due to their diligence and hard work, but I do believe that luck also plays an important part in peoples lives as well.
On the one hand, it is true people achieve the most if they work hard and diligently. People who have great determination, integrity and a positive attitude are unlike the average, ordinary workers. These extraordinary people have made success a priority in their lives and believe that the only requirements to achieve success are hard work, determination and a focused plan in life.
On the other hand, although some people might not believe in luck, others feel that luck has definitely affected their performance and achievements. For example, there are people who display average work performance and are still promoted by their superiors. Similarly, there are several salesmen who do not approach their potential customers aggressively, but somehow manage to achieve their sales target. For this group of people, they are convinced that luck has truly affected their careers.
In conclusion, even though some people believe the only way to succeed is through hard work, there are always exceptional cases. Therefore, the answer to the question is a personal choice and it is impossible to have only one “right” or “wrong” answer when it comes to such an issue.

14. In 2014, the United Nations Volunteers (‪#‎UNV‬) programme’s groundbreaking Arab Youth Volunteering for a Better Future project called for young people from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen to share the story of how they, as volunteers, brought transformational change to their communities.
Of these, three outstanding young ‪#‎volunteers‬ per country were identified by a national selection committee and awarded during International Youth Day (IYD) A second phase followed, where a regional panel of judges narrowed the selection down further, identifying those volunteers whose initiative, innovation, and tireless energy have brought profound and lasting positive change to the lives of others.
UNV and MBC Hope, the corporate social responsibility arm of Middle-East broadcasting giant ‪#‎MBC‬ Group, celebrated these exceptional young people in Dubai, where Ahmad Alhendawi, the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, presented them with a special award.
GIVEN RECORD LEVELS OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT,, YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE ARAB REGION AND AROUND THE WORLD NEED POSITIVE ROLE MODELS MORE THAN EVER.
When young people themselves provide those role models, in those who have overcome social exclusion, underemployment and poverty to bring about positive changes in their communities and countries, the effects are even more powerful. In the next five days we will introduce you five videos featuring fifteen young volunteers from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen whose volunteer work in education, access to health care, the empowerment of women, and many other areas has had a transformational impact on the communities that they served.
Their individual stories of determination, innovation and enthusiasm are truly inspirational. They offer a glimpse into the region’s existing culture of volunteerism and demonstrate the enormous potential of young volunteers to positively influence the lives of others.These inspiring young people are the winners of the first UNV Youth Volunteering Award. The award is part of UNV’s Arab Youth Volunteering for a Better Future project, which works to strengthen the ability of youth in the Arab region to participate actively in the development of their countries.
The winners were announced following a call for submissions that was advertised widely in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen. Young volunteers were asked to share their personal experiences in the form of written stories or videos. National panels selected the top three volunteers from each country based on the development impact of their work, their innovativeness, and dedication

15. In the last 20 years there have been significant developments in the field of information technology (IT), for example the World Wide Web and communication by . However, these developments in IT are likely to have more negative effects than positive in the future. To what extent do you agree with this view? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.
The last two decades have seen enormous changes in the way people's lives are affected by IT, with many advances in this field. However, while these technological advances have brought many benefits to the world, it can be argued that these developments in IT will result in more negative impacts than positive.
On the one hand, has made communication, especially abroad, much simpler and faster, resulting in numerous benefits for commerce and business. Furthermore, the World Wide Web means that information on every conceivable subject is now available to us. For example, people can access news, medical advice, online education courses and much more via the internet. It is evident that these improvements have made life far easier and more convenient for large numbers of people and will continue to do so for decades to come.
On the other hand, the effects of this new technology have not all been beneficial. For example, many people feel that the widespread use of is destroying traditional forms of communication such as professional writing, telephone and face-to-face conversation. This could result in a decline in people's basic ability to socialize and interact with each other on a day-to-day basis. In addition, social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have now become a major distraction and addiction. Furthermore, when used improperly, social media can be a dangerous platform for entrepreneurs or job seekers, and may ruin their reputations as well . For instance, one of the first things recruiters do is Google candidates, and scour social media to get a sense of the candidate's personality and potential fit with an organization. Employers do extensive research on these sites before they interview or hire people. The more social media sites a person is on, the more “free time” employers assume they have, hence, the less professional they appear. Generally speaking, too much time on the internet can definitely hurt someone's reputation in real life.
In addition, new laws protecting social media sites like Facebook has meant that it is nearly impossible to “permanently delete” a user's information and pictures. Once content's out there, it's out there forever. Even “deleted”, or “private” Facebook accounts, retain a user's information and pictures forever on their servers. In conclusion, developments in IT have brought many benefits, as well as many disadvantages. Consumers should educate themselves, and become aware of social media dangers, to avoid negatively affecting their reputations in the future.

