TOPIC 147

TOPIC 147: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Playing games teaches us about life. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Essay 1

Almost everyone, from little children to adults, loves games. The types of games may change and get more complex as we grow up, but our enjoyment never changes. Playing games is both fun and useful, because games teach us the skills we need in life.

First of all, playing games teaches us that everything we do causes something else to happen. If we hit a ball, it will land somewhere or someone will try to catch it. If we make certain combinations with cards, we'll earn points. So when we play a game, we learn there is always a cause/effect relationship. We learn to pay attention to what's happening around us and see how people react to what we do.

Playing games also teaches us how to deal with other people. We learn about teamwork, if the game has teams. We learn how to assign tasks according to each person's skills. We learn how to get people to do what we want, and we learn that sometimes we have to do what other people want.

Game playing teaches us how to follow rules to achieve something. In a game, the rules have been worked out in advance and make the game go more smoothly. We find out that if we want to reach a goal, we need to know the rules. We learn how to go step by step towards a desired end. We also learn how to make adjustments when things change. We learn how to devise a plan for reaching our goal. We learn strategy.

Most people understand that "all work and no play" is bad for you. Learning all these things would be much slower if we didn't play games. Life would be much duller, too.

(Essay ID: 23 )

Essay 2

Nowadays, some people hold the opinion that games teach peoples about life, but others have a negative attitude. And they think that only children play game, so game is only for amusement, and is nothing with the true life. As far as I am concerned, I agree the first statement. There are numerous reasons why I hold on, and I would explore only a few primary ones here.

The main reason for my propensity is I believe that the procedure of playing teach people the rulers of games similar to that of society. We can discover when children play games, they often imitate to do the things that occur in the society of adult. For examples, boys and girls like to act as father and mother of family, doctors and patients, teachers and students. These kind of games will make children begin to study to how to deal with things and how to get alone with other persons.

And there are the other kind of games such as chess which can develop their intelligence. Like the lesson in the school, these games teach them the other kind of rulers, the method of study knowledge.

Another reason can seen by every persons is that like life itself, game is full of intense and attracted competition. Everyone can experience the joy of win and the pain of lost from game. In the form of playing game, people would realize what is the competition, how to take on the stress and how resolve problems. And those are very helpful for them in the future work and live. In addition, game tell us that only making great efforts, one can get the desired result. There is an old saying, no pains, no gains. No matter the game is simple or complex, if you want to win, firstly, you should treat it seriously, and then cast about various meanings to resolve the problem. In this way, you can learn how to deal with things and how to cope with difficulties in the society.

General speaking, game tell us the principle and truth of life, and people can learn from game how to deal with problem, how to take on the duty and experience the life in the society. Taking into account of all these, we may reach the conclusion that, games teach peoples about life, and people can learn many knowledge from that.

(Essay ID: 277 )

Essay 3

Playing games has always been thought to be important to the development of well-balanced and creative children; however, what part, if any, they should play in the lives of adults has never been researched that deeply. I believe that playing games is every bit as important for adults as for children. Not only is taking time out to play games with our children and other adults valuable to building interpersonal relationships but is also a wonderful way to release built up tension.

There's nothing my husband enjoys more after a hard day of work than to come home and play a game of Chess with someone. This enables him to unwind from the day's activities and to discuss the highs and lows of the day in a non-threatening, kick back environment. One of my most memorable wedding gifts, a Backgammon set, was received by a close friend. I asked him why in the world he had given us such a gift. He replied that he felt that an important aspect of marriage was for a couple to never quit playing games together. Over the years, as I have come to purchase and play, with other couples & coworkers, many games like: Monopoly, Chutes & Ladders, Mastermind, Dweebs, Geeks, & Weirdoes, etc. I can reflect on the integral part they have played in our weekends and our "shut-off the T.V. and do something more stimulating" weeks. They have enriched my life and made it more interesting. Sadly, many adults forget that games even exist and have put them away in the cupboards, forgotten until the grandchildren come over.

All too often, adults get so caught up in working to pay the bills and keeping up with the
"Joneses'" that they neglect to harness the fun in life; the fun that can be the reward of enjoying a relaxing game with another person. It has been said that "man is that he might have joy" but all too often we skate through life without much of it. Playing games allows us to: relax, learn something new and stimulating, interact with people on a different more comfortable level, and to enjoy non-threatening competition. For these reasons, adults should place a higher priority on playing games in their lives.

(Essay ID: 333 . Sample essay provided by Erin Billy of www.TestMagic.com)