This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of communicating with other life forms from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Communicating with Other Life Forms
Some think scientists should be allowed to send messages into space to communicate with other life forms while others believe this is too dangerous.
Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
Many are of the belief that contacting possible alien life is a desirable goal, while others are wary of the potential dangers. In my opinion, though this satisfies basic human curiosity, the risk is too great relative to the benefits.
The reason to try to communicate with extraterrestrials is to learn more about the universe. Some might claim alien life could have technology or insight to share, but the chances of this are too small to justify the effort. Instead, the average person and the scientist alike simply want to learn if there are other forms of life. Humans have dreamed of aliens in novels and films for decades and some feel every attempt to realise these dreams is warranted. If alien life is discovered, not only would it satisfy this desire but it might also help humanity understand their own origins, place in the universe, and answer fundamental existential questions.
However, curiosity alone is not enough to condone accepting even the smallest chance of the danger inherent in alien contact. The likelihood of an alien life form turning against humanity like a scene from a science fiction film are infinitesimally small but the consequences are too great to ignore. In the event that aliens were found and hostile to humanity it could pose a serious problem and in the worst case scenario threaten the survival of the human race. This far-fetched but disastrous downside logically dictates the more sensible approach of continuing to develop human technology and wait until the distant future to venture to locate alien life.
In conclusion, the self-interested pursuit of other life forms has too much potential for species-threatening danger to be advisable. Instead, governments should focus on maximising resources for more advanced technology.
Analysis
1. Many are of the belief that contacting possible alien life is a desirable goal, while others are wary of the potential dangers. 2. In my opinion, though this satisfies basic human curiosity, the risk is too great relative to the benefits.
Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. The reason to try to communicate with extraterrestrials is to learn more about the universe. 2. Some might claim alien life could have technology or insight to share, but the chances of this are too small to justify the effort. 3. Instead, the average person and the scientist alike simply want to learn if there are other forms of life. 4. Humans have dreamed of aliens in novels and films for decades and some feel every attempt to realise these dreams is warranted. 5. If alien life is discovered, not only would it satisfy this desire but it might also help humanity understand their own origins, place in the universe, and answer fundamental existential questions.
Explain your main idea or make qualifications/caveats.
Begin developing your main idea.
Develop it fully.
Finish developing the same main idea.
1. However, curiosity alone is not enough to condone accepting even the smallest chance of the danger inherent in alien contact. 2. The likelihood of an alien life form turning against humanity like a scene from a science fiction film are infinitesimally small but the consequences are too great to ignore. 3. In the event that aliens were found and hostile to humanity it could pose a serious problem and in the worst case scenario threaten the survival of the human race. 4. This far-fetched but disastrous downside logically dictates the more sensible approach of continuing to develop human technology and wait until the distant future to venture to locate alien life.
Write another topic sentence with a new clear main idea at the end.
Explain your main idea.
Develop it with specific detail.
Conclude with a strong statement to make your argument clear.
1. In conclusion, the self-interested pursuit of other life forms has too much potential for species-threatening danger to be advisable. 2. Instead, governments should focus on maximising resources for more advanced technology.
Summarise your main ideas and repeat your opinion.
Add a final thought/detail. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Many are of the belief that contacting possible alien life is a desirable goal, while others are wary of the potential dangers. In my opinion, though this satisfies basic human curiosity, the risk is too great relative to the benefits.
The reason to try to communicate with extraterrestrials is to learn more about the universe. Some might claim alien life could have technology or insight to share, but the chances of this are too small to justify the effort. Instead, the average person and the scientist alike simply want to learn if there are other forms of life. Humans have dreamed of aliens in novels and films for decades and some feel every attempt to realise these dreams is warranted. If alien life is discovered, not only would it satisfy this desire but it might also help humanity understand their own origins, place in the universe, and answer fundamental existential questions.
However, curiosity alone is not enough to condone accepting even the smallest chance of the danger inherent in alien contact. The likelihood of an alien life form turning against humanity like a scene from a science fiction film are infinitesimally small but the consequences are too great to ignore. In the event that aliens were found and hostile to humanity it could pose a serious problem and in the worst case scenariothreaten the survival of the human race. This far-fetched but disastrousdownside logically dictates the more sensible approach of continuing to develop human technology and wait until the distant future to venture to locate alien life.
In conclusion, the self-interested pursuit of other life forms has too much potential for species-threatening danger to be advisable. Instead, governments should focus on maximising resources for more advanced technology.
