S: Being surrounded by nature in Singapore gives us easy access to interactions with plants and animals that roam around, of which easily go unnoticed, owing to our hurried pace of life. Since we are surrounded by nature, the scurrying of little critters, hiding among the lush greenery, caught my eyes ever since I was young and cultivated a sense of curiosity towards living things. As a result, it motivated me to expose myself to nature more.

E: For example, I started spending time, taking walks in the park and going cycling with my friends as I found the native animals and plants beautiful. 

Apart from gaining knowledge and insight of these unique beings, I also like to spend time in nature as it aids in soothing and distracting me from the stressful and tiring life of being a student. Additionally, spending time in nature also helped me to create better relationships with my community as studies have shown that surrounding oneself in a natural setting assists in cultivating feelings of empathy, love, and belonging.

E: Nature has given me a interest which I would never imagine that I would possess and also helped create bonds with people around me.

L: Therefore, since it gives me multiple benefits, I would love to spend time outdoors.

Based on my observations and interactions with my friends or other teenagers, some of them share the same views as me on spending time in nature, while some of them do not. 

Firstly, those who share the same view as me agreed that spending time in a nature is a form of retreat from the hectic lives we lead, as the effects of being in nature lets us stay away from and forget about the stress we face in our daily lives living in a city such as assignment deadlines, examinations or emotional burden. Nature lets us take a step back, slow down and recharge, improving our overall wellbeing and tackle the hit of life more readily.

Secondly, there exists other group of friends and other teens who do not share the same views as me on spending time in Nature. They have shared with me that as a result of packed schedules, deadlines and examinations, the lives of us teenagers these days are way to busy to even go out to spend time in nature. To add on, after being overwhelmed with the amount of work we have to do, it will cause us to feel drained out and not have the energy to get out of our house at all. Alternatively, this group of teenagers prefer to spend time at home sleeping, browsing through the internet, gaming online, texting or calling their friends. Besides that, they favour spending time in the city area such as shopping malls or other attractions in the city, than to spending time in nature. To them, this is Simply because there are much more interesting places to visit and things to do in the city. The city offers them a greater range of activities to do and see than as compared to nature. Some of my friends even mentioned that being in nature exposes them to the sweltering heat, blazing sun and blood thirsty mosquitoes, which they simply can not withstand. The sheltered and airconditioned facilities in the city are more enticing to them.

A quote to conclude would be, "Nature is pleased with simplicity", by Sir Isaac Newton.  As time changes alongside the advancements in technology, teenagers of different eras undergo changes as well. I hope that teenagers in my era can appreciate spending time in nature as I do, before global warming and deforestation takes it away from us in the future, and notice the beauty in its simplicity and the wonders it enlightens us with.

Response is well developed and uses a wide range of large vocab; just some minor structure issues 8 marks

jy: My other friends and some teenagers may share the same view as me. They usually prefer spending time at in  their own comfort of their homes and play online games or studying. In this era, many teenagers spend almost one-third of their time for on school everyday. Understandably, they will feel tired from school and would rather spend time at home rather than in nature. In addition, most teenagers find joy staying indoors to text their friends online on platforms like WhatsApp or post pictures on Instagram. As a tech-savvy generation, this that is our way of communicating with people. This behavior has labelled  made millennials call teenagers the ‘strawberry generation’ as we are not used to hard work, in this case, this means npt enduring the sweltering weather and mosquito-infested parks and nature reserves to hang out with friends outdoors. 

However, there are still some of my other friends and teenagers who love spending time in nature. In contrast to people finding joy online, they find joy in nature. Studies has shown that a minimum of 2 hours a week spent in nature, either at one time or over several visits, is needed to significantly increase your health and well being. As mentioned, teenagers spend a lot of their time in school and are stressed over due dates and examinations, hence these teenagers find it relaxing to spend time in nature to lower their stress levels from school. 

Different teenagers have different ideas on how to spend their time, some believe that spending time at home will help them relax while some find joy in nature.

