ESSAY INFORMATION:
Written by: Xuân Phi, 08/04/2024
Supported by: Ex-BC Examiner, 09/04/2024
Question: Watching a live performance such as a play, concert, or sporting event is more enjoyable than watching the same event on television. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
(IELTS Academic – 06/04/2024)
ANSWER (8.0+):
Attending live events is more pleasurable than enjoying them on television. I mostly agree with this sentiment due to the immersive experiences live performances offer, despite the cost-effectiveness of watching them on television.
On the one hand, watching a live show on television is considerably cheaper. Ticket prices for these events are often very exorbitant, in addition to the peripheral costs of travel, accommodation and food. For instance, a ticket for the 2014 World Cup final in Canada cost hundreds of dollars per person. Consequently, individuals from other countries had to budget thousands of dollars to cover not only the ticket price but also other expenses related to attending the event in person. These prices are prohibitive for the average person. Because of this, they stayed at home to watch the match on television. Therefore, they were able to both enjoy a live event and spend their money more wisely by staying home.
On the other hand, watching a live performance first-hand provides a more engaging atmosphere for audiences. The in-person ambience cannot be replicated on television. For example, when going to a Roger Waters concert, people are likely to be blown away by the on-stage visual effects and the superlative musicianship on display. Most concert-goers feel compelled to sing along and join in the communal experience. However, watching that same concert on television, that sense of immersion is lost as the sound is not as clear and the stage effects will come off less impressive. As a result, people feel more engrossed in a live event if they witness it in person.
In conclusion, although it is cheaper to watch a live performance at home, I mostly agree that watching it in person provides a level of immersion that cannot be imitated on television. Therefore, attending such performances should be made less expensive by introducing discounts on ticket prices for a limited amount of time.
(Word count: 316)
WORD LIST
| ENGLISH | TIẾNG VIỆT |
| The immersive experiences | Trải nghiệm sống động |
| Cost-effectiveness | Tiết kiệm chi phí |
| Exorbitant | Đắt đỏ |
| The peripheral costs of | Những chi phí phụ của cái gì đó |
| An engaging atmosphere | Bầu không khí hấp dẫn |
| The in-person ambience | Bầu không khí trực tiếp |
| Replicate | Tái tạo |
| The on-stage visual effects | Hiệu ứng hình ảnh trên sân khấu |
| Concert-goers | Người tham gia buổi hòa nhạc |
| The communal experience | Trải nghiệm chung |
| Sense of immersion | Cảm giác đắm chìm |