16. Do you think that modern technology, such as the internet and computers will ever replace the book, or the written word as the main source of information? Give reasons for your answer using your own ideas and experience.
It is certainly true that these days, as technology advances, we are drifting further towards the internet for our research needs. But I think that computer technology will never be a replacement to books and written information. First of all, it is true that as the internet becomes more and more efficient it will gain a reputation for being a major source of information. However, we are often faced with an extremely important question while searching online: is the information correct and credible? The internet is full of erroneous information which may be incorrect and plagiarized. On the other hand, libraries, which carefully select their books, can never truly be replaced. Furthermore, libraries allow people of all socio-economic backgrounds to borrow books for free, unlike “online books” which must be paid for. Second of all, the entire process of “reading”- including underlining and writing notes in the margin, is an important aspect of the learning process. This is how students for hundreds of years were “active readers”. In fact, all of the greatest minds of the past only utilized written books. For example, trying to understand and solve mathematical problems, or even organic chemistry problems while staring at a computer screen is extremely difficult.
Similarly, it is much easier to read a difficult academic essay when we can underline and interact with the passage. The internet may be useful for “light” reading or leisure reading, but is extremely tiring on the eyes for more advanced subjects. Unfortunately, online social media such as “Facebook and Twitter” has also significantly decreased peoples attention spans to 100 words at a time.
Finally, new health problems are also associated with “modern technology” devices. New scientific evidence has shown that constant exposure to technological devices, i.e. cell phones, laptops, i-pads, kindle etc., exposes people to an abnormal amount of radiation both day and night. This may lead to abnormal eye problems later on in life, skin problems, and quite possibly cancer due to the heat and radiation that is directly and indirectly emitted. Hence, studying for long hours is best suited for old fashioned books. In conclusion, I think that as the computer age takes over, we should continue to use the internet for “light” reading and information. However, old fashioned books will never disappear because they have been, and will continue to be, a harmless and reliable source of information for people around the world.

17. "E- learning and “virtual classrooms/online courses” will eventually replace all traditional forms of teaching and learning."
To what extent to you agree? Classroom learning vs online education - Which is better?
There are some people who believe that distance learning and online computer classes should replace classroom learning. As far as I am concerned, I strongly believe that online classes should never replace classroom learning.
First, the classroom environment allows students to learn from their classmates, hence challenging and motivating you to improve your own performance. For example, when I was in my University Chemistry class, I was not serious about my studies. However, when I saw some of my classmates earning better grades than me, this “classroom competition” led me to study harder and I earned the highest score in my final exam. Being in a traditional classroom environment therefore, does have a positive psychological effect on students.
Second, classroom learning obligates you to be on time, and become a responsible and professional student. Such organization and time management skills are critical skills one learns in the University, and utilizes throughout their entire lives. Moreover, you can learn to be a good team member by participating in group-work and dealing with others on a daily basis.
Third, Professors play vital role in classroom learning. Most of them are specialists is their subjects, and they help provide valuable information and useful resources the student may not be aware of. For example, at first I signed up for an online course to help with my Medical College Admission Exam (MCAT) to the United States. It was cheaper than a traditional classroom course which I found advantageous. However, after 1 month I realized I could not commit to studying in front of a computer 100% of the time for several months. Being unable to have questions answered by a live human being is a huge disadvantage. It is very difficult to focus on complicated material without traditional classroom guidance and support. I decided to join a respectable test review course and not surprisingly, I am doing much better on the practice exams.
Overall, it's undeniable that online classes have some advantages for basic courses. However, for more advanced or intense courses, the traditional classroom can simply never be replaced. Learning in isolation is simply not the same as learning with your peers and an Instructor.
391 words