Jia yi's response is developed to a certain extent and is organised; vocab is too simple 6 marks

D: I feel that my friends and other teenagers are not keen on willing to share views about spending time in nature.
Firstly, during the holidays most teenagers usually stay at home to either play with their phones or read a book, and the thought of being surrounded by nature would not cross thier minds since they would want to kick back and relax in a comfortable environment during their holidays.

Denise, you have completely missed the Question! It's NOT about whether teenagers want to share their views on nature... It's about whether teenager share YOUR views on nature... so your view is about YOUR OPINION (like / dont like) spending time outdoors!

 rarely going out of their houses which they would not go out to the nature and enjoy the views and would have nothing much to talk about nature. 

Secondly, teenagers are mainly talking about the latest trend they see on the internet or their own life and the topic on nature is not something that a teenager would normally talk about, due not going to nature parks often, not having enough knowledge to talk about it, which is why i feel that teenagers would not want to share their views about nature.
On the other hand, I feel that there are some teenagers who would talk about natures as they frequently visits the parks or read up about nature, like understanding more about the ecosystem, the biodiversity or even admiring the landscape view. Like for example, going overseas to Japan, landscape of mount fuji is simply divine. The teenager would be able to communicate with their friends about what an amazing view it was and how spending time in nature was fun.
In conclusion, I feel that my friends and other teenagers are not willing to share views about spending time in nature.

Ultimately, we all play a part in ensuring the preservation of our natural environment . It is the collective responsibility of governments, individuals, to work together to protect the environment for current and future generations. Undoubtedly , the government has more resources , power and ability to ensure that all these efforts are put in place well to conserve our natural environments . 

Therefore , i strongly believe that the conservation of natural environments is largely the government's responsibility 

Fantastic job, 9-10/10

This is because they can make enact laws that prohibit actions that harm the environment. (P) Such actions such as deforestation and disposing of chemical waste into natural environment can be outlawed by the government. Having such laws in place would deter large companies / corporations people from harming the natural environment so the government should make these laws and use their authority to enforce it. Governments can also exercise their authority by issuing fines and penalties to companies that do not abide by the law. This would ensure that the wildlife and nature would be preserved. 

Another reason is because the government can use their influence to encourage people to be more environmentally friendly. (P) The government can spread awareness about being environmentally friendly through mediums such as social media platforms. (E) (link between social media and becoming environmentally-friendly is unclear) By doing so, more people will be more environmentally friendly. This will help in the conservation of the natural environment since they lesser people will be harming the environment. 

However, the people also do play a role in conserving the natural environment. This is because even with such laws in place, people can still choose to commit acts that would hurt the environment. Despite this, the government can prevent this by imposing harsher punishments to those that break these laws. The government can also deploy more enforcers of these laws to prevent anyone from committing such acts. 

Therefore, I still believe that the government plays a large role in conservation of natural environment.

Set 7/10

Kay Brennan: I believe that the government plays a large role in the conservation of the natural environment. 

Firstly, governments have the legal authority and power to regulate and enforce laws related to natural resource management and conservation. They can create and implement policies, regulations, and laws to protect and manage natural environments, including designating protected areas, establishing environmental standards, and setting conservation goals.

Secondly, governments have the resources and capacity to address large-scale environmental issues. They can allocate funding, personnel, and technical expertise to implement conservation measures, conduct research, and monitor and enforce environmental regulations.

However, it is also important to note that the conservation of natural environments is not solely the responsibility of the government. It requires collective efforts from various stakeholders, including local communities, indigenous peoples, Non-Government Organizations, businesses, and individuals. The government can play a crucial role in setting policies and regulations, providing resources, and creating an enabling environment for conservation efforts, but it should also work in partnership with other stakeholders to ensure a holistic and inclusive approach.

In conclusion, the conservation of natural environments is a complex and multifaceted issue, and while the government has a significant role to play, it is not solely responsible. It requires a collaborative effort from multiple stakeholders to protect and sustainably manage our natural resources for the benefit of current and future generations.

Brennan 8/10

Kendrick Khoo forgor💀

P:  Firstly, spending time outdoors in nature calms me down and allows me to focus better on my daily tasks.

