IELTS Cambridge 18: Rural People Moving to Cities
Is this a positive or negative development?
It is becoming increasingly common for residents to concentrate in urban areas, rather than the countryside. In my opinion, this is a decidedly negative phenomenon for human society as a whole despite the economic benefits.
Those who support the current prioritization of city life point out how it positively impacts the workforce. When the majority of a population is concentrated, this makes it easier for businesses to operate. For example, in cities such as Tokyo, there are millions of residents in the city itself and the outlying districts. The people support restaurants, cinemas, malls, arcades, parks, and various other recreational areas. These businesses in turn provide jobs for locals and this creates a positive feedback loop and greatly enriches the quality of life for the average person living in a big city. The best evidence for this is the number of people willing to move to cities for superior employment options.
However, the drawbacks associated with city lifestyles are more significant. In past generations, there was greater diversity in terms of where residents lived that enabled more varied lifestyle options. People living in the country were more likely to work outdoors and possess skills related to farming, hunting, and raising livestock. Today, most people live in cities and work corporate jobs and are experts in terms of marketing, finance, business, and customer service. These industries have a place in a healthy society but should not predominate over healthier, more active forms of gainful employment. As the world continues to transition to online-based jobs, the situation will only worsen.
In conclusion, although there are legitimate economic arguments to be made for urban migration, I would argue the effects on how humans live are overwhelmingly negative. Governments should therefore implement policies to encourage more rural infrastructure and economic activity.
Analysis
1. It is becoming increasingly common for residents to concentrate in urban areas, rather than the countryside. 2. In my opinion, this is a decidedly negative phenomenon for human society as a whole despite the economic benefits.
1. Those who support the current prioritization of city life point out how it positively impacts the workforce. 2. When the majority of a population is concentrated, this makes it easier for businesses to operate. 3. For example, in cities such as Tokyo, there are millions of residents in the city itself and the outlying districts. 4. The people support restaurants, cinemas, malls, arcades, parks, and various other recreational areas. 5. These businesses in turn provide jobs for locals and this creates a positive feedback loop and greatly enriches the quality of life for the average person living in a big city. 6. The best evidence for this is the number of people willing to move to cities for superior employment options.
1. However, the drawbacks associated with city lifestyles are more significant. 2. In past generations, there was greater diversity in terms of where residents lived that enabled more varied lifestyle options. 3. People living in the country were more likely to work outdoors and possess skills related to farming, hunting, and raising livestock. 4. Today, most people live in cities and work corporate jobs and are experts in terms of marketing, finance, business, and customer service. 5. These industries have a place in a healthy society but should not predominate over healthier, more active forms of gainful employment. 6. As the world continues to transition to online-based jobs, the situation will only worsen.
1. In conclusion, although there are legitimate economic arguments to be made for urban migration, I would argue the effects on how humans live are overwhelmingly negative. 2. Governments should therefore implement policies to encourage more rural infrastructure and economic activity.
Vocabulary
It is becoming increasingly common for residents to concentrate in urban areas, rather than the countryside. In my opinion, this is a decidedly negative phenomenon for human society as a whole despite the economic benefits.
Those who support the current prioritization of city life point out how it positively impacts the workforce. When the majority of a population is concentrated, this makes it easier for businesses to operate. For example, in cities such as Tokyo, there are millions of residents in the city itself and the outlying districts. The people support restaurants, cinemas, malls, arcades, parks, and various other recreational areas. These businesses in turn provide jobs for locals and this creates a positive feedback loop and greatly enriches the quality of life for the average person living in a big city. The best evidence for this is the number of people willing to move to cities for superior employment options.
However, the drawbacks associated with city lifestyles are more significant. In past generations, there was greater diversity in terms of where residents lived that enabled more varied lifestyle options. People living in the country were more likely to work outdoors and possess skills related to farming, hunting, and raising livestock. Today, most people live in cities and work corporate jobs and are experts in terms of marketing, finance, business, and customer service. These industries have a place in a healthy society but should not predominate over healthier, more active forms of gainful employment. As the world continues to transition to online-based jobs, the situation will only worsen.
In conclusion, although there are legitimate economic arguments to be made for urban migration, I would argue the effects on how humans live are overwhelmingly negative. Governments should therefore implement policies to encourage more rural infrastructure and economic activity.