18. https://eg.linkedin.com/in/rania-rafie-14663788
Rania Rafie – icecairo
9. Rania Rafie, co-founder of Up-fuse
Egypt produces 1 million tons of plastic waste, exactly the amount of rubbish that could cover the entire city of Cairo 55 times over. Furthermore, waste contaminates soil, water, and the health of the entire population…
Trendy, socially responsible, environmentally friendly: those are the cornerstones of Up-fuse – a business that makes fashionable well-designed bags out of plastic waste and turns risk into an opportunity.
Fuelled by ambition, Rania, and her friend partnered up in a small studio in Cairo to create their company. They started playing around with designs, crafting trendy bags from upcycled plastic materials, that are good for people and the environment. Furthermore, Up-fuse employs women from underprivileged backgrounds to manufacture the garments. The company started selling their products through social media and at various events. In addition to high growth, Up-fuse won an Injaz Award and joined the program of DO School in Germany. 18 18

19. Rania Rafie and Yara Yassin, co-founders of Upfuse
Environmentally friendly, socially responsible and extremely trendy: those are the principles guiding these two female entrepreneurs who decided to make fashion out of plastic waste. Firmly climbing the social business ladder, Rafie and Yassin began designing and manufacturing luggage cases from up-cycled plastic bags in a small studio they had rented in Cairo. Initially selling their products through social media and at events, the startup began to grow, obtaining an Injaz award and entering the incubation program DO School in Germany. Today, the company employs women from underprivileged backgrounds to manufacture the garments, while fighting taboos associated with wearing “garbage.”

20. http://schools. aucegypt. edu/business/aucvlab/pages/startup. aspx
Ayman Ismail, however, founder of American University in Cairo’s Venture Lab, a startup incubator that's financially backing Tatweer’s kiosk project, believes this is an effort able to connect with Cairo’s average business operator.
“Those guys are savvy, and if you offer them good value, they’ll do it,” Ismail says, referring to the kiosk vendors. “If you offer them a kiosk that’s worth $10,000 for free, that’s a substantial amount of money for anywhere, not just Egypt.”

22. Nowadays the amount of rubbish produced on a daily basis is increasing dramatically. What are the reasons for this, and what can people do to help reduce the amount of rubbish produced? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. The amount of garbage produced is rising at an alarming rate all over the world. Many large cities are struggling with effective garbage disposal and recycling programs. Even though this remains a challenging task, through entrepreneurship many people are discovering effective ways to combine profit while still managing to help the environment. First of all, the products we buy in the shops tend to be pre-wrapped in plastic or polystyrene containers. This is particularly true for processed foods, which are becoming increasingly popular. As soon as people arrive home they tend to throw this packaging away without effective recycling programs in place. Furthermore, many stores or shops do not have recycling bins or programs intact; hence, people will simply litter on the street instead.
Nevertheless, there are some measures which people could take to help reduce the problem of rubbish. First of all, entrepreneurs around the world are attempting to combine recycling with profit. For example, Rania Rafie of Upfuse Egypt is turning plastic waste into trendy handbags and accessories. Furthermore, other entrepreneurs are also seeking to encourage recycling while establishing a profitable company. An amazing example of how entrepreneurship can help environmental problems indirectly is TATWEER Egypt. Tayssir Ibrahim, CEO of the company, came up with a brilliant business idea. Large businesses such as Red Bull and Coca Cola would renovate and maintain old kiosks all over Cairo, in return for free advertising on the kiosk. In addition, recycling bins would be available and maintained at every kiosk, which would also help the environment and encourage people to stop littering. In conclusion, reducing the amount of rubbish and litter prevention in any society is a challenging task. Nevertheless, as Upfuse and TATWEER have proven, helping the environment while still maintaining a successful business is a definite possibility in this day and age. So long as technology exists, entrepreneurship will continue to serve as an effective tool turning everyday challenges, into profitable business opportunities.

