<p>This is from practice test 2 of the BB</p>
<p>"Do changes make our lives easier, not necessarily make them better?"</p>
<p>Changes that make our lives easier do not necessarily make them better. We can see that through the "Obesity Epidemic" inside the United States. This is also visible with in education, specifically mathematics.</p>
<p>The obesity problem within the United States is a product of technological advances. Instead of having to walk or ride a bike for a distance, many people would rather drive a car. Now the car is very handy because having to walk thirty miles would be ridiculous and time consuming. However, I know people who would rather drive considerably short distances. A girl in my yoga class insists on driving there. The class is at the gym which is only about two blocks from the neighborhood we both live in. I personally walk, because it is like a "mini cardio work out" before yoga. Her driving does not really make lives better. In driving the short distance, she contributes to the pollution in the air, which causes health problems for other beings. If she were to walk, she would not be putting these pollutants into the air. Electronic devices such as the calculator also do not necessarily make life better.</p>
<p>Yes, the calculator is a great tool, but at the same time it is robbing students of the capacity to do basic math. I am an International Baccalaureate student, and when our math teacher told us that day one of the exam is no calculator, some of my peers freaked out. Many in my class have forgotten how to long divide or multiply by hand because they are so used to "running" to the calculator. This is also visible where my brother works, where many students who attend my school work as well. One day, their cash registers went down. They were at one point rounding, or even giving away food for free because employees there could not calculate bills with paper and a pen. Many did not know that to calculate sales tax, all you had to do was multiply by 1 plus the percentage. </p>
<p>Technological changes are handy tools, but they do not necessarily make life better. Ask some one to walk instead of drive some where or to calculate 158*31 the long way. I have, and I was looked at with the funniest look, out of confusion. Most likely you will get the same response too.</p>