Free essay samples for TOEFL Independent Writing Question

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Topic 6: If you could change one important thing about your hometown, what would you change? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.

I live in Haiphong, a small coastal city in the East of Vietnam. People in the city live on fishing, agriculture and tourism. There are few factories and commercial centers. If I could change one important thing about my hometown, I would build an industrial zone, an area far from the city center which is designed for a cluster of businesses and factories. First, the industrial zone will create jobs for local people. Also, it will boost the economic development of the city. And finally, it will help improve the infrastructure of the city.

First, the industrial zone will create jobs for local people. Factories will hire local people because they can take just a few minutes to go to factories to work. For instance, a big company can hire 1000 people to work at its factories. Furthermore, the factories will pay less to hire local residents than to hire people from other cities because these factories do not have to pay any residential allowance. Finally, local people are normally stable and they will not try to change jobs often or to change their residents. Thus, they can concentrate on their work and be more available if the factories are in need of them.

Second, the industrial zone will boost the economic development in the city. Now, the city has a small unstable economy because its industries depend much on unknown factors such as climate and tourists. The industrial zone will offer stable businesses such as manufacturing and trading industries, which do not depend on weather conditions. Moreover, this zone will bring in more companies to settle in the city because they want to work with companies in the zone. As a result, the industrial zone will help the city develop a more stable economy. 

Finally, the industrial zone will help improve the infrastructure of the city.  To run smoothly, factories need a steady, reliable supply of water and electricity. Some old pipes will be changed, and some facilities will be renovated. The residents' living standards get improved as a result of these widespread changes. In addition, the city will build new roads or repair existing ones to make the transportation of goods better. Thus, people in the city will also benefit the improvement of infrastructure.

In conclusion, if I had a chance to do one thing to my city, I would build an industrial zone because it will help the economic and social development of the city. People from the city will have a better life and their children will have chance to go to college.    

Topic 12. Many people visit museums when they travel to new places. Why do you think people visit museums? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

When people visit new places, they often choose local museums as a must-see place. Sometimes museums are more attractive than other places. Why? This is because people can get good understanding of the local history. Also, they can acquire the knowledge of local culture, customs and lifestyle. And finally, they will have much fun to visit museums.

First, people can obtain as much information as they wish about the local history. When they visit a place, they want to know when this place was created and how it has been developed since the creation. Museums can provide all such information. For instance, international tourists often visit the historical museum when they travel to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. The museum displays many objects dated back from one thousand years in the history of Hanoi. Hence, people can have exact information and see in person the development of a place through items displayed in museums.

Second, they acquire the knowledge of the local culture, backgrounds, values and lifestyles. When visiting a museum, people can see local artifacts and historical objects of the local culture. They also can watch short videos about local lifestyle, traditions and cuisine. They even can try on ancient clothes to take photos at museums. After the museum visit, people can understand more real life when they visit the places and know what to do and what not to do to respect local cultures and people.   

Finally, people visit museums for entertainment. For instance, people visit the Louvre museums in Paris, France, to see historical paintings, sculptures, and many other art objects from all over the world. They even can see the unique paintings in the world such as the Mona Lisa painted by Leolardo da Vinci. Also, they go there to admire the beauty of the architecture of the buildings of the museum and its splendid display of items. Moreover, they can enjoy magnificent lighting in the evening at the museum. Some museums have playgrounds or displays for children such as the Science Museum in Tokyo. In such kind of museums, children can play or watch plays or do experiments. Hence, people can enjoy their visit and have good time.

In conclusion, many people want to go to museums when they travel to new places because they can find in-depth knowledge of local history, culture and values. As a result, they will have wonderful memories of the places they have been to. They also can have very good moment to share with their family.