23. https://eg.linkedin.com/in/ameersherif 23 23

25. The Exceptional Youth of Egypt- 25 25

27. Entrepreneurs/Volunteers
1. Rise Up Egypt
2. Mai Medhat
3. Laila Sedky
4. Dina El-Mofty
5. Injaz Egypt
6. Armando Dunn
7. UN Volunteers
8. Dr. Ayman Ismail
9. Amad Elmsaodi
10. Wuzzuf
11. Ameer Sharif
12.
13. 27

28. The Exceptional Youth of Egypt- 28 28

31. https://eg.linkedin.com/in/ameersherif 31 31

32. Some people think that money is the most essential factor in promoting happiness. Do you agree or disagree? What other factors contribute towards happiness?
Money is considered by many people to be one of the most important contributing factors towards happiness. In my opinion, I agree that money is definitely important. One cannot really take any steps or do anything without having some money first. Nevertheless, certain aspects in life can play a vital role in creating happiness, which will eventually lead to financial prosperity.
First of all, one way that people can gain happiness is through their work. For instance, a doctor doing volunteer work in underdeveloped countries may have very little money, but the reward of helping people brings happiness in itself. In other words, happiness can be found through job satisfaction, entrepreneurship, internships and volunteer work. An amazing example of this is Dr. Ghulam Fayez of Operation Smile - a worldwide organization which helps people with life changing surgeries correcting cleft palates and cleft lips. A Plastic surgeon in Pakistan, Doctor Ghulam has performed over 10,000 volunteer surgeries in Pakistan and around the world. His colleagues at Operation Smile always comment on his commitment and passion towards his patients. For Dr. Ghulam, happiness is using his skills and medical training to help others. In addition, Dr. Ghulam recently published a paper: “A Model Humanitarian Cleft Mission: 312 Cleft Surgeries in 7 Days,”, which won a gold medal in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open Competition. He will be recognized at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 25, Hence, because of Dr. Ghulam's good deeds, he now has even more opportunities around the world as the winner of several international prizes and awards.
Second of all, another factor influencing happiness is simply having a positive attitude in life, and making good use of your time. For example, several volunteers who complete any volunteer mission, especially with the United Nations or Operation Smile, have commented on how they have discovered a new career direction in life. Whether they were employed, unemployed, or thinking of changing careers entirely, volunteering helped show them a new path, and helped them with a fresh new start in life. Having a sense of direction in life is an amazing source of happiness. Nevertheless, one must be patient and never give up.
In conclusion, dreams only come true when people take positive action. If more people strived in life towards positive use of their time, through volunteering, interning or entrepreneurship, then both happiness, and money, would eventually naturally follow.