Answers
are of the belief believe
contacting possible alien life talking to aliens
desirable goal worthy pursuit
wary worried about
potential dangers possible risks
satisfies fulfills
basic human curiosity fundamental desire to know
risk danger
relative to compared to
extraterrestrials aliens
claim think
insight important information
share give to use
justify the effort are the reason to do it
instead however
alike the same
decades 20+ years
attempt try
realise now know
warranted justified
discovered found
satisfy this desire fulfill the want
origins where something comes from
answer fundamental existential questions learn about life, the universe, god, etc.
curiosity alone interest on its own
condone sanction
smallest chance almost impossible
danger inherent risk included
likelihood possibility
turning against humanity fight with humans
scene from a science fiction film from a movie
infinitesimally small very, very unlikely
consequences results
ignore not pay attention to
in the event that if it happens that
hostile mean
pose a serious problem make trouble
worst case scenariothreaten most extreme situation could
survival continued living
far-fetched very unlikely
disastrousdownside negative side
logically dictates follows reason that
more sensible approach more reasonable method
distant future far in the future
venture try
self-interested pursuit trying to satisfy one’s desires
species-threatening danger could kill all humans
advisable good idea
instead however
maximising resources using money, time, people, etc. well
Many a_____________f that c_________________________________e is a d_____________l, while others are w____y of the p_____________s. In my opinion, though this s__________s b______________________y, the r___k is too great r___________o the benefits.
The reason to try to communicate with e_________________s is to learn more about the universe. Some might c____m alien life could have technology or i________t to s______e, but the chances of this are too small to j_______________t. I_________d, the average person and the scientist a_____e simply want to learn if there are other forms of life. Humans have dreamed of aliens in novels and films for d_________s and some feel every a_________t to r_________e these dreams is w____________d. If alien life is d___________d, not only would it s__________________e but it might also help humanity understand their own o__________s, place in the universe, and a____________________________________________s.
However, c________________e is not enough to c____________e accepting even the s_________________e of the d_________________t in alien contact. The l____________d of an alien life form t____________________y like a s_______________________________m are i________________________l but the c_________________s are too great to i_________e. I_________________t aliens were found and h_________e to humanity it could p______________________m and in the w_________________________________n the s___________l of the human race. This f____________d but d___________________e l______________________s the m_________________________h of continuing to develop human technology and wait until the d_______________e to v_________e to locate alien life.
In conclusion, the s______________________t of other life forms has too much potential for s____________________________r to be a____________e. I_________d, governments should focus on m__________________s for more advanced technology.
Listening Practice
Listen about this topic and practice with these ideas:
Write about this related topic and then check with my sample answer below:
In the future, people may have to live on other planets. Some think that it is therefore important to spend money researching other planets such as Mars.
This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of nurses from the general training exam.
Thank you for reading my essays and if you want to support my work, please consider signing up for my Patreon here where you will get exclusive access to my IELTS Ebooks and essay!
Dave
IELTS Essay: Nurses
Nowadays nurses should not just be required to do basic training but they must have other qualities as well to do their jobs well.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some feel nurses need to learn more than just the basic requirements of their jobs in order to be effective. In my opinion, nursing indeed requires a wide range of skills.
Detractors point out the essential role of a nurse can be streamlined. There are many countries where nurses undergo some fairly simple vocational training and are then considered qualified professionals. Most only need to perform limited basic tasks such as taking blood, checking vitals, monitoring patients, and referring urgent matters to doctors. For a hospital purely concerned with optimising profits, it makes sense that they would train nurses to a minimum standard and pay lower salaries, with the expectation of high turnover. As long as nurses can perform certain discrete skills, there is no incentive to invest more in their training.
In practice, however, nurses occupy roles outside than their literal job description. In most hospitals, nurses spend a lot of time double checking the medicines doctors are administering, learning new procedures, and counseling patients. The patients likely communicate more with nurses than busy doctors and therefore rely on them not only for medical advice but also psychological support. These emotional tasks, in my opinion, justify increased training. Even though this will not have a clearly measurable outcome, it will result in nurses who are better equipped to deal with a variety of situations and patients who do not feel like customers buying their health from a corporation.
In conclusion, despite legitimate concerns related to its value, it is crucial nurses be capable of taking on a number of roles. This will have benefits not only for the nurses themselves but also their patients and society at large.
Analysis
1. Some feel nurses need to learn more than just the basic requirements of their jobs in order to be effective. 2. In my opinion, nursing indeed requires a wide range of skills.
Paraphrase the essay topic.
