IELTS Writing Task 2 with sample answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the above statement? What other measures do you think might be effective?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Model Answer :
Traffic and pollution are the most pressing issue of city life. Each day, the problem is going from bad to worse with the growing number of private vehicles. That is why, some people contend that the price of fuels should be soared. From my point of view, I do not think it is a sensible idea as it may bring forth devastating consequence in economy. I would rather want government to encourage people to use public transports instead of using private cars.
To commence with, traffic and pollution issues are getting worse and worse. In many circles, it is argued that government should hike the price of fuels up in order to grapple with the issue. They claim that when the price shoots up, people will tend to lessen their use of private vehicles, which in turn will curb the issue. But, the increase in fuels may impact on economy severely. If the price of fuels soars, it will eventually affect each and everything that we use or consume in our daily life. That is to say, the increase in fuel price will raise the transport cost, the rise in transport cost will increase in the price of commodities, which in turn will cause inflation. The increase in fuel price, thus, has dire consequences.
In my opinion, the government should spur people to use public transports rather than increase in fuel price. This is because, it will decrease private cars on the roads, and at the same time the economy will come to no harm. As a result, it will curb the traffic congestion and environmental damages as well. Apart from that, the government also should try to raise awareness of disastrous consequences of the increasing number of private vehicles so that people are encouraged to change their driving habit.
To reiterate, the increasing traffic and pollution issues are a matter of considerable concern. Some people opine that the price of fuels should be rocketed up, while it could be argued that a price rise may actually increase the risk of damaging economy. It would be good if the government encourages people to use public transport as much as possible.
Idea Generation for this essay:
Agreement (Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems)
- Increasing the price of the fuel would also increase the overall cost to run private cars on the roads. This trend would control the number of cars running on the streets.
- Many people would use public transportation like bus, train, bicycle etc. instead of using their own cars for short destinations.
- Increased petrol price would discourage people to buy new cars.
- In terms of pollution controlling this is very effective.
- People would use alternative fuels like Natural gases that cause less pollution to the environment.
- Petrol is also used in small factories, industries and the increased price would make people use this expensive fuel frugally. This would lessen the CO2 omission in the air.
- The financial burden that the increased petrol price would create will have a great impact on car owners and they will use their cars as less as possible.
Disagreement (Increasing the price of petrol is NOT the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems)
- People who own cars are economically solvent. So increased petrol price would not discourage them to use their own cars.
- On the other hand the increased petrol price would also increase the daily expenses in many countries and the low and middle class population would suffer greatly.
- The government would have to face protests and objections from different sectors and people that might create a bad political condition.
- Public buses also use the petrol as their primary means of fuel. Increasing petrol price would also increase the bus rent.
- Many small industries and small businesses would find it hard to run their businesses that rely on such fuel to run their production.
- Rich people will continue to use their cars on the roads and that would continue to harm the environment.
- Since other effective ways like imposing restriction on car ownership can be implemented, only increasing the price of the fuel would be a very bad idea.
What other measures might be effective?
- Increasing the awareness among people and car drivers.
- Imposing restrictions on the number of car ownership can be another effective way.
- Implementing rules so that the amount of CO2 and other harmful toxic element omitted by cars and industries do not exceed the advised level.
- Strictly maintaining fitness of the cars and traffic rules. Violation of such rules should be severely penalized.
- Industries and manufacturing factories should be established far away from the residential areas.
- Tree plantation should be a mandatory activity for all citizens of the country.
- Strict control on the type of fuels and ingredients used in a factory should be monitors and controlled.