33. https://eg.linkedin.com/in/ameersherif 33 33

34. Some people think that money is the most essential factor in promoting happiness. Do you agree or disagree? What other factors contribute towards happiness?
Money is considered by many people to be one of the most important contributing factors towards happiness. In my opinion, I agree that money is definitely important. One cannot really take any steps or do anything without having some money first. Nevertheless, certain aspects in life can play a vital role in creating happiness, which will eventually lead to financial prosperity.
First of all, one way that people can gain happiness is through their work. For instance, a doctor doing volunteer work in underdeveloped countries may have very little money, but the reward of helping people brings happiness in itself. In other words, happiness can be found through job satisfaction, entrepreneurship, internships and volunteer work. An amazing example of this is Dr. Ghulam Fayez of Operation Smile - a worldwide organization which helps people with life changing surgeries correcting cleft palates and cleft lips. A Plastic surgeon in Pakistan, Doctor Ghulam has performed over 10,000 volunteer surgeries in Pakistan and around the world. His colleagues at Operation Smile always comment on his commitment and passion towards his patients. For Dr. Ghulam, happiness is using his skills and medical training to help others. In addition, Dr. Ghulam recently published a paper: “A Model Humanitarian Cleft Mission: 312 Cleft Surgeries in 7 Days,”, which won a gold medal in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open Competition. He will be recognized at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 25, Hence, because of Dr. Ghulam's good deeds, he now has even more opportunities around the world as the winner of several international prizes and awards.
Second of all, another factor influencing happiness is simply having a positive attitude in life, and making good use of your time. For example, several volunteers who complete any volunteer mission, especially with the United Nations or Operation Smile, have commented on how they have discovered a new career direction in life. Whether they were employed, unemployed, or thinking of changing careers entirely, volunteering helped show them a new path, and helped them with a fresh new start in life. Having a sense of direction in life is an amazing source of happiness. Nevertheless, one must be patient and never give up.
In conclusion, dreams only come true when people take positive action. If more people strived in life towards positive use of their time, through volunteering, interning or entrepreneurship, then both happiness, and money, would eventually naturally follow.

35. Vocabulary: Suggestions. 35

36. 36

37. IELTS Speaking/Writing basic outlines
Well, that's an interesting question.
1. In my opinion/perspective/point of view, I agree/disagree with...
2. First of all...
3. Second of all...
4. Finally...
5. Overall...Based on these reasons, I suppose..
I'm sorry, could you please repeat the question? Thank you.
1. To begin with/Generally speaking...
2. Personally I believe...
3. On the one hand...For example,
4. On the other hand...
5. But overall, I believe... 37

38. 38

43. Before the internet, both adults and children would use their free time to volunteer, discover the visual arts (painting, art galleries), write or read books, or learn a new language or sport. Now with the internet, most people are no longer interested in such activities and risk not becoming “well-rounded” individuals in the future .
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Without a doubt, the internet has become an essential part of our life in modern society. Nevertheless, I personally believe that for most people the utility behind the internet is gone, and it has simply become a major distraction in their daily life.
First of all, these days it is impossible to live without modern gadgets. New technology is utilized in everyday life by millions of people around the world. We can literally do everything online- make purchases, do business, communicate with friends etc. However, do most people actually use the internet as a “learning or business” tool? Probably not. University Professors in the United States are complaining students are simply “addicted” to technology but their critical thinking skills are not improving. Class discussions are weak, and seeing a book in someone's hand is now a rare sight. Hence, unlike generations of the past, most educated adults today are unable to maintain interesting or prolonged conversations with each other because they simply do not read enough quality information. Employers and University admissions officers also complain that most people do not have enough skills or interesting information to write on their CVs. The skills and life experience one learns from volunteering and community service is one of the best kept secrets amongst successful individuals of any age. Unfortunately, most people prefer to go online in their free time and miss out on amazing and life-changing volunteer opportunities.
Second of all, the reality is most people simply do not use the internet as a “learning or business” tool. Most adults are now addicted to social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter and have an extremely difficult time focusing in general. Describing a favorite movie or book in detail has even become a difficult task. Most educators agree that learning and success in general requires a very important skill—patience. Because the internet provides answers too quickly it makes people think they are experts simply because they can access anything and everything immediately. Therefore, students no longer care to read challenging books, they rarely read long articles and they do not see the benefit of volunteering or performing community service. They can no longer focus. A successful future belongs to those who can focus, and this will be an increasingly small and rare group of people. Quite frankly, the internet for most people has now simply become a major distraction.
In conclusion, people should discipline themselves, make a conscious and honest effort to become aware of these issues and balance their time online wisely. The internet and technology are powerful tools, but we will only benefit from them when we use them in a positive and constructive way.