Answers
It is becoming increasingly common for residents more and more people today are
concentrate focus on
urban areas cities
rather than instead of
countryside rural areas
decidedly negative phenomenon for human society as a whole despite the economic benefits definitely bad for all people in general regardless of how it helps the economy
Those who support the current prioritization of city life point out the people in favor of living in cities argue
positively impacts the workforce helps people in terms of jobs
the majority of a most of
makes it easier for is not as hard to
operate work in that area
residents people living there
outlying districts suburbs
arcades places to play games
various other recreational areas lots of other things to do for fun
in turn provide as a result give
locals people living in that area
creates a positive feedback loop benefits everyone
greatly enriches the quality of life for the average person makes life better for people
The best evidence for this is the strongest case is
willing to will do it
superior employment options better job choices
the drawbacks associated with the downsides related to
lifestyles how people live
significant meaningful
In past generations before
greater diversity in terms of lots of different people concerning
enabled more varied lifestyle options allowed for different ways of living
work outdoors and possess skills related to farming, hunting, and raising livestock not office jobs and can do agricultural work
work corporate jobs work in an office
experts in terms of marketing, finance, business, and customer service good at advertising and economics and selling things
have a place in a healthy society there is room for them
predominate are most common
healthier better for you
more active forms of gainful employment less passive ways of earning money
transition to online-based jobs change to jobs on computers and the internet
worsen not get better
legitimate economic arguments to be made for strong financial points that can be argued for
migration moving to
overwhelmingly negative very bad
implement policies to encourage more rural infrastructure and economic activity create laws to improve living in the countryside
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ɪt ɪz bɪˈkʌmɪŋ ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ˈkɒmən fɔː ˈrɛzɪdənts
ˈkɒnsəntreɪt
ˈɜːbən ˈeərɪəz
ˈrɑːðə ðæn
ˈkʌntrɪˌsaɪd
dɪˈsaɪdɪdli ˈnɛɡətɪv fɪˈnɒmɪnən fɔː ˈhjuːmən səˈsaɪəti æz ə həʊl dɪsˈpaɪt ði ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈbɛnɪfɪts
ðəʊz huː səˈpɔːt ðə ˈkʌrənt praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪˈzeɪʃᵊn ɒv ˈsɪti laɪf pɔɪnt aʊt
ˈpɒzətɪvli ˈɪmpækts ðə ˈwɜːkˌfɔːs
ðə məˈʤɒrəti ɒv eɪ
meɪks ɪt ˈiːzɪə fɔː
ˈɒpəreɪt
ˈrɛzɪdənts
ˈaʊtˌlaɪɪŋ ˈdɪstrɪkts
ɑːˈkeɪdz
ˈveərɪəs ˈʌðə ˌrɛkrɪˈeɪʃənl ˈeərɪəz
ɪn tɜːn prəˈvaɪd
ˈləʊkəlz
kriˈeɪts ə ˈpɒzətɪv ˈfiːdbæk luːp
ˈɡreɪtli ɪnˈrɪʧɪz ðə ˈkwɒləti ɒv laɪf fɔː ði ˈævərɪʤ ˈpɜːsᵊn
ðə bɛst ˈɛvɪdəns fɔː ðɪs ɪz
ˈwɪlɪŋ tuː
suːˈpɪəriər ɪmˈplɔɪmənt ˈɒpʃᵊnz
ðə ˈdrɔːbæks əˈsəʊʃɪeɪtɪd wɪð
ˈlaɪfˌstaɪlz
sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt.
ɪn pɑːst ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃᵊnz
ˈɡreɪtə daɪˈvɜːsəti ɪn tɜːmz ɒv
ɪˈneɪbᵊld mɔː ˈveərɪd ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl ˈɒpʃᵊnz
wɜːk ˌaʊtˈdɔːz ænd pəˈzɛs skɪlz rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː ˈfɑːmɪŋ, ˈhʌntɪŋ, ænd ˈreɪzɪŋ ˈlaɪvstɒk
wɜːk ˈkɔːpᵊrət ʤɒbz
ˈɛkspɜːts ɪn tɜːmz ɒv ˈmɑːkɪtɪŋ, faɪˈnæns, ˈbɪznɪs, ænd ˈkʌstəmə ˈsɜːvɪs
hæv ə pleɪs ɪn ə ˈhɛlθi səˈsaɪəti
prɪˈdɒmɪneɪt
ˈhɛlθɪə,
mɔːr ˈæktɪv fɔːmz ɒv ˈɡeɪnfʊl ɪmˈplɔɪmənt
trænˈzɪʃᵊn tuː ˈɒnˌlaɪn-beɪst ʤɒbz
ˈwɜːsn.
lɪˈʤɪtɪmɪt ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈɑːɡjəmənts tuː biː meɪd fɔː
maɪˈɡreɪʃᵊn
ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmɪŋli ˈnɛɡətɪv
ˈɪmplɪmənt ˈpɒləsiz tuː ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ mɔː ˈrʊərəl ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧər ænd ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ækˈtɪvəti
Vocabulary Practice
I___________________________________________s to c_________e in u_________s, r__________n the c__________e. In my opinion, this is a d_________________________________________________________________________________________________s.
T____________________________________________________________________t how it p________________________________e. When t________________a population is concentrated, this m________________________r businesses to o_______e. For example, in cities such as Tokyo, there are millions of r_______s in the city itself and the o______________s. The people support restaurants, cinemas, malls, a__________s, parks, and v________________________s. These businesses i______________e jobs for l_____s and this c____________________________________p and g________________________________________________n living in a big city. T_____________________s the number of people w___________o move to cities for s_________________________s.
However, t__________________________h city l__________s are more s_________t. I____________s, there was g_______________________f where residents lived that e_________________________________s. People living in the country were more likely to w_____________________________________________________________________________k. Today, most people live in cities and w______________s and are e________________________________________________________________________e. These industries h___________________________y but should not p___________e over h________r, m______________________________t. As the world continues to t_________________________________s, the situation will only w______n.
In conclusion, although there are l_____________________________r urban m_________n, I would argue the effects on how humans live are o________________e. Governments should therefore i_______________________________________________________________________________y.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/rural-area/
Speaking Practice
Your Home Nation/Country
- Where are you from?
- What do you like the most about your country?
- Where would you like to live in your country?
- Are people in your country patriotic?
Writing Practice
Many people believe that it is easier to have a healthy lifestyle in the countryside. Other believe that there are health benefits to living in cities.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
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