The last hundred years have seen rapid and dramatic developments in many areas, including medicine, transport, manufacturing and communications. Over that period our lives have changed in ways that our parents and grandparents could only have dreamed of, but the question we should ask is whether the world is a better place to live in as a result.
There have clearly been many benefits. Advances in medical science have brought cures for once fatal diseases and this has significantly extended the lifespan we can expect. Information technology has allowed us to contact friends or colleagues worldwide at the click of a mouse. We can now gather information, manage our bank account or shop without having to step outside our home. In addition, labour-saving devices such as washing machines and microwave ovens have made everyday tasks much easier.
However, the fact that life has improved in so many ways doesn't mean that all the developments have been positive. For example, the emphasis on acquiring the latest technology has made people increasingly materialistic. We also tend to lead more isolated lives than our parents did, with less concern for other people. The resulting breakdown of traditional social ties can leave the elderly and other vulnerable people without the support they need. Among other serious problems we face are the drug culture, and the ever-present threat of terrorism.
To sum up, we have made great progress over the last hundred years but there are still many important issues to tackle. This may well be a better time to live than any previous age but hopefully the future will be better still. 
The last hundred years have  
seen
 rapid and dramatic developments in  
many
 areas, including medicine, transport, manufacturing and communications. Over that period our  
lives
 have  
changed
 in ways that our parents and grandparents could  
only
 have dreamed of,  
but
 the question we should ask is whether the world is a better place to  
live
 in  
as a result
.
There have  
clearly
 been  
many
 benefits. Advances in medical science have brought cures for once fatal diseases and this has  
significantly
 extended the lifespan we can  
expect
. Information technology has  
allowed
 us to contact friends or colleagues worldwide at the click of a mouse. We can  
now
 gather information, manage our bank account or shop without having to step outside our home.  
In addition
,  
labour-saving
 devices such as washing machines and microwave ovens have made everyday tasks much easier. 
However
, the fact that life has  
improved
 in  
so
  many
 ways doesn't mean that all the developments have been  
positive
.  
For example
, the emphasis on acquiring the latest technology has made  
people
  increasingly
 materialistic. We  
also
 tend to lead more isolated  
lives
 than our parents did, with less concern for other  
people
. The resulting breakdown of traditional social ties can  
leave
 the elderly and other vulnerable  
people
 without the support they need. Among other serious problems we face are the drug culture, and the ever-present threat of terrorism.
To sum up, we have made great progress over the last hundred years  
but
 there are  
still
  many
  important
 issues to tackle. This may well be a better time to  
live
 than any previous age  
but
  hopefully
 the future will be better  
still
.