IELTS Writing Task 2 with sample answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Some people think government should subsidies food and vegetables to make healthy food cheaper. Other argues that tax should be set on unhealthy food.
Discuss both views and gives your opinion.
Write at least 250 words.
Sample Answer 1:
Obesity, particularly childhood obesity, is one of the pressing issues in many countries across the globe. That is why, some people urge government to subsidise food and vegetables to make healthy food affordable. In contrast, others argue that government ought to tax on unhealthy food to fight obesity. From my point of view, while government ought to subsidise to make organic food reasonable, imposing tax on unhealthy food should also be encouraged.
Our society has brought forth tainted economic incentive. The cost of junk food, over the time, has become less expensive compared to the cost of healthy food such as fruits, vegetable, milk, and so forth. To put it another way, our economic mechanism offers the logical choice a glass of sugar-sweetened beverage in lieu of a glass of milk. Right here there is enormous value in taxing on unhealthy food. By raising the cost, we can make convenient for people to make the more healthful selection. Furthermore, the tax money could be used in raising awareness about detrimental effects of unhealthy foods as well as to subsidise the healthy foods.
Again, healthy food subsidies can result in healthier food consumption. Healthier foods often remain higher priced, especially some items are prohibitively expensive that most people cannot afford it. If government grants subsidy to healthy foods, then the masses will tend to purchase and consumption of healthier foods. A case in point is a recent study, which showed that subsidy is an effective way to promote healthier foods.
In my opinion, both the subsidy to healthier foods and the tax on unhealthy foods are effective at encouraging people to purchase healthier food. Researchers from University of Otago, University of Auckland, Wellington delved into the association between food pricing strategies, food consumption, and refractory diseases. They found that a 10% increase in the price of junk foods could decline consumption by 1% to as much as 24%. On the other hand, a 10% cut in the price of fruits and vegetables could rise consumption by 2% to 8%. So, government should adopt both the approaches.
In fine, a great number of population is overweight or obese in our country. I, therefore, believe that tax or surcharge on foods high in saturated fats and fizzy drinks, and subsidies for fruits and vegetables could drive people to have better diet, which by consequence will help us get rid of obesity.
Sample Answer 2:
Different views go on over having healthy foods within a reasonable price. Some people say that subsidies on food and vegetables will make them cheaper while the others are on the point to set tax on unhealthy foods to make them costlier. Surely both the views are important and essential to have a sound health.
Foods are considered as the most important elements to live on this planet. It is simply impossible to live without foods. All the living beings are in need of food to get necessary energy to live on. But sometimes we cannot manage the nutritious foods as they are costlier. Everyone wants to have a good health but when they are to spend much money for having healthy foods, they turn reluctant and adopt the available cheaper options.
But often it is found that the prices of the unhealthy foods are cheaper comparing the prices of the healthy foods. Usually the unhealthy foods are in reach of the commoners and are available in almost everywhere with a lower cost. When people take those unhealthy foods, they develop different health disorders, and though the detrimental health impacts are not exposed instantly, they cause serious trouble to the consumers in the later stage and sometimes even claim lives of the consumers.
When the healthy foods will be subsidized, by the government, the common citizens will also grow an attraction to those foods and vegetables. On the other side, if a higher tax on unhealthy foods is imposed, they will be pricey and gradually the commoners will start rejecting the foods from their regular menu for the excessive price. They will move for the subsidized healthy diets. It will help them to get back their lost health.
Thereby, in conclusion, it appears that the government is the sole decision maker about subsidizing the healthy foods and imposing a higher tax on the unhealthy foods to take those beyond the reach of the citizens. When people develop health disorders, it bears a negative impact on their family and on the socio-economic indicators as well which hampers development initiatives by the government. So, the issue of subsidizing and taxing on foods should be considered carefully by the governments of different countries during the national budget placement in the parliament.