Write a clear opinion. Learn more about writing your introduction here.
1. Detractors point out the essential role of a nurse can be streamlined. 2. There are many countries where nurses undergo some fairly simple vocational training and are then considered qualified professionals. 3. Most only need to perform limited basic tasks such as taking blood, checking vitals, monitoring patients, and referring urgent matters to doctors. 4. For a hospital purely concerned with optimising profits, it makes sense that they would train nurses to a minimum standard and pay lower salaries, with the expectation of high turnover. 5. As long as nurses can perform certain discrete skills, there is no incentive to invest more in their training.
Write a clear topic sentence with your main idea at the end.
Explain your main idea.
Add in specific detail.
Use a hypothetical or real example.
State the results of the example.
1. In practice, however, nurses occupy roles outside than their literal job description. 2. In most hospitals, nurses spend a lot of time double checking the medicines doctors are administering, learning new procedures, and counseling patients. 3. The patients likely communicate more with nurses than busy doctors and therefore rely on them not only for medical advice but also psychological support. 4. These emotional tasks, in my opinion, justify increased training. 5. Even though this will not have a clearly measurable outcome, it will result in nurses who are better equipped to deal with a variety of situations and patients who do not feel like customers buying their health from a corporation.
Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
Explain your new main idea.
Develop it with specific examples.
Vary your long and short sentences.
Conclude with the further possible results and a strong statement.
1. In conclusion, despite legitimate concerns related to its value, it is crucial nurses be capable of taking on a number of roles. 2. This will have benefits not only for the nurses themselves but also their patients and society at large.
Summarise your main ideas and repeat your opinion.
Add a final thought/detail. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Some feel nurses need to learn more than just the basic requirements of their jobs in order to be effective. In my opinion, nursing indeed requires a wide range of skills.
Detractors point out theessential role of a nurse can be streamlined. There are many countries where nurses undergo some fairly simple vocational training and are then considered qualified professionals. Most only need to perform limited basic tasks such as taking blood, checking vitals, monitoring patients, and referring urgent matters to doctors. For a hospital purely concerned with optimising profits, it makes sense that they would train nurses to a minimum standard and pay lower salaries, with the expectation of high turnover. As long as nurses can perform certain discrete skills, there is no incentive to invest more in their training.
In practice, however, nurses occupy roles outside than their literal job description. In most hospitals, nurses spend a lot of time double checking the medicines doctors are administering, learning new procedures, and counseling patients. The patients likely communicate more with nurses than busy doctors and therefore rely on them not only for medical advice but also psychological support. These emotional tasks, in my opinion, justify increased training. Even though this will not have a clearly measurable outcome, it will result in nurses who are better equipped to deal with a variety of situations and patients who do not feel like customers buying their health from a corporation.
In conclusion, despite legitimate concerns related to its value, it is crucial nurses be capable of taking on a number of roles. This will have benefits not only for the nurses themselves but also their patients and society at large.
Answers
basic requirements minimum needed
effective works
nursing indeed being a nurse does in fact
wide range of skills lots of different abilities
detractors critics
point out argue
theessential role crucial part
streamlined simplified
undergo go through
fairly simple vocational training mostly basic training for a job
considered qualified professionals regarded as real nurses
perform limited basic tasks do a small number of jobs
taking blood extracting blood with a needle
checking vitals making sure their hear rate, blood pressure, etc. are ok
monitoring patients looking after sick people
referring urgent matters telling doctors about emergencies
purely concerned only care about
optimising profits making the most money possible
makes sense is logical
minimum standard least required
pay lower salaries not give much money to
expectation what one thinks will happen
high turnover lots of people changing jobs
as long as so far as
perform certain discrete skills can do specific tasks
no incentive no reason to
invest more put more money into
in practice in reality
occupy take on
outside beyond
literal job description strict demands of the job
double checking re-checking/verifying
administering giving
procedures processes, tasks
counseling giving therapy
rely need
medical advice suggestions about their health
psychological support emotional help
emotional tasks psychological jobs
justify a reason for it
clearly measurable outcome definite effect
result in leads to
better equipped better prepared for
deal with cope with
variety of situations many contexts
despite legitimate concerns regardless of real worries
Some feel nurses need to learn more than just the b______________________s of their jobs in order to be e____________e. In my opinion, n_______________d requires a w_______________________s.
