Modern cultures around the world have become similar when compared to the past

Task 1

The pie charts describe how much energy was produced through different energy sources in 2012 as well as some estimates for 2030. Units are measured in gigawatts.

Overall, fossil fuel was by far the biggest energy sector while it was "flexible capacity" that made up the smallest amount in 2012. These two energy sources will remain on two opposite ends of the spectrum though the share of the former will have fallen significantly by 2030. It is also worth noting that the total energy production is expected to double in the future.

Focusing on non-renewable sources of energy first, the proportion of energy produced by fossil fuel constituted roughly two-thirds in 2012, yet it is predicted that it will fall by 20% 28 years later. Nuclear energy, which accounted for 6% of the total energy capacity, will also have shrunk slightly. In contrast, the figure for flexible capacity is set to double, making up 2% in 2030.

Non-renewable energy sources, on the other hand, are generally expected to grow in use. The most noticeable change will be in solar power generation, with a nine-fold increase from a mere 2% in 2012. Similarly, nearly twice as much energy will be produced from wind in 2030 as it was in 2012, with respective figures being 5% and 12%. By contrast, the figure for other renewables will have experienced a negligible drop of 3% by 2030 from just over a fifth in the first year. Finally, total energy produced will increase twofold, hitting 10.569 GW.

TASK 2

Modern cultures around the world have become similar when compared to the past.

Is it a positive or negative development?
Muhammadali Sodiqov
Today, cultural differences are disappearing rapidly in comparison with the past. While this trend has some negative implications, I share the view that it is on the whole a change for the better.

Admittedly, growing cultural homogeneity – the process of cultures becoming similar – has some drawbacks to consider. The most concerning aspect of this process is arguably loss of cultural diversity. This happens when dominant cultures of the West replace those of minority groups, rendering unique beliefs, traditions, and customs obsolete. Having lost cultural nuances, people are likely to lose their identity. One other issue stemming from increased similarity among cultures is diminished creativity. When people generally follow the similar trends and principals such as artforms and business practices, they are likely to lose their sense of ingenuity and novelty. This, in turn, creates a uniform world lacking sophistication and richness.

Despite the possible negative aspects of cultural assimilation across the world, I tend to see it in a positive light. One positive outcome of this trend can be a greater sense of mutual understanding. As people become accepting of other cultures, they grow increasingly like-minded. Take technology as an example. While in the past members of conservative eastern cultures were rather skeptical of technology, they now enjoy using it as much as their western counterparts. This, in effect, has dispelled cultural misunderstandings around the use of technology. An equally important point is increased productivity in the workplace. People working for multinational companies now cooperate better irrespective of their cultural background seeing as they share the same beliefs and priorities. The outcome of this is maximized company output.

In conclusion, as much as I understand cultural assimilation can prove disadvantageous, I lean more towards the view that it fosters a heightened sense of interpersonal understanding and greater workplace efficiency.