Hi everyone
Just a week ago, the following appeared in the real IELTS test.
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Task 2 People eat food from wider areas nowadays. This means people often eat food which is not from local regions. Do you think the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages |
Student have been asking me to provide model answers to real questions from the real IELTS test, so here is my first one. Note that this is an Argument Question (give an opinion; argue a side). It follows the structure and ideas in my IELTS Task Two Book.
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Obviously, human beings need to ingest* nutritional sustenance* – their ‘daily’ bread, in biblical terms. In a globalised world, this fare* is now often sourced from all corners of a given country, and even the globe itself, which raises the issue of whether such a trend is good or not. My opinion is that it certainly has more advantages. One reason is that it encourages local food producers to similarly sell globally, opening up a vast* potential market. Simply put, the entire world beckons* as a potential consumer, allowing those who operate appropriately to truly prosper*. By doing this, economies are stimulated and standards of living raised. For example, the current mayor of Kaohsiung recently toured China for this reason, negotiating trade deals for the local fisherman and farmers in his electorate*. Another benefit of having people source sustenance* from different areas is the increased variety of goods made available. Naturally grown fruit, vegetables, and specialty snacks are often only seasonally produced, and were once subject to geographical limitations. Now, sourcing elsewhere opens up new enticing* vistas*. For example, in Melbourne, I regularly consumed durian fruit imported from Thailand, and occasionally cherries from Chile, not available locally. Some might reasonably claim that this trend will punish local producers. However, if farmers can rest complacently*, they have no incentive* to streamline production or keep a competitive edge. This inevitably leads to a sluggish* industry, lagging* others. A prime (although non-food) example is the heavily subsidised* British coal-mining industry of the mid-1980s. Despite great public turmoil*, this was eventually rationalised* by the then Prime Minister, Thatcher, in a bitter campaign, but one which history has long since vindicated*. [275 words] |
Now, there are three separate conclusions. The first is recommended when running out of time (obviously), but the second and third allow more style. Time, however, is the enemy of almost every IELTS candidate, so think seriously about using Conclusion 1 as the most practical alternative [See also p.100 of my IELTS Writing: Task Two book.]
Conclusion 1: the ‘Quick’ Conclusion, connected to the final paragraph.
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… illustrating that the trend towards the consumption of non-local food is certainly positive. [288 words] |
Conclusion 2: the ‘Formal’ Conclusion: being a separate paragraph.
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Summing up, the trend towards the consumption of non-local food is certainly positive. |
Re-phrasing my opinion. |
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Not doing so would be a regression to a past mindset*, inappropriate to the real world in which we live. |
Final thoughts |
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The first final thoughts uses the ‘condition-result’ pattern, with noun phrases [from ‘If don’t do it’]. 1 is a warning. 2 is a suggestion. 3 is a prediction. Only one of these is used. |
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It is much better for consumers and producers alike to embrace* the possibilities offered, advancing both themselves and their countries. |
2 |
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With globalisation and consumer supremacy*, this trend is inevitable, and the winners are those who manipulate* it to their advantage. [308 words] |
3 |
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Conclusion 3: The ‘Harder’ Conclusion: being a separate paragraph with a summary of the two main points given as noun phrases.
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Clearly then, by opening untapped markets and offering unprecented product variety, the trend towards the consumption of non-local food is certainly positive. Not doing so would be a regression to a past mindset*, inappropriate to the real world in which we live. [317 words] |
Word Learning Time
Now, look up all these words in your dictionary, then check how I used them in the model answer.
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1 |
sustenance |
(n) |
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2 |
fare |
(n) |
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3 |
vast |
(adj) |
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4 |
to beckon |
(v) |
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5 |
to prosper |
(v) |
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6 |
electorate |
(n) |
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7 |
enticing |
(adj) |
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8 |
vistas |
(n) |
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9 |
complacent |
(adj) |
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10 |
incentive |
(n) |
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11 |
sluggish |
(adj) |
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12 |
to lag |
(v) |
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13 |
to subsidise |
(v) |
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14 |
turmoil |
(n) |
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15 |
to rationalise |
(v) |
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16 |
to vindicate |
(v) |
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17 |
mindset |
(n) |
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18 |
to embrace |
(v) |
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19 |
supremacy |
(n) |
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20 |
to manipulate |
(v) |
I hope this helps, and expect to see more of these. Remember, check out www.aisielts.com for more resources to help you with IELTS.