D____________s p_______________t t____________________e of a nurse can be s_______________d. There are many countries where nurses u_____________o some f_______________e v______________________g and are then c_____________________________________s. Most only need to p____________________________s such as t________________d, c________________s, m_______________________s, and r_____________________________s to doctors. For a hospital p___________________d with o_______________________s, it m_____________________e that they would train nurses to a m__________________________d and p______________________s, with the e_________________n of h_____________________r. A_______________s nurses can p______________________________s, there is n_________________e to i________________e in their training.
I_________________e, however, nurses o________y roles o_________e than their l__________________________n. In most hospitals, nurses spend a lot of time d_______________________________g the medicines doctors are a__________________g, learning new p_________________s, and c_______________g patients. The patients likely communicate more with nurses than busy doctors and therefore r___y on them not only for m______________e but also p_______________________t. These e__________________s, in my opinion, j________y increased training. Even though this will not have a c___________________________e, it will r____________n nurses who are b__________________________d to d____________h a v_____________________s and patients who do not feel like customers buying their health from a corporation.
In conclusion, d____________________________s r______________o its v________e, it is c____________l nurses be capable of t___________n a number of roles. This will have benefits n__________y for the nurses themselves b_________o their patients and society a_________e.
This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of children learning to farm and grow vegetables and keep animals.
Thank you for reading my essays and if you want to support my work, please consider signing up for my Patreon here where you will get exclusive access to my IELTS Ebooks and essay!
Dave
IELTS Essay: Children Farming
It is sometimes suggested that primary schoolchildren should learn how to grow vegetables and keep animals.
Do you think that the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Some feel farming vegetables and taking care of animals should be added to the primary school curriculum. In my opinion, though there are drawbacks related to its feasibility, it would be a positive overall.
The disadvantages involve the struggles to implement this practice. Firstly, inner city schools do not have easy access to farms. A school in New York City already faced with rising student numbers and a lack of resources cannot be expected to bus thousands of students to nearby farmland on a regular basis. That would unequivocally be a poor allocation of limited resources. Secondly, even schools located in the countryside would have trouble enacting such an ambitious policy. They would need to connect with possibly reluctant local farms, convince teachers, parents, and students of the benefits, and divert funding towards a program with dubious 21st century value as society becomes increasingly urban and less agrarian.
Nonetheless, the skills learned would be transferrable and beneficial in themselves. Children learning to grow vegetables will be able to do that their entire lives and much more inclined to later tend a private garden. This can save money, encourage productivity, and improve health. Taking care of animals will also help them if they choose to keep livestock or pets. The greater benefit, however, will come from cultivation of personal qualities. Children will gain a greater sense of responsibility and internalise the real world effects of their negligence or dedication. Later in life regardless of their occupation and where they live, they will have increased self-reliance and a stronger recognition of how they can shape the world around them.
In conclusion, the personal benefits to raising animals and growing vegetables outweigh any perceived drawbacks concerning resources. Where possible, schools ought to enact these changes.
Analysis
1. Some feel farming vegetables and taking care of animals should be added to the primary school curriculum. 2. In my opinion, though there are drawbacks related to its feasibility, it would be a positive overall.
Paraphrase the essay topic.
Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. The disadvantages involve the struggles to implement this practice. 2. Firstly, inner city schools do not have easy access to farms. 3. A school in New York City already faced with rising student numbers and a lack of resources cannot be expected to bus thousands of students to nearby farmland on a regular basis. 4. That would unequivocally be a poor allocation of limited resources. 5. Secondly, even schools located in the countryside would have trouble enacting such an ambitious policy. 6. They would need to connect with possibly reluctant local farms, convince teachers, parents, and students of the benefits, and divert funding towards a program with dubious 21st century value as society becomes increasingly urban and less agrarian.
Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
Begin your first main idea.
Use a specific example to develop it.
Conclude the main idea.
Move to a second one because this questions asks for advantageS and disadvantageS, plural.
Develop it fully.
1. Nonetheless, the skills learned would be transferrable and beneficial in themselves. 2. Children learning to grow vegetables will be able to do that their entire lives and much more inclined to later tend a private garden. 3. This can save money, encourage productivity, and improve health. 4. Taking care of animals will also help them if they choose to keep livestock or pets. 5. The greater benefit, however, will come from cultivation of personal qualities. 6. Children will gain a greater sense of responsibility and internalise the real world effects of their negligence or dedication. 7. Later in life regardless of their occupation and where they live, they will have increased self-reliance and a stronger recognition of how they can shape the world around them.
Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
Explain your main idea.
Develop it fully.
Make sure you address both vegetables and animals.
Focus on a second advantage.
Develop it.