E:  For example, one of my favourite nature places is the MacRitchie Reservoir. More often than not, I sit down on the benches there and take in the peaceful sight around me. I close my eyes and I would listen to the gentle nature sounds. According to research, nature sounds like birdsong and flowing water may alleviate stress, help lower blood pressure and lead to feelings of tranquility.little sounds like the sound of the gentle water sloshing. Clearing my mind after a long week. Thus, this leaves me feeling rejuvenated and my mind decluttered after spending time outdoors in nature. 

E: When I was young I was diagnosed with ADHD. I had many difficulties focusing on daily tasks that my friends around me have no trouble with. Completing tasks were a constant battle constantly a battle for me. Whenever my ADHD gets the best of me too much, I leave my house for a jog or a walk in the park. Slowly but surely, my mind relaxes and I am able to get back to revising or finishing my homework. 

L: Therefore, spending time outdoors  is a coping mechanism for me. It can provide a natural and peaceful environment to manage my overall well being and manage my symptoms. 

P: Secondly,  I experience a lot of stress from time to time thus going out to nature has increased my feelings of calmness and lowers my stress levels.

E: For example, in school, the demand for homework has increased a lot recently. In addition to extra CCA activities, I had trouble finding a balance between work and play. Hence visiting the park is a helpful strategy for myself to relieve stress.

E: Going out in nature allows me to see beautiful sights that I could not see at home. Unlike home, nature is filled with flowers, trees, and wild birds. Seeing the beautiful colours of the flowers is very pleasing to my eyes and admiring the birds flying around makes me happy as the birds look so carefree and not trapped in a cage. This provides an opportunity for me to unwind from the hustle and bustle of my busy life.

L: Therefore, I like spending time outdoors as not only it helps relieve stress but also allows me to experience things I can’t experience at home.

Response is generally well-devp and organised. Vocab is largely appropriate but can be better.

I have a group of close friends who share the same view. 
 P: We would meet at least once a month for some outdoor activities, cycling and kayaking. 

E: We have been on many cycling trips around Singapore and I enjoy the close bonds with my friends. 

E: My most memorable trip is cycling from Tampines to Punggol and exploring Coney Island. (ok, why? you need to elaborate! vocab is too simple!)

P: However, I think the majority teenagers would prefer to stay indoors, in the comfort of their home. 

E: Comparatively, many would find being outdoors in Singapore too hot, humid & uncomfortable. 
E: Outdoor activities may seem sweaty & exhausting.  Some outdoor activities may also be expensive, such as skiing, scuba-diving & mountain climbing, requiring special gears and training. 

E: Hence, With advanced technology, many would rather invest their time in online gaming and use social media and forums if they need to keep in touch with their friends.

 For Suhail and Nathan, your vocab is way too simple and responses are narrow-minded; Study Hui Ting's response above and see how she expands and elaborates her points; 5-6 marks

Therefore I believe the responsibility of conserving the environment lies on the shoulders of the government as they can make more swift (not really) and impactful decisions than the average citizens like us.

Whenever I have time, I take brisk walks at the nearby park to clear my mind from my hectic schedule. 

After the COVID-19 pandemic, more people stay cooped up at home and spend most of their time facing glued to their electronic devices. Going outdoors has become the last of our priorities. With the lack of physical activity, our stress levels are more likely to stay elevated. As a result, it takes a toll on our mental well-being. I noticed that I easily became lethargic, making it difficult to complete my work. Studies have shown that exercising can alleviate sleep-related problems and boost energy. By doing so, we can stay energized throughout the day and our mood will improve, allowing us to become more aware of our body and daily life. 

By spending more time outdoors, we can feel more at ease. Be it admiring the sun setting, throwing in dusky purples and sweet peach-pinks into the sky, or listening to the whimsical sounds of nature. This can help take the weight off our shoulders and relax our minds.
All in all, the beauty of nature helps us to reduce unnecessary stress. It is our responsibility to care for our mental well-being and we should make time for outdoor activities be it by ourselves or to bond with our family and friends.
 A thoughtful response which is generally well-developed and organised; a range of large and appropriate vocab and structures