Finish developing it fully.
1. In conclusion, the personal benefits to raising animals and growing vegetables outweigh any perceived drawbacks concerning resources. 2. Where possible, schools ought to enact these changes.
Summarise your main ideas and repeat your opinion.
Add a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Some feel farming vegetables and taking care of animals should be added to the primary school curriculum. In my opinion, though there are drawbacks related to its feasibility, it would be a positive overall.
The disadvantages involve the struggles to implement this practice. Firstly, inner city schools do not have easy access to farms. A school in New York City already faced with rising student numbers and a lack of resources cannot be expected to bus thousands of students to nearby farmland on a regular basis. That would unequivocally be a poor allocation of limited resources. Secondly, even schools located in the countryside would have trouble enacting such an ambitious policy. They would need to connect with possibly reluctant local farms, convince teachers, parents, and students of the benefits, and divert funding towards a program with dubious 21st century value as society becomes increasingly urban and less agrarian.
Nonetheless, the skills learned would be transferrable and beneficial in themselves. Children learning to grow vegetables will be able to do that their entire lives and much more inclined to later tend a private garden. This can save money, encourage productivity, and improve health. Taking care of animals will also help them if they choose to keep livestock or pets. The greater benefit, however, will come from cultivation of personal qualities. Children will gain a greater sense of responsibility and internalise the real world effects of their negligence or dedication. Later in life regardless of their occupation and where they live, they will have increased self-reliance and a stronger recognition of how they can shape the world around them.
In conclusion, the personal benefits to raising animals and growing vegetables outweigh any perceived drawbacks concerning resources. Where possible, schools ought to enact these changes.
Answers
taking care of looking after
added combined
primary school curriculum what kids study in school
though despite
drawbacks disadvantages
feasibility possibility
positive overall good in general
involve deal with
struggles have to fight with
implement put into practice
practice change
inner city schools poor schools in cities
easy access to farms can get to farms conveniently
faced with combat
rising student numbers more and more students
a lack of resources not enough money, teachers, etc.
bus verb for to take the bus
nearby farmland farms not far away
on a regular basis day after day
unequivocally without question
poor allocation of limited resources not distributing money, etc. well
located found in
trouble enacting difficulty doing
ambitious policy big plan
connect with talk to
reluctant local farms not willing farmers
convince persuade
divert funding send money in a different direction
dubious 21st century value questionable importance nowadays
increasingly urban and less agrarian more and more cities, fewer farms
transferrable can be used in other ways
beneficial in themselves good on its own
entire lives whole life
much more inclined more likely to
later tend a private garden after that take care of a small, private garden
encourage productivity make more active
keep livestock raise animals
greater benefit larger advantage
cultivation growing
personal qualities characteristics
gain a greater sense of responsibility become more responsible
internalise know deeply, understand
real world effects actul impact
negligence not paying attention to
dedication paying attention to
later in life as they get older
regardless of their occupation no matter what job they do
increased self-reliance not need others
stronger recognition better ability to understand
shape have control over
personal benefits helps an individual
outweigh stronger than
perceived drawbacks concerning resources ostensible disadvantages related to money
Some feel farming vegetables and t_________________f animals should be a________d to the p__________________________m. In my opinion, t_________h there are d_____________s related to its f______________y, it would be a p_______________l.
The disadvantages i__________e the s___________s to i____________t this p__________e. Firstly, i_________________s do not have e_____________________s. A school in New York City already f_______________h r__________________________s and a____________________s cannot be expected to b__s thousands of students to n_________________d o_____________________s. That would u__________________y be a p__________________________________s. Secondly, even schools l____________d in the countryside would have t__________________g such an a___________________y. They would need to c_________________h possibly r_______________________s, c____________e teachers, parents, and students of the benefits, and d________________g towards a program with d___________________________e as society becomes i_____________________________________n.
Nonetheless, the skills learned would be t_______________e and b__________________________s. Children learning to grow vegetables will be able to do that their e_______________s and m__________________d to l_____________________________n. This can save money, e_________________________y, and improve health. Taking care of animals will also help them if they choose to k___________________k or pets. The g_____________________t, however, will come from c_________________n of p_____________________s. Children will g_____________________________________y and i______________e the r__________________s of their n______________e or d________________n. L_________________e r_________________________________n and where they live, they will have i______________________e and a s________________________n of how they can s________e the world around them.
In conclusion, the p_____________________s to raising animals and growing vegetables o____________h any p____________________________________s. W___________________e, schools o________t to e__